The Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ
The church is not a true reflection of the church originally establish by the Lord Jesus Christ in the beginning. The church today is full of tolerance and compromise in the name of Jesus that even the Biblical teachings are tainted by the lack of the Holy Spirit. It is a reflection of the fall in Israel as a nation in the Old Testament and we need to heed the warnings given to us in scripture. We need to follow the clear call back to repentance throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Just because we call ourselves a “church” does not mean that we are following God’s direction. Many churches today are so focused money and numbers that they will do and allow anything to guide their ministries (programs). We need to put the Holy Spirit back into the church and allow Him to guide and direct the church in God’s vision and mission for the world. Are we the Body of Christ or the reflection of the world?
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV)
Why is it so difficult for people to accept the idea of a monotheistic God who is omniscient, omnipresent, eternal and at the same time ever involved in the lives of individuals? We hold on to the gods in our lives like they are the very thing gives us breath. If we approached our obedience and love of God that way, then would truly see everything in a different light. The Holy Spirit is given to those who truly love the Lord their God and believe that He is who He says He is and obeys Him. The denominational schism dilemma is evidence of the faultiness of the church today. One denomination believes that their beliefs descended from John the Baptist and another says that they are from teachings of John Calvin. Even others, worship the ground that John Wesley walks on and they have journals and books dedicated to their theologies. There are others who, sadly enough, believe that you cannot be saved unless you speak in tongues or baptized.
The Christianity that morphed from its foundational beginnings with Jesus and later with the Apostles is not the Christianity of today. I do not believe that Christianity today is not what Jesus established. The Apostle Paul in these verses in his letter to the Ephesian church established firmly that there is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one baptism, one faith and one God and Father of all. The one body means that all these different churches that say they are the right in doctrine and everyone else are heretics, do not know or understand the scriptures. God the Father, through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit established a single church. Jesus was not Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Apostolic Church, Catholic, etc. Do you think that God the Father shared with Jesus in their time together the plan for many denominations? Or maybe He said, “Look Jesus, I want to set up all these churches where the people believe just a little differently than these over here. I want to do this because I do not want another Babel on My hands.” No! I don’t think so. Denominations were created by man and they are human institutions established by human standards. I say this because in many cases there is a slight twist to interpretations of scripture, many times to the advantage of those who wish to justify themselves to others. Enough of the soap box!
The assembling of believers in Jesus Christ are called Christians. True Christians are those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for teaching, comfort, power and strength. Jesus said for us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. But, He added to this the greatest conditional statement and that is to love one another as He loved us. Jesus loved all people equally with the unconditional love of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
(John 16:13)
This scripture is just as true today as it was then. When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He was preparing them for His coming death. The same Holy Spirit that is in Him will be in you. How do you think we are able to live Christ-like life? It is not because we are so good that we deserve it or that we had bunch of truly Godly people pray a Holy Spirit prayer over us as they wail and shout gibberish that we don’t understand. The Lord Jesus Christ gives you the Holy Spirit and if you speak in tongues that is great and it is your gift. But, you do not have to speak in tongues to be saved! The Holy Spirit tells you and works in you only what God the Father reveals to Him, not what a preacher tells you is right. Test the spirits and the word spoken!
The church must rely on the Holy Spirit for leadership and guidance. Because humanity has dictated the path for the church, it is heading down the same path as the Israelites of the Old Testament. For the church to grow into the Body of Christ it was designed to become, then the must look to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for direction. Why is it so difficult for people to accept the idea of a monotheistic God who is omniscient, omnipresent, eternal and at the same time ever involved in the lives of individuals? It is because of the sinful nature that resides within that drives the inner need to control our surroundings. People, even Christians, have a tough time accepting the idea of God having access or even knowledge of their inner most thoughts and desires. If God keep to times of the week, then they have gained the upper hand and therefore control of their own life. Give the Holy Spirit your whole life and you will grow spiritually by leaps and bounds. This is a promise of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God never breaks a promise.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1-3 NKJV)
The church also needs to rely also on the Holy Spirit for the establishment of leaders in the Body and that represent the Body to the world. The church is the Body of Christ. It is not a building. It is an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ and His teachings. But, too, the church is the training ground and equipping center for God the Father’s vision and mission to redeem His fallen creation back into a right relationship with Him. Every Christian is called by God to be a minister of the gospel of Christ to the world. Those who are called into leadership in the church must enter that position with much prayer, fasting, and being full of the Holy Spirit. Barnabas and Saul was not chosen to be sent out into the world lightly. Saul, after all, was one of the most feared persecutor of the church known. It took the opposites sides of the same coin, Barnabas the son of encouragement and Saul the feared God driven persecutor, to form the Holy Spirit team in motion as never.
When Stephen and the others were chosen to wait tables of the Greek widows that were neglected, these were chosen by God because they were full of the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 6:1-4). Then, you might wonder, why do you need to be full of the Holy Spirit just to wait tables? Every task given by God are of equal importance to Him. Why should we have to ask? Waiting tables, cleaning toilets, cooking meals, preaching, teaching, they all must be led by the Holy Spirit to be a Godly pursuit. It is the Holy Spirit who determines the direction of the call as per God the Father’s instruction. When you look at the commission of Saul and Barnabas, you see a strategic move by the Lord to spread His gospel effectively throughout the known world. Stephen, on the other hand, is demonstrating total dedication and commitment to obedience to the gospel of Christ. The Holy Spirit could work in his rather short life and he spoke with boldness and confidence regardless of the cost. Not everyone will lose their life for the faith, but many have and many more will. What is the price your church is willing to pay in faith for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Imagine the effect on the world or even your community if everyone in your church gave the Holy Spirit full authority in their lives! I pray that this has made you think of who your church and the people are serving. Seek and receive the Holy Spirit into your lives and your Christian world will never be the same. To God be the Glory!!
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, as we serve you in spirit and truth, show us Your great mercy and grace. Forgive us, O Lord, of our sins and guide us as a unified body of Christ through the power and work of Your Holy Spirit in obedience to Your Will. Thank you lord and Praise to Your Holy name for all of Your Mighty Blessings. To God be the Glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen.