In the early days of the Christian church, a powerful movement began with a diverse group of believers in Antioch. This congregation, like David’s tabernacle of old, was built on two foundational principles: a longing for God’s beauty and a yearning for His presence on Earth.
The Acts 13 Turning Point
In Acts 13, we see a group of leaders in Antioch who were not just gathering to pray and fast but were actively engaged in worship. This was a pivotal moment in church history, for it marked the beginning of a missionary journey that would change the world. Paul and Barnabas were sent out from this place, bearing the message of God’s love to the Gentile world.
Expanding the Priesthood
What’s truly remarkable about this moment is how it redefined the concept of priesthood. These leaders from diverse backgrounds were, in essence, priests ministering to the Lord. This designation expanded the priesthood beyond the confines of race and background, ushering in a new era of inclusivity within the church.
The Church as a Temple
The significance of this event goes beyond just a simple prayer meeting. It boldly declares that the church is a temple, and its followers are priests. The temple has now expanded beyond the walls of Jerusalem, reflecting a global “temple” that encompasses believers from all nations.
Implications of a Global “Temple”
This concept has profound implications. It tells us that the church’s mission is to proclaim God’s beauty everywhere and gather a multitude of people to stand in the coming sanctuary. This sanctuary is not just a mere replication of David’s tabernacle; it is an extravagant and grand vision beyond our imagination. It will be a place where God resides with His followers, where they can behold His beauty without being harmed.
David’s Tabernacle: A Prototype
David’s tabernacle, with its focus on God’s beauty and His presence, served as a prototype for this grand vision. Just as David’s rule was defined by his worship sanctuary, the future sanctuary will host a Messiah who is both God and man, ruling from a throne where people from all nations can witness God’s glory and be transformed.
Participation in the Vision
This vision is not limited to a single community; it is a call to all believers to participate. Just as David constructed a tent in Jerusalem, we are called to create “tents” in different parts of the world, forming communities centered around God. These worship sanctuaries are a glimpse of God’s return as a man in a larger worship sanctuary.
Beholding, Fasting, and Mourning
As we seek to obey God’s call, we must ask ourselves whether our communities serve as previews of the worship sanctuary. Are we training priests for the local church and the future worship sanctuary?
Antioch’s church serves as a prime example of this dual foundation of worship and longing. Their leaders were engaged in corporate beholding of the Lord’s beauty, prayer, and fasting. Their longing for the return of Jesus was evident in their fasting, a sign of mourning His absence.
Overlooked Aspects of Discipleship
This concept of longing for Jesus is often overlooked in today’s church. It’s a vital aspect of discipleship, for as Jesus predicted, His followers would mourn when He was taken from them. Why are we content without Jesus? Discipleship should naturally lead to beholding, fasting, and mourning. Without this, our discipleship is incomplete.
The Church’s Core DNA
The church at Antioch not only embraced these principles but also engaged in teaching, pastoral care, and providing for the needy. These activities were typical of a dynamic church community, but their core DNA was corporate beholding. The church structure and the number of hours they gathered mattered less than the focus on beholding God’s beauty.
A Call to Respond
Our challenge today is to follow the example set by Antioch’s leaders. If the New Testament church is built on David’s costly tabernacle, our resolve to see the Lord’s beauty should be equally extravagant. It should impact our schedules, emotions, and financial contributions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the mission of the church is to build worship sanctuaries that proclaim God’s beauty and gather people from all nations. This mission is rooted in a longing for God’s presence and a yearning for His beauty. Just as David’s tabernacle foreshadowed God’s reign in Jerusalem, the church today is a living manifestation of the future worship sanctuary.
May we, as believers, take up this call to build worship sanctuaries in our communities, and may our longing for the return of Jesus drive us to engage in corporate beholding, fasting, and mourning. In doing so, we can participate in the grand vision of God’s global sanctuary, where His beauty will be on display for all to see.
A.F.O.S.O.M., an anonymous contributor, involve with MFAM, helping Unreached People Group (Southeast Asia) Believers be connected with other authentic believers and helping to strengthen their faith. A.F.O.S.O.M transitioned from Islam to Christianity when he was 16, he attends a Singapore charismatic church, and writes for ‘Beholding Messiah‘ blog.
This article is my personal notes that I read from the book “Discipleship begins with Beholding” by Samuel Whitefield.
