Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. [Ephesians 3.20-21]
In today's OYCB reading, Paul says some very revealing things. I wish I could just respond to every sentence I read today! However, I will limit myself to the passage above...
Our lives are to glorify God. This is accomplished in twofold measure: the Church and Jesus.
Paul gave us insight into the mechanics of this truth just a few verses before:
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. [Ephesians 3.10-11]
The Church is to glorify God today through Jesus. So, if we are to glorify God today, it will be according to His plan - His plan from eternity. That plan is that the Church would display His wisdom to the unseen spiritual realm. In other words, God's wisdom will dominate this unseen realm as an execution of God's will through the Church. This arrangement was confirmed and activated by the work of Jesus.
This is clearly why the name of Jesus carries so much power on the lips of a believer.
However, the individual believer needs to understand that he or she is no 'Lone Ranger.' God's plan is not carried out by the individual through Christ. God's plan is carried out by the Church through Christ. That does not mean the individual has no power though. It simply means that the 'big picture' of God's will on earth will be carried out by the corporate Church as its individuals' combined faith and works work in unison.
It is no wonder then that Paul would make this statement just a few sentences following:
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [Ephesians 4.3]
For those who can and will see it, the division of the Church today, seen in the plethora of denominations and sects, is the 'dead short' limiter on the power of God being manifest on the earth today. Certainly, there is no harm in variety of groups meeting in separate locations, however, there is no excuse for the proud stand-offish-ness seen between these groups. Each group arrogantly discounts the others and displays nothing of the unity the Bible speaks of.
Jesus spoke directly on the topic of love between believers:
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” [John 13.34-35]
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. [John 17.22-23]
The point of all this is that we need to understand that our individual effectiveness is severely limited by our corporate disunity as believers. If we, the Bible-believing Church, wish to see a 'move of God' on the earth today, we are compelled to do so in unity among ourselves. Otherwise, it will be powerless, disorganized, disunity as usual.
Father, help believers of Your Word everywhere to make every effort to come into a unity of faith. Help us to allow Your Word to draw us into unity understanding that Your Truth is not divided and certainly does not work against itself. Help us to give legitimacy to each others' genuine study of Your Word, but to be careful not to elevate opinions where there is uncertainty. And, by all means, help us not argue over opinions. May You be glorified in Your Church and in Jesus!
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