ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS.

I am posting here a brief article I have done on the man or mystery of lawlessness, which is my firm belief on these matters, especially in regards to what or rather who the temple of God is.

The Man of Lawlessness.

Jesus answered them; “did I not choose you, the Twelve? And [yet] one of you is a devil” (of the evil one and a false accuser).  He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was about to betray Him, [although] he was one of the Twelve.  John 6:70-71  

                      

John 17:12, “While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot—the one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled”.

 But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren, ² Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here. ³ Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), ⁴ Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God. ⁵ Do you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming. ⁹ The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels—[all of them] lying wonders— ¹⁰ And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved. ¹¹ Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false, ¹² In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2: 1 – 12.

The Apostasy – The Falling Away.

Yeshua tells us about Judas Iscariot, that he was the son of perdition and as such, he was the foreshadowing of that great falling away that will occur en masse before that man or mystery of lawlessness is revealed. 

There are always those who backslide and turn aside from following after the Lord for varying reasons; some return with a greater desire to follow after the Messiah and continue so. Then there are those who fall away and remain in such a state of lawlessness, resulting in ruin and utter destruction. But this falling away or apostasy indicates a single, definitive event that has eternal consequences of which there is no returning.

Yeshua says also, “Because iniquity (lawlessness, wickedness) abounds, is on the increase, the love of the many will grow cold or chill out”. Matthew 24:12. Various translations omit the force of what Yeshua is saying here because the definite article the, is left out. It is not just the love of many, but rather the love of the many, that is to say, the love of the most, the majority will grow cold. Why? Because of lawlessness being on the increase and abounding in great measure. This lawlessness has to do with our unwillingness to obey God’s laws, His instructions, His requirements of and for us.

Paul says to Timothy that in the last days there will be those who depart or fall away from the faith because they pay attention to, give heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, i.e. things that are taught by human imagination and or things that devils inspire one to believe and therefore teach them as if they are the truth. Paul also goes on to say, for men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good,  traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.  See 1Timothy 4:1-4 and 2Timothy 3:1-5.

Are these things not so? So very much false teaching is proclaimed in “churches” today by self centred, self seeking men and women whose own imagination leads them, or they are direct instruments and servants of satan masquerading as servants of righteousness. The great tragedy is the many listen to and obey them. The arena is being set for that moment when the falling away, the apostasy takes place.

Two words used for temple.

Something else to consider here is whether Paul was referring to the supposedly rebuilt temple that is believed by many, which may indeed happen by man's own design rather than the will of God. By this I mean, He allows men to do their own bidding in spite of the revelation of what He has revealed in the person of His Son.

First, we need to realise that the New Covenant writings basically use two Greek terms for temple. They are hieron (ίερόν) and naos (ναος or ναον).  While the Greek term hieron always seems to refer to a physical temple in the New Covenant writings, normally the Jewish temple, but can also refer to a pagan one. See Acts 19:27 as an example. The term naos is not always the case. Heiron is used more frequently, some 70 times, whereas naos is used some 40 times. It is easy then to see that there can be confusion in understanding of which temple term is being used by the writer to the reader. Naos can also be used to describe the physical temple, but most of the references are to another temple, i.e. the temple of the body of believers, also known as the church or an individual body, a person. 

Yeshua was the first in the new covenant writings to use naos to refer to something other than a physical Jewish temple.  “Yeshua answered and said to them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said to Him, Forty six years it took to build this temple, and you suppose to rebuild it in three days? But Yeshua was speaking to them about His body being the temple”. (John 2:19-21) So, while the Jews were thinking that naos was referring to a physical Jewish temple in verse 20, the scriptures are clear that in verses 19 and 21, Yeshua was using the term naos to mean something else. There already was a misunderstanding here of what Yeshua was talking about by the Jews themselves. This indicates that being a bible teacher does not always mean you know what is being referred to by the speaker. The revelation of the Holy Spirit needs to be given to correctly understand the meaning. This revelation is not reserved merely for the theologian but is given to any whose heart is pure towards the Lord.

So what does Paul mean in the 2 Thessalonians 2 passages? I realise that anybody who believes in a rebuilding of the physical temple will automatically dismiss this thought of, he who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. If the term heiron was used here it would put an end to any other possible view as to which temple Paul was talking about in this instance. He chooses to use naos instead; the term that is also used to describe the body of believers, i.e. the church.

I am persuaded to believe that all the revelation Paul had been given by the Lord Himself concerning the church, its functions, gifting and calling and the church’s designation as the temple of God and in view of the context of these Thessalonian passages, i.e. the falling away, Judas Iscariot being the foreshadow, this is exactly what he is referring to. This man or mystery of lawlessness actually takes its / his seat in the temple of God i.e. the church and as if he is God requires worship. He places himself in authority above all else. He is already there; we are waiting the time of his revealing. Do you not recall Yeshua’s own words, “Do not be mislead or deceived, many will come in my name, saying I am He, I am the Messiah”.

