Lincoln

I encourage you to rejoice in our common blessings in Christ

The Church is God’s place of common blessing for the redeemed in Christ. While there is great diversity within the church, there is even greater commonality in Christ. The testimony of the early church was that “all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44). What was true of those early believers is also true of us today; “each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).  

All who place faith in Christ Jesus as Lord belong to the same Heavenly Father, through the same Son of God, and are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit. As the apostle Paul reminded Titus, he was a “true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4). The Church is not simply a club to which we apply for membership, and as long as we pay the subscription fees, we get to participate. As believers in Christ, “you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Those born again by the Holy Spirit form the Church, which is Christ’s present day body in the world through human flesh (Jn 3:1-21; 1Pe 1:23). The apostle Paul explained to the Corinthian believers how “…God has so composed the body… that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).

Church Membership

Membership is not optional, nor is it by some natural selection process. Rather, membership has been purchased by Christ’s death in your place for your sin. In fact, the Church has no power to initiate people into itself or to secure existing members. It is Christ alone who qualifies and secures. Our part is simply to place dependant faith in Christ.

God’s ingenious design for His Church surpasses anything mankind could have thought up. Christ himself “is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour” (Ephesians 5:23). As head, He has gifted the Church with leaders “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” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Nothing has been left to chance. Oneness in Christ in belief and in loving service are the accurate expressions of Christ in His body.

Amongst Church members “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit equally engage their Church to secure, affirm, and grow her. Our part is to recognise His work in each other and praise Him for it while encouraging one another to grow mature and selfless in Christ.

Today, if you recognise these truths, “arm yourselves with the same way of thinking” (1 Peter 4:1). This takes humility, sacrifice, time and patience. I encourage you to rejoice with the same Spirit, in the same Lord, for the glory of our same Heavenly Father.

 

I encourage you to live for one another and watch God at work

Christian living fleshes out this fact; “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5). We belong to each other as much as we belong to Christ. At rebirth we became as spiritually intertwined with our fellow believers as we are with Christ. If we belong to Christ, we belong to our fellow Christians. Being a part of the breathing and changing body dynamics of a church can be both challenging and greatly rewarding, often all at the same time. The glue that brings us together, and holds us together, is Jesus Christ our Lord.

How we interact with one another should always begin by welcoming “one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). God’s glory is the bullseye of every engagement we have with fellow believers, because His Son is the foundation of every relationship we have in Christ. Therefore, by “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21) we give expression to the reality of Christ in our lives.

By being “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32) we are a testimony of Christ’s power through the gospel. It’s as the apostle John explained; “this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us” (1 John 3:23). Recognising the significance of, and loving fellow believers is authentic evidence of genuine belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Christian relationships are about Christ, not us. James urges us not to “speak evil against one another,” nor to “grumble against one another” (James 4:11; 5:9). Why, because moaning violates our relationship with Christ who lives in both you and your brother or sister in the Lord. Paul told the believers in Rome to “outdo one another in showing honour” (Romans 12:10), for this is surely the most appropriate way for brothers and sisters in God’s family to treat each other. Christ, who lives in your fellow believer by His Holy Spirit, is our motivation to “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16). This prevents us from passing “judgement on one another…” instead, we “decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Romans 14:13).

This protective relationship with our fellow saints is reflective of our highest esteem of Christ’s relationship with us. This heavenly connection that Christians uniquely enjoy is to motivate us to cloth ourselves “with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). We strive for each other “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up… always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15). “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly” (1 Peter 4:8). “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV).

Today, view your fellow believer as the Saviour views them. Encourage them also to live for one another and watch God at work. God will be pleased, believers will be blessed, and the world will see Christ through us all.

 

I encourage you to grow together in Christ and for Christ

As God’s children we recognise that we are made “alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5). Christians have been “called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2). This was God’s eternal intention, for all Christian relationships to begin with and continue in the Christ centred grace of salvation. It’s a treasure to have friendships continually growing together in there value, appreciation of each other, and sweetness because of Christ.

The Lord’s intent and design for His church is that “the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). Unfortunately, people who are influenced by sin work against God’s purposes for the rich blessings of togetherness.

Sadly, it’s mankind who separates and isolates relationships. Sin motivates people to promote self to be their highest priority. Once self is the supreme ruler of the heart, everything and everyone is able to be sacrificed in order to satisfy its cravings. Selfishness destroys the togetherness of God’s people. It has no concern for the damage it causes, just as long as it gets what it wants. But not so for the children of God!

Love’s Togetherness

Praise God, He has given the gift of love, planted within us (Romans 5:5) to be used for His purposes and glory. Therefore, “above all… we are to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). Love enhances and advances Christian togetherness. Love never works to separate or isolate. Rather, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:25), love pulls together in fellowship at the expense of selfishness, for the benefit of others.

Our completeness in Christ is experienced more intimately as “one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We are so intertwined in Christ that as we engage with each other in ‘agape’ love, we experience the reality of the risen Christ. Therefore Paul prayed; “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6). Togetherness glorifies God by displaying His character, while individuality dishonours our Heavenly Father through selfishness.

