The Desireable Church

© 2011 Jasper Life Publications 1st Edition in English – December, 2011 1st Edition in Portuguese – February, 2010 The Desirable Church Translated from Portuguese with permission of Editora Árvore da Vida All rights reserved by Jasper Life Publications Inc. Jasper Life Publications Inc. 725 Viscount Road London, Ontario, Canada N6J 4G9 Phone: (519) 472-6620 www.jasperlife.com info@jasperlife.com ISBN 978-1-926970-09-7 All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Literal translation

CONTENTS Preface..................................................................................... 7 1 The Background of the Epistle to the Ephesians..................11 2

Paul’s Experiences on His Third Missionary Journey...........21

3 Enjoying the Dispensing of the Triune God........................ 33 4 Vessels unto Honor—Sanctified and Useful

to the Master......................................................................... 43

5 The Letter to the Church in Ephesus in the Book of Revelation 51 6 The Spiritual Content of the Epistle to the Ephesians.........61 7 Chosen and Predestinated by God....................................... 75 8 Redeemed and Headed Up in Christ....................................87 9 Sealed with the Holy Spirit................................................... 97 10 The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.................................109 11 The Church Is the Body of Christ and God’s Masterpiece......................................................................... 123 12 The Church Is the New Man...............................................141 13 The Church Is God’s Household and God’s

Dwelling Place..................................................................... 153

14 The Stewardship of Grace....................................................163 15 The Mystery of Christ..........................................................177 16 The Knowledge-Surpassing Love.........................................187

PREFACE This book is a collection of messages ministered by Dong Yu Lan in February and March of 2002. The author shows us that although the epistle to the Ephesians is one of the highest in revelation among Paul’s writings in the New Testament, the church itself was not as high or as spiritual as we may have assumed. The church in the city of Ephesus went through a difficult period, a time when many brothers and co-workers in God’s work had to go there and exhort the Ephesians to live a church life in accordance with God’s plan and will. The name Ephesus means desirable, but it was only after the apostle John had spent time in Ephesus that the church in that city became, once again, a desirable church, a church that practiced God’s words transmitted to them through the apostles.

Paul had been in Ephesus since the establishment of the church in that city and remained there for three years (Acts 19:1-20:1). On his way to Jerusalem, although he had decided not to go to Asia, Paul sent word from Miletus to Ephesus and called for the church elders to have fellowship (Acts 20:17-38).

After being imprisoned and taken to Rome, Paul wrote four epistles among which was the one addressed to the Ephesians (Eph. 3:1; 4:1). Upon release, Paul visited Ephesus and realized that the church there needed spiritual help. Hence, he charged his young co-worker, Timothy, to remain there and assist them 7

(1 Tim. 1:3). Later on, in order to encourage Timothy to continue caring for the church in that city with a spirit of love, power and sober-mindedness, Paul wrote him two epistles. We can clearly see Paul’s care for the church in Ephesus. He deeply desired the the Ephesians come out of a degraded situation and be recovered back to a desirable condition.

Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla also went to Ephesus. They lived together with the saints in that city and helped care for them.

All this care produced in them much labor and perseverance, and all kept the Lord’s name. Nevertheless, they were not able to fully practice the healthy words contained in the epistle Paul had sent them.

According to history, after receiving the book of Revelation and leaving the island of Patmos, the apostle John went to Ephesus where he remained. John surely led the saints in Ephesus to practice God’s word and enjoy it as Spirit and life. A great revolution took place in Ephesus and from that point on all of them were led back to the Spirit. Eventually, the situation of the church in Ephesus was brought back to normalcy, even to the extent of sending local brothers to help other churches (3 John 5-8). At that point, the divine life had become so abundant in Ephesus that it had to overflow, reaching people in other cities. Undoubtedly, this was the fruit of the apostle John’s help, who led the Ephesians to practice the content of the epistle Paul had written to them.

One of the greatest revelations in the epistle to the Ephesians is that the church is something wonderful. Thus, Paul’s concern and prayer was that they would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation to see the church as God sees it: glorious! Many consider the church to be merely a group of Christians. However, the church is heavenly and awe-inspiring.

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In this book, brother Dong Yu Lan seeks to present the reader with the various aspects of the church revealed in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians: the Body of Christ, God’s masterpiece, God’s household, God’s dwelling-place in spirit and the mystery of Christ. These aspects will help us comprehend the characteristics of a desirable church.

As little ones who stand before such a high revelation, we must pray that God will grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may receive and enjoy the vision contained in this epistle. As it is opened to us, may we be one with Paul in his confession and say, “To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen!” (Eph. 3:21).

Dear reader, our desire is to place this precious work in the hands of those who seek a normal church condition, people who love what God loves. We hope that the words in this book are not merely studied for biblical knowledge. Moreover, our earnest desire is that its content will help you enjoy and practice God’s word, thus making the desirable church a reality in our days!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).

São Paulo, August, 2008.

The editors.

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CHAPTER ONE

The Background of the Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians is one the highest epistles among those written by the apostle Paul. He begins with the dispensing of the Triune God, that is, the work of the Triune God in His chosen ones.

This epistle reveals to us that God is one, and yet concerning His work in man, He dispenses Himself as the Father, the Son and the Spirit. The result of the dispensing of the Triune God is the church, the Body of Christ. The epistle to the Ephesians also shows us how the church was produced and the elements that constitute it. Moreover, it teaches us to live in the church and also helps us to grow, mature, fight the spiritual warfare, and be overcomers by perfecting and preparing ourselves to reign with Christ in the manifestation of the millennial kingdom.

As we cover this epistle, our main concern is not merely to study it, but to apply and practice it in our church life. We will see in this book that not only the content of Ephesians, but also the situation of the church in that city serve as a mirror for us about the situation of the church today.

Since we may find its history is quite similar to many of our own experiences, let us now take a look at this epistle’s 11

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background, and review the beginning of the church in Ephesus.

THE EXPERIENCES AND SUFFERINGS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

In Acts 13, we see that in the church in Antioch there were prophets and teachers ministering to the Lord and fasting. “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (v. 2). Having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Later, they went to Perga of Pamphylia and Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, and having finished this work, they went back through the cities, visiting the churches that they had established (Acts 13:4, 13-14, 51; 14:1, 6, 19-26).

They appointed elders from church to church (v. 23), but the majority of the brothers had been in the Lord only a short time, perhaps less than a year. Those who had more burden and maturity in life were appointed, but because there was not yet much growth in life, there were surely many failures in those churches. Nevertheless, after helping and strengthening the churches, Paul and Barnabas went back to Antioch (v. 26).

When they were about to begin their second journey together, Paul and Barnabas parted ways due to a disagreement, and each followed his own way (15:39). Paul took Silas with him and departed to the region of Syria and Cilicia (vv. 40-41), also reaching Galatia to confirm the work there. In Acts 16:6 we see that the Holy Spirit forbade them to preach the word in Asia, a province in which many churches such as Ephesus, would be raised later on. We do not know why the Holy Spirit forbade them from preaching in Asia at that time, but He had 12

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His purpose. Perhaps, Paul lacked the adequate experience or maybe, at that point his natural man would have been in the way of the work. Regardless of what the reason was, God allowed Paul to go through many experiences and sufferings, thus learning many lessons.

After having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Asia, Paul had a vision and saw a Macedonian man who entreated him to come to Macedonia (vv. 6-10). God wanted to lead the apostle to the west first. Paul obeyed that vision and on his way to Macedonia, the Lord gave him many experiences before reaching Ephesus and working there. Paul had been to Philippi (Acts 16:12), Thessalonica (17:1), Berea (v.10), Athens (vv. 15-16) and Corinth (18:1), and wherever he went, Paul encountered much persecution.

In Corinth, where he stayed for many days, Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, and because they were of the same trade, he remained with them (vv. 2-3). Paul preached the gospel, but also worked with his own hands. It is possible that the Lord allowed this as part of Paul’s training so that he could learn all the necessary experiences for an apostle.

Acts 18:18-19 reads, “So Paul still remained a good while.

Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.” Although Paul used a practice from the Old Testament, shearing his head because of a vow, the Lord permitted it. However, later on while in Jerusalem, Paul had a vow together with others, but the Lord was not pleased (Acts 21:20-26). In Corinth, the Lord was still training and perfecting him to be an apostle.

