‘Fountainhead’ is an original source of something. God has always had His fountainhead of Truth. It was to be carried by Adam and Eve to their children and so on. It was given to Abraham to carry down as well. In each case, even with Israel, it was to have a downline. It has always been God’s design that truth be given and not contained. The patriarchs were to pass it on, the prophets were to proclaim it, the kings were to uphold it and deliver it in decrees. Throughout scripture we see this pattern again and again.
In this present age, it is Jesus’ churches who are the fountainhead of truth. We are people of truth, bound by it, and set free because of it (John 8.32). In I Timothy 3.15 Paul says to Pastor Timothy— “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Churches are the “house of God” and the “pillar and ground of the truth”. The responsibility is given to us to turn the tide and change the course of the affairs of this life: one soul at a time, one language at a time, one city at a time, one opportunity at a time; with the power of the Gospel. The truth does indeed set you free (John 8.32).
You may find it interesting that the first mention of the word ‘church’ by Jesus is in reference to it will be a warfare culture. Not that we are at war with people. That’s the twist of human history in relation to so-called ‘church’. No, this is in reference to the real enemy, Satan. It says in Matthew 16.18b— ”…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Jesus defined Satan’s kingdom as one of defense. Interesting that the weakest places of defense is the gates. On the other hand, we that are members of a church body, are recognized as a culture of offense. Not to ‘offend’, but to go on the offensive. We are given armor for battle and a sword empowered by the Spirit of God Himself (2 Corinthians 10.1-6; Ephesians 6.10-18).
Therefore, our spiritually obedient deeds are acts of war. Be aware of the fight. Be aware that our enemy is Satan and not people. Don’t get confused in the fog of war and allow bitterness to take hold of your heart. The war we are in, the battles we fight, are a constant incursion into enemy territory. The design of our battles are not to win ‘against’ people, as much as it is a rescue mission for people. We are to give them the precious Gospel so that they may be rescued out of the damnation of sin. The crisis on a warfront demands the soldier to fall back on his training and that is what we find here in Acts 8.1,4— “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles… Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
They understood the mission, they understood they had a role. When the war became physical and personal they were called up to serve. Thank God for their response. We too are called to engage the enemy where he is at and recuse the perishing within his grasp.
The church needs to engage while we have the time to do so. In 2 Corinthians 5.17-20 Paul teaches the church in Corinth that they are Ambassadors. If you were an ambassador there should never be a question of your citizenship. Once you’re saved, you are called into a Kingdom where the King requires you to represent Him abroad (this Earth). We shouldn’t look for the comforts of this life, or what seems to be the ‘safest’ options. We simply serve at the pleasure of our King Jesus. Richard Baxter stated in his book “The Reformed Pastor,” penned in 1656, “God will be honored when His church is manifestly seen to be different from that of the world.” The World seeks the path of least resistance and self comfort. Conversely, churches are to seek the spiritual welfare of those lost in darkness. Howard Hendricks once said…“In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”
In Matthew 5.13-16 Jesus said that His churches are salt and light. Light concealed is pointless. And salt without savor is worthless. Can that be true for us? Yes. In fact, in North America today we have a nation of neutralized Christians. We are in constant crisis. Crisis’ of faith, faith in action, true agape love, true worship (John 4), and truth. The truth directs these actions in our lives. The truth doesn’t leave the details up to us, but spells them out for us. It’s you and I Ambassador… it’s our job. Where is the King directing us? Who has God laid on our heart? This is who you are now, everything else is passed away (2 Corinthians 5). The scripture has said we are now: salt, light, reconcilers, ministers, preachers and evangelists.
A borrowed quote, from somewhere and someone I cannot remember, once spoke of the Church of Sardis with this commentary to churches today: ”Ecclesiastical corpses lie all about us. The caskets in which they repose are lined with satin and are decorated with solid silver handles and abundant flowers. Like the other caskets, they are just large enough for their occupants with no room for converts. These churches have died of respectability and have been embalmed in self-complacency. Every church ought to be warned of their opportunity or the feet of them that buried their sisters will be at the door to carry them out as well.”
Be the fountainhead in this generation. Stand and be counted, for eternal souls still hang in the balance.