What the Healthy Church Looks Like – Luke 1:39-45

In this excerpt from Luke, Mary sought Elizabeth after receiving news from Gabriel the angel. Her situation must have not been easy- Mary was a pregnant betrothed virgin. But through the fellowship between Mary and Elizabeth, Mary was encouraged and stirred to praise God. By Mary and Elizabeth’s example of biblical fellowship, we can see the essential marks of a healthy church.

The healthy church is available. Members of a healthy church are available for one another not necessarily because they have the time, but because they are ready to help. The church is one body, and if one member suffers, we all suffer. (1Cor 12:19-24) Being available can accomplish great things as we sacrifice our lives for others. After Mary received the news from Gabriel the angel that she would bear a son, she went to go see Elizabeth, who was available and ready to confirm and comfort Mary. It was only until Mary was edified by Elizabeth that she rejoiced and praised God. (Lk 1:42-55)

The healthy church is joyful. True joy is the wellbeing of the soul. It does not come from the comforts and treasures of the world, but from Jesus Christ alone. Joy is a gift from God. It is a result of godly living, as you trust and obey Jesus. John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when he heard Mary’s voice. Only those who are in Christ experience this joy as they know God through the gospel. (Jn 15:5, 11)

The healthy church is filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides and comforts believers. He is our advocate, and He compels us to go through the narrow gate leading to eternal life. Just as Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit, we must seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit by meditating, memorizing, and apply Scripture, and by prayer. Being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to obedience to Christ. Many Christians believe in Jesus, but they think they walk alone. They don’t realize that the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within them. (Gal 5:22-23; Col 3:16)

The healthy church is discerning. Members of a healthy church stay sober minded and awake at all times. Elizabeth was able to discern that Mary’s pregnancy was a divine event because she viewed all things through the lens of Scripture and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Healthy churches always focus on the Word of God. (Gal 5:16)

The healthy church is humble. Although Elizabeth was much older than Mary, she honored Mary because she was pregnant with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the head of the church, and those who trust in Him are humble. What is humility? To be humble is to count others as more significant than yourself. True humility causes you to obey God without question, complaint, or doubt. If you are not humbled before God, you will not be humble before men. We must learn humility from Jesus, who submitted to the Father’s Will to the point of death, even death on a cross. When we judge God, His Word, and His ways, we are not being humble. (Phil 2:3-8)

The healthy church is completely submissive to the authority of Scripture. Elizabeth blessed Mary because she understood and believed that Mary’s conception was a fulfillment of Scripture. Elizabeth believed God’s Word and submitted to it. (Lk 1:45) Jesus taught us to seek God’s Word above all. (Matt 4:4; 6:32-33) Blessing comes as you trust and obey Scripture.