The Throne of the Governor; On This Side the River

In order for us to come to the unity and maturity of the Body of Christ we must learn to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit of God in the Church, and to the ministries and gifts that are given and directed by the Spirit of God.

The reason for the babylonish confusion in the churches of Christ is that man is in control. We will not allow the Spirit of God to take charge. We always resist the Holy Spirit. The head of man is on the Body of Christ. The result is chaos.

Before much else can be done there must be a restoration of spiritual oversight and authority.

There are two concepts we should consider. The first is that every member of the Body of Christ possesses a gift of grace by means of which he or she must serve the Body. Without that particular individual's contribution the entire Body suffers.

It is not enough that we wander about doing what is right in our own eyes. God does not have two wills, two purposes for our life. He has one will, one purpose. Our task is to seek God until we discover what it is He wants done with our life. Then we are to work with God in building our part of the Body of Christ. Such individual prayer and effort is an important part of the work of restoration.

Some believers have the ministry of the oversight of the churches and we must submit to their guidance as to the Lord. Such elders are not to be lords over Christ's inheritance but examples to the flock.

The second concept is that of the total authority of the Holy Spirit in the construction and operation of the Church of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the "Governor." The Holy Spirit is God. It is the Holy Spirit who calls out apostles and prophets and directs them in the work of the ministry. The churches of Christ are to be under the direct control of the Spirit of God. The elders of the churches are to be filled with the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit.

The reason the Church of Christ is a valley of dry bones today is that men have attempted to construct and operate the Body of Christ.

Now it is time to cease using the churches for our own ends. God's answer to self-seeking men is the cross. Today is the day to bear our personal cross. In the hour in which we are living, great tribulation, intense persecution, is ready to fall on the Christian people. The result will be that our sins and self-seeking are purged from us. In that hour only the Holy Spirit will be able to build and guide the Church. Suffering will cause us to cease from our sin and self-will.

The flesh and fleshly mind are worse than useless when it comes to spiritual work and warfare. The Holy Spirit must be allowed to clothe Himself with the members of the Body of Christ. Only then can the Church bear the testimony of Christ and possess the gates of the enemy.

To be continued.