The remarkable involvement of the saints recorded in the New Testament depicts an unhindered flow the the Holy Spirit, absent of the controlling hand of man. Within the sacred pages, the budding smells, sights and sounds announce a long awaited Springtime. As winter’s icy grip cannot arrest the coming of spring, the powers of darkness and the dread of death cannot silence the Holy Spirit. All the demons in Hell and every imagination and tradition of man raised up against the knowledge of God will be overthrown when confronted with Jesus. Our triumphant Lord leads His Church, making disciples of all nations and filling the earth with His kingdom come.
The acts of the Body of Christ really come to life with the advent of Pentecost, recorded in Acts and the Epistles of the New Testament. The record describes God’s people speaking in tongues, prophesying, witnessing, praying, working miracles and signs, and doing deeds of kindness. His people gather together with gladness and sincerity of heart, taking care of widows and orphans, joyous in persecution, weeping with the sorrowful, and rejoicing with the glad hearted. Bible history recalls Jesus’ disciples carrying on His work, seeking and saving the lost wherever they can be found.
Conspicuous by its absence is even the hint of an overbearing organization, ecclesiastical distinctions or artificial constraints of time. Instead, within the Church, the presence of delightful happiness, freshness of first love, and generosity like the Spirit of Christmas abound through lives given to God and joined in one Body, sharing one purpose, having one hope, and accepting one another just as they are accepted by God in Jesus Christ.
His Church, a motley crew and uncontrollable, humanly speaking, rejoices, not drunk with wine, but filled with the Holy Spirit. A church designed for the Ministry of the Many, Jesus leads and builds His Church through the obedient service of the many saints gathered.
Moses, the man of God, talked with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11) and yet he also recieves the description as the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3). For these two confirming reasons it isn’t surprising that Moses first revealed God’s heart and intention to accomplish His will by working through His many saints.
Numbers 11:24-29: 24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. Also, he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and stationed them around the tent. 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.
26But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied in the camp. 27So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!
Joel, the prophet, also foretold a coming day when the office of prophet and the personal experience of the indwelling Holy Spirit would expand exponentially.
Joel 2:28,29: 28It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Luke 3:23: 23When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph...
Luke 9:1-6: 1And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. 3And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. 5And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Luke 10:1-20: 1Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
13Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!
16The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Luke 9:49,50: 49John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
Jesus commanded all His followers, each one, to:
GO! Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to obey Jesus’ commands.
KNOW... His guiding, providing, comforting, loving, strengthening presence.
Matthew 28:18-20: 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus has the right to COMMAND based on His supreme authority over all creation, including you and me. He owns the right to command and the right to demand obedience. We simply obey and experience the peace and joy of entering into our mission.
Matthew 28:18: 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
I can’t remember the last time I saw an honest to goodness “chain letter,” but Jesus’ commission recorded in the Gospels has all the distinguishing features. Our Lord’s command and promise, initially delivered to the immediate few (perhaps as many as 500) at His ascension, initiated “marching” orders to pass on to all disciples until the End of the Age.
Matthew 28:20: ...20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Jesus directed His final earthly command to His apostles and disciples present with Him on the mount as well as all those called by His name for all time.
In doing so He unleashed a mob in the world; a mob of mercy doers sent out across the face of the earth, filled with the perfect love of God and carrying with them their personal, intimate relationship with Jesus and the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Believe on Him whom I believe. Follow Him whom I follow. Love Him whom I love and by whom we are all loved.
Our Lord coupled His awesome command with an equally incredible provision, “Wait until you receive the promise of the Father which I will send to you and you will be endued with power and you will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). We need to receive His promised One, asking God to make us poor in spirit, to fill and possess us with the Holy Spirit, and to make us to know Jesus more and more. He will gladly give.
Experiencing the personal presence of Jesus Christ and knowing His promise of the same to each one of His followers fulfills all. Jesus is Who we need and He has what we need.
Allow the Holy Spirit to write God’s word on your heart. Share it with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Use the treasure you have been given in Christ to benefit another. Give generously; receive thankfully; live joyously!
Colossians 3:16: 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Ephesians 5:19: ...19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Iron sharpens iron and consequently a man sharpens his friend’s countenance (Proverbs 27:17 paraphrased). We mold together on this journey, for whatever we possess models the gift of His grace in our personal life. If we believe ourselves wise in one matter, chances are we are foolish in another. With humility surrender and engage the aid of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Romans 15:14: 14And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:14: 14We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Jesus lived a life of service and enjoins us to imitate Him. After all, He is the Bread of Life reaching from the wantless realm of glory to serve famished ones; their hunger to satisfy. He is the One who pours forth rivers of Living Water, flooding parched souls in a waterless world, their thirst to assuage. You and I are called to follow in His footsteps.
Galatians 5:13: 13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Mark 10:45: 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
1 Peter 4:10,11: 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
A roaring campfire extinguishes more quickly and easily after separating the flaming logs. You and I need each other to help keep the kindled love of God blazing in our hearts. Distractions can sap our zeal and dampen our love, “little-fox” sins, small discouragements, unexpected oppositions, or the simple predictability of daily, mundane responsibilities. When warmed by the flame of another saint’s burning-life love, our own love for Jesus and His brethren reignites.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: 11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Hebrews 10:25: ...25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 3:12,13: 12Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
We should always strive to enrich the saints in every way possible, whether by encouragement, teaching, admonishment, or our example of faithfulness, hope, cheerfulness, boldness or joy. Be generous with God’s grace. The more we give – the more we receive.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: 11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Hebrews 10:24: ...24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds...
Revelation 22:3: 3There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
Jesus, the supremely able and wise Leader, intends His saints to be fully equipped, trained and mobilized, engaged in ministry, and carrying out His will in the world. His will is to seek and save the lost, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them the commands of our Lord. Each one joining this happy throng is being built up and equipped; oblivious to the traditions of man and the norms of the age. Together with the many, they engage in the sacred and urgent task to seek and save the lost, baptize new converts, build up, equip and encourage the brethren till Jesus returns.
The problem is those who are lost in sin and the solution is Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. His saving vehicle is the Church and His method is the Ministry of the Many. The madness of His method provides no place for the controlling hand of man and unleashes a mob in the world; a mob of mercy doers sent out across the face of the earth, completely free to follow Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine?