Greetings;
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost at the anointing of the body of Christ, there were several things that were manifested in the church. The church was filled with members who had been empowered to repent. That repentance was a repentance unto life that revealed a testimony of repentance from death and the works of death. Members of the church were submerged in water as an act of faith that identified them as members of Christ’s body. That work of water baptism was a testimony of their faith toward God. Those in the church received the gift of the Holy Spirit that revealed the testimony of heaven as a demonstration of the power of His resurrection life through them as the anointed bride of Christ. As the church was empowered by repentance, demonstrated works of faith, and manifested a testimony of Christ’s resurrection life, they also continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42). What was the apostle’s doctrine? There were no New Testament Scriptures written for the first twenty years of the New Testament church, so the doctrine of the apostles was not their writings of Scripture. Their doctrine was simply their way of life empowered by the authority of Christ. To continue steadfastly in their way of life was to also be empowered by the authority of Christ.
Like the first century church, the church is to continually manifest the authority of Christ’s light to the world of darkness around them. They are sent members of the body of Christ for His unfolding and maturing purpose among men. God is constantly authorizing and anointing His sent purpose to the earth through His sent body in the earth. This is the testimony of the manifest letters of Christ being written in and through the church. Continuing steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (instruction and way of life taught them by the apostles) is to keep in God’s ‘sent word’ to the corporate body. God wants to accomplish the corporate ministry of the ‘laying on of hands’ through His body. This is the releasing of His authority of life and inheritance through the church to the world in which it resides. God wants to accomplish a ‘corporate work’ through His body. He has a specific task for every corporate expression of His body.
God will give specific tasks for specific times. Our obedience is necessary to fulfill God’s purpose and will. If obedience to God was required in the Old Testament through some who heard God, don’t you think that obedience to God’s words is even more essential to a church where everyone can hear God? We tend to make the New Covenant weak and sloppy by not expecting God to give corporate instructions and commands as part of a corporate process in the church. We tend to believe in individual purpose, but we fail to realize a greater testimony found in corporate purpose and direction.
The governing of the church must be focused on seeking and maintaining the Lordship and direction of Jesus Christ to His body. All members of the body must continually seek His mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God, in all actions and decisions. Any governmental function by those given authority to rule must be under the headship and direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, but Paul gave specific instructions concerning the connection of the members of the church and its leaders.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember (to exercise memory /to bear in mind, call to mind, to stay, to chew) those who rule (lead / bring, drive, induce) over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering (to look again attentively /to be a spectator of /to look closely at) the outcome of their conduct.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey (to convince; pacify; assent; rely on) those who rule (lead / bring, drive, induce) over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls (they are awake concerning your souls), as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Here is a great rendition of the above Scripture:
Rely upon those who lead and induce you toward life, surrender yourself to them, for they are required to be awake concerning your souls, and they must give an account in thought and word for you. They will help keep you from falling into deception and will be alert to the life that God has for you. Let them do this with cheerfulness and joy and do not make them sigh and murmur because of you. Don’t put them in straits, for if they are forced to live in a tight and narrow place because of you, it will only work against your gain and prove to cut your purpose short. (Ted J. Hanson)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize (to see; know) those who labor among you, and are over you (stand before you or stand in front of you) in the Lord and admonish (to put in mind, caution / calling attention to; warning / to place in your intellect a knowing) you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
As leaders in the body of Christ we must set an example in being obedient to the words that God speaks for a corporate purpose. We are not called to draw others to our personal cause, but to inspire our sphere of influence to be a testimony of God’s corporate purpose for the glory of God’s will being done in the earth. We must never seek to fulfill our own will, but to fulfill the will of God in all things. By this we will set an example that others can follow for finding the will of God in their individual lives as well as the will of God in the corporate purposes of God in the earth.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
These are exerts from Generational Leadership, Chapter 4.
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