Preface
I am committing this work to writing actually about six
months after I first presented it at a prophecy conference in Florida.
I hesitate in making any claims concerning the supernatural, but during
that conference a prophetic word confirmed this message as being from the
Lord Jesus. I want to emphasize that it is HIS word, not mine.
To Him be all the glory.
Introduction
I believe, as most people do, that we are living in what could
be the most incredible times in mankind's history — the Second coming of
the Messiah of God. I want to make that very clear as I begin so
that no one misunderstands my position. The study of Bible prophecy
is one of the most popular studies today. The signs of the time seem
to indicate that His return is close at hand. The question that I
want to present to each of you reading this message is: "IS THE CHURCH
REALLY READY FOR HIS RETURN?" Ephesians 5:27 reads, "That
He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
A few years ago I began studying the first-century church. I wanted to know what it was really like right after the day of Shavuot (Pentecost). I felt somewhat confused because I would read in the Gospels, especially, what Jesus wanted of His church. But when I looked at most of our churches today it became very evident that we had strayed a long way off from that first church. What I found at first made me very excited until I started making comparisons with some of our churches today. The difference between then and now were just like black and white. There was very little similarity at all.
Today we have over 400 denominations in this country that have
very little to do with each other. The Baptist don't like the Pentecostal.
The Methodists despise the Anglican. No one likes the Catholics,
and if you are not in the Church of Christ you are on your way to hell,
anyway. It is my fervent belief that we have strayed very far away
from where Jesus intended His church to be. We are supposed to be
one body and the devil is having a hay-day while we are fighting each other.
I have heard tales of some churches that it has been years since anyone
was at their altar getting saved. A lot of churches won't pray for
the sick any more because they feel that Jesus is no longer in the healing
business. What do we need to do to turn this around??
I would like to present some possible answers, but in the end, it is
really up to each individual.
OUR EXAMPLE
I believe that Jesus the Messiah set the example for us and
that we should follow Him. His earthly ministry was divided into
three areas: Prophet, Priest and King. I would like to first talk
about these areas a little and then apply them to the church today.
PROPHET
God told the people through Moses: (Deut. 18:15) "I will raise
up a prophet like you from among the people." When you read in the
Gospels that some people asked Jesus, "Are you "the prophet?'", this is
what they are referring to. The term "a prophet like Moses" was another
way of saying "the Messiah." And just like Moses, Jesus proclaimed
the Word of God to the people.
You see, a prophet does not have to always be talking about future
events. A prophet is simply someone who proclaims the Word of God
under the anointing. There is no greater example than our Lord Jesus.
PRIEST
A priest is one who acts as a mediator between God and man.
The Hebrew word for priest simply means "one who has the capacity to draw
close to God." Hebrews 2:17; 4:14; and 9:11 speaks of Jesus as our
High Priest. I Timothy 2:5 says, "There is only one mediator between
God and man — the man Jesus the Messiah" Would we really want any other
to mediate for us?
KING
Jesus' whole ministry speaks of His role as King, both then
and now. Every time He spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew) or
the Kingdom of God, He was drawing attention to His Kingship. He
is King over: (1) the poor in spirit; (2) those who pursue righteousness;
(3) those who hear His words and obey; and (4) those who do the will of
His Father. Those who are in the Kingdom today are the ones that
Jesus not only rules over, but they are demonstrating that rule in their
daily lives.
THE PARALLEL FOR THE CHURCH
Can the ministry of the New Testament Church of today parallel
the ministry of Jesus the Messiah? Should not the message and the
mission of the body of the Messiah be the same as the One we immolate?
YES!!
I would like to propose three words that could be the counterpart
for the three areas of Jesus' ministry. You might think of better
ones, but I believe these will suffice to get my point across.
These three words are teaching, community, and ministry.
TEACHING
Teaching corresponds to the prophetic. To be a prophet is to
proclaim God's Word to God's people. The prophet is not so much sent
to the pagans or unbelievers, but to the people of God. They are
the ones who proclaim the Word of God under the anointing. A lot
of people are going around today claiming to be prophets, especially with
a "Last Days" message. I wonder how many of them would stand up to
the persecution that the O.T. prophets did. I don't remember hearing
any O.T. prophet going around proclaiming himself. The people recognized
them by the lives that they lead.
There are more false teachings going around in our churches today
than you can shake a stick at. We really need people in our churches
today that are willing to make the commitment of time in study and prayer
so that they can teach God's people the truth so they won't be deceived.
One of the greatest responsibilities that God gave His elders is protecting
them from false teachers (more about the elders later).
COMMUNITY
Jesus rules and reigns as King over His community, the Community
of Faith. Community corresponds to the idea of Jesus' Kingship.
What characteristics should we look for ? How can we recognize this
"Community of Faith?" Again, let's look to the Word of God for them.
