“For they have gone out for the sake of the Name,
accepting nothing from the Gentiles.”
3 John 1:7 (ESV)
May we touch the intensity of His life pulsating in and through these unnamed people of God. They went forth for the “sake of the Name”, inspired to forsake all to proclaim that magnificent NAME.
There was a Divine simplicity that governed their lives; there were no mixed motives. The persecution of the Church was at a peak; thousands were dying in the arenas for the sport of the heathen. Nevertheless, they went out “for the sake of the Name.”
Should we not also, in our time of ease, rise each morning and go into the world around us “for the sake of the Name”? May there be enough of the wind of His Spirit to impel us by grace to be “living epistles” in such a manner that we are “known and read of all men”.
If we are alive in the Spirit, we cannot help but be invigorated as we read these scriptures. The early Church bore no other name; they had no buildings and/or organizations by which they were identified. They did not go out to start a church, for they carried the Living Christ within. Anyone with a true understanding of the Church of Jesus Christ knows you cannot “start” one. The true Church is His people, a “spiritual house” built of living stones.
“and you yourselves are built up as living stones [into] a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5 (LITV)
The ministry of the early church knew that the church was the people. If someone began to elevate an individual minister above others, they were sharply rebuked as carnal and divisive.
“For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? For while one says, “I am of Paul”; and another, “I am of Apollos”; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
1 Corinthians 3:3-6
In that fresh and pure moving of God’s Spirit, THE NAME was enough to bind all in the power and wonder of a unity that testified of the Lordship of Christ.
“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Acts 11:26
The manner in which they walked, the love they held for one another, and the atmosphere of a holy unity were sufficient for them to be CALLED Christians (“Christ-like” in the Greek) by the world around them.
They did not need to call themselves Christians; they lived the Name. They walked in a manner that displayed the attributes of that mighty Name. May the Lord stir us afresh in this hour. May the rule of His Spirit supersede our fears and press us beyond the comforts of this world that we may be found worthy of the Name!
“That ye would walk worthy of God,
who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”
1 Thessalonians 2:12
Related Posts:
Effective Preaching – Alexander MacLaren
“You cannot preach conviction of sin unless you have suffered it. You cannot preach repentance unless you have practiced it. You cannot preach faith unless you have exercised it. True preaching is artesian; it wells up from the great depths of the soul. If Christ has not made a well within us, there will be no outflow from us.”
– Charles Spurgeon
Brian Troxel
Brian, you never disappoint my brother. Such a good word my FRIEND. So much pain has accompanied the continuation and spread of what we hold precious, and the days ahead will only go on to show our own conviction and worthiness to His NAME. love you brother.
One cannot hide the artisan within. If it is Christ, it will become a sweet savor to those around. If it is self, others will get whiffs of the sulfur at minimum…now and then
The danger of elevating an individual.
I had a dream where i was standing in the back of I’m guessing was a church. I saw at the pulpit an individual introducing a figure who was supposed to be Jesus but wasn’t. I saw the words, “false prophet”, written across the forhead of the man standing at the pulpit. Remember that this was my observation from the back of the building. Then I was standing behind the false prophet and was shown those seated in the pews. What I saw was people who looked as though they’d been hypnotized or under a trance.
The Word says that the elect cannot be deceived.
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
The elect, as I read it, are those who remain faithful to the end.
Mat 24:11 — Mat 24:13
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he wokho endures to the end shall be saved.
Deception is a scarry place to be being that one who is deceived doesnt realize it even though one shows him/her through the word that they are in error. Prayer is the only thing that can break this.
As to why I was shown this and not the people seated is because the Lord opened my eyes and not because I’m anything special.
In these last days it would be foolish to rely on any anointing and/or gifting one thinks that they may have and not on the Lord.
The scripture passage from Matthew i quote above follows an extremely important passage that I will post below
Matthew 24:10
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Notice the steps.
Offense
An offense not dealt with festers and then beyrayal and hatred follow it is afterwards, in verse 11 that it says them false prophets will arise and deceive many. Offence unforgiven makes one vulnerable to heading the words of the false prophet (s). Remember what Jesus said about forgiveness. If you want to be forgiven you must forgive.
In the dream I heard, “warn My people”, which is the reason for the post.
As with any dream and/or vision