There
remains a place in the fellowship of faith for times of social
exchange and support. It is within the context of such gatherings
that we can share together the joys of community achievement and the
frustration of hard fought conflict. We offer support and stand
together in the challenges and celebrate in the successes. This
assists in creating the bond within our fellowship that is essential
to our physical survival.
Yet,
there remains a fellowship of a higher calling. Relationships that
bring us to a place beyond human understanding. A place in Christ
that not only assists in establishing the well being of the physical
man but solidifies the spiritual bond within the Body of Christ. This
being a union which leads us into the spiritual realm and opens to us
the windows of heaven and an audience with the King of Glory.
The
support in and of the community of faith is very important to the
growth and development of our groups and individuals. However, that
is only one step in becoming the people God has called us to be.
I
fear that too many churches have focused primarily on the physical
nature of our fellowship to the neglect of the spiritual man. What
lies ahead for the Body of Christ will require a union created by the
indwelling of the Holy Ghost, producing a people who will look to God
in faith and believing for God to bring His will to bear upon the
Church and the world. That is what God wants for His fellowship of
faith. He desires to speak to His people. He desires to work through
His people. The world is filled with suffering, hopeless souls that
God wants to deliver and save. He wants to do that through the
Church! He wants to do that through YOU and ME!
Can
we as leaders in our churches bring our plans into submission to
God’s plan? Can we give our plans to Him so that He can use us in
His?
Just
what is God’s plan? Jesus said of Himself in Luke 4:18, “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach
the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” We can conclude by
Jesus’ own testimony that God’s plan is to preach the Gospel to
the whole world. His plan includes setting the captives free, to give
hope to the hopeless, to heal the sick and open the eyes of the blind
both physically and spiritually and to give liberty to all who are
oppressed by the Prince of this world. And He wants to do all that
through the Church. He wants to do it through YOU and ME! The
Pharisees didn’t want to hear it then and some in the churches
don’t want to hear it now. But that is God’s plan!
Jesus
said in Matt. 28:18, “...All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Jesus has given His power to the Body of Christ to finish the work
that he started in Luke 4:18. That is God’s plan. There is no other
plan!
As
the Body of Christ we are door keepers. Matt. 16:19, “And I will
give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” We hold the keys
to heaven’s door. As the leaders in our church congregations, we
are the door keepers. We will determine what will transpire inside
the doors of our churches. Are we spiritually sensitive to the
leading of the Holy Spirit that God can implement His plan in our
church. If we are, we will see Jesus do what He said He would do in
Luke 4:18. Let’s have church for the glory of God!
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