Saturday, September 17, 2011

The Congregation of the Saints

Metaphor: Congregation of the Saints
Concept:  In the New testament Church God performed many signs and wonders as he is a supernatural God. When it is God at work there is not a focus on men or women or on a particular group but the spiritual Gifts bring attention to God and His power. He will do the same among all his people or congregations.

1 Cor 14:33  For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God's people), AMP

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges among those most gifted in spiritual things is the challenge of pointing continually towards God in all that is done. He alone deserves the Glory, honor, praise and attention not the vessel. He was after all performing great signs and wonders in all of the churches. No one group or person was to get the credit.

In the Old Testament is a story about Balaam and the angel and the donkey. Num 22:22-35

I used to tell people that this story illustrates the truth that God can use any old donkey or as the older KJV called it a jackass. So, when God is moving by His power and performing great deeds we should always allow Him to get the credit no matter whom he uses. He can after all use anyone or anything to accomplish His work even a jackass.

22 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord  took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord  standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. 24 Then the angel of the Lord  stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26 The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" 29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." 30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."
      31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. 32 The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. 33 "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." 34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." 35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak. NASU

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