It is our privilege to watch with understanding as the Lord builds His Church (Mat 16:18). In Christ, His Church is “being joined together, [and] grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22). We have the joy of engaging with fellow believers in cooperation with the Lord who is actively synchronised with our Christian relationships.

Gospel Togetherness

As unbelievers view and interact with the Church, they taste the character of the Lord Jesus Christ through the relationships of God’s children. They experience the “bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) which they don’t experience in the world. This is body evangelism. “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

I encourage you to live Christ through enriching your togetherness with fellow believers. In this our Saviour is glorified, our fellow saints are blessed, and the world will see God’s gospel love through you.

 

I encourage you; aim to be complete in your faith

It’s faith in God that aims at the goal of being complete in our relationship with Jesus Christ and others. James, Jesus younger half-brother, recognised the believer’s need to persevere in working toward spiritual completeness. This Christian maturity is to impact every sphere of life, recognising that nothing is to be deprived of Christ’s influence.

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind (James 1:2-6 NET).

Brotherly wisdom

Here, James draws our attention to the usefulness of trials. The very thing which the world presents as negative, God uses for His glory and our benefit. Christians receive assurance from the presence of “all sorts of trials” because God uses them to test the authenticity of our faith in Him. Obviously, if faith is genuine, it will persevere through struggles. Whereas pretend faith is temporary by nature; usually dictated by circumstances and feelings and always leading its victims away from the Lord.

Realise that a believer’s “endurance” through trials, including personal failures and stumblings, gives evidence of genuine faith. This is God’s design for the progressive development of our faith. While many simply give up when the going gets tough, “brothers and sisters” in the Lord “consider it nothing but joy.” This is because they understand God’s purposes for growing mutual comfort, support and maturity within His family. Togetherness in relationship loyalty is vital for the outcome of spiritual completeness! Believers need their fellow believers in order to grow.

The unfairness of half portions

Most of us dislike it when we receive incomplete things in life. Half portions of anything when we expected to receive a whole portion leave us feeling robbed. So it is in our walk with the Lord. God’s love for our spiritual completeness of character permits and even orchestrates struggles to aid us in this endeavour. Our maturity and holiness means everything to our Heavenly Father. He’s willing to risk whatever is needed to advance our personal development into likeness of His Son.

It’s our responsibility to “let endurance have its perfect effect.” Bailing out on God robs us of growing to the full measure of maturity which results with us recognising that we are “not deficient in anything” in Christ. This fantastic goal in Christian life is to be shared with fellow believers, walking together, growing in like-minded purpose of Christ’s development together.

It’s reassuring to know that “if anyone is deficient in wisdom,” we can ask God for it. We certainly need lots of wisdom to endure for the Lord while we “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). We pursue this “in faith without doubting,” not “blown and tossed around by the wind,” for together we stand firm, unitedly growing in Christ for His glory.

I encourage you to confess the Apostle Paul’s words; “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Come Lord Jesus!

 

I encourage you to embrace obedience which involves sacrifice

Modern attitudes lead people to believe that pleasures are a right, without having to sacrifice in order to have them. But not so with the children of God. The believer’s highest pleasures are found in Christ, with our many earthly pleasures falling secondary under His supremacy. This is because self comes second to Jesus Christ, therefore we live to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Consequentially, the follower of Jesus Christ accepts Jesus claim on their lives; “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The Lord never pretended that following him would not involve personal sacrifice and even times of suffering. Faith in Christ requires that believers take ownership of their commitment to walk in alignment with Christ.

While it’s easy to say that you want to follow Christ, it’s in your self-denial that you see authenticity of the claim. It’s the willingness to daily take upon one-self the cross of identification with the Lord Jesus Christ that truly marks the follower of Christ. Herein lies the Christ-centred motive for obedience to God. Christ “died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

As always, Christ is our supreme example, particularly as He obeyed His Father’s will at Calvary. “By the one man’s (Adam’s) disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s (Christ’s) obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). Likewise, we are to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

Amongst the many things Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross, was that He took the judgement of our sin in order that we could receive His righteousness. What a fantastic exchange! However, in doing so, Christ lead by example with the ‘exchange’ principle. We give up the old in order to receive the new. By faith in God, we sacrifice:

• Foolishness for wisdom
• Isolation from God’s people for fellowship in the Beloved
• The wrath of God for the peace of God
• Animosity and resentment for forgiveness
• Intoxication for sober mindedness 
• Eternal damnation for eternal life
• Hatred for love
• Selfishness for selflessness
• Loneliness for assurance and security 
• Faithlessness for faithfulness 
• Regret for sweet memories 
• Despair for hope

Most of us realise that we “are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness”? (Romans 6:16). The child of God chooses to give up the weak things in life in preference for the Lord’s ways. This is what marks us as Christians. Believers have exchanged the life of sin in order to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15). We prefer that our lives should be an expression of praise to God over living for self.

I encourage you today, embrace obedience which involves sacrifice. The slight discomfort of surrender is nothing compared to the rich blessing of obedience through doing God’s will. God will be pleased, you will be blessed, and others will be encouraged.