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THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

Acts 18:19 records Paul’s arrival in Ephesus and his initial experience he went into a Jewish synagogue there as was his custom. At that time, that was way he carried out the work.

Paul’s habit of arguing with the Jews in the synagogues produced consequences that serve as lessons to us. When we go out to preach the gospel and build up a church in a certain city, we must not impose what we know. Such an approach will most likely instigate arguments just like what happened with Paul. We must avoid contending and arguing. Paul himself learned this lesson and later on instructed his young co-worker, Timothy, saying that a slave of the Lord must not be contentious (2 Tim. 2:24).

In Ephesus, Paul entered the synagogue and preached to the Jews. This time, however, they did not argue with him.

On the contrary, they asked him to remain there. However, Paul did not stay and rather took leave of them and put out to sea, going to Antioch (Acts 18:19-22).

After Paul’s departure, Apollos came to Ephesus (v. 24).

According to Acts 18:24-25, Apollos was a native of Alexandria, Egypt, and certainly an educated man. He was eloquent and powerful in the Scriptures, that is, in the Old Testament.

Furthermore, he was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila, the couple with whom Paul lived and worked in Corinth, took him to themselves and expounded the way of God to him more accurately (v. 26).

Aquila and Priscilla certainly heard what Paul had spoken and when they heard Apollos preaching, they realized his shortage and helped him.

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The Background of the Epistle to the Ephesians

After this, Apollos intended to pass through Achaia, where Corinth was located, and the brothers encouraged him to go (vv. 27-28). This is a good example of someone who desires to participate in the work of spreading out, but still lacks firmness and experience in the word of the Lord. This happens among us as well. It is possible for a couple who feels ready to migrate to be discouraged by a certain brother who tells them they do not have enough experience. However, Aquila and Priscilla acted otherwise by encouraging Apollos to go. When encountering similar situations some may say, “What if they make mistakes?”

Surely, if they make mistakes, they will have an opportunity to repent and ask the Lord what the right way is. This is also a pattern for our practice. Let us not think that among the saints who are with us, only those who are like Paul and know many things are able to go and migrate. May we let them all go and gain their own experience.

When he arrived in Achaia, the brothers received him and he “he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (vv. 27b-28). Praise the Lord, for among us are many brothers filled with burden. We should encourage them to go for the Holy Spirit will confirm their going.

Now while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came down to Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6).

He found some disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They answered that they had not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. After asking them about the baptism they had received they answered, “Into John’s baptism.” This happened because they had received the gospel from Apollos who only knew John’s baptism.

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THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE

Acts 19:4a reads, “Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance.’” John the Baptist baptized in water for the termination of the old man, while the Lord’s baptism is “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11). With regards to the Lord’s baptism, we may interpret it in two ways: firstly, that the baptism with the Holy Spirit occurs when we believe into the Lord. After taking this step of faith, because we still carry within many natural things of self and flesh, the Lord baptizes us with fire through the tribulations that arise to prove us so that the impurities are burned and eliminated. Secondly, we may interpret Matthew 3:11 in the line that if someone believes in the Lord Jesus and receives Him, this one is baptized by Him with the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, if someone does not believe in the Lord nor receive Him, this one will be baptized by Him with fire which in this case refers to the lake of fire.

As to the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there are also two aspects, one inward and another outward. The inward aspect took place in the evening of the day the Lord resurrected (John 20:19-22). Although the doors and windows of the place where the disciples had gathered were shut, the Lord came in and stood in the midst. The Lord Jesus had already become the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 15:45b). With His body glorified in resurrection, He could be handled and even eat with them (Luke 24:36-43). He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). This is the essential aspect of the Spirit we have received. The outward aspect, which is also known as the economical aspect of the Spirit, took place on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 2:4, 32‑33), when the Lord baptized the Jews who had believed into His Body. This episode was later followed by the house of Cornelius where the Gentiles were 16

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baptized by the same Spirit into one Body. Thus, by one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free (1 Cor. 12:13).

