The church, the body of Christ!

To be sensitive to the leading of God the Holy Spirit is this even biblical? This is why I have woken up earlier than normal. Who is now influencing my actions? It is as if I am in a corner of a wrestling ring waiting for the bout to begin. I am here because I have chosen to be here, or have I? Either way I responded to the call, firstly in prayer and now I eagerly wait on God for revelation with great expectations. Although I am not quite sure what to expect and I am a little apprehensive, nevertheless eager for battle. Although it was 2:00 am I lay in bed with a choice to make, back to sleep or to get up. It is now 2:26 and my tenacity is to now wrestle until I find the truth to my question.

Interestingly enough I have been led to this place, how you may ask? A simple thought entered my mind, nothing more and no! There was no booming voice from heaven just a strong gut feeling if you like.

Initially I was directed to C.H.Spurgeon and his daily devotion and this is what it had to say;

“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

- Exo_20:25

“God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

Although this speaks about sanctification in and through the finished work of the cross, it goes even deeper and in principle it can be applied to the full counsel of God's Word, the Bible!

This now has set the tone for my deliberation, what about the work of the Holy Spirit and His role in a believer’s life and what is our responsibility to Him.

Was Paul only speaking to a select few when he told the believers at Corinth that they were to desire spiritual gifts or is it relevant for us as believers today? We could lift up our tool of human reasoning and chip away at it until we arrive at an acceptable conclusion, but would that not just confirm Spurgeon’s point. I think that is exactly his point. He often makes the point that we need to rely on the leading of God the Holy Spirit. In fact reformed theology is big on systematically going through a book, one verse at a time and I also see the benefits of teaching like this. But Spurgeon never used this methodology when preaching from the pulpit. His Sunday sermon to the His congregation were topical; no doubt he waited on the Lord as he was led by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, 2^nd of December, 1860, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon, At Exeter Hall, Strand. He preached on "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies."— (Philippians 2:1)

And then on the 9^th of December he preached on "Suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment."— (Jeremiah 4:20)

And then again on the 16^th of December he preached on "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."— (Job 9:20) and so he preach throughout his life.

Why then do we avoid his technique with such vigour? Maybe because we have seen so many abuse this type of preaching; scripture taken out of context.  Now because some abuse the Word of God, does that mean we are not entitled to pursue the “prince of preachers” example and seek out the truth the same way he did. If he found merit in it, then we too must sit up and pay attention. We are far too stiff in our application and possibly this mind-set is to our detriment. “Has the potter no right over the clay…” (Romans 9:21) – should we not be flexible!

Wherever I look I am saddened, I do not see men building as he did.

Let us consider the role of God the Holy Spirit. Is He not as much God as God the Father and the Son? Of course He is! To suggest anything else would be blasphemous. God forbid we would ever go there! So what does scripture teach us about His function?

But before we go there we must first understand our role as believers in the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul is our teacher and this is what he has to say: - “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1Corinthians 12:27)

What does this actually mean?

“The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body. Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands related to him as a fellow-member (1Co_12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, dependence upon one another, and should have a mutual care and concern. Thus are the members of the natural body, thus should the members of the mystical body be, disposed. Note, Mutual indifference, and much more contempt, and hatred, and envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians. It is like the members of the same body being destitute of all concern for one another, or quarrelling with each other. This is the apostle's scope in this argument. He endeavours in it to suppress the proud, vaunting, and contentious spirit, that had prevailed among the Corinthians, by reason of their spiritual gifts.” (Matthew Henry)

With this now in mind let us look at God’s design for his church and how each member should function; “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Therefore we need one another and place must be given to every member of the body so that it may function properly, this is God’s design! “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1Corinthians 12:14-22)

If we ignore this teaching it will be no doubt to our detriment and we walk in disobedience.

Therefore God’s church must give all its members a platform to function to His glory if we are to find unity in Him. A one man ministry with only the influence of the teacher/pastor is only one aspect of the body of Christ. If this is the churches mind-set then just maybe Spurgeon’s point is now a valid one as the tool of men now hinders the potter from His original design. Not that man will ever interfere in that sense with God’s plan, as he will build His church, but ears are needed if we are to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

This then would lead us into the way we structure our meetings, we would have to give every member an opportunity to be a foot if that is what they are, or if a kidney then a kidney etc. This could never be achieved systematically; our total dependency would be upon God the Holy Spirit as he leads and guides us as He wills; “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1Corinthians 12:11)

It would then be up to the teachers to ensure that sound doctrine is taught throughout this process, so that we would not be led astray by vain imaginations.

I would be happy to find myself part and parcel of such a church… it is now 5:15 am and my heart has been satisfied, praise the name of Jesus, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone