Introduction

I’m sure you can remember a time when your parents told you to do something seemingly simple, having no idea why you were told to do it. They didn’t explain what would happen if you didn’t obey. They just expected you to follow their instructions, because they were your parents. They also knew that far too much time would be wasted explaining the details of what you would eventually learn through obedience, itself. Some of us were fortunate enough to hear the phrase, “You don’t believe fat meat, greasy.” Regardless of how strange it sounded, fat meat is greasy, and that was precisely the point and meaning of the phrase. No matter how strange the instruction, believe and obey.

The truth is, that people typically learn better through hard experiences, even when they are told or warned of the consequences, and the same can be said about the way we learn and believe God’s word. Although it is proven, powerful, and eternally consequential, it often takes experience for us to govern ourselves to its wisdom and instructions.

The Body of Christ

Mark 16:15-16
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Even after more than 3 years of intense ministry, Jesus spent 40 days on the earth after His resurrection, continuing to emphasize the will of the Father—go preach the gospel to the whole world. This seemingly benign commandment doesn’t carry strong overtones of punishment or penalty if unfollowed, and many fail to obey it for not failing to fully grasp its purpose. In many ways, the church has forgotten the importance of this instruction, and as a result, many new covenant saints live as though disregarding this message carries minimal consequence. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Ephesians 4:12-16
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The body of Christ is a living breathing organism that operates optimally when each one of its parts contributes. Cessationism—the belief that spiritual gifts ended with the death of the first Apostles—is problematic in that it rejects God’s desire to equip the church with everything (and everyone) it needs to survive, grow, and adapt to an increasingly evil world.

God designed each of our bodies with the incredible ability to develop immunities and protections against new threats to our health. We need look no further than the recent COVID-19 pandemic. How much more should we expect our heavenly Father to have built similar capabilities within the body of Christ? This is where the commandment to “go ye” manifests its most significant benefit. Much like our physical bodies, the less we expose ourselves to the outside world the less equipped we are to deal with its threats. Conversely, the more we go into the world to preach the gospel, the more able we are to resist and/or recover from exposure to its dangers. The body of Christ is healthier the more it goes, and that’s described in the scriptures that follow the command.

Mark 16:17-18
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Not only do we walk in healing, but our health is contagious. This is only a benefit of obeying this simple command to preach the gospel. Interestingly enough, in the real world, our physical body’s ability to resist infection is created through intentional exposure to it. When our body accepts inactive bacteria and viruses, it produces the antibodies needed for its own protection. When the body of Christ slows its pursuit of new converts—sinners whose former sins are rendered inactive through Christ—it decreases its ability to war against the developing threats of the world.

The Risk of Being Reclusive

It is frequently asked, why aren’t many miracles seen or experienced in the church today? Among many valid answers and explanations to this question, one is simple—too much of the church is much more dormant than it once was. A lack of movement and activity is as unhealthy to the body of Christ as it is to our physical bodies, perhaps even more so. There is a particular passage in scripture that interestingly highlights this truth.

Matthew 13:53-58
53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:58 says that Jesus did few miracles because of the unbelief of the people around him. Now, notice who the unbelieving people were. They were those who were MOST familiar with Him.

Familiarity can be a hindrance to faith.

It may feel comfortable to completely enclose ourselves amongst those we’ve grown physically comfortable with, but doing this has great risks. Those with whom we are physically familiar are the same with whom we tend to be spiritually unguarded. So, when we associate by blood, religious affiliation, congregation, or even cult, we tend to give credit where it isn’t due and withhold honor where it is deserved. We must pay 2 Corinthians 5:16 great attention when it says to “know no man after the flesh,” and we must be mindful that the more we know a person, carnally, the more difficult it can be to see beyond that, alone. This is why Jesus’ family had such a difficult time receiving Him. They had known him as a little boy playing in town, the son of two normal people they knew, who worked a regular job, just like many of them. Spiritually, He was still God. Spiritually those of us who are saved possess spiritual attributes that are more essential than the physical characteristics we often become most known by.

Growth doesn’t happen quickly, but it does happen. The doors of the church should not be open to accept anyone, but they should be open to accept those whom the Lord desires to add. It is important to gather with family and kingdom family, but it is also important to be hospitable to those we are called to reach. In so doing, we give God the opportunity to add to the body what and who it needs to continue to thrive. Jesus had to go beyond His family to perform His greatest works. We must be willing to do the same.

Faith works best in unfamiliar territory