If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:3 NASB
Matthew 7:25-27 shows that the type of foundation a man has would determine his state after the storm hits. Psalm 11:3, said if the foundation is destroyed, there is nothing the righteous can do. The three major reasons a physical foundation is examined from time to time are Age, a regular maintenance schedule and signs of visible damage. In today meditation, we will continue considering the four things to check while inspecting the foundation. These four things affect individuals and the local assembly. Yesterday, we understood the importance of maintaining good relationship with God on a daily basis and how to check ourselves daily by His word.
The next important foundational matter to check is to ensure that there is an understanding of the structure and proper functioning of the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:29 – 30, Paul said “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not discern the body. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep“. Discerning the body of Christ means understanding the princinples of the operation of the body of Christ. What are these principles?
- Christ is the only head of the church and we all owe Him our allegiance. Ephesians 1:22-23. This verse shows that Christ is the head of the church which is His body. A man calling himself the head of a church or calling other believers his flock and Lording over them is very erroneous. Christ made it clear saying He is the head and we are all brethren, Matthew 23:8.
- There is only One church, Ephesians 4:4-6. This error has made many in the body of Christ go into a serious error. Regardless of the congregation, there is only one true church without factions or denominations, Christ’s church.
- There are several tribes in the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:3-4 says Jerusalem is built as a city, where the tribes of the Lord go up. The Emphasis here is “the tribes of the Lord”. 1 Corinthians 12 explained that the body is not made of the same parts. Each individual something unique they offer and this makes the body function normally, each joint supplying.
- Physical attendance of church services does not translate to being in the register of God. Hebrews 12:22-23 indicates to us that God has his own register of true believers from different local assemblies. The bible calls them the church of the first born written in heaven.
Another foundational check is the need for the presence of God each time we gather to Him. The church of Jesus is not a political or social organization, but a living Spiritual body with life, a solution centre. The bible says the Kingdom is not in words, meat and drink but in demonstration of power, 1 Corinthians 4:20. Every local assembly must desire and experience the power of God every time they gather. Jesus said where two or more are gathered, there He is in our midst, Matthew 18:20. He also said He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail, Matthew 16:18. If a local assembly is experiencing powerlessness or is being prevailed over by the devil, there are typically two reasons: The assembly is condoning sin or there is no freedom of expression. A lack of freedom of expression can either be that one person or one group of people minister every time, while the others remain bench warmers and are not encouraged to bring out their gifts. That said, The church of God is not a place of democracy or having a “turn by turn” mentality, While there should be freedom of expression, nothing is to be done for vain glory or with strife in mind, Philippians 2:3–7. The leadership (plural) of a local assembly needs to find a balance between allowing people who evidently have graces to minister and encouraging and stirring up gifting in upcoming ministers. As someone rightly said, a true minister preaches his or herself out of the pulpit. This is because the result of the ministry raises others who will take up their place in an even greater capacity.
Finally, We need to possess a missionary Spirit. 1 Peter 3:15 says we must be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope that was in us. Your missionary field may be your office. It may be your neighbourhood. Every believer and local assembly must see his or herself as a missionary and must seek to know his or her primary missionary field. Also, every local assembly must encourage outreaches for it to stay alive. The bible says the gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in all the World and then the end will come, Matthew 24:14.
These are all ways to check and ensure we are still in the faith and remain steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of God. These will ensure we can weather any storm and remain standing, even through the fiercest of storms.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus today, I pray for myself and my local assembly. Search through us to see if there is any place we may have missed your mark and are walking in our own understanding. We want to be a church walking clearly in the ordinance of God. Lord I also pray for the leadership of my local church that you give them the grace to lead your people in the way of the Lord. Not lording it over your flock like the unbelievers do, but ministering to the saint, till we all come in the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, not moved by any wind or storm that is to come. Amen
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