This revealing of the man or mystery of lawlessness will be with great power, signs and lying wonders, with great deceit, many will be deluded by him. If the love of and for the truth is not in you, you will be caught up in this great deception, you will be amongst that party that gives credence to the working of satan and therefore invite upon yourself the consequence of your own deceit. Let me say it like this, the more you give yourself over to false teachers and their teachings, the greater your chances of damnation when Yeshua returns in splendour, power and glory. So be it!!

Scriptures that show we are the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:21. These scripture are all very emphatic; there is no confusing heiron with naos here. You are the temple of God. There is a temple of God already under construction and it is made up of living stones, a habitation for God by His Spirit where He will dwell for all eternity.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Have you ever wrestled with questions you seek answers for that you don't seem to get? Personally, I think if we are honest with ourselves, we would all answer yes. Many don't want to acknowledge this is the nature of the case, especially to others. Perhaps it is so because we don't want to seem nonspiritual. No one of us have all the answers. There are times we don't understand why a loved one is taken away so suddenly, or when young children are molested and murdered horrendously. We just have to trust the Lord and hold onto faith in Him.

There is but One in Whom all the answers lay, and that is the Lord Jesus. Sometimes, He is willing for us to have the answer, perhaps at least, not immediately.  Such was the case as is written in the book of Acts 1: 6 - 7.

"So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will re establish the kingdom and restore it to Israel?  He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power". 

The timing and seasons of all things belong to the Lord and in the course of time, He reveals events that will take place. In the gospel records, there are many occurrences where the Lord Jesus speaks openly of events that are to come, yet not their specific day to day, moment by moment fulfilment. We see the same thing in relation to the book of Revelation. The prophecy of the book as revealed to the apostle John was given by the Lord Jesus of things to come, near at hand and of future events.

The apostle Paul, to the Thessalonian saints says this. "But as to the suitable times and the precise seasons and dates, brethren, you have no necessity for anything being written to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord will come [as unexpectedly and suddenly] as a thief in the night".

Somewhere between the gospel and  Acts accounts and this writing of Paul, revelation was given of the precise timing and seasons of events that relate to the events that lead to the return of the Lord Jesus. Not just rough estimates or guesses as we so often do today, but, precise seasons and dates. Why? So that we are not overtaken or caught unaware of theses specific times and seasons. 

When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was subjected to all the frailties of human experience, otherwise He could not be a High Priest who could identify with us in our humanity. In His being subjected to human form and frailty in every regard as we ourselves, even not knowing certain things which only His Father knew, He had to trust in the Holy Spirit to lead, direct and reveal what He was to do and what to say while in His sojourn here on earth. His relationship with the Father took on a different status as a Son of man, yet being equal with the Father, He chose not to appropriate that equality. Let the apostle Paul speak as is recorded in Philippians chapter 2.

" Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". 

I am saying that in order to say this. The Lord Jesus as the Son of man, was subject to human frailty, including lack of knowledge. He did not know the precise times and seasons of His return and events leading up to it. The Father chose to hide that from Him, otherwise, if He did know and said He did not know, that would make Him a liar and we know He most certainly is not that. When He was resurrected, in His resurrection, He was transfigured and glorified, subsequently, He was given the place of honour and glory He had with the Father before He took on human form, His relationship status once again reverted to being equal with God, Who knows ALL THINGS. Everything the Father does, He does through the Son. The Father has spoken in these last days and continues to speak through the Son, the Lord Jesus. This is the Father's good pleasure. More can be said, but this is sufficient for now.

I am persuaded to believe that the Lord Jesus revealed certain specific things to the apostle Paul in the revelations he received whether in the body or out of it, of events that would take place in the end and of His return. That is why Paul could enlighten the Thessalonians and remind them that they do not need to be reminded. 
A question then, " why is it that today, we have so many diverse opinions and views as to the Lord's return? " A question that requires answers. Think about this. 
The grace of the Lord be with you all.

BEING BUILT UP INTO HIM.

The Spirit of God is at work within the lives of His people to bring us into full maturity. This has ever been His goal, until we ALL bear the image of Christ and reach the FULLNESS of stature that is nothing less than His own. See Ephesians 4 v 13 - 16 & Galatians 4 v 19

These last days will see a greater working through hardships, disciplines and straitening. He will have for Himself a bride that is made ready, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. When He appears, we shall ALL be changed, transformed and then transfigured like unto Himself. We are sanctified now, yet the process of sanctification is also ongoing. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:3), "For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality."

