Growing Up In Christ – Part 3

[U]ntil all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Ephesians 4: 13-16, NRSV.

Dear God, how truly grateful we are that You have called us out of the darkness of sin, into the light of Your grace and righteousness! As we come before You today, to study Your Word, please draw very close to us, and teach us. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.

Today in our study, we are going to look at God’s church in the Twenty-first century. For the past two days we have been studying about the early church that was formed by Christ, and given the first commission to, “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Matthew 28: 19, 20). Today, we too, have been called to take the Good News of God’s saving grace, to all the world. Not only the Commission is the same; so is the Means to get it done. I am not referring to methods, and modes, of evangelism. I am referring, exclusively, to the Source, that enables, and makes possible the completion of the work. I am referring to the Holy Spirit.

Let us look and listen to what took place at the last meeting of Jesus with His disciples, as stated in the Gospel according to Luke, “He told them, ‘ “This is what is written:  ‘The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” ‘ ” (Luke 24: 45-49, NIV, emphasis provided).

This was a final reminder just before He went back to the Father, “Remember what the Scriptures said, This same Jesus will suffer but He will rise from the dead the third day.’ As a result, repentance and the forgiveness of sins will be offered to every nation. Remember to begin at Jerusalem. You have seen these things take place. So I will need You to bear witness of me. There is only one requirement, do not attempt to do this on your own. The Father has promised to provide you with what you need to get the task done. Just stay where you are, until you receive what the Father has promised. He will send you His Spirit from above.” When Jesus was about to begin His earthly ministry, the Spirit also came down from heaven, in the form of a dove, and equipped Him for the task. God will do nothing less for His church.

My friends, I believe that this is what God is trying to tell us, as His modern-day church, today. We need to be studying the Scriptures! We must keep the promises fresh in our minds! Our first mission field is our home! However, we may do all of this, to no avail, if we have not received “the promise of the Father.” We know it as the, “Latter Rain.” It is the promise of the Holy Spirit. He is the Agent who brings about growth in the life of the Christian, and equips us to fulfill the great commission. Now is the time for us to be pleading, not for just a drizzle, but for a heavy down-pouring! Oh, how we need the promise of the Father, fulfilled in our lives!

In verse 3, of Ephesians 4, the apostle counsels the Ephesians to “keep the unity of the Spirit.” Then in 1 Corinthians 12, the entire chapter talks about the distribution of the gifts, by the same Spirit. If we are to grow, we must allow the Holy Spirit complete freedom in our lives, to grow us, since it is through Him that we receive the fruit (Galatians 5: 22, 23), and the gifts, of the Spirit! Notice how the apostle pulls together all the elements of growth:  “the unity of the faith” and “the knowledge of the Son of God,” turn into  ” maturity.” Now, “the measure of the full stature of Christ,” can be seen in us. Finally, we are “no longer children!” We have, by God’s grace, become men and women, in Jesus Christ!