ASSEMBLING WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST PRODUCES RADIANCE
INTRODUCTION TO BODY UNITY AND THE RADIANCE OF CHRIST
Isaiah 60:5 NKJV
(5) Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
“Radiant” means flowing together.
H5102 – – NAHAR – RADIANT (Complete Word Study Dictionary)
A verb meaning to flow, to stream. It describes the movement of something like the flow of a river or stream: a flow of people and nations (Isa_2:2; Jer_51:44; Mic_4:1); of wealth, abundance (Isa_60:5). It describes a person glowing, beaming, radiant, overjoyed about something (Jer_31:12).
A verb meaning to be radiant. It means to shine, to glow, to beam over deliverance from God (Psa_34:5 [6]); the abundance of Zion (Isa_60:5; Jer_31:12).
THERE ARE SEVERAL ELEMENTS AS WE COME TOGETHER IN UNITY WHERE THE BODY BRINGS ABOUT RADIANCE:
THE ELEMENT OF ANOINTING
Acts 2:1-2 NKJV
(1) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
(2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
We need to take a moment to study and meditate on the symbolic picture of the wheel in Ezekiel 1:15-28.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
The central axle (hub) were transmitting oil to every spoke. Movement begins from the centre and not from the rim. The wheel became luminous because the same oil moved through every part. The precious oil flows from the head to the beard of Aaron, to the edge of the garment.
Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV
(1) A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
(2) It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
(3) It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
Peter’s flowing together with Cornelius invited the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-46 NKJV
(44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
(45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
(46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Elisha received double anointing when he pursued Elijah. Moses transmitted the same anointing to the seventy.
Numbers 11:17 NKJV
(17) Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
The Church received the Holy Spirit when they flowed together in the upper-room in the book of Acts.
There is a demand for us to seek the face of the Lord and call upon the Lord to bring about in us as the body to a place of one accord under the Spirit of the Lord. We need to see God moving through every spoke in the wheel as we begin to see the advancement of His glory in the earth as we as the Body begin to manifest that oneness and radiance in the Spirit.
THE ELEMENT OF STRENGTH
Leviticus 26:8 NKJV
(8) Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
We know and understand that the spokes of a wheel reinforces the rim under pressure. A wheel can only carries the weight because every spoke in the wheel shares the load the wheel is carrying. The wheel does not collapse under the resistance, but it shines in motion. We see that corporate strength increases in the corporate body.
David’s men received strength to become the mighty men of valour.
1 Samuel 17:23-25 NKJV
(23) Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.
(24) And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
(25) So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”
Jehu in his turn imparted strength to the eunuchs to destroy Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:31-33 NKJV
(31) Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
(32) And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
(33) Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.
The man at the gate called Beautiful received strength and healing when Peter and John were flowing together. (See Acts 3).
Let us seek the face of the Lord and call upon the Lord to bring about in us as a corporate body strength and endurance. That we will grow to become mighty through the assembling of the Body in Oneness. Let us trust the Lord to activate in us the ability to reinforce one another under pressure and the we will not collapse under the pressure but will manifest the radiance of the Lord that will spread throughout the Body of Christ as we see the church at large arise with great courage to fulfil our mandate.
THE ELEMENT OF SAFETY
Proverbs 11:14 NKJV
(14) Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
A good leader needs and uses wise advisers. One person’s perspective and understanding is severely limited; he or she may not have all the facts or may be blinded by bias, emotions, or wrong impressions. To be a wise leader at home, at church, or at work, seek the counsel of others and be open to their advice. Then, after considering all the facts, make your decision.
In the multitude of counsellors, we see our need of one another, and act in concert and with concern for the welfare of all. In that there is safety.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
Looking at this wheel we see an enclosed structure that are moving under the divine covering of the Lord. We need to understand that a wheel is protected because it has order, boundaries and it moves under control. Nothing breaks the alignment. From a somatic and mental health perspective, the “glow” of a protected system represents nervous system regulation. It reflects a state of secure functioning where internal anxiety or fatigue does not pull you out of alignment. There is absolute safety in the flowing together of the Body.
Looking at the life of Samuel we see that all those that were in the “wheel of Samuel” were protected from the enemy.
