'Cut Off From the Head!'

There is another aspect of "Christ in you" we would like to mention.

Throughout Christian history, it appears, the believers have attempted to do the work of God according to their own understanding. There have been notable exceptions to this.

When we Christians see the need that is present in the world, and yet have not learned to die to our own enthusiasm and ambition, we go forth to "build three tabernacles," not knowing what we are doing, just as was true of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration.

It is my personal belief that at any given period of time, most of the Christian work is being performed by conscientious people who do not know what the Lord's will is. They are guessing and making assumptions. But they have not heard from God.

Part of entering the spiritual fulfilment of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles is waiting until we know what the Lord wants us to do.

If you think this is easy you haven't tried it.

Perhaps most American Christians do not hear from the Lord. The majority are occupied with the American culture, which is very colourful and exciting for many of the citizens (not for all!). They suppose if God wants them to do something He will break into their spiritual lethargy and instruct them.

Then there are many who are religious leaders. They invent one plan after another to save the world. They may have great apparent success in "getting souls saved." One may wonder how much of this is of God. Perhaps all of it, I don't know.

I do know this: when we seek to move past Pentecost into Tabernacles, so to speak, we face a major issue: do we or do we not dare to let go and let Christ build His own Church?

I am not speaking of passivity, laziness, or indifference. I am referring to a fervent Christian who seeks God daily, who reads his or her Bible daily, who is a worker in a local congregation if possible. I am speaking of devoted Christians!

But the seeker must look to Jesus Christ for every issue, every decision. Look at the needs in our country: abortion, sexual perversion, murder, child abuse, gangs, self-seeking politicians, drugs, adultery, unequal opportunities for whatever reason.

We could give our life to any one of these causes. And some people do just this. But we accomplish little of value in the Kingdom of God until we hear from Jesus what we are supposed to do!

Today we have put the head of man on the Body of Christ. There are ambitious plans to "save souls" or bring denominations or races together or present the Gospel to every person. Are they worthy enterprises? Undoubtedly! But have the leaders actually heard from Jesus? And if having heard do they continue to hear or does the movement become self-perpetuating, the assumption being that Christ desires it to continue. How many denominations and movements of our day would shut down if they heard from Christ?

But back to us as an individual. If we would enter the feast of Tabernacles, the booth, the house of God, the rest of God, we must go to the Lord continually concerning every detail of life. Nothing—absolutely nothing—is to be taken for granted just because it seems like a good thing.

This is what it means to hang on the cross. Once you make up your mind to think, speak, and move by the Head, Jesus Christ, you may go for twenty years without any apparent success or fruit. Do you see what I mean? How many ambitious Christians are willing to trust Christ that He will build His Church if we listen to Him and not charge out in our own wisdom and strength?

The ambitious will look at you on the cross and say, "Come down from there. If you are a true Christian, come down and show us what you can do." Meanwhile they will continue with their particular work and produce outstanding results.

But there is a Bible principle here. More are the children of the barren than the married wife. Many of the greatest moves of the God described in the Bible were done through people who had spent years of barrenness as they waited on the Lord for His promise.

There is Ishmael and then there is Isaac!

I think this business of getting the Head of the Body back on the Body is critical today. There are Christian plans galore to build churches and save souls. But often the fragrance of Christ is missing.

I heard Pat Robertson preach once on "no sweat." He was referring to the linen garments of the priests—that the priests were not to wear clothes that would make them perspire. Robertson told of the fantastic accomplishments of his ministry that were performed by the Lord as Pat followed along without perspiring.

The concept really stuck with me. I know it's true. But when we do not have this kind of outstanding fruit we begin to wonder if God is waiting for us to take matters into our own hands. "God helps those who help themselves"—this sort of thing.

I remember in Bible school, the guilt I felt because I was not going forth to save the millions sliding into Hell. The examples held up to us were those who had crossed mountains and deserts as they "burned out for Christ." The idea was to crawl on your hands and knees on broken glass until you burned out for Christ. Being a conscientious individual I asked God to help me do my part. I promised the Lord that if He would help me I would do whatever He said. I meant it then and I still mean it.

This was the only way I could find peace. The ball was now in God's court. I will do whatever He says. When we went back in after recess there was a prophecy given in the classroom saying, "If you mean what you have said it will be a blessing to many people."

Then the years went by as my wife and I kept looking to the Lord, looking to the Lord, wanting to serve in some manner. Maybe twenty-five years passed before God made His will known.

Others may be blessed with ways of building a church, mastering all the principles of church growth. May the Lord be with them.

But our part has been to wait, wait, wait until we know what God is saying.

What we hear God saying today is that it is time to build the Body of Christ and that we are on the brink of the mightiest revival of all time. God is stressing repentance. Also that the believers must die to their own will and turn over their life to Christ.

I believe, if I am hearing the Lord correctly, that Jesus Christ will yet be exalted in our nation. But we are going to have to have godly leadership in the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House. Also, the American populace is going to suffer numerous calamities until the fear of God returns to America. Why don't you ask Jesus right now if this is what He is saying? I think it is.

For two thousand years the Body of Christ has, to a great extent, been separated from the Head. When the human body is separated from the head, when the nervous system is not operating properly, the brain is not connected adequately to the nerves and muscles, the result is a severe disability or paralysis.

So it is with the Christian churches. They are either moving and jerking out of control or paralyzed. It is time for the Body of Christ to be connected to the Head. Can you say "Amen"?

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