Christianity according to christ (Gods Worldview Part 2: p45-106)
He is the Word of God.
The powerful words of Jesus are the Gospel, God’s good news of salvation to every individual of the world, including you personally. If you love and respect God, you will listen to every word Jesus spoke, and you will believe and do as He says. He will become your eternal partner to enlighten your mind. You will not need another interpreter.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
When Jesus entered our World, Israel was under occupation and tribute to the Roman Empire.
The Jewish establishment, the hierarchy, including their theology and mind control education, was under satanic inspiration and captivity.
They had rejected God in the name of God, and yet, they still considered themselves to be the only chosen people of God, believing, that their system was
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The powerful words of Jesus are the Gospel, God’s good news of salvation to every individual of the world, including you personally. If you love and respect God, you will listen to every word Jesus spoke, and you will believe and do as He says. He will become your eternal partner to enlighten your mind. You will not need another interpreter.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
When Jesus entered our World, Israel was under occupation and tribute to the Roman Empire.
The Jewish establishment, the hierarchy, including their theology and mind control education, was under satanic inspiration and captivity.
They had rejected God in the name of God, and yet, they still considered themselves to be the only chosen people of God, believing, that their system was
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the only way to God and eternal life. Only a minority of uncompromising
individuals had open minds for the guidance of God’s Spirit. They understood the
messianic prophecies and knew the time and place of His birth. Some came to
welcome Him at His birth: Luke 2:25-38; Matthew 2:1-12.
Rom 9:27; 11:5
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
So too, at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace.
God’s Message to the Jewish leadership through John the baptizer, sent to prepare the way for the Messiah:
Matt 3:7-10
7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Christ ended the “Old Covenant” and established His “New Covenant” with His people.
The prophesied time scale, revealed through the prophet Daniel, when the Nation Israel was regarded as the chosen people of God, was ending Dan. 9:24. In Jesus, they had their last chance. He came to save them. They rejected Him. Their time as a nation under God, was coming to its end.
Matt 15:24
24 He [Jesus] answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
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Rom 9:27; 11:5
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
So too, at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace.
God’s Message to the Jewish leadership through John the baptizer, sent to prepare the way for the Messiah:
Matt 3:7-10
7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Christ ended the “Old Covenant” and established His “New Covenant” with His people.
The prophesied time scale, revealed through the prophet Daniel, when the Nation Israel was regarded as the chosen people of God, was ending Dan. 9:24. In Jesus, they had their last chance. He came to save them. They rejected Him. Their time as a nation under God, was coming to its end.
Matt 15:24
24 He [Jesus] answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
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become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Luke 9:22
22 And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Matt 23:29-35
29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth,
Matt 12:24
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
Matt 23:25-26
25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self- indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
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Luke 9:22
22 And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Matt 23:29-35
29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth,
Matt 12:24
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
Matt 23:25-26
25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self- indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
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Matt 23:13-15
13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Matt 16:11-12
11 How is it you [His disciples] do not understand that I did not speak to you
concerning bread? — but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Luke 11:52
52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.
Matt 12:14
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Matt 23:37-39
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers
her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.
Mark 13:1-2
13 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
Matt 8:11-12
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Matt 16:11-12
11 How is it you [His disciples] do not understand that I did not speak to you
concerning bread? — but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Luke 11:52
52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.
Matt 12:14
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Matt 23:37-39
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers
her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.
Mark 13:1-2
13 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
Matt 8:11-12
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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Matt 21:42-43
42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'
43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Rom 9:27-29
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality."
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
He abolished the Levitical priesthood and the laws pertaining to it, as well as the entire Jewish hierarchical system.
Heb 7:11-12
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. [pertaining to the Levitical priesthood and their inheritance of the tithe from the eleven other tribes.]
Heb 8:1
8 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
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42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'
43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Rom 9:27-29
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality."
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
He abolished the Levitical priesthood and the laws pertaining to it, as well as the entire Jewish hierarchical system.
Heb 7:11-12
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. [pertaining to the Levitical priesthood and their inheritance of the tithe from the eleven other tribes.]
Heb 8:1
8 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
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Heb 5:8-10
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus established His Kingdom in men on earth. He is the only ever present King, the supreme authority in His Kingdom and over His citizens. He always was, is, and will be fully in charge and control of the affairs of His Kingdom. Only He knows who are His, and all who are His do not concern or pride themselves with names, numbers or bottom lines. The battle is still His. If we take credit, we steal.
Please see my paper: “The Mystery of the Kingdom of God.”
How did Christ establish the Kingdom of God on our planet?
Please pay close attention to this most important heavenly constitution; it is out of this world.
He, the King Himself, taught about it, and commissioned His disciples to do likewise.
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Luke 4:43
43 But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 11:20
20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
Luke 9:1-2
9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
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8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus established His Kingdom in men on earth. He is the only ever present King, the supreme authority in His Kingdom and over His citizens. He always was, is, and will be fully in charge and control of the affairs of His Kingdom. Only He knows who are His, and all who are His do not concern or pride themselves with names, numbers or bottom lines. The battle is still His. If we take credit, we steal.
Please see my paper: “The Mystery of the Kingdom of God.”
How did Christ establish the Kingdom of God on our planet?
Please pay close attention to this most important heavenly constitution; it is out of this world.
He, the King Himself, taught about it, and commissioned His disciples to do likewise.
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Luke 4:43
43 But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 11:20
20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
Luke 9:1-2
9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
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Matt 24:14
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
This gospel is the good news of the Kingdom of God that has been and still is introduced to mankind by all disciples of Christ ever since He established it. They themselves entered and encouraged everyone to also become a citizen. It is an international, interracial, interdenominational spiritual Kingdom were Christ is King forever.
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Gal 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
In the Kingdom of God there is no Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Hindu or Muslim etc. When Christ is in you, then He is the one and only King and highest Authority in your life. Then His Kingdom is in you and you love and obey Him with all your heart and mind. No other agenda to defend, support and promote. No application, no background check, no joining of a man- made organization, no money needed. Just come as you are and He will make you into a citizen to His liking. Nothing is missing or lacking in Him.
John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Matt 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
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14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
This gospel is the good news of the Kingdom of God that has been and still is introduced to mankind by all disciples of Christ ever since He established it. They themselves entered and encouraged everyone to also become a citizen. It is an international, interracial, interdenominational spiritual Kingdom were Christ is King forever.
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Gal 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
In the Kingdom of God there is no Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Hindu or Muslim etc. When Christ is in you, then He is the one and only King and highest Authority in your life. Then His Kingdom is in you and you love and obey Him with all your heart and mind. No other agenda to defend, support and promote. No application, no background check, no joining of a man- made organization, no money needed. Just come as you are and He will make you into a citizen to His liking. Nothing is missing or lacking in Him.
John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Matt 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
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Location and Life in God’s Kingdom?
Luke 17:20-21
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
This is a spiritual kingdom. It has no geographic boundaries. It is timeless. It is an international kingdom and has no earthly headquarters. No gender, no race, no other name. No one will be able to say here or there is the right place, the temple of God, or the right church or denomination. So, do not worry about if you are in the right church, rather make sure you are in the Kingdom of God and serve the right Lord. When you are in Him, only then are you in the Kingdom of God; and when He is in you, only then is the Kingdom of God in you.
Luke 16:16
16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
Have you pressed in to it?
As it is in our generation, people always questioned and argued about as to the right location for worship; which is the right church. Christ solved that question, once and for ever:
John 4:19-24
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped
on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is
from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
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Luke 17:20-21
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
This is a spiritual kingdom. It has no geographic boundaries. It is timeless. It is an international kingdom and has no earthly headquarters. No gender, no race, no other name. No one will be able to say here or there is the right place, the temple of God, or the right church or denomination. So, do not worry about if you are in the right church, rather make sure you are in the Kingdom of God and serve the right Lord. When you are in Him, only then are you in the Kingdom of God; and when He is in you, only then is the Kingdom of God in you.
Luke 16:16
16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
Have you pressed in to it?
As it is in our generation, people always questioned and argued about as to the right location for worship; which is the right church. Christ solved that question, once and for ever:
John 4:19-24
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped
on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is
from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
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Children of God worship Him 24/7, everywhere.
Matt 24:1-2
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came
up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
The Jewish religion, like pagan religions, had buildings, houses of God, or temples for worship and identity. Christ replaced the symbolism with reality, which is His ever-presence in His disciples.
In 70 AD the Roman army under Titus destroyed the temple and it never was rebuilt again.
Where is, God’s chosen and God made, dwelling place?
1 Kings 8:27-28
27 "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
Acts 17:24-26
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
The temples that God chooses to dwell in are His children, who are born of God.
1 Cor 3:16-17
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
1 Cor 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
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Matt 24:1-2
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came
up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
The Jewish religion, like pagan religions, had buildings, houses of God, or temples for worship and identity. Christ replaced the symbolism with reality, which is His ever-presence in His disciples.
In 70 AD the Roman army under Titus destroyed the temple and it never was rebuilt again.
Where is, God’s chosen and God made, dwelling place?
1 Kings 8:27-28
27 "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
Acts 17:24-26
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
The temples that God chooses to dwell in are His children, who are born of God.
1 Cor 3:16-17
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
1 Cor 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
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2 Cor 6:16
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
John 14:23
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Christ did not tell His disciples to build structures for Him to dwell in, or name a building a “house of god” or “Sanctuary”. And they followed and lived by His instructions. It was the custom of the pagan Greeks and Romans to name their temples houses of their gods.
The Greek term for their temples was kuriake oikia, the lord’s house. Kuriakon = the lord’s, oikos = house. This is the origin of our word church, in German Kirche. The term “church” is not biblical; it has no place in the word of God. In fact, it is Satan inspired pagan terminology to confuse God’s intended meaning of what His community represents.
Where and what is the community of God?
“Church” is not a biblical term.
What do people in general understand when they hear or use the word church?
They think it is a building for worship. Common expressions are: “We go to church every Sabbath” or “Our church is located on Main Street”. Or:” Our church has stained glass windows.”
Some also think it means a Christian organization or denomination. They say: “I belong to the Lutheran, or Baptist church”. Or “my church teaches and believes in the resurrection of the dead”.
They also think of it as a hierarchical institution. They say: “The headquarter of our church is in Rome. The head of our church is the Pope.”
These and similar unbiblical expressions are frequently used by Christians who do not know the origin and meaning of the word church. Unfortunately,
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16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
John 14:23
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Christ did not tell His disciples to build structures for Him to dwell in, or name a building a “house of god” or “Sanctuary”. And they followed and lived by His instructions. It was the custom of the pagan Greeks and Romans to name their temples houses of their gods.
The Greek term for their temples was kuriake oikia, the lord’s house. Kuriakon = the lord’s, oikos = house. This is the origin of our word church, in German Kirche. The term “church” is not biblical; it has no place in the word of God. In fact, it is Satan inspired pagan terminology to confuse God’s intended meaning of what His community represents.
Where and what is the community of God?
“Church” is not a biblical term.
What do people in general understand when they hear or use the word church?
They think it is a building for worship. Common expressions are: “We go to church every Sabbath” or “Our church is located on Main Street”. Or:” Our church has stained glass windows.”
Some also think it means a Christian organization or denomination. They say: “I belong to the Lutheran, or Baptist church”. Or “my church teaches and believes in the resurrection of the dead”.
They also think of it as a hierarchical institution. They say: “The headquarter of our church is in Rome. The head of our church is the Pope.”
These and similar unbiblical expressions are frequently used by Christians who do not know the origin and meaning of the word church. Unfortunately,
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most English translators of the bible never translated the Greek word
ekklesia correctly. No wonder that this caused so much confusion and
deprived the casual reader of scripture of the meaning that God is
communicating to us.
The proper translation of the Greek word “ekkleesia”.
It is made up of two words = “ek”, which means “out of” and “klesis”, which means ”a calling”. Ekkleesia is a meeting, called or announced by someone. It was not a mystical word that Christ originated, nor was it used exclusively for Christian gatherings. Seventy [72] Hebrew scholars, by request of the Greek King Ptolemy Philadelphus, translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, the Septuagint, during the third and second century BC. They translated the Hebrew word “qahal” about a hundred times as ekkleesia. Both meaning gathering or assembly, called out by someone, no matter for what reason.
If the governor called a meeting than it is the ekkleesia of the governor. If it is called by the mob leader Demetrius, it is the ekkleesia of Demetrius. We find such examples in Acts 19.
Acts 19:23-41
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
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The proper translation of the Greek word “ekkleesia”.
It is made up of two words = “ek”, which means “out of” and “klesis”, which means ”a calling”. Ekkleesia is a meeting, called or announced by someone. It was not a mystical word that Christ originated, nor was it used exclusively for Christian gatherings. Seventy [72] Hebrew scholars, by request of the Greek King Ptolemy Philadelphus, translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, the Septuagint, during the third and second century BC. They translated the Hebrew word “qahal” about a hundred times as ekkleesia. Both meaning gathering or assembly, called out by someone, no matter for what reason.
If the governor called a meeting than it is the ekkleesia of the governor. If it is called by the mob leader Demetrius, it is the ekkleesia of Demetrius. We find such examples in Acts 19.
Acts 19:23-41
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
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32 The assembly [ekklesia, correct translation] was in confusion: Some were
shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they
were there.
Verse 32 from the Greek Interlinear Bible:
Verse 32 from the Greek Interlinear Bible:
33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted
instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the
people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for
about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.
39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. [the Greek word is ekklesia, correct translation]
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.
39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. [the Greek word is ekklesia, correct translation]
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40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's
events. In that case, we would not be able to account for this commotion, since
there is no reason for it." 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
These are the only two bible texts, were the term ekklesia is translated correctly as assembly. All other texts in which ekklesia occurs, have been translated with the unbiblical term church.
Most bible translators take the liberty to translate ekkleesia 79 times as ”church” when it relates to a “Christian” gathering, and 2 times as ”assembly” when the gathering is a of secular nature.
Why would they be so irreverent to insert this pagan term “church” into the word of God? Do we see religio-political intent and deception?
Do we see the architects of religious institutions at work to captivate believer’s minds by accepting their creation of the human hierarchical paradigm in the body of Christ? The Catholic branch of the paganized church adopted this hierarchical paradigm from Rome in structuring their centralized form of government under the papacy of Rome, and reached its peak when Catholicism became the imperial state religion. The majority were brainwashed to believe the sacrilegious premise: “There is no body of Christ without the Catholic hierarchy. It constitutes the one and only saving church. The pope being the highest authority, the voice of God, on earth”.
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These are the only two bible texts, were the term ekklesia is translated correctly as assembly. All other texts in which ekklesia occurs, have been translated with the unbiblical term church.
Most bible translators take the liberty to translate ekkleesia 79 times as ”church” when it relates to a “Christian” gathering, and 2 times as ”assembly” when the gathering is a of secular nature.
Why would they be so irreverent to insert this pagan term “church” into the word of God? Do we see religio-political intent and deception?
Do we see the architects of religious institutions at work to captivate believer’s minds by accepting their creation of the human hierarchical paradigm in the body of Christ? The Catholic branch of the paganized church adopted this hierarchical paradigm from Rome in structuring their centralized form of government under the papacy of Rome, and reached its peak when Catholicism became the imperial state religion. The majority were brainwashed to believe the sacrilegious premise: “There is no body of Christ without the Catholic hierarchy. It constitutes the one and only saving church. The pope being the highest authority, the voice of God, on earth”.
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At the time when Henry VIII. of England expelled the Catholic church from his
country in1534, when he, like some other European leaders began to break free
from the papal oppression and captivity, Henry was determined to maintain the
hierarchical church structure, with him being the head of the church of England.
When Tyndale began to translate the bible in the vernacular of the public, as other
European reformers like Luther did in Germany, Henry condemned him as a
heretic to death and he was strangled and burned on a stake, for disobeying him, by
translating the bible correctly.
With five Greek words from the bible, translated correctly into English, Tyndale undercut the entire sacramental structure of the Catholic Church as well as the hierarchical paradigm in the organization. These are the five words: 1. presbuteros = elder [not priest], 2. ekklesia = congregation [not church]. 3. metaneo = repent [not do penance], 4. exemologeo = acknowledge, admit [not confess to a priest], 5. agape = love [not charity].
Yes, words do matter. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they transmit the will of God, enlightenment, truth and spiritual life.
Inspired by Satan’s spirit, they transmit darkness, deception, spiritual blindness, captivity of mind and spiritual death.
The Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan communicate through words. Hearer beware!
Mark 4:24
24 "Consider carefully what you hear,"
It also matters, where translators received their indoctrination, education and employment. Submission to the god mammon. Inspired translators, who saw the deception and did not fear reformation, translated this and other terms correctly. Here are some names of English bibles with correct translation of the term ekkleesia:
Young’s literal translation = assembly;
Darby Bible = congregation;
Complete Jewish Bible = community; International Standard Version = congregation; Jubilee Bible = congregation,
Orthodox Jewish Bible = community;
Rotherham Version = assembly.
German translators like Luther, Menge, Elberfeld etc. used the term “Gemeinde” community, “Versammlung” congregation, not Kirche [church.]
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With five Greek words from the bible, translated correctly into English, Tyndale undercut the entire sacramental structure of the Catholic Church as well as the hierarchical paradigm in the organization. These are the five words: 1. presbuteros = elder [not priest], 2. ekklesia = congregation [not church]. 3. metaneo = repent [not do penance], 4. exemologeo = acknowledge, admit [not confess to a priest], 5. agape = love [not charity].
Yes, words do matter. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they transmit the will of God, enlightenment, truth and spiritual life.
Inspired by Satan’s spirit, they transmit darkness, deception, spiritual blindness, captivity of mind and spiritual death.
The Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan communicate through words. Hearer beware!
Mark 4:24
24 "Consider carefully what you hear,"
It also matters, where translators received their indoctrination, education and employment. Submission to the god mammon. Inspired translators, who saw the deception and did not fear reformation, translated this and other terms correctly. Here are some names of English bibles with correct translation of the term ekkleesia:
Young’s literal translation = assembly;
Darby Bible = congregation;
Complete Jewish Bible = community; International Standard Version = congregation; Jubilee Bible = congregation,
Orthodox Jewish Bible = community;
Rotherham Version = assembly.
German translators like Luther, Menge, Elberfeld etc. used the term “Gemeinde” community, “Versammlung” congregation, not Kirche [church.]
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It would sound strange to us, if in the examples of Act 19 we would read:
“the church of the governor” or “the church of Demetrius” for the gathering
of a mob. So, the term ekkleesia simply means a called out assembly. If
Christ is the caller and the assembled people are there in His name, in His
will, then He will be in their midst. Only His presence makes an ekkleesia,
the assembly of Christ.
Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
So, if two or three of His children, born of His spirit, meet in His will, no matter where, at home or in nature, there is the assembly or ekkleesia of Christ and He is present and only His presence makes an assembly His
Luke 6:46
46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Matt 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Heb 12:22-24
22 But you have come, to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
So, if two or three of His children, born of His spirit, meet in His will, no matter where, at home or in nature, there is the assembly or ekkleesia of Christ and He is present and only His presence makes an assembly His
Luke 6:46
46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Matt 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Heb 12:22-24
22 But you have come, to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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Many who are called and may be members of an assembly, are not
citizens of the Kingdom of Christ, because they only accept Him and His
Words selectively as taught by their denomination, they are carnal
minded, self-governed, egocentric, enjoying rituals, liturgies and forms,
but they do not know and love God with all their hearts.
Matt 22:14
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
2 Peter 1:10
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
Matt 13:37-42
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
John 15:19
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
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Matt 22:14
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
2 Peter 1:10
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
Matt 13:37-42
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
John 15:19
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
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Acts 9:15
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Rom 11:5
5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Rev 17:14
14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
The Hierarchy in the Kingdom of God:
1 Cor 15:25-28
25 For He [Christ] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For He [ the Father] has put everything under his feet. [under Christ’s authority.] Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
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15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Rom 11:5
5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Rev 17:14
14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
The Hierarchy in the Kingdom of God:
1 Cor 15:25-28
25 For He [Christ] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For He [ the Father] has put everything under his feet. [under Christ’s authority.] Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
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Matt 11:27
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Matt 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
1 Tim 2:5
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
He is the only King and Authority in His Kingdom, the only head of His body.
In our relationship with God, there is only one mediator and that is Christ and there is no human being between Christ and us. Let no man or institution come between Christ and you. There is no other hierarchy on earth that God ordained, to which we need to submit, to find our personal relationship with Him. Since this is a spiritual relationship that is growing in your mind, it can only be your mind, it is that personal.
Satan, through his servants, has always attempted to disrupt that personal intimate relationship, and he has many human agencies today that have captivated and imprisoned people’s minds in fear of purgatory and eternal torture in hell.
