Partakers Christian Podcasts

4 Questions

55. The Christian Disciple

Answering 4 Questions about Jesus

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1. What’s in a name?

I wonder what your name means.  People generally name their children for the hopes and aspirations about what their child will grow to become.  For example, the name John, means “the gift of God”.  I know somebody called Grace, and her nature is that of somebody full of grace. Nigel means “the champion”. My wife’s name means “Forever Beautiful” and she is!  Some remote tribes in New Guinea, who knew no English, called their children after some English words they had heard, and liked the sound of, without knowing the meaning.  One name was “Tinned Fish”.  Somebody else was called “Second Gear”,

My name of David means “beloved” and when my parents named me, it was meant to symbolize the love they had for me.  Although when I put the cricket ball through the kitchen window or the time I crushed the vegetable patch whilst running after a football, I did not feel very beloved afterwards!

When Jesus was born, his name imbued the very reason he was born. His conception and birth, were extraordinary at every level.  So important is our understanding of the birth of Jesus, that no fewer than 4 angels come to give us a full picture of the event.  Do you think that his parents, Joseph & Mary, or God, ever gazed upon him wistfully, and thought “How misnamed He is!”  They did not, because they knew the very purpose for which He was born. His name means “one who saves” or a rescuer.  His entire birth, life and death were centered around this very role.  His role was to save all those who would follow Him.

He is the most talked about person in history.  Almost everyone has an opinion about Him.  He was born to confirm God's promises and to reveal God as a Father, and to be our representative before Him.  In doing this, He gave us an example of how to live a holy life to the full.  He was not merely a man who received some special power, as some think.  He was not some strange creation that was half man and half God, with his human nature somehow absorbed into the divine.

2. Good moral teacher?

The ancient Grecian philosopher Socrates offered “how we ought to live”, as a working definition of ‘moral‘.  Did Jesus teaching reflect a good way to live, and if he did, what did he teach?  Jesus’ moral code, revolving as it would have done around the part of the Bible we call the Old Testament, can be seen in “do to others, what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Some people refer to this as the “Golden Rule“.  However, Jesus, as ever goes further than anybody else and says that it is not only the outward actions of a person that makes them morally good, it is also the internal attitude behind it.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, people such as Gandhi hold it as a paragon of virtuous teaching and regard Jesus as a great teacher.  Although, this is the best-known teaching of Jesus, it is also the least understood, and certainly the least obeyed.  Whilst Gandhi and his ilk see The Sermon on the Mount as a call to peaceful demonstration against provocation, this was never Jesus intention regarding this teaching.  It is as somebody once said “a picture of God’s alternative society… containing the standards, the values and priorities of God’s Kingdom”.  It was this that Jesus spoke in the Sermon, not as a general guideline for a pagan twentieth century pacifist to wallow in comfort and boundless joy.  Jesus was a good moral teacher, certainly at least to his followers, but was he more than this?

To claim he was merely a good moral teacher is a foolish thing to say.  Nobody could do or say the things that Jesus did, and not be God.  He would in fact have to be who he said he was, or he is either a liar and/or a lunatic.

3. Jesus - fully human?

That Jesus was a man is not really disputed.  The primary documents about Him, found in the Bible, says that  he was born of a woman which in itself tells us that at least in a prenatal state he was nurtured and formed as any other male baby was and is.  His genealogical line is given and He grew into maturity as any young Jewish boy did.  With his humanity, he exhibited normal human emotions such as love, weeping, sadness, anger and anguish.  Jesus ate and drank. He had a body and a soul. Jesus grew tired, he slept & perspired.  Jesus died just as all mortal people do.  Religiously, he worshipped as a Jew.  Not only these facts, but the 4 ‘biographies’ or gospels written about him acknowledge his humanity.  He was human in every way that we are - physically, mentally and emotionally.

The only exception to this, is that he was sinless, and yet we must ask could Jesus have sinned?  Yes he was tempted just as we are, but could Jesus really have succumbed to temptation?  We must conclude that while he could have sinned, it was certain he would not and did not.

But why did Jesus need to fully human? Firstly, so Jesus death could appease God’s anger with us. Secondly so that Jesus can empathize and pray for us.  Thirdly, Jesus exhibited true and perfect humanity.  Fourthly, due to his perfect humanity, Jesus is to be our example to follow.  Fifthly, true human nature is good.  Lastly, while God is both above and beyond, He is not so far removed from us, that He cannot interact with his creation.

4. Jesus - fully God?

This is what we celebrate at Christmas.  One of the church father’s, Anselm, wrote that God’s salvation plan for humans involved triumphant victory over sin, death and the grave.  However no person could be found that was eligible or capable to do this.  Because of this, God stepped into the human history, so that this victory could be achieved.  This God-man would be fully human, so as to live every feature of humanity, including suffering and death.  This God-man would also need to remain fully God, so as to defeat sin, death and the grave.  Jesus, being sinless, was this God-man, consisting as he did of two complete natures, the God nature and the human nature.

How is it possible, you may well ask. If you take a pint of milk, and you pour the milk into a milk jug, the milk remains milk, although it is now in another container.  In the same way, God inhabited a human body, thereby still being God, but also being human.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus is acknowledged as God.  The apostle John expressly calls Jesus, the Word or God.  Later on in his life, John expressly stated that Jesus was “the true God and eternal life”.  Jesus himself claimed equality with God and when He stated “your sins are forgiven”, some of the Jewish rulers attributed this as a God alone thing and thereby accused Him, at least in their minds, of blasphemy against God!  During the questioning when He was on trial for blasphemy, again Jesus equated himself with being God.

That Jesus is both human and divine, is what makes Christianity unique amongst the world’s religions.  It is why Jesus’ claims to be the only way to God are true and make sense, and it is why millions of people today worship Him and acknowledge Him as their Lord and their God.

