Where Is Church, Little Flock?
Posted on June 30, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32 (NASB)
This week in “Where is Church,” I thought I take a look at what Jesus called the “little flock.” But before I go into the subject, I would like to share a few comments that were made from last week’s Freedom Fighter. Laura Kay shared with me that it takes a lot of wisdom and discernment to write articles on the church without sounding either too inclusive or too exclusive. Glenn boiled it down to where two or three are gathered in His name, not a building or denomination. Hopefully this week I am able to wisely help us discern that church really isn’t a building/denomination and that it should include everyone who truly knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. To Him be the glory…Amen?
So, the little flock…hmm. Guess I should start those with ears to hear. Jesus would say that after He would share something that was difficult to take in. Basically, Jesus was telling those that He was speaking to that they needed to tune out the distractions of the world around them and focus in what He trying to convey to them. “For life is more than food, and the body then clothing. Consider the ravens, tor they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are then the birds. And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life span?” (Luke 12:23-25)
That must have sounded as if Jesus was “Muy Loco” when it came to getting the everyday essentials that His audience worried over. Finding what to eat and getting what to wear (as well as avoiding the Romans) was something that people worried over constantly back in those very early A.D. times. How could this guy get in front of folks and say things like this?
However, Jesus told this parable about a Sower and the seed back in Mark 4. Now the parable tells of four conditions that the seed falls on and then He says, “He who has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:9b). It’s when Jesus goes on to explain the parable that we are given insight to what He means in the parable. So many people come to church for something good and they sit under the teaching of the Word but when the standard issues of this world take their toll on a person we’ll see that many will walk away from the church (John 6:66) and continue on in what they succumb to in their everyday exist. But it’s those that accept the Word, in its entirety, that truly get in and find their place in the little flock.
Jesus used the ekklesia when He spoke about building His church in Matthew 16:18. The word roughly means “out of a calling” and was used to describe a gathering or assembly. It really didn’t have a religious meaning and if you studied Greek you’ll see it is used in Acts 19:32 and 19:41 to describe the mob that rioted in Ephesus but as usual Jesus flips the script on things. So, as I wrap this up for today I wonder, what is Jesus seeing when He speaks to the little flock? Or better yet what will He find when He comes back?
Well the answer to the question just maybe a question. Is He gonna see us as that universal assembly, even if it is scattered across the world, coming together in a single ekklesia, all united in His name, to include all those who bowed the knee to the King of kings and the LORD of lords. As the writer of Hebrews put it, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.” (Hebrews 12:22-23)
OR is Jesus gonna find 2,000 different organizations all staying in their buildings, having a meeting to set the agenda to have a meeting about His arrival and then end up arguing over what they are serving at the picnic at the time they think Jesus is gonna visit their church? And if it isn’t the food they serve, maybe it’ll be a debate over whether we all should wear the suit and tie or the polo shirt with stone-washed jeans (personally I would vote for a clean t-shirt and comfortable shorts.) Well, I’ll tell you this…if He shows up at your church at all, you better hope He doesn’t go on to say, “But I have this against you…” It may be a better day for you to have been a bird or a lily. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.
The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-6| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: Christ Himself is the builder of His spiritual temple, and He has built it on the mountains of His unchangeable affection, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truthfulness.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
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