I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,
“When He ascended on high He led a host of captives,
and He gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-16
What is the key ingredient in the unified Body of Christ? The ONE Spirit. For without Him we have endless human debate and opinion. Without the Holy Spirit we have academic arguments that schism the Body. Without the Holy Spirit we have ‘doctrinal’ wars. Many followers of Jesus Christ throughout history have literally been killed in “Christian” doctrinal wars. Current “institutional church” leadership works on ‘professionalism’ and certification to their ‘professional’ standards. Ordination becomes a hoop jumping certification process rather than one of confirmation by the Holy Spirit. It is easier to build institutions and rituals than it is to follow the Holy Spirit. Rules, laws, formulas, steps, become the structure rather than prayer and the move of the Holy Spirit in the ‘building’ of the religion rather than the Body. The institution gravitates and moves back to the ‘mediator’ model rather the one Jesus came to give us. Jesus IS our Mediator, not an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. What are those five ‘gifts’ for then? Their only job is to equip and build up the Body of Christ NOT to be OVER the Body. There is only ONE Lord. His Name is Jesus. Jesus left so that the Holy Spirit could come. So… who should be the One mediating in the Body now? The Holy Spirit? Who exactly should be deciding which way the Body should be seeking to reach the world?
When the Holy Spirit is in charge – humility, honesty, transparency, and preferring others over ourselves becomes the mode, rather than pride, jealousy, and dictatorial authority. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) become the markers of Body – rather than buildings and institutional structures / business models and Sunday “services”. Leaders become facilitators of the Holy Spirit rather than ‘platform’ authorities of institutions, meetings, and groups. Who should be leading? The Holy Spirit. Is His fruit present ABOVE all our ‘rules’ and ‘restrictions’? (1 Corinthians 13)
Does this mean we get to throw out the Word then? NO!!!! The Holy Spirit confirms the Word! Many try to twist and change the clear Truth of the Word. Thus enter the arguments. And it almost always revolves around two main things, money (power and control) and sex. The lust of the flesh – divides, manipulates, schemes, and works to keep it all hidden. Sin does NOT like the light. The Holy Spirit brings … the LIGHT of Christ! The Holy Spirit requires exposure of sin and real repentance.
Father … we need YOU! Holy Spirit shine YOUR Light on our hearts and souls. Expose the Truth of our real motives! Father- I admit my own weakness! Come Holy Spirit! I surrender to YOU Holy Spirit – show us the way. We submit our plan(s) to Yours.