“For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:” II Cor. 10:8
Authority is given to ministers to edify the body. If they do not lord over the people they will not be ashamed, but will exercise authority with all confidence.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.†Acts 17:10-11
Too often the saints settle for the idea that every church is going to have things that are wrong and have people who refuse to be faithful to the word of God. I guess that brings some kind of comfort to the people to think that they are not expected to, as a church, walk in a manner that fully pleases God and really demonstrate a true New Testament church. However, if a town called Berea can have people, who were not yet born again believers, be committed to search the scriptures, why would we think that we cannot be a part of a church that has most, if not all the members committed with a readiness of mind and search out the scriptures daily to live by them?
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Gen. 2:1-3
Allow me to talk a little foolish like Paul did at times. God rested on the seventh day, but that is the last time He ever rested. He has been dealing with man 24 / 7 ever since he fell in the garden. Now they are a constant aggravation. Don’t be one of those aggravators.
“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Col. 2:18-19
Trouble and confusion will come to believers whenever they take their eyes off the head, Jesus Christ. Whenever the body loses sight of the head, the body joints start to unravel.
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Col. 2:15
The NKJV uses the words “public spectacle” instead of “made a shew of them openly,” To be made a public spectacle means to be embarrassed, or belittled before all. It means that there is someone or something more worthy. Jesus made a public spectacle of the law in that He showed it had no power to change or save anyone. He made it become and embarrassment to anyone who thought they could use the law to justify themselves before God.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Col. 2:6
I am sure it has happened to all of us where someone comes along and complicates Christianity. They get you all confused by presenting to you their ideas, interpretations and self-convictions. When this happens you need to clear your mind of these things and just go back and walk in the simple faith and obedience that you received when you first got saved. That never expires, you never outgrow that.
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Col. 2:16-17
The Old Testament is a shadow of things to come. The New Testament is the revealing of that shadow who is Christ. When men go on to practice the ceremonial laws and regulations they are choosing to live in the shadow of Christ. Now why would anyone want to live in His shadow when they can live being part of His body? Don’t walk in the shadow, walk in the light.
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col. 2:3
If “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in Christ, why would we look anywhere else?
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Col. 1:27-28
It was Paul’s great desire to present believers “perfect in Christ Jesus.” Though most Christians do not have a call to shepherd God’s flock, each of us should have the same desire toward one another, to see each other presented perfect in Christ. We all, whether ministers or not, can participate in this work of perfecting others. How? Preach Jesus Christ. Preach Him by living for Him, preach Him by letting Him be seen in your life.
“I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. 29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.” I Sam 25:28-29
If you take some things and put them together, you have what is called a bundle. You take people full of the life of God and you put them together, you have what is called the church “the bundle of life”
