DEFINING THE CLIMATE OF A CHURCH
#754 DEFINING THE CLIMATE OF A CHURCH
Scripture Acts 9:31, NIV Orig. 9/2/1979
Rewr. 2/2/1982
Passage: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Introduction
I heard recently of someone who was flying out of Atlanta on Piedmont Airlines. Some trouble had arisen delaying the departure of the aircraft for Asheville, NC. During the delay, a weather front had come into the area further complicating the flight.
Finally, the call came notifying the passengers that the Piedmont Flight was loading. Having to get to and from the tram in the rain further complicated the loading procedure. Finally, however, all was accomplished and the flight was underway.
As the passengers settled into their seats for the flight, they expected to be accommodated since they had been so thoroughly inconvenienced. They heard flight steward announce, however, “Due to the complications of turbulence, and the time, we will not entertain on this flight!”
Perhaps the most urgently needed message for the people of God is one that understands the complications of the turbulence of the times and the lateness of the hour. The enigma of the hours is that we have become such an entertainment oriented people. I am not sure that the message for spaceship earth is that lucid. I am sure that the message most needed by the church of the Lord Jesus is precisely that. “Due to the complications of turbulence and the lateness of the hour, we will not waste our Master’s time and resources waiting for someone to entertain us.”
There is a climate in which the church is nurtured. It must become the prayer vigil of this hour for every church to become a people aware of the complications of the turbulence of the times. Entertainment is for the make-believe of the theater. The church is an institution in which high drama has become the watchword. It consists of two parts: edification and multiplication.
I. If We Are to Define the Climate of the Church, We Must Understand its Significance in New Testament Times. Then had all the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria. The author of this passage defines church as we understand it today. Not in this instance is he talking about the spiritual bodies of believers. Not the universal church. Not the world wide family of faith. Not the corporate conglomerate international. It is the local church + the local bodies of converted, born-again believers + flesh and blood people, struggling against the temptations of Satan and the world, finding Christ sufficient. One of the highlights of our recent journey to the Holy Land was to drive into the present Arab town of Nazareth, and one of the first things we see was a church sign, First Baptist Church of Nazareth, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
As believers, we certainly are a part of the extended family of God, through His Son, Jesus. He who is God’s son is my brother, she who is His daughter is my sister. The one who reveres Christ as Lord can never be treated as anything less than the closest of friends. His culture, his socioeconomic standing, his education are inconsequential. We stand together under the umbrella of the blood of Jesus.
The picture that emerges of the church here, is not that of a glorified model. Yes, we are to get back to New Testament basics. Don’t conclude, however, that you will find in the New Testament a model church. Churches which claim to be modeled after the New Testament churches need to clarify which one. Is it the church at Jerusalem, which had failed to minister? Acts 6:1, And in those days there arose a murmuring . . . because widows. . . . You were elected to enhance harmony and meet a need. Or perhaps at Corinth (I Corinthians 8:10-11). They were doing things that were harmful to weaker, less sophisticated believers. Paul rebuked them. Maybe, Galatia (Galatians 1:6). I marvel that you have so quickly turned . . . to another gospel. Don’t overlook the Hebrew churches. Hebrews 3:12-13, Take heed, . . . lest there be an evil heart of unbelief, . . . Exhort one another daily. [Or Philippi,} The one preach Christ of contention (Philippians 1:16).
II. The Climate of the Church Must First Be Defined in Terms of Edification. Then had the churches rest . . . and were edified. This thing that was taking place in these churches resulted in positive change. The people were “edified.” It was a term which came directly from the construction trades of the day. Oikodomoumenē (οἰκοδομουμένη) denotes the act of building up. In the New Testament it is used only figuratively. What we know that they were not doing was building a building. It was the people who “were being built up, edified.”
The English captures the word in both these meanings. “Edifice” is a beautiful, carefully constructed building. “To edify” or “edification” has nothing to do with building an edifice. Scripturally, the word is a process word defining how believers are being built up in Jesus.
It is interesting that there are other New Testament characteristics that are linked with edification. The proclamation of the Word is to be done distinctly, clearly, prophetically. I Corinthians 14:26, How is it . . . when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, . . . a doctrine, . . . a tongue, . . . a revelation, . . . an inspiration, . . . an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. Christian love edifies. I Corinthians 8:1 (NAS), Knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies. The various gifts given to individuals are given for edification. Ephesians 4:11, And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, . . . to the building up (edifying) of the body of Christ.
The New Testament message clarifies this building process with the appropriate and adequate message that there can be no building up unless the right foundation is established. I Corinthians 9:11, For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Finally, here, we must not overlook the ultimate contributing factor in edification. New Testament term “rest” is the Greek word “peace”: εἰρήνην (eirēnēn).
III. Defining the Climate of a Church, We Must Now Examine Our Multiplication. And walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Of this we can be sure, there will be little multiplication where there is no prior edification. Luke 24:47F, . . . that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in (Jesus’) name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. . . . But tarry ye, until ye be endued with power.
It is in this spirit then, that the writer of Acts declares that they are to walk in the fear of the Lord. To walk is to be engaged in a journey, which, if one follows all of the right pathways, will bring him to his destination. If one is traveling from Nome, Alaska, to New Orleans, Louisiana, he may travel all the way to Baton Rouge on the right roads, but if he takes I-12 then he will come nearer New Orleans. Several places he can correct his mistake. “The fear of the Lord” is a reverence for the Lord and for His commandments. It is at this point that the lives of many people are in jeopardy, especially young people. They conclude that they have respect for their own adaptation of Jesus, and may therefore live as they please.
The sum of the matter is to walk in the “comfort” of the Holy Ghost. When the life of a believer is under the control of the Holy Spirit, then he will produce the comfort and the discomfort that tell us whether we are living in obedience. John 14:16-17, And I pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, . . . even the spirit of truth; . . . for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. When we are at peace with each other and our circumstances, and are walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of multiplication is going to be done.