GOD’S GLORIOUS CHURCH 9: Summary
God created us because He needs us.
The Church is the body of Christ. He is its Head. Not only does the body
need the Head, but the Head needs the body. He needs every member of this
body (1 Corinthians 12:24). We need Him. He needs us. Together we live.
Together we labour. Together we shall reign throughout the ages to come.
1 Cor 12; 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31But covet earnestly the best gifts:
In this final study I want to try and summarise what the Word of God says about God’s GLORIOUS Church. We are His Body. “Members (limbs) in particular” = We all have a particular job to do. See previous verses of 1 Cor 12; eg eye, ear, 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
He has equipped us for our role. If we are in His will, then we have all we need. When we step outside His will the problems start!
Eph. 1;3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
We are blessed with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING THERE IS:
Things can be ours, but if we don’t know about them, they won’t do us any good:
Eg Man who lived in poverty, had £20,000 in money belt.
I Put £10 in wallet for rainy day, forgot about it. Needed money; found it! I had it all the time, but because I didn’t know I had it, couldn’t spend it.
The promises of God are all there for us: But because we don’t know about them, we can’t appropriate them.
Hosea: 4;6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
The knowledge was there; in Word; Priests wouldn’t preach it, so God rejected them.
Jesus said: John 8;32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJ)
Truth/knowledge sets free;
Let’s learn some of what God has in His Word for us:
THE POWERFUL CHURCH
Eph. 1;19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (NKJ)
Many Christians living defeated, weak lives, when God wants us to be victorious.
Every letter to the 7 churches ends; “To him that overcomes”…
We often don’t take the authority that God has given us.
Either we believe, live by, preach, stand on God’s Word or we don’t?
Well???
God’s GLORIOUS Church; Not his weak, defeated church!
1 John 4;4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (NKJ)
So why do we tremble, worry, fear?
Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (NKJ)
ie The power of the devil:
Does the Church today have or need any less authority than it had in the first century?
Why then did Jesus say Matt 28:18 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth, 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (NKJ)
ALL AUTHORITY. I GIVE YOU AUTHORITY -
Eg TV detective Columbo: scruffy; no 2nd glance; But pulls out his AUTHORITY! …Yes sir!!
We are to be STRONG;
Eph 6;10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (NKJ)
Be careful.
1 Pet 5;8-9 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (NKJ)
Eg soldier in Iraq doesn’t stick his head above the sandbags carelessly.
NB Not strong in ourselves: in HIS MIGHT; Don’t resist devil in our own strength, but ‘steadfast in the faith’.
GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU.
Eph 1;19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (NKJ)
Read that verse carefully; Let it sink in.
What was the working of His power? v 20; Raising Christ from dead.
Satan and all his hosts opposed it. Caesar set his seal on tomb. God showed His contempt & His Authority over all Spiritual and Earthly powers.
Now Christ is ‘Far above: Eph 1;21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (NKJ)
HIS authority is OUR authority: (We are HIS GLORIOUS CHURCH)
Cp Eph 1;18 Paul wants them to understand this;
Eph 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (NKJ)
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER.
That power is available to His Body: now let’s look more closely at what it means to be His body….
Eph 1;18-19
THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING;
THE RICHES OF THE GLORY
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER
The Church by & large doesn’t know how powerful it is. (cp Elephant held by light cord. Has been conditioned to think it can’t break it)
Until we realise the authority & power we have, we will never be the glorious church Christ intended.
Most Churches don’t even know the believer has any authority!
Eph1;18 Paul prayed for Ephesians to understand this. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way”.
(The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.) The message
Ch 2;6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
When Jesus was raised, WE were raised.. seeEph 2; vv 5/6
Most Churches/Christians will believe this – raised with Him.
But what about ch2v6; ” Made us sit.. in heavenly places”
We’re talking about the place of authority; Eph 1;20 Seated Jesus at His right hand – the place of authority. v6 says we’re seated WITH HIM
We need to recognise that Christ’s authority has been given to us also. That individual members of the Body of Christ have His Authority.
Read 1 Cor 12;12-14 & 27 12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
The Church has not appreciated what we are in Christ: HIS BODY:
Eph 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJ)
Eph 5;29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. (NKJ)
Far too often we’ve preached about “The Cross” and nothing else; In the NT the Church preached about the Resurrection from the dead:
Then Pentecost: “You shall receive POWER”…
Many Christians seem to get a baptism, but not the power… Something is wrong! Most Christians talk about the devil as though he had them in his power; but The Bible says; RESIST THE DEVIL & HE WILL FLEE!
If only the Church (WE) could get hold of this. We are not dominated by the devil. We don’t have to live on ‘barely get along St’ ; This magnifies the devil more than it does God.
Rom 5;17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (NKJ)
Amplified version: “Reign as kings in life“.
Some have exercised more authority than others, but it is God’s will for us ALL to exercise it. We have authority over the powers of darkness.
Read Eph 1;18 again; I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Remember John 14;12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (NKJ)
Some say what are the greater works? Well, let’s do what Jesus did first before we even worry about ‘greater’ works!!
Jesus didn’t say that a select few would do these works, those that believe:
Why don’t we determine to believe?
Ps 116:10 I believed, therefore have I spoken:
ANY POWER HAS TO FIGHT TO STAY IN POWER.
(cp coming elections, & almost any country!) We are in a war, like it or not.
Eph 6;12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJ)
Principalities. Powers. rulers, spiritual hosts (wicked spirits) =
Fallen angels who have been defeated and dethroned by Jesus; cp Col.2;15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Adam sold out to devil, gave him the right to rule; (god of this world).
Evil thru Satan was already in existence before the creation of man. Sin came into the world (Which God declared “good” when He made it) through Adam’s sin; Rom 5;12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned
But Through Jesus we are OUT of his dominion;
Rom 5;19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Col 1;13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (NKJ)
What Adam lost, Jesus won back!
Lu 10;19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you. (NKJ)
Satan may run a lot of what’s happening here on earth, but he don’t run me, the church, us; we have authority over him!
Do we have LESS authority now than when Jesus first rose from dead, ascended and sat down at Father’s right hand?
It is time we started thinking what we sing; He IS LORD…. EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW… JESUS SHALL TAKE HIGHEST HONOUR… KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS….
Matt 28;18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (NKJ)
How is that authority exercised? Thru His Body; The Church. “GO THEREFORE & MAKE DISCIPLES”.
There are many defeated Christians about: Some haven’t realised their position. Some because of wrong teaching. eg ‘generational curses etc.’ These are very rare! And anyway; 2 Cor 5;17 Old things Passed away: Some people teach you into bondage then loose you!
Gal 3;13-14. 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[f] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
OUR AUTHORITY IN JESUS
How often do we pray: God do this… etc.. Some things God has given us the authority to do:
eg Acts 3;6 Peter didn’t pray for lame man, commanded him to walk. 6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
When we pray do we really expect answers? John 14;13-14 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 16; 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, WHATEVER YOU ASK the Father in My name He will give you. 24 “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (NKJ)
We need to realise that when we pray, God wants to answer. When we exercise authority over devil, he has to obey; If nothing seems to happen, then rest in faith. FAITH brings the answer;
If circumstances don’t change immediately, some get discouraged and turn to the natural; talk unbelief, “nothing happened, guess God didn’t hear”…You give devil dominion over you.
Smith Wigglesworth: “I’m not moved by what I see or feel, only by what I believe”.
THINK ABOUT THIS;
All we have revolves around Christ:
Look at Ephesians as a whole..
Eph 1;15-23 Church Christ’s body on earth
Eph 2;11-3;7 Church to be one people
Eph 3;10-20 &6;12-20 He dwells amongst us to equip, empower and build us up to be victorious over evil.
We are HIS GLORIOUS P O W E R F U L CHURCH! (Not defeated!)
We are to be a BELIEVING CHURCH
Ps 116:10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
WHAT WE BELIEVE AFFECTS WHAT WE DO.
We don’t, because we don’t think we can!
We don’t see folk saved because we don’t ask them because we don’t think they’ll get saved.
We don’t get healed, because don’t think we will?
2 Cor 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
WHAT WE BELIEVE AFFECTS WHAT WE SAY.
For past two months, been looking at God’s Glorious Church: Do you believe you are GGC?
IF SO, going to affect what you do, say, are;
Remember Chorus; ‘For I’m building a people of power…’ If going to take our town, then we MUST be a people of POWER. A people who BELIEVE.
100′s, maybe 1000′s of homes that need God’s power; power to save, transform, heal, deliver,
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO IF NOT TO THE CHURCH?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SET THEM FREE IF NOT BY POWER
OF GOD?
And if we don’t believe it works, then we can’t do it.
Eph 6;10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (NKJ)
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT… not ours.
You don’t need to go out looking for a fight; the devil will oppose you more over this than anything else…. You have a fight on your hands
He’ll oppose you, try and get you to give it up; “Ok for pastor, but don’t work for me”
Let’s recap our position in Christ:
Eph 1;15-2;6…
If so, then no power of satan can prevail against us in doing God’s will.
When we pray” Your will be done on earth” then it is going to happen.
cp 1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (NKJ)
Our problem is so often that we don’t KNOW God’s will. We question, ‘Is it God’s will for me to be healed”, Is it God’s will for my relative/friend to be saved? Is it God’s will for me to do this….?
If it’s in the Bible, you KNOW it’s God’s will!
Eg “God will have all men everywhere to be saved”
“They shall lay hands on the sick and they SHALL recover”
“My God SHALL supply all your needs”
But: If WE don’t receive it, or don’t want it, then we won’t get it.
You see:
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AUTHORITY – OVER DEMONS, OVER
SITUATIONS – WE DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER OTHER
PEOPLE OR THEIR WILLS.
We can take authority in our own lives, our families’ lives, but not over other people if their will is involved.
I prayed once for lady who then told me she didn’t want to be healed. Waste of time praying for her – why did she come out?????
Bible says God wants all men everywhere to be saved: But not all WILL be saved – why, because their will is involved….
Many people WANT to be saved – they just don’t know how….
Want their lives to be different. Want a new start. – how??
We need to preach to them – tell them what God can do – then they can make the choice – they CAN be delivered…
BUT;
Some of us need to learn to take authority in our own lives; Over situations, sicknesses, “I thought I was healed, but it’s come back”. No, you WERE healed & you ARE healed – tell it to ‘git’. (S. Wigglesworth story of woman and dog at bus stop)
Remember: ‘RESIST THE DEVIL’
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (NKJ)
How do we resist the devil?
1 Pet 5;9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (NKJ)
(Amp. Bible; Withstand him, be firm in faith against his onset,- rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined, .
Immovable in faith. how do you get that way; Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJ)
Get soaked in the Word.
THE TRUE CHURCH
Jer 18:15 “Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway, (NKJ)
God told them to ask for the ancient paths. what mean?
Israel had decided to do their own thing, not what God Commanded. Gone off on ‘pathways’ not the HIGHWAY.
The HIGHWAY is described in Isa 35;8 (cp whole chap). Even the fool can walk this way!!! And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.
Then: Isa 43;18-19 “I will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.
God says v19 ‘I will do a new thing’… God doesn’t change, but His way of doing things sometimes changes.
2 Cor. 3;18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJ)
In vv 14 – 16 he refers to the Jews’ traditions – they wouldn’t change. So, v 18 when you take the veil away, you are open to change:
‘transformed’ – ‘changed’ = metamorphoo; (metamorphosis)… by which tadpoles become frogs, caterpillars become butterflies
We are being changed; from Glory to Glory into His image…
If you don’t want to be changed, stay away from Jesus. There has to be a surrendering between each change; The tadpole has to give up his old life;
Pharisees trusted their traditions and missed the messiah. Jesus offered them the Kingdom of God, but they wanted an earthly, political kingdom.
He offered power over devil, they wanted power over Romans.
God has a habit of changing things the way we don’t expect. It is unsettling; we don’t feel comfy any more;
Story of Andrew Murray; 1860, known for his holiness and practical Christianity; fell into trap of dictating to God. One Sunday evening, 60 yp from the church gathered in a small room. After singing a hymn and reading from Bible, 4 or 5 took turns leading in prayer. As one Girl prayed, a distant rushing sound heard, nearer and nearer till the room seemed to shake, suddenly nearly every person present began to pray simultaneously, some whispering, others louder. In the staid, well ordered Presbyterian surroundings 60 people praying at once was deafening. An elder heard the sound and rushed for the pastor. Murray called for silence,. No one took any notice. “I am your pastor, silence.” They were so lost in prayer they didn’t
hear him. After several attempts, he left the meeting saying “God is a god of order, here everything is in disorder”.
Every evening that week, Murray held prayer meetings, and crowds gathered. He tried to lead them along a quiet subdued path. He couldn’t. On the Sat. the sound was heard again, just as before, the entire cong. plunged into simultaneous intercession. When Murray called on them to be silent, a stranger said, “Be careful; the Spirit of God is at work. I have just come from America and this is exactly what happened there”. Murray let it go, 50 young men came forward for the ministry and the revival spread.
Like Murray, we tend to be afraid of what we have not experienced; we draw back from what we don’t understand.
Jesus healed a blind man by spitting on the ground;
The priests were sprinkled with blood, then anointed with oil. “I don’t want that – messy – disgusting -”
see John 6; 41-60 Jesus talked of them eating his flesh and drinking his blood – “Cannibalism”
John 6;66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (NKJ)
v67 – “you going too?” v68 (Where go?)
Any move of God will cause people to want more of Jesus. Those who don’t will leave.
Stop playing about; seek more of Jesus. Get filled with the Spirit; don’t cling to the old familiar ways, release the past. (Forget the things that are past) Follow where He goes.. Where the anointing is.
That’s the Glorious Church!