We also can see the tragic results when this satanic pagan hierarchical paradigm developed in the minds of the Israeli leadership. They were totally lost; possessed by the spirit of the god of this world.
1 Sam 8:4-8
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so, he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are
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27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Matt 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
1 Tim 2:5
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
He is the only King and Authority in His Kingdom, the only head of His body.
In our relationship with God, there is only one mediator and that is Christ and there is no human being between Christ and us. Let no man or institution come between Christ and you. There is no other hierarchy on earth that God ordained, to which we need to submit, to find our personal relationship with Him. Since this is a spiritual relationship that is growing in your mind, it can only be your mind, it is that personal.
Satan, through his servants, has always attempted to disrupt that personal intimate relationship, and he has many human agencies today that have captivated and imprisoned people’s minds in fear of purgatory and eternal torture in hell.
We also can see the tragic results when this satanic pagan hierarchical paradigm developed in the minds of the Israeli leadership. They were totally lost; possessed by the spirit of the god of this world.
1 Sam 8:4-8
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so, he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are
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saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as
their king.
Israel had in God the best King possible. They considered Him an absentee King because they did not live by faith in His presence. They could not trust Him, the Invisible Almighty to protect them from their enemies, and did not want to depend on Him, because they knew, that if they did not walk in His way, He would not be with them. Their history shows the terrible effects of their spiritual satanic captivity. Every one of the 19 kings of Israel, after the national split under King Salomon, did what was evil in the sight of God, and only 8 of the 20 kings of Judah did something that was pleasant in the sight of God. Christ knew the clever deceptive strategies of Satan and gave us warnings, urging us to be watchful and not let anyone or anything get in between us and Christ. It is profitable and desirable for hierarchies to entice their believers to have a good personal trustful relationship with their church. This leads to spiritual adultery, captivity and decapitation, that is severance from the head and body of Christ. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. You cannot be in a service and trust relationship with two masters or authorities. He is the only spiritual Husband that deserves complete loyalty. He is the Word, the Truth, the Life. Satan is the diablos, the one that throws things in between, to distract and separate. Do not let a church nor anyone, no matter what his or her titles or credentials may be, come in between your personal intimate God relationship.
Matt 24:11
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matt 24:24
24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. [they do it in the name of God.]
Rom 16:17-19
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
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Israel had in God the best King possible. They considered Him an absentee King because they did not live by faith in His presence. They could not trust Him, the Invisible Almighty to protect them from their enemies, and did not want to depend on Him, because they knew, that if they did not walk in His way, He would not be with them. Their history shows the terrible effects of their spiritual satanic captivity. Every one of the 19 kings of Israel, after the national split under King Salomon, did what was evil in the sight of God, and only 8 of the 20 kings of Judah did something that was pleasant in the sight of God. Christ knew the clever deceptive strategies of Satan and gave us warnings, urging us to be watchful and not let anyone or anything get in between us and Christ. It is profitable and desirable for hierarchies to entice their believers to have a good personal trustful relationship with their church. This leads to spiritual adultery, captivity and decapitation, that is severance from the head and body of Christ. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. You cannot be in a service and trust relationship with two masters or authorities. He is the only spiritual Husband that deserves complete loyalty. He is the Word, the Truth, the Life. Satan is the diablos, the one that throws things in between, to distract and separate. Do not let a church nor anyone, no matter what his or her titles or credentials may be, come in between your personal intimate God relationship.
Matt 24:11
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matt 24:24
24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. [they do it in the name of God.]
Rom 16:17-19
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
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Matt 7:15-16
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
Acts 20:29-31
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard!
Col 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
2 Tim 2:26
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
What rank do Christ’s disciples have in His Kingdom?
It is the norm in the mind of this self-centered world, that rank, title and position matters. Even Christ’s disciples suffered from the infections of that deadly “I” Virus, until they were healed from that self-centered disease through the Holy Spirit.
Matt 23:5-7 [addressed to religious leaders] Jesus said:
5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
Do not get sidetracked by their well performed sermons, their marvelous comfortable temples, nor by their impressive music.
Matt 18:1-4
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
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15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
Acts 20:29-31
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard!
Col 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
2 Tim 2:26
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
What rank do Christ’s disciples have in His Kingdom?
It is the norm in the mind of this self-centered world, that rank, title and position matters. Even Christ’s disciples suffered from the infections of that deadly “I” Virus, until they were healed from that self-centered disease through the Holy Spirit.
Matt 23:5-7 [addressed to religious leaders] Jesus said:
5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
Do not get sidetracked by their well performed sermons, their marvelous comfortable temples, nor by their impressive music.
Matt 18:1-4
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
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2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you
the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 9:33-34
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Matt 23:8-12
8 "But, you are not to be called 'Rabbi ' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
You know such religious deceivers in high places. Some want to be called father, even holy father and most holy father. Some indeed may have secretly fathered children in the flesh. But there are only two spiritual fathers. It is either God or Satan. Truth or lies. If you do not obey the commandments of Christ, then you are of the father the devil. You are in the kingdom of the “lawless one” whom the Lord has revealed. Even your exclusive distinguishing garments with their phylacteries, your illustrious titles, your golden crowns “tiaras” testify against you. If you repeat and live the words of Christ, you will give all credit to Him, because He is the originator or teacher of true wisdom, knowledge and truth. His servants only pass along what He has given them.
John 8:44
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Luke 9:49-50
49 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."
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Mark 9:33-34
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Matt 23:8-12
8 "But, you are not to be called 'Rabbi ' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
You know such religious deceivers in high places. Some want to be called father, even holy father and most holy father. Some indeed may have secretly fathered children in the flesh. But there are only two spiritual fathers. It is either God or Satan. Truth or lies. If you do not obey the commandments of Christ, then you are of the father the devil. You are in the kingdom of the “lawless one” whom the Lord has revealed. Even your exclusive distinguishing garments with their phylacteries, your illustrious titles, your golden crowns “tiaras” testify against you. If you repeat and live the words of Christ, you will give all credit to Him, because He is the originator or teacher of true wisdom, knowledge and truth. His servants only pass along what He has given them.
John 8:44
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Luke 9:49-50
49 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."
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50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on
our side."
The disciples still had that superiority and exclusivity complex and tried to exercise authority over others. They simply could not accept one as a member who was not in their congregation. You can see the satanic spirit in the attitude: “We are the only true saving church. If you are not a member in good standing, then you are lost and on your way to hell.”
None is superior in Christ’s assemblies. All, are equal servants.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
What name did Christ give to His community?
There was none and there is none. No label. Even the name “Christian” was not His invention. It originated in Antioch, where outsiders called His disciples Christians; and generally, it was not intended to be a compliment, because followers of Christ were considered outlaws that were persecuted, hated and even killed by Israel and Rome.
Acts 11:26
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Names or labels create disunity, separation, borders, barriers, fences and enmity. Christ came to remove these obstacles and build bridges.
No nationalism, no denominationalism, no racism no sexism. Whoever believes in Him and is reborn of His Spirit has become a citizen of His Kingdom where He is always present, fully in charge and at service. Please see my script on my blog: “The Mystery of the Kingdom of God.”
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The disciples still had that superiority and exclusivity complex and tried to exercise authority over others. They simply could not accept one as a member who was not in their congregation. You can see the satanic spirit in the attitude: “We are the only true saving church. If you are not a member in good standing, then you are lost and on your way to hell.”
None is superior in Christ’s assemblies. All, are equal servants.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
What name did Christ give to His community?
There was none and there is none. No label. Even the name “Christian” was not His invention. It originated in Antioch, where outsiders called His disciples Christians; and generally, it was not intended to be a compliment, because followers of Christ were considered outlaws that were persecuted, hated and even killed by Israel and Rome.
Acts 11:26
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Names or labels create disunity, separation, borders, barriers, fences and enmity. Christ came to remove these obstacles and build bridges.
No nationalism, no denominationalism, no racism no sexism. Whoever believes in Him and is reborn of His Spirit has become a citizen of His Kingdom where He is always present, fully in charge and at service. Please see my script on my blog: “The Mystery of the Kingdom of God.”
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Eph 2:11-18
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Already during the first century, we find the first attempts to name congregations, but it was strongly rejected by the apostle Paul.
1 Cor 1:10-13
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Cor 3:1-43
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not
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11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Already during the first century, we find the first attempts to name congregations, but it was strongly rejected by the apostle Paul.
1 Cor 1:10-13
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Cor 3:1-43
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not
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carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and
another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
Such divisive labeling originates in unspiritual carnal minds and indicates that the Spirit of Christ is not in it. No matter how small or large a congregation of believers may be, if their minds are not united in the spirit of Christ, He is not present. If their unity derives from any other name or human authority or only from a common interest, they are not an assembly of Christ.
Acts 4:12
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved."
Christ, the only head of His assembly, the only centralized government.
Col 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the community; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Eph 1:22-23
22 and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the assembly,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all:
Eph 4:15-16
15 but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to Him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:
16 from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part,
works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love. Darby Version.
As it is in the human body. The brain, via the nervous system, directs every function of every individual member. Not even your little finger would move
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Such divisive labeling originates in unspiritual carnal minds and indicates that the Spirit of Christ is not in it. No matter how small or large a congregation of believers may be, if their minds are not united in the spirit of Christ, He is not present. If their unity derives from any other name or human authority or only from a common interest, they are not an assembly of Christ.
Acts 4:12
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved."
Christ, the only head of His assembly, the only centralized government.
Col 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the community; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Eph 1:22-23
22 and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the assembly,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all:
Eph 4:15-16
15 but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to Him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:
16 from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part,
works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love. Darby Version.
As it is in the human body. The brain, via the nervous system, directs every function of every individual member. Not even your little finger would move
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without the direct message from the brain. So, it is in the spiritual body of Christ.
Whoever is led by His Spirit, is a member of His body. His assembly is not an
organization, it is Christ’s organism, His body. So, He was, is, and always will be,
fully in charge, as the only head of every one of His members in His body.
Rom 8:9
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Children of God, born of His Spirit enjoy by faith the life in His heavenly family 24/7. Our Father, our Lord, friend and brother, our personal Angel, and all the heavenly host love us, are always with us and for us. There is no better company, even when we are rejected, abandoned, imprisoned and hated by men. Our spiritual eyes see the loving family of God that always surrounds us.
Luke 15:10
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
John 8:35
35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Heb 2:11-12
11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
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Rom 8:9
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Children of God, born of His Spirit enjoy by faith the life in His heavenly family 24/7. Our Father, our Lord, friend and brother, our personal Angel, and all the heavenly host love us, are always with us and for us. There is no better company, even when we are rejected, abandoned, imprisoned and hated by men. Our spiritual eyes see the loving family of God that always surrounds us.
