
3
Every
Believer Becomes a Disciple -
Matthew 28:19
As
many that have received the gift, minister it to one another, as
good stewards of the manifold Grace of God
1Peter4:10
Learning Christ From
PAUL AND THE APOSTOLIC
FOUNDATIONS
Disciples Handbook 03
click below for
AUTHOR'S VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
The Apostolic Foundation of the Gospel
Church Without a Resurrection?
True Gifts not Counterfeits
The Foundation of the Apostles
Apostolic Doctrines
Paul's Insights in the Gospel
Human Wisdom versus Divine Wisdom
Edification In The Church Community
The Spiritual Life
The Electronic Church
Discerning Ministry's Attributes
Mega Churches
Positives and Negatives of Mega Churches
Discovering the Glorious Church
Professional Ministers
Giving Principles, Gospel Giving
ISSUES OF DISCIPLESHIP
God has provided that each
believer who is born of the Spirit may grow in the Spiritual life.
Learning Christ, in a general sense is becoming familiar with God
not only through His word but also through His presence. As we mature as
believers we gain familiarity with His character and personality. We, in
the process of time are assured that we may become partakers of His
glory and His character. As it is written, we go from glory to glory
(2Corinthians 3:18,)and from faith to faith (Romans 1:17.) We
learn to recognize and hearken to the voice of His Spirit and respond
according to the way we are directed. This is learning Christ.
God's model for learning Christ is imitation of the first born
Son of God, Jesus Christ. We are to imitate his manner of thinking, and
acting. We are to imitate his interacting with our "Heavenly Father"
and his Spirit-directed ministry. The first disciples were provided with
a living model but they were only able duplicate his Spiritual behavior
after they had received the enabling Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
There were no spiritually
empowered Christians until the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost. It is
a popular notion that Jesus' disciples who walked with him in Galilee
were Christians. Those who were sent out to evangelize two by two were
disciples and followers of those they believed to be the Messiah. The
disciples of the Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth and merely acted under the
authority of Jesus who was the true "Son of God." The Christian church,
or ekklesia (called out ones) was/is a totally new
dispensation that followed the endowment of power from on high, thus
receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Christians are the new
dispensation of Spiritually reborn men and women made possible by
Christ's resurrection from the dead.
With Christ's life within us,
we submit our egos and wills to him.
Our heart's aim is to become
as he was in this world.
(John 16:16; 1John 4:17) There is a total spiritual inability
of the natural man or woman to do the work of Christ. This is the reason
Jesus commanded them to wait until they received the "promise of the
Father" the Spirit of Truth, this spiritual enablement transformed the
natural, limited disciple into a different kind of being, born of the
Spirit. We can not be the light of the world if God's light does not
burn within us.
Churches
Without the Resurrection: RESURRECTION POWER
Too
many nominal Christians experience a religion that could function just
as it is today WITHOUT a resurrection.
Can you imagine how
a church would like if there were no Resurrection of Christ from the
dead? I can assure you it would look no different than 99 out
of 100 Christian fellowships today.
Paul advises Timothy, his son in the faith, that the churches of these
latter times would be without power, that is the power of the resurrection.
These have a form of Godliness but are without power. From these
Paul affirms, "Stay away!"
We can not be witnesses of
his resurrection if we have not been touched by the mighty hand of God
that raised Jesus from the dead who also made our own darkened spirit
come to life. We can not reflect the goodness of God if he has not
remade us to be righteous saints who were once reprobates.
Our greatest hope as we come into
this world is to know God. This is our first calling. Sadly, some come
and go from this world not having fulfilled that calling. If we are
fortunate to have God reveal himself to us then we must press on to the
next stage, that of being a functional witness of the Kingdom of heaven.
It is also unfortunate that many are thwarted in this second stage by
incomplete or ineffectual teachings of religious tradition.
The reality of the "new
creation" changes our motivations and desires and plants the laws of
righteous living within our souls.
As we have noted, the
institutional church has either lost sight of, or failed to actualize
the provisions of the New Covenant which comprises the Gospel of
Salvation through Jesus Christ. Time has eroded true understanding, and
spiritual subterfuge authored by an unrelenting adversary has come in to
subtlely sidetrack our spiritual lives and cause us to rely upon human
understanding instead.
What I am sharing in this
writing is not a unique revelation but simply a restatement of the
way that was revealed by Jesus to his servants the apostles
following Pentecost, in the beginning of the church age.
Any church or teacher (including
denominational groups) who are attempting to mentor or direct others
into a spiritual life are under divine obligation to be accurate.
Private interpretation risks wrong doctrine. Since there is always a
danger of deception, it is important that we proceed cautiously, both as
teachers and learners. We are obligated to discern all things with the
wisdom, the help, and guidance of the Spirit of Truth who is the
Holy Spirit.
God has told us through the Word
that we may ask for wisdom and for truth to be revealed to us. He
further instructs us to have confidence in this asking, knowing that God
is willing. God is willing! God is willing to give good gifts
which bring fulfillment and blessings and not sorrows. When seeking the
revelations which are of God, or from God, it is up to the
seeker to be on guard against deceptions and to discern the true from
the false. In asking for anything from God it is very important to
invoke the name of Jesus Christ. This name is the name above every
name and above every spiritual entity or authority. This name will
consecrate or make pure anything which may transpire. It will guarantee
that anything which will be revealed or imparted spiritually will be
free of any corrupt or deceptive influence. If you ask in the name of
Jesus, the deceiver can not work his way so readily into the
workings.