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Future

52. Partake – The Christian Disciple and Things To Come

Some of the final words of the Bible say in Revelation 22v7 Jesus speaking “Behold, I am coming soon! To which the Apostle John replies in Revelation 22v20, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

As Christian Disciples living almost 2000 years after Jesus spoke those words, this is our hope – to be with Him who is coming again. He who is the object of our faith, worship and life of discipleship! And not just Christian Disciples talk about the “end of the world as we know it”. There are a plethora of books written about it from all sorts of people, from all sorts of backgrounds with all sorts of opinions. But what does the Bible say about the time when Jesus comes again and how are we to respond to this fact? What does the Bible say about the future things to come, seeing as it is the authorative source for the Christian Disciple?

1. The Second Coming of Jesus

I will come back and take you to be with me (John 14v3). He will come back the same way He went to heaven (Acts 1v11)

When will He come?

• No-one knows (Matthew 24v36)
• It will be unexpected (1 Thessalonians 5v1-3)
• There will be signs preceding His coming (Matthew 24)
• When the gospel has been preached in the whole world (Matthew 24v14)

2. Our Response to Eschatological Prophecy

• Be ready, waiting, watching and working (Matthew 24v42-44).
• Be alert, self-controlled, sanctified and encouraging of each other (1 Thessalonians 5v6-8, 11)

3. Different Responses to Eschatological Prophecy

The three main schools of prophetic interpretation are Amillenialism, Postmillenialism & Premillenialism. These 3 views depend on whether the prophetic parts of Scripture are to be interpreted literally or figuratively (Spiritually). I wont tell you my opinion as to which I think is the correct interpretation, but let you decide that for your self!

• · Amillenial View - Primarily a figurative/spiritual interpretation. This view sees the O.T. promises to Israel are being fulfilled in the church. The Millennium is the reign of Christ in the Church - the new Israel. The Church is already experiencing tribulation.
• · Postmillenial View - Christ will return at the end of the millennium - a golden age of the Church.
• · Premillenial View - Christ will return to set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years (Revelation 19v1-7). God promises to Israel of restoration, a future king and temple will await fulfilment. God has a separate programme for the Church.

4. Second Coming of Christ

The Premillenial view sees 2 stages in the second coming:

• · His coming in the rapture. This is when Jesus Christ returns to take His people to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4v16). The dead in Christ are raised and the living are changed (1 Corinthians 15v51-54)
• · His coming to Earth (Revelation - parousia). He will return to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14v4; Acts 1v11). He will come with power and glory (Matthew 24v30) and everyone will see Him.

5. Christ’s return to Earth

• · To judge the antichrist and his followers (Revelation 16v12-16, 19v11-16)
• · To bind Satan (Revelation 20v1-3) during the Millennium. Amillenialists see this as having already been done. However, Satan is still the ruler of this world (John 16v11).
• · To save Israel (Zechariah 14v1-3). Israel will repent, recognizing the One they pierced (Zechariah 12v10-13v1; Romans 11).
• · To judge the nations (Matthew 25v31-46; Joel 3v11-17)

6. Premillenial return of Christ

Christ will come and set up an earthly kingdom for 1000 years (Revelation 20v2-7). Amillenialists see this as speaking figuratively about Christ’s current reign in the Church.

7. History of Premillenialism and Amillenialism

The view of the church for the first 2 centuries was of a literal millennial return of Jesus Christ after the Holy Spirit’s return. Early church fathers such as Papias, Ireneaus and Justin Martyr taught this, and these men were not far removed from the Apostle John. Origen promoted the figurative (spiritual) method of interpretation and Augustine developed an Amillenial view, identifying the Church with the fulfillment of the O.T. promises to Israel and this became official Roman Catholic doctrine. Many scholars returned to the Premillenial (literal) view after the Reformation.

8. Pre-tribulation Return of Christ

Rapture - The tribulation is a time of judgment for unrepentant men (2 Thessalonians 2v9-12). God’s people would be excluded from such judgment (1 Thessalonians 1v9-10; 5v9). The Lord will come suddenly bringing destruction, while people are saying ‘peace and safety’ (1 Thessalonians 5v1-3). These conditions will exist before the Rapture, but not at the end of the tribulation.

Resurrection - The bodily resurrection of the dead, saved and unsaved, is clearly taught in Bible (John 5v28-29; Acts 24v15). Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection (1 Corinthians 15v20-22)

Christian Disciples

· Like Christ’s glorious body (1 Corinthians 15v49; Philippians 3v21; 1 John 3v2)

· Not flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15v50ff)

· Not partly spiritual (Luke 24v39; 1 Corinthians 15v42, 53)

Unbelievers

· They will be resurrected (John 5v28-29) and cast into the lake of fire

Timing of the resurrection

· 1st Resurrection - when Christ comes in the air to take Christian Disciples (1 Corinthians 15v23; 1 Thessalonians 4v16); some place resurrection of O.T. saints at the end of the tribulation.

· 2nd Resurrection - Resurrection of the unsaved after the Millennium (Revelation 20v5, 11-13)

Judgment - Certainty of judgment - He will judge the whole world with justice (Acts 17v31). Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9v27)

The Judge - God is the judge of all the earth (Hebrews 12v23). The Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5v22-27)

Judgment of Christian Disciples

Christian Disciples will not be judged for sin - this has been judged already (Isaiah 53v4-6; 1 Peter 2v24)

· Christian Disciples will be judged for their works. We will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14v10). We will be judged according to our works (2 Corinthians 5v10). The quality of our work will be tested (1 Corinthians 3v11-15). Our motives will be exposed either for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 4v4-5) or for our own glory.

· We will give account of the opportunities and abilities entrusted to us (Matthew 25v14-30)

· Rewards may be gained or lost (1 Corinthians 3v14-15)

· Incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9v25)

· Crown of glory (1 Peter 5v4)

· Crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4v8)

· Crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2v19)

· Crown of life (James 1v12)

Judgment of unbelievers

· The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20v11-15).

· After the Millennium (Revelation 20v11-15, 21v8).

· They will be cast into the lake of fire with satan and his angels (Revelation 20v15; Matthew 25v41). This punishment is eternal (Matthew 25v46).

For more to think about please do. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Read 1 Thessalonians 5v6-11. How am I living out these Scripture in my life as a Christian Disciple?

Q2. Read 2 Corinthians 5v10. If I were to give an account of my work today, what would occur?

Q3. Read Matthew 25v31-46. As a Christian Disciple, how does this affect my urgency to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.

