#WeAreEmmanuel Values / 11. #WeAreEmmanuel 2 Jesus Leads The Church Pt1
11. #WeAreEmmanuel 2 Jesus Leads The Church Pt1
Originally recorded on Sunday 14th January 2018. Visit http://weareemmanuel.com for more content. Speaker: Joel Virgo
This preach looks at the question- who leads the church? The answer is ultimately Jesus and we look at why this is an important answer and sharing what that really means. To help us do this we will first look at 1 John 1:1-4.
The whole concept of authority when it comes to spiritual matters is often unwelcome in the society we live in. In 21st century Brighton, we tend to be ok with saying that we are ‘spiritual’ but shy away from the claim of being ‘religious’. It seems the reason this distinction is made is partly because religion tends to be associated with authority. There may be some other valid reasons for this, but regardless, we must realise authority cannot be removed. However much you try to squeeze authority out of life, it will always come back. Saying ‘there will be no authority here’ is itself an authoritative statement. If authority then is unavoidable, how do we deal with it in the context of church? It’s true that it can be risky as history has shown people who have become abusive with power. Well thankfully, we know that Jesus is the one who is ultimately leading the church. Here, we break down how Christ does this into three sections and first we will start with:
1. His Commitment to His Church
The book of Acts was written by one of Jesus’ disciples, Luke. It describes what happened in the church after Jesus left the earth and ascended in heaven to be with the Father. Acts 1: 1-2 reads ‘In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.’ The key word here is ‘began’, as it suggests that Luke is going to write about what Jesus done next in church, after he left earth. He is saying that Jesus is involved in the whole story of the church and working even now. Although Christ may not be as visible as before, He is still very present. In Paul conversion to Christ in Acts, Jesus said to Paul ‘Why are you persecuting me?’. Jesus identified himself as the church even once he ascended to heaven. This shows, Christ is committed to his church even now. Jesus is above every rule and authority that has any influence of world power and he is still leading his his church today.
2. His Presence amongst the Church
We can also be confident of Jesus’ ongoing presence in his church. Luke writes in a style that is present, showing that Jesus is still with his church now. 1 John 1:3 ‘‘ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.’’ He writes ‘is’ as oppose to ‘was’. He is saying that he continues to have fellowship with Jesus and that he can be in our life too – to just the same degree. Therefore, we are not left wishing we were there at the time of Jesus being on earth. Gods kindness to us is that He has given his son to us forever, leading, caring and involved with our lives and church. Jesus is completely present with his church.
3. His word for His Church
Jesus leads us by His word. Ephesians 5: 25-27 reads ‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...’ Jesus is the perfect husband for the church as He is continuously cherishing and caring for his bride.
Why is it that in 21st century society we feel like the world has reached its point of ultra-evolution and assume we always know better? Although we may struggle with the Bible sometimes, it does not mean that it is automatically wrong. Is it because the Bible is wrong or we are wrong? God has called us to submit to the Bible, even in the areas we find offensive. Isaiah 66:2 reads ‘’But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’’ God looks to the one who is humble enough to tremble at His word. The word of God comes with authority and we are foolish to assume that it somehow needs to qualify itself to our 21st century presuppositions. God comes to deliver, change, and raise us from spiritual death with His word. This is the power it carries. Yet we sometimes treat it as if it is so much ancient philosophy. Jesus did not and would not do that. We must treat the Bible with reverence. We may not always understand it, but we must struggle in humility, asking God to teach us as we strive to preserve and understand how it applies to our lives.
John 10:11 says ‘’I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life down for his sheep.’’ This is the difference between Jesus and a religious tyrant. Jesus is the good Shepherd and because of this we can follow his word, even when we may not fully understand it because we trust in who he is.
This preach looks at the question- who leads the church? The answer is ultimately Jesus and we look at why this is an important answer and sharing what that really means. To help us do this we will first look at 1 John 1:1-4.
The whole concept of authority when it comes to spiritual matters is often unwelcome in the society we live in. In 21st century Brighton, we tend to be ok with saying that we are ‘spiritual’ but shy away from the claim of being ‘religious’. It seems the reason this distinction is made is partly because religion tends to be associated with authority. There may be some other valid reasons for this, but regardless, we must realise authority cannot be removed. However much you try to squeeze authority out of life, it will always come back. Saying ‘there will be no authority here’ is itself an authoritative statement. If authority then is unavoidable, how do we deal with it in the context of church? It’s true that it can be risky as history has shown people who have become abusive with power. Well thankfully, we know that Jesus is the one who is ultimately leading the church. Here, we break down how Christ does this into three sections and first we will start with:
1. His Commitment to His Church
The book of Acts was written by one of Jesus’ disciples, Luke. It describes what happened in the church after Jesus left the earth and ascended in heaven to be with the Father. Acts 1: 1-2 reads ‘In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.’ The key word here is ‘began’, as it suggests that Luke is going to write about what Jesus done next in church, after he left earth. He is saying that Jesus is involved in the whole story of the church and working even now. Although Christ may not be as visible as before, He is still very present. In Paul conversion to Christ in Acts, Jesus said to Paul ‘Why are you persecuting me?’. Jesus identified himself as the church even once he ascended to heaven. This shows, Christ is committed to his church even now. Jesus is above every rule and authority that has any influence of world power and he is still leading his his church today.
2. His Presence amongst the Church
We can also be confident of Jesus’ ongoing presence in his church. Luke writes in a style that is present, showing that Jesus is still with his church now. 1 John 1:3 ‘‘ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.’’ He writes ‘is’ as oppose to ‘was’. He is saying that he continues to have fellowship with Jesus and that he can be in our life too – to just the same degree. Therefore, we are not left wishing we were there at the time of Jesus being on earth. Gods kindness to us is that He has given his son to us forever, leading, caring and involved with our lives and church. Jesus is completely present with his church.
3. His word for His Church
Jesus leads us by His word. Ephesians 5: 25-27 reads ‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...’ Jesus is the perfect husband for the church as He is continuously cherishing and caring for his bride.
Why is it that in 21st century society we feel like the world has reached its point of ultra-evolution and assume we always know better? Although we may struggle with the Bible sometimes, it does not mean that it is automatically wrong. Is it because the Bible is wrong or we are wrong? God has called us to submit to the Bible, even in the areas we find offensive. Isaiah 66:2 reads ‘’But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’’ God looks to the one who is humble enough to tremble at His word. The word of God comes with authority and we are foolish to assume that it somehow needs to qualify itself to our 21st century presuppositions. God comes to deliver, change, and raise us from spiritual death with His word. This is the power it carries. Yet we sometimes treat it as if it is so much ancient philosophy. Jesus did not and would not do that. We must treat the Bible with reverence. We may not always understand it, but we must struggle in humility, asking God to teach us as we strive to preserve and understand how it applies to our lives.
John 10:11 says ‘’I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life down for his sheep.’’ This is the difference between Jesus and a religious tyrant. Jesus is the good Shepherd and because of this we can follow his word, even when we may not fully understand it because we trust in who he is.
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