Because of our stubbornness and pride, even our conceit and haughtiness,the Father disciplines us and trains us to submit to Him.We are to grow up into Him, in the spirit of humility. Let us not think that because He has "allowed" us to continue in our immaturity, that He is okay with it, He is not. He affords us opportunity after opportunity to put aside our own selfish desire and plans and submit to Him in all things.

Even as Israel will be brought into the constraints of the covenant, so will the ekklesia. We shall in these last days, be the ONE NEW MAN we have been birthed to be in Christ. We are being built up into a fixed abode, a habitation of God through the Spirit. This being built up, is the same as growing up into maturity of stature, which has everything to do with growing into the UNITY OF THE FAITH. As we are built up, so we grow up. This process is also end time event. The grace of God be with you all.

UPHEAVAL

A current word for ALL the church in ALL nations. Ready yourselves, there is an UPHEAVAL coming in the church. It shall surely come and not delay. A process of shaking, that will shake everything that can be shaken. God will deal with and cleanse His house .... we are His house.

DO NOT FEAR, GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Human emotions come in varying forms, happiness, joy, satisfaction, grief, pain, sorrow and so on. We are moved this way or that way depending on which emotion is motivating us at the time. These emotions can rule and regulate our outlook on life and make us either positive or negative.

The scriptures encourage and even admonish us to walk by and in the Spirit in order to not fulfil the desires of the flesh. Human emotions are not bad in themselves, they are a part of our human make up, but, when they control us we become their slave, good or bad. Walking by the Spirit of God, enables us to take control of our emotions.

ALL human beings at some time or the other have a fear of what lies ahead in the future. Everybody wants security, most everybody wants to know what tomorrow may bring. The Lord Jesus taught us "not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has its own troubles".

Be at peace, and rest in the knowledge that the Lord Jesus is in control of our future, we need to trust in and rely on Him to lead us and guide us in the way. There is no one more qualified to do this than the Lord Jesus. It is true, difficult and stressful times, hard to bear, are coming, indeed are here even now. The Lord has given us ample warning and the apostolic writings have given us warning in advance.

The Lord Jesus said, " in the world you shall have trials and tribulations, but, be joyful and cheerful, I have overcome the world". Whether in life or in death, we can trust the Lord to be there as a shepherd leads His sheep. The Lord knows the plans He has for us; we are not as those in the world who have no hope. He is our security, our hope of steadfastness. This world system shall surely fail, banks will crumble, governments will fail, BUT, the Lord our God is an immovable Rock and He has covenanted with us, He is absolutely faithful and can be trusted. Grace and peace be with you. 

THINGS RELATING TO THE KINGDOM.

I would like to submit some thoughts that I believe the Lord has given me understanding in. In relation to things pertaining to life in the kingdom. These things have been stirring in my spirit for over 30 years until now, yet, with more intensity than ever before.

Let me also state here, seeking first the Kingdom of God is not a separate act from seeking also His righteousness. Seeking first His righteousness is inextricably linked to seeking His Kingdom. They are inseperable.

Much of the content here arises from listening to and reading the thoughts of other believers. Things that have borne witness in my spirit. More so, seeking the Lord, reading the scriptures and getting the witness of the Spirit of God. 

This is by no means an exhaustive writing, but rather an exhortation to create awareness in what is on the heart of God for us as individual believers and as the corporate ekklesia of God. At the end of each section are scripture references to that section. Please look the references up and do the research.

UNITY / DIVISION

We need to have a clear understanding that the unity mentioned here, is not, ecumenical or manmade. Unity presented in scripture, is never amongst different faiths or belief systems, but the one faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints. ( see Jude 3 ) The opposite of unity is division, factionalism, sectarianism, Our divisions and denominations, the walls of distinction we have erected amongst ourselves are a blight on the reputation of the body of Christ. We cannot grasp the unity of the Spirit and not acknowledge our divisions. We cannot see the future glory of the church without acknowledging its present state. The process of restoration always requires a process of breaking down, even removal of what is not original.

Apart from having and being in a right relationship with the Father through Jesus as the Head of the ekklesia; this issue of unity is foundational and of utmost importance. The unity of the Spirit is as fundamental and foundational to the Faith as Christ is foundational to our faith in Him. The scriptures speak bountifully on unity or oneness or being in agreement from both old and new covenant writings. They also speak about the negative condition of division and its effects on the authority, life and witness of the ekklesia.

We somehow think that God has given us carte blanche, the authority to divide the body of Christ at random, as we see fit. We segregate ourselves by our denominations which number in the thousands. This in itself should speak to our shame, a people who profess a unity with our mouths but live in the contrary. It does not matter what our reasoning is to try and justify our denominational divisions. There are NO GROUNDS to divide the body of Christ on the basis of denominational names which arise from differing opinions of doctrines. The facts are, we are divided over this minister and that minister, we gather for ourselves those whom we prefer over the other and we build “churches” and give them names to define us as separate from other believers of the same household of faith.

Brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, these things ought not to be. The Corinthian believers / ekklesia were rebuked by the apostle Paul for their division and segregations, preferring one minister over the other. This was dealt with in no uncertain terms by Paul in the authority of the Lord Jesus, that, no divisions or dissensions or factions be formed amongst them. Paul castigated the Corinthians believers for their childishness and carnal behaviour.

Choosing one leader over another ultimately leads those who do these childish, carnal things, to also separate and segregate over doctrines. Invariably, one leader will disagree with another over respective issues of doctrine. This too was rebuked by the apostle Paul and he told the childish, carnal Corinthian believers to think and speak the same things and have the same opinions and judgements being in full harmony in what they say. This would clearly relate directly to matters of the faith.

Jude was compelled to tell the saints who were separated for the Lord Jesus, to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. The apostle Paul urged the church in Phillipi to live in unity, be of the same mind and purpose, have the same love for one another, and do nothing from factional motives. Can two walk TOGETHER except they are in agreement?

I say to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus, if Paul or the Lord Jesus Himself were to tell the ekklesia the same things again here and now, we would most likely stone them with our words in rejection or at least chase them away and accuse them of heresy. We have built for ourselves our own little houses at the expense of THE HOUSE OF GOD, not a physical house of brick and mortar but a HOUSE MADE OF LIVING STONES. We have opened bank accounts in these names of division, we have adorned them with all the pleasantries that appeal to the eye and pride of life and we encourage people to come to them as if that were the church.

Be ashamed and appalled at this wickedness that we perpetuate by our rebellion and pride. Our denominations and divisions are little towers of Babel being built up that testify to our own pride and we love to have it so.

These systems of men know no boundaries. Regardless of what name they go by, what the creeds and statements of faith are used; they are ALL, each one, works of the flesh. The ruling spirit that dictates to these systems is the spirit of Babylon, the mother of ALL harlots and she has many, many offspring, all birthed out of and from the same spirit that rules over her.

Understand this well, coming out of this harlot system and starting a fellowship with much the same structure and agendas with titles and names that identify us as separate from other believers is to merely change one snare for another. One brother likened this mother of harlots to an octopus. You break free from one tentacle and are then ensnared once again by another.  Once again, hear in no uncertain terms, OUR DIVISIONS AND DENOMINATIONS ARE THE WORKS OF THE FLESH, PREDICATED UPON LIES AND DECEITS OF DEMONS THAT MEN TEACH.

There is a pattern of lifestyle and structure that is recorded in scripture, starting from the Life of Jesus as the Chief pattern, through the book of Acts and other apostolic writings. When attempts to introduce another way started to arise, it was quickly challenged and dealt with by the authority of the Lord Jesus. As generations have come and gone until today, ferocious wolves have arisen from among the ekklesia and have come in from the outside and have preached a gospel that is other than THE GOSPEL that was proclaimed by the Lord Jesus and His first apostles.

The Lord Jesus said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Never has a truer word been spoken. This is true of families, businesses, political parties, governments and entire nations. It is very, very true of the ekklesia, the household of faith. The “Christian church” has in excess of 35,000 denominations worldwide, an indication in itself of its grievous divisions. The issues can vary over small things leading to larger things, differing opinions over this teaching or that teaching, over this leader or that leader. We choose to follow our man made ways instead of abiding by the apostolic teachings and practice shown in scripture.

Leaders insist on being bible based, the word of God as the only acceptable authority we adhere to, yet, when it comes to our denominations and divisions, a different code of practice is adhered to. They choose rather to be divided over teachings and practices, rather than forsaking their pride and rebellion, abiding by the writings of new covenant life.

Let’s be frank and open regarding what we read in the writings of the life of the early ekklesia and what we see in the life of the ekklesia today. What contradiction, what division, what lack of corporate authority. Is this an exaggeration or a misrepresentation of the facts?

God gives us the freedom to choose to forsake our pride in our denominations and divisions. He has long been merciful towards us in the hope that we will willingly turn away from our carnal, childish behaviour. Many have done so, but His intention is for ALL those who are called by His Name to break free from the harlot system which separates His people on carnal grounds.