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Church as Apostolic

45. The Christian Disciple and the Apostolic Church

John 17v18: “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”

There are two main reasons regarding the church being apostolic: apostolic mission and apostolic teaching. There is also a theory regarding the apostle Peter and papal succession.

Firstly, the two New Testament words translated as ‘Apostle’ are apostolos and apostolē, both of which signify mission and being sent out. Mission is at the heart of the apostolic church in that it is sent into the world with a Gospel that is for all. Therefore the two assured reasons that the church is apostolic, is due to its being founded on the authority of Apostle-based teaching as found in the New Testament, and apostolic mission as in the Great commission (Matthew 28v18-20).

Secondly the church is apostolic because the Church, according to Paul, is founded upon the teachings of the Apostles (Ephesians 2v20). The Apostles as witnesses to the very life and teachings of Jesus, and their teachings, were the identification mark that was considered normative practice for the early church. The Apostles still play a role in church life today, in that the church’s teaching, authority, life and preaching is based upon the apostolic teachings found in the New Testament.

Thirdly, there is a theory that the church was founded on the Apostle Peter, and that the church today has an apostolic link to him via papal succession. This is based on the thinking that the Apostle Peter was distinct from the other apostles in that Jesus always chose him first and that he spoke freely and independently from and for the other apostles. It is also based on the tradition of cathedra Petri that states that Peter alone had Episcopal authority, and that this is passed down through the Roman Catholic Church and its pope. This view is based on Peter’s confession of Jesus being the Christ, and Jesus stating that the keys to paradise are for Peter alone (Matthew 16v18-19). However this interpretation is erroneous and there are a multitude of objections to this theory. The principle objection being that all of Scripture, warrants that the church is founded on all of the apostles and all of their teaching, and not just on Peter alone. This is the correct view and to read anything else into the pretext and context of Matthew 16v18-19 is erroneous.

The means by which this hallmark can be tested in any church can be monitored in the function of Bible interaction. If the church is a community engaging in bible teaching, then the church can be seen to truly be ‘apostolic’.

Bible Interaction

The apostolic church devoted itself to teaching from the Apostles (Acts 2v42). One of the tests given to manuscripts in order for it to be considered part of the New Testament canon was its link to the apostles. Other tests included:

• Were they accepted as authentic and used by the Church?
• Were they in agreement with the doctrine handed down from the apostles?
• Self authenticating - Godly men and women could recognize God's Word.

What is the Bible? The Bible is the Word of God, and is the instrument of the Holy Spirit to bring people to faith (Ephesians 1v13) and ongoing sanctification (Ephesians 5v26). Paul writes that all of it is “God Breathed” (2 Timothy 3v16), in that it is inspired by God and has its origins in God. It is not just the ideas, but also the words that are inspired by God (1 Corinthians 2v13).

Why interact with the Bible? The Bible is capable of being understood by all God's people. God the Holy Spirit enlightens the minds of Christians Disciples, so that they can understand spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2vv10-16). Through interacting with the Bible, the church teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains people for the purpose of righteousness (2 Timothy 3v16). By interacting with the Bible, Christians keep from sinning (Psalm 119v11), are comforted (Psalm 119v52), have their minds focused on God (Psalm 43v3) and are sustained in a daily spiritual life (Deuteronomy 8v3). The church also interacts with Bible, as the Bible is a link to the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament), who are the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2v20).

What is the interaction?

There are five main ways in which Christian Disciples can interact with the Bible. Public reading of Scripture was regular in Israel and in the early church (Nehemiah 8v3). Presently due to high literacy particularly in the Western world, Scripture can easily be read in private as well as corporately. Memorization of the Bible was commended to “lay up His words in your heart” (Job 22v22). By reading and memorizing the Bible, meditating on it helps understand the implications of life’s occurrences and God’s blessings (Joshua 1v8). These three interactions lead to a fourth: that of obedience. By obeying the Bible the Christian Disciple learns to obey God, as it is His word (Deuteronomy 31v12).

Fifthly, preaching/teaching of the Bible receives the main emphasis in the New Testament, such as at the Church’s birth and Peter’s address to the crowd (Acts 2). After they were dispersed due to persecution, the Apostles continued preaching and teaching (Acts 8v4). Luke gives thirteen different words for preaching, and over thirty are used in the entire New Testament. Preaching is defined as God communicating Himself to man through other humans empowered by the Holy Spirit. For John Stott, preaching is the centrepiece of worship to God in the Spirit’s power.

These four marks of the church can be summarized like this. The church is one because Jesus is one; the church is holy because Jesus is holy; the church is catholic because Jesus is saviour of all; the church is apostolic because , as the Father sent Jesus who taught the Apostles, Jesus sends us to teach the Apostles teachings. It is these four hallmarks and their functions that are the test of whether a church is a biblical church.

For more to think about please do read 2 Timothy 4v1-5. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. As a Christian Disciple, do I need to change how I interact with the Bible?

Q2. As a Christian Disciple, why and how can I be watchful and endure?

Q3. Do I as a Christian work at telling others about Jesus?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.

Church as catholic

44. The Christian Disciple and the Church as Catholic

Jesus speaking in The Gospel of John 17v21 says “And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

The word catholic derives from the Greek word katholios, and its first written appearance is in Ignatius’ Epistle to the Smyrnaeans. Second century Christians used it to describe themselves signifying that God’s salvific truth was to be communicated across the world, transcending all barriers of nationality, cultures and language. The word was also used to symbolize their distinction from the heretics and their false teachings. In the mandate of Matthew 28v19, Jesus commands that the Gospel is spread throughout the world, and the church was to be His witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit. Whilst the other first century religions were exclusivist by race, intellect or other means, Christianity was unique in that it was open for all, regardless of gender, race, culture or class. Paul had this in mind when he wrote “Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.” (Galatians 3v28) The Gospel message proclaimed was for all people everywhere, including those with immoral pasts, just as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28vv18-20).

While ‘catholic’ may be defined as universal, it can also be understood as referring to the whole. This is because a ‘catholic church’ is a whole church, in so much as that the Gospel impacts every aspect of a human and the ‘catholic’ church addresses the heart, mind and will of all people everywhere. The church possesses in itself every kind of virtue, which can be named related to words, deeds or spiritual gifts of every kind.

