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.

GOD IS JEALOUS FOR HIS CHURCH.

In my last blog titled authenticity, I basically wrote of relationships amongst believers in Christ that need to be of an authentic kind, rather than superficial, distant and altogether non reflective of the Life of Christ as demonstration to a world that is waiting to see Christ "manifested in the flesh". This will most certainly require more than just a few hours of going to church in the week and a meeting on a Sunday morning with a cup of tea and a catch up of the weeks goings on with those we may be on closer speaking terms with.

The account of the book of Acts and the letters to the various churches reveal relationships established by the Spirit and Love of God, which motivated life amongst believers in a profound way. Something so profound was birthed in the hearts and lives of the early believers that their testimony was one of authority and power and challenged the status quo of the day.

God has appointed Jesus as Lord and Head over His body, which we are. We are being fashioned and formed TOGETHER as and for a fixed abode for Him to dwell in His fullness by His Spirit. Our current state of affairs as His body is, one of division and dysfunction which generally has very little authority and power. There will be a restoration of this, a setting in order of this House of God, by Himself and for Himself by the working of His Holy Spirit in and through believers who love Him and seek Him with all their lives, who are submitted to Him in all things, who love the household of faith in purity and holiness.

These end times are the time and choosing of God when He will establish ALL that He has decreed regarding His church as a witness and demonstration to principalities and powers of His own many faceted Wisdom. The church has been weighed in the balances and is found wanting. It is time to awaken out of our sleep and rise up and put away ALL the works of the flesh. It is time to build the House of God and not our own panelled houses, our denominations and little kingdoms and works of the flesh. God is jealous for His House.  If we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to His church, then let us hear. Grace be with you all.

AUTHENTICITY.

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC ?

To be authentic can be defined as, of undisputed origin, not a copy, genuine. Some synonyms are, genuine, real, actual, true, bona fide.

 God is authentic, His Word and Spirit are authentic. Therefore, as is the nature of the case, so must be the church. Why? Because the church emanates out of Him. Like kind produces after its own kind.  There are spiritual realities we are yet to grasp. Things written in the scriptures, that must come to us by way of revelation. 

In order for the church to be the demonstration to principalities and powers of the wisdom of God, see Ephesians 3:10, we need to live authentic lives. This will require us to live by and walk in the spirit. We are exhorted to live and walk accordingly in numerous instances in scripture. See Romans 8, Galatians 5.

This will require of us the very same spirit that was at the first, when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers gathered in the upper room on what we know as the day of pentecost. 

Something was born in that day, that altered the way believers lived their lives. Read the account in the the book of Acts, chapters 1 - 5. There was a radical change in attitudes and mindsets.The Love of God filled their hearts in such a radical way. The desire to share all things common, material possessions, meals and fellowship on a daily basis was common practice. The result of this, great grace was upon them all.  No one had any need, for their needs were met out of a common purse. 

The Acts way, was a way of great power and demonstration of the Love of God in action.  Grace is not just the unmerited favour of God, It is much more than that. IT IS THE DIVINE INFLUENCE IN THE HEART AND ITS REFLECTION OUT OF  IT. Consider this and see what manner of spirit we have today.The Acts Way is authentic life.

What has any of this to do with the end times? Everything. It has long been time for the church to get her act together. God affords us the time to repent and turn away from our own selfish ways and take upon us the very Spirit of Christ, enabling us to love one another in humility and true fellowship.

 If we choose not to freely turn away from selfishness or any other such thing, we will inevitably, come under the discipline and chastisement of a Father who wants us to be sharers in His holiness. See Hebrews 12:4 - 11 

God is settings things in order within His House. We are the House of God. The divisions, the pride in our own works, the rebellion and every other Ishmaelic thing has come under the scrutiny of the Spirit of God and He requires us His people to repent and turn away from our pride. 

Whatever falsity we have become accustomed to living by, is being challenged to be replaced by authenticity in each and every one of us. It's time to get real. This will affect the way we live in these end times. Consider these things. Grace be with you all.

2014 EVENTS.

As each year comes and goes, there are many changes that take place in the natural as well as the spiritual. Positive things happen and many negative things take place. The scriptures indicate that events will progressively deteriorate, 2014 is no exception.

Drastic changes in the weather, even catastrophic events as we are currently seeing around the globe, such as extreme temperatures unprecedented by extreme cold and excessive rains, resulting in floods, loss of property and even life, on the other end of the scale, droughts, loss of food production and loss of life.

Political instability, economic collapses, riots and violence in cities and towns in various nations. Racial hatred and even same race violence against each other. Men's hearts failing them because of fear of what is taking place in their nations. Overburdened, stress related diseases taking their toll on human life, increase in suicides. Shall we go on???

All this paints a very bleak picture of what lies ahead for this year and the coming years. Where does all these events and happenings place our faith? If our faith is in our own strength and that of man, we shall surely succumb to the stress's that are coming upon all that dwell on the face of the earth. Our faith needs to be firmly founded on and in the Messiah, the author and finisher of our faith. We need to be rooted and firmly fixed on Him, Who is our life, as branches are fixed to the vine. Then we need to be in right relationship with each other, walking and living in the unity of the Spirit and of the faith.

We, the whole body of believers, need to draw closer to Him in order to be kept safe in these days of trouble. In so doing and being, we shall not be moved, we shall be in the secret place of the Most High. We need to set our sights on things above and not on things that are on the earth. To Him be glory in the church. Grace be with you all.

PROPHETIC PREDICTIONS & SPECULATION.

We come to that time at the end of a year when, many will seek to provide "prophetic words or predictions" in the light of the coming year. I get the sense that many will get their "spiritual crystal balls" out and give so called prophetic words and predictions that will be in the interests of any body wanting to know what the future holds. Yeshua said, "Do not be deceived ..... the end is not yet" See Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21. The pressure becomes great to prophesy and predict future things because people want to know. The temptation then becomes great to give in and simply just prophesy what comes to ones mind and spirit. The result, many false predictions and prophecies, all of which, do not originate from the Spirit of God.

It seems that we assume God lends Himself to the whims of men to give multiple words of prophecy on demand. These things are always "as the Spirit wills". See 1 Corinthians 12. Yeshua has told us of things to come, the apostles Paul, Peter, and John have written things given by inspiration of the Spirit of God of things that will take place in the end of days. In our endeavours to fill in the gaps of the things foretold by Yeshua and the apostles and prophets, we tend to speculate on the order of events. This is because we do not rely on the Spirit of Truth.
In John 16:13, Yeshua says,"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come". 

All true prophecy comes from the Spirit of Truth; all false prophecy comes from the minds of men and lying spirits. Yeshua's admonitions remain our guide post until the end of all things .... BE ON YOUR GUARD, BE ALERT, WATCH & PRAY, DO NOT BE DECEIVED. The Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth, let us therefore, walk and live by the Spirit.

What will 2014 bring??  Wars and rumours of wars, nation against nation ,unrest in nations, internal conflicts, economies collapsing, famines, floods, pestilences, earthquakes in various places, increased arrogance and pride, unholy desires, lovers of pleasure and selfish desire more than lovers of God. Let us not forget, there will be persecution of believers even more as we enter that time period when the mark of the beast becomes compulsory. One thing is certain, there will be an increase of these things in the coming year and years to come, but all the while God will be at work bringing about His holy desire in and amongst His people. Grace be with you all.