Luke 15:10
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
John 8:35
35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Heb 2:11-12
11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
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Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Christ’s presence makes an assembly to be His. In His assemblies, He is in charge and He calls and enables His servants to serve, not to exercise authority over others.
There are no positions and titles in His body, His assembly, His kingdom, only spiritual gifts for services.
1 Cor 12:1-13,28-31
12 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as He determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the assembly, God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Eph 4:11-13
11 It was who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all
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20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Christ’s presence makes an assembly to be His. In His assemblies, He is in charge and He calls and enables His servants to serve, not to exercise authority over others.
There are no positions and titles in His body, His assembly, His kingdom, only spiritual gifts for services.
1 Cor 12:1-13,28-31
12 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as He determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the assembly, God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Eph 4:11-13
11 It was who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all
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reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
All disciples of Christ have the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, expressed in serving relationships.
Gal 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The various gifts of the Spirit are given by God for service to individuals of His choice. Spiritual gifts without the fruit of the Spirit, are not God given; they are imitations, fakes, deceptive, and originate in Satan’s spirit.
Some Bible translators have not translated some words in accordance with God’s Spirit and are therefore misleading.
APOSTLE in Greek apostelos [Strong # 652]
Translated: one sent forth. [apo=from, stello=to send]
One sent with a message or to do the work of the sender, a messenger, delegate or ambassador.
An Apostle of Christ is a messenger, sent by Christ, to give Christ’s message and not his or her own interpretation or opinion.
In reference to Christ: The appointed and sent messenger of His Father.
Heb 3:1-2
3 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him,
John 17:3-5
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.
John 14:24
24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
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All disciples of Christ have the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, expressed in serving relationships.
Gal 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The various gifts of the Spirit are given by God for service to individuals of His choice. Spiritual gifts without the fruit of the Spirit, are not God given; they are imitations, fakes, deceptive, and originate in Satan’s spirit.
Some Bible translators have not translated some words in accordance with God’s Spirit and are therefore misleading.
APOSTLE in Greek apostelos [Strong # 652]
Translated: one sent forth. [apo=from, stello=to send]
One sent with a message or to do the work of the sender, a messenger, delegate or ambassador.
An Apostle of Christ is a messenger, sent by Christ, to give Christ’s message and not his or her own interpretation or opinion.
In reference to Christ: The appointed and sent messenger of His Father.
Heb 3:1-2
3 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him,
John 17:3-5
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.
John 14:24
24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
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John 17:8
8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
John 12:49-50
49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
In reference to Christ’s twelve disciples:
Luke 6:12-14
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night
praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles. [His sent messengers]
1 Cor 1:17
17 For Christ did not send me [Paul] to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Cor 2:13
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Peter 4:11
1 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.
Luke 9:10
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.
Definition and plan to action for the replacement of Judas, given by Peter:
Acts 1:20-26
"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
"'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,'
and,
"'May another take his place of leadership.'
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8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
John 12:49-50
49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
In reference to Christ’s twelve disciples:
Luke 6:12-14
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night
praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles. [His sent messengers]
1 Cor 1:17
17 For Christ did not send me [Paul] to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Cor 2:13
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Peter 4:11
1 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.
Luke 9:10
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.
Definition and plan to action for the replacement of Judas, given by Peter:
Acts 1:20-26
"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
"'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,'
and,
"'May another take his place of leadership.'
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Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the
whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's
baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must
become a witness with us of his resurrection."
So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, [messenger service is the proper translation. The Greek word, translated as ministry is diakonia, which means service] which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so, he was added to the eleven apostles. [messengers]
The eleven disciples did not claim nor usurp the authority to choose or appoint a replacement for Judas. In humility, they asked Jesus to make that choice.
The method they chose for Christ to answer, which of the two qualified men He would prefer, is somewhat obscure. Should they have been more patient for His answer? Could His choice have been Paul who was appointed and sent by Christ to bring His message to the Gentiles, and to write a major portion of the New Testament? Well, He knows, and that is good enough.
An apostle is a Christ chosen and appointed messenger to bring Christ’s message to the world. Why did He choose twelve? He did not say. This is the prerogative of the Master. In the Old covenant, He chose the twelve tribes of Israel to bring His love, life and grace to the world. The number twelve has also symbolic significance. [See my script:”Biblical Prophetic Terminology and Symbolism”.]
Rev 21:14, 12,13
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The apostle [Christ sent messenger] Paul.
1 Cor 9:1-2
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not
the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
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So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, [messenger service is the proper translation. The Greek word, translated as ministry is diakonia, which means service] which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so, he was added to the eleven apostles. [messengers]
The eleven disciples did not claim nor usurp the authority to choose or appoint a replacement for Judas. In humility, they asked Jesus to make that choice.
The method they chose for Christ to answer, which of the two qualified men He would prefer, is somewhat obscure. Should they have been more patient for His answer? Could His choice have been Paul who was appointed and sent by Christ to bring His message to the Gentiles, and to write a major portion of the New Testament? Well, He knows, and that is good enough.
An apostle is a Christ chosen and appointed messenger to bring Christ’s message to the world. Why did He choose twelve? He did not say. This is the prerogative of the Master. In the Old covenant, He chose the twelve tribes of Israel to bring His love, life and grace to the world. The number twelve has also symbolic significance. [See my script:”Biblical Prophetic Terminology and Symbolism”.]
Rev 21:14, 12,13
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The apostle [Christ sent messenger] Paul.
1 Cor 9:1-2
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not
the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
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1 Cor 15:8-11
and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the Assembly of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Acts 9:4-6
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:15
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Acts 22:21
21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'
Acts 26:17
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you
to them
Rom 11:13
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I
make much of my ministry 2 Cor 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
Gal 1:1
Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and
God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 74
and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the Assembly of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Acts 9:4-6
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:15
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Acts 22:21
21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'
Acts 26:17
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you
to them
Rom 11:13
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I
make much of my ministry 2 Cor 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
Gal 1:1
Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and
God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 74
Christ and the twelve apostles who repeated and lived the words of Christ are
the foundation for the body of Christ, the Kingdom of God.
The gospel of Christ, His message and finished work of salvation, His word and mission was entrusted to His twelve apostles. They were called, prepared and sent by Christ to be the foundation for His body of believers. Though they were of Jewish decent, they were born again of the international Spirit of God to become fundamental building blocks of the international, interracial, interreligious, interdenominational Kingdom of God.
Eph 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1 Cor 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
Peter knew for certain who that rock is on whom the Kingdom of God is built:
1 Peter 2:4-8
As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and
precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone, "
and "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."
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The gospel of Christ, His message and finished work of salvation, His word and mission was entrusted to His twelve apostles. They were called, prepared and sent by Christ to be the foundation for His body of believers. Though they were of Jewish decent, they were born again of the international Spirit of God to become fundamental building blocks of the international, interracial, interreligious, interdenominational Kingdom of God.
Eph 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1 Cor 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
Peter knew for certain who that rock is on whom the Kingdom of God is built:
1 Peter 2:4-8
As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and
precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone, "
and "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."
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They stumble because they disobey the message — which is also what they were
destined for.
Any addition or deletion from this foundation is not of God.
False apostles, sent by Satan with his deceptive messages:
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The service of a Prophet:
A prophet repeats God’s words, without additions or deletions. He reveals God’s world view and plan. He brings reformation, repentance and revival. His life is godly and in harmony with the Word of God.
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
Jer 23:28
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the Lord.
Isa 66:5
5 Hear the word of the Lord,
you who tremble at his word: [are in awe]
2 Peter 1:19-21
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21
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Any addition or deletion from this foundation is not of God.
False apostles, sent by Satan with his deceptive messages:
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The service of a Prophet:
A prophet repeats God’s words, without additions or deletions. He reveals God’s world view and plan. He brings reformation, repentance and revival. His life is godly and in harmony with the Word of God.
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
Jer 23:28
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the Lord.
Isa 66:5
5 Hear the word of the Lord,
you who tremble at his word: [are in awe]
2 Peter 1:19-21
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21
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For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God
as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Rev 22:18-19
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
The gift of prophecy has been the most hated gift, because the carnal mind does not like to hear the personal word of God.
That is why religious confessing “believers,” persecuted and killed them; including the greatest, Jesus, the Word of God.
False prophets, sent by Satan:
Matt 7:15-16
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
Matt 24:11
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matt 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and
miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible.
Jer 23:11,14,16,17,21,25,26,30,31,32
11 "Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,"
declares the Lord.
4 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen something horrible:
They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so, that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me;
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Rev 22:18-19
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
The gift of prophecy has been the most hated gift, because the carnal mind does not like to hear the personal word of God.
That is why religious confessing “believers,” persecuted and killed them; including the greatest, Jesus, the Word of God.
False prophets, sent by Satan:
Matt 7:15-16
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
Matt 24:11
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matt 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and
miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible.
Jer 23:11,14,16,17,21,25,26,30,31,32
11 "Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,"
declares the Lord.
4 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen something horrible:
They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so, that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me;
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the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."
16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The Lord says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'
1 I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
30 "Therefore," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The Lord declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the Lord. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the Lord.
Matt 7:15-16
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
God does not have professional prophets who are on a payroll. They are not people pleasers and flatterers, who look for followers and their money. Where God’s Spirit is, there is truth and holiness of body, soul and spirit.
1 Cor 14:29-33
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
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16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The Lord says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'
1 I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
30 "Therefore," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The Lord declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the Lord. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the Lord.
Matt 7:15-16
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
God does not have professional prophets who are on a payroll. They are not people pleasers and flatterers, who look for followers and their money. Where God’s Spirit is, there is truth and holiness of body, soul and spirit.
1 Cor 14:29-33
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
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John 10:14, 25-28
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Teacher:
The Greek term is didaskalos [Srong # 1320] Translated: teacher, master.
The Hebrew term is rhabbi [Strong # 4461] Translated: master, teacher
Pertaining to Christ:
John 13:13
13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Pertaining to His disciples:
Matt 23:8-9
8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Jesus forbade His disciples to desire such titles of distinction. He is the “Word of God, the Truth, the Life, the Origin” of all godly communication, from beginning to the end, “the absolute”. His disciples only repeated and reported what their teacher has taught them. As His ambassadors, they do not originate nor attempt to speak their own message, in fact they make sure to bring nothing in of their own. They are all on the same level, brethren, humble servants, equal under the authority of their master. Any title that may imply an elevated status over another will be rejected by His disciples. Anything that would tend to make a distinction among them or give the impression that there are ranks and grades among His servants, must and will be avoided. They do not desire nor receive titles, nor do they wear distinguishing robes with special ornaments and phylacteries.