It is also whole or universal in relationship to time and history; in so much as there has always been a people of God and will remain so after the end of time on earth. It is participation within the church of the past, the present church and church of the future, which reflects catholicity.

It is through the function of mission, that this hallmark can be tested in any church can be discerned in the church. If the community engages in gospel outreach, then the church can be seen to be ‘catholic’.

2.2.3 Mission

The Church’s mission is evangelism. This is sourced from the church being marked as catholic. Evangelism is the virtue of bringing God’s reconciling message of salvation to all people of all time in all places without barrier or hindrance. Throughout the Book of Acts, we see the commitment to mission in practice as God’s reconciling message spread through His church to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and into the Gentile lands. This was in response to Jesus words in Acts 1v8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

What is evangelism? Evangelism is purely telling others of God’s message of reconciliation to all people of all time. It is not forcing people to adopt Church standards (1 Corinthians 5v12) and nor is it simply a message of join the church as a symbol of good works (Ephesians 2vv8-10). This catholic gospel says that everybody has sinned against God (Isaiah 53v6; Romans 3vv10-11); nobody can earn their reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2v9); that God sent His Son Jesus to be born, crucified and resurrected so that salvation can be had for all people of all time (John 3v16; 1 Timothy 1v15); and that it is by acquiescing to God by faith in Jesus alone that people are saved (John 5v24; Acts 16v31).

Why evangelize? The prime motivation for evangelism is out of gratitude for what God has done for the church, in that the church loves because He loved first (1 John 4vv10-12, 14,19). It was this sentiment Paul refers to when he writes, “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Corinthians 5v14). The New Testament church told of God’s reconciling message out of an “overwhelming experience of God’s love” which they had received. Also God is a missionary God. Jesus was sent to save the lost and redeem mankind! The Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and the Son!

While some are explicitly called to be evangelists (Ephesians 4v11), it also falls on all members of the church to do the work of an evangelist, following the example of Timothy (2 Timothy 4v5). Scripture dictates several reasons for members of His church to share their faith. Jesus commands us to tell others of God’s reconciling message. In the last words of Jesus’ earthly ministry, His church was commanded to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1v8). Evangelism is also an expression of the Christian Disciple’ love for God, through obeying His commands (John 14v15). It is also the church’s imperative mission because the church is the vessel God has chosen to spread the message of reconciliation to all people (Acts 4v12; 2 Peter 3v9). Remember Paul’s words from Romans 10vv14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"”

For more to think about please do read 2 Corinthians 5v11-21. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. What is the message I proclaim as a Christian disciple, both in words and lifestyle?

Q2. How and why do I tell others this message, despite opposition?

Q3. What is my motivation for telling others the Christian message?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.

Church as Holy

43. The Christian Disciple and the Holy Church

Jesus speaking in The Gospel of John 17v17 & 19 says “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. … And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

1. The Church is Holy!

From this verse of Scripture, we see that Jesus prayed to the Father that his body the church would be holy! How is the church made holy? Through Jesus’ holy sacrifice on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work within individual believers (1 Corinthians 6v11). The church is holy, in that it is God’s separated people living in the community, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and through a perfecting faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 7v1). The church is not to be an exclusive and holy society secluded from the world, but rather God’s salvation bearing movement going out to the world. The church is also holy, in that every Christian is holy and declared righteous through a living relationship with Jesus (Romans 3v22). This means that the church has imputed holiness and is seen as the spotless and sinless bride. Despite being deemed holy, the New Testament church was also subject to doctrinal error (1 Timothy 6v3), immorality (Revelation 2v14) and division (1 Corinthians 11v18). Dare I say, that churches today, are the same!

Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and therefore a church’s relationship with Him, is identified through biblical morality and faithfulness to His teaching. When in the book of Revelation, Jesus did not find holiness in the churches he was condemnatory of them (Revelation 2v20), but continued to call them His bride. Augustine cites Christ’s holiness as the reason for the church being holy, and the church will be made perfect on the last day.

However, being holy does not just mean being sinless. Holiness also means to be separated out and set apart for God’s special purpose and work. This work is that the Gospel may be spread to all parts of the earth, by his chosen people, the Church - people who are and were being sanctified by the Holy Spirit and rooted in Gospel truth (2 Thessalonians 2v13-14).

For Luther, the church is holy because “God’s word cannot be without God’s holy people and conversely, God’s people cannot be without God’s word.” By this, he means that wherever the Bible is preached faithfully, the church consisting of God’s holy people also resides.

The method by which this hallmark can be tested in any church can be observed in the function of worship. If the community is a worshipping community, then the church can be seen to be ‘holy’.

2. Worship derives from holiness

Worship as a church function derives from the hallmark of the church being holy. Worship is an intimate, dynamic and holy encounter with God, because Jesus is in the midst (Matthew 18v20) and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Philippians 3v3).

What is worship? Worship is giving God alone (Psalm 19v2), glory due His name in the beauty of His holiness (1 Chronicles 16v29). The prime element of worshipping God in the context of a church is reverence. This is where through the willing use of the mind and the senses, honour and respect are directed towards God. This is to be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4v24). Spirit denotes the personal status of worship involving the entire person – mind, body and will. Truth speaks of worship’s content, in that all true worship reflects God’s character. Worship therefore is multiform in practice, with richness in the breadth of its distinctive styles, to the one God deserving of our all. The Christian Church has 2000 years of worship resources, all of which can be used in modern Church services, and not just the songs from the last 2 years

Why worship? There are various reasons as to why the church worships God, although primarily because God commands it, as 1 Chronicles 16v29 reminds us “Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendour”. The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, also clearly commands people to worship God alone (Exodus 20v3-10). Not only is it a command, but God deserves worshipping by His church for He alone personifies goodness (Psalm 100vv4-5), mercy (Exodus 4v31), holiness (Psalm 99v5,9) and power (Revelation 4v11). Thirdly, God is to be worshipped by His church in obedience to Him as creator (Revelation 4v11) but also as its Saviour and Lord (Habakkuk 3v18). Worship also brings exuberant satisfaction (Romans 12v2; Colossians 3v24).

