Order in the Court of the King! (Changing Minds and Hearts – 1)

Welcome to Volume VII of our special series, Order in the Court of the King! We started the series a few years ago based on something the Apostle Paul wrote at the end of 1 Corinthians 14 –

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Paul said that in response to information he had received about divisions within the church in Corinth. I think that is very wise advice. Whatever the division or challenge we face in our local churches, all things should be done decently and in order.

I also quoted from John 17 as an example a Christian’s purpose in life –

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

I think the Lord’s words describe what our objective in life should be as well – glorify God on earth and finish the work He has given us to do.

In this final volume of this series, I’d like to look at some of the challenges you may face as a Christian and how you may be able to use those challenges to meet the objective.

You can read previous volumes below –

Challenges Within The Church

I read about the challenges that Jesus and His apostles had in the early days of Christianity and their warnings that things would get worse. However, as a new believer fresh off the ‘atheist boat’ I was taken by the love and excitement in being with other Christians. Within months of becoming a Christian, though, reality set in and my eyes opened to some of what was ahead. While some problems and persecutions have come from ‘outside’ the Church, most of what I’ve witnessed has come from ‘within’ the Church.

I remember hearing stories from missionaries who returned from the mission field and said the toughest part of their time in other countries often came from being around other missionaries. That surprised me as a young Christian, but I better understand it now.

I talked with a close friend recently who spent many years as a pastor’s wife. The stories she told of how other Christians would lie to her face and lie to others about her was difficult to believe – unless you’ve read the New Testament. Unfortunately, I’ve heard that same kind of story reported by pastors and their families for decades. Once you experience ‘lying’ attacks from people in a church you pastor, it’s difficult to forget the pain it causes your family and many others in the church.

Thousands of pastors and their families leave the ministry every year in the U.S. One of the top reasons pastors have given for leaving is ‘political divisions’ in the church. That was #3 on the list. The top two reasons given were ‘the immense stress of the job’ and ‘feeling lonely and isolated.’ Those and other reasons have led many pastors to leave the ‘ministry.’ Another survey of pastors I read was similar, with many leaving because of ‘conflicts’ within the church.

Thousands of churches are closing their doors every year because of not having enough pastors to lead churches and/or not having enough people to attend and keep the ministries going. I’ve worked with a ministry for several years that focuses on reaching people for Christ in New England – in the very areas where the Pilgrims first arrived and established Gospel-preaching churches. New England served as an example of Christian evangelism and service for many decades, but that changed over time. Many of the church buildings have been torn down, renovated for business use, or are used by religious groups that don’t believe the Gospel of Christ.

I became a Christian in 1971. It was ‘boom’ time for Christianity. The ‘Jesus Movement’ was growing and reaching hundreds of thousands of young people. Churches were full of people who were hungry to hear God’s Word and learn more about Jesus. A year later, in 1972, Pew Research found that 92% of Americans said they were Christian. However, more recent research shows Pew believes that number will drop to below 50% by 2070. Pew also said the number of ‘nones’ (people with no religious affiliation) will most likely outnumber those who say they are Christians in the United States.

Not Defeated

Though Christians face many challenges, we are not defeated. We can’t be defeated because Jesus finished the work His Father gave Him to do on earth and returned to Heaven where He reigns and rules as King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ is in Heaven right now interceding with His Father on our behalf.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-38

If you are in a situation where you feel defeated in your church or walk with Christ, read Romans 8. Read the last chapters of Revelation. You will soon realize that nothing can defeat Jesus Christ and His chosen people. That doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges or persecution. What it does mean is that we are ‘more than conquerors through Him who loved us.’ Because Jesus conquered, we are conquerors through Him! That is how we should live our lives – as conquerors.

Paul gave us another positive word of encouragement in the face of many challenges God’s people will face –

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

The Battle

We are not a defeated people, but we are still in a spiritual battle. Paul wrote about the battle in Ephesians 6 –

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18

We must never forget the ‘work’ of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the Church. Jesus told His disciples than when He returned to Heaven He would send the ‘Spirit of truth’ to comfort them, convict the world, and speak about Him –

But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John 15:26

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he told the young minister to ‘Fight the good fight of faith.’ In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he testified about his own fight –

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Christians are in a battle, but should that surprise us? Look at the battles Jesus fought on our behalf? Look at the battles the apostles fought on behalf of Christians who lived then and now. Facing challenges from ‘within and without’ is what God has called us to do. As Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus –

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:27-31

The Whole Counsel of God

Paul preached ‘the whole counsel of God.’ That’s a key to understanding Paul’s ministry. Preaching the whole counsel of God means preaching and teaching everything God has give us to preach and teach. We are not hold anything back because we’re afraid of challenges. The word ‘counsel’ in the Greek (βουλή) means ‘deliberate wisdom, decree, resolved plan.’ Our calling as Christians is to preach, teach, and live out God’s eternal plan. We don’t hold back from doing that. We don’t ‘shun’ (ὑποστέλλω – ‘draw back, withdraw, shrink back, conceal’) ‘declaring’ (ἀναγγέλλω – ‘announcing, telling all the way’) God’s wisdom. Will the world like your message? No. Will many in your church like it? No. So what? What matters is what God wants us to do – ‘declare the whole counsel of God.’

Doing that will put you in a difficult position because so many people today do not want to hear what God has to say – including even God’s own people. Whether you are declaring the whole counsel of God to an unbeliever or a believer, look at how the Apostle Paul directed his preaching, teaching, counseling, church-planting ministry. Follow God’s plan as revealed to Paul and you will see God bring about a spiritual ‘increase’ (1 Corinthians 3:6). Be sure to give God all the glory and finish the work He gave you to do.

Next Time

We will look at several examples of how the Apostle Paul dealt with divisions and other challenges in churches in the next part of our special series, Order in the Court of the King! Our goal is to see minds and hearts changed for the glory of God.

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Order in the Court of the King! (Changing Minds and Hearts – 1)