For this entry, I have been thinking about CHURCH - not "church", as some might know it, but CHURCH.
The specific CHRUCH I would like to look at was not in America, or any country that you might expect. It is the CHURCH of Syria. We can see the glory of this CHURCH as it is displayed in the life of Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul.
In Acts 9, Saul is already known as a zealot in his persecution of those Jews who believed in Jesus. He "breathed threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). Meanwhile, the believers in the synagogue in distant Damascus (meaning "silent is the sackcloth weaver"), Syria, already had such a wide-spread reputation, that it caught the outraged attention of Saul and the high priest in Jerusalem. Saul received permission to bring those believers, bound, from Damascus to Jerusalem. As he neared the city of Damascus, he encountered the glory and presence of the Lord Jesus from heaven. As a result of this experience, Saul became blind, with the Lord telling him to follow His instructions when he came into the city (v. 3-8). Once in the city of Damascus, still blind, Saul began to pray (v. 11). The Lord instructed one of His believers there, Ananias (meaning "God has shown grace, favor, mercy, pity, pray(er)"), to find Saul, and lay hands upon him. The Lord told Ananias that He purposed a great ministry to the Gentiles through Saul. Ananias was fearful of Saul, because of his reputation as a persecutor of believers, but he obeyed the Lord's instructions:
"And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17
Saul was baptized and remained in Damascus for some time, as he went to the synagogue there, and preached belief in Jesus Christ.
Later in time, after Saul travelled back to Jerusalem and on to other areas, Barnabas ("son of peace, son of a prophet") sought him out to bring him to Antioch ("driven against"), on the border of Syria and Turkey (see map). Saul and Barnabas stayed there at the assembled CHURCH of Antioch for a year, teaching a great many. The disciples of this CHURCH were the first to be called "Christians", or "followers of Christ" (anointed, Messiah, anointed with gifts of the Holy Spirit). (Acts 11:25-26). It is one thing to be a "believer" in Christ, and another to be a "follower" of Christ.
We have another account of the CHURCH at Antioch, Syria, a while later:
"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas ("son of peace, son of a prophet"), Simeon ("hearken and obey") who was called Niger ("Black"), Lucius ("light")of Cyrene ("supremacy of the bridle", a city in Libya, Africa), Manaen ("comforter"), who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away."
Acts. 13:1-3.
It is interesting that the Lord did not send Saul back to the church in Jerusalem immediately after his miraculous conversion experience, although he did appear before the church leaders there later. Perhaps it was because Jerusalem was too dangerous for believers, and Saul would have a vital end time ministry to fulfill. Perhaps the Lord did not want to send Saul to the church leaders in Jerusalem at that time for another reason. However, for the early years after Saul's conversion, he spent a great deal of time with the CHURCHes in Syria.
The CHURCH at Damascus healed, accepted, and nurtured Saul, despite his fearsome reputation as a persecutor. The CHURCH at Antioch, obedient to the prophetic guidance of the Holy Spirit, officially laid hands on Saul and Barnabas, and released them into their callings. This CHURCH's obedience to the Holy Spirit changed the world, and continues to do so to this day, as Saul would write most of the New Testament.
The CHURCH at Antioch was dedicated to fasting and prayer. This CHURCH valued and relied upon the Spiritual gifts that the Lord placed in their midst, including teaching and prophetic gifts. This CHURCH welcomed worshippers of varying races, and nationalities. We are told that this same CHURCH, hearing and believing a prophetic word of the coming of a great famine, obeyed that prophetic warning, and sent relief to the believers in far away Judea (Acts 11:27-30). This Great Famine that affected the whole world, did soon come to pass as prophesied during the reign of Emperor Claudius.
It is out of the synagogues of Syria that the CHURCH, the humble, obedient followers of Christ, made an eternal impact that we seldom consider.
The photo at the top of the page is the St. George Church in Homs, Syria, or what's left of the physical structure after attack by ISIS. However, the CHURCH in Homs knows that a CHURCH is not just a building, but a called out assembly of believers in Christ, followers of Christ, and they were determined to still meet together there, as the photo shows. Those in the photo happened to be assembled there that day to witness a wedding.
These are some of the things, when added together, that make up the difference between a church, and the CHURCH. It is the CHURCH that Jesus spoke of when He said, "...and on this rock (the revelation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God), I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose in earth will be loosed in heaven." Mt. 16:16,18-19
If you attend church, you might want to consider becoming part of a CHURCH. They might appear to be a humble gathering at first look, but the Lord entrusts just this type of gathering with His eternity-changing glory.
