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His Word ... a prophetic perspective

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God’s Will And Purpose

        Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9,10).
        In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus speaking, “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).
        Jesus also taught “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50). He stated this in another way in Luke 8:21: “And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
        Jesus is the Creator of all that exists and He gave His life to be able to accomplish the Father’s will and purpose and to subject Himself to God the Father.
        Colossians 1:16-20:
        16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
        17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
        18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
        19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
        20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
        1 Corinthians 15:28:
        28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
        When Jesus says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21), we must understand that doing the will of the Father is a prerequisite for our entering into the kingdom of heaven.
        When Jesus emphasizes His statements with another statement “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46), we must take further notice and attempt to understand that He is Lord and not we ourselves or any other human being on earth.
        When we attempt to ignore what Jesus has clearly stated by saying that we have received Jesus as our Saviour and Lord and are therefore exempt from His warnings that we must do the will of the Father He wipes out that false security by stating: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22,23).
        If you hear what Jesus is saying, then it applies to you, personally. “But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:49).
        John 7:16-18:
        16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
        17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
        18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
        God’s’ will and purpose is to bring all things in heaven and earth together in one, in Christ. It is God’s will and purpose that He will display His manifold wisdom through, or by means of the church, to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.
        Ephesians 1:9-11:
        9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
        10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
        11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
        Ephesians 3:8-11:
        8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
        9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
        10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
        11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
        Excerpted from the Jamieson, Faucett and Brown Commentary (comment on Ephesians 3:10):
        “might be known—Translate, “may be known.”
        “by the church—“by means of,” or “through the Church,” which is the “theater” for the display of God’s manifold wisdom (Lu 15:10; 1Co 4:9): “a spectacle (Greek, ‘theater’) to angels.” Hence, angels are but our “fellow servants” (Re 19:10).
        “manifold wisdom—though essentially one, as Christ is one, yet varying the economy in respect to places, times, and persons (Isa 55:8, 9; Heb 1:1). Compare 1Pe 4:10, “stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Man cannot understand aright its single acts till he can survey them as a connected whole (1Co 13:12). The call of the Church is no haphazard remedy, or afterthought, but part of the eternal scheme, which, amidst manifold varieties of dispensation, is one in its end.”
        God’s church, then, must be a vehicle forged from the righteous lives of the saints, that is capable of bringing us from where we are now, at this present moment in time, to a point that is closer to that of being one, in Jesus Christ. Obviously, there are many other factors that have to be played out in the theater of the world before we reach a point of final consummation. How are we going to do that? God has already told us the answer: we must display the manifold wisdom of God Himself.
        Is anybody reading this satisfied that we are currently doing everything we can to obey the stated will and purpose of God?
        If you have a normal brain, you have answered “No,” we are not doing things necessary to obey the stated will and purpose of God. And then a thousand reasons have rushed into your mind of why we aren’t—all of them blaming something or someone other than yourself.
        But this has to do with you and Jesus. You and you alone will answer to Him on that day when you stand before Him.
        Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
        Ephesians 6:6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
        James 1:22: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
        1 Jn 2:15-17:
        15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
        16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
        17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
        Revelation 22:14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
        Apparently, then God’s church must be a uniting factor in the scheme of human beings who name the name of Christ as their Lord. Which means God’s church must be united. How are we going to do that?
        First we must recognize the truth of God’s word to us. We must understand that God’s will and eternal purpose will be consummated by His ekklesia. Since God’s word is inspired, inerrant and infallible in the original autographs “... it is written ...” is not conjecture, or theory or a hoped for end result. It is history written in advance, a statement of what shall be. Unity of God’s church must be based upon the truth of God’s word to us. Not what you and I and others think God’s word says. Only what God’s word says.
        One of the things God’s word says is that we are commanded by Jesus Himself to love one another.
        John 13:34: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
        John 15:12: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
        John 15:17: These things I command you, that ye love one another.
        Romans 13:8: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
        1Thessalonians 4:9: But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
        1 Peter 1:22: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
        1 John 3:11: For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
        1 John 3:23: And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
        1 John 4:7: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
        1 John 4:11-12:
        11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
        12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
        2 John 1:5: And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
        We are also to love God:
        Matthew 22:37-40:
        37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
        38 This is the first and great commandment.
        39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
        40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
        We also show our love for God by keeping His commandments.
