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

Why do you go to church?

The Lord is reminding the remnant of its purpose. We’re seeing it in the broader church, and we’re seeing it in our local assemblies. Relative to our geographical and historical counterparts, the western church presently sits in a place of great comfort, and there is a discernible complacency in the way many saints gather and live. With regularity, we assemble for reasons that aren’t necessarily sinful but often lack the thoughtfulness of first-century saints and their awareness of the importance of the body.

Purpose is easily lost in repetition.

Therefore, questions like the one above are very important for us to continue asking. Why do we gather? What is the purpose of a repeated program or some ‘order of service?’ What informs the structure of our gatherings or any other thing we do? What are the true signs and wonders of God’s power, and are we desiring them for the right reasons? If we ever get so comfortable that we stop asking questions like these, we have entered a very precarious position.

Restoring The Identity and Purpose of the Church

After Christ’s death and resurrection, he visited with His disciples. They had some questions of their own….

Acts 1:6-11
6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

United by their shared love for Christ, the disciples had questions. Today, at minimum the shared love for Jesus should also be why we gather together. Still, we must remember that our love FOR Him is qualified by our obedience TO Him (John 14:15-16). Thus, the question of WHAT we, disciples of today, are supposed to be doing is vitally important.

It is common—and not inappropriate—for us to ask when Jesus will return, given our observation of this fallen world. Additionally, we also frequently and eagerly ask the Lord when our various times of exaltation will come. Jesus’ answer remains just as relevant today as it was then. The times and seasons for certain things are privy to the Father alone, and it is more critical that you desire the Holy Spirit to endure in the meantime.

The disciples were united by their questions. These weren’t necessarily intellectual questions about doctrine, but questions of the heart. They desired answers less related to theological debate and interpretation and more related to life, love, and survival. Pressure and persecution from the outside world have a way of bringing people together in search of the things that matter most. It was a shared anticipation of the Lord’s answer to these questions that brought them together at Pentecost.

Acts 2:1, 22-24, 36-38
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
……
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
……
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Three Thousand Believe
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

On the day of Pentecost, the Lord gave His answer in the form of the Holy Spirit, and Peter began to preach the gospel. He stood with boldness and declared to every witness of the Lord’s power that they had committed the ultimate sin against God by killing His only begotten son.

Consider, for a moment, the weight of guilt that comes with such a realization. By this time, it was undeniable who Jesus was, and therefore, it must have been incredibly fearful to consider what God would and should do to them as a result. So they asked the obvious question, “What shall we do?”

Every believer’s conversion should begin with this very question. When we truly understand the penalty we deserve for our sins, we understand the role we play in crucifying the Lord of Glory. When the reality of our depravity is revealed to us, the burden of consequence should overwhelm us, leading us to the position and question—Lord, what must I do to be saved?

Peter’s answer was clear then and it is clear today. Repent.

Acts 16:25-30
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

How the Gospel Works

This is the Gospel 101.

1.) It exposes sin and its eternal danger.

One of the great issues of the church, especially in the Western world, is that people aren’t asking enough questions about eternity. A big part of the problem is that the church isn’t reminding people that this is important! This is because the church, by its actions, is demonstrating that its current possessions are more important, instead.

2.) It presents Jesus and the acceptance of the Holy Spirit as the only resolution for that sin.

Another great issue of the church is that instead of preaching the preservation of the soul through a relationship with Jesus, it focuses too much on the preservation of temporal things through relationships with powerful men.

3.) It guides the church through to the completion of salvation at the return of the Lord.

The church must keep its greatest hope in Jesus.

These are the things that informed the shaping of the church.

Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Why did the early church assemble?

Everything they did was driven by what/who they desired, against the forces that opposed them.

• They discussed doctrine because there were pure questions about the word now that Jesus had given new meaning and revelation.
• They broke bread, because there were genuine questions about how they would survive in a world that hated their savior and by extension His followers.
• They prayed because they knew the answers to all of their questions could only come from their Father in heaven.

As they did this and sought answers to these questions:

• Signs and wonders were done among them.
• They were compelled to be helpers one to another
• They remained in one accord
• The Lord added to the church!

So, it is evident that these questions of the heart united them. Put another way…

When the collective purpose of the remnant is purified, the power of God is revealed.

The early church went from house to house, broke bread, and fellowshipped together out of a desire to understand how to see the return of Jesus, and the Lord added to the church those who had the same questions and needed the same answers—the Holy Spirit. Today, the Lord adds to our fellowship those who ask the same questions that we do. Our collective journey in life is driven by our desire to see Jesus.

Peace and Safety

As time went on, it was comfort that led to misinterpretations of scripture. Strife and contention came as a result of complacency. When you get comfortable, you stop asking the RIGHT questions.

• You have fewer questions about the word and what it means because you’re more concerned about the cares of this life.
• You have fewer questions about how you’re going to eat because of the deceitfulness of money and its power.
• You have fewer questions about eternity because culture is constantly reminding you that this world and its issues are more important.

Mark 4:19
19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Everything you would normally see as a manifestation of the early church has diminished because, in our hearts, people aren’t asking the right questions.

Again, the question must be asked, Why do you go to church?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
The Day of the Lord
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

If nothing else, this season should have revealed the seriousness of our calling and inspired in us, the same questions that the early church asked. The great danger is that a political victory, a recovering economy, a new job, and any number of comfortable temporal win may do just the opposite.

Lamentations 3:23-26
22It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Hebrews 9:27-28
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The question now is the same as the disciples once had. Lord, when will you return, and how can we make sure we are ready when you do? Let us consider, now, why we we gather as individuals, families, and church communities. Why does God have us exactly where He has us, where we live, who we’re with, what we have/earn, and where we worship?

Press in when there’s no pressure.

1 Timothy 6:3-12, 17-21
Reject False Doctrines
3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Contentment in Godliness
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Fight the Good Fight
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
……
A Charge to the Rich
17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Final Guidance
20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.