The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Church, #5

By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, (Ephesians 2:15—NIV)

The work is of God, not of man. Whether an individual saint grasps his or her marvelous inheritance as a member of the Body of Christ is decided by the particular person. Our task is not to bring into being the vision of God. He will do that. Our task is to learn what God has stated in the Scriptures, place all our faith and trust in that, and be obedient to the Holy Spirit each day of our life.

There is no question whatever. All that Jesus has prayed for will come to pass in its entirety. Whether or not we participate in it is decided by us.

The world is dependent on the maturing of the Body of Christ. The world cannot be released from the bondage of futility in which it labors, apart from Christ. Christ will not release the inhabitants of the earth by Himself. He has chosen (and it is stated in the Scriptures and therefore cannot be changed) to release the earth by working through His saints.

And saviours [deliverers] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's (Obadiah 1:21).

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Today the world is in the worst condition of its history as far as spiritual bondage is concerned. The Church is a long way from the unity and maturity that is required before Christ will work through the Church and release the creation, The world labors in darkness and death, awaiting—without realizing it—the perfecting of the Church.

The world will not be forced to wait much longer. The Father will move swiftly, bringing both the tares and the wheat to maturity. He will quickly finish in righteousness the work of redemption. Then the righteous will shine as the sun in the fullness of the Glory of Christ, and the nations of the earth will come running toward that eternal life and light.

The fruit of each saint in that day will be in proportion to his willingness now to "fall into the ground and die." He who saves his life will lose it. He who loses his life in Christ will reap a staggering harvest of souls—his crown in the Day of the Lord.

Within the one Church there are many different callings, many ranks of achievement. There is oversight and organization—all under the direction of the one Holy Spirit. Satan has used our immaturity and ignorance in such a way that the differences among us have caused division and suspicion rather than the fullness of expression that is intended. God's efforts in the last days will overcome all division and suspicion among the true members of the Body of Christ.

And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 37:6).

Notice the "I will." The Christian Church is the handiwork of God. What the Lord God has purposed to do He shall do. No wisdom or power in Heaven or on the earth or in Hell beneath can stop Him.

To be continued.