We were in a service some years ago in which the pastor exhorted his congregation to seek revival for the simple reason that "if we don't get on fire for God, God is liable to grant revival to some other church instead."
It would be difficult to find a premise more variant divine will and objective than that in which the extension of God's blessing to other believers is deemed objectionable, presumably because such would be deemed an undercutting of our own quest for spiritual preeminence and superiority. That attitudes of this nature are far from uncommon is a tragedy of our time.
Nor does Scripture lack for mention of similar quest and intent. Both Mark and Luke note Christ's Disciples having, on one occasion, sought to impede the ministry of an individual exercising a successful ministry of exorcism in Jesus' name. "We tried to hinder him," John explained, "because he was not following us" - to which Jesus replied: "Do not hinder him... for he who is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:38-40; Luke 9:49-50).
At the same time, we recall another minister who shared his having once passionately advised the Lord that revival represented the most fervent desire of his heart. At this point, he related, it was as though the Lord replied, "You won't mind, then, if I send it through the church down the road, will you?" It revolutionized his thinking.
As noted in previous postings, we are pleased to observe the growing swell of those desiring revival in our time. Such constitutes a vital need. At the same time, we are particularly appreciative of those seeking spiritual renewal, not only within the confines of their immediate endeavor, but with a view to serving the larger community of faith - elsewhere identified in Scripture as "all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" (Eph. 6:24).
Herein is reflected the perspective of our Lord who has only "one body" (Eph. 4:4-6). Simply put: He does not always make the distinctions to which, at times, we are so assiduously committed.
BurlRatzsch
Showing posts with label end time Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label end time Church. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, August 28, 2009
"ROOTED AND GROUNDED..."
"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love..." (Eph. 3:17);
"As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith..." (Col. 2:6-7).
Rootedness (i.e., depth and stability) in the lives of believers represented an ever present concern of the apostle. In somewhat similar analogy, Jesus had earlier spoken of those whose endurance fails in the hour of test for lack of depth - those, as he put it, who "have no root in themselves" (Matt. 13:6,20-21). There are several points of reference from which the theme might be addressed.
Paul, for example, speaks of a yet pending day wherein anything less than stability and resolute determination will fail; hence one's need for "the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand..." (Eph. 6:13). At the same time he also foresees a culminating work of grace within the believing community - "until we all come to...the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ," Eph. 4:11-13). In other words, there is a sense in which the scenario becomes two-fold.
Of such polarization, the prophet Daniel writes: "Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those that have insight will understand" (Dan. 12:10).
We sometimes find it of interest to discuss the present day Church with fellow ministers of various traditions - including, at times, those involved in organizations of a more liberal persuasion. Having once served in one of the denominations sometimes designated the "seven sisters of liberal Protestantism" (we shall forego their identity here; the observant reader is, to at least some extent, aware), I was interested in the relativly recent statement of a former fellow pastor within that body to the effect that, despite its substantial loss of both pastors and congregations over issues of radical liberalism, he felt that he foresaw the possibility of a return to biblical values within some churches in his own geographical area. God grant it to be so.
A pastor within another fellowship shared that he was convinced that the spiritual vacuity of their churches committed to liberal cause and agenda, as opposed to the dynamic attendant those congregations adherent biblical concepts and principles would, in time, engender a return to more biblically based standards. In both instances, time will tell.
With regard to an opposing world with which the community of faith finds itself increasingly confronted, Jesus warned of a coming universal hostility. In addressing the Disciples' question concerning his return (Matt. 24:3), he advised them (as representatives of the validly committed Church) that prior to such occurrence, believers would first experience the hatred "of all men," and again, "of all nations" (Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17). Simply put, difficult times lie ahead.
Together with the biblical mandate of unity, there are few requisites more vital to the end time Body of Christ than that of stability - of being rooted and grounded as, in preparation for our Lord's return, his Church first experiences a time of purifying test (here note Matthew 24:4-29 as preceding vv. 30-31 - itself, as we have observed before, likewise conducive to the ordained "unity of faith, Eph. 4:11-13).
Burl Ratzsch
"As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith..." (Col. 2:6-7).
Rootedness (i.e., depth and stability) in the lives of believers represented an ever present concern of the apostle. In somewhat similar analogy, Jesus had earlier spoken of those whose endurance fails in the hour of test for lack of depth - those, as he put it, who "have no root in themselves" (Matt. 13:6,20-21). There are several points of reference from which the theme might be addressed.
Paul, for example, speaks of a yet pending day wherein anything less than stability and resolute determination will fail; hence one's need for "the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand..." (Eph. 6:13). At the same time he also foresees a culminating work of grace within the believing community - "until we all come to...the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ," Eph. 4:11-13). In other words, there is a sense in which the scenario becomes two-fold.
Of such polarization, the prophet Daniel writes: "Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those that have insight will understand" (Dan. 12:10).
We sometimes find it of interest to discuss the present day Church with fellow ministers of various traditions - including, at times, those involved in organizations of a more liberal persuasion. Having once served in one of the denominations sometimes designated the "seven sisters of liberal Protestantism" (we shall forego their identity here; the observant reader is, to at least some extent, aware), I was interested in the relativly recent statement of a former fellow pastor within that body to the effect that, despite its substantial loss of both pastors and congregations over issues of radical liberalism, he felt that he foresaw the possibility of a return to biblical values within some churches in his own geographical area. God grant it to be so.
