At the close of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, He promised His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit, who would guide them into all truth and reveal things to come.

John 16:7 – 15 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment… Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

Here, Jesus committed the care and control of His disciples, who later became the Church, into the hands of the Holy Spirit. He did not entrust the control of the Church to any of the Apostles. By doing this, He ensured that the Church would remain under His care as its true owner.

The Bible describes Jesus as the Head of the Church, while the Church is His body.

Ephesians 5:23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

This can be likened to the human body, which consists of the head and other parts. Without the head, no part of the body can function, and any part disconnected from the body eventually dies and decays. Likewise, without Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, no Church can truly function.

John 15:1 – 8 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me… for without me ye can do nothing.”

Any Church that dissociates from the Headship of Jesus Christ is not the Church of Christ and is not recognized by God. Such a Church operates under the deception of the devil, who uses false miracles, signs, and wonders to mislead.

It must be clearly understood that there can never be two heads in one Church. Since Jesus Christ did not delegate His Headship to man, no General Overseer, Superintendent, Founder, Pope, Primate, Archbishop, or any other man can usurp that role.

In the order of Christ’s Church, every local assembly is autonomous and directly accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the divine standard. Any other arrangement is a distraction and a device of the enemy. No member of the Church can prove the Holy Spirit incompetent or attempt to correct His supposed inadequacy.

Therefore, all Church operations must be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Leaders must learn patience in seeking His direction and not act hastily like King Saul.

1 Samuel 13:8 – 15 – “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering… And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God… now thy kingdom shall not continue.”

God has given His Church the Bible to serve as the constitution of His Kingdom, and He expects the Church to be guided by it. Every prophecy, revelation, or action must therefore be tested by the Scriptures before being accepted.

In Acts 5:2 – 11, when Ananias and Sapphira lied concerning their offering, Peter rebuked them, not for lying to him, but for lying to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:3 – 4 – “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

They were judged instantly by the Holy Spirit, revealing His active role in governing the early Church. Therefore, the modern Church must also take directives solely from the Holy Spirit in all its operations.

True fellowship can only exist when there is genuine relationship and interaction that keeps the gathering alive as a living organism.

Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another, which would serve as the mark of true discipleship.

John 13:34 – 35 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

The early Church demonstrated this spirit of fellowship.

Acts 2:42, 46 – “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers… And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”

Their meetings were not casual, as is often the case today. They shared meals, prayed, and learned together. They also cared for one another and maintained mutual relationships as members of one living body rather than as participants in an organization.

Jesus desires His Church to be jointly fitted and mutually connected, just as the parts of the human body are united and controlled by the central nervous system. Any part not connected to the body withers.

Similarly, the Church, which is the body of Christ, must remain interconnected and dependent on the Holy Spirit to function properly. Each local Church represents a part of this body, and every believer functions as a unit cell within it, each with a unique role to play.

Jesus prayed for the unity of believers in John 17, emphasizing love and mutual understanding. Church fellowship must go beyond weekly gatherings; it must nurture continuous relationships among believers.

A single believer cannot constitute a Church, just as a single cell cannot represent an entire body.

Worship is the reverence man offers to God. In the New Testament, Jesus provided the guiding principle for true worship.

John 4:23 – 24 – “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

The Apostle Paul encouraged believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs from their hearts.

Ephesians 5:19 – “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they sang hymns and prayed.

Acts 16:25 – “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples also sang hymns.

Mark 14:26 – “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

From these passages, we see that singing psalms and hymns was a central mode of worship in the New Testament,a solemn and spiritual expression of devotion.

While the Old Testament emphasized exuberant praise, including clapping, shouting, and musical instruments (as seen with David, Jehoshaphat, and Gideon), the New Testament calls believers to a deeper, Spirit-led worship patterned after Christ Himself.

2 Chronicles 20:21 – 22 – “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir.”

Judges 7:19 – 22 – “So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch… and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands… and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.”

The pattern of worship established in the Old Testament continued until the coming of Jesus Christ, who established a new and living way.

John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He frequently withdrew to solitary places for personal devotion and sometimes took His disciples along. Believers must therefore allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in their worship practices.

The modern trend of euphonious, entertainment-driven worship (borrowed from worldly culture) calls for serious reflection. Idol worship is often frenzied and devoid of spiritual solemnity. Believers must not imitate the world in serving God.

James 4:4 – “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

1 John 2:15 – 17 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 – 18 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”

Though the Spirit of God brings liberty, the Scriptures call for modesty and orderliness in all we do.

2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Believers must remain cautious, for Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 – 15 – “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”

The formalized and rigid systems of Church operation that hinder the free move of the Holy Spirit should be discarded. While order is necessary, over-organization can suppress spiritual growth and liberty.

The Lord has ordained Elders, Deacons, and Ministers to work together in organizing the Church, ensuring decency and unity without stifling the Spirit.

True worship should be inclusive, allowing every believer to express themselves freely before God. The practice where only choirs or clergy lead worship should be discouraged, for God desires personal fellowship with every believer.

Every believer has direct access to the throne of grace, having been made a royal priesthood in Christ.

May the Lord help His Church to walk faithfully under To be continued in the subsequent posts…..

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