The Local Church is part of the Universal Church in a certain locality where believers come together regularly to worship God. It is also called a temple of God, the household of God, and a spiritual house.
Peter said, "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Paul said, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in which the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19 -22, emphasis added).
The above Scriptures say believers are living stones and the Lord Jesus is the chief cornerstone. These Scriptures also say a lot about the Church but say nothing about how the Church is to be built. One thing we know is that the builder is the Lord (Ps. 127:1). And He builds according to His pattern. What pattern? The tabernacle of Moses is a pattern of the Local Church. Moses was commissioned to build exactly the pattern given to him by God. The tabernacle was the habitation of God, the house of God - a type of the Church. Please refer to one of my previous messages.
The Local Church is built upon Christ
Paul said: "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple" (1 Cor. 3:9 - 17, NIV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone - the foundation which has already been laid.
2. The Local Church is built upon Christ. Pastors are God's fellow workers. They are not responsible for the foundation, but are responsible for how they build thereon.
3. The quality of workmanship and the materials are fearfully the pastor's responsibility. there is no place for hay, wood and straw, but but for gold, silver and precious stones. God will test and reveal by fire, the pastor's workmanship. If what the pastor built survives, the pastor will receive his reward.
4. Church members collectively are God's field, God's building and God's temple. God's Spirit lives in the Church.
5. The Church is sacred and if anyone destroys the Church, God will destroy him.
We need to understand that gold speaks of Divinity and siver speaks of Redemption - which are precious. Only the most precious and costly materials are to be used in God's building. Solid values that which has been purified by fire can only be used in this glorious temple. These are to be genuine precious stones. There are many stones ad artificial diamonds on the market today that outshine the real things. We must not use substitutes. Sparkling personalities, polished talent are not accepted unless it comes from an experience of the New Birth. I am talking about pastors and his Church members.
The Church - Christ's Body
The Church is God's eternal purpose. His plan, work, sacrifice is always for the Church. The Church is not a passing fancy, a spare time project or after-thought. It s ordained from the beginning of time. Every direction and experience of Israel was given with the Church in mind. Prophecies inspired in the mouth of His prophets spoke of His glorious Church.
The Church is referred to as His Body (Eph. 1:23). It is a complement unto Him, and without her He is incomplete. That is an awesome thought. He intends to reveal His glory, wisdom and power through her. Christ expresses His total being through His Body, the Church. Through her, His love, wisdom, compassion, and power are all expressed. How important it is that we do not live our own life, but let Him live His live through us.
Paul grasped this truth clearly: "I have been crucifed with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ live in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20, NKJV).
Pastors cannot effectively build God's holy Church by their own wisdom and effort. Like weaving, the making of the coverings of the Tabernacle, it has to be done through the skillful hands of the Divine weaver. In other words, the pastors need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God alone knows where the dark threads of sorrow, Gethsemane and crucifixion should go. He alone provides the white thread of holiness. He alone knows when to insert the scarlet thread of the bleeding sacrifice, to accentuate the royal purple thread of kingship. God will not leave it to the pastors to choose the thread and do their own weaving. Pastors need to constantly seeking the Lord, in order that the Holy Spirit will come to teach them how to build, not only the lives of members of the congregation, but their own lives as well - after His likeness.
Awesome responsibility of the pastors
The weekly worship service of the Local Church is the pastor's responsibility. It is part of his duty of building up the Body of Christ. The pastor needs wisdom to select the song leader, the backup singers and the musicians. It is also important that the song leader prayerfully seeks the Lord for what choruses and hymns should be sung. Every chorus, every hymn, every remark, every Scripture should be part of the building of the Body. it is sad to say that very often the "worship team" - the pastor, song leader, backup singers and musicians come with little or no practice and preparation. As a result there is a lack of smooth flow as to the theme or tempo. As a result the congregation's adoration and worship expressions are yanked and jerked around like a roller coaster. Too often it is a tiresome series of highs and lows, instead of an ascending of incense where worship ascends, carefully orchestrated by the Holy Spirit unto a sweet-smelling savour unto the Lord.
Whether the pastor himself is the preacher or he has invited a visiting preacher, the pulpit ministry is his responsibility. What purpose is a sermon if it is not for building up the Body of Christ? Too often it is a ranting and raving "Hallelujahs", "Amens". "Glory be to God", "The Lord is a good God" that bear no content worthy of such lofty expressions. Too often if is a recital of disjointed, unrelated Scriptures and keep the worshipers rustling through the pages of the Bible trying to keep up with the barrage of Scripture references.
