Discerning God’s Will as a Body
Memory verse: “In Christ, we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5)
The church does not come to know God’s will in exactly the same way an individual does. Individuals come to know God’s will through an intimate love relationship with God. The Holy Spirit speaks through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways. A church comes to understand God’s will when the whole body hears what Christ—the Head—is telling it.
Before Pentecost (in the New Testament), the Holy Spirit did not dwell in the lives of all God’s people. He came only on chosen individuals to accomplish God’s purposes. In the Old Testament God spoke to His people through a leader— a judge, a prophet, a priest, or a king. For instance, God told Moses His will for Israel, and Moses told the people what they were to do. Israel then did what Moses said.
With the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church at Pentecost, God came to dwell in every believer. He created the body—a local church—so every member needed every other member. In the body of Christ, each believer has direct access to God. God can speak to any and every member of the congregation. He works through the whole body to reveal His will.
In the New Testament the Holy Spirit also led the apostles as they guided the church. God led the members and leaders in mutual interdependence as they served and made decisions. For example, different methods were used to arrive at corporate decisions: the Jerusalem Council settled an important doctrinal and practical issue. After Peter and James had spoken, the “whole assembly ... listened to Barnabas and Paul” (Acts 15:12) also. “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided” (Acts 15:22). “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28).
When God speaks to people about the church, they should relate to the body what they sense God is saying. As members tell what God is saying, the whole body goes to God in prayer to discern His will. In His timing God confirms to the body what He is saying. Individual opinions are not that important. God’s will is crucial. No single method can be given for discerning God’s will as a body. Pastors, other church leaders, and members are to have such deep relationships with God and the church body that spiritual guidance is the outcome. When Christ guides each spiritual leader and member of the body to function properly, the whole body knows and is enabled to do God’s will.
A church learns God’s will when the whole body comes to understand what Christ wants it to do. For a church, knowing God’s will may involve many members, not just one, although God often speaks to leaders about what He wants to do. The leaders then share with the body what they sense God is saying. The leader does not have to try to convince the church that this is God’s will, nor does he have to ask the congregation to follow him without question. The leader encourages the body to go to Christ and get confirmation from the Head—Christ. The Head does the convincing on His timetable. Then the whole body follows Christ. This is why a church must learn to function as a body with Christ as its Head.