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Every Member Essential |
The SUPERNATURAL BODY
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:18¹
What is the ultimate worship experience? What, the ultimate church?What about the ultimate experience, in living?
What is Heaven like? Is it more like a theater, or like a family? Is the church on earth to be more an amusement park . . .or like an army?
Our answer to these questions may limit much of our walk with God, in the future. For, if we think of worship a largely walking into pretty buildings to feel good, and have "an uplifting feeling" (as when entertained) then the results of our worship, and expectancy in our walk with the Lord, will be quite different from those of a person seeing himself as part of a larger organism, ministering health to himself, and (ultimately) being part of a Heavenly Ambulance. (Please note, however, that this is much superior to any human "Ambulance," as such, patients are merely patched up, allowing them to heal on their own. In Christ, Life itself is administered -I Cor. 15:45, Eph. 2:1!).
Is this not the way God designed His body (the Spirit filled Church)? The body is an organism which feeds, and nourishes itself by eating and breathing, and with inward healing. As such, it is also able to stand, step across, and finally reach out, to assist others, outside of ourselves. If this body is unhealthy, it cannot stand up(!) If its cells are in rebellion (as with cancerous tissue) then we are dying, and in a battle for our own life. If we are growing and healthy, we perform great works for His glory. In fact, in the framework of the larger union (marriage) we can even reproduce, and bring into our fellowship brand new lives.
First, however, we must have life, within ourselves: we must (ideally) have all of our functioning abilitites, providing an overall purpose, for living. Considering these larger goals, Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, stands in a more serious light. We saw this earlier petition, in the opening text, to which we must return.—Recognizing the entire body, standing up, and ready to go however, we will skip to his second prayer. It starts out with Paul bowing his knees for the brethren, that we may (again) see something: It is the entire Body of Christ, in both Heaven and in Earth, under the Lordship of Christ (3:14,15)
that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Here, we begin to see those "riches." This time, it is to experience spiritual power, in the inner man. The Apostle Paul continues,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length and depth and height;
and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge; that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19¹
This is the ultimate Body: a fellowship of believers which realizes, and experiences "all the fullness of God." (How can you top that?!!) Yet did you notice, that this gift is not given to one person? It's given to the body. Or, as the apostle put it in the second chapter: This fellowship has a hope, grounded upon the historic reality of what God has done through the Jews (when delivering them out of Egypt, for example) and extended by what Christ has done, upon the Cross (in conquering the power of sin, and of Death!)
In other words, the Church is built upon a carefully laid foundation of prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (NT) — (vs 20)).In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom you also are built up together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21,22¹
Remember, the fellowship of believers in Christ, is the Body. This Body, we now see, God has been pleased . . . to make His Home. It is a "habitation of God through the Spirit." What on earth, does this mean, in every day practical terms???Quite simply, it means that one of the greatest experiences which we can ever have, in life—even greater than initial salvation (although this is essential, for eternal life), or more exciting than individual baptism in the Spirit (which yields some foretaste of Heaven –II Cor. 5:4,5) —is when an entire assembly of Spirit-filled believers, on one accord, actually allows God to minister His awesome wholeness, through each individual (i.e. to one another). When this happens, we each experience an expansion of our vision, well being, and love . . . until it explodes to those outside, in miraculous display. And just what, pray tell, is it which spills out upon others, when this healthy body explodes?
The mystery (yes, the riches) of the gospel! (Remember how it happened, in the book of Acts, during persecution, as they prayed? The very building, in which they assembled, was shaken! -Acts 4:24-31)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints:
And for me . . . that I may open my mouth boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:19,20¹
—And, with all of this power manifest, which the apostle Paul has just encouraged this church to nurture . . . he then makes special request that they direct their powerful energies. . . in his direction!
What am I getting at??? That there is an experience of power and glory, which is achievable, only when we go beyond ourselves: only when we start to consider others, and the Body of Christ, as more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:1-4). When this happens, God manifests Himself, in a manner otherwise impossible. He can demonstrate more supernatural power, and safely do this, because individuals are less prone to take the credit (since it is body ministry).
In practical terms, this means that I learn from my brother, as I earnestly look to see what God is doing in his life (Phil. 2:1-3, Heb. 10:25). Then, as I earnestly consider God's working in him, he does the same in this little one. The result is that neither sees himself, but others see us both. This is the mystery of body ministry on a micro scale.
