GOD’S WISDOM IN THE CHURCH

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   God is omniscient, meaning He is “all-wise” or “possessing all knowledge.”

1.    Psalm 147:5

 

Great is our Lord, and of great power:  his understanding is infinite.

 

2.    Romans 11:33-34

 

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past find out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  or who hath been his counsellor?

 

B.   God’s wisdom can be seen in many different places.

1.    It is seen in the Creation.

2.    It is seen in the human body.

3.    It is seen in the scheme of redemption.

 

C.   In this lesson, we want to focus our attention on:  “God’s Wisdom in the church.”

1.    The church is not a man-made organization.  Jesus promised His disciples He would build it (Matt. 16:18).

 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

2.    All Christians have been added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47), but most of us have never stopped to think about how much wisdom is found in this blood bought institution (Acts 20:28).

 

I.             IT IS PRODUCED BY SEED

 

A.   Jesus’ first parable was “The Parable of the Sower.”

1.    The sower sowed seed.

2.    In Luke’s gospel the seed is explained in Luke 8:11.

 

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.

 

3.    In Matthew’s gospel we learn the word is described as “the word of the kingdom” (Matt. 13:19).  (NOTE:  The kingdom is the church).

 

B.   There are two aspects of wisdom when it comes to seed.

1.    As long as there is seed, the kingdom will be upon the earth in some form.  In other words, as long as the Word of God is in existence, the kingdom is here.

2.    Seed produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11-12).

a.    The seed of God’s Word only produced Christians in the first century.

b.    If that same seed is sown today, the only thing it will produce is Christians.  (NOTE:  Not hyphenated Christian, but simply Christians).

 

II.           IT IS NOT A PHYSICAL, EARTHLY KINGDOM

 

A.   The church does not possess a parcel of land that refers to itself as the kingdom of Christ that has to operate as one government among many on the earth.  We do not have a city wherein a temple resides that represents the church.

 

B.   Jesus’ words:

1.    John 18:36

 

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

2.    John 4:21

 

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

 

C.   Can you imagine the problems the church would face if it were a physical kingdom on the earth?

1.    Battles for power within

2.    Struggles with foes without

3.    The financial difficulties of maintaining a kingdom

4.    The possible need for a military

5.    The constant political strife over doctrine, policies, and regulations

 

D.   The church does not have these problems because the church is a spiritual institution rather than a physical one (Rom. 14:17).

 

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

III.         IT CAN EXIST WITHIN EVERY NATION UPON THE EARTH

 

A.   One nation cannot usually exist within another nation.  (NOTE:  There are only three on earth:  Vatican City, San Marino, and Lesotho).

 

B.   The church, however, can exist within any nation on the earth. 

 

C.   How?  It is because the church really resides within the hearts of those who been called by the grace of God and redeemed by the blood of Christ (Luke 17:21).

 

Neither shall they say, Lo here!  or, lo there!  for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

D.   This is a wonderful thought:

1.    The church is in the United States, the United Kingdom Africa, South America, Australia, and Russia.

2.    If there is a regime change in any country, the kingdom of God can continue to be in that nation and continue to flourish.

 

IV.         ATTACKS ON THE CHURCH CANNOT DESTROY IT

 

A.   The church will always have its enemies. 

1.    Saul tried to waste the church in the first century before his conversion (Gal. 1:13).

2.    He was fighting a losing battle.  When Jesus appeared to him, He noted:  “…it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5).

3.    Paul could destroy the church in Jerusalem, but others were being planted in other cities in Judea and Samaria and other parts of the world.

 

B.   There were seven churches of Asia to which John wrote in the Revelation.  These churches no longer exist, but the church can still be found in the world.

 

C.   Jesus promised:  “…and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

 

V.           IT UNITES MEN REGARDLESS OF TONGUE, TRIBE, RACE, CULTURE, OR NATION

 

A.   The church brings individuals from every race and culture together in one body (Eph. 2:14-16).

 

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

 

1.    Paul has specific reference to the church uniting both Jew and Gentile.

2.    However, the application is that all men are be reconciled to God in the one body of Jesus Christ, the church.

 

B.   How can this be possible?

1.    The church involves the heart not the skin.

2.    The church seeks God’s will not any single person’s will.

3.    The church is not focused on things in this world, but things above.

4.    The church’s mission does not involve physical fighting, but rather we wrestle with spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

VI.         IT CAN OPERATE ANYWHERE WITH LITTLE EXPENSE

 

A.   The church is not a building.

B.   The church can accomplish her obligations to God with little expense.

1.    The church can worship in someone’s home or out in a field.

2.    The members of the church can volunteer to do all the works of the church:  preacher, secretary, treasurer, teachers, etc.

3.    The bread for the Lord’s Supper can be made. 

4.    Supplies can be donated.

5.    Any projects that require materials and assembly can be donated and made by the members.

6.    Almost all of the funds collected by the church can be sent directly to benevolent efforts and mission works.

 

C.   Over the course of time, we have turned the inexpensive into the expensive.  However, the church could exist with few expenses in times of war or immediately following a natural disaster.

 

VII.       IT ENABLES AUTONOMY TO PROTECT THE CHURCH FROM ERROR

 

A.   In the New Testament, we read of what some call “the church universal.”  This is the body of Christians that exist throughout the entire world.  It would also be composed of all the faithful who have departed from this life.

 

B.   The only other concept of the church is a local congregation such as the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2, 3).

1.    Each local congregation is self-governing.

2.    Each church holds to the doctrine of Christ, but is free to make its own decision regarding optional matters.

a.    OceanSide:  3 services in the morning on Sundays

Arlington:  2 services, lunch, then an afternoon service

b.    OceanSide:  a paid minister

Arlington:  the men rotate the preaching responsibilities

 

C.   Let’s keep this contrast up in another area, that is, false doctrine.

1.    Let’s assume that a false teacher is successful in overcoming the OceanSide congregation.  That error would stop within this congregation alone.

2.    Arlington would not be impacted by the false teaching here.

a.    They could teach their congregation against it.

b.    They could mark and avoid fellowship with us (Rom. 16:17).

c.    Arlington would remain a faithful congregation.

3.    NOTE:  If there were a layer of a convention or assembly between the church universal and the local congregations, all local churches aligned with the convention or assembly would be impacted by the false doctrine.

 

VIII.     IT ENABLES THE QUICK SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

 

A.   The local church’s primary focus should be the community at is immediately around the meeting place of the church.

 

B.   Another local congregation can be set up a few miles away from this congregation with the responsibility of focusing on its neighborhood.

 

C.   NOTE:  In the first century when modes of transportation limited travel, this was definitely a great benefit.  Several families in a given location could get together and start another congregation of the Lord’s people.  They would not have to walk or ride on animals long distances to attend worship service and be involved in the church.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   In Ephesians 3:10, Paul notes that God’s wisdom is revealed in the church.

 

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

 

B.   Paul simply says that the church manifests the manifold wisdom of God.