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14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Teacher:
The Greek term is didaskalos [Srong # 1320] Translated: teacher, master.
The Hebrew term is rhabbi [Strong # 4461] Translated: master, teacher
Pertaining to Christ:
John 13:13
13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Pertaining to His disciples:
Matt 23:8-9
8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Jesus forbade His disciples to desire such titles of distinction. He is the “Word of God, the Truth, the Life, the Origin” of all godly communication, from beginning to the end, “the absolute”. His disciples only repeated and reported what their teacher has taught them. As His ambassadors, they do not originate nor attempt to speak their own message, in fact they make sure to bring nothing in of their own. They are all on the same level, brethren, humble servants, equal under the authority of their master. Any title that may imply an elevated status over another will be rejected by His disciples. Anything that would tend to make a distinction among them or give the impression that there are ranks and grades among His servants, must and will be avoided. They do not desire nor receive titles, nor do they wear distinguishing robes with special ornaments and phylacteries.
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Matt 23:5-7
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
It is a violation of the Master’s Command when ministers of His Good News use the title “doctor of divinity” etc. Where ever the Master’s Spirit is, there is no room for pride and superiority. Christ did not institute seminaries to train and qualify His servants for the work He sends them to do. He gives His chosen servants the Holy Spirit and the enabling gifts of the Spirit that He chooses. He is still the head of His body and is directly connected with every individual member, and He does not operate the way the world does. His Kingdom is not of this world. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the world.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matt 23:10-12
10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
How than is the practice of a teacher in the body of Christ to be understood?
It is not a title, but a service of bringing the Word of God, not our own, to all who have not heard it.
Matt 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
It is a violation of the Master’s Command when ministers of His Good News use the title “doctor of divinity” etc. Where ever the Master’s Spirit is, there is no room for pride and superiority. Christ did not institute seminaries to train and qualify His servants for the work He sends them to do. He gives His chosen servants the Holy Spirit and the enabling gifts of the Spirit that He chooses. He is still the head of His body and is directly connected with every individual member, and He does not operate the way the world does. His Kingdom is not of this world. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the world.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matt 23:10-12
10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
How than is the practice of a teacher in the body of Christ to be understood?
It is not a title, but a service of bringing the Word of God, not our own, to all who have not heard it.
Matt 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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Christ has really never left us. Now as a spirit being, He is always and everywhere
with us, for us and in us. Only with a Holy Spirit sanctified mind can we perceive
and experience Him by faith in our daily lives.
Just look how active the invisible Christ was after His resurrection in the book of Acts. It should be named: “The book of the acts of Christ”.
The gift to do miracles and healing:
A miracle is what our human mind cannot understand and explain. It is the prerogative of God to work miracles when, where, how, by what means and through whom He wants.
Acts 2:22
22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Acts 15:12
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 19:11-12
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Heb 2:4
4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
God is not limited in what He wants to do. Neither should we, by our lack of faith, restrict Him when He wants to work through us.
Miracles are not an indicator that they are acts of God, or proof that the worker is godly and that his message is truth. Miracles can be fake and deception. The Fruit of the Spirit always accompanies the Gifts of the Spirit.
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Just look how active the invisible Christ was after His resurrection in the book of Acts. It should be named: “The book of the acts of Christ”.
The gift to do miracles and healing:
A miracle is what our human mind cannot understand and explain. It is the prerogative of God to work miracles when, where, how, by what means and through whom He wants.
Acts 2:22
22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Acts 15:12
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 19:11-12
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Heb 2:4
4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
God is not limited in what He wants to do. Neither should we, by our lack of faith, restrict Him when He wants to work through us.
Miracles are not an indicator that they are acts of God, or proof that the worker is godly and that his message is truth. Miracles can be fake and deception. The Fruit of the Spirit always accompanies the Gifts of the Spirit.
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2 Thess 2:9-11
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Rev 13:13-14
13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
Helpers:
The Greek word is antilepsis, translated as help, support, assist. [Strong # 484] All children of God are endowed with this gift of the spirit to be helpers, when Christ uses them in His service to help and support others with gladness. They are blessed with eyes to see where help is needed and find ways to respond. No one needs to appoint or tell them to serve, they just do it naturally. They serve God’s intended purpose.
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Gal 5:13
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Deacon:
The Greek term is diakonos. [Strong # 1249] primarily denotes a “servant”, also
“one that serves the hungry”.
Sadly, most English bible translators did not translate this term which is misleading
and a great disservice. They rather chose to give it just an English sound:
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9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Rev 13:13-14
13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
Helpers:
The Greek word is antilepsis, translated as help, support, assist. [Strong # 484] All children of God are endowed with this gift of the spirit to be helpers, when Christ uses them in His service to help and support others with gladness. They are blessed with eyes to see where help is needed and find ways to respond. No one needs to appoint or tell them to serve, they just do it naturally. They serve God’s intended purpose.
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Gal 5:13
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Deacon:
The Greek term is diakonos. [Strong # 1249] primarily denotes a “servant”, also
“one that serves the hungry”.
Sadly, most English bible translators did not translate this term which is misleading
and a great disservice. They rather chose to give it just an English sound:
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”Deacon.” Why? In our society no one, unless one is born of God’s Spirit, wants to
be called with the Godly designation “servant.” Deacon has the implied meaning of
a title, an officer with an elevated position. Greek is preferred over English because
very few know the meaning. To be and to be called a servant is an honor to every
Christian.
Acts 6:1-4
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews
among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.
[The NIV translation added the words “The ministry of” the word” which are not in the Greek text.]
1 Tim 3:8-13
8 The same goes for those who want to be “servants” [translated correctly from diaconos] in the assembly: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. 9 They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. 10 Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. 11 No exceptions are to be made for women — same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overy fond of wine.
12 “Servants” in the assembly are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. 13 Those who do this “servant” work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus- faith.
Bishop:
The Greek word is episkopos [Strong #1985] translated: overseer [epi “over”, skopeo “to look or watch’. A guardian.
As a shepherd who takes care of the master’s sheep. He does not drive them, but he goes before them. He leads by example. He lovingly provides for his Masters flock.
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Acts 6:1-4
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews
among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.
[The NIV translation added the words “The ministry of” the word” which are not in the Greek text.]
1 Tim 3:8-13
8 The same goes for those who want to be “servants” [translated correctly from diaconos] in the assembly: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. 9 They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. 10 Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. 11 No exceptions are to be made for women — same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overy fond of wine.
12 “Servants” in the assembly are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. 13 Those who do this “servant” work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus- faith.
Bishop:
The Greek word is episkopos [Strong #1985] translated: overseer [epi “over”, skopeo “to look or watch’. A guardian.
As a shepherd who takes care of the master’s sheep. He does not drive them, but he goes before them. He leads by example. He lovingly provides for his Masters flock.
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In reference to Christ:
1 Peter 2:24-25
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In reference to His disciples:
Acts 20:28-29
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Peter 5:1-4
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Words that describe various services in the body of Christ are used interchangeably. Some servants are gifted by the Spirit to do several types of services. Peter was gifted with all the named and unnamed gifts, or services of the Spirit, as we will see.
Below is an example of three translations of the term “episcopos”.
1 Tim 3:1-2
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. [NIV]
1 Tim 3:1-2
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. [NKJV]
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1 Peter 2:24-25
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In reference to His disciples:
Acts 20:28-29
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Peter 5:1-4
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Words that describe various services in the body of Christ are used interchangeably. Some servants are gifted by the Spirit to do several types of services. Peter was gifted with all the named and unnamed gifts, or services of the Spirit, as we will see.
Below is an example of three translations of the term “episcopos”.
1 Tim 3:1-2
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. [NIV]
1 Tim 3:1-2
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. [NKJV]
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1 Tim 3:1-2
1 Here is a statement you can trust: anyone aspiring to be a congregation leader is
seeking worthwhile work. CJB [complete Jewish bible]
1 Tim 3:1-7
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach [lead by example], the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's assembly?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
An overseer is an elder, shepherd [pastor], caretaker, leading, guiding, and feeding the younger of the community of the Master. He knows the Word of the Lord and guards it from defilement. He also knows the strategies and traps of the devil. His self has died in Christ, who is his new life and he does not compromise with the deceiver.
John 21:15-16
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
Elder:
The Greek term is “presbuteros” [Strong #4245]
The term “elder” or older, indicates the spiritual mature servant in the Christian community.
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1 Here is a statement you can trust: anyone aspiring to be a congregation leader is
seeking worthwhile work. CJB [complete Jewish bible]
1 Tim 3:1-7
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach [lead by example], the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's assembly?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
An overseer is an elder, shepherd [pastor], caretaker, leading, guiding, and feeding the younger of the community of the Master. He knows the Word of the Lord and guards it from defilement. He also knows the strategies and traps of the devil. His self has died in Christ, who is his new life and he does not compromise with the deceiver.
John 21:15-16
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
Elder:
The Greek term is “presbuteros” [Strong #4245]
The term “elder” or older, indicates the spiritual mature servant in the Christian community.
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Acts 2:17
17 "'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
The plural “presbuteroi” is here translated as “old men”. They also serve as “overseers, caretakers, shepherds of the younger members of the Master Shepherd’s flock.
.
The early Christian community, was more like a functional family. There was no hierarchy or rank. God in Christ was the only head. All members were brothers and sisters, serving one another in their Spirit given capacities with gladness. We find that the apostles, the sent and enabled ones, also served as prophets, miracle workers, shepherds [pastors], instructors [teachers],
Matt 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Elders [the mature in Christ] served wherever they were inspired, being Christ like examples in their daily walks. No service was considered inferior or superior. They are all important for a great family life.
Pastor:
The Greek term is “poimenas” [Strong # 4166] translated “shepherd”. One who
tends herds or flocks.
In reference to Christ:
John 10:11,14
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
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17 "'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
The plural “presbuteroi” is here translated as “old men”. They also serve as “overseers, caretakers, shepherds of the younger members of the Master Shepherd’s flock.
.
The early Christian community, was more like a functional family. There was no hierarchy or rank. God in Christ was the only head. All members were brothers and sisters, serving one another in their Spirit given capacities with gladness. We find that the apostles, the sent and enabled ones, also served as prophets, miracle workers, shepherds [pastors], instructors [teachers],
Matt 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Elders [the mature in Christ] served wherever they were inspired, being Christ like examples in their daily walks. No service was considered inferior or superior. They are all important for a great family life.