        1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
        Everything God’s church does must be based upon the word of God. Not your opinions or my opinions or their opinions. Only what God’s word says. From that understanding and acceptance (now there’s a tough one, huh?) we can assemble in unity. Based upon that unity springing from the well spring of God’s truth, we can love one another, can’t we? This is not an option, to love one another. It is a requirement that we obey the intents of God’s will and purpose and remain faithful to Jesus if we desire eternal life with God in His heaven.
        Matthew 19:17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
        2 Timothy 1:8-10:
        8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
        9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
        10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
        Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
        In every sense of the word, the ekklesia of God is a family. The word family: (from Latin familia, the servants in a household) means a group of persons living in one house and under one head, sharing common ancestry, who share goals and values and have long-term commitments to one another.
        First we must recognize that each and every saint of God is a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The overcoming remnant bride of Christ are all members of the true household of faith of the true Israel. That household of faith was born when Moses exited Egypt with the Israelites. The popularly taught concept of Jesus birthing a New Testament church is erroneous, flat out wrong. The door was opened for Gentiles by Jesus into the existing household of true faith.
        There is only one Head of the ekklesia of Jesus Christ, which is Jesus Himself, The Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, The Shepherd and Bishop of your souls, and the Chief Shepherd. The word “shepherd” deliberately mistranslated as “pastor” in Ephesians 4:11 is used collectively of the elders of the body of Christ. Jesus is the Only named “Pastor” or Shepherd in the New Testament. The elders are only under-shepherds. Jesus is our One and Only Shepherd. If you have a problem with all that read the article “Truth or Consequences.”
        Our common ancestry is that our roots are in Jesus Christ Himself. We do not have “Hebrew roots” as is commonly taught. If you have a problem with that read the article “Israel and the Church: God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: And How About A Little Common Sense?”
        Our goals, values and long term commitments to each other have been divided and split and fragmented throughout a multiplicity of denominations and pseudo-theological teachings that are little more than imaginatory human philosophies.
        This family of God is to become a community: (from Latin communitas, a community, fellowship, from communis, common) which means an organized aggregate of groups of people who form a distinct segment of society responsible for a prevailing social order.
        Take a look at the prevailing social order today. Where is Jesus Christ?
        Christianity is failing to impact society: (from French société, from Latin societas, fellowship, from socius, a companion) meaning the totality of social relationships among humans. Society is also used in the sense of a subset group of humans within the totality of human society that is distinguished from other groups by mutual activities and interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared values, and a common culture of a distinct self-perpetuating group which forms a single community.
        For us that subset of society is Christianity. However, contemporary Christianity impacts society only in a negative sense.
        Do you really understand the concept of biblical Christianity? A biblical Christianity that impacts society by biblical home churches?
        A biblical home ekklesia is a local assembly of the saints, gathered together as a representation of the totality of the ekklesia of God. It’s composed of children and teenagers and mature adults and people from all walks of life, and represents in a micro-fashion, the very body of Jesus Christ Himself. As such each and every individual is valuable, useful and precious to God. Each one has the Holy Spirit of God, Who Himself has the nine gifts of the Spirit and manifests them through whoever He chooses. There is no, in fact, there cannot be, a building set aside for the purpose of the local bodies of Christ meeting there. The New Testament is vividly clear that the saints met in each others’ homes. Communion was not a cracker and a sip of wine. It was a full meal, and the well off among those assemblies also provided daily baskets of food and other necessities to the poor among them. In these groups there are young and old and in between. Basically, there were two groups who served the entire assembly: the elders/pastors/bishops/overseers (these are all the same function in the Greek—to function in the capacity of one of them was to function in the capacity of all of them) and deacons, the younger persons who served because of their relationship with God and also because older folks (the elders/pastors/bishops/overseers) needed young muscles to do the physical stuff. Everyone—each and every person there was a participator—even the meek and the weak and those past their peak—they were encouraged to speak up and “be” constituents of the body of Christ and the more vocal persons had to learn to restrain themselves.
        As they assembled quite frequently they loved one another and took care of one another and were in every sense of the word a true family. It was a time of meeting together so they could “be” family, “be” disciples of Jesus Christ and be salt and light to the lost. The centrality of those meetings was to experience Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 and other supporting scriptures outline the loose form of the meeting. Worship was an offshoot, of course, of those meetings, but it was never, ever, in any sense of the word a “worship service.”
