What is the church? And what can we liken it to in Genesis 41?
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, “It is not in my power; God will answer concerning the well-being of Pharaoh.”"
"And the plan was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all of this known to you there is no one as discerning and wise as you."
Through revelation and dependence and faithfulness, the church should be a source of wisdom and truth to the whole world, an active participant and means of grace. Whether they choose to avail themselves of it or not, our lips should always bear the fruit of the Truth to them. We fill ourselves up with the sword of the Spirit which is the revealed Word of God, the mystery hidden until the proper time,
"For the word of God is
living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, and piercing
as far as the division of soul and spirit, both joints and marrow, and
able to judge the reflections and thoughts of the heart. " Hebrews 4
It is often said we should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted but that invites us to judge both the recipient and the Word of God and decide for ourselves which is necessary. If we are telling the truth to them, God will determine which it is to their heart.
"But thanks be
to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who
reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place.
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?" 2 Corinthians 2
Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts
Friday, March 31, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
What is the church? Stars in a dark world.
What is the church? And what can we liken it to in in Joseph as we see him amidst the Egyptians?
"And his master observed that Yahweh was with him, and everything that was in his hand to do Yahweh made successful."
"And the chief of the prison put all the prisoners that were in the prison into the hand of Joseph. And everything that was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief of the prison did not worry about anything in his hand, since Yahweh was with him. And whatever he did Yahweh made it successful."
We've talked about the church being witnesses. We've talked about the church being aliens. We've talked about Yahweh being with His church. So this might feel a bit redundant though i'm hoping for nuanced.
What gives our witness power, what opens the door for more specific witness, what makes us seem alien to them, is our obedience to the Law of Love that Yahweh has laid down for us in Christ Jesus. Love God with all you have, all you are, all you hope for and love each other as Christ loved the church and laid his life down for her. Then, love your neighbors, those whose need God blesses you to be able to fill, serve your neighbors with respect and love as if serving Christ Himself, for you are. For we can be aliens by just acting weird and no one will care to know the God who gave themselves up for them. We can be servants without love and no one will trust us. We can be at peace with our neighbors but never know them. We can be lights under a basket. We can be salt without saltiness. And the world will not know that God has come to dwell with them.
"For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God. Do all things without grumbling and disputing, in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world, holding fast to the word of life..." Philippians 2
The church is a light which shines on Christ.
"And his master observed that Yahweh was with him, and everything that was in his hand to do Yahweh made successful."
"And the chief of the prison put all the prisoners that were in the prison into the hand of Joseph. And everything that was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief of the prison did not worry about anything in his hand, since Yahweh was with him. And whatever he did Yahweh made it successful."
We've talked about the church being witnesses. We've talked about the church being aliens. We've talked about Yahweh being with His church. So this might feel a bit redundant though i'm hoping for nuanced.
What gives our witness power, what opens the door for more specific witness, what makes us seem alien to them, is our obedience to the Law of Love that Yahweh has laid down for us in Christ Jesus. Love God with all you have, all you are, all you hope for and love each other as Christ loved the church and laid his life down for her. Then, love your neighbors, those whose need God blesses you to be able to fill, serve your neighbors with respect and love as if serving Christ Himself, for you are. For we can be aliens by just acting weird and no one will care to know the God who gave themselves up for them. We can be servants without love and no one will trust us. We can be at peace with our neighbors but never know them. We can be lights under a basket. We can be salt without saltiness. And the world will not know that God has come to dwell with them.
"For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God. Do all things without grumbling and disputing, in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world, holding fast to the word of life..." Philippians 2
The church is a light which shines on Christ.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
What is the church? In Covenant.
What is the church? And what can we liken it to in Genesis 15?
"And he said to him, “Take for me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove and a young pigeon.” And he took for him all these and cut them in pieces down the middle. And he put each piece opposite the other, but the birds he did not cut. And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. And it happened, as the sun went down, then a deep sleep fell upon Abram and, behold, a great terrifying darkness fell upon him."
"And after the sun had gone down and it was dusk, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between those half pieces. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram..."
God promises. God swears by himself for there is no higher authority to swear by. God, who's yes is yes and no is no and has no reason to swear by anything, makes vows to us, his people. Why?
"For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them. In the same way God, because he wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath, in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us, which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast..." (Heb 6)
Okay, so what does God promise? What has God vowed to His church? Never mind that, just yet. Bask, meditate, reel from the staggering fact that He does!
"And he said to him, “Take for me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove and a young pigeon.” And he took for him all these and cut them in pieces down the middle. And he put each piece opposite the other, but the birds he did not cut. And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. And it happened, as the sun went down, then a deep sleep fell upon Abram and, behold, a great terrifying darkness fell upon him."
"And after the sun had gone down and it was dusk, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between those half pieces. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram..."
God promises. God swears by himself for there is no higher authority to swear by. God, who's yes is yes and no is no and has no reason to swear by anything, makes vows to us, his people. Why?
"For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them. In the same way God, because he wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath, in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us, which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast..." (Heb 6)
Okay, so what does God promise? What has God vowed to His church? Never mind that, just yet. Bask, meditate, reel from the staggering fact that He does!
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