Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: TOWER (12/01/22)
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TITLE: The Integrity Of Our Soul Structure | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
12/06/22 -
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But the unity that contributes to an initial victory does not, in of itself, ensure a long-term survival of the new order. A close-knit, but evil, group or society can soon enough become the means of its own downfall.
A lynch-mob has unity in purpose, but it’s action can produce irreparable damage.
During the darkest periods of its history, what was called the Roman Church had unity of purpose. Its leadership persecuted, tortured, and burned at the stake, those who challenged the validity of their doctrines and practices.
Unity of purpose, combined with a reckless fixation on achieving an objective, can produce great evil.
In order for the Church that God designed to be productive (1), the vision that Jesus left them with (2), must be prioritized.
Chapters 2 and 3 of John’s Revelation provide classic examples of how false doctrines and or practices of a denomination or local assembly could jeopardize its standing among the community at large.
The primary vision for the Church Age is found in the Great Commission (3). This vision clearly defines what the outside and inside mission of the Church was, and is to be.
Sad to say, but the Great Commission has become the Great Omission.
The primary mission is to preserve and to present the unadulterated Gospel Message to those OUTSIDE of the Church, and to make disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) out of the born-again believers within its local assemblies.
“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained… (Prov. 29: 18 NASB).”
When there is no unity of purpose or a shared vision, people separate and pursue different goals and agendas.
There is a place and a time for such things as humanitarian work and environmental projects in the activities of a local assembly, but not to the extent that its participation in the Great Commission is being neglected or replaced.
The secular government, humanitarian groups, and a host of other organizations, can feed, clothe, shelter, and improve the worldly lives of the needy. But none of these services or benefits can, in of themselves, secure one second of eternal life or spiritually edify the souls being served.
Perhaps just a simple thing as setting up an information booth making the Gospel Message and or edifying doctrine available on site where the humanitarian or environmental projects are taking place, would be a good start. Displaying the ministry’s website address where inquirers could privately inquire and receive similar information would work, as well.
If as a result, just one soul is saved or edified (4), while the environment is being cleaned up, or as he or she is being fed, clothed, or sheltered, THEN the event in God’s eyes would be a great success.
If not, then what of spiritual significance has really been accomplished (5)?
As long as one is in the crowd, his or her view is going to be greatly inhibited, and his hearing is going to be compromised.
Zaccheus (6), a short man, climbed into a sycamore tree to get above the crowd in order to see Jesus when He was passing by.
God has provided us with the means to construct an observation tower that will give us a better view of the big picture and establish a base of operations, from which born-again believers can perceive and execute the post (after) salvation spiritual life of discipleship.
This tower and base of operations is an edified soul structure (7).
The structure must be built on a specific foundation (8), and with specific building materials (9).
“For no man can lay a FOUNDATION other than the one which is laid, which is (faith in) Jesus Christ (1Cor. 3: 11 NASB (parenthesis mine).”
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock (Matt. 7: 24, 25 NASB).”
Frequent inspections (10) of our materials must be conducted to ensure the integrity of our tower, removing and replacing any defective material.
Just a little leaven (false doctrine/practices) can compromise the integrity of the entire structure (11).
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(1) Mark 4: 20 (2) Acts. 1: 2, 8 (3) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (4) Luke 15: 10 (5) Mark 8: 36 (6) Luke 19: 3, 4 (7) Matt.7: 24 -27/1Cor.3: 9 (8) 1Cor. 3: 11/Matt. 7: 24, 25 (9) 1Cor. 3: 10 (10) 1Cor. 13: 5 (11) Matt. 16: 12
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