Pastor:
The Greek term is “poimenas” [Strong # 4166] translated “shepherd”. One who
tends herds or flocks.
In reference to Christ:
John 10:11,14
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
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In reference to His disciples:
1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God's flock [it is not yours, you are only caretaker] that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
The good shepherd lives for His flock. The hireling considers that the flock is for him, for his existence. He flees for his life when it is threatened.
God does not give titles or positions to His family, but serving gifts of His Spirit for their edification.
Rom 12:3-21
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
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1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God's flock [it is not yours, you are only caretaker] that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
The good shepherd lives for His flock. The hireling considers that the flock is for him, for his existence. He flees for his life when it is threatened.
God does not give titles or positions to His family, but serving gifts of His Spirit for their edification.
Rom 12:3-21
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
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17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for
it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Cor 12:4-11
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are
diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. , but the same God works all of them in all men.
Gift of speaking different kinds of tongues:
The Greek term is “ glossa” [Strong # 1100] Translated tongue and language.
Acts 2:4-12
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
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if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Cor 12:4-11
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are
diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. , but the same God works all of them in all men.
Gift of speaking different kinds of tongues:
The Greek term is “ glossa” [Strong # 1100] Translated tongue and language.
Acts 2:4-12
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
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It is evident that this gift of the spirit enabled the recipient to speak in a foreign
language, he or she never learned, but could be understood by the natives of that
nation. In some of the pagan cultures, it was customary for priests in a state of
trance to babble indiscernible words. What happened here in Jerusalem, is in no
way to be compared with any of the pagan babbling occurrences. This talking in a
foreign language is a spiritual supernatural gift that along with the other mentioned
gifts like healing and working miracles, are not acquired by learning and practice.
Trying to imitate the gifts of the spirit to impress someone is hypocrisy, deception
and satanic. Babbling spirits are not of God.
1 Cor 14:21-23
In the Law it is written:
"Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then, they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
1 Cor 14:8-12
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the assembly.
1 Cor 14:39
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1 Cor 14:28
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the congregation and
1 Cor 14:21-23
In the Law it is written:
"Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then, they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
1 Cor 14:8-12
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the assembly.
1 Cor 14:39
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1 Cor 14:28
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the congregation and
speak to himself and God.
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Our deepest personal communication with God cannot be expressed in words of
any language; it takes place in the spirit.
The universal priesthood in the community of God:
After the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial shadow system had been superseded and abolished by the real God anointed High Priest, who also was the true sacrificial Lamb of God, who died for the sins of every believing, accepting and repenting sinner of the world, the atonement was completed.
Heb 7:11-12, 18-19, 24-27
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
1 Peter 2:4-6, 9
4 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
All citizens of the Kingdom of God have experienced the atonement, the reconciliation with God through the incomprehensible sacrifice of the Father in His Anointed Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus who died their eternal death and gave them eternal life and made them ministering witnessing priests under their beloved High
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The universal priesthood in the community of God:
After the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial shadow system had been superseded and abolished by the real God anointed High Priest, who also was the true sacrificial Lamb of God, who died for the sins of every believing, accepting and repenting sinner of the world, the atonement was completed.
Heb 7:11-12, 18-19, 24-27
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
1 Peter 2:4-6, 9
4 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
All citizens of the Kingdom of God have experienced the atonement, the reconciliation with God through the incomprehensible sacrifice of the Father in His Anointed Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus who died their eternal death and gave them eternal life and made them ministering witnessing priests under their beloved High
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Priest Jesus, inviting and urging humanity: “Come to Him, accept His sacrifice for
yourself, be atoned with God, and receive eternal life.
2 Cor 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Woman in service with their spiritual gifts:
The revolutionary changes that Christ brought to our male dominated societies caused many debates, arguments and even hateful and deadly divisions among religious organizations. Also, Christ’s disciples had a difficult time to understand their Master’s new teachings. Even though Christ opened their minds for better understanding about the “Mysteries of the life in the Kingdom of God”, and after spending 40 days after His resurrection explaining to them the constitution and workings of His Kingdom, they still had to wait for the enlightenment through the promised Holy Spirit, to be fully enabled to comprehend, experience and teach it.
Mark 4:11
11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Acts 1:3
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:4,5,8
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
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2 Cor 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Woman in service with their spiritual gifts:
The revolutionary changes that Christ brought to our male dominated societies caused many debates, arguments and even hateful and deadly divisions among religious organizations. Also, Christ’s disciples had a difficult time to understand their Master’s new teachings. Even though Christ opened their minds for better understanding about the “Mysteries of the life in the Kingdom of God”, and after spending 40 days after His resurrection explaining to them the constitution and workings of His Kingdom, they still had to wait for the enlightenment through the promised Holy Spirit, to be fully enabled to comprehend, experience and teach it.
Mark 4:11
11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Acts 1:3
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:4,5,8
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
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Witnesses were sent and gifted by the holy spirit to witness for Christ; not for
themselves, not for their clubs or denominations and not for their own profit.
Disciples were told to make disciples for Christ, not for themselves or for their
organizations. In the Kingdom of God are no professional salaried servants. God
selects and enables His servants by giving them the gifts of the Spirit for the task
He assigns to them. Fellow servants may recognize God’s choice in those special
gifts and are inspired to support those gifts through their means. If God removes
His Spirit and Gifts from a servant because of his unfaithfulness to Him, the
support would also end. God is not fooled by eloquent speeches, smart
philosophies and impressive appearances, and neither are His children. New
converts often struggled, because their minds were still in captivity of the culture,
traditions and indoctrinations of the society or religious organization in which they
grew up. Many could not comprehend that in the Kingdom of God there was no
gender gap. Both, male and female were loved and saved individually in like
manner by the same Savior. By being born of the Spirit of God, they are sons and
daughters of God; brothers and sisters, equal before God and in His community.
And it is He who gives His Spiritual Gifts to a brother or sister He chooses.
Acts 2:17-18
17 "'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Comprehend what the Spirit says. When God says, I will choose woman to prophecy, He did not asked men to qualify and interpret His word. Just respectfully get out of His way. God is in control. He makes the choices in His Kingdom. To play holy spirit is deadly. Remember the consequences of using “strange fire on the altar of god”. It behooves us to serve humbly in the household of God and not exercising authority.
Only unspiritual men behave like they would be in charge and entitled to make the choices and discriminatory decisions. Even the apostle Paul did not claim that
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Acts 2:17-18
17 "'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Comprehend what the Spirit says. When God says, I will choose woman to prophecy, He did not asked men to qualify and interpret His word. Just respectfully get out of His way. God is in control. He makes the choices in His Kingdom. To play holy spirit is deadly. Remember the consequences of using “strange fire on the altar of god”. It behooves us to serve humbly in the household of God and not exercising authority.
Only unspiritual men behave like they would be in charge and entitled to make the choices and discriminatory decisions. Even the apostle Paul did not claim that
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everything that he said or wrote was the word of God. He wrote that our
understanding is “in part” and he differentiated between God’s word and his
understanding and interpretation of it. All disciples had to surrender their inherited
attitudes, traditions, convictions and opinions to the Holy Spirit, and so do we. If
man would be humble and respectful in Christ’s community and cease from
replacing the Holy Spirit with their management, church manuals and bylaws etc.,
they would be amazed how perfectly Jesus, the Head, is able to take care of His
body. He always has and always will. It Is true, that in a Christian Assembly you
may find citizens of the Kingdom of God as well as citizens of the kingdom of
Satan, who are of this world or of spiritual Babylon, the authors of confusion and
strife. Some you may recognize by their fruits, namely what and how they are, do,
and speak. But judgment is not assigned to us. The righteous judge is always
actively involved in His assemblies. See the incident with Ananias and Sapphira,
Act. 5:1-5. We may see that the children of this world seem to have successful
managing skills, like “Harlot Mother Babylon” with her powerful hierarchy,
multitude of membership, authority, honors and wealth. If you imitate her and
learn from her you may have great statistics and bottom lines. But the Holy Spirit
will not be with you or in you. Remember the misleaders in Israel, when they
asked for a king as all the other “great” nations had to lead them, and God had to
say to them: “Today they have rejected Me as their king”. 1. Sam. 8:7.
Take your shoes off when you step on holy ground.
2 Kings 17:19-20
They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.
Foolish unbelieving people trusted in the management of fallible fellow humans. The consequences of their choice were disastrous.
Jer 17:5
5 This is what the Lord says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Take your shoes off when you step on holy ground.
2 Kings 17:19-20
They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.
Foolish unbelieving people trusted in the management of fallible fellow humans. The consequences of their choice were disastrous.
Jer 17:5
5 This is what the Lord says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Ps 146:3
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
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in mortal men, who cannot save.
Gal 3:26-29
26 You are all sons [and daughters] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Serving in the Spirit of Christ:
All spiritual gifts and the ability to serve are given by grace for mutual edification with humility and love for the honor of God.
Phil 2:1-8
2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross!
Matt 23:11-12
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
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Gal 3:26-29
26 You are all sons [and daughters] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Serving in the Spirit of Christ:
All spiritual gifts and the ability to serve are given by grace for mutual edification with humility and love for the honor of God.
Phil 2:1-8
2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross!
Matt 23:11-12
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matt 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
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servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many."
2 Cor 1:12
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.
1 Cor 4:7
7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Luke 17:10
10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
The unspiritual human nature is self-centered. These are some of the natural human desires and goals:
Matt 23:2-12
2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. [seat of authority, dominance and power]
3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. [they do not walk their talk] 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. [they demand and rule and control.] 5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: [ they want to be important and honored by men.] They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; [they want everyone to know their elevated position by their dress codes] 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; [they enjoy preferences and attention] 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' [They like titles, to be addressed with respect and honors].
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2 Cor 1:12
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.
1 Cor 4:7
7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Luke 17:10
10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
The unspiritual human nature is self-centered. These are some of the natural human desires and goals:
Matt 23:2-12
2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. [seat of authority, dominance and power]
3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. [they do not walk their talk] 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. [they demand and rule and control.] 5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: [ they want to be important and honored by men.] They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; [they want everyone to know their elevated position by their dress codes] 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; [they enjoy preferences and attention] 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' [They like titles, to be addressed with respect and honors].
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8 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are
all brothers. [they prefer superiority over equality] 9 And do not call anyone on
earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. [By implying their
spiritual father- ship, they usurp authority over people’s consciences and minds.]