        No business suits and ties, no titles utilized because of a misunderstanding of Greek words describing function, no pseudo-tithes to support the local “pastor” and a building called “church.” No mythical “covering” ideas, no idea of “submission” to “the leaders who rule over you.” (That’s a mistranslation and the whole idea of Hebrews 13 is to let us know that we are to consider the lifestyle of those who stand before us (which, of course, would be the elders) and to determine whether or not the outcome of their lifestyle was something that we wanted to imitate.) So the threat of being cursed by God for not tithing, the threat of losing our “covering” and the devil “getting” us, and the threat of being in rebellion against the “leaders” by not obeying them, and also the threat of being disobedient by “forsaking the assembling of ourselves” (which was for the purpose of exhorting one another and provoking each other unto love and good works)—all these threats from leadership were not only totally absent, but weren’t even considered in the operation of the saints “being” the ekklesia of God. The local ekklesias didn’t have a “ministry.” Every other saint who was there was the ministry of each individual saint. If they had an outside “ministry” based upon the gifts and callings of God, it had no specific place in the local ekklesia other than as a topic of conversation. Scripture states that there were times when Paul would ask some of the local ekklesias to help out other local ekklesias. In this way the fatherless, widows, strangers in the land and the poor were taken care of by the individual ekklesias and when needed, by more than one ekklesia.
        The unity of these groups was based upon the truth of the word of God, which bound them together in love as they fellowshipped (the Greek meaning for fellowship, koinonia, involves sharing, socializing and supporting those in need). This Godly truth, unity, love and fellowship furthered the consummation of God’s eternal purpose: to bring all things together in one in Christ, and that God’s manifold wisdom would be displayed to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies by those ekklesias.
        Knowing this, and eliminating all the human traditions of 1700 years, and the pagan practices and the Romanization of the institutional church and the institution born of this junk—knowing what God desires for His saints to do—should give you a biblical perspective of the true ekklesia of God. There is absolutely no—none, nada, nothing, zilch, zero—legitimacy in God’s economy for the institutional church, other than as spiritual Babylon, from which an overcoming remnant bride of Christ will come out of.
        We continue to have an institutional church system because the saints are not dissatisfied with it. Because of biblical illiteracy and ignorance they have no concept of what they are supposed to “be” so they just run around and attempt to “do” things. “Blessed are they who run around in circles for they shall be known as wheels.”
        Look at today’s “church” super-stars. Take a good look. And place them within this environment of a local ekklesia. Imagine that you and that person who is idolized by today’s “churchianity” are standing in someone’s home and “being” the lively stones they are called to be. Remembering Paul’s instructions to us in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 and other supporting scriptures, do they qualify to be an elder/pastor/bishop/overseer quietly functioning in the background as a closeknit group protecting the flock from error? And instructing them in the things of God when called upon by those there when needed? Do you think it’s proper for them to take the spotlight and take hours to expound to you and the others in attendance their opinion of what scripture says? Look again at 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, if you don’t know. Be very careful of verses 34 and 35 about women being silent in the churches. Because of not understanding Paul’s remarks there and in other scriptures women have been relegated to an inferior position in today’s ekklesia. What Paul continually emphasizes is the headship of a husband over a wife. Don’t get confused by the language in most Bible versions and translations. They are, in actuality, not only translations but they are also commentaries. Today’s institutional church suffers badly because the valuable ministry of Godly women has been sloughed off and disdained by a predominantly male mindset. If you have a problem with that read “Women Keep Silence, or Don't Lose Your Head, Please!”
        What I’m trying to do is help you get rid of the institutional church mindset and see through the lens of the first century biblical home church before the so-called “early church fathers” gave their predominantly male mindset opinions as to what the Bible said. You may have to struggle with that mindset also.
        Just because a person is an extrovert, or assertive or aggressive doesn’t mean they are a leader. It just means that they talk a lot and do things and people look to them as if they were leaders. These people must exercise restraint so that all the saints present participate in being the ekklesia of Jesus Christ according to scriptural teachings and examples.
        We are to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our focus. Not ourselves, not another human being. When human self is the center of your existence it is simply a variation on the theme of the Jezebel and Ahab spirit. No matter how much you proclaim “Only Jesus! I’m just a servant, look to Him!” if the people are clamoring for you and you’re selling books and they are paying you money, and you advertise yourself and spread yourself real thin, and everybody likes you and etc. then you have a real problem being a true disciple of Jesus, i.e., a pupil, learner, follower, supporter and imitator of Jesus. It comes with the territory of human flesh. Me and you included.
