Who Can Build the Body of Christ: 2: One Who is Empowered By the Spirit - Zac Poonen - May 23, 2014
http://rlcfchurch.org/who-can-build-body-christ RLCF Men's Conference 2014 River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
Building the Body of Christ requires more than mere intellectual knowledge of Scripture; it demands the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The speaker contrasts a mere 'congregation' (like a pile of bricks) with the true 'body' (like a house), emphasizing that the body requires interconnectedness and submission to local leadership. The ultimate mark of this body is sacrificial love, where members care for and support one another without jealousy.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Human power cannot build the churchIntellectual knowledge and education from Bible schools cannot equip anyone for God's work, because true spiritual building requires the anointing of the Holy Spirit rather than human organization.
Congregations versus the body of ChristMany churches resemble a pile of loose bricks or an anatomy laboratory rather than a living body, which must be built on inward connections through Christ the head.
The identifying marks of the bodyThe true body of Christ is marked by sacrificial love, absolute lack of jealousy between members, and proper respect for local leadership and elders.
The humble beginnings of a spiritual bodyJust like a human life begins in a mother's womb with two units becoming one, the church begins with a small core in unity and grows, making room for spiritual babies without despising them.
Mary as an example of a god-fearing servantGod chose a young, inexperienced, but deeply god-fearing 19-year-old girl named Mary rather than relying on worldly maturity, showing how the first body of Christ was born in humble circumstances.
The mistake of the wise men and the danger of reasonThe wise men missed seeing Jesus in the cowshed because they relied on common sense and human reason instead of God's word, proving that reason is the greatest enemy to faith.
Asking how it can be doneWhen faced with the task of building a local church, we must respond with Mary's humble question of utter impossibility rather than self-sufficient pride in our own abilities.
God hides things from the proud and intelligentGod bypasses those who are proud of their intelligence or wealth, choosing instead those who recognize their total dependence on Him and do not despise the weakest members.Matthew 11:25
Following Jesus in breaking traditionJust as Jesus broke tradition to reach the despised Samaritan woman at the well, we must never despise the lowest or weakest members of the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit makes the impossible happenJust as the Holy Spirit came upon Mary to produce the physical body of Christ, disciples must wait for and depend upon the power of the Spirit rather than relying on money.Luke 1:35
Equipping the saints for the work of ministryApostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers are given by Christ to equip all the saints so that every individual part of the body builds itself up in love.Ephesians 4:11–12
Reproducing healthy, self-supporting churchesTrue churches function like a healthy family where leaders train others to take responsibility, appoint self-supporting elders, and reproduce new churches without relying on hired clergy.
Asking the Father for the Holy SpiritWhen Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, He emphasized that the heavenly Father is more than willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him persistently.Luke 11:1–13
Having a burden and knocking persistentlyLike the man who went to his neighbor at midnight because he had nothing to feed his guest, we must recognize our emptiness and knock persistently in prayer to receive what we need.
The promise to everyone who asks and seeksEveryone who asks, seeks, and knocks for the Holy Spirit will receive the power needed to serve the needy people in the towns where God has placed them.
