Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isa 60:1.
The Church, in its role as a servant unto the Lord, is light in the World. “Ye are come to Zion”, you have been brought forth unto an assignment, to stand together as a sign, as a city, as light, the very light of God. The Church is everywhere, to testify to redemptive reality by its very existence before the Lord. Its light, its righteousness is from above, its service unto men is from above, or – if you like – from within, from Christ within.
The true identity of the Church is revealed in its hunger, in its thirst after righteousness. Its prophetic assignment is redemptive in nature and it is expressed in a seeking after righteousness. It becomes prophetic in its approach when it takes to the streets in an effort to look for this rare item, to restore situations where none is to be found. To Jeremiah, this directive was given: “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” A Church under the hand of God will serve according to this very measure, in Christ.
The Church, the Ecclesia – men and women, called and set apart to represent, is indeed a collective entity. The Church, a body – spiritual as well as functional relatedness. Even more, the Church – each man and woman, called out from the world, are brought to righteousness and unity as a corrective body, as light unto the World. At times, under certain conditions, this entity has been called the Arrogant Kingdom. In its proper role as a servant community, in its corporate meekness, this little flock shall inherit the Earth. In its proper role as a servant community, it will produce judgment in the world by the measure of Christ within.
The Church stands, in its spiritual as well as functional relatedness, on the foundation of the altar. In the day of Power, when the Lord engages his people in the conflict for righteousness and restoration, they will draw near on the foundation of the Cross. No other formation, no other formula will be sufficient – no other measure will suffice but the measure of Christ, and him crucified. The Church – the embodiment of the meaning and purpose of the Cross. The Cross alone, that which the Cross represents in its heavenly fullness provides ability for the saints, for hungry saints, to represent that which is righteous.
The cross of Jesus Christ, in all its fullness of meaning, the Church in all its divine significance, have one object in view ultimately, and that object is the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. The more there is of the living apprehension of the Cross and the more there is a living expression of God’s thought about the church, the more light unto the World – and the greater the spiritual impact. A body of saints, abandoned to the Cross of Christ, testifies in righteousness and is made able to live righteously before the Lord, together in fellowship and as light in a dark world. The Cross provides sufficient foundation for a corporate testimony in fullness – and its main feature is light, as the main attribute of God is light.
The Church embodying the meaning of Calvary is the occasion of confrontation, and where there is a real apprehension of the meaning of the cross of Christ and a practical expression of it in a gathering of saints, there you have conflict in its most intense and persistent form. The measure of the living corporate embodiment and expression of the meaning of Calvary is the measure of spiritual war. A living apprehension of the Cross of Christ divides, it confronts unrighteousness and it judges the powers – rendering them powerless and meaningless.
On the foundation of the Cross, the Spirit of the Lord calls and stirs the people of the Lord to gather for testimony, to stand for righteousness, to walk the streets of the cities in search for that which is righteous. On the foundation of the Cross, the Spirit of the Lord calls and stirs the people of the Lord to arise and to shine. Light has come, light has come in Christ. Light will shine, shine when the saints gather on prayer ground. Life and righteousness will be brought forth on prayer ground, through the outworking of the Cross.
The Cross of Christ is the foundational expression of the Sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ – therefore gather unto him. The Cross of Christ is the foundational expression of the Sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ – therefore, walk the streets together searching for righteousness. The Cross of Christ is the foundational expression of the Sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ – therefore arise and walk the streets as Light in darkness. The Cross of Christ is the foundational expression of the Sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ – as a corporate testimony of things beyond, of things eternal.
Lars Widerberg
Reading: Isa 60:1, Heb 12:22, Matt 5:6, Jer 5:1, Matt 5:5, Ps 110:3.
An excerpt from the notes to a Church in the City, the Big Apple – to Bronx, one of the five Burroughs of New York City.
