The Glory of the Latter House by Anthony Dyer, OK

The Glory of the Latter House

Anthony Dyer, OK

“And when the day of Pen­tecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). An understanding should be conveyed here as to the upper room experience. The fellowship of oneness and unity in Christ did not happen overnight nor did it come auto­matically. The Church had been with Jesus during His earthly ministry. The disciples, later called apostles, did not seek Him out but rather He sought them out. None of them had a deep spiritual relationship with God. After the miracle of the over­whelming catch of fishes, Luke records this, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken” (Luke 5:8, 9). Peter’s confession to Jesus was one that all of the twelve could mutually agree on. However, Jesus did not reply with “Ok Peter, I will look for someone else to help me” but His response was the opposite. “And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10). Jesus was not looking for the religious nor wise, He was looking for those men who would simply listen to His voice and follow Him. While the disciples were far from spiri­tual perfection, they obeyed His call and followed Him.

 

JESUS PERSONALLY TAUGHT THEM

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them...” (Matt. 5:1, 2). “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:29). “For he taught his disciples…” (Mark 9:31).

 

He would take personal responsibility in the calling of His disciples to teach them of the spiritual applications of the law and prophets. In addition, God’s will for the disciples (the Church) was to be prepared for a great work ahead of them that only God, at the time, could see. His teaching over time would bring them to divine understanding of this.

 

AT TIMES IT SEEMED THERE WAS GREATER FAITH OUTSIDE THE CHURCH THAN WITHIN

“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Where­fore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:2-9).

We see an important lesson of faith demon­strated by the centu­rion. It was through his position of authority that his faith was expressed. He did not feel worthy of Jesus coming into his house for the healing of his servant but rather stated if you will only “say in a word, and my ser­vant shall be healed.” He then continued by explaining that he understood the role of authority. For he, too, had soldiers under him, which must obey his orders. His soldiers were trained to obey his command without question. Therefore, knowing Jesus’ power, he believed that whatsoever Jesus would speak that would come to pass by the authority of His Word. Jesus “marveled at him” and said to those that followed “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” This act of faith came from without the Church, not within. It was an important les­son for the disciples to experience for the centurion’s servant was healed!

 

WHILE THEY OBSERVED HIM THEY DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND HIM

The Church witnessed a multitude of miracles at the hand of Jesus. It was undeniable that God was in Him for they saw the power of the Kingdom of God work through Him. Yet, they lacked understanding and their faith was still weak.

The woman with the issue of blood believed within herself that if she could only touch His garment she would be made whole. Her faith was rewarded for she was healed. Jesus’ ques­tion sparked confusion with the Church. “And Jesus, immedi­ately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” (Mark 5:30, 31).

 

The fact that the disciples did not understand the question reveals their lack of spiritual insight of their Master. Perhaps Jesus asked this question as a way of provoking the disciples to question and interact with Him as to the miraculous happening that they may learn. One thing is for sure, while many touched Him that day, it was genuine faith that truly touched Him and a divine healing occurred as the result.

 

“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, inso­much that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matt. 8:24-27).

 

Once again we see the disciples’ lack of faith and under­standing as to who they were training under. As the tempest was coming against their ship, the men began to fret about their lives. They quickly went to wake Jesus and did not understand why He was so calm during an emergency situation. However, Jesus brought their faith into question and then rebuked the winds and sea. Their reaction to this shows us that they did not truly understand who He was. They failed to understand that He was God in the flesh, Emmanuel. He who was part of the

seas into existence in the beginning, was the same One stand­ing before them.

 

JESUS GAVE THE CHURCH

PRACTICAL HANDS-ON TRAINING

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick... And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where” (Luke 9:1, 2, 6). What Jesus had taught and demonstrated in front of His Church He now commissioned them to go forth and do. They would exercise the faith and authority given them by Jesus. It would be through this training that their faith and confidence would be established.

