What is the Church? (Part 2) (This Life) In the last message of this series I referenced a scripture verse in I Peter 1:12; which states that the angels desire to look into the mystery of the Messiah, of which the prophets foretold (the sufferings of Christ and the glory which would follow). Let me tell you something. If the angels who witnessed the creation of the universe (the stars, planets and all that in them is) are desiring to look into this whole Gospel business this has to be something really exciting! In the book of Acts we see in chapter 5, verse 20, that an angel is sent from God to set Peter and some of the other apostles free from prison and this is what the angel said after getting them out, "Go, stand and speak in the temple all the words of this life." Did you catch that!? Think about this for a minute with me! An angel is sent by God to free these guys from prison and what does he say? What if you were that angel, and let's say for the sake of illustration that you are given one thing to say to them. What do you say? What words does this angel choose, knowing he can only say one thing about the Gospel? "Go, stand and speak...all the words of THIS LIFE" The word "life" here is the Greek word ZOE, which means "the God kind of life." With that in mind, think about angels in heaven desiring to look into this amazing regenerative, restorative, born-again-ative LIFE that comes into people's darkened hearts when they hear and believe the gospel!!! This LIFE that comes into people, changes them, causes light to shine out of darkness, recreates their dead spirits, and brings them to new life in Christ is something the angels are intensely interested in! They can see it happening, they see it spreading from one believer's heart to the next. They see it illuminating the darkness of this world. They see it affecting the satanic stronghold that is down here on earth. They see it, the perfect law of love, overcoming the hatred and the evil that is in the world. They see the words of THIS LIFE being taught, proclaimed and communicated to those who are under satan's power and that it sets them free! Wow! No wonder they desire to look into this! What a glorious purpose the church has in the earth. What an awesome power comes into us when we believe! We as believers are given the opportunity to work with God in declaring all the words of THIS LIFE to a lost and dying world. And witness it taking hold in their lives as well. The church is God's emblem in the earth. His tabernacle. His royal diadem. We are to provide the world with a working model of His perfect law of love and the outworking of THIS LIFE that comes alive in us when we hear the Gospel and believe. But there is much said in the Bible about church life and how THIS LIFE is to be applied and conducted. Stay tuned for more... |