Christ came to tear down the wall of animosity, the walls of division in and amongst Jew and gentile. But we have erected walls again amongst ourselves, the ekklesia. This is an affront to Him. The consequence of our continuous pride and rebellion is that we have been given over to the bondage of the harlot system. But the time is here, yet has been, for those who have had ears to hear, to come out of the harlot system and live our lives as believers together under the Headship of the One Head, namely Christ, in the unity of the Spirit in the peace that binds us together, and the unity of the faith where we all believe the same thing, speak the same thing; where there is no difference in doctrine. Does this astound and shock you that we are to ALL be one in doctrine, the unity of the faith? Our experience of the requirement does not negate the requirement. We have believed the lies of demons and what men teach as truth instead of the requirement of God.

In spite of our failings, such as our divisions and denominations, these things, unity of the Spirit and of the faith shall be so, it is written, UNTIL WE ALL COME INTO.....then we shall no longer be tossed backwards and forwards by changing winds of doctrine inspired by demons, taught by unscrupulous men in inventing errors to mislead. We can give ourselves over to Him willingly to accomplish His purposes in and amongst us or we will be thrust into it and even then forcefully so.

The body of Christ will come together as the Head so desires it to be. The Lord Jesus prayed and asked His Father that we should be one as He and the Father are one. Can you imagine, for even a brief millisecond that there is any kind of division amongst the Godhead? AS THEY ARE ONE, we are to be, and it shall be so, in every respect that this unity is required of us.

The following are scriptures that relate to the above. Psalm 133, Haggai 1, Amos 3:3, Matthew 18:19-20, John 17:21, Acts 2:1, 42-47, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 1 Corinthians 3:1-10, Philippians 2:1-4, Ephesians 4:1-16, Philippians 1:27, Jude 3.

THE KINGDOM WAY / CULTURE.

When we repent and are born from above, we come under and into the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is inferred here and hoped, that the gospel that was proclaimed and we heard is the very gospel that the Lord Jesus proclaimed, the gospel of the kingdom of God. 

The prerequisite for entering the kingdom of God is repentance by an act of obedience on the part of the hearers. For one to even see the kingdom of God, one must be born anew or from above. This is synonymous with being born of the Spirit. We thus become regenerated from an immortal seed and origin, that is to say, we are born from God. ( see 1 Peter 1 v 23 )

Repentance and baptism in water were an act that went together. ( see Romans 6 ) 

It is here we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus. It is here that transference from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light takes place. It is also here, that we are placed or introduced into the one body of Christ, having been apportioned a measure of grace and faith, to function in that body under the Headship of Christ. 

We are sanctified by the Spirit of God, set apart for His Name and purpose. Yet, this is an ongoing, continuous process. We work together with Christ, by working out our salvation with fear and trembling. He that has begun a good work in us, will bring it to completion or full maturity right up to the time of Christ's return. ( see Philippians 1 v 6 )

To repent means to turn away from, to turn around from a particular lifestyle, to change one’s mind. It also means to think differently, to reconsider. This is something many have not really considered. It comes with counting the cost, something which the “gospel” that is proclaimed today lacks. The kind of repentance that is required by the Lord Jesus is much more than saying sorry for our sins and selfish lifestyles. It requires one to view things differently. No longer can our world view be the same as it was before we were born of the Spirit.

This will affect the way we view things now. Especially, our lives together in the kingdom, as members of the body of Christ. We are exhorted to be constantly renewed in the spirit of our minds and not be conformed to this world system. We are to be transformed, by our minds being renewed.  ( see Ephesians 4 v 23 and Romans 12 v 1 - 2 )

The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church, “Therefore, anyone who is in Christ becomes a new creation, the old things; the old way of life becomes obsolete, look and see, all things become new”. (Paraphrased, see 2 Corinthians 5 v 17 ).

The kingdom of God has within it, it’s own culture, it’s own way of life, it’s own “world view”. By this, it is meant, God's way of being and doing, His righteousness. We, as new creations in Christ, are to alter and change the way we live by His grace. Our lives before our new birth were governed by the spirit of this age. Our desires were ( maybe still are ) self centered. We were in this world without God. We are now, because if our new birth, to live unto Him, therefore, as a result of relationship with God, we live for one another out of love and selflessness. See John 13 v 34

Our opinions and judgements can no longer be based on what we formerly believed, but on what the Spirit of God teaches us. This is why there needs to be a new birth take place; the old way of life is totally contrary to the new way of life. Many of us still live by the old ways; we may not swear, or get drunk or commit lewd practices etc; but the way we think, and live our lives as individuals, is still for ourselves. All too often our lives are our own, we demand our own space, we go and do what we want when we please. Remember, we no longer belong to ourselves, we belong to another, we were redeemed, bought with a price.  See 1 Corinthians 6 v 19 - 20. 

We need to get a revelation of what it means to be placed into the body of Christ, how the joints and ligaments are knit together to form a WHOLE. Individualism has no place in the body of Christ. In the Kingdom way, God's way, we live by the Life of Christ, Who lives within each one of us. We are to grow up TOGETHER into Him. We are believers TOGETHER in Christ, Who is our Head. See Colossians 2 v 19. Our individuality is really only realised, as we grow up TOGETHER into Christ, by a new life lived for Him, according to His way.