Expressions of worship: Scripture speaks of various means by which the church worships God, including joyful singing (Psalm 100v2; Ephesians 5v19) and public declarations of praise, as Hebrews 13v15 states “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.”

Perhaps the greatest manifestation of public Church worship is seen in the two ordinances (or sacraments) of the Eucharist and Baptism. Celebrating Holy Communion is in direct obedience of Jesus’ command that all Christian Disciples are to celebrate the remembrance of Him (Matthew 26vv26-28; Luke 22v19). Partaking in Holy Communion not only symbolizes His death for our sin (Luke 22v19), but also symbolizes the Christian Disciple’s acceptance of Christ’s death for them and their dependence on Him for spiritual life.

Baptism, which is commanded for all Christian Disciples (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38), naturally follows after conversion (Acts 2:37). To be baptized means to be baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3), which symbolizes a total identification with Jesus as a result of being baptized into His body (1 Corinthians. 12v13) and into His death (Romans 6vv1-6). Through baptism, the Christian Disciples’ sinful natures are seen as dead with Christ (Romans 6v6), and we are raised to live a new life with a new nature (Romans 6v4)!

For more to think about please do read 1 Chronicles 16v23-36. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Why do I as a Christian Disciple, worship God in a church?

Q2. How does worshipping God, help me in my relationship with Him?

Q3. How is the inherent link between holiness and worship, help me grow in Holiness?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.

Church as One

42 - The Christian Disciple and the Church as One

Jesus speaking in John 17v11 says “Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.”

From this verse of Scripture, we see that Jesus prayed to the Father that his body the church would be involved in a united and dynamic relationship (John 17v11). By the way, when referring to church here, I am speaking of the one universal and invisible church, and not the local visible churches. There can only be one church, because there is only one body through which salvation can be found within. It is unique and it is Jesus Christ’s Bride, Body and Temple. There is only one Christ, ergo there must only be one church. The unifying fellowship people have with each other is founded only upon Jesus in what Jürgen Moltmann calls the “assured and consistent fellowship of Christ.” There was only one Cross, therefore there can only be one Kingdom and church. There is only one God, therefore there could only be one people and one church known by its unity (Ephesians 4v4-6). Jesus stipulated that there is one shepherd and one flock, when referring to Himself and his followers the church (John 10v16).

Unity however does not infer uniformity. On the proviso that core beliefs are maintained (1 Corinthians 15v3-4), there appears to be room for some digression regarding secondary beliefs (Romans 14v1–15v13). Individual churches have different local needs to be faced, and have therefore dissimilar requirements. For a group to claim that they alone have the ultimate truth and are the only true church is systematic behaviour of evil cults and sects.

Self evident of this approach are the differing worship styles of the New Testament church. Whilst most persevered with a Judaist worship model, others followed a different format (1 Corinthians 14v26-40). To further illustrate the problem faced by having one universal church yet a multitude of visible local churches.

There are four distinct approaches which help explain this tension: imperialist, platonic, eschatological and biological.

• The Imperialist view is favoured by the Roman Catholic Church, which claims that it is the only one church that can be observed as having unity, thereby signifying its claim to be the one true church.
• The Platonic viewpoint claims that there is a basic distinction between the historical church and the ideal church.
• The Eschatological viewpoint follows Calvin’s theory of the invisible church becoming visible and known only when revealed at the last day and all present disunity will be abolished.
• The Biological approach takes the view that the historical church develops and evolves like tree branches.

However Ignatius’ maxim, “ubi Christus, ibi ecclesia” dictates explicitly that the church’s unity is found only in Christ. The united church is a spiritual entity, not to be judged by external signs and values but to be founded only upon God’s unity within the Trinitarian Godhead.

As for the sacraments, the Eucharist is celebrated together, hence its name in some traditions as Holy Communion. Baptism is done with others as a means of fellowship, with others performing the baptism and acting as witnesses. The means by which this hallmark can be tested in any church is revealed in the function of fellowship. If fellowship exists and is functioning, then the church can be seen to be participating in this hallmark and be ‘one’.

Fellowship

One particular aspect of the church being ‘one’ is that its members have fellowship, resulting from walking with one another (1 John 1v7). The church is a gathering of humans, engaging in human activities with human “customs, texts, orders, procedures and possessions” through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is fellowship? This is rooted in the words koinōnia and koinōneō, which are defined as a mutual sharing together, and not merely a mutual association. It was both in having fellowship and giving fellowship that the New Testament church understood fellowship.

Why fellowship? When Christian disciples fellowship with each other, God is glorified as a result (Romans 15v7). It is as a collective body that the Church fellowship grows in grace and maturity together, overcoming by grace, the weaknesses of each individual member (Ephesians 4vv12-16). Another reason for fellowship is for mutual exhortation “toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10v25). By this the lives of individual church members can live a consistent godly life, particularly if sins are confessed to each other (James 5v16).

New Testament exhortations to live holy lives are said to groups (Romans 6vv1-23). Victory is also seen in the eyes of a fellowship, rather than singular individuality (1 Corinthians 15v57; 1 John 5v4). Whilst God deals with us as individuals, it is through fellowship that God strengthens the individual, for individuals are “complemented, supported, healed and compensated” by other Christians. These are all very good reasons why all Christian Disciples need to find a Church to attend!

How do we fellowship? Biblical fellowship sees the church having common purpose (Psalm 133v1-3), belief (Acts 2v42), hope (Hebrews 11v39-40) and needs (2 Corinthians 8vv1-15). Just as Christians have fellowship with the Father (1 John 1v3), Jesus (1 Corinthians 1v9) and the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2v1), so do they have with each other (1 John 1v7). The things a fellowship shares are, but not limited to, possessions (2 Corinthians 8v4), sufferings (Philippians 3v10) and the Gospel (Galatians 2v9; Philippians 1v5). By participating in His suffering and having fellowship with Jesus through his own sufferings, Paul was able to enter a deeper relationship with Jesus.

For more to think about please do read Ephesians 4vv1-16. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. What effort can I make to show the world the unity of the Church?

