Meeting Report
Nov 12,
2006:
Sunday evening we
were privileged to have Bro Cory in attendance at our discipleship
class. Bro Cory is the pastor of the AME Church of which we are renting
the Chapel. We have come to love and appreciate him. We are thankful for
everyone who was in attendance, despite the cold weather.
Bro Joe Coons lead a
lesson from Ephesians 5:25-27 …even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish.
As a sinner, we come
to Christ with our old filthy robe of sin. Christ takes it and places a
new robe of righteousness on us (Rev. 19:8), one that is pure white
without spot or contamination. But even though Christ gives us these
garments, it is up to us to keep them clean. Individually or
collectively as a church, our garments can become spotted, although it
is possible not to be defiled by this world (Rev 3:4).
A spot represents a
sinful condition working upon us. Sometimes through negligence or maybe
even deliberate disobedience, our garment could become spotted. Our
heavenly Father, though, will be faithful to reveal this to us through
his Word and the gentle voice of His Spirit. When He does, we are left
with 2 choices: either get rid of the spot or allow it to remain and
harden our conscience. When we choose to take care of the problem,
Ephesians 5:26 describes this as “washing of water by the word”. (When
the understanding from God comes, and we stop the deed, in a sense we
are “cleansed” by the Word). If a condition is working on us that is
sinful in God’s eyes (i.e. a critical attitude, bitterness or
unforgiveness), yet we don’t realize it until it is pointed out to us,
all we must do is take care of the problem. It only becomes deliberate
sin when we refuse to change.
Wrinkles in our robe
represent several things. First of all, they cast shadows over the
garment, and if there are enough of them, change the color of our robe
from pure white to a dingy white (we tried this with white paper!!)
Christians should not have any shadowy areas in their life. No shady
business or something that would be cloudy or unclear to someone looking
on. Secondly, wrinkles represent something needed to be ironed out.
Are there things in our life God has shown us that we have neglected to
get worked out? Negligence can also be the sin of omission if we allow
it to go on for too long. Finally, wrinkles are caused by sitting too
long. Clearly, God’s people should be active, fulfilling the mission
God has given to each one individually. God forbid that He would return
and find us not working but sitting around. Let’s be diligent to
examine ourselves and see if our garments have any wrinkles. People are
more interested in searing their consciences than ironing their
garments.
The Lord wants our
garments to be pure and white, untainted and without wrinkles. It is
our job to keep them that way. Let’s not buy into the common belief of
the day that Christians can’t keep their garments pure – that it isn’t
anything WE can do to merit God’s favor, but all in what Jesus did on
the cross. No, God has granted us these robes of righteousness and we
are stewards (or caretakers) of all He gives to us. Let us endeavor to
“keep ourselves unspotted from the world” (James 1:27) so that when
Christ appears, we will be presented to Him as a glorious church without
spot or wrinkle.
Tis a glorious
church,
Without spot or wrinkle
Washed in the blood of the lamb.
Tis a glorious church,
And I am a member
Washed in the blood of the lamb.