10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The
greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
1 Cor 2:14
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the
Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 3:5-8
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
Genuine discipleship with Christ is a personal relationship with the Master:
He calls every one individually: “You Follow Me”.
Luke 14:26-28
"Those who come to Me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. 27 Those who do not carry their own cross and come after [follow] Me cannot be My disciples. GNT
To Peter Jesus said: “Never mind the other disciple.” Do not follow, compare or measure yourself by other disciples, “You must follow Me.” John 21:22.
He is your best friend. He wants to communicate with you personally without an interpreter between you and Him. His Spirit will open your mind to hear and understand His spiritual voice. If you love your voice, you cannot hear His.
John 10:27-29
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.
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1 Cor 2:14
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the
Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 3:5-8
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
Genuine discipleship with Christ is a personal relationship with the Master:
He calls every one individually: “You Follow Me”.
Luke 14:26-28
"Those who come to Me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. 27 Those who do not carry their own cross and come after [follow] Me cannot be My disciples. GNT
To Peter Jesus said: “Never mind the other disciple.” Do not follow, compare or measure yourself by other disciples, “You must follow Me.” John 21:22.
He is your best friend. He wants to communicate with you personally without an interpreter between you and Him. His Spirit will open your mind to hear and understand His spiritual voice. If you love your voice, you cannot hear His.
John 10:27-29
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.
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John 10:14, 4,5
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
Churches, hierarchies, priests, institutions that claim or imply, that you depend on them for your Christ-relationship, or for your salvation, are instruments of Satan, leading you into captivity. Christ’s servants speak the words of their Master and rejoice in your personal Christ-relationship and dependency. They refuse to make disciples that follow them.
Blind and deaf leaders of the blind:
Most of the Jewish religious leadership was not able to hear the words of Jesus. With hearing ears, they did not hear. They were spiritually dead, in control of satanic spirits to mislead.
John 8:42-47
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but He sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Matt 13:13-15
13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
"'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
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14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
Churches, hierarchies, priests, institutions that claim or imply, that you depend on them for your Christ-relationship, or for your salvation, are instruments of Satan, leading you into captivity. Christ’s servants speak the words of their Master and rejoice in your personal Christ-relationship and dependency. They refuse to make disciples that follow them.
Blind and deaf leaders of the blind:
Most of the Jewish religious leadership was not able to hear the words of Jesus. With hearing ears, they did not hear. They were spiritually dead, in control of satanic spirits to mislead.
John 8:42-47
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but He sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Matt 13:13-15
13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
"'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
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15 For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
2 Tim 3:7-8
7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
The beginning of the spiritual Babylonian captivity:
Already during the first century we find the beginnings of spiritual prostitution among confessing believers.
The history of mankind reveals the works of the spiritual powers of darkness against the benevolent authority of God and His Spiritual Kingdom of light. Satan’s diverse spiritual host, including their human agents, attacked and perverted life giving truth and its bearers from every angle possible.
There were physical persecution and death decrees from the Israeli and Roman governments. Confusion from “Christian” Judaisers and Gnostics:
Titus 1:10-12
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach — and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
[They were employees, or as Jesus named them: “hirelings”.]
Col 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
1 Tim 6:20-21
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, [gnosis] 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
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and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
2 Tim 3:7-8
7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
The beginning of the spiritual Babylonian captivity:
Already during the first century we find the beginnings of spiritual prostitution among confessing believers.
The history of mankind reveals the works of the spiritual powers of darkness against the benevolent authority of God and His Spiritual Kingdom of light. Satan’s diverse spiritual host, including their human agents, attacked and perverted life giving truth and its bearers from every angle possible.
There were physical persecution and death decrees from the Israeli and Roman governments. Confusion from “Christian” Judaisers and Gnostics:
Titus 1:10-12
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach — and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
[They were employees, or as Jesus named them: “hirelings”.]
Col 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
1 Tim 6:20-21
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, [gnosis] 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
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Acts 20:28-29
Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you caretakers, to shepherd the Assembly of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:29-31
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Matt 7:15
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Gal 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel [good news] 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Thess 2:3-12
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is
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Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you caretakers, to shepherd the Assembly of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:29-31
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Matt 7:15
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Gal 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel [good news] 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Thess 2:3-12
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is
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called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple,
proclaiming himself to be God. [Takes control of the religious world]
5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [Rejecting truth is rejecting Christ, for He is the Truth. The consequence is spiritual captivity, strong delusion and belief in error that condemns.] 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
1 John 2:18-19
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
1 John 4:3
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
3. John 9-10
9 I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the assembly.
We see the carnal satanic spirit in Diotrephes. He had organized a congregation to support his inflated ego and greed. He took advantage of ignorant people who did
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5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [Rejecting truth is rejecting Christ, for He is the Truth. The consequence is spiritual captivity, strong delusion and belief in error that condemns.] 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
1 John 2:18-19
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
1 John 4:3
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
3. John 9-10
9 I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the assembly.
We see the carnal satanic spirit in Diotrephes. He had organized a congregation to support his inflated ego and greed. He took advantage of ignorant people who did
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not know the Word of God. They were not able to defeat the tempter with
knowledge of Scripture quoting: “It is written”. In fear of losing control, this
preacher prohibited servants with spiritual gifts from participating in his
organization, even refused pulpit privilege to Christ’s chosen disciples. And all this
in the name of God.
We also see the carnal mindset that began in the Corinthian assembly, when some members requested exclusivity under their own label. They desired to be named after their human founder. They wanted a visible human mediator to their liking between Christ and themselves who would study the Word of God for them and rather preferred a dependency and trust relationship with fallible men, even trusting them with their salvation, than to depend and trust in the Savior Himself who promised: “I will be with you always. My Spirit will lead you into all truth. Come to me.” They could not live by faith in the Kingdom of God under the personal leadership of the invisible, but always present King. On judgement day, no man will be justified in saying: “Lord, I trusted in my pope, cardinal, bishop priest, minister, pastor, mullah, church, for my religious life, hold them responsible for misleading us. Salvation and Life is in none of them. Christ said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6-7.
Christ is the only mediator between us and the Father.
1 Cor 3:1-11
3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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We also see the carnal mindset that began in the Corinthian assembly, when some members requested exclusivity under their own label. They desired to be named after their human founder. They wanted a visible human mediator to their liking between Christ and themselves who would study the Word of God for them and rather preferred a dependency and trust relationship with fallible men, even trusting them with their salvation, than to depend and trust in the Savior Himself who promised: “I will be with you always. My Spirit will lead you into all truth. Come to me.” They could not live by faith in the Kingdom of God under the personal leadership of the invisible, but always present King. On judgement day, no man will be justified in saying: “Lord, I trusted in my pope, cardinal, bishop priest, minister, pastor, mullah, church, for my religious life, hold them responsible for misleading us. Salvation and Life is in none of them. Christ said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6-7.
Christ is the only mediator between us and the Father.
1 Cor 3:1-11
3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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These are some of Satan’s strategies that he uses through his carnal minded
servants to undermine the pure Godly Principles of His Kingdom and the way He
manages life for His children in it. He assured us of eternal security in Him.
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
It is surprising that this “falling away” and selective rejection of Christ’s authority among confessed believers took place while Christianity was still outlawed in Israel and Rome, where followers of Christ were persecuted and killed. Both countries had their own state religion. Any opposition to it was considered treason and was punishable by death. Christians had to meet in secret places. They had no human hierarchy, no centralized organization, no printing presses, no buildings, no church manuals, no Bible Societies, only some hand-written copies of scripture. But the faith and convictions of God’s children were built on the only firm foundation: The always present and in charge, Jesus and His Spirit, who taught them: Stay home and keep your mouth shut if you have not the Holy Spirit. Act. 1:3-5,8.
Christ, the Foundation of His Kingdom:
1 Cor 3:11-12
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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John 10:27-30
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
It is surprising that this “falling away” and selective rejection of Christ’s authority among confessed believers took place while Christianity was still outlawed in Israel and Rome, where followers of Christ were persecuted and killed. Both countries had their own state religion. Any opposition to it was considered treason and was punishable by death. Christians had to meet in secret places. They had no human hierarchy, no centralized organization, no printing presses, no buildings, no church manuals, no Bible Societies, only some hand-written copies of scripture. But the faith and convictions of God’s children were built on the only firm foundation: The always present and in charge, Jesus and His Spirit, who taught them: Stay home and keep your mouth shut if you have not the Holy Spirit. Act. 1:3-5,8.
Christ, the Foundation of His Kingdom:
1 Cor 3:11-12
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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All children of God experienced the blessing of the anointing:
1 John 2:20,26,27
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.
They risked their lives when sharing the Good News. But they had the power of the Holy Spirit, including the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. They enjoyed by faith the wonderful life in Christ, with internal peace, security, godly love and perpetual thankfulness in the Kingdom of God with their beloved King, Savior and Friend. What an incredible blessing to share with the world. No wonder, that within the first century, the Gospel, which is the Good News of the Kingdom of God, was brought to the known world.
Rom 1:8
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
The signs of true discipleship magnified their fellowships:
Matt 16:24
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
John 8:31-32
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 13:34-35
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
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1 John 2:20,26,27
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.
They risked their lives when sharing the Good News. But they had the power of the Holy Spirit, including the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. They enjoyed by faith the wonderful life in Christ, with internal peace, security, godly love and perpetual thankfulness in the Kingdom of God with their beloved King, Savior and Friend. What an incredible blessing to share with the world. No wonder, that within the first century, the Gospel, which is the Good News of the Kingdom of God, was brought to the known world.
Rom 1:8
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
The signs of true discipleship magnified their fellowships:
Matt 16:24
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
John 8:31-32
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 13:34-35
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
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John 15:7-8
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Love and Oneness of all in Christ, the evidence of His Mission and Presence.
John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. I and the Father are One. John 10:30
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9.
Just pause for a while, and do this frequently. Let these spiritual jewels sink in, deep into your heart and spirit. His mission through us to the world hinges on and becomes evident in this truth. Christ prayed and still wills for us, and has given us the glory, the gift and ability to be “One with Him, as He is with the Father” and therefore, we can be One with One another. Our unity with one another depends on our unity with Him.
When one sees, and hears us, does he perceive Jesus in us?
