Sensitive to Whom?

The church is to be led by Holy Ghost in Father’s will of ministering to those who seek Him.

Text for Today – Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When I was a pastor for 28 years, I was often asked if our church was seeker sensitive.  Sometimes I thought I understood what they were asking, but many times I wondered.  I still hear that same question asked even today.  Are they looking for a church that makes people comfortable to the degree that the Comforter is not needed?  Are they looking for a church that adapts programs to keep people in their comfort zones?  Are they looking for a church that focuses more on political correctness and political agendas than Scriptural accuracy and integrity?

Perhaps we should re-examine our focus.  As I understand our Text for Today, God wants a church to be sensitive to Him.  Our first focus should be on seeking “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”  That’s really a very singular focus that must be primary.  Romans tells us the kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”  A closer study of those terms reveals they all are a Person; and in fact, the same Person, and that is Jesus Christ.  In 1 Corinthians we read that Jesus has been made our righteousness.  In Ephesians we read that Jesus is our peace.  Finally, in Nehemiah we read that “the joy of the Lord is our strength,” and Jesus is , as one song says, the “joy of man’s desiring,” or as the Word declares, “the desire of all nations.”

The fact is, God is seeker sensitive, and it is up to the church to be Spirit led.  Once again, the Scriptures declare that those who are “led by the Spirit” are the ones God recognizes as sons of God.  I am aware that we so often speak of being sensitive to the Spirit.  However, the root of the word “sensitive” is “sense,” and that has to do with the flesh.  Holy Spirit, in the New Covenant, leads us by communicating with our spirit man.  To be led by our senses is to open ourselves up to deception.  The sense realm is where Satan operates at his best.  We should surely be aware of the needs of the people we encounter, but more importantly, we should be keenly aware of the Lord’s desire and will.  We have surely been called and sent to meet the needs of people, but more importantly, we have been called and sent to do the will of the Father.  That’s where our meat is.  Jesus came in the flesh to “be tempted in all points” like we are.  That is what makes Him seeker sensitive.  You and I have been born again to be alive unto God, thereby enabling us to be led by Holy Spirit.  God is seeker sensitive, that is, fully aware of the needs of all mankind, and willing to save all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  The church, on the other hand, is to be Spirit-led, that is, sensitive to the will, plan, and purpose of God through the body of Christ. 

Manna for Today – Romans 4:17; Haggai 2:6-9; Ephesians 2:14; Nehemiah 8:10; Romans 8:1-17; Hebrews 2-4