To Be Least

Jesus in the Lords prayer for us in John 17 presented to us what Him and we together are supposed to look like. If we are ever going to become anything like what is presented by Jesus about us, we… all the Church (the called out ones)… we will somehow have to become something different than what we are. Taking into account what I am, this is certainly the case.
Our way out is to press in. We some how have to become like Jesus Christ. Consider that the only way that one is able to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom 8:29) and being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2) is found in 2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The point is this: as goes the saint so goes the Church… and all too regrettably vise versa. There must not only be a personal conforming and transforming and a prescribed manner that this process is accomplished, there also must be a corporate conforming and transforming.
To understand the holistic vision of the church, I would take you to consider Eph 4:10-16.

Eph 4:10-16

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Hence we find below what are called the Ascension Gifts, The 5 fold Ministry or the Hand Ministries.

11 And he gave (as gifts) some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; The essential attention should be placed upon not whether apostles and prophets are gifts to God’s body today, but, the origin of the gifts. The origin, that is the giver of the gifts, is Jesus. Simply stated the qualifying factor of ministry is first having been with Jesus and secondly Him giving you to His body.

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: All ministry is presented in these three dimensions.

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: The “till” here is one of the most profound words in the Word. Here this “till” announces what will and must occur until something else is accomplished. That is: this 5 Fold Ministry must be perfecting, equipping for the work of the ministry and edifying the body up to the time that verse 14 and especially the end of 15 occurs. Verses 14 and 15 are generally described in verse 13 as a perfect, full and faultless agreement (in principle and in fact) of faith and full intimate knowledge of the personal Sonship of Christ. This oneness is such that the place of perfection has been accomplished. This is defined further as… the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Wow! Here is established the definition of what is required by Christ of His Body. (If you are honest about what you truly desire, I think that you will agree that is what you want also. What else is there… really?)

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; We have got to come to a place where the Mind of Christ is our principle governing entity.

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Here we will rest a moment and make a decision, or should I say a declaration? The Word of God is true and every man is a liar. Is this true? Yes? The difference between what I call: “The Kingdom Minded” and the “Christian American Religious System” or (CARS) is a Kingdom Minded man will actually believe what the Word says. That is, believe it to the point of regarded and therefore affected personal truth i.e. truth that is received and effects all facets of life. Jesus has not given us a ‘good’ way nor is a presenter of ‘good facts’ nor is one that has found a good manner of living. He himself Is The Way. He, His person, is the only Truth there is, and the very nature and substance of Him is Life. If one is ever to attain The Way, The Truth and The Life one must know and be conformed into Jesus. The Way, The Truth and The Life are a Person not a teaching or a good idea. If the Word states that we necessarily must... grow up into him in all things, which is the head; then, literally ‘by God’, some one will… grow up into him in all things, which is the head. The point is, again, do you believe what His Word says?

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Further examination of this passage in verse 16 shows us the idea: we all must act as the Body of which He is the Head as the primary force of our lives. If He is concerned about us being conformed into Him as a priority, then we must be also. Our desires are required to be His desires… only. It is not and never has been the other way around.
The working out of this principle is seen in two ways. First it is worked out initially and in an ongoing manner through the personal revelation of Christ in you the hope of glory (Col 1:27. Then, as we see Him as He is we are able to see Him in others. If as we, stated before, are transformed by looking at Him, (Note 2 Cor 3:18 above), then this process should be completed by seeing Him in the members in particular of His Body. In this way the Word will also be made flesh in us so that we truly enter into a condition that… every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The simple statement of this Kingdom thing is that we must be conformed first into His image personally and as a result of this initial course of action it should be perfected in and through His Body as a corporate expression.

For more check out http://glorytoglory.info/