For a church to be spiritually healthy what must it first
have: Love
Jesus said we are to have Christ-like love for one another,
and then we will show we are his disciples.
If we are seen by others to always be bickering and divided, then they
will not see Christ in our church or us.
If we are not living a Christ-life in the church, at work, or in our
homes how can we show the world Christ’s love.
John 14:20-24: On
that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am
in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys
them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But,
Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will
obey my teaching. My Father will love
him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
What is the second thing a spiritually healthily church must
have: Obedience
The church and its members will show God their love by
obeying his word. We obey God commands
because we love him. When we show our
obedience to God people see our actions.
And it is not about pointing figures at others, but at ourselves to obey
God.
John 17:20-24: “My
prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in
me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that
you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may
be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I
am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before
the creation of the world.”
What is the third trait of a spiritual healthy church: Unity
Jesus prayed that the church would have unity and that unity
would be a powerful witness to the world of both God’s love and holiness. We can show unity by building others up, not
gossiping, working together in humility, exalting Christ, and giving both our
time and money to the work of the church and the kingdom. Also we must not get sidetracked in our work
by arguing over matters that really don’t matter.
John 21:15-17: When
they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you
truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love
you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you
truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said,
“Take care of my sheep.” The third time
he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because
Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all
things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
What is the fourth sign of the spiritual health of the
church: Caring Teaching
Christ is asking all of us this question, do we love
him? If we do love Christ we will tell
the world about him and feed the world His word. If we do love Christ we will take care of
those in need. We will give comfort for
those that are hurting and show love to those in need.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I
am nothing. If I give all I possess to
the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain
nothing.
In chapter 12 Paul talks about the lack of love in the
church in Corinth when using the spiritual gifts, chapter 13 defines loves, and
chapter 14 tells us how love works. The
point is that love is more important than any spiritual gift and that without
love the spiritual gifts have little effect in the Kingdom of God. Not everyone has the same spiritual gifts,
but everyone can have and show love.