The pastor's sermon needs to be prayerfully prepared, and carefully thought out to convey a message, so that it will be food for the soul, strength to the weary, muscle for the difficulties ahead. The pastor must not leave the worshipers depressed, short-changed, empty and disillusioned, unprepared to face a complex world. The pastor is responsible for himself and his staff/leaders to so prepare and direct the sorship service that the worshipers will say, "It was good for us to be in the house of the Lord"!
To build the Church is the greatest challenge heaven or earth can offer. It is the Lord's Body, the residence of God. It is made up of people, of God's elect. He is building His dwelling place for all eternity. But He uses people - He has invited pastors to be fellow-laborers. It must be done expeditiously. It must be done according to His Divine "Pattern." - It is composed of those who have experienced repentance towards God; of those who love Christ and hate sin; of those who are filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.
Leadership is commissioned to develop, mature, and cause such to be fitly framed together, forming a habitiation for God (Eph. 2:21, 22; 4:13). The health and maturity of such a Body will not result from forms and ceremonies, from endowments and luxurious buildings. it will come from the presence and manifestation of the living Christ. It will come when the people worship Him in Spirit and in truth, for He inhabits the praises of His people. It will come when the manna is gathered and enjoyed daily. The pastor is reponsible to present Christ, the Living Manna, in a palatable form to all assembled.
Where the Church is will-fed, well-exercised, well-informed and well-challenged, she will be well. The pastor's ceaseless efforts, ceaseless prayer with tears and crying, ceaseless study of the Word with example and experience, ceaseless anticipation in its growth and maturity, will lead into ceaseless joy, satisfaction and peace.
The Lord's vision becomes the pastor's vision
The pastor needs to exchange his weakness for the Lord's strength. The Lord's burden becomes his burden. The Lord's vision becomes his vision. He is gripped with an urgency to reach, teach and perfect the Body of Christ. His vision is extended beyond the Local Church, beyond his denomination and country. Even as the Lord sees only one Church, the pastor must also see one Church. People may worship differently; their methods of prayer may be different; their music may be different, but they all love Christ. They are forming not many Churches, but one Church, one Tabernacle. Each member is fitly framed together. The golden rod of the Spirit has passed through each member binding them together in love. To such a Church He whispers: "I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5). My beloved is mine!"
The Lord longs that His Church would give Him due love and honor.
To His Church He says: "Be ye holy for I the Lord am holy. Be conformed to My image, for you are My Body. I am preparing you to be a Holy Bride for a Holy Bridegroom to dwell in an eternal holy place prepared for you."
To the pastor (shepherd) He pleads: "My shepherd, there are so many in your care that are not holy. I have chosen you as their shepherd, but their perfection I am charging you with. Have you cared for the wounded, or did you know they were wounded? Worse yet, have you wounded them by your cutting remarks and failed them by your careless living? Do you know those sheep by name and have you loved those lamb? I am holding you, pastor, responsible to feed them so they can be reproductive and profitable. Every unprofitable servant in your charge will be a charge against you. Have you lived for your sheep or have you merely lived off the sheep? When they suffer, do you suffer with them; when they rejoice, do you rejoice with them? What did you do when false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing, deceived them and carried them away with false doctrine? Did you go after the wayward and lost, forsaking your own to restore the lost? With all these I have charged you with, and many more, shall I charge you with being an unprofitable servant?
The pastor and his reward
To pastors who have responded to the call of God and have been fruitful and have fought the good fight of faith, the Lord's reward for them is commendable. As Paul said: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day" (2 Tim. 4:7, 8, NKJV, emphasis added). Besides the "crown of righteousness" here are some other rewards:
To those who have been faithful in soul winning:
"Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3, NKJV).
To those who have been humble servants:
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42).
To those who have been faithful stewards:
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'" (Matt. 25:23).
To those who have been faithful in the Lord's wineyard (Church):
"Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor" (1 Cor. 3:8).
To those who have sown bountifully:
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Cor. 9:6).
To those who have been faithful in their work:
"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matt 16:27).
To those who have been faithful to find the lost sheep:
"And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:6, 7).
To those who have been faithful in benevolence:
"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil" (Luke 6:35).
To those who have endured persecution:
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:11, 12).
The above are only some of the rewards and you will find many more. For example, those who have been identified as overcomers mentioned in the seven Churches in Revelation 2 and 3, will receive many other rewards.
Our God is a good and faith God!
No comments:
Post a Comment