Q2. What can I say if somebody thinks a Christian disciple doesn’t have to be attached to a local church congregation?

Q3. What results from me doing the work God has for me in His church?

Crucified

31. Partake – The Christian disciple and the Cross

Jesus said in Mark 10v45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Not only without Jesus’ death on the cross would there no Christianity, but also there would be no hope for the world! The interpretation that we place on Jesus’ death is paramount! That He died is without doubt, but why did He have to die and what gain do we have as His disciples?

The Situation!

God's Character

By His very nature, God is loving and compassionate, forgiving, faithful and slow to anger - Exodus 34v6-7. That is the part if we are honest we are most comfortable with!! Yet God is holy, righteous and just and must punish sin because of this very same nature. That is the part we as 21^st century people are uncomfortable with! We love to think of God as being all love and gentleness, but don’t like to think of Him as a Judge who must punish sin!

But remember that God loves righteousness and hates wickedness (Psalm 45v7). Therefore sin must be dealt with and it cannot simply be ignored. God is set apart from humanity and holy, and if He wasn’t, He could not be worshipped. So, how can God be both just and the Justifier of sinners? He does this by declaring sinners righteous! But why does He do this and where do humans fit into the picture?

Humanity's sin

Sin is what separates humans from God and as a consequence leads to both a spiritual and physical death (Romans 6v23, Isaiah 59v2). Nobody escapes as all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3v23). In the Old Testament, sins were dealt with by blood sacrifices of atonement as coverings for sin (Leviticus 17v11), for without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9v22).

A blood sacrifice is God's way of dealing with sin. These blood sacrifices of the Old Testament signified several things:

· It provided a covering for sin.

· It showed the great cost of sin.

· It was an exchange or substitution.

· It was only always going to be a temporary measure as it points forward to Jesus' death

The Solution!

The solution lies not in continual animal sacrifice of the Old Testament because Hebrews 10v4 reminds us that the blood of animals cannot take away sin but was only a veneer or covering. That was why it was necessary to repeat time and time again! It is only through the death of Jesus, that sin is taken away (Hebrews 9:v11-15, 26-28), and that was only needed once! Therefore Jesus is our permanent sacrificial substitute!

Substitution

Jesus died for our sin, the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3v18). That is how God is both just and the Justifier of sinners. That is why Jesus needed to be both fully God and fully human! If he lacked either, it would not be the full substitutionary sacrifice that was necessary to bear the permanent consequences of sin! For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, (Romans 5v6-8), willing giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10v45) and when He died in our place on the cross, he bore the consequences of all sin – past, present and future. This substitution was the sacrifice, or sin offering, required in order that Jesus as the Lamb of God could take away the sins of the world (John 1v29). He therefore became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5v21) and it was His precious blood as a lamb without spot or blemish (1Peter 1:18-19) that fulfils God’s requirements permanently. He was the propitiation for all sin!

Propitiation

Now we must remember that with sin, God is angry (Psalm 7v11). Towards sin and sinful behaviour He has great fury, anger and wrath (Jeremiah 21v5). Hebrews 10v30-31 reminds us, “It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God.” Yet as Micah 7v18 “He is slow to anger and quick to forgive”. Propitiation basically means the turning aside of God's anger by the offering of the sacrifice of Christ. God's anger and judgment of sin falls on Christ, instead of us. We need to approach God to appease His anger, in order to accept it (Romans 3:25; Isaiah 53:5; John 2:2, 5:6).

Romans 3v25-26: God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away sin, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

1 John 2v2: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4v10: This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice (or propitiation) to take away our sins.

To some people, even some in the church, this is abhorrent! The very thought that God could willing send His son to be a blood sacrifice for sin is tantamount to abuse, some say! However God’s requirements are very clear! John 3v16 says it all in response to this “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. If there was any other way, would not God have done it that way?

Redemption

Not only was it propitiation, but also an act of redemption! In the time of the New Testament, this word was used to refer to the buying back of a slave - the price paid to buy the slave’s freedom. God paid redemption so that humans can be freed from the slavery to sin (John 8:35 Romans 7:14). The price was paid (1 Peter 1:18-19) and so we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As Christian disciples, we are bought at a price, and we have a new position before God! We are bought out of slavery to sin, into glorious freedom where we are now slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:19); slaves to Christ (Romans 6:22). We are also Jesus Christ’s personal possession (1 Corinthians 16:19). But it is our responsibility to choose that way! God does not coerce forcefully – He leaves it as a choice for humans to make as individuals.

What is our response to this to be? Sacrifice, substitution, propitiation and redemption can be summed up in one word: love. For 1 John 3v16 states: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Jesus told us to take up our cross if we are to follow Him as His disciple (Luke 9v23). Are you as a Christian disciple willing to take up your cross and do all you can do to love others?

For more to think about, please do read John 10:1-18. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. What parts of my life am I still holding onto, that should be handed over to Jesus?

Q2. What is the best thing I can do, in order to be thankful to Jesus, for His death?

Q3. How can I, as His disciple, learn to listen to Jesus’ voice speaking to me?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

Sacraments

30. Partake – The Christian disciple and Sacraments

Jesus said “He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” (Luke 22v19-20)

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28v18-20)

These two events are what in the Protestant church are the sacraments: Holy Communion and Baptism.

What are Sacraments?

The word sacrament derives from the Latin word sacramentum, which is defined as consecrated and made holy. The sacraments as commanded by Jesus are ceremonial by nature. By spiritual and inward means are the sacraments made effective, useful and purposeful.

Sacraments are the outward rites given by Christ to the Church, as symbols of the saving truth of the Gospel. The Anglican Catechism rightly calls them ‘An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace’. There are three hallmarks of what a sacrament is: a visible sign of union with Jesus, points to invisible grace and there is a bond between the visible sign and invisible grace. For the Protestant church, baptism and communion are as Augustine stated the “visible words of God”, in so much as they point directly to the gospel – Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection. As Christian disciples we are obliged to follow Jesus’ commandments (John 14v15; 2 Corinthians 5v9). Therefore we should participate in being baptised (Matthew 28v19) and in taking Holy Communion (Luke 22v19). Martin Luther referred to them as the bath and the bread!!”