The beginning chapters of the book of Acts declare a different spirit and grace amongst the believers. Ask yourself this question, “what was it that changed the early believer’s lives so radically when the Spirit was poured out upon them on that day”? The Holy Spirit poured out upon those believers, resulted in an inward reality that manifested outwardly by actions amongst the brethren. What was it they clearly had, that we seem to be far from? They lived the Life of Christ in reality in their daily lives TOGETHER. They lived and moved and had their being in Him but also towards one another. The book of Acts, is not merely a book of history, but was intended to be a continuum of Life in the Spirit for all believers right up until Christ's second coming.

Turn to Acts 2 v 42 - 47. Pay careful attention to what is written. “They continued steadfastly is more than just a casual get together once or twice a week. It means to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one, to be steadfastly attentive to, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place,  to persevere and not to faint, to show one’s self courageous for, to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly. When we wander away from the spirit, life and love for one another that was so clearly evident in the early church, there will invariably and inevitably be a deviation from kingdom authority that comes from continuing steadfastly. The authority of the kingdom issues out of a lifestyle born of the Spirit of God in corporateness”.

The Lord Jesus said very clearly, “whenever 2 or 3 are gathered TOGETHER, in My Name, there I AM in the midst of them”. This gathering together does not merely mean going to the same place for a meeting, it implies a togetherness, a being of the same mind, same purpose. Think of an orchestra playing together in symphony, finely tuned together. This clearly, needless to say, does not occur with random get togethers or a once a week or once a month meeting.

It requires an intertwining of lives together on a daily basis. We all need to live out the realities of kingdom life together and not just give mental ascent to the doctrine of it. We are so accustomed to living our lives as individuals, by our own rules, wanting our own space. This is to live our lives by the former order that was devoid of the Life of Christ. Remember, that it is IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.

If the Lord is the same today, yesterday and forever, then, His life and requirement of our conduct does not change. His kingdom way is the same throughout generations. The standard of the early is the standard of the latter. Our earthly, natural cultures are outweighed and superseded by the kingdom culture that is initiated by the new birth of the Spirit and entry into the kingdom of God. We adopt the manner, instruction and wisdom that come from the kingdom of God. It is a process of change and transformation from the spirit of this age that controlled and manipulated us from our conception in the flesh until, the time we repent and are born anew by the Spirit into the kingdom of God. The Spirit of God is at work within us to transform us; we need to submit to this working of the Spirit to produce within us the image of Christ.

The following scriptures relate to the above. John 1:11-13, John 3:5-7, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 2:1-6, Ephesians 4:17-25

THINGS RELATING TO THE END TIMES.

It is my firm belief that all things pertaining to these end times will have bearing directly or indirectly on us as individuals and as corporate ekklesia. There is no doubt that we are living in the end times. We are fast approaching that final time that we know as great tribulation. This will be a time of much testing, a requiring of many to lay down our lives for the sake of Christ. “ And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death, holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing”. This is not just for those who happen to miss the “rapture”.

I agree with a brother who said, “We are not yet ready for the second coming of the Lord, because we have not yet fully appropriated the meaning of His first coming”. There are “things” that need to be set in order; we need to walk in the reality of the unity of the Spirit and the unity of the faith. There is the issue of the ekklesia and Israel as being one in the Messiah, taking into consideration the making jealous of the Jew by the gentile believer. There is the issue of coming together into maturity of the ekklesia of God of Jew and gentile believer into one body of which the Messiah is the Head; this mystery that was once hidden but is now revealed. A pre tribulation theory does not allow for this, it does not take into account this demonstration of walking and living in the reality of the unity of the Spirit and unity of the faith to principalities and powers. Our divisions and thus denominations are an indictment against us.

God has given us, and continues to give us ample time to forsake our pride and man made ways, but there comes a time when our unwillingness to do His will, will be met with a thrusting into a life together as the ekklesia of God. I am persuaded to believe that this tribulation period will be the time that we learn the ways of God’s kingdom without our pride and we come to walk in the palpable reality of the unity of the Spirit and of the faith, demonstrating the wisdom of God to principalities and powers.

Moral standards are progressively deteriorating and will continue to do so. As believers in Christ Jesus, our very beliefs are going to be challenged to accommodate the debauched beliefs of a society that is ever falling away from the truth of God. It is here that conflict will become even more severe. It can be seen already that alternate life styles are being accepted and made law in countries around the world. Any contrary opinions are looked upon as being unacceptable and an attack on the human rights of the debauched lifestyles.