1 Samuel 7:13 NKJV
(13) So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
From the life of Paul the Apostle Samuel we see that all those that were in the “wheel of Paul” were protected from those who seek to devour the flock.
Acts 20:29 NKJV
(29) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
THE ELEMENT OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV
(9) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
(10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Cooperating with others has advantages. Life is designed for companionship, not isolation, for intimacy, not loneliness. Some people prefer isolation, thinking they cannot trust anyone. We are not here on earth to serve ourselves, however, but to serve God and others. Don’t isolate yourself and try to go it alone. Seek companions; be a team member.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
The rotation of the wheel creates momentum. No one spoke ever moves alone or as an individual spoke. Encouragement is the visible energy of a wheel that is gaining momentum together. When one part in the wheel moves we see that the whole wheel gains energy. The one wheel encourages other wheels as they begin to flow together in collaboration with one another.
We see how Barnabas who was called the sons of encouragement strengthened the church in Antioch.
Acts 11:23-24 NKJV
(23) When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
(24) For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Furthermore, we see Paul encouraging the churches and strengthens the churches.
Acts 20:1-2 NKJV
(1) After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.
(2) Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece
Let us become sons of encouragement to others in the Body of Christ.
ELEMENT OF MATURITY
Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
(17) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Mental sharpness comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought—people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.
Engaging others in the body can direct us what we must have in our eye in conversation, namely to improve both others and ourselves, not to pass away time or banter with one another, but to provoke one another to love and to good works and so to make one another wiser and better with the result of seeing the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
When we look at the spokes of a wheel they all fit properly into the rim of the wheel. Each one fits into its correct place and position. We see how maturity in the body manifests when the wheel stops wobbling and become stable in its radiance in the momentum and motion.
Such a wheel can only become truly functional when every part has come to maturity into it position in the body.
The Body sharpens one another life iron sharpens iron. This is reflected in our countenance.
Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
(17) …. So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
The five-fold ministry is given to the Body as wheels to bring the Church at large to a place of maturity.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NKJV
(11) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
(12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
(13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Looking at the life of Timothy, we see that he was a wheel within Paul’s wheel.
1 Timothy 1:2 NKJV
(2) To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let us again call upon the Lord to bring sons to a place of maturity and that we will sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron within our wheels and that every sons will fit properly as a spoke in the wheel.
ELEMENT OF THE BREAKING OF LIMITATIONS
1 Corinthians 12:21 NKJV
(21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
Paul’s aim throughout this passage is to enforce the interdependence of believers. One gives to others that in which they are deficient, and he derives help from each of them in turn. The Church is not an inert mass of mere learners and subjects who are to be authoritatively taught and ruled by a small fraction of its members. It is a great co-operative society, in which each is for all and all for each, and the object is to bring Christ into every department of our being and our fellowship, as the life-blood nourishes the body of man.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
Increasing the radius means that we see a greater reach without losing the center. Expansion can only increase the radiance as long as it is connected to the centre. Remember that the further the rim extends the more territory the wheel will cover, but it must remain connected to the hub to be effective.
Covenant opens new dimensions. We see that Joshua won the battle for Jericho because he was within the wheel of Moses. (See Joshua 6). In the New Testament we see how Peter broke the cultural limitations of Cornelius.
Acts 10:32-33 NKJV
(32) Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
(33) So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Barbabas in his turn expanded Paul’s reach in bringing him to Antioch.
Acts 11:25-26 NKJV
(25) Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
(26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Looking at Jesus as our example He broke every limitation on the Cross.
Let us trust the Lord for a breakthrough and break out of every cultural, spiritual, emotional and generational limitations. Let us trust the Lord for Kingdom advancement for new territories a greater reach and enlarged influence and impact in the Kingdom.
ELEMENT OF LEADERSHIP
Judges 5:2 NKJV
(2) “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD!
When leaders lead: Leadership is important in any endeavor and especially in the work of God. God expects leaders among His people to actually lead, showing there is a genuine need for leaders and their leadership.
When the people willingly offer themselves: Leaders are nothing without followers, and it is the job of the people to willingly offer themselves to their leaders.
We can think of the relation between leader and people as that of the conductor and the orchestra. The conductor must lead, and the orchestra must be ready and willing to follow the conductor’s leadership. When the conductor does his job and the orchestra does their job, then beautiful music is made.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
The axle of the wheel determines the direction of the entire wheel. Leadership is the invisible axis that gives visible movement. If the axle is wrong everything collapses. The wheels were full of eyes. This speaks of vision.
God sets a man over a congregation so that they will not be like sheep without a shepherd.
Numbers 27:15-17 NKJV
(15) Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying:
(16) “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
(17) who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
We see how Moses gave direction to Israel. Jesus gave direction to the disciples and later we see how Paul received the Macedonian call and vision.
Acts 16:9-10 NKJV
(9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
(10) Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
As leaders and believers let us trust in the Lord to give direction by His Spirit to our leaders so that our leaders can give accurate direction to the wheels of ministry in the Body of Christ.
We need to see God moving our people in unity and purpose with willing and bowed hearts from within the coevenant wineskin of Fathers and Sons.
ELEMENT OF AN ENHANCED PRAYER BASE
Matthew 18:19 NKJV
(19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Jesus looked ahead to a new day when he would be present with his followers not in body, but through his Holy Spirit. In the body of believers (the church), the sincere agreement of two people in prayer is more powerful than the superficial agreement of thousands, because Christ’s Holy Spirit is with them. Two or more believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, will pray according to God’s will, not their own; thus, their requests will be granted.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
The inner rotating force of the axle is that unseen force that keeps the wheel moving. Effective prayer is the element of invisible fire that keeps the wheel radiant and in motion. Remember that the wheel does not move by outward appearance but by internal power.
When two believers flow together in oneness in prayer the promise is that it will be done.
Matthew 18:19 NKJV
(19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
We see this principle demonstrated in:
Acts 4:31 NKJV
(31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Where we see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when they flowed together in the upper room. Pray therefor continuously for the Lord to establish by His Spirit for agreement and unity in prayer in the Body.
ELEMENT OF SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY
Psalms 133:3 NKJV
(3) It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
David stated that harmony is pleasant and precious. Unfortunately, harmony is not always found in the church, as it should be. People disagree and cause division over unimportant issues. Some delight in causing tension by discrediting others. Harmony is important because:
(1) it makes the church a positive example to the world and helps draw others to the Lord;
(2) it helps us cooperate as a body of believers as God meant us to, giving us a foretaste of heaven;
(3) it renews and revitalizes ministry because there is less tension to sap our energy.
Living in harmony does not mean that we will agree on everything; there will be many opinions just as there are many notes in a musical chord. But we must agree on our purpose in life—to work together for God. Our outward expression of harmony will reflect our inward harmony of purpose.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WHEEL:
Just as a wheel rolls forward, divine prosperity produces visible progress. Movement yields outcomes. Throughout Scripture, alignment with God’s people brings blessing—whether Lot through Abraham, Egypt through Joseph, or Laban through Jacob. Aaron pronounced God’s radiant Shalom.
Numbers 6:25 NKJV
(25) The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
God commands life over unified brethren so we too experience increase when moving together in Him.
Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV
(1) A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
(2) It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
(3) It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
Let us pray for therefor for visible progress, fruitfulness, and the Shalom of God to rest upon our homes and communities, declaring His commanded blessings wherever we go.
CONCLUSION
The assembling together of the Body of Christ is far more than a gathering of believers—it is the divine flowing together that produces the radiance of Christ within and among us. Just as the wheel in Ezekiel’s vision moved in harmony through one central source, so the Church becomes luminous when every believer remains connected to Christ the Head and aligned with one another in covenant unity.
Through this holy assembling, God releases anointing, strength, safety, encouragement, maturity, breakthrough, leadership, prayer power, and Kingdom prosperity. The radiance of the Church is not produced by isolated individuals, but by a people moving together in one accord under the Spirit of God.
As we remain joined together as living spokes within His divine wheel, the glory of the Lord will shine through us with increasing brightness, causing the nations to see Christ revealed in His Body.
Let us therefore pursue unity, covenant relationships, and spiritual alignment, so that the Church may arise radiant, mature, and powerful in the earth, carrying the life, light, and glory of the Kingdom to every generation.
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