Buildings can be impressive to the human eye. Architects from around the world compete with designs from high-rises to homes and churches to see who can design the most modern and attractive. You can be assured that the cost of these structures is just staggering. Solomon was handed the project from his father David of building the temple, and he did an outstanding job. Yet, there was something God was looking for; “Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1). If heaven was God’s throne and earth His footstool, what human construction could possibly begin to provide a place where God would be at “rest” with His people? There are very few, even in Scripture, who had God’s idea of a dwelling place for God. Abraham was longing for this, “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Paul received the ultimate design when he referred to those who make up the church, “You also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). Peter says that we “like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). If we were to grasp the vast importance of God’s design for a house, a dwelling place for Him, we would place very little emphasis on buildings and places of worship. Our focus would become a pure temple in our hearts, designed and formed by God the Spirit. What house are you building?
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The fourth element that Paul mentions in Colossians 2:7 is being “established in the faith”. Part of the meaning of this word “establish” is to “increase in inner strength”. The day we live in requires that this takes place with the people of God. So often we become occupied with performance when God is more concerned about the inner permanence of the Spirit work. “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:21). Here again we see the collective image of the whole church increasing in spiritual fortitude that can stand against the constant attack of what is false and also persecution. My dear brother and sister in Christ, so much of the church today has moved away from the original plan and purpose of God, that it has become very difficult for most to recognize the original design. It is the passion of this ministry to redirect you back to the original blueprint in Scripture, open the eyes of your heart to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and renew your vision to see what Christ has planned for His church. This is being “established in the faith”! I leave you with Paul’s rhetorical statement to ponder: “If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Colossians 1:23). How firmly established are you? There is a theme that runs through Paul’s ministry and letters that needs our attention. It’s a subject that parents and children often overlook. Some adults struggle with this critical component to life. Yes, I’m talking about maturity! Paul has some strong words about this subject. “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20). The context of this verse is in relation to the gifts we are given by God. Further to this point, Paul teaches that the gifts are used to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain…to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). This confirms the point made a few days ago; we are “built up in Him (Jesus Christ)” (Colossians 2:7). Note the essential purpose of becoming mature:
Winter has its advantages. On the surface we experience the colder temperatures, but there are things happening down under the surface that are critical for the next season of fruit. As I pointed out, dormancy is when the roots take up nutrients that are stored as energy that is needed for the developing shoots in early spring. At the same time, there is “Root flux” when there is more than normal root development taking place. What does this mean in our walk with the Lord? This is where the inner life of our walk with the Lord is so critical. We are deepening our roots in spending time with Him, receiving instruction from Him, and letting Him feed or “renew” the inner man (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:23). This internal process goes against our human nature. Naturally, we figure that the more people see of our “Christian performance”, the more we are bearing fruit. Not so! It is the unseen work of the Spirit who is constantly seeking to enlarge our roots in Christ, the highways of spiritual nutrition; storing up in our hearts the knowledge of Christ that is only gained by secret time with Him. If your highway of spiritual nourishment has been cluttered with other priorities, it’s time to take a “winter break”, repent and allow your roots to go deeper and become bigger through the teaching and communion of the Holy Spirit. God will take care of the outer evidence of your walk with the Lord. This inner development is more important, essential and critical! As we enter a relationship with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, we also begin a life-long walk with Him that does not end. “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” (Romans 6:5). The word “united” means “to become one with”. This teaching in Romans 6 gives us a dimension to salvation that affects the way we look at the whole of life. We must never think that any part of our lives can be separate from this walk with the Lord. As the branch cannot exist apart from the vine, neither can we live effectively as Christians apart from a close walk with the Lord. Paul’s words in Colossians 2:6, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” means that “we are to conduct our life as in Christ”. Later in chapter 3, Paul refers to “Christ who is our life” (3:4). All of us are challenged by this truth. When our eyes get off Christ, we become influenced by attitudes and things that do not help us in this close walk. A few weeks ago, my wife and I were walking along our road holding hands, concerned about some dogs that were running loose. Before we realized it, her foot slipped off the edge of the pavement and we both went down. So it is when we get distracted from walking with the Lord. The injury at the moment might be slight, but if we are not careful we can get accustomed to walking at a distance and the damage becomes harder to repair. Tomorrow we will explore being “rooted…in Him” and how that affects our ability to bear fruit. For now, check out your walk with the Lord. How close are you to Him? Any distance is because you have moved away. I have just started to prune my grape vines after waiting through cold winter months of dormancy. This got me thinking about the spiritual applications of John 15:1-11 and my work during these months when nothing seems to be happening with the vine. One of the questions I asked was, what is taking place during the dormant season?
The first stage of dormancy is when the roots take up nutrients to store as energy that is needed for the developing shoots in early spring. At the same time, there is “Root flux” when there is more than normal root development that takes place. These two “internal functions” prepare the vine for spring growth-- rapid development of branches that will produce bunches of grapes during the summer months. Paul exhorted the Colossians; “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6–7). Notice the four imperatives for the Christian that can only be accomplished by “abiding” in Christ. Over the next four days, I want to engage you with each of these imperatives to see how they are worked out in our daily lives. Between now and tomorrow’s blog, be sure to read John 15:1-11 several times and ask the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, to give you insights into how this works in your personal life. God always has His resources in the right place waiting for the right moment to be employed in accomplishing His work for His glory. He uses yielded men and women, nations and rulers, natural and man-made resources to service His purpose. The question is; will I be yielded to the Holy Spirit so He can direct me in God’s service at the right time and place? The fruit of such a life will never be produced without first being surrendered completely to the divine will. “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first” (Matthew 21:28–31). I have been greatly convicted that at times I say things to give an impression to others with no inner intention of doing what I said. I have been that second son. Submission grew with the first son, and God wants submission to grow with us. If the requirements of serving God’s mission seem hard, take time to let the Spirit develop inner willingness. Stop giving impressions and seek the fruit of genuine submission to the Holy Spirit. |
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