Receiving True Gifts and not
Counterfeit Ones
Jesus instructs us about receiving gifts from God, especially the gift
of the Holy Spirit. He teaches us that the God of heaven gives good
gifts and not evil, hurtful or perverted ones. Christ also characterizes
the fact that there are two kinds of gifts which might be tendered,
the true and the false, but God's gifts are good and true. The scripture
is found in Matthew 7:8-11 and in Luke 11:11-13:
"For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened." :8; "Or what man is there of you, whom if
his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" :9; "Or if he
ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" :10; "If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much
more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that
ask him?" :11. KJV The two objects which are sought are bread
and fish. God gives things which are life-giving and safe (bread, and
meat.) Luke chapter eleven restates the same teaching about asking from
God the Father but expands the emphasis, toward the gift of the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the living gift of God's power and presence:
"If
a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give
him a serpent?"; "Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer
him a scorpion?" "If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" -- Luke 11:11-13kjv.
I have emphasized the word son to emphasize that relationship is the
key to receiving from God. There are a whole lot of different kinds
of seekers; some sincere and some less sincere. If a dabbler negotiates
to receive a spiritual manifestation from God, it is uncertain what
may transpire. But God wishes to emphasize that he is for blessing His
family. He is the giver of Good gifts.
Counterfeit gifts are a peripheral
issue. The above reference represents the fact that there is the possibility
of receiving a bad gift. These kinds of exceptions bear upon
the setting and environment where and with whom the "ministry"
occurs and the sincerity of the hearts who seek the gift.
We
have a common enemy, Satan who is always ready to move in to deflect
the gift of God or to substitute a counterfeit. He does not give good
gifts, nor does he give valid revelations. His gifts are not life giving,
they give neither joy, nor health nor liberty. Yet it is possible that
he will try to come in unless you exclude him from any part of the seeking
and asking transaction Satan's gift is characterized as a stone instead
of bread, as a serpent instead of pure food, something infused with
poison instead of food.
Jesus has portrayed Satan as
the deadly counterfeiter who will insinuate himself into the seekers
life subtly and at any opportunity. Forewarned is to be forearmed; for
this reason, it is wise to initiate safeguards and precautions as I
suggested above in order to keep the deceiver out of your life and out
of every spiritual transactions.
There was a time when our lives
were entirely under his (Satan's) control. We may not think that this
was the case but the apostle is very clear about it. A couple of apostolic
letters bring attention to the nature of the unredeemed life, which
includes each and every life before the renewal In Christ.
Paul's
letter to Ephesus, Chapter 2, verses 2 and 3. "Wherein in time
past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children
of disobedience; Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle)
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even
as others." KJV
Paul's letter to Collosae, Chapter
1 verse 21. "And you, that were sometimes (before now) alienated
and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled"The
apostle contrasts the previous unredeemed nature our previous lifestyle
with the redeemed nature. In the letter to Corinth, Chapter 1 verses
10 and 11, he lists a number of these life styles; "-Neither
- thieves, - - covetous, - - drunkards, - - revilers, - - extortionist,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.; And such were some of you: but ye
are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
The Foundation of the Apostles
Every Believer Becomes a Disciple " Apostles were first
disciples. Disciples walked with the Lord in an intimate way. They
learned his ways by first hand observation, through hearing his word
and knowing his voice. The disciples while they were growing in the
knowledge of the Lord Jesus were also participants in the work
of Jesus' ministry. It was they who announced, 'the Kingdom of God
is at hand." They showed that the Kingdom could be demonstrated
by both the spiritual power and the authority to impact the
afflicted, the oppressed, the poor and the broken hearted.
Disciples
were and are called to be partakers of Jesus Christ's ministry. Each
of us continues to share the same access to Jesus Christ. We share the
same Spirit, we share in the same commission. "For this reason
the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
Devil." (1John 3:8)
We aspire to attain to the
same unity and inclusiveness as the original fellowship of disciples.
There was no member of the original circle of disciples who was just
like another. Yet, there was a unique niche for each of those Jesus
called.
Each of the first disciples had a divine destiny and an unlimited opportunity
for growing up in the fullness of the Lord.
Jesus chose the original disciples.
He singled them out and called them aside to walk with him and to have
a face-to-face relationship with him. Descriptions indicate that each
had attributes which could label them as plain folks or ordinary
people. Some associated with Jesus more intimately than others. Each
disciple had unique traits and attributes of character; Matthew a worldly
businessman, a publican, a tax collector; Peter a robust, headstrong
man who generally spoke without thinking and was always competing to
be someone; John a warm, compassionate and trusting youth; Nathaniel
innocent and open; Thomas a scientific minded pragmatist who had to
have things proven before he could be persuaded and so on.
The
twelve included men who we might not have chosen, including Judas the
deceiver and betrayer who Jesus also called a robber. Outside of the
twelve were a multitude of other disciples including women who
traveled extensively with Jesus though were not part of the inner group
of the twelve.
It is possible that those who were reasonably close and connected to
Jesus may have been about 500 individuals.
The apostles were men with whom
Jesus visited, taught and broke bread. He also imparted his life and
Spirit into them. After he had risen from the dead, he breathed upon
the disciples saying to them, "receive Holy Breath (Gr. pneuma)."
The word breath and spirit are the same word in the original text. This
is the same as to say, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It was this
action which imparted Holy life within each disciple this afforded,
I believe the new heaven borne experience that we believers today call
born again or spiritual renewal. The eleven and Judas Iscariot's replacement
Matthias were born from above or conceived as a new spirit being at
this time.
The apostle Paul (originally Saul the Pharisee) came on board a short
time the church in Jerusalem was started. Saul was called by Jesus in
a dramatic and powerful way. He was a chosen vessel to be used for a
particular revelation and ministry. Saul of Tarsus was a Jewish theologian,
a Pharisee of the strictest sect of Judaic fundamentalism of the day.
Saul was an intellectual of supreme discipline and credentials. The
zealous Saul, set out to destroy the disciples of Jesus, persecuting
and imprisoning all who preached Jesus as Messiah and the story of the
resurrection from the dead. Saul was added as an apostle as one who
met Jesus “out of due time.”
How did Saul become a disciple and an apostle? Paul recounted and retold
his account of the encounter several times, but the original encounter
is described in Acts, Chapter 9. God supernaturally intervened in Saul's
life, on a journey to Damascus. His travels were interrupted by Jesus
appearing to him in a brilliant light. Saul was blinded and knocked
him off his mount onto the ground. The voice spoke to him saying, "Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Paul answered this voice saying,
"Who are you, Lord?" and Jesus replied, "I
am Jesus who you are persecuting." Jesus then gave Saul brief
instructions about who he was to visit to received further ministry
and instruction. Jesus began to tutor a new disciple after this. Jesus
did not give Saul any information that he did not need to know at that
time, but he told him the first thing to do. Paul was told where to
go in Damascus to get further help. God likewise does not give us more
information than we need to get started. He does list all of the stages
of our journey, including both the trials and the victories. The journey
of faith is an hour by hour, day by day program.
The journey of discipleship begins
with a first step forward into a new life. In the first chapter of his
letter to Galatia, Saul who has been given a new name, Paul, to go along
with his new nature, accounts how he was taken aside and how he began
to be instructed face-to-face, personally by Jesus. For three years
in the deserts of Arabia, Paul learned Christ. being discipled
as one "out of due time a description of his apostolic commissioning
found in 1Corinthians 15:5-10.
The
Apostles Doctrine
Why should we place an emphasis on the apostles and the disciples?
Because we wish to be connected to the same authentic and pure doctrine
and the same spirit and the same manifested spiritual life that
was brought forth in the beginning of the "church". It must
breath the same purity, power and the same divine order. The apostolic
teachings have been described as the foundation upon which the house
of God is constructed. We who continue to build the Kingdom of God must
continue building upon the same foundation which is true and sound.
The foundation is the apostle's doctrine. It is based upon the essentials
of the true faith. The "promise of the Father" a nation of
kings and priests through Jesus Christ, designated as "the firstborn
of many brethren."
Understanding
the Apostle's Doctrine
The writings of the apostles constitute practical, uncomplicated, hands-on
teaching of how to live a Spiritual life. The Apostles who wrote in
the Bible include Peter, James, John, Paul and Luke is generally credited
with authoring the Book of acts as well as the Gospel of Luke, Paul
is generally credited with writing most of the other epistles.
Theologians
fine tune and over-process questions of authorship and have vain debates
over endless issues of scholarship, but such debates bear little relevance
to living the Spiritual life if we merely accept the epistles as true.
The
apostle Paul has a unique revelation.
There are a number of commonalities that all the apostles share. The
original disciples (apostles) received the power to become sons and
daughters of God through the Spirit of adoption and the release of the
Spirit of God to bear witness that we are the sons of God. The Jews
of Jerusalem who believed were prejudiced to the Jewish religious traditions
and the establishment of the Kingdom as a Jewish prophetic event.
Paul is given a revelation from
Jesus that is directed to the gentile audience. The emphasis in
Paul's teaching is directed to the entire world, a Gentile world. With
the other apostles he enunciates the power of the crucified and
resurrected Jesus. The Messiah's resurrection is a legacy for all
mankind, not just the Jews in Jerusalem, the promise of sonship and new
life as a Spiritual Creation in Christ. Paul's revelation
speaks to a different audience, the gentile world and the concept of the
“Church.” (Ec-cles-si'-a) Paul goes so far as to call this
revelation 'His Gospel.' The original apostles, while they began
outreach beyond Jerusalem, maintained a focus on the Jews and Israel.
Messiah's resurrection denoted the identity of Jesus as the Son of God
and the King of Israel who would eventually restore the Kingdom to
Israel. Jesus as the risen son on God was the corner stone of both
group's gospel message consistent with the revelation of Christ's grace
shared by Peter, James, John or Luke. It is clear however, that Paul was
not taught the Gospel by the apostles in Jerusalem but given unique
revelation and instruction by Jesus personally, for 3 years after his
conversion on the Damascus road.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE
FOUNDATION APOSTOLIC DOCTRINES From the outset,
I do not want to neglect the important foundation of the Christian faith
which is its Judaic roots. Jesus, Yeshua, The Messiah came to fulfill
all of the ante-types which are portrayed from Genesis to the Prophets
and the Psalms. Jesus has fulfilled the first four appointed feasts of
Levitus 23 and shall one day fulfill each unto the last. The apostate
position taken by both the Roman church that forbade the recognition of
the roots and prophetic future of Judaism as well as the reformers who
followed in doing the same pernicious path have separated Christianity
from its Jewishness. The Messiah is the Messiah of Israel; the apostles
were all Jewish followers of Moses who never discarded the scriptures
which were the first and only texts they taught from before the New
Testament scriptures came into being. Apostolic foundations merely gave
credence to all that was written pertaining to the Son of God who would
come into the world to be a light both to the Jew and to the Gentiles.
Jesus Christ, the True
Son of God Almighty, Jesus Christ,Virgin born, fulfilling the
Messianic Scriptures of the Old Testament, Christ Jesus,
crucified, resurrected and alive;
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Jesus Christ, the only
mediator between God and man;
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Jesus Christ, the lamb of
God, He becomes our Passover;
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Jesus Christ, offers
Redemption through the blood God's of Lamb (Jesus Christ) the
perfect sacrifice;
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We are offered the
promise of The New Creation in Christ Jesus;
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The Holy Spirit provides
enablement and reveals truth in Christ Jesus;
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The believer is given
authority against spiritual powers; Deliverance and discerning
of the spiritual world
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The potentiality of the
children of God. Widely unknown or untaught who we are as
children of God.
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The law of the Spirit,
has bought us liberty and freedom apart from the Law of sin and
death
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The Church calls for
Unity of all believers; All blood bought believers are one in
Him, Unity produces synergistic power, peace and
potentiality.
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All believers must learn
to discern matters of the Spiritual life and maintain unceasing
vigilance over matters of the common faith;
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Believers have been
forgiven therefore we must continuing to walk in Love and
Forgiveness;
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Rebellion and unbelief
will be dealt with at the hand of the returning Jesus in divine
judgment before & at His second advent;
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There is a culmination of
the church age; Thereafter, this evil age will also conclude
after the false prophet and deceiver are revealed and the deeds
of the wicked are met with judgment.
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Constant vigilance must
be maintained against False doctrines, false messiahs and
anti-Christs; Rampaging ferocity of ascendancy of the final anti
Christ.
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Believers need to be
alert to false teachers; and Aware of doctrines of Demons that
take believers into bondage
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The redemption of Israel
becomes a praise in all of the earth; With the second advent
Israel will become the head of all nations and Christ will rule
in the Holy City.
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Paul's
Insights into the Gospel
Paul
an intellectual's intellectual and a theologian's theologian, set aside
his natural credentials when he began to minister the Gospel. Paul presents
some of the most powerful insights into the conflict of intellectualism
and theology. Paul experienced a total turn around in his life. The
features of his traditional achievements were discarded as were the
merits of his classical education. Paul declared that the things which
he once esteemed and considered meritorious were now no better than
"dung".
The Holy Spirit drew a line of
division in Paul's life. He clarified the difference between the fashion
of this world and the world of God. He revealed the matters which pertained
to mind and soul and matters of spirit; the thoughts of the mind
versus the intents of the heart. Vanity
no longer had a place in his
life. Personal pride and striving for status were cast down. He was
given another job description. A "slave" of Christ.
Paul addresses two points of doctrine which are at times in tension.
First the purely Spiritual nature of the Gospel and the God-connected
source of life; and secondly teachings on leadership, headship and government
that impact the long-term course of this entity called "the church,"
the body of believers.
Contradictions have occurred
in this respect, when individuals are placed in positions of leadership
and authority who lack spiritual credentials but have merely human approval
or religious credentials.
Spiritual enablements allows the kingdom of God to be manifest according
to the apostolic model.
Even in the first years of the
church age we hear accounts of men like the apostles Paul and John struggling
with individuals who have assumed leadership but whose heart's motivation
was entirely wrong or their doctrine was corrupt. We hear Paul describe
associates who tried to undermine or destroy his ministry, or who departed
because their hearts turned again to the world; or of the associates
who preach for personal gain; or the associates who wanted to be pre
eminent and gloried in having control over people.
(See 1Timothy 1:19,20 1Timothy
4:14)regarding Alexander the Coppersmith; 2Timothy 4:10 regarding Demas;
3John 1:9 regarding the person of Diotrophes.)
Paul Defines the Apostolic Emphasis
In his first letter to Corinth Paul presses a very important foundation
point in the first two chapters. This particular emphasis stressed the
difference between a Spiritual message contrasted to a conceptual one.
In chapter 1 verse 17 he states that his gospel emphasis is not based
upon words of human wisdom but in power generated from the cross of
Jesus. The cross and Christ's crucifixion is where the exchange of righteousness
was made. The cross is where the blood sacrifice was made. The lamb
was slain fulfilling the Passover. The cross is where God paid the price
in blood for every sinner.
This doctrine of the cross does
not end with a man's death but with a divinely-powered resurrection.
Thus the doctrine that Paul speaks of includes the death and the resurrection
of Jesus. It was Jesus who was crucified, dead, buried and resurrected.
The holiday we call Easter concludes three Jewish Festivals; Passover,
Unleavened bread and First Fruits speaks of the resurrection. As Jesus
became the first fruits of those who have died. (1Cor.15-2) It
is truly unfortunate that so few Christians understand the Jewish
roots of Christianity, including the fact that Yeshua and most all
of the first disciples and apostles were Jews. Jesus (Yeshua) rose from
the dead, ascended on high, took captivity captive, and gave gifts
to the human race.
Paul's statement of the cross
does not address sorrow for a man's loss. It addresses rather, victory,
effulgence and power. The resurrection speaks of the power of an
endless life. It speaks about the Father's plan to extend grace,
peace and purpose to every man, woman and child. It speaks about the
ability to become a new creation in Christ.
Kingdom
of God Wisdom Versus Human Wisdom
Paul continues in his first letter to Corinth, introduces the theme
of "wisdom." Paul contrasts human wisdom to divine wisdom.
He explains that man who deems himself wise through reasoning, can't
accept the wisdom of God. God's wisdom is framed in paradoxes and conundrums.
For example the paradox of the least being the greatest; the weak being
the strong; the first being last; the wise being foolish; the living
being dead; the dead being awakened to live.
If these concepts make any sense
to you, perhaps God has already opened your eyes in a very significant
way. God framed truth in such a way that when they are articulated sound
preposterous, unbelievable and irrational.
The world says, "Be someone,
do your own thing, express your individuality." God says, "Decrease
to yourself, take your cross and let the outward "you" be
crucified so that the Divine (Christ) can have effective sanctuary and
expression in you.
The scientific mind requires
proof. The eye measures and discerns the things which we call real
or reality. Yet Christians are entreated to question outward manifestations,
the natural world. The mind is not the highest organ to lead to a spiritual
path.
Children of God are Led By the Spirit,
The truth is not determined according to science and rationality. God
requires faith on our part.
Paul, again in the same letter
speaks to the matter of making Spiritual realities manifest, "I
did not come teaching and preaching with enticing words of man's wisdom
but with demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should
not stand upon man's wisdom but upon the power of God. (1Corinthians
2:4,5)
The Spiritual life first begins
to manifest, because of the grace of God and secondarily by acting in
faith. The gospel states with respect to the Kingdom of God that we
are all pressing into it. (Luke 16:16) The Lord stands at the
door knocking, the action of faith opens that door to him. Again, grace
is the initiatory cause, it is God's hand in matters concerning our
life, stirring, directing and empowering. Grace is the hand of God outstretched
to us, beckoning; he bids us to come forth. We respond to him and we
press in to the world of Spiritual life that awaits.
The hand of grace is outstretched
in love. Grace speaks of loving kindness, compassion and giving. This
love is caring and constructive in nature. Love builds the bonds of
faith and defines the character and the parameters of the spiritual
life.
It is not knowledge that defines
the spiritual life although there is a knowledge component. Scripture
reminds us that knowledge ultimately has the affect of "puffing
up" our egos. There is an adverse relationship to our character
when knowledge becomes pre eminent in our orientation to God. We will
always find "knowledge" being closely linked to "religious
systems". It is a realm defined by expertise and expertise is usually
defined by knowledge.
How
much do we have to
know
before we become Spiritual?
I began to describe the Apostle's doctrine by mentioning doctrinal content,
followed by emphasizing the power (Gk. dunamis) that God provides,
through his Spirit, to empower our lives and relationships.
The
attribute of spiritual relationships may lie closer to the center of
Spirituality than any other factor. The apostle's doctrine has fellowship
and relationship within the very heart of it. Here is a glimpse into
the New Testament church of the Book of Acts, "They continued
steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of
bread, and with prayer." (Acts, Chapter 2:42)
The
apostles who knew the way of God fully through first hand experience
were to guide the novices into the same area of common experience; the
community expands, the Kingdom of God is entered by more and more converts.
A community is being built and stands in the midst of a world of unbelief,
carnality, and unrighteousness. God calls us into a family-like community
in which God is not only glorified but in which God continuously
interacts with the community.
True fellowship is what this community is about. There is a sense of
family, it is characterized by the joy of redemption (salvation, the
first step in pressing into this community.) This intimate fellowship
of believers is the closest thing to heaven God has for us on earth.
We share a common mind, a common testimony, a common hope. We are baptized
into one Spirit and into a common destiny. This community is redemptive
owing to the fact that the smoke and tarnish of this world can not endure
in the presence of the Living God, neither can the things which defile
the flesh stand in his presence.
We come together in this community
of faith where we find restoration, strength and edification. We come
together in fellowship to repair the bumps, bruises, and blemishes that
life in this world inflicts upon those who are "not of this
world."
Edification
and Ministry as it Pertains to Community
We have been conditioned by a
religious world to go to church to receive ministry. After
all, the church is where the minister is. I believe this is a viewpoint
which needs to be reexamined in light of true fellowship and the
question of what true ministry ought to be. Those to whom
church is a place to be ministered to, are still conditioned to
think in terms of priest (clergy) and laity. In this model which has
been the tradition for the past 17 hundred years, we are taught that
we need someone else to do our spiritual work for us. We come to the
priest; we have him pray for us, teach us, bless us, absolve us. We
presume that ministry is what happens in a church (fellowship,) and
this kind of ministry is some kind of a "Band-Aid" to help
us salve the current bruise.
I believe there is an alternative,
apostolic way of viewing the community of fellowship. It is the notion
of coming to a place of restoration and strengthening; some have called
this a "spiritual filling station." In this setting of fellowship
there is rest, repose, and encouragement. There are occasions for teaching
but the manner of teaching need not be formalistic. Those who know and
who have experience victory in one kind of challenge or another, are
able to share and encourage others with less knowledge or experience.
Edification can occur without formalized, programmatic services. There
is sharing of food and the life of God.
Spiritual fellowship provides
a redemptive community in which the bond of fellowship is not the bond
of obligation but of the heart. Love is true and not an affectation.
This kind of fellowship is far less structured, yet there is common
motivation which guides everyone to seek first the things which are
from God. God is purposely the focus and reason for being of all of
the people who gather. God is not necessarily first in the lives of
many, but in the right community this will change. I do
not see this kind of fellowship either taught, practiced or encouraged
within the institutional church. Those who come to church for a formalistic
program come in unsatisfied and they leave unsatisfied. They come feeling
estranged or alienated from God and they leave feeling just as far from
him. They can however, pretend to be listening while they sleep; or
they can pretend to be praying while they dream of their next adventure
with the girl at the office or the guy at the club. The actions of formal
ministry can not touch the heart of those who need to have a spiritual
heart transplant.
To
summarize: Learning Christ according to the Apostles Doctrine
requires that we:
Be spiritually renewed by faith
in Jesus Christ
Receive the empowerment of the
Holy Spirit
Renew your mind by studying scripture
Seek personal fellowship of God
Seek the fellowship of God's
family - - where you are loved and valued
Imitate those who have mature
spirituality
Walk in faith, (the knowledge
that God cares for us in our present moment)
Minister to others, the same
gifts and wholeness that we have received from God
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE How Much
Do We Have to Learn Before We Become Spiritual? Mentors and
Ministries
Part of the spiritual life is to
make a connection with those who can supply valuable connections. The
joints are connections to individuals in the body of Christ. Fellowship
supplies input to areas of knowledge which will be encouraging, and
edifying.
When we are born into the
kingdom, we must move forward or we will retrograde back to the old life
in the world. Here according to most voices of ministry is where one
would be encouraged to get connected to a "good" church. This should be
a simple fact but it is not. There are few church bodies of believers
who hold more than a traditional evangelical viewpoint. Most are
adhering to forms and traditions as well as doctrines which do not
advance the Spiritual life to a significant level of maturity. Once in a
church you are expected to "play by their rules." My best advice is to
search for the church and set your sights on particular features which
will allow you to be discipled and grow not in tradition but in
spirituality. If one does provide "life" move on until you sense that it
is where God would have you. In the mean time find a home fellowship
where you can grow with others in an informal setting. God does not
discriminate against home meetings. They are apostolic! It is how the
"Church" began.
If is obvious that formalized
Christian ministry is everywhere in one form or another. As I have
already described a vast majority of these churches or ministries are a
manifestation of institutional and traditional religion in which the
expectation is at best conformity to the norms of a Saturday or a Sunday
ritual. Most offer no more than comfortable routine or ritual and little
hope of gaining spiritual knowledge and understanding. Neither can they
prepare us to fulfill Christ's gospel in the world.
Most churches, which are
struggling to maintain membership, interest, or involvement, are
extremely jealous of their members going astray or getting involved with
meetings or activities which are not sponsored by their own fellowship.
There was a time when such unfaithfulness could be met by
excommunication, but today the usual rebukes from the pulpit are just
admonitions or doctrines created out of hand which indicate an
obligation to support the local body. Yet it would seem to be close to a
cardinal sin to consider "church hopping" or being active in any
outreaches from other congregations. This is, in effect the fruit of
division which institutional religion enforces.
The Electronic Church
There are many other kinds of ministries that may be accessible to us.
Among these are media ministries. Men or women who have some special
gift of teaching or evangelism or certain personal charismas have
been able to share their spiritual understandings and insights with any
who will watch or listen. If we appreciate the content of a given
message we write to them or request their tape series or perhaps, we
think that they have enough clout with God to pray for our special
needs.
These ministries, sometimes
called the "electronic churches" are not always highly regarded
by pulpit ministries. We hear all kinds of castigation directed
toward the names of such ministries, whether Billy Graham, Oral Roberts,
Robert Schuler, Benny Hinn or countless others who fill the airwaves of
radio and television and short wave broadcast channels.
In view of practical matters of
church survival and management, local preachers and church leaders need
to maintain membership and viability. 'Grandma Smith' might write a
check to a radio or television evangelist and forego giving her five
dollar donation to the church collection plate. A pastor might make the
following remark to parishioners, "Grandma Smith, if you want to support
Reverend So and So on TV maybe you should call them when you need a trip
to the doctor; or need someone to pray for you when you are sick; or
have them officiate your funeral."
What has the Electronic
Church ministry to offer? In some cases they be offer better teaching or
preaching than some tradition-bound churches where so many to languish
in their pews around the world? Televangelists usually have some unique
strengths and certainly the ability to preach and persuade. There are
important matters to consider in choosing any ministry to support
whether remote or local.
However, they do subsist on
donations from listeners which at times becomes problematic. How may
media ministries provide value and features that provide edification?
Let's look at some attributes
of ministry:
-
First and most importantly is
the message; Do we hear the correct gospel being taught?
-
How much of the appeal of
this ministry is performance and dazzling rhetoric which attracts us
and how much is a sense of devotion to the truth of the Gospel?
-
Does the minister seem to
model Jesus Christ? The best mode of discerning a minister or a
ministry is to imagine Jesus behaving and saying the things as the
evangelist or teacher.
-
Is devotion and reverence
modeled and portrayed?
-
Does the person try to draw
attention to themselves through colorful mannerisms?
-
Does he seem preoccupied with
authority and followings?
-
Does the leader indicate as
we listen to his messages that he wants influence, control, or
worship?
-
Does there seem to be more of
emphasis on one aspect of the Gospel than another?
-
Is it a Gospel of power and
wholeness or just continually underscoring sin?
-
Is it a Gospel in which we
can become partakers of God's life or are we blessed because of our
supporting the "Super Ministry of Brother X?"
There are some media
evangelists who I listen to and support because they have helped to
mentor me in understanding the Word of God. I support them because
they teach the full Gospel message, (more or less) and believe in
the potentialities of becoming children of God, partaking in His
Divinity. They teach what we should be taught in the local
fellowship or church but are not.
-
We need to practice
discernment and note any inconsistencies in doctrine which place the
teaching outside of norms of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The
Apostles Creed is recited by many denominations in the context
of a worship service, but in spite of this, the content of the
Apostle's Creed may hardly be addressed in teaching and preaching in
sermons. Based upon denominations which I have belonged to or
visited before and after I became a believer, unbelief and
spiritual deadness till characterize most of the churches today even
those who recite the Credo!
Mega-Churches
When a brilliant preacher or
evangelist proves his (her) ability to move and edify people they begin
to develop a following. People follow spiritual anointings. They follow
men or women who have demonstrated their abilities to impact the lives
of others.
The largest churches today grow
around the giftings of a single person. People are searching for a
greater revelation of God. When they see God using an individual they
naturally are attracted to that person. Nearly every Christian I know
has a natural desire to be in the presence of "anointed" preaching.
Mega-churches are built around mega-men. I believe there are in America
today well over a hundred such mega-churches. I have attended a few and
have seen others via telecasts and cable networks.
Positives Associated with
Mega-Ministries
There are both negatives and positives in following this kind of
ministry. A few positives:
God shows favor to his servant by
anointing him (her) just as God anointed Jesus and the Apostles for
ministry.
God's favor indicates his
approval to bring forth a minister's particular gift or understanding to
the body. God's approval indicates that he foreknows that many will be
touched and blessed by this individual.
God allows a such a man or woman
with special abilities to reach more people with a Gospel focus than
they would ordinarily hear or be exposed to.
Many are born again through the
mass media ministers.
Negatives Associated with
Mega-Ministries
The gifted minister may be
persuasive or charismatic in purely human terms, without necessarily
walking in a divine anointing.
The media evangelist may be
preaching a partial or flawed gospel, a non Christian gospel or simply
traditionalism.
There is no way for the novice
seeker to know whether this person teaches true doctrine or not except
by natural reasoning or mental judgment.
There is a temptation for the
minister to become puffed up in mind and think himself to be great.
There is a tendency to focus on
money and self promotion.
Though there may be a great gift
of preaching or imparting information there are serious
limitations for body ministry or fellowship. To deal with this home
fellowships or satellite congregations are set up to allow blessings of
human interaction and loving community.
Those who study under any
ministry need intimacy and a human touch. It is not good for man to
be alone.
Ultimately the spiritual life is
more than the acquisition of information about God.
Those who attend services in a
mega church are content to be a mere audience onlooker. This is a
terrible loss and limitation.
But the most serious
limitation is that individual believers are never really trusted or free
to lead when they have received personal testimonies or revelation.
Typically, they are told that they must be submitted to a greater
ministerial authority who must oversee any sharing by the 'laity'.
An Impression of Mega-churches
I have attended worship services in several 'average size' mega-churches
with bodies in attendance numbering 2 or 3 thousand. Some great churches
have numbers approaching 10 thousand and those with 10 thousand that
aspire to 50 thousand.
While there may be brilliant
teaching and preaching and outstanding musical worship, performance; one
could not help but feel that those in attendance came mainly to view the
show or to hear the inspired address of the mega-minister. What I saw
was an enterprise in which each person was committed to make the
mega-church even more of a mega-church.
Something was missing. There was
little or no contact between the "pastor" and the individual members.
Individuals may have known and recognized a handful of people in the
auditorium but they did not seek each other out for closeness, sharing,
breaking of bread or lingering in the afterglow of God's presence. It
seemed that the super Christians who were attending the super church
quickly rushed home to resume life in whatever form life that awaited
outside of church. If the members who number thousands each give
their tithe religiously, one can only imagine the amount of revenue that
affords luxury and resources of a personal and ministerial nature.
What is the Glorious Church?
The Roman Catholic numbers in tens of millions around the globe. Is
this the glorious church?
The issue of a glorious
church may well be addressed in the context of the mega-church. There is
evidence that many ministries of mega-churches teach an emphasis of the
gospel that introduces the concept of a "glorious church." Will the
church function as a dynamic economic and political force in the earth
as well as a moral power to renovate society as well? For those who
judge on externals this may appear to be the case but God does not
regard externals. How can the size of a building or the number of people
attending a mass or a service have any bearing on Godly glory? Glorious
must bear more on the quality of the heart and the sincerity and
earnestness that allows the love of God to be shared.
See
the doctrine of Kingdom Theology.
In secular societies, Christians have been regarded as the bane of
society because of their conservative and fundamental viewpoints but
quite the opposite is true. The true Spirit of Christianity is
compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. Moral precepts include
personal honor and righteousness, integrity and responsibility;
kindness, mutual support and family stability. Though the world does not
like to recognize sin and unrighteous behavior as anything other than a
"choice," Christians see that we humans all share alike,
having a need for a redeemer along with the essential need of being
hopelessly lost until God extends mercy upon our lives.
In recent decades, Christians
were too long absent and silenced from the counsel of social values and
political ideas. In the present hour it is surely appropriate for those
who have so much cause to rejoice and give voice to the life-changing
testimony in the arena of public opinion. Men and women of integrity
need to stand up publicly and politically and exercise their rights on
behalf of issues of righteousness.
Yet, I believe that
ultimately the glorious church does not extend to exert itself in empire
or political power. Why? The spiritual life is essentially a non secular
and a non materialistic life. Social or political activism may be a
Godly calling in some. Those who follow a leading to become apologists
for social and political issues it should be presumed have their own
foundations in correct doctrine and not equate activism with the gospel.
The emphasis of the Christian life can not be focused too strongly upon
the things which are social, political, or economic at the expense of
Spiritual relationships. These are not lines that I draw, but lines that
the Holy Spirit has drawn. These parameters have been in place since
Jesus spoke these words, "My kingdom is not of this world," and "You
are not of the world." (John 18:36; John 15:19)
The nature and operation of the
world is contrary to God's ways and I do not look for this situation to
change until Jesus returns to set up an unending righteous Kingdom. Just
how far into the future this event will occur is open to debate, there
have been hundreds of book titles addressing it but the Bible itself has
"sealed up" many of the answers and insights into the "second coming" of
Jesus Christ. This is another area of scholarship.
Does this "glory"
refer to the size, influence and authority of mega-church to rule upon
the earth; does glory refer walking in the knowledge of truth; does it
refer to all of the above or none of the above? Is it possible that the
glorious church refers to the whole body has among it the faithful
remnant who somehow remains separate, pure and faithful in the middle of
a reprobate generation of spiritual pretenders and flaccid, Luke warm
church goers?
Church as empire is not an new
idea. It was in fact the goal of the early church since Constantine's
day, both in Rome and in Constantinople, where power, influence,
authority and might married the political and the religious. For a time
church membership and theological belief was forced upon the whole
world. A person was then a Christian because of political decree and not
by the grace of God and such ordinances do nothing to enhance the life
and promises of the Gospel.
In such an empire men were
exalted who held the power of life and death over others; who acted as
spiritual judges over others; who were mediators between God and man and
who rewarded themselves with worldly luxuries while being exalted to the
point of worship in their offices.
Meanwhile, certain men
lust for power, clamoring for recognition and striving to achieve self
exaltation. They lift and promote their own names as someone great, "as
the great power of God." Acts 8:10) No, I do not think this is the
Glorious church. The true glory remains shrouded with humility. This
cloud of glory can only be penetrated with meekness, self-effacement and
kindly service. Success which comes from such is contrary to the
apostolic foundations of the Gospel which we need to follow.
Giving for the Sake of the Gospel
If you want to experience anger,
dissonance, or heated theological debate this is the topic to broach.
Giving is the bread and butter of ministry. It is support for a man and
his message. It is the financing of the Gospel to world. It is the
support of both the local church missionary outreaches. Because men and
women go forth with good intentions and have devoted a large part of
their lives to preparing for "ministry" they proceed believing that they
are now prepared to live by the Gospel. "The Lord hath ordained that
those preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel."
(1Corinthians 9:14)
Professional Ministry
The concept of the clergy, professional ministry is a well establish and
unquestioned paradigm. (See
the power of paradigms.)
The concept of Ministry has been traditionally connected to
career or occupation. The concept of clergy as a professional career
extends into the dim past of Chrisendom. The traditional church operates
in accord with, and is enabled because of the professional clergy
concept. The question of institutionally accredited, "professional
ministry" appointed to churches and church giving is something that I
believe each of us has to examine in light of Scripture and draw our
best personal conclusion in the light of the Word. It is not my desire
to subvert a system that you may believe in for your own best reasons,
but rather to encourage each person to strive to know God as fully as
possible and to experience the potential of Christ's Gospel, even if it
means setting aside certain long held traditions.
Every person should support the
Kingdom of God as we judge it to be best expressed. We
need to see the life of God as a Divine promise and a human
potentiality. We need to see ministers bringing others into this
potentiality. Once that criterion is met, we can go on to other matters
concerning Giving.
It is not my desire to subvert a
system that you may believe in for your own best reasons, but rather
to encourage each person to strive to know God as fully as possible
and to experience the potential written of in the Gospel, even if it
means setting aside certain long- held traditions.
Every person should support the
Kingdom of God as we see it best expressed. We need to see the life of
God as a potentiality and the people who minister bringing others into
it. Once that criterion is met, we can go on to other matters concerning
Giving.
Giving: Giving is Blessed by
God
There should be no laws (rules) for giving in the Kingdom of God. God
has set us free from rules including rules about giving. Giving is good.
Giving supports the man of God and also supports people who are not
necessarily "ministers" of churches but who God wishes to bless through
us. Various kinds of worldly commitments which touch upon the Kingdom of
God need support, whether it be church buildings, outreach expenses,
travel or any of a wide variety of needs which can only be met by others
sharing the cost. God wants his will to be done through selfless sharing
and contributions of money resources. Yet we need to be able to hear God
leading us in these gifts so that it is truly a work of God for the
Gospel sake and not just another good sound cause or charity.
Basic principles identified in
the Bible shed light on the subject of giving.
It is more blessed to
Give than to receive
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Give and it shall be
given unto you
|
Lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven
|
Those who give to the
poor lend to God
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The Tithe is the
Lord's - (Old covenant principle)
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In the measure you
give it shall be given to you
|
Sow sparingly, reap
sparing
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Give to the poor, and
you shall have treasure in heaven
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Give as you purpose in
your heart, Let no one give out of obligation
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God loves a cheerful
giver
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Updated 02/ 2024
Next
Chapter:
Disciples Handbook 04
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