Regarding us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus, we received the Spirit (John 7:37; Eph. 1:13) and the baptism of the Spirit.

However, this does not mean that we will travel back to the time of Pentecost and experience that rushing, mighty wind or see people speaking in other tongues. On the day we received the Lord, we received the Holy Spirit essentially and economically, as a mild breeze within and at the same time, as a rushing mighty wind over us.

MIRACLES AND CONTENTIONS

The apostle Paul spoke to the believers in Ephesus about the Lord: “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:5-6). Paul visited the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God (v. 8). Although Paul tried to persuade people, he did so in a rather contentious way: “But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (v. 9).

With regards to Paul’s work during the beginning of the church in Ephesus, two things were especially noteworthy: the laying of hands so that the Holy Spirit would descend upon them and the discussions in the synagogue.

As a result of Paul’s arguments in the synagogue in Ephesus, some became hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of 17

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the Way before the multitude (Acts 19:8-9). This shows us that disputes do not produce anything good; it is worthless to argue with others. A few years later, Paul wrote to Timothy saying that it was necessary to preach healthy teachings. Many preach teachings that are different from the healthy ones, speaking of things which do not build nor promote God’s economy, which is in faith (1 Tim. 1:4). Different teachings produce nothing but contention (2 Tim. 2:23). May we all learn from this.

During the two years Paul remained in Ephesus, he also worked unusual miracles so that even when handkerchiefs and aprons were brought from his body to the sick, the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12). God had caused all in Asia to hear the words of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (v. 10). At that juncture, the Lord used Paul and worked miracles so that many would heed His word. Nevertheless, there are not many records that speak of the miracles worked by Paul. During the beginning of Paul’s ministry there was a need for miracles, but once people believed in the Lord, their need became nourishment in God’s word.

In general, people are very fond of miracles. At that time, some Jews tried to imitate Paul by using the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out an evil spirit from someone possessed by it.

However, the evil spirit answered and said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (vv. 15-16). This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified (v. 17).

Two extremes arose in Ephesus: on the one hand, there was a group who sought signs and miracles, upon which Paul had 18

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laid his hands, causing them to receive the outpouring of the Spirit. On the other hand, there was a group who examined the Scriptures, reasoning and arguing about them. As we study, we should not merely read this epistle but also know its background.

Paul spent three years in Ephesus, but his presence there was not very influential. Perhaps the difficult situation of the church in Ephesus was due to the extremism of those who leaned too much toward the manifestations of the Spirit, while others would lean too much on examining the Scriptures, reasoning and arguing. We all need to apply this to our experience in order to be enlightened and know how to go on in the spirit.

THE PRACTICE OF MAGIC AND IDOLATRY

In Acts 19 we read that many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver (v. 19). Once the books of sorcery were burned, the word of God grew mightily and prevailed (v. 20).

We must also practice the burning of all defiling and improper books which contain sorcery and any other kind of worldly, filthy content. Everything that does not come from God must be eliminated from our lives. In doing so, the word of the Lord will grow and prevail mightily in our lives.

Acts 19:23-27 shows us that during that time no small disturbance took place concerning the Way. A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Diana and brought no small profit to the craftsmen, saw that not only in Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, many people believed in the Lord Jesus. For this reason, not only his trade was on the verge of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the goddess Diana would be despised and the magnificence of 19

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such an idol would be destroyed. At that time there were many idols in the region of Greece. South America and Brazil are also full of idolatry. Businesses become involved with this and many become rich because of it. If everyone believed in the Lord and did not practice idolatry, many would lose money.

Demetrius caused the other silversmiths to rise up against Paul (vv. 28-34). Apparently, this happened because Demetrius lost his business, but if we look at the situation with spiritual eyes, we will see that God did not want Paul to remain in Ephesus (Acts 20:1), for the situation there would give ground for the development of two extremes, and the church in Ephesus would remain under an environment of reasonings and division. God allowed a situation to rise up so that Paul would have to leave Ephesus and gain more experiences in order to help the church there.

This was the beginning of the church in Ephesus. Later on, Paul met with the elders of Ephesus and Miletus, and later wrote to them an epistle so high that it would help not only the believers in Ephesus, but all of us as well.

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