Baptism is commanded for all who believe in Jesus (Matthew 28v19; Acts 2v38) and it naturally followed after conversion (Acts 2v37; Acts 10v47; Acts 16v33). But what does it mean?

Meaning

Christian disciples are baptized into Christ (Romans 6v3), and into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is to show a total identification with Jesus Christ, whereby Christian disciples are baptized into His body (1 Corinthians 12v13) and His death (Romans 6v1-6). Our old inherent sinful natures are seen as buried with Christ and we are raised to live a new life with a new nature! Baptism is also a public testimony that Christian disciples have entered into God’s blessings. But who should be baptized?

There are two main schools of thought over who should be baptized.

Firstly there is “Believers baptism”, which is for all who confess faith in Christ and is mentioned frequently in the New Testament (Matthew 28v19; Acts 2v41). This was by full immersion, usually in a river or other public place.

Secondly, there is what is called “Infant baptism”. This practice and teaching was passed down by the Apostles and was current by the time of the early church Fathers, Origen and Tertullian. The basis for Infant Baptism lies in the Old Testament, where the sign of the covenant between God and His people was circumcision of the male babies. Baptism can be thought of as the equivalent in the New Testament and therefore applicable to infants (Colossians 2v6-12).

I wont tell you my opinion on which I think is the correct form, but let you think about and study it for yourself! Suffice to say, that God has used proponents of both opinions!

Holy Communion Depending on your church, it can be called amongst other things, the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper. Christian disciples are commanded to participate, as Jesus said: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22v19). Some churches do it every service and others do it monthly. Whenever we participate in it, we do it regularly as a remembrance of Jesus until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11v26)! The bread symbolizes His body broken on the cross and the wine symbolizes His blood shed on the cross. Therefore before we partake of the bread and wine, we are to examine ourselves and confess any unforgiven sin (1 Corinthians 11v28-29). This is done so because it would be hypocritical to eat it while harbouring known sin in our hearts and having fellowship with Jesus and others in the church!

Meaning

· Symbolizes fellowship with other believers in the universal church (1 Corinthians 10v17)

· We receive the benefits of His sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10v16)

· We spiritually feed upon Christ (1 Corinthians 11v24)

· Symbolizes the death of Christ for our sin (Luke 22v19)

· Symbolizes our acceptance of Christ’s death for us.

· Symbolizes our dependence on Christ for spiritual life.

All these symbolize the New Covenant made between God and Jesus’ disciples – a Covenant guaranteeing salvation!

Two other main views insist that it is more than just symbolic! Firstly, there is transubstantiation, which believes that the bread and wine actually become the blood and body of Jesus Christ. Secondly there is, consubstantiation, which believes that the body and blood of Christ are present in the Communion meal. However both of these views would indicate that Jesus Christ is being re-sacrificed and Hebrews 7v27 refutes these views. The bread we eat and wine we drink at Holy Communion, is only symbolic of his sacrifice and not a re-enactment.

I wonder if you noticed the common theme holding these two sacraments together is Jesus death? Without Jesus death on the cross, there would be no Christianity. How do Christian disciples remember the significance of Jesus’ death? As we have seen Christian disciples do this in two ways – through the twin sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion. So why is Jesus’ death so significant for the Christian disciple? That is what I hope to discuss next time.

For more to think about please do read Matthew 28v19-20 and 1 Corinthians 11v17-34. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. What lessons can I learn from the Corinthian church regarding Holy Communion?

Q2. What must I do next time I participate in the Holy Communion, and why?

Q3. How can I help those who haven’t been baptized and those recently baptized?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

Worship

29. Partake – Christian Disciple and Worship

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 105v1-6: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.”

One of the very essential growth elements for Christian disciples along with prayer and Bible reading is the requirement to worship publicly! There is a meaning of worship, whereby our very life is to be a spiritual act of worship according to Paul in Romans 12. However by worship, I want to talk about public acts of worship, as in a church or chapel service. When worshipping, the Christian disciple gives respect, honour and glory to God! When this is done in reverence, in truth and in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Christian disciple continues to mature and grow spiritually. But why do Christian disciples worship?

Why worship?

Perhaps the greatest reason that we worship is because God commands it! The 10 Commandments (Exodus 21v1-3) insist that God alone is worshipped, adored and paid homage to! As humans we are made in His image and as Christian disciples, He owns us because we claim Jesus to be our Lord and Master! So it is right and just that we give worship to this God who paid the penalty for sin, so that we may be His children, and wants us to call Him Father! As Christian disciples, we discover an inner personal satisfaction when God is worshipped and adored, both for the present and in the future (Romans 12v2; Col 3v24)!

Another reason to give worship is that God deserves our worship! All of God’s attributes demand that we revere and worship Him! His holiness, goodness, love, mercy and providence are but a beginning as to why He, and He alone, is worthy of our worship. It is by His grace that we worship Him!

What is worship?

Worship is, by way of act, attitude, or thought, a way of giving supreme honour and reverence to God! As Christian disciples, God Almighty alone is worthy of our reverence, submission and worship. There are many other things that are worshipped and thus are ‘gods’, with a small ‘g’. Money, careers, possession, other people are 21^st century examples of things which are worshipped by humans. Thus the threat of materialism is a huge danger to Christian disciples, because the worship of material possessions takes the supreme place of worship to God, and some Christian disciples have been duped by it! But the Bible clearly states that God alone is to be worshipped. For God is to carry the worshipping Christian disciple, and not the Christian disciple to carry the god. So how do Christian disciples worship?

How do we worship?

In some church services, a general confession of sin comes at the start. This is because before engaging in exultant praise, Christian disciples should approach with penitence and examine their inner selves just as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6. We also gather in expectation of meeting God and that He will receive the worship!

Worship services should consist of more than just singing songs. The church is 2000 years old and in that time a lot of resources can be found to help people worship, apart from singing songs! There are items like responsive prayers and psalms, whereby prayers and psalms are spoken between the congregation to each other and to the leader! There are times of silence, or times of spoken liturgy where truths of God are both spoken and heard. Saying the Apostles Creed or Nicence Creed help build the body in affirming their belief! Times of worship should be more diverse than just singing songs and should express the cultural and personality diversity of the people worshipping!

