Jesus didn’t just die so our sin could be forgiven. He came back to life so we can walk in newness of life. — “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4) — Thus, His resurrection holds the keys to our ability, as His Church, to function as a coordinated whole. Coordination is not only possible in a self-centered world if we live from our position in Christ, but goes to new heights. — “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:6)
Reaching New Heights in Our Coordination as A Church Begins with an Inward Bent
Since we have been raised with Christ, we’re to set our “hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). That requires that we set our “minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2). For us as His Church, that could mean focusing on His purposes, functioning according to His design for the Church, and fulfilling His mission.
Coming together as a coordinated whole to be this kind of Church, we must set our hearts and minds on what matters to Him. That’s what will take coordination to new heights. We’re not merely approaching coordination outwardly, in what we do. Because we’re setting our “hearts on things above” we have a higher motivation that helps us persevere. And, our attitudes reach greater Christlikeness, which in turn enables us to live at peace with one another. Our communication goes to higher levels “for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Lk. 6:45). And, as a person “thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov. 23:7, NASB).
We Move from an Inward Bent to an Outward Reality All Because of Jesus’ Resurrection
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection our “life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3) and the newness in our hearts and minds begins to transform what we do and how we function as His Church.
We “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature” (Col. 3:5). That which belongs to our earthly nature tends to be the greatest blockage to coordination in the Church — selfish ambitions, self-promotion, self, self, and more self — exhibited in practices described in verses 6 to 9 of Colossians 3.
With these hindrances out of the way, we “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:10). When self-centered attitudes and activities get replaced with godly character and practices, we’re ready for what comes in the next verse — living as the coordinated Body God intends for us to be. — “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Col. 3:11)
Let’s remember, that just as it took God’s power to raise Jesus from the dead, so it will take His power to put to death that which belongs to our earthly nature and put on the new self. Coordination is possible because of the availability of His “incomparably great power … the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:19-20).
For help with your role in pointing the Church toward our Power Source, check out the Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide.
For More, Go To: Resources about Resurrection Power
All Posts about Coordination:
- Motivation for Coordination
- Means of Coordination
- Coordination Integral to God’s Design
- Coordination Governed by the Great Commission
- Coordination Showcases Christ
- Coordination in Submission to Christ
- Coordination in the Church is Possible
- Coordination Founded Upon the Gospel
- Grace to Hurdle Obstacles to Coordination
- Holy Spirit Essential to Coordination
- Spiritual Gifts Useful to Coordination
- Motivational Effect of His Name to Coordination
- Does Your Church Function as a Coordinated Whole?
- Jesus’ Resurrection Takes Coordination to New Heights
- Jesus’ Resurrection Provides the Keys to Coordination
- Coordinating with One Another, Not Outwitted by the Enemy
- God’s Word Gets Us Singing the Same Song
- Guide the Body to the Source That Holds Us Together
- Prayer Essential to Coordination