The Church Body
Jeremiah 3:14“Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15“And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16“Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says the LORD, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.
17“At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.
This is a passage speaking directly to our day...to the generation that will see the return of Jesus.
God promised to raise up shepherds after His own heart...leaders like David, the man after His own heart.
Many in this hour worry about 'following a man'. This can be taken too far.
While there is a valid reality to this concern (we shouldn't blindly follow anyone), there is also a narrow road. If I am not willing to be led, I will miss out on the essential end time reality of benefiting from shepherds after God's heart, and getting to be one! Everyone is led by some, and everyone is called to lead some.
I have to discern for myself where good fruit is, who is a good shepherd and who is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I need to be led and to lead.
This is the way a body works. If one part says 'i have no need' it misses out on a major reality of the body.
1 Cor 12:20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
People who know God are comfortable following others that know Him. It is a wonderful thing to be led closer to the One you already know and love by someone who sees Him from a new angle. People who don't know God are afraid to follow anyone who might also not know Him, and they can't really discern either way. When this happens, the default mode is to align with those who overtly benefit us. This is tragic, for many will be led astray this way.
Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
If you don't know God that well, that is ok. Start with asking Him to help you discern those that do and then listen to them.
15“And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16“Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says the LORD, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.
17“At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.
This is a passage speaking directly to our day...to the generation that will see the return of Jesus.
God promised to raise up shepherds after His own heart...leaders like David, the man after His own heart.
Many in this hour worry about 'following a man'. This can be taken too far.
While there is a valid reality to this concern (we shouldn't blindly follow anyone), there is also a narrow road. If I am not willing to be led, I will miss out on the essential end time reality of benefiting from shepherds after God's heart, and getting to be one! Everyone is led by some, and everyone is called to lead some.
I have to discern for myself where good fruit is, who is a good shepherd and who is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I need to be led and to lead.
This is the way a body works. If one part says 'i have no need' it misses out on a major reality of the body.
1 Cor 12:20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
People who know God are comfortable following others that know Him. It is a wonderful thing to be led closer to the One you already know and love by someone who sees Him from a new angle. People who don't know God are afraid to follow anyone who might also not know Him, and they can't really discern either way. When this happens, the default mode is to align with those who overtly benefit us. This is tragic, for many will be led astray this way.
Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
If you don't know God that well, that is ok. Start with asking Him to help you discern those that do and then listen to them.
Comments
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comments.