The key is to look for the two words "one another" used together.
1. They did not judge one another.
2. They preferred one another.
3. They were affectionate one to another.
4. They received one another.
5. They admonished one another.
6. Thy served one another.
7. The forgave one another. (Boy, that's a tough
one.)
8. They submitted to each other.
9. They comforted one another.
10. They edified one another.
11. The confessed their faults one to another.
12. They prayed for one another.
13. They LOVED one another. (Used at least ten
times — more than any other.)
I believe that there are two very good reasons why the Community
of Faith should exhibit these characteristics. First, they will bond
the community together. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another
— and all the more as you see the day approaching" (NIV). The writer
was actually talking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the
Temple. The parallel is that we, like they, believe that we see the
coming of the end. We are going to need each other when the going
gets rough. It is time that we bind together to face a common enemy
— the enemy of our souls. Secondly, these characteristics being displayed
presents to the unsaved world that we really have what they are looking
for. They are watching because most of them are really hoping we
have that answer because they don't. Several times I have been witnessing
to someone and the response that they give is, "What makes what you have
so special? I can't really tell any difference between the church
and the world." WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE!!!
MINISTRY
The Greek word for ministry is "diakonia," which means service.
It is from that word that we get our English word "deacon." Ministry
in the N.T. is "service rendered in love to others." Every act of
love is an act of ministry.
THE ELDERSHIP
I would now like to narrow the focus a little, from the congregation
as a whole to the leadership
itself. Establishing a true Biblical eldership is one of the
most important things I can think of. After all, if the leadership
of the church is not properly established, what can you expect from the
congregation? Peter emphasized strongly that the eldership was to
lead by example. If the leadership cannot set a true Biblical example,
what does the flock have to follow? In our churches today,
if they do have deacons and elders, they are so mixed up that you couldn't
recognize which is which. You might ask, "What difference does it
make as long as the job gets done?" Well, it was important enough
to Jesus to make the distinction in His Word, so it is that important to
me. If you are really interested in Biblical Eldership, we have a
teaching guide on that subject. We don't normally set a price on
any of our materials, but if you would like one, please send a donation
to help cover the costs of printing and mailing. We can also recommend
some very fine books that you can order.
Luke's Gospel, chapter 14, has some very valuable teaching concerning
discipleship. Why study discipleship? First of all, let
me make it very clear that true Biblical discipleship is not for everyone.
It wasn't in the time of Jesus and it is not now. Discipleship is
a calling, just as a pastor, evangelist, or teacher. Those who start
out as disciples eventually become the elders of the church. Discipleship
carries with it not only a great responsibility, but also a great price.
Not everyone is ready and willing to pay that price. Trying to place
someone in discipleship that is not called to do that can really cause
some damage to that person. We need to be careful who we place in
this kind of training and not condemn someone who doesn't feel that call.
GETTING PERSONAL NOW
Last, but not least, I would like to now narrow our focus down to you and me as individuals. Mr. Dwight Pryor of the Center For Judaic-Christian Studies did a teaching on Genesis chapter 22 that really got to me. As a mater of fact, other teachings that he did served as a foundation for most of the preceding teaching in this message. I want to give Dwight all the credit he so richly deserves. He has really been a blessing to me.
Genesis 22 is a very familiar story to most of us and I will
not take the time to read it now. It is the story of Abraham and
Isaac going up on Mt Moriah to make a sacrifice unto God. Most people
focus on Abraham and his faith that day, but I would like to present a
different slant. I would like for us to consider the young man, Isaac,
for a while. Most people are familiar with the similarities in the
stories of Isaac and Jesus. The mountain where both sacrifices took
place is the same. Isaac, like Jesus, carried the wood for the sacrifice
on his back. In both instances, it was the son that was to be sacrificed.
I believe that if the types hold true, Isaac was also about the same age
as Jesus when this event took place. Whether that is true or not,
it is important to remember that whatever Isaac's age was, Abraham was
a hundred-plus years older. When Isaac found out he was to be the
sacrifice, he very easily could have overpowered Abraham and ran away from
him or simply refused to get on the altar. But, he didn't.
Isaac was a willing sacrifice. To confuse things a little, if Isaac
was a willing sacrifice, why did he have to be tied up.
I believe that he possibly knew all along that he was the sacrifice
and he, like Abraham, by faith knew that if he was sacrificed, God would
have to raise him from the dead, because Isaac was called the "child of
promise." The point that I want to make here is that when Abraham
laid that young man on the altar that day, he was not just laying his son
there; he was laying his whole future on the altar of sacrifice.
And that is what I believe God is asking of people today.
If His church is going to accomplish the mission that He has given
it, there are going to have to be men and women step out and "count the
cost" and be willing to pay it. The time has come for us to quit
playing church and make the commitment that God expects of us as His children.