Yes, we are still on the series
Understanding the Authority of God, Part 10.
I believe God is attempting to get a message across to all of us...
Just when I think I will conclude this series, I am given a fresh Word from God..
And since I am under His Authority, who am I question!
So, let's continue...
In this message I'm addressing "Is the church a controlling legal authority?"
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."
1 Corinthians 11:1-3
Church, we DESPERATELY need to add to our stature!
How you ask?
By REMEMBERING and RETAINING what you learn!
I guess what I'm trying to say here, is that some approach Bible study like a fifth grade exam. Remembering what they've learned just long enough to pass the test.
Let me put it this way, 2 + 2 = 4 was a basic principle in elementary school and it is a principle for lifetime! What a shame to have to relearn that over and over again?
WE NEED A REVELATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR A LIFE TIME!
Amen?
There's an old saying "The issue is never the issue, but how you see the issue, THAT'S the issue!
Well, this issue is about control...
A family once said to me, "The church has entirely too much control in my life."
In March 1997 Al Gore said "There is no controlling legal authority that says this was in violation of law." He was referring to some phone calls he made from the White House soliciting Democratic campaign contributions.
Now, I'm pretty sure he knew what he did was wrong, at least ethically, but in essence what he was saying is: Since no one can enforce this, it's not really a law!
My point is that this is the mindset so many have about the church… It’s not a controlling legal authority… So it can’t enforce God's law!
"For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Examine Yourself
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Why are many sick, weakly and even suffering premature death?
They had no revelation of the body of Christ!
One of the greatest lessons to learn here..
The Body, the church, the authority of it all.
Christ is the head of the man, but wait, that's not all....
"giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight"
Colossians 1:12-22
The Bottom line:
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY! The body is the church!
This carries much significance
Unity and Diversity in One Body
"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And 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.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary."
1 Corinthians 12:12-22
Church, we have been studying the Authority of God for sometime now… But the greatest expression of it should be in the church and our Christian homes!
The irony is the world has such a twisted view of the church, they are dumbfounded, they think the church should have little or no authority.. They shudder at the concept of church discipline.
Even many within the church do!
Dealing with a Sinning Brother
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:15-20
NOW THAT MY FRIENDS, THAT IS SOME AUTHORITY IN THE BODY!
IF HE NEGLECTS TO HEAR THE CHURCH, let him be to thee a heathen & publican (avoid dealing with them)This is almost funny here…
heathen = Godless gentile
Publican = tax collector
IN THE CHURCH CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF A BODY!
People may misuse people but the head will never misuse the body!
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I
say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among
you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived."
1 Corinthians 6:1-9
THE WHOLE THEME OF THE THESE VERSES IS THE MAJESTY OF THE CHURCH!
1 Corinthians 6:1-9
THE WHOLE THEME OF THE THESE VERSES IS THE MAJESTY OF THE CHURCH!
Empty yourself of your own agenda and let the body be your agenda.
God has placed institutional authority in the world but it has faults & limitations.
Husband/wives, Parents/children, Rulers/people
Why?
Because people can misuse and abuse their authority & people can submit with lip service without a true heart!
In the Church, some authority is direct but most is indirect
AND WE NEED TO DISCERN THE BODY!
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The left and right hands do not communicate with each other directly.
The head controls them both.
And the left hand does not dictate to the right what is happening today!
All members of the body are directly under control of the head.
We must learn to see God’s authority in all the members of the body.
Each member is limited!
In closing...
NOT ONE MEMBER CAN AFFORD TO BE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT!
And while some desire to have everything to himself, refusing the supply of the others.
Rest assured, this is a huge mistake!
All members of the body must work together, in unison, like the intricate moving parts of a well oiled machine, in order to be efficient..
God’s motive in teaching us authority is to bestow upon us His RICHES!
God wants us to partake of the riches of others wisdom and counsel..
God places men in our lives so that their wealth can become our wealth.
God places men in our lives so that their wealth can become our wealth.
Please don’t miss this point, I'm not speaking about financial wealth necessarily.
SOMETIMES GOD GRANTS THINGS TO US DIRECTLY… BUT MOST OFTEN IT IS THROUGH OTHER'S.
He places within the body brothers & sisters in Christ who are more advanced to assist us in our walk! So their wisdom can become our wisdom.
He places within the body brothers & sisters in Christ who are more advanced to assist us in our walk! So their wisdom can become our wisdom.
God has placed so much into the body of Christ.
And we miss it when we do not submit to one another.
WE PLACE OURSELVES IN SPIRITUAL POVERTY BY REJECTING AUTHORITY OF OTHER'S.
THINK SOBERLY ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY!
THINK SOBERLY ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY!
Don’t think foolishly about your own greatness!
We are all members that must learn to accept other members of this body of Christ.
Because anything less is rebellion!
But if we fail here, we will fail everywhere!
And now for the blessing...
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries