Throughout most of this last week, there has been one major thought that I have pondered which is the basis of this week’s blog post. The thought was what is the most biblical based description of the Church of God in the Holy Scriptures?
My findings were remarkable, exciting, yet very unsettling! While perhaps the larger majority of followers of The Messiah would naturally look in the New Covenant for biblical scripture references of the church, such as Matthew 18:20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26, Titus 1:5-9, Ephesians 5:18-21, Matthew 18:17 and 1 Corinthians 14:26, all are great sources that depict wonderful aspects of the Body of Christ in operation and purpose in the earth, that was not the place that I was lead to.
As I opened the Holy Scriptures, I was directed to the Book of Isaiah and I begin to read each verse as I would later study and gather historical and prophetic information, then I was able to glean at perhaps one of the very best depictions of God’s design for His Church by the prophet Isaiah 56:1-12. I pray that this somehow is a blessing to those who desire that the church honor The Lord God in every aspect of Her divine calling.
Isaiah 56:1-12
Thus says the Lord, “Preserve justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness is to be revealed. v.1-2
The progressive timed released unfolding of God’s divine plan of redemption for Israel and the Church is expressed differently as it is separate yet interconnected. God’s election of Israel invariably promises that all the nations of the earth would have the invitation of God’s blessings and covenants. Every believer who is non-Jewish is a benefactor of God’s salvation due to His most intriguing dealings with the Nation of Israel. Jewish and the grafted-in Gentiles share in the same promises and covenants now as well as the coming Kingdom age.
Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, The Lord will surely separate me from His People…, also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. v.3-8
Even though the Old Covenant has clear biblical references that reveals that throughout the supernatural historic exodus of God’s people were a blending of Jewish and non-Jewish believers, the greatest revelation in God’s plan of redemption is clearly the inclusion of non-Jewish worshippers within the context of the larger Nation of Israel. This is clearly indicated in the New Covenant writings, namely, Paul’s epistles. Most of the tension and struggles within the early formation of the New Covenant movement attempted to address this and other inter-communal struggles. Naturally, this is the very reason why most believers will reference the New Covenant as the primary place in the identification of the church and its function.
It is nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the prophet Isaiah, that enable him to see into the future events of God’s plan of redemption for all nations, that the prophet espouses that those who are excluded, the undesirable, the underclass and outcast accordingly to social constructs and religious ideologies now as well as in the actual fulfillment of the coming Kingdom of God will all enjoy the blessings that are to be practiced within the Body of Christ during fellowship and worship.
The prophet concludes chapter 56 foretelling the most unsettling aspect of this prophecy by describing how the uncalled, unqualified leaders of the institutionalized national church system misused and abuse the church and the people of God in v.9-12.
These passages are a literal rebuke of the “paid” professional leaders/prophets/ministers who were: spiritual blind thus useless; ignorant, stupid, guilty of avarice, intemperance, greed, sexual perverted, unhealthy politically alliance, nationalistic, no prophetic voice.
They have all turn to their own way. Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one. v.11
The above embarrassed and shameful sinful conditions of some leaders in many modern congregations not only affirms Isaiah’s prophecy, but it also reveals that many lack the spiritual necessities and calling to build the House of God. What does the House of God look like?
The House of God
The material of the House of God consists of the spirit-called-believers and servants who are called into The Messiah and commissioned by God for good works.
The very foundation and cornerstone is Jesus The Messiah.
The pillars and beams of the House of God are the ministers of the Word of the Kingdom of God.
The windows are the biblical-based ordinances that
The stewards of God’s House are the preachers of the Gospel message.
Messiah is as a Son over His own House. It is He and not human-beings who acts as Prophet, Priest, and King. His sanctified Body of priests is designed to function like a human body. All parts of the body must be functioning for the body to do what it is intented to do.
God’s House is His building where He dwells, keeps, repairs, beautifies and adorns the soul-care of His redeemed people. He promises to give the united Body a place of entrance and admission into His House. To continue to dwell in, a place of honor, profit, joy, comfort, rest, peace, a place of fullness while sitting at the table of The Lord for those who are truly called by His Name.
Those who are in covenant with God are matured unto Him for service in righteousness while maintaining a high level of reverence and Godly fear. All of which is based upon abiding in His unconditional agape.
The prophet references that the House of God is a “mountain!”
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…v.7
The Body of Messiah in all of the earth was constructed by God to have the appearance of a mountain due to its height, visibility, and immovable nature.
“Now it will come about that in the last days, The Mountain of the House of The Lord will be established as the Chief of mountains and be raised above the hills, And all nations will stream to it.” Isaiah 2:2.
All nations that enter will be identified by their united interest and delight of the unchangeable love of God, while celebrating entrance into His Kingdom and the eternal benefits of His promises and covenants which are established forever by His Grace. Amen!