Environment of Empowerment

Ephesians 4: 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is designed and destined to be the most powerful army in the earth.  It is equipped and empowered to wage war in the Spirit against all enemies of heaven and earth.  It has been given the power to overthrow demonic powers and evil schemes of all kinds.  Yet, this powerful army is a very delicate assembly.  In the natural world an army can operate with a motivation of hate, conquest or revenge.  History has proven this to be true.  The Church however, the Army of God, will come to ruin operating in the same motivations.  We are called to carry on the mission and motivation of our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.  That mission is redemption and that motivation is selfless love. 

Living in the Body of Christ, the Church, requires daily and sometimes moment-by-moment adjustment to maintain the environment of empowerment.  In 1 Corinthians 5 we read of the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Church regarding a sinful member of the church who is living among them in terrible sin without repentance.  It is shocking to us to read, maybe for the first time, that Paul tells the church to put this member out of the local congregation until repentance and restoration takes place.  Being a part of the church is a privilege.  There is a proper lifestyle and attitude that leads to an environment to empowerment.  There is also an environment that reduces or even stops the flow of power to the church.  That is what Paul was trying to avoid.  In Acts chapter 6, in the middle of the greatest revival in history following Pentecost, the church came to a standstill when complaining and division occurred.  Once church authorities dealt it with in a proper way, restoration of the situation as well as resurgence of spiritual power resulted.  May we remember that the church atmosphere of unity and love is our responsibility.