Within Pentecost (Pentecostal assemblies) this goes even further, as the autonomous gifts (which we must mention, again -I Cor. 12:4-7) are subject to the headship gifts (I Cor. 12:28ff) and minister in a lively manner, to one another: sometimes in "free wheeling" prayer meetings (where each is allowed to pray, as the Spirit gives utterance, and as the leadership (i.e. the "Headship") administers).
Yet, from the outside, what is apparent is the leadership, just as one normally notices the face, and eyes, of an individual speaking to them. It is foolish to assume, however, that this is all there is, to the Person! Beneath that head, is a neck, torso, hands, and legs. Without these other members, that face which you see, is dead meat!
In a very real sense, therefore, just as a man would exercise his body, to increase his general well being, so to, the spiritual body of Christ must actively minister to itself, in prayer, fasting, and headship support (preaching, teaching, and in other ways)which makes the body more able to complete its mission (i.e. "work") for the Lord. Autonomous gifts take care of micro problems, much as the body takes care of viruses, within its organs. Larger problems require universal cooperation, and headship direction, as when a major infection attacks a body, and medicine must be administered, as directed by the head, to the hand, and into the mouth . . . .The ideal Church, therefore, is not an arena, where spectators sit in the bleachers, and a few “professionals” perform. No, if we are in an arena, then the entire church is out on the playing field, with each member doing his/her part, to make the winning goal. —And the prize we are seeking, are the spectators, who are deciding whether or not to join our team.
Further, it is very important to realize that what Paul shows us, in his letter to the Ephesians, is a supernatural body, which manifests unusual power, when working together. The reason for its riches (its supernatural quality) is because of Who its real Head is: Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One who has conquered sin and Death, through his victory on the Cross. Because of this, the Father has exalted Christ above everyone else,
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:22,23¹
In other words, when Christ said that we would do the same things as himself, and greater (John 14:12) he was not only referring to individuals, but also to his Body: the Christian Church.
= AUTONOMOUS =
Earlier, when mentioning the "micro gifts" (gifts available to every member, as the Spirit distributes them) we called them "autonomous gifts." This is because the true body of Christ often functions straight from the Head (i.e. from Christ, Himself). This is part of what Paul glories in, in his first prayer: allowing believers who are "prayed up" to get direct instructions from the Lord, regarding personal ministry (who to witness to, what to say, and how to comfort another brother or sister, etc, etc.)
When Phillip, designated as a deacon, was instructed to leave a local revival, to go and minister on an obscure Roman road, for example: we have no record of him "checking in" with Peter, on whether or not such activity would meet leadership approval. Phillip was walking in the Spirit. He knew the voice of the Lord, and obeyed.In areas of Holy Spirit ministry, this is often one of the hardest things for organized bodies to surrender: the fact that God has the ability (and desires to) minister directly through His Body. When breaking out of the Dark Ages, and into the Reformation, one has the distinct impression that the real engine behind the Vatican's resistance to Martin Luther's revelation concerning salvation by faith . . . was not really rooted in a concern for truth at all, but in a loss of control. For, believers who experience a personal walk with the Lord Jesus, realize a greater degree of loyalty to the Lord, himself (and less, to associations whose power is more rooted in organization, than in a living relationship in the organism, of Christ's Body).
When you really walk with Jesus, you fear God, more than you do men.
We have seen many advances, in the Christian fellowship, since the Reformation. We have seen the illumination of the Protestant Church, through the doctrine of justification by faith (Rom. 1:17). We've seen, and gained a greater appreciation of, believers achieving an assurance of their salvation through a witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). We have seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in a measure not seen since Pentecost (Acts 1:8). Yet, the ultimate experience for the Christian church is not in individual ministry, alone, but in a corporate unity of those obediently walking in the Spirit (not in ecumenical compromise!).
As has been intimated at other times, I believe that this is symbolized in the reactivation, and abundant unveiling (II Cor. 3:14-16), of a Jewish segment of the church soon to take place. Its unity, as we've just been discussing, will be so perfect, that John's description of them, as being "two witnesses" will be quite appropriate, since they will be so united and coherent, that the world will distinguish only these two incredible segments: Jew and gentile.Scripture also tells us of how it will commence:
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10
Do you wish an earthly miracle to pray for, and a present day goal, to look forward to? In addition to regular ministry, may I suggest lifting up the above promise, in prayer? It is what Paul calls a key to "life from the dead" for the body of Christ (Rom. 11:15). We've all been taught about it, but in a far off, and remote context.
Yet, the time for the time for this supernatural event, is now.
Don't miss out on it, for the world!
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¹ Authorized Paraphrase - Authorized Version, with "thees" and "thous" left out.
