The Holy Spirit

The third great "Effective Structure", that God set up to restore this earth, is the Holy Spirit. It is God's way of connecting the first structure, the Word made flesh (Jesus), to the second structure, His church. The spirit applies the vast and precious blessings of Christ to our individual and church life.

In our little metaphor, if the church is the lamp and the Word made flesh is the oil in the lamp, then the Holy Spirit is the lighted wick. (see the picture above)

Our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29) and Jesus is the true light, which gives light to everyone (John 1:9), so when the Holy Spirit effectively links the church to Christ, we become the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

A healthy church glows brightly with the power and presence of Christ through His Holy Spirit. Natural Church Development simply measures the strength of the church's connection to Jesus though the Holy Spirit. The minimum factor is the area of church life where the Spirit is given the least access.

So, unlike the first Effective Structure where God acted unilaterally, without input from us, except our great need, the third structure involves not just God's promise and gift (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, 2:33) but our reception of it. It is possible to quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19).

The Father longs to give us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:11-13) but the third great Structure is Effective only when we remove the obstructions, when we love Christ and allow the Spirit to work.

He who loves Christ the most will do the greatest amount of good. There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. If men will endure the necessary discipline, without complaining or fainting by the way, God will teach them hour by hour, and day by day. He longs to reveal His grace. If His people will remove the obstructions, He will pour forth the waters of salvation in abundant streams through the human channels. If men in humble life were encouraged to do all the good they could do, if restraining hands were not laid upon them to repress their zeal, there would be a hundred workers for Christ where now there is one. - The Desire of Ages pp 250,251

"Without complaining"... The foolish young women (unhealthy churches) made the complaint "Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves."(Matt 25:8,9)

To be ready for God's kingdom, to be a healthy Christian, and a healthy church, we must, individually, have "enough" of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Next week's Blessings is entitled "Enough Already!".

The Church

You and me, together, at Toronto church. That's the second Effective Structure God established to restore this lost world. Pretty amazing isn't it!

When Jesus commissioned His church (remember that is you and me) He gave us all the authority we need to go all over the world (including Toronto) making disciples, baptising and teaching (Matthew 28:18-20). He expects us to do the job so well that it will glorify the Father... forever (Ephesians 3:20,21)!

To do such a big job and make Jesus really happy, each person at Toronto has to have "be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." being helpful and humble.(Philippians 2:2,3). How is that achieved? By "having this mind among (us), which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Phil 2:5).

The first paragraph of Mrs White's "The Acts of the Apostles", from the chapter entitled "God's Purpose for His Church", is:

The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.

So there it is... our little church, is the second Effective Principle God has set up to carry the gospel to Toronto.

If we return to the analogy, from last time, of Jesus, the Word made flesh, being the oil in the lamp, then the church is the actual lamp itself, the "jars of clay", "earthen vessels" that the power of God, not ours, is displayed. (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Next time we look at the third structure.

The Word was Made Flesh

The opening 3 paragraphs from the "History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century" by J. H. Merle d'Aubigné (1794-1872)

The enfeebled world was tottering on its foundations when Christianity appeared. The national religions which had satisfied the parents, no longer proved sufficient for their children. The new generations could not repose contented within the ancient forms. The gods of every nation, when transported to Rome, there lost their oracles, as the nations themselves had there lost their liberty. Brought face to face in the Capitol, they had destroyed each other, and their divinity had vanished. A great void was occasioned in the religion of the world.

A kind of deism, destitute alike of spirit and of life, floated for a time above the abyss in which the vigorous superstitions of antiquity had been engulfed. But like all negative creeds, it had no power to reconstruct. National prepossessions disappeared with the fall of the national gods. The various kingdoms melted one into the other. In Europe, Asia, and Africa , there was but one vast empire, and the human race began to feel its universality and unity.

Then the Word was made flesh.

Please read that again... out loud.

Good news isn't it! (Well written too)

The coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, as our Saviour is wonderful news indeed. Worth thinking about. Worth singing about! Especially at Christmas.

The Word becoming flesh is the first of the three great Effective Structures that God set up to restore fallen humanity. But like the whole "Effective Structures" thing we often miss the point.

We have great "Structures" in the Adventist church. From the General Conference up to the North New South Wales Conference, up to Toronto Seventh-day Adventist Church, and finally the peak, you and me, we have a powerful structure that can complete God's will for our part the big world.

Our tithing and offering system, along with with our effective financial committee and treasurers, allows us to put on programs and run ministries for our children, our oldies and the public.

I'm on the nominating committee at present and can only be amazed at all the positions that are filled by talented, dedicated volunteers year after year.

Let me make it clear: Toronto SDA church has great STRUCTURES! I wouldn't want to see any of them change. But what makes them EFFECTIVE?... only the presence of Jesus Christ!

Like the young women in Matthew 25, we have our lamps, shiny, fine structures, well made, well maintained year-after-year, but without oil they are useless and certainly not effective. Neither is the church without Christ.

Now "the Word was made flesh" for many reasons: to be our Substitute, our Surety, our Kinsman-Redeemer, our Justification, our High Priest, our King and more... and He also became flesh to demonstrate what a Godly human life looked like. He became an example of an effective human.

The first chapter of "The Ministry of Healing" is entitled "Our Example". Here are the first three paragraphs. Read them to see what His mission was and how effectively he achieved it.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man's necessity. He "took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses," that He might minister to every need of humanity. Matthew 8:17. The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character.

Varied were the circumstances and needs of those who besought His aid, and none who came to Him went away unhelped. From Him flowed a stream of healing power, and in body and mind and soul men were made whole.

The Saviour's work was not restricted to any time or place. His compassion knew no limit. On so large a scale did He conduct His work of healing and teaching that there was no building in Palestine large enough to receive the multitudes that thronged to Him. On the green hill slopes of Galilee, in the thoroughfares of travel, by the seashore, in the synagogues, and in every other place where the sick could be brought to Him, was to be found His hospital. In every city, every town, every village, through which He passed, He laid His hands upon the afflicted ones and healed them. Wherever there were hearts ready to receive His message, He comforted them with the assurance of their heavenly Father's love. All day He ministered to those who came to Him; in the evening He gave attention to such as through the day must toil to earn a pittance for the support of their families.

Jesus wants to become flesh here at Toronto. He wants to fill the void. He wants to lighten the darkness. He wants to minister to every need and bring us all to "complete restoration". He wants to live in Toronto church and make it look something like what we read here.

Next week we look at the second effective structure that God set up to bring about "complete restoration" of this world. What do you think it might be?