We ought rather to obey God than man, was the consensus of the first disciples when forbidden to proclaim the Name of Jesus. We will be faced with this again and the life of the ekklesia will change drastically. Herein is a call for the faith and patience of the saints. Many, if not most believers are ill prepared for this time. We shall be brought under the constraints of the Spirit, instead of a weak, immature body of believers; there shall be a body that glorifies the Head in every aspect of life, one that has gone into and out of a straitening process that has refined us. Connections amongst the ekklesia of God will be established as they ought to be, not under any banners of denominationalism or divisional status, but under the Lordship of Christ as one body in reality.

The following scriptures  relate to the above, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 12:5-14, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 9-11, Ephesians 2-4, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Acts 5:28-29.

JUST WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

JUST WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

Most believers are aware of what the church is. However, our mindsets still dictate to us that what it is not; is still the thing we go to. We still talk about ‘going to church’ or ‘what church do you go to’ or ‘where do you fellowship’? 

This mindset reveals that we are still captive to a system of religion that is other than the truth that sets us free. Make no mistake; this is no play on words, for the words we use to describe what is true from a scriptural viewpoint of what is church and what is not, will dictate to our mindsets what is born of God and what is not. This makes all the difference.

The church has never been, nor ever will be, something we go to. It never has been four walls of brick and mortar or a denomination of people gathered around a creed or a statement of faith. Nor is it under the banner or name of that denomination. So what is the church?

It has always been a people called out of darkness and this world system, into the kingdom of Light and includes every believer in the geographical location they live in and ultimately universally, under the Lordship of Christ, free from denominational labels. 

The sooner we learn this and begin using words and terminologies that truly reflect a mindset that understands this, the sooner we can come into the truth that sets us free. Words are powerful things, they can destroy, bind, put into captivity or they can build up, emancipate and set free from the religious systems that hold us in captivity.

CHURCH BY ANY OTHER NAME.

How we love to call ourselves by names. The church is divided into so many factions and sects that have such a diversity of names that reflect our divisions. Is it any wonder that the unbeliever is left with bewilderment at this travesty? Is Christ divided and broken up into parts and fragments? 

Here are some names, The Church on the Rock, The Church of the Redeemer, Living Waters Church, Pentecostal Holiness Church, First Baptist Church, Christian Life Centre or Christian Fellowship Church. The list can go on and on and on, to our shame.

How we love to say, the scriptures are our source of authority and practice! Well, what do we find in scripture? What were the names given to the churches from the day of Pentecost? Are you ready for it? NONE, yes that’s right, NONE, they had no names, neither did they seek them. 

They had the revelation and understanding of who the church was. The believers themselves were the church, so they never went to church. They simply gathered and functioned as the church in their locality. The local church today is not what the local church would have been then. Today, the local church is an expression of our named denominations and divisions, a far cry from what was in the early church. The local church was the church in a town or city which included ALL believers. 

The letters of the new covenant were written to the church that was in a particular city or town. The church in Corinth or the church in Ephesus and so on, were not names but descriptions of the believers in that city or town. This is not hard to comprehend for it is clearly stated in the scriptures. 

The book of Acts 14:21-27 shows the apostles appointing elders in each city and town they had made disciples of. These disciples became the church in their cities and towns i.e. Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch and others. They became the church in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch and so forth.

Paul left Titus behind in Crete to set in order the things that were lacking. He was to appoint elders in each church in every city. Titus 1:5. The first chapter of Revelation has reference to the seven churches of Asia i.e. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum etc. Acts 13:1 speaks of the church in Antioch. We see in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul refers to the church of God in Corinth. These scriptures all refer to a description of ALL believers that are in a town or city. 

There were no denominational labels and barriers that separated believers from each other as we have today, much to our shame. The only separations that may have existed would have been those of a geographical nature, that is to say, the various localities believers lived in. Once again, ALL BELIEVERS in a particular town or city were a part of THE CHURCH in that place. 

Understand clearly that there were no names of churches or gatherings of believers. The church in such and such a place was not a name but merely a description of the believers in that place. Over the generations our pride and arrogance have led us to create denominations and segregations of unprecedented proportions that have caused great divides based on doctrinal disputes over what this group and that group believes. Shame on us!

STRUCTURE, HOW SHOULD IT BE?

For those in traditional go to church type mindsets, structure is everything. Without it their church would fall apart. For those in house church settings, structure is almost a swear word. Both extremes lack validity; both are works of the flesh. Just what is structure then? 

Princeton’s WordNet has this definition to offer, a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts, a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing (n).

This is virtually what the scripture means when referring to structure. Ephesians 2:19-22 has this to say, “Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.

