The Church Moves Forward
Cornwall/Montreal
November 30, 2002
Today, we’re making a powerful statement about the church, and a very positive statement, at that, in performing these ordinations.Jesus founded the church. The church came from the heart of God, through Jesus, and the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 16. 18- the church is a Christ thing. The church is something of God that we’re involved in. When you look over the entire history of humanity, the only organization founded by Jesus Christ is the church- organized Christianity!
The great apostle, Paul, instructed in some of this organization of Christianity and the church:
Tit. 1.5- it’s organizing the Christians in an area or a body when you instruct about establishing leaders, who are to bring a positive benefit to the church.
There is no question that the church has had a mottled history. We know this, and most of us can outline examples of this. Yet, even as the church was beginning, do you know that this was understood?
1 Pet. 5.1-3- Peter’s words had, inherent in them, the understanding of what CAN happen. It’s not what was wanted, but wherever you have people involved, things can go wrong.
Acts 20. 28-38- this happened, and it continues to today.
Yet, Jesus chose such a body to carry His Word, the gospel, and it has gone forward despite all that has been mottled over the years.
If you’re visiting us from another church, I can tell you that your church is not perfect and has had mistakes in its past. I can tell you that this church, right here, has hurts in the past that have been created by leaders and other people. I know this church is imperfect right now, because I’m here, and that’s enough imperfection and mottling.
How is it possible, though, for the church to go forward? How is it possible for us to express our confidence in what God will do, going forward, today? It’s possible because of one incredible reality.
Col. 1. 15-22, esp. v. 20- all is reconciled to God through Jesus. ALL is redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus, our Saviour. The power of Jesus’ sacrifice is so very great and, as Christians, we have faith in the greatness of that sacrifice. That sacrifice allows us to go forward in hope and confidence for the future, and to know that the past won’t shackle us. We don’t have to be held back by the past.
There’s a lot to be redeemed and reconciled to God. When I was in Brandon in August, and visiting there with my Dad and sister, en route to a doctor’s appointment in Winnipeg, we got talking about our school trips to Brandon, which included visiting the Indian Residential School. We treated those children like they were museum pieces or in a zoo, and both my sister and I expressed our mutual embarrassment in being involved in that. Well, we’ve apologized to God. All that went on there and then has to be redeemed through Jesus, and will be. What about the treatment of the various indigenous peoples in many nations of the world, when they were conquered by various exploring people? That will be redeemed in Jesus- it will be made right and correct. That’s what ‘redeem’ means- to buy back and to make as good as new. What about the stories of priest and boys, or priest/ministers and girls? All that might be sordid will be redeemed in Jesus. You name it; it gets redeemed by the sacrifice of the King- Jesus.
Jesus is that great! If we believe that, we’ll be involved in what He’s involved with- the church. If we don’t believe, we’ll make up excuses to pull away and not support what He supports- the church. However, it’s likely better for us to be involved where He is, and, in this congregation, we’re making a declaration of our intentions with regard to God, Jesus, and the church in what we’re doing here today.
Those who are ordained, here, both newly and in the past- our elders, deacons, deaconesses- understand these things about the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice, I believe.
I have something to urge them in- and to urge us all in.
Above all things, you- and we- must know the mind of Jesus. It’s very easy to get all caught up in what we’re doing, and we can forget what’s most important. If we’re to be involved in the work of the church, which Jesus is redeeming, as He redeems ALL things, we need to know Jesus, and that takes time with Him. Without that, we can let all sorts of other ideas and thoughts take unwarranted precedence in our lives. More important than any activity is knowing the One who founded the church, and who is called the express image of the Father. You, and we who support you in ministry, need to remember, always, what is most important. I want to refer to a devotional I received recently and draw some important ideas from it.
"After they had eaten, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ’Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these other things?’" (John 21:15).
If Jesus was all you had, would Jesus be enough for you?
Many believers are in love with the things of the Lord, but they are not in love with the Lord Himself. Many Christian workers and ministers are in love with the Lord’s work. Almost without realizing it, the work of the Lord becomes more important than the Lord of the work.
There are prophets and teachers who hold words from God in higher esteem than the God who speaks the words they attribute as being from Him. People seek these words and teachings. The more they receive, the more they want. Before one word is digested they are craving another. They are seeking "things" - words, prophecies, teachings, visions and dreams - but they are not seeking the Lord Himself.
Is Jesus enough?
When the saints gather together, as we do today, most of the activity is focused on "one another". This is important, but it is not the most important thing. Fellowship is good: but is Jesus enough? Gatherings are good: but is Jesus enough? Meetings are good: but is Jesus enough? Special speakers, special event, and special music are good: but is Jesus enough?
Even with praise and worship it is possible to sing "about" Jesus and not truly worship Jesus. With preaching and teaching it is possible to talk "about" Jesus and not truly meet Jesus in what is shared. In prayer it is possible to talk "about" our needs and never actually commune with Jesus Himself.
Among Christians, oftentimes, there is Jesus, and then there are all the things ABOUT Jesus that are NOT Jesus. Jesus Himself occupies only a small portion of what too many Christians say and do. Most of what is said and done is merely ABOUT Jesus, but it is NOT Jesus.
How much of our focus is directed to the things of God, and not to God Himself? How much of our discussion centers on things about Jesus, and not Jesus Himself?
We can look around ourselves and think about this. One can be focused on end-time events, and another is devoted to inner healing. This brother is primarily concerned with prophetic things, while another sister is keenly interested in spiritual warfare. That brother is deeply involved with theological discussions, while that sister is in love with Christian music. One movement emphasizes this particular thing, and another group stands for another thing.
There may be diversities of gifts and callings. There may be various and sundry things to be involved with. There may be many topics to study and discuss. Many things compete for our time, attention, affection, energy, and money. But there is only one Lord Jesus.
Just as some people cannot see the forest for the trees, many sinners cannot see Jesus for the Christians. And many Christians cannot see Jesus for the "church".
Is Jesus enough?
Please turn to Mark 3:14:
"And he ordained twelve, that they should BE WITH HIM, and that He might send them forth to preach."
You are called to be with Jesus. That is your calling. That is the primary thing, the highest ministry. Going forth to preach or do anything else is of secondary importance. We should be with Jesus; after that, He might send us forth to preach. But before Jesus said, "Go into all the world" He said, "Be with Me."
The call of the Lord is not more important than the Lord of the call. The work of the Lord must not replace the Lord of the work. No amount of ministering FOR the Lord will make up for a lack of ministering TO the Lord. And knowing the Word of God does not necessarily mean that we know the God of the Word.
Everyone wants to go and do something for God, but it’s very hard for us to stay and do "nothing" for Him.
Jesus asked Peter, "Am I enough for You? Do you love Me more than everything else? Do you love Me more than you love the things about Me?" A few weeks later, when Peter stood with John before the religious rulers to explain the healing of a man who had never walked, "...they marveled; and they took knowledge of [Peter and John], that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS" (Acts 4:13b).
If we will be with Jesus, then Jesus will be with us.
The reason the New Testament church had power was not because they spoke in tongues, or held meetings in their living rooms, or had a certain system for planting churches. The secret was they had been with Jesus.
It’s important for us to be more in love with Jesus, than to be in love with methods and ministries. The prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch were gathered together: not to have a house church conference, not to begin a new ministry, not to discuss the latest prophetic word or the newest teaching, not to exchange ideas on how to grow the church, not to fellowship, not to share a meal, not to minister to one another. But "as they ministered TO THE LORD, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said..." (Acts 13:2a).
Paul and his fellow workers had many souls to save, many disciples to make, many churches to plant, many places to visit, many messages to deliver, many letters to write. There were many needs to be met, many doors of opportunity before them.
But the work was suspended. Activity ceased. Ministry came to a standstill. Fellowship and food were forgotten. The prophets were there, but the prophets did not prophesy. The teachers were there, but the teachers did not teach. Instead, they ministered to the Lord. The focus shifted from horizontal to vertical. The emphasis was directed away from man and man’s needs, and onto the Lord and His Need. They were busy being with Jesus. They were at His feet.
So when the Holy Spirit finally spoke, they were ready to go forth. Thus began the first missionary journey of Paul.
When apostles love church planting and mission work more than Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When prophets love their prophecies, dreams, and visions more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When evangelists love traveling, preaching, and holding meetings more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When pastors love their church services and building programs more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When teachers love their teachings more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When preachers love their preaching more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When ministers love their ministry more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When musicians love their music more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough. When writers love their writings more than they love Jesus, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough.
And when the simplest disciples grow tired of "just" being with Jesus, and begin to long for something bigger, something better, something greater, something more powerful, and something other than what they have in Jesus already, then they are saying that Jesus is not enough.
If Jesus were all you had, would Jesus be enough for you? Or do you have to have all the "trappings" of Christianity, all the bells and whistles, all the toys and trinkets?
We must make no mistake: there is no life in the things that are ABOUT Jesus. There is life only in Jesus Himself. This is something that all of us leading in ministry must constantly remember. It’s hard, and I lay it before you, who are ordained, and you in the congregation. Each of us must seek to remember this. Members, please help us remember that Jesus is enough.
If you are dissatisfied and disappointed with your Christian walk today, it is only because of one thing: Jesus is not enough for you. Somewhere along the line, something else became more important than Jesus. Maybe you have become focused on the things ABOUT Jesus that are NOT Jesus. There is only one solution. You do not need more of the Lord, because He has already given Himself completely to you already. You just need less of everything else.
Remember what it was like to hear His Voice, to be so filled with passion and love for Him, that you wanted nothing more than to sit at His feet, and hear His Word? Remember when you were so infatuated with Him that you did not want to do anything else. Remember what it was like to just be with Jesus. We all had days like that at the beginning of our walk.
Go back to when Jesus first called you to be with Him. Go back to the time when all you had was Him. Go back to the time before you were doing anything ‘for the Lord’. Go back to the time when there was no work, no ministry, no vision, no special calling - except Jesus calling you to be with Him.
Remember when you said, "He’s all I need!"
So what happened? I pray the Lord will draw us all after Himself and make us thoroughly sick and tired of things - especially the things that are ABOUT Him, but are NOT Him.
God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, Jesus.
Well... is Jesus enough?
Conclusion:
Yes, we make a powerful statement about the church of the redeemed today, in ordaining elders/leaders in the church. It’s important that this be a statement with true substance- not just some activity we’ve done, but a time for remembering that the church is Jesus’ thing and that Jesus is enough for us. Is He enough for you and me? I hope He is.
I want to urge all of us, today- Jean, Steve- and all of us- to stay close to Jesus. From this closeness will spring strong ministry. Jesus is the source of strength. Jesus IS enough.