 

THE CHURCH DID NOT ALWAYS LISTEN TO HIM

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha... Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby... These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:1, 3, 4, 11-16).

 

While Jesus stated to the Church that Lazarus’s sickness was not unto death but for the glory of God, it would appear that Thomas just wanted to mourn and be dead with him and cause the rest of the disciples to feel the same. Thomas’ state­ment leads us to this understanding. Did they not catch what Jesus said? Or were they simply not focused on Jesus’ words as they mourned for Lazarus? There should have been a joy in their hearts that Jesus was about to perform another miracle but they simply were not listening to Him.

 

THEY RECEIVED DIVINE REVELATION OF CHRIST BUT DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND HIS PURPOSE

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it... From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matt. 16:15-18, 21-23).

 

Through divine revelation Peter answered Jesus’ question about who they (the disciples) believed He was, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Howbeit, they did not fully recognize His true purpose. While Jesus began to teach them the future He must face, Peter rebuked the Lord saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord.” Jesus’ future was to go to Calvary where He was to shed His blood and suffer for mankind and then be resurrected three days later being victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Peter was ignorantly rebuking the Lord from doing this, which seemed to be inspired by Satan according to Jesus’ statement in return.

 

THEY ALLOWED CONTENTION TO COME BETWEEN THEM

“Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren” (Matt. 20:20-24).

 

In the following verses Jesus expounded upon the under­standing that His Kingdom did not function the same as the world’s system of rulers. The greatest of His Kingdom would be as a servant among the rest not as a lord. Therefore, the idea of seeking the highest place in God’s Kingdom requires humility and servant hood rather than lordship and rank. How­ever, it would seem that this strife among them would con­tinue. The Scripture bears out that immediately after the Lord’s Supper there was still strife amongst them after Jesus stated that one would betray Him. “And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest” (Luke 22:23, 24).

 

Jesus was probably grieved in His spirit over this continual strife. “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27).

 

It is interesting that in John’s account of the gospel we see how and why Jesus instituted the practice of washing the saints feet right after the strife was generated again. Jesus was show­ing the Church the true model of being a servant. It was most timely that Jesus should do this to help cease the strife among them of who would be the greatest.

 

THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION LEFT THE CHURCH SCATTERED AND CONFUSED

“Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shep­herd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matt. 26:31). Rather than unite, the Church scattered at the death of Jesus. Even though Jesus tried to prepare them for this event, He knew they would not stay together as prophecy foretold. At the last Passover meal with the Church He encouraged Peter. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32).

 

It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus appeared and challenged their doubts. He stated they were “…slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25).

 

The apostles worried and doubted, with Him stand­ing right before them (See Luke 24:41). Truly, the dots of prophecy had not connected in their hearts. They truly wanted to believe but it just wasn’t coming together until Jesus revealed it unto them.

 

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might under­stand the scriptures... And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high... And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:44, 45, 49, 51, 52). The Church returned unto Jerusalem with sanctified hearts! They had great joy!

 

THE CHURCH CAME TOGETHER IN UNITY OF MIND, SPIRIT, AND WILLINGNESS

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

 

A key word of interest in this passage is “suddenly.” You cannot plan for suddenly! When the Holy Ghost came it was because they were ready for Him. There was no struggle in their faith or spirit because that part of them was gone. The Church was in prayer and worship mode, which opened the windows of heaven and caused God’s glory to come down. While this event was the fulfilling of prophecy, it should be noted that they were spiritually ready for the blessing. They had accepted His teaching, they were now confident in their faith, they understood His purpose now, they were clear on the objective ahead, and strife had left them. No longer was there a desire for supremacy among them!

 

The Church of God of the last days should look to the Bible pattern left us by the early Church forefathers. They proved to us that the only way we can accomplish God’s will is by total Bible unity! This will require us to be empty of our own ambitions before God and have a willingness to seek a deeper understanding of the purpose and mission for the Church in completing the Great Commission.

 

Divided we fail, praying together we prevail!