WEEK 1 - TUESDAY
Read and pray: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it” (1 Cor. 3:10).
GOD'S CENTRAL WORK IS BUILDING
God's central work is building. Building is not about understanding doctrines, saving sinners, or even instructing the saints. Although the New Testament refers to the individual instruction of the saints, it focuses on the building of the house of God.
Many times, we are deeply moved regarding the salvation of sinners and the instruction of the saints, yet we lack sensitivity regarding the building of the house of God. This does not mean that we should not be concerned with saving sinners and instructing the saints, but we need to understand what the ultimate goal of God’s work in this present age is.
Since Paul had a clear vision concerning building, he stated: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it” (1 Cor. 3:10). We need to be careful about how we build, the materials we use, and the outcome of the building.
May the brothers realize that saving sinners and instructing the saints are related to the central goal of building the house of God. If we pay attention to this central work, our gospel preaching to save sinners will be more effective, and our efforts to instruct the saints will not create problems.
For example, our failure in building the house of God is the fundamental reason why the brothers in Taipei seem to lack the necessary strength to preach the gospel. The key to this is the building of the house of God. If the house of God, the Body of Christ, can be built up, the salvation of sinners and the instruction of the saints will flow very easily.
THE KEY TO THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH -THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCHAND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
The two most important aspects concerning the building of the church, the house of God, are the administration of the church and the ministry of the word. If the administration of a church is lacking, there will not be much building. Likewise, if the ministry of the word is ineffective in a particular church, there will not be much building there either.
For many years, we have used the word instruction or education, but now we need to use the word building. The saints, individually, need instruction; the church, as a corporate entity, as the Body of Christ and the house of God, needs to be built. The building of the church depends on its administration and the ministry of the word.
According to the New Testament, all our speaking should be for the building of the church. In 1 Corinthians 14:12, Paul states: “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”
Verse 1 says: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” The most excellent gift for the building of the church is prophecy because prophesying is related to the ministry of the word.
In 1 and 2 Timothy, when the church was in desolation, there was a need to add the administration of the church to the ministry of the word. The responsibility for church administration belongs to the elders. After the church reached such a lamentable state, the apostle spoke about its administration in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Church administration becomes crucial when the church is in a desolate and confused state.
The administration of the church and other topics related to the elders are not addressed in the book of Romans. However, 1 and 2 Timothy clearly speak of administration by the elders because at that time the church was in a deplorable condition.
If we understand the principle of the Bible, we will comprehend what the Holy Spirit means. In the early stage of the church, God led and built it through the ministry of the word. However, after some time, the ministry of the word alone was not sufficient; the administration of the church had to come into play.
For this reason, in 1 and 2 Timothy, we find both church administration and the ministry of the word. Paul says: “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). Here we see both the ministry of the word and the administration of the church.
After some time, as the church became established, the need arose for both its administration and the ministry of the word. Both are necessary for building. If the administration of a church and the ministry of the word are deficient, the church will not be built. When the administration of the church and the ministry of the word are strong, the church can be built. May the Lord open our eyes to the fact that God's central work in this age is His building—that He wants to build His house, the Body of Christ, the church.
Since we take part in His building, we need to understand the administration of the church and the ministry of the word. The ministry of the word is related to gift, and the administration of the church is related to office. Both are for the building of the church. What we speak as prophets is for the ministry of the word and is related to the gift. The service of the elders is for the administration of the church and is related to the aspect of office.
Enjoy More: Hymn S-51
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