THE CHURCH – Believe, Do, Be

 

THE CHURCH

WHAT ARE YOU TO BELIEVE  –  WHAT ARE YOU TO DO  –  WHAT ARE YOU TO BE ?

I submit that there are at least four basic elements of a Christian church, and not necessarily in this order: (1). Community, (2). The well-being of and the  ministering to the Christians in the church, (3). Training and teaching the Church (those within the church) the mindset, attitudes, methods and ways of Jesus, and, (4). Sending Christian disciples into the world to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that He has taught us. (This may be the order initially necessary to get everyone settled in, oriented to the mission, and then sent out on mission.

But in order of mission priority, it more likely would be, (first). Training and teaching the Church (those within the church) the mindset, attitudes, methods and ways of Jesus, and, (second). Sending Christian disciples into the world to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that He has taught us. (third). The well-being of and the  ministering to the Christians in the church, (fourth). Community.

Of course, each element is important, in and of itself, and are probably interchangeable depending on the stage of the Church Body growth and maturity. (I also believe that far too much emphasis is placed on church numerical growth and too little emphasis is placed on fulfilling the Great Commission.)

But this matter is not as ‘cut and dried’ as it sounds. Jesus spoke these words, “For God so loves the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Because He loves us, He is providing us with promises of our redemption from the curse of sin and death and our safekeeping both now and eternally with Him in heaven. This is the Good News.

This is not a labor of ‘blood, sweat and tears’, it is a labor of love. And, until the disciple fixes this in their mind and attitude, very little will get done in the Name of Jesus.

I would ask, what are we, as churches claiming the Name of Jesus, actually teaching and encouraging Christians to do? What are your church sermons, Sunday school classes, discipleship classes and revival meetings encouraging? Is the central and primary message the love of God through Jesus for our world? Does your church sermons and teachings inspire you to tell of His great love for them, and to warn them of the coming judgement? Are they teaching, encouraging and inspiring you to do what Jesus commanded and taught, or are we just teaching about the Bible and about Jesus?

Let’s take a brief look at WHAT Jesus thought, taught and WHAT Jesus demonstrated and told His followers, His disciples to do, and compare it to what you are doing in your local church Body. Then, perhaps, we would make some much-needed adjustments and return to the teachings of Jesus, and really live.

(I will garner this information directly from the Words of Jesus found in the New Testament of the Bible).

MATTHEW 4

This is the second recorded time in the New Testament that Jesus spoke:

Matthew 4:4, “But he answered, “It is written, ’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’.

First, the word “live” here is the Greek verb, zaó, which primarily means “to live” or “to be alive.” It is used in the New Testament to describe physical life, spiritual life, and eternal life. The term encompasses both the biological aspect of living and the qualitative aspect of life that is found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is often used to contrast life with death, both physically and spiritually.

In the Greco-Roman world, life was often understood in terms of physical existence and vitality. However, in the Jewish and early Christian context, life had a deeper, spiritual dimension. The concept of life was closely tied to one’s relationship with God, obedience to His commandments, and the hope of resurrection. The New Testament writers, particularly the Apostle John, emphasize the abundant and eternal life that Jesus offers to believers, which transcends mere physical existence.

The word, “word” in this verse is the Greek word, ‘stoma’, meaning “the mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword”. This is the breath or the breathed Word of God.

Jesus is saying that life is more than what we eat or drink. In fact, life is meaningless, left wanting and impotent without the Breath of God, the Breathed Word of God which gave us life and continues to give us life!

These marching orders for the Church are like the Word found in Joshua 1:1-19 and of Deuteronomy 6:1-11, which have been fulfilled or completed by the advent of Jesus the Messiah.

Joshua 1:1-9, After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.

For then, you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The book of Joshua is told and re-told as a narrative about the continuing the story of the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt. It is presented as chronicles of the approximately 20 years of Joshua’s leadership of the people after Moses anointed him at the end of Deuteronomy. The twenty-four chapter divisions of the Book of Joshua are summarized as follows:

Chapters 1 through 12: Entering and conquering the Promised Land.

Chapters 13 through 22: Instructions for distributing the portions of the Promised Land.

Chapters 23 and 24: Joshua’s farewell address.

Joshua is presented as a prime example of the benefits of a worthy mentor. For years, he remained close to Moses. He watched Moses as he followed God in an almost flawless manner. He learned to pray in a personal way from Moses. Furthermore, he learned how to obey through the example of Moses. Joshua apparently also learned from the negative example that cost Moses the joy of actually entering the Promised Land.

But more than this, these words were written to you and for you. They are, by their nature, prophetic and therefor are instructional, creative and causative. They speak the truth to you and when you set your mind on them by meditating on them and make them your own in order to do them, they will tell the truth to you and through you! And no man will be able to stand before you to obstruct your path, all the days of your life!

Deuteronomy 6:1-11, “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules, that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.

Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord, is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

 “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant, and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

What are we, therefore, TO BELIEVE, TO DO and TO BE?

These are the Words of God. Some call them the promises of God, and that they are. But they are more. They are creative, causative and prophetic.

Please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. These are the Words, teachings and commands of Jesus. We are His Body. Let’s BE the Church and do His works! He has given these things to the ones who believes.

The mind set on these things of the Spirit of God bring life and peace.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

NEXT: (coming soon). TO THE CHURCH – Matthew 4:7, Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).