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Today: When Christ rules
Passage: Eph 1, Prov 3
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Eph 1, NIV 84)-emphasis added
Theocracy is God’s way of administration. Christ is the King It is unlike autocracy or democracy. There is no one-man dictatorship or pressure like in autocracy or uncontrolled freedom In theocracy, there is freedom with responsibility, or “responsible freedom” We can see an example of “responsible freedom” in marriage There is a “head”, and the “head” is submitted to the divine authority Today, many churches tend towards autocracy or democracy- legalism or liberalism. True theocracy is God’s way for the Church, and is balanced When Christ is the head, there is freedom as well as discipline. When things are done wrong, there is instruction, advice/discipline In theocracy, grace and truth, love and justice work together. There is no grace without truth or love without justice Jesus Christ is the head, to whom the body is connected. The head is in charge. There is 24/7 communication Jesus was always connected to the father; so is how every child of God needs to be connected – to God all the time. A Biblical balance between legalism and liberalism, love and justice, grace and truth is not that easy, but possible. Paul’s letters as well as the letters of Christ to the seven churches in Revelation (2 & 3) address some of these issues When leadership is properly submitted to God, there will be love and respect within. Many churches fall apart because they were planned to be controlled in a human way, not divine. When Christ is the head, every planning and actions are done as per His guidance. Even in the O.T, God told Moses, whom to select for each job of the tabernacle. Moses just followed instructions It doesn’t matter how small or how big a church is. If those chain stores like McDonalds and KFC can all maintain all their thousands of franchisees worldwide, Christ can manage the thousands of congregations all over the world But today, many people are at a loss because they don’t find what they expected, as they go into the Church. There has to be restoration God bless BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be properly connected and submitted to you, so that I will accomplish what you want me to accomplish. Amen
Proverbs: Proverbs 3 (verses below from NIV 84)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a] 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.