God has a structure and it is called the church, the total body of believers, throughout all time and everywhere. This structure consists of many parts, ALL interrelated, each part joined together by virtue of the blood of Christ. Each part is placed specifically by God into this structure, so that no part can say I have no need of you. Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe this structure. 1 Corinthians 12 is a well known passage for this; note in particular verses 13 and 14. This is structure and it consists of various functions, but each function complements the other. The many parts are built together into a single structure that rises and grows into a habitation of God by the Spirit. We are all baptised into one body by one Spirit.  See also Ephesians 4 v 4 - 6 .

In this structure there are leadership functions or gifts. See Ephesians 4 v 11-14.  Note also, the purpose of these gifts, His intention is the perfecting and  full equipping of the saints, that they, the saints, should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body, the church. See also 1 Corinthians 12 v 28. “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

God has divine order in His church as it pleases Him. Of this, there can be no argument. The problem arises when men seek to demonstrate these gifts in a manner that is other than God’s intention; either by assuming a function God has not placed them in or placing an undue emphasis of their gift. 

Leaders are not gurus or gods or bosses or heads of anything. They are members of this structure with a gift even as every other member is. They are servants to the rest of the church. What we see today is everything but servant hood; we have many gurus and bosses and heads of something more based upon a secular business, with managing directors, general managers, senior managers, junior managers, all the way down to the lowly sweeper. Is it any wonder amongst other things, the church is not taken seriously by the world?

While it is clear from reading the scriptures that believers were meeting from house to house, continuing steadfastly in the apostles teaching, which was Christ's own, contributing to one another’s needs, breaking bread and sharing meals with gladness of heart daily and with singleness of purpose; as time went on, there arose issues and disputes over which leader was favoured over the other.

Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth offers great insight into the divisions that arose due to individual members of the one structure favouring one leader over the other. See 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.

But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgements. For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you. What I mean is this; that each one of you either says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas, or I belong to Christ. Is Christ divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptised into the name of Paul?

Also in chapter three of this same letter from verse one to nine we read, 

"However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual men, but as to non spiritual men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates, as to mere infants in the new life in Christ unable to talk yet!  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough to be ready for it; but even yet you are not strong enough to be ready for it,  For you are still unspiritual, having the nature of the flesh under the control of ordinary impulses. For as long as there are envying and jealousy, wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual, of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard, like mere unchanged men?  For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not proving yourselves ordinary unchanged men?  What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants not heads of parties through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:  I planted, Apollos watered, but God all the while was making it grow and He gave the increase. So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but only God Who makes it grow and become greater.  He who plants and he who waters are equal one in aim, of the same importance and esteem, yet each shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.  For we are fellow workmen, joint promoters, labourers together with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, you are God’s building".

Even in the letter to the Philippians, Paul had to exhort the church there to be of one mind. Philippians 2:1-4,

"So by whatever appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in Christ, by whatever strengthening and consoling and encouraging [our relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy,  Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.  Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].  Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others". 

Divisions, disunity, wrangling and strife had already begun to fester even in the early days of the life of believers together. But, in each instance it was rebuked for the sin it is. Today, division is perpetuated to no end and we love to have it so. We have erected great walls that divide the fellowship of the saints with labels and distinctions that separate us as if there is no relationship at all amongst us. Do you honestly and sincerely believe that our divisions please and glorify God? Do you? We have all heard of the saying “United we stand, divided we fall”; this is not just a saying; it is a truth to live by. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Don’t ever think it can. And furthermore, don’t ever think that our divisions and wrangling, our denominational groupings and partisan spirit is okay with God, because they are not. Our Father grieves over this condition. Yet, the irony is, God allows it, because of our hardness and stubbornness of heart. He has allowed us to go into our own captivity, because of our own self willed and wanton, rebellious ways.

Structure as it is presented in the scriptures is not what it is today. Many believers shun structure because of the abuse of proper function. In many traditional denominational church systems and even in the so called freer expression of church in so called non denominational and in home fellowships etc, you often find one man band leaders with others taking a subordinate role. When believers met in the early church, they all came together to be strengthened, encouraged, exhorted, instructed etc by each other and not merely one or two people. The result is gatherings that probably would have taken a number of hours, even the whole day and into the evening hours.

Paul, by the command of the Lord, issued instructions to the church at Corinth on how they should function when they gathered. See 1 Corinthians 14, from verse 26. This was not a Jewish thing; don’t ever think that, this was a Kingdom thing. Each member shares, a hymn, a prophecy, a tongue, an interpretation, a song, a revelation and so on. The result, all are edified and strengthened; the structure grows TOGETHER with a growth that is from the Lord and God is glorified. This practice was clearly how ALL the churches functioned in each town or city, from house to house. How do we fare today?

The grace of the Lord be with you all.