It's "Unity Of The Faith"-- Not "Kum Ba Yah"

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors (shepherds) and teachers, for
(1) the equipping of the saints
    for the work of ministry (service),                 
        (2) for the edifying
            of the body of Christ,
                (3) till we all come
                    to the unity of the faith
                       (4) and of the knowledge
                            of the Son of God,
                              (5) to a perfect ('full-grown') man,
                                     (6) to the measure
                                         of the stature
                                            of the fullness of Christ."        (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The above format is what I learned in Intervarsity while in college.  It was a way to help various parts of a passage "stand out."  It is a great Bible study method.

I must confess that over the last 50 years of "the renewal," when most people talked about the purpose of the "five-fold ministry," it was not what our text is saying.  It had to do with "miracles," healing, great camp meeting-type atmosphere, "gifts in operation."  While these may be a part of Church Life, they are not the main objective.  Rather
            "edifying ('with a view to the perfecting of the saints'-- Interlinear)"
                "unity of the faith" (not a faith, but what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus") 
                    "knowledge of the Son of God"
                        "perfect man" (the "perfection" of Matthew 5, "as Your Father")
                           
Some people talk of "unity" as though it is a feeling.  It is not.  "Unity," in our text, is not a feeling.  It is, "unity of the faith," viz., believing the same thing, which means believing the Bible.  This is the reason the Bible must be central, fundamental, not marginal.  Denominations and "independent" churches are too much guided by, "we know best," or, "I just have to preach and be in charge."

Our text is the "cornerstone" of Church Life, calling us all out of self and into Jesus. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my life reflect our text.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

It's "Unity Of The Faith"-- Not "Kum Ba Yah"

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors (shepherds) and teachers, for
(1) the equipping of the saints
    for the work of ministry (service),                 
        (2) for the edifying
            of the body of Christ,
                (3) till we all come
                    to the unity of the faith
                       (4) and of the knowledge
                            of the Son of God,
                              (5) to a perfect ('full-grown') man,
                                     (6) to the measure
                                         of the stature
                                            of the fullness of Christ."        (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The above format is what I learned in Intervarsity while in college.  It was a way to help various parts of a passage "stand out."  It is a great Bible study method.

I must confess that over the last 50 years of "the renewal," when most people talked about the purpose of the "five-fold ministry," it was not what our text is saying.  It had to do with "miracles," healing, great camp meeting-type atmosphere, "gifts in operation."  While these may be a part of Church Life, they are not the main objective.  Rather
            "edifying ('with a view to the perfecting of the saints'-- Interlinear)"
                "unity of the faith" (not a faith, but what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus") 
                    "knowledge of the Son of God"
                        "perfect man" (the "perfection" of Matthew 5, "as Your Father")
                           
Some people talk of "unity" as though it is a feeling.  It is not.  "Unity," in our text, is not a feeling.  It is, "unity of the faith," viz., believing the same thing, which means believing the Bible.  This is the reason the Bible must be central, fundamental, not marginal.  Denominations and "independent" churches are too much guided by, "we know best," or, "I just have to preach and be in charge."

Our text is the "cornerstone" of Church Life, calling us all out of self and into Jesus. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my life reflect our text.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I Am Really Going To Attempt To Shorten The Devotionals

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 3:10, NIV)

"Church," is a bad word for a lot of people, especially for those to whom the word meant "organization," hierarchy, well, you may have had or have your own appraisal.  If the Church is to reveal Jesus Christ to the earth, people need to be delivered from only identifying "Church" with Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.  A lot of "independent" congregations which sprang up in the 70s and 80s did/do not have the word, "church," in their name. 

Now I don't have to tell you that, "the Church," is not that building you go to on Sundays, though whenever everyone, and I mean everyone refers to the local church of which they are apart, it is always, "I go to," which is always a location of a building.  The reality is that, "the Church," is you and I, all who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."  When Sarah and I pray over a meal, we are, "the Church."  Whenever I meet someone for lunch, we are, "the Church," as in, "where two or three are gathered together in My Name...."

Our text tells us that if, "the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms," are going to know anything about, "the manifold wisdom of God," they are going to know it from you and me, from that group of people with whom we meet on a regularly basis, those millions upon millions of people who love and obey Jesus Christ, some living a life of political freedom, some living in unbelievable suffering, as in North Korea and most of the world.  The people at our places of business, our schools, our neighborhoods observe how we relate to one another, how we conduct business, etc.  What sort of "revelation" of, "the manifold wisdom of God..., do they have by that observation?  "By this will all know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  I think it is also called, "You are the salt of the earth....You are the light of the world."  That building is not.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the manifestation of Your, "manifold wisdom," will not be diminished in me.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"And You Were Dead.., But God"

"And you...were dead in...sins,...but God...made us alive together with Christ...." (From Ephesians 2)

The Interlinear says, "of the sins of you."  There is no escaping it, that is, if one accepts the Bible as Authority, that, "The sins of you," is the reality of human existence.  People can blame God, ask their "whys" of this and that, but God says the malady of humanity is traced back to, "....the sins of you."  If anyone is to "blame," it is you and I.  We could perhaps say that sin is the defining DNA of the human race. 

One dictionary defines DNA as, "The fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable."  This is sin in mankind.  Eve accepted the lie "first," and when Adam took up a follower-posture instead of a leader-posture, it was over for us.  One can complain all they wish that it's "unfair," but he can take it up with the Almighty.  I "report; you decide."  All the terribleness of human existence began in The Garden.  I'm sure commentaries are full of theology on how long Adam and Eve walked in obedience before they succumbed to the Satanic Lie.  It does not matter; at some point, they obviously did.  They died, "in trespasses and sin," and so did their descendants; that would include you and me. 

Our text tells us that we were, "dead in...sins."  The Word of God, Jesus, then tells us, "But God, Who is rich in mercy,.." did something about this.  Romans 5 says, "Therefore, just as through one, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all humanity, because all sinned--...So then as through one transgression to condemnation there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through ONE ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to justification there resulted justification of life to all men.  For as through...one disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." 

So there you have Truth.  Our malady is we ourselves.  Our "cure" is Jesus Himself.  We could do nothing about it.  In His Blood, Death and Resurrection, Jesus did everything about it.  Now in Jesus, you and I now, "....sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...."  I had a "moment" today of remembering 46 years ago.  It was a battle.  "But God, Who is rich in mercy," turned the moment and imparted the reality that I and Stephen, indeed all of those who have gone before us in Jesus, and only because of Jesus, are sitting in a good place.

Father, I realize more and more just how little this is all, "and that not of yourselves."  Thank You that it is all of You.  Amen.
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* Please pray for our October Berlin Mission, and my time with Dennis in California

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2