Our Father has called us to be THE CHURCH.
In Acts 9, Saul is already known as a zealot in his persecution of those Jews who believed in Jesus. He "breathed threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). Meanwhile, the believers in the synagogue in distant Damascus (meaning "silent is the sackcloth weaver"), Syria, already had such a wide-spread reputation, that it caught the outraged attention of Saul and the high priest in Jerusalem. Saul received permission to bring those believers, bound, from Damascus to Jerusalem. As he neared the city of Damascus, he encountered the glory and presence of the Lord Jesus from heaven. As a result of this experience, Saul became blind, with the Lord telling him to follow His instructions when he came into the city (v. 3-8). Once in the city of Damascus, still blind, Saul began to pray (v. 11). The Lord instructed one of His believers there, Ananias (meaning "God has shown grace, favor, mercy, pity, pray(er)"), to find Saul, and lay hands upon him. The Lord told Ananias that He purposed a great ministry to the Gentiles through Saul. Ananias was fearful of Saul, because of his reputation as a persecutor of believers, but he obeyed the Lord's instructions:
"And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17
Saul was baptized and remained in Damascus for some time, as he went to the synagogue there, and preached belief in Jesus Christ.
Later in time, after Saul travelled back to Jerusalem and on to other areas, Barnabas ("son of peace, son of a prophet") sought him out to bring him to Antioch ("driven against"), on the border of Syria and Turkey (see map). Saul and Barnabas stayed there at the assembled CHURCH of Antioch for a year, teaching a great many. The disciples of this CHURCH were the first to be called "Christians", or "followers of Christ" (anointed, Messiah, anointed with gifts of the Holy Spirit). (Acts 11:25-26). It is one thing to be a "believer" in Christ, and another to be a "follower" of Christ.
We have another account of the CHURCH at Antioch, Syria, a while later:
"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas ("son of peace, son of a prophet"), Simeon ("hearken and obey") who was called Niger ("Black"), Lucius ("light")of Cyrene ("supremacy of the bridle", a city in Libya, Africa), Manaen ("comforter"), who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away."
Acts. 13:1-3.
It is interesting that the Lord did not send Saul back to the church in Jerusalem immediately after his miraculous conversion experience, although he did appear before the church leaders there later. Perhaps it was because Jerusalem was too dangerous for believers, and Saul would have a vital end time ministry to fulfill. Perhaps the Lord did not want to send Saul to the church leaders in Jerusalem at that time for another reason. However, for the early years after Saul's conversion, he spent a great deal of time with the CHURCHes in Syria.
The CHURCH at Damascus healed, accepted, and nurtured Saul, despite his fearsome reputation as a persecutor. The CHURCH at Antioch, obedient to the prophetic guidance of the Holy Spirit, officially laid hands on Saul and Barnabas, and released them into their callings. This CHURCH's obedience to the Holy Spirit changed the world, and continues to do so to this day, as Saul would write most of the New Testament.
The CHURCH at Antioch was dedicated to fasting and prayer. This CHURCH valued and relied upon the Spiritual gifts that the Lord placed in their midst, including teaching and prophetic gifts. This CHURCH welcomed worshippers of varying races, and nationalities. We are told that this same CHURCH, hearing and believing a prophetic word of the coming of a great famine, obeyed that prophetic warning, and sent relief to the believers in far away Judea (Acts 11:27-30). This Great Famine that affected the whole world, did soon come to pass as prophesied during the reign of Emperor Claudius.
It is out of the synagogues of Syria that the CHURCH, the humble, obedient followers of Christ, made an eternal impact that we seldom consider.
The photo at the top of the page is the St. George Church in Homs, Syria, or what's left of the physical structure after attack by ISIS. However, the CHURCH in Homs knows that a CHURCH is not just a building, but a called out assembly of believers in Christ, followers of Christ, and they were determined to still meet together there, as the photo shows. Those in the photo happened to be assembled there that day to witness a wedding.
These are some of the things, when added together, that make up the difference between a church, and the CHURCH. It is the CHURCH that Jesus spoke of when He said, "...and on this rock (the revelation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God), I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose in earth will be loosed in heaven." Mt. 16:16,18-19
If you attend church, you might want to consider becoming part of a CHURCH. They might appear to be a humble gathering at first look, but the Lord entrusts just this type of gathering with His eternity-changing glory.
Our Father has called us to be THE CHURCH.
No comments:
Post a Comment