        All this junk and stuff are human complications to a simple gospel—the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the desire to be a center stage leader is allowed to blossom, there is no real discipleship. Only human assertiveness and aggressiveness that shouts down the meek and the weak and those who are past their peak. The meek become less meek and the weak become less weak and the peak gets less peakier—but through human efforts and not through the finished work of Christ. It’s not fruit that lasts.
        This type of behavior is the antithesis of the function of a biblical elder/pastor/bishop/overseer. All the good stuff can be stated, but the end result has to be determined by the fruit.
        By supporting and maintaining and practicing and perfecting and promoting the institutional church you are not obeying God and pursuing His will and eternal purpose. It is just that simple.
        Are you praying “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” and “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt?” Are you doing the will of the Father which is in heaven and being a brother and sister, and mother to Jesus? Do you hear the word of God and are you doing it?
        What part of “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” don’t you understand?
        Why are you calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” since you’re not doing what He says?
        Do you understand the tremendous gravity of the consequences of hearing Jesus say to you on that day, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?”
        Do you know that if you are not a member of and building God’s true household of faith that the ruin of your house will be great?
        Did you know that by not pursuing God’s will and purpose and not gathering with Jesus and with Him, then you are scattering abroad. As the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary reads: “The absence of positive attachment to Christ involves hostility to Him.” Did you know that by being part of an institutional “church” system that is “against Christ” or “instead of Christ” it may appropriately be called “antichrist?” I elaborate on this theme in the article “The Spirit Of Antichrist.”
        This is a very serious problem and has to end. God’s people must obey God and get in line with His will and eternal purpose. Failure to do so may jeopardize your very salvation itself.
        Let me say that again: You are not in the family of Jesus when you hear the word of God and don’t do it. If you don’t do the will of God then Jesus is not your Lord and you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
        By not obeying and pursuing God’s will and eternal purpose you are not a member of and building God’s true household of faith and the ruin of your house will be great. In this matter of Godly disobedience you are scattering, not gathering with Jesus, and are demonstrating hostility to Jesus Christ Himself. By continuing to maintain and support the institutional church you are part of an antichrist system which will spawn the antichrist himself.
        I urge each and every one of you to consider what I’ve said here. You must, at some point, abandon the institutional church system and initiate biblical home churches to pursue and achieve God’s eternal purpose. There is an overcoming remnant bride of Jesus Christ, the true body of Christ. They will, and many already have, make a departure from the institutional church system. By coming out of this spiritual Babylon you will identify with the overcoming remnant bride of Christ. By staying in and supporting institutional churches you will continue to stay in spiritual Babylon and will be a part of the antichrist system. The institutional church is beyond repair. I discuss this in the article “A Sinking Submarine.”
        God has stated the importance of His will and eternal purpose. God’s word has stated that it will become an accomplished fact. If you and your family and your friends are not part of the solution that God has already stated will occur, then you will remain firmly planted as part of the problem.
        God’s manifold wisdom will be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places by, or through, His ekklesia.
        Your choice is simple: do you want to be part of God’s ekklesia, or part of the antichrist system?
        I strongly urge anyone who has read this article to email it to other members of your family and to your friends and anyone you know who names the name of Christ. If needed, print it out and distribute it and mail it to those who state that Jesus is their Lord. You may be ridiculed, vilified, ostracized and hated because of it. Some in the institutional church may even attempt bodily harm, maybe even death to silence this truth from being known by those who love God.
        Would you let those who you love and esteem continue to ride in a vehicle that was found to be self-destructive because of a design flaw? Especially when it had a long track record of a series of failures? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results each time is another definition of insanity. There must come a time when all such activity has to stop. We are to display God’s manifold wisdom, not our multiplied stupidity. Do you believe God has exercised His wisdom when He set forth the teachings and examples for His ekklesia to follow? Then do it!
        Jesus said: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:12-14).

        If you’re dissatisfied with today’s “church” scene, then invest your time in reading another related article:
•“Does Anybody Out There Hear Me?” states the case for the urgent need for biblical home ekklesias in God’s economy as compared with today’s standardized religious institutional mindset.

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