Church Weekly for 27 January 2008
My dear readers,
Today we conclude the article by C R Stam.
Our Great Commission Still in Force – Part II
By C R Stam
THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
Light and Power to Fulfill our Commission
We have seen that the twelve apostles did not understand the prophetic program, indeed, that it was “hid from them” (Luke 9:45 ; 18:34 ), until our Lord, at a given moment “opened...their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45 ). We have seen too that at a given moment, “when the day of Pentecost was fully come,” God fulfilled a long-standing promise and the apostles and disciples “were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1 , 4 ).
This, however, is not how believers today are enlightened and empowered to proclaim “the mystery” since revealed through Paul. God does not at some given time miraculously open our eyes to understand the Scriptures. Rather the understanding of the Word comes through diligent, prayerful study, and with a fuller understanding comes the needed power. Thus the apostle prayed for himself and for all saints, that they might be given the grace to understand and might thus be empowered to proclaim the glorious message committed to him. Let us note this briefly in three of his prayers for the enduement of believers with spiritual understanding and power.
Ephesians 3:14-19 : “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit, in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Colossians 1:9-11 : “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
This power, rather than the power to work miracles, is doubtless what Paul refers to in I Thessalonians 1:5 : “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”
Further on in Colossians 1 , where the apostle declares that God would have His saints know “what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles” (Colossians 1:27 ), he continues:
COL 1:28-29, COL 2:1-3 : “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment [Gr., epignosis, “full knowledge”] of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
How different are these prayers from the prayers most frequently offered for babes in Christ! The apostle knew, and was inspired to write to the saints, that spiritual power comes from spiritual understanding; that only as we are “filled with the knowledge of His will” can we “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power” (Col. 1:9-11 ).
The Church has dismally failed to grasp the significance of this great passage. It is constantly interpreted to mean that we should know God’s will for our lives. Sincere young people are taught to ask God to show them: “Should I be a missionary in Africa, Asia, Europe? Or, should I be a pastor or Christian worker in a church at home? Or, perhaps, does He want me to go into business and help provide the needs for the Lord’s work?”
This may all have its place, but not the first place, and it is not what the above passages refer to. We say with deep earnestness to those who have thus misunderstood its meaning: whether you go to Africa, Asia, or Europe, or whether you remain at home as a pastor, Christian worker or businessman, will make little difference if you do not know “HIS WILL.” Acquire this knowledge, and you may be sure that He will graciously lead you as to His will for your life. To know “His will,” you must pray for “all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” so as to understand His Word to us. Thus alone will you be “strengthened with all might, by His Spirit, in the inner man.” And to prayer must be added diligent Bible study, for this spiritual understanding is not granted by some miraculous demonstration in response to prayer alone. It is rather the result of prayerful, painstaking obedience to II Timothy 2:15 : “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
As we sincerely obey this command we will come to enjoy one of the most precious blessings of the Christian life: “the full assurance of understanding”!
In Hebrews 10:22 we read of “the full assurance of faith.” Precious possession!
In Hebrews 6:11 the apostle writes of “the full assurance of hope.”1 This is even more blessed to experience.
But in Colossians 2:2 we learn of the apostle’s longing that the saints might enjoy “the full assurance of understanding.” This is the most blessed of all, for by it we are enabled and emboldened to proclaim His Word in “the power of the Spirit.”
How can we sincerely read these three prayers of the Apostle Paul without earnestly longing for this assurance and the boldness that goes with it, that we might indeed be “fruitful in every good work”!(End of Article)
Endnote
1. “Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Heb 6:19 ).
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor