God-Up Leadership, Part 1: The Foundation

I went for a run this morning along the ocean. At Point Fermin Park, I noticed a couple with a remote control glider. The operator controlled every move the glider made with the help of a rudder, ailerons, and a small engine. Then I saw a sea gull fly by. It glided, swooped, and continued on its natural path northward. They both flew, they both had direction—and they reminded me of the church today.

Some churches are run by the will of men and women. They have a “top-down” system of leadership. These leaders have all the proper equipment to “steer” their craft and get it to “fly.” But it is not organic. It does not have the life that allows a bird to soar to the heights as it moves and breathes. The church is to be alive. It is to be “God up” in its leadership and function.

Christ, the Head of the Body

When God set up the church, He made it a spiritually organic body with Christ as the head.

Ephesians 4:15,16:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.

Ephesians 5:23:
… even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Jesus Christ set the foundation for the church with his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. It is from Christ that the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted. It is under the direction of the Lord, Jesus Christ, that every joint (believer) knows how to supply the needs of the body. When Christ is allowed to function as the head, the body is made whole by its savior.

God’s Foundation in Christ

God spoke of what the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would do.

Isaiah 28:16:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Psalms 118:22,23:
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Jesus Christ, in his earthly ministry, understood who he was.

Matthew 21:42:
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Peter understood this truth about Jesus Christ as the foundation, the cornerstone, of the church.

Acts 4:8,11:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

I Peter 2:3-8:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Peter quoted from Psalm 118, which speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. This Psalm is about the Lord’s salvation. It is marvelous!

Psalms 118:14-17; 21-24:
The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

What day has the Lord made that we are to rejoice and be glad in? In the day that He accomplished our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Building upon That Foundation

Jesus Christ showed his disciples how important a strong foundation is. We lay our foundation on a rock when we come to Christ, hear what he says, and then do it.

Luke 6:47,48:
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

The Apostle Paul knew that the foundation of Christ is laid by preaching the gospel, the good news of what Jesus Christ has done for all mankind. Paul set the only foundation that can be laid—Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:20:
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.

I Corinthians 3:10,11:
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the only true foundation. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This is “the foundation…of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1). What is the good news that we preach? It is the “word of faith” in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:8-15:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [disappointed in their expectations].
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. He is the chief cornerstone.

The Household of God—It’s Foundation

Ephesians 2:19,20:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

With Jesus Christ as the central stone, how is the church built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets”? The prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, fulfilled all of the prophecies concerning himself from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the other writings.

Luke 24:27,44:
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms [the other writings], concerning me.

What about the apostles? When we later look at the beginnings of the church under Jesus Christ’s leadership, we will see that he built his church upon himself: the rock, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-20). The Apostles were a huge part of this building and its foundation.

Revelation 21:14:
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Today, those who “name the name of Christ” by confessing him as their Lord and believing in their hearts that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead have a sure foundation upon which to build their lives.

II Timothy 2:19,21:
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

We can so live that we are best prepared to serve our Lord and savior. We can follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ with his leaders and serve today in the body of Christ. Let’s see how!

Coming Soon

God-Up Leadership: Beginnings, the Early Church

God-Up Leadership: Serving in the Body Today