Christian unity does not consist of a hierarchical coerced or enforced submission to a set of man compounded doctrines. Neither does it come through membership of a church or denomination. The Godly Unity exists between individuals who are born of God’s Spirit who love Him with all their hearts, and one another, as Christ loves us. We have no other agenda to support and to promote. Our minds are not held captive by what a church teaches, but by what our Lord says. Knowing that our understanding and knowledge is “in part” and “progressive” and may differ between the new born and the mature in Christ. We have become, by His grace, voluntary prisoners of the Lord. We are patient and tolerant in our communication, in dependence and submission to our beloved King. As citizens of His Kingdom we have a personal relationship with Him 24/7. He knows His children even when we do not. But we are glad that judgment is not our business. We do not have to proselytize because we do not belong to a heavily promoted “only saving church”.
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7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Love and Oneness of all in Christ, the evidence of His Mission and Presence.
John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. I and the Father are One. John 10:30
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9.
Just pause for a while, and do this frequently. Let these spiritual jewels sink in, deep into your heart and spirit. His mission through us to the world hinges on and becomes evident in this truth. Christ prayed and still wills for us, and has given us the glory, the gift and ability to be “One with Him, as He is with the Father” and therefore, we can be One with One another. Our unity with one another depends on our unity with Him.
When one sees, and hears us, does he perceive Jesus in us?
Christian unity does not consist of a hierarchical coerced or enforced submission to a set of man compounded doctrines. Neither does it come through membership of a church or denomination. The Godly Unity exists between individuals who are born of God’s Spirit who love Him with all their hearts, and one another, as Christ loves us. We have no other agenda to support and to promote. Our minds are not held captive by what a church teaches, but by what our Lord says. Knowing that our understanding and knowledge is “in part” and “progressive” and may differ between the new born and the mature in Christ. We have become, by His grace, voluntary prisoners of the Lord. We are patient and tolerant in our communication, in dependence and submission to our beloved King. As citizens of His Kingdom we have a personal relationship with Him 24/7. He knows His children even when we do not. But we are glad that judgment is not our business. We do not have to proselytize because we do not belong to a heavily promoted “only saving church”.
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We belong to the only saving Lord, and it is His Spirit that leads every individual
disciple into all truth. Peter and Paul had some disagreements, but that did not
cause division or separation among Christ’s disciples. But soon after Christ’s
physical departure from our planet, fragmentation of nominal “Christianity”
multiplied and exploded into thousands of proselytizing bickering “Christian”
denominations; each implying to be the right one. The blind were leading the blind.
Today’s statistics indicate, that there are over 33,000 “Christian” denominations in
the world, indicating by their spirit of fragmentation the absence of Christ and His
Spirit in their organization. But God may have His children in all of them, despite
the man-made barriers of division. Oneness of all in Christ is the evidence of His
mission. Even if the number of nominal “Christians” would be as the sand by the
sea, only a remnant will be saved. Rom.9:27-29.
But this remnant of God’s faithful children, the communities of Christ, though being persecuted and hated by all nations [Mat.24:9], because of their loyalty to their only Master, brought the pure Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the whole world as a testimony, because all the heavenly host takes part in this mission. They had no other agenda to promote. They were not known by dividing labels, buildings or memberships, but by their Spirit filled Godly lives and deeds. They are the body, the organism of Christ. They did not have to compromise with governments to get licensed and receive tax benefits. They never asked nor took money from the worldly. “Because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.” 3. John : 7. Jesus, the Head, loves His Body, His family, and He took always good care of it. “The portals of hell have not and will not prevail against it.”
2 Cor 4:8-11
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Paganisation of Christianity in the second century and beyond.
After the martyr of Christ’s disciples, who had brought His “Good News” to the world, a host of satanic spirits invaded “Christianity”, as prophesied. Many congregations had formed around deceptive leaders, who caused the ignorant to stray away from the truth in Christ, as He had prophesied. They still had the forms and appearance of godliness, but the Lord and the power of the Spirit with His fruit
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But this remnant of God’s faithful children, the communities of Christ, though being persecuted and hated by all nations [Mat.24:9], because of their loyalty to their only Master, brought the pure Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the whole world as a testimony, because all the heavenly host takes part in this mission. They had no other agenda to promote. They were not known by dividing labels, buildings or memberships, but by their Spirit filled Godly lives and deeds. They are the body, the organism of Christ. They did not have to compromise with governments to get licensed and receive tax benefits. They never asked nor took money from the worldly. “Because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.” 3. John : 7. Jesus, the Head, loves His Body, His family, and He took always good care of it. “The portals of hell have not and will not prevail against it.”
2 Cor 4:8-11
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Paganisation of Christianity in the second century and beyond.
After the martyr of Christ’s disciples, who had brought His “Good News” to the world, a host of satanic spirits invaded “Christianity”, as prophesied. Many congregations had formed around deceptive leaders, who caused the ignorant to stray away from the truth in Christ, as He had prophesied. They still had the forms and appearance of godliness, but the Lord and the power of the Spirit with His fruit
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and gifts had faded away. Now, men under the inspiration of Satan’s spirit, had to
imitate the works of the Spirit. Followers of Christ still had only local autonomous
congregations, but the same spirit we first noted in Diotrephes [third John 9, 10]
became more prevalent. Leaders strived for preeminence and control over
congregations. Carnal minded men detected an easy way to control the ignorant,
including their money, by misusing religion. Peter warned against such selfish
workers of evil:
1 Peter 5:2-4
2 Be shepherds [not just hirelings Joh.10:12,13] of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
During the Jewish revolt against their Roman occupation and taxation, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and their temple by the Roman army under Titus in 70 AD, 1,1 million people lost their lives, according to Josephus the Jewish historian. 94000 were forced into slavery. Jews were hated in the empire and expelled from Rome. Christianity was still considered an insignificant Jewish cult that believed in an executed criminal.
The failed Jewish uprising under Bar Kokhba in 132 AD, in which 580,000 Jews lost their lives, resulted in the Diaspora of the nation of Israel, and a strong sentiment of anti- Semitism in the Roman Empire. Emperor Hadrian wiped Israel of the map, replacing it with Syria- Palestina. The rebuilt city of Jerusalem was named Aelia Capitolina and was no longer accessible to Jews.
The Roman religion:
Rome’s ancestral polytheistic religion, under which the head of state also was the highest religious authority, the voice of the gods, was the unifying foundation of the state. Rome had adopted all the Gods of their conquered nations which facilitated the integration process of the population. The defeated countries accepted that the Roman Gods must be stronger than their own, so they were willing to include the new Gods in their beliefs without having to give up their familiar ones. Rome credited their victories to their good relationship with all Gods. Priests had even built in Athens an altar for a possible unknown God, whom they did not dare to ignore.
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1 Peter 5:2-4
2 Be shepherds [not just hirelings Joh.10:12,13] of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
During the Jewish revolt against their Roman occupation and taxation, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and their temple by the Roman army under Titus in 70 AD, 1,1 million people lost their lives, according to Josephus the Jewish historian. 94000 were forced into slavery. Jews were hated in the empire and expelled from Rome. Christianity was still considered an insignificant Jewish cult that believed in an executed criminal.
The failed Jewish uprising under Bar Kokhba in 132 AD, in which 580,000 Jews lost their lives, resulted in the Diaspora of the nation of Israel, and a strong sentiment of anti- Semitism in the Roman Empire. Emperor Hadrian wiped Israel of the map, replacing it with Syria- Palestina. The rebuilt city of Jerusalem was named Aelia Capitolina and was no longer accessible to Jews.
The Roman religion:
Rome’s ancestral polytheistic religion, under which the head of state also was the highest religious authority, the voice of the gods, was the unifying foundation of the state. Rome had adopted all the Gods of their conquered nations which facilitated the integration process of the population. The defeated countries accepted that the Roman Gods must be stronger than their own, so they were willing to include the new Gods in their beliefs without having to give up their familiar ones. Rome credited their victories to their good relationship with all Gods. Priests had even built in Athens an altar for a possible unknown God, whom they did not dare to ignore.
106
Acts 17:22-23
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
Prophecy also indicates that this fourth beast has seven heads, representing the seven imperial state ideologies or religions in their historic times which we will consider later in more detail. Each having a blasphemous name, revealing their identity with the spirit of Satan.
Rev 13:1-3
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Three likenesses, lion, bear, leopard, are the ones listed in Dan. 6:4-6. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece. Rome was the Satanic spiritual receptacle of all three.
As a world empire, Rome needed a universal polytheistic religion, to facilitate the integration of conquered nations into the Roman society. Cicero, who was an augur [priest] considered religion to be the source of social order. The Greek and Etruscan religions with traces of the Babylonian and Persian contribution gave Rome their universal spiritual foundation. None compliance was treason, punishable by death. When Rome conquered Israel, they had a big problem with the Hebrew monotheistic religion. Many concessions had to be made, in an attempt, to integrate Israel into the Roman world. The Roman senate appointed Herod as Jewish king over Israel. He built them the temple in Jerusalem, and as long as the Jews paid the taxes to Rome there was a period of superficial peace. The two religions were totally incompatible and resulted finally in the destruction of the Jewish state. Christianity needed to be Romanized to be acceptable to Romans.
“By embracing the faith of the Gospel, the Christians incurred the supposed guilt of an unnatural and an unpardonable offence. They dissolved the sacred ties of custom and education, violated the religious institutions of their country, and
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22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
Prophecy also indicates that this fourth beast has seven heads, representing the seven imperial state ideologies or religions in their historic times which we will consider later in more detail. Each having a blasphemous name, revealing their identity with the spirit of Satan.
Rev 13:1-3
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Three likenesses, lion, bear, leopard, are the ones listed in Dan. 6:4-6. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece. Rome was the Satanic spiritual receptacle of all three.
As a world empire, Rome needed a universal polytheistic religion, to facilitate the integration of conquered nations into the Roman society. Cicero, who was an augur [priest] considered religion to be the source of social order. The Greek and Etruscan religions with traces of the Babylonian and Persian contribution gave Rome their universal spiritual foundation. None compliance was treason, punishable by death. When Rome conquered Israel, they had a big problem with the Hebrew monotheistic religion. Many concessions had to be made, in an attempt, to integrate Israel into the Roman world. The Roman senate appointed Herod as Jewish king over Israel. He built them the temple in Jerusalem, and as long as the Jews paid the taxes to Rome there was a period of superficial peace. The two religions were totally incompatible and resulted finally in the destruction of the Jewish state. Christianity needed to be Romanized to be acceptable to Romans.
“By embracing the faith of the Gospel, the Christians incurred the supposed guilt of an unnatural and an unpardonable offence. They dissolved the sacred ties of custom and education, violated the religious institutions of their country, and
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presumptuously whatever their fathers had believed as true, or had reverenced as
sacred.” Edward Gibbon : “The history and fall of the roman empire” p 309
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