ispiritual coldness. There is a great |need for "equipping" of the saints. )Existing congregations, now far [away from the Lord, need to be [brought back to Him. The final meaning of the word has the suggestion of the "furnish ing of a guest chamber." Suppose that Christ decided to come to your house. Are there some things in jyour mind you would have to hide? Would you be ashamed of some of those concepts and ideas? Could He be given the key to every se cret chamber of your thoughts? The Bible is interested in the holiness of individuals as well as in the holi ness and sanctification of the entire congregations. How many churches do you know of which are working for the sanctification of their entire society? They are really interested that the whole group together may grow in holiness and grace. This is what really concerns the Apostle in his letter. We should desire to be a glorious church, with out spot or wrinkle or any such thing. This is the work for which we need prophets, apostles, evan gelists, pastors and teachers. Let us desire that the church may be thor oughly equipped in every area of need for service. Laboring for a Glorious Church In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, he declares his desire that God may present to Himself "a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing" (5:27). One of the biggest underlying problems is dis satisfaction with the church. We see it full of difficulties and incon sistencies. Unbelievers are con stantly accusing Christians of being hypocrites. While they may be at tracted to the Lord, those who claim to be saved are so hard to
take. Young people today seem desperately dissatisfied with the church as an institution. What is the answer to these accusations? Old Testament prophets were, in a sense, "angry young men." They were distressed about the people of God who failed to be what God intended for them. We know that one day the church will be glorious, even though it may seem far from it now. John's com ments in Revelation about the churches of Asia shows their im perfections. One lost its first love, another embraced false teaching, while a different one became luke warm. No wonder he looks for ward to "a new heaven and a new earth" where he envisions a future glorified church in the presence of the Lord. It is far too easy to be a critical spectator and fail to examine our own heart's needs before the Lord. The basic fact is that if there is anything wrong with the church, it is our fault. We are all a part of it. Paul urged the Philippians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." The word "sal vation" does not mean deliverance from sin and death. He was talking about salvation in this present life, or physical restoration. It is no good piously stating, "Well, just leave it to the Lord." Remember, "it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleas ure." Every man who has believed is to be presented mature in Christ. Without question, one of the big gest wrinkles is ourselves. As mis sionaries we sometimes bring with us to the field various ideas which have been inherited. Some who go out have an institutionalized idea of the church. Others consider it Page 13
Made with FlippingBook Annual report