Other core parts of some worship services are the Holy Communion and Baptisms! These were fundamental in churches in the New Testament period and are just as important today! Holy Communion is where we as Christian disciples remember Jesus death for our sin, acceptance of His death for us; and our dependence on Him for our spiritual life. Baptism is where Christian disciples identify with death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I hope to elucidate on these two sacraments next time!

The third element of worship is the reading and preaching of the Bible! This where God’s word is read in public! This is where God’s Word is preached so as to that God’s word can be applied to the hearer’s lives!

The whole of a church worship service should be where the spiritually comfortable are discomforted and those spiritually uncomfortable are comforted! From 1 Corinthians 14v25, worship should be where non-Christians present can proclaim, “God is really among you”. So often our church worship services are flat, feeble and weak spiritually. At one extreme in churches, we have worship services that are flippant and no consideration to make worship an awe-inspiring time of devotion to an awesome God! At the other extreme we have worship services where everybody looks like they have been sucking on lemons, where grace is lacking. Somewhere in between, is where public worship should be. In the broad spectrum of being neither trivialized nor grace-less, is where our church worship services should be! Sometimes we need to worship, even if we don’t feel like it and pray for God to help us worship Him. Over all this, is 1 Corinthians 14v26, which plainly states: “Everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord”. Public worship is for encouragement of the worshipping group of believers and not for the individual worshipper.

For more to think about please do read 1 Corinthians 14v26-39. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. When I attend worship services, is it for the encouragement of others or just for myself?

Q2. What are my favourite elements of worship and how should I react to those elements I don’t like?

Q3. Does my life of Christian discipleship, match the words I sing and words I speak in church worship services?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

Armour

25. The Christian Disciple and the Armour of God

Paul writing in Ephesians 6v13-17: “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We have learnt previously something of satan’s strategy.  Satan wants you, as a Christian disciple, to compromise your faith.  He wants you to be fearful.  He wants you to have doubts and blasphemous thoughts.  He wants you to be a hedonist that only thinks of themselves and living a materialistic life.  He wants you to put off till tomorrow what you can do today.  He wants you to be an individual, instead of being involved in your local Christian community. At times we feel like giving up being a Christian disciple with the pressure applied on us by sin & temptation.  The thoughts that satan implants in our minds like “Did God really say that?” or in the insatiable thoughts of lust, revenge or pride. Doubts set in.  Guilt appears constant.  To help His people, God has designed spiritual armour for us to wear during our constant battle with sin & temptation.  This armour is what God wears according to Isaiah 59v17, when He goes out to battle! What are the hallmarks of this spiritual armour?  Cast all thoughts of a Roman soldier out of your mind!

· Truth - know, understand and live truth. Our lives are to be controlled by truth as revealed in Scripture. When we know truth so well, we can recognize the lies that we are told!

· Righteousness - live a righteous life.  Live the truth! When we started as a Christian disciple, before God we were given the righteousness of Jesus!  But that righteousness needs to be lived out in the lives of Christian disciples.  If it isn’t, then satan will attack!

· Gospel - be ready to share it and rely upon it. Because we have peace with God, we are able to withstand without fear the attacks of the enemy!  We have peace with God, but we are also to exhibit peace with others.  Where peace is, the discord of our enemy cannot prevail!

· Faith – show total trust in God for your life.  The faith we have is a defensive weapon against the mistruths that come into our head: lies, blasphemy, lust, greed, selfishness are all little darts thrown at us by satan.  By maintaining our trust in God’s promises and God’s power, these little darts are extinguished.

· Salvation - assurance of salvation.  Be assured! Let your mind be controlled by the Holy Spirit, so that you are not led astray.  Your salvation rests in nothing apart from God’s promises and Jesus’ righteousness!

· Bible - read and study God’s Word.  The Word of God, the Bible, is our attack weapon!  That is why we are to study it and learn from it, trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead and reveal it to us!  We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus according to 2 Peter 3v18 and that is only achieved through studying the Scriptures!  Then when we hear that nagging little voice that says “God didn’t say that”, we can say “Oh yes, He did!!”

· Prayer – talk to God.  This is how we are energized!  Fighting in our own power is useless! When we talk to God, we strengthen our relationship with Him!  When we ask other Christian disciples to pray for us, the Church unity is strengthened!  A solo Christian is an anomaly.  Except in extreme circumstances, there is always a way to ask for prayer and help.

How do we put on the armour?  It is not through some mystical, deep and secret process that the spiritual armour is put on.  If it were, not many of us would be wearing it!  It is revealed, whenever we resist the works of satan, and don’t listen to the lies he tells us in our head.  When our marriages, reflect the sacrificial love that Jesus has for the church, our spiritual armour is displayed.  When children are taught  the Gospel and instructed in the Lord, our spiritual armour is being worn.  When we are diligent in the workplace, our spiritual armour is exhibited.  When God is glorified in your life, you are wearing the spiritual armour! When are living fruitful lives for God, and giving all glory and honour to Him without compromise, we show we are wearing our spiritual armour!  We can stand up for Jesus and say with honesty and integrity that He is our Lord and our master.  When we meditate on God’s word, we nourish our minds with the truth of salvation! When we tell others of this message of peace with God, our enemies flee!  When we ask others to pray for us, as Paul did, we show we are part of the Church, the beautiful bride of Jesus! All these and more, reflect that as Christian disciples, we are clothed in spiritual armour.  It is our own responsibility to wear it and use it with confidence.  We are to be alert to the prowling of our enemies and relying solely on God’s power to overcome sin and temptation.  In our own strength we will surely fail, but by using God’s strength and clothed in His armour, we will prevail and overcome.  The Christian disciple prevails and is an overcomer when reliant solely upon the God they seek to serve wholeheartedly.

For more to think about please do read for yourself Psalm 1. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them.  Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. What are the contrasts between the ways of the godly and the ways of the ungodly?

Q2. In what ways am I bearing fruit in my life for God and showing I meditate on His word?

Q3. What can I do this week, to stop somebody walking down the path that leads to destruction?

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