The Church as an Assembly

Ephesians 1:22 “(God) put all things under (Jesus’) feet and gave (Jesus) to be head over all things to the church.”

The Greek word translated “church” in Ephesians 1:22 is ecclesia. The noun ecclesia is derived from a verb that means “to call out.” The concept of a group of people that is formed by being called out from a larger group of people. It is also a group called out for a special purpose, which applies to the church. In contemporary secular Greek of New Testament times, the word ecclesia had a specific meaning. It meant a “governmental assembly.”

It is used in that way three times in the nineteenth chapter of Acts- Acts 19:32,39,41

Thus, the root meaning of the word we habitually translate as church means “a legal or governmental assembly.”

God’s Vision for the Church

Exodus 19:4-6 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God’s redemptive purposes are three-fold from this passage:

1.direct personal relationship with God- v4

2.His own possession-v5

3.new people-v6

An Assembly of Heaven on Earth (ecclesia):

The Hebrew term for "kingdom" found in Exodus 19:6 is mamlakah (מַמְלָכָה), which translates to "kingdom," "dominion," or "reign", referring to dominion, either in an abstract sense as the estate (rule) or in a concrete sense as the country (realm): --kingdom, king's, reign, royal.  

The apostle Peter had this understanding in mind when he referred to a royal priesthood and a holy nation in 1 Peter 2:9-10. Through faith in Christ, we are royal priests.

Qualifications to enter the Assembly.

Matthew 16:15-18 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

1.Confrontation- Peter met Jesus face-to-face. There was nobody between them, no mediator, no middlemen. It is the same today if the church is to be an assembly of heaven on earth.

2.Revelation-revelation was granted by God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Without that revelation, Peter could not have known who Jesus truly is.

3.Acknowledgement of the revelation- Peter acknowledged the revelation when he responded to Christ’s question.

4.Confession- there is a confession of the revelation. Peter confessed aloud, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Wielding Authority as the Assembly

When Jesus called His first disciples, He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Matthew 4:18-20

Wielding authority as an assembly of heaven on earth requires total commitment (“Leave it all; follow Me”) and transformation from within. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

WHAT DOES TOTAL COMMITMENT LOOK LIKE?

Luke 9:57-62“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

1. True commitment is more than involvement.

The first man promised to follow Jesus wherever He went, but he did not think about the price he had to pay for being a disciple and blindly committed to be Jesus’ follower. True commitment has a price attached to it. Many commit to do things, commit for ministry but do not weigh the cost. True commitment is, “I have decided to follow Christ, no matter what.”

See what Jesus said to him: Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head  “ It is quite possible this man never came back to become a follower of Christ because he did not want to commit himself to Jesus when the going got tough. The sad reality is that many believers settle for being involved without ever making a commitment. Being involved means that you can do what you want, as you want and when you feel like doing it. Commitment means that you are available to Jesus 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

2. True commitment is giving priority to God.

Let us look at the second man. Luke 9:59-60 “To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.””

This man wanted to stay and care for his family before following Jesus. His priority now was his family – first family, then Jesus. There is nothing wrong with caring for your family because your family is a gift from God and you are instructed by scripture to take care of them. Jesus is driving at the issue of priority. Jesus wants us to make Him first in our lives and no other place will do.

 3. True commitment is keeping your focus on God.

Luke 9:61-62 “Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The third man makes a reasonable request to go back and say goodbye to his family and again Jesus makes a statement that sounds harsh when He tells the man that he is not fit to follow. Why does Jesus do this? Notice what the man says to Jesus: Luke 9:61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” It is likely that this man had intended to have several farewell parties from both family and friends. This could take days or even weeks before it was finished. He was distracted by the world and lacked focus.

If you are not maturing as a believer, you are far too often focused on what you lose by following Jesus.

HOW TO BE COMMITTED TO GOD?

Before I end, I want to help you with three tips to be committed to God. This is based on the supposition that you have already made a personal commitment to follow Christ.

1. Be committed to learn.

We have been called to commit ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples. Disciples always learn. We should never reach a point in life at which we are no longer learners of faith.

See what apostle Paul said: Philippians 3:10-14 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul is writing this approximately 2 years before his death. He has not finished learning, he is still leaning, he is still striving and committed to God. Make a specific commitment to continue to grow spiritually.

2. Be committed to your church.

We need to commit ourselves to be responsible members (participants and not spectators) of one church. The local church is the first level of commitment outside of our personal relationship with the Lord.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The first commitment to church is going to one church, regularly and punctually. Commitment to church is deeper than just attendance to the worship services, but it does begin there. You will never truly feel a part of this church by attending the Sunday morning services and going home. Be involved, get to know people, get into a growth group. Be loyal to Christ’s body on earth.

3. Be committed to your call.

We all have been called with a divine calling. When God called you, God also gave you the gifts and talents to accomplish that call. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. God has given you gifts and placed you here to use it for His glory. When believers do not use their gifts to serve the Body of Christ, for a greater good, their commitment is not total.

Will you make a commitment today? If you have not committed yourself to the Lord, then you need to begin there. Once you have committed yourself to the Lord will you commit yourself to personal growth, institute some practical steps to do so beginning today? Amen.