A pastor within another fellowship shared that he was convinced that the spiritual vacuity of their churches committed to liberal cause and agenda, as opposed to the dynamic attendant those congregations adherent biblical concepts and principles would, in time, engender a return to more biblically based standards. In both instances, time will tell.
With regard to an opposing world with which the community of faith finds itself increasingly confronted, Jesus warned of a coming universal hostility. In addressing the Disciples' question concerning his return (Matt. 24:3), he advised them (as representatives of the validly committed Church) that prior to such occurrence, believers would first experience the hatred "of all men," and again, "of all nations" (Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17). Simply put, difficult times lie ahead.
Together with the biblical mandate of unity, there are few requisites more vital to the end time Body of Christ than that of stability - of being rooted and grounded as, in preparation for our Lord's return, his Church first experiences a time of purifying test (here note Matthew 24:4-29 as preceding vv. 30-31 - itself, as we have observed before, likewise conducive to the ordained "unity of faith, Eph. 4:11-13).
Burl Ratzsch
Friday, July 24, 2009
END TIME FAITH
While having touched upon the following in prior postings, we yet do well to remind ourselves.
God is not through with the Church. Although there were instances in which the apostle Paul seemingly anticipated living to see Christ's return (note, for example, his inclusion of himself with those to be granted "relief" at Christ's coming, II Thess. 1:7) he was yet unhesitating in expressing himself as to certain prerequisites destined to precede that time and event.
When, despite Christ's having returned to the Father some thirty or more years prior, the Thessalonian believers became caught up in a euphoric expectancy of his immediate return, Paul's advice was essentially that they go back to work and recognize, as he had before taught them, that Christ's return would not take place until after the age-concluding "man of sin" had risen to power. "Do you not remember?" (II Thess. 2:1-5).
Another key to the times in relation to the Church lies in the fact of certain objectives ordained to attain fulfillment prior to, and in preparation for, Christ's reception of a Church "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing...holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:27 as predicated on preceding 4:11-13: "until we all come to...").
As anyone acquainted with Church well recognizes, such state has yet to exist within the Church in any lasting sense. This includes the apostolic era, as attested by the ongoing efforts of the apostles to counter heresy, personal ambition, immorality - as well as resolve Church disputes, renew a Christocentric focus, ad infinitum.
Significantly, the first attribute of the matured Church will be a meaningful "unity of the faith" (again, Eph. 4:13). This, of course, accords with Christ's last recorded prayer in which he petitioned that the Church come to reflect the oneness of his own relationship with the Father.
While various factors will contribute to the fulfilling of this prayer, one of the more obvious agencies for effecting such will lie in the coming universal hatred of believers - a fact to which our Lord made repeated reference. It need little be noted that the rumblings of such are already becoming discernable in terms of not only an increasingly anti-Christian world, but apostate elements within the institutional Chruch as well.
The day is coming in which, as believers, we shall much need one another - a day in which the bond of faith and fellowship will derive, not from self-focused causes, identities and sectarian interests, but rather transcendent commitment to Jesus Christ, love for one another, and dedication to biblical principles.
Count on it.
Burl Ratzsch
God is not through with the Church. Although there were instances in which the apostle Paul seemingly anticipated living to see Christ's return (note, for example, his inclusion of himself with those to be granted "relief" at Christ's coming, II Thess. 1:7) he was yet unhesitating in expressing himself as to certain prerequisites destined to precede that time and event.
When, despite Christ's having returned to the Father some thirty or more years prior, the Thessalonian believers became caught up in a euphoric expectancy of his immediate return, Paul's advice was essentially that they go back to work and recognize, as he had before taught them, that Christ's return would not take place until after the age-concluding "man of sin" had risen to power. "Do you not remember?" (II Thess. 2:1-5).
Another key to the times in relation to the Church lies in the fact of certain objectives ordained to attain fulfillment prior to, and in preparation for, Christ's reception of a Church "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing...holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:27 as predicated on preceding 4:11-13: "until we all come to...").
As anyone acquainted with Church well recognizes, such state has yet to exist within the Church in any lasting sense. This includes the apostolic era, as attested by the ongoing efforts of the apostles to counter heresy, personal ambition, immorality - as well as resolve Church disputes, renew a Christocentric focus, ad infinitum.
Significantly, the first attribute of the matured Church will be a meaningful "unity of the faith" (again, Eph. 4:13). This, of course, accords with Christ's last recorded prayer in which he petitioned that the Church come to reflect the oneness of his own relationship with the Father.
While various factors will contribute to the fulfilling of this prayer, one of the more obvious agencies for effecting such will lie in the coming universal hatred of believers - a fact to which our Lord made repeated reference. It need little be noted that the rumblings of such are already becoming discernable in terms of not only an increasingly anti-Christian world, but apostate elements within the institutional Chruch as well.
The day is coming in which, as believers, we shall much need one another - a day in which the bond of faith and fellowship will derive, not from self-focused causes, identities and sectarian interests, but rather transcendent commitment to Jesus Christ, love for one another, and dedication to biblical principles.
Count on it.
Burl Ratzsch
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