THE CHURCH THE REDEEMED

The wages of sin is . (Rom. 6:23) There is a day appointed in which He shall judge the world in righteousness by Christ Jesus. () "The Lord is not slow about His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

Without the shedding of " there could be "no remission," and therefore no approach to God (Heb. 9:22). The of the Old Testament sacrifices of bulls and goats was only a figure of the true sacrifice of Jesus Christ. By reason of His shed , the vilest sinner who believes on Him is forgiven and made clean, and given the right to approach God. To enter into His holy presence, whenever he wills, without fear or doubting, "in boldness and full assurance of faith."

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, the flesh." (Hebrews 10:19, 20)

As the spotless Lamb of God offering Himself to the Father as our substitute, Christ died on the cross shedding His as the redemption price necessary, to take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29). I Peter 1:18-20 reveals that Mashiach/Christ was foreordained, prepared before the foundation of the world by God to be the redeeming Lamb. The of Christ was not an afterthought, but the central theme of the entire Logos before the foundation of the world was laid. An integral component of God’s original plan. Christ is the focal point of God's plan. As the mediator between God and man, "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." (Hebrews 7:25).
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, the flesh." (Hebrews 10:19-20)"Much more then, being now justified by His , we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:9)

Here's how the church was born. It all began with 120 Jewish disciples who obeyed Jesus command to tarry in Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high. The Apostle Peter preached a sermon during the Feast of Pentecost, in which he quoted the Prophet Joel, and 3000 Jewish converts responded to the message, repented, received on Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah, were water baptized in Yeshua/Jesus name and were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 2:1-13 (NIV)

1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 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?" 13) Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

THROUGH FAITH & PATIENCE INHERITING THE PROMISES OF GOD

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee." (Hebrews 6:12-14)

"For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." (Acts 2:39)

What promise is Peter speaking of when he says "the promise"? The scriptures speak of God's promises. There is a well-known gospel song which says: "Every promise in the book is mine." It speaks of various things which God has promised.

• God's promise to Abraham to multiply his seed or descendents like the stars of the sky and the sands of the sea, physically as well as spiritually. (Acts 7:17; Heb. 6:13, 15, 17).
• The promise that Sarah would have a child (Rom. 4:20; Gal. 4:23).
• The promise of the Messiah as Abraham's SEED, (Acts 13:32; Acts 26:6-7; Rom. 4:13,14,16; Gal. 3:17,19,22; Eph. 3:6; 2 Tim. 1:1).
• The promise that through Isaac, the world would be blessed, (Rom. 9:8).
• The promise of eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:15; 1 John 2:25).
• The Promise that God would come to us as the rain. (Hosea 6:3) Of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit like rain. (Joel 2:23-38, Luke 24:49; Acts 2:33; Gal. 3:14).
• The promise of Jesus Second Coming. (2 Pet. 3:4).

The Apostle Peter spoke in Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost of Joel's promised outpouring, saying this promise is:

• To you
• To your children
• To all who are afar off
• Even to as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:39)

HOW TO RECEIVE SALVATION & YOUR APPOINTED DESTINY IN GOD

I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky. Praise God!
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry. O yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. {2} They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. {3} They all ate the same spiritual food {4} and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:1-14 NIV)

In Acts 2:1-13 Peter preached a sermon, quoting from many OT scriptures (Acts 2:14-35). In verse 2:22, he states: "Men of Israel, listen to these words..." Peter is addressing the Jews. Peter is speaking in the covenant language of God in quoting from the OT. In Acts 2:39 Peter addresses those who came to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost:

"And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit." (Acts 2:17-18).

"For I will pour out water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, And My blessing on your descendants." (Isaiah 44:3

Then Peter said unto them, 1) Repent, and be 2) baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 3) and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:38-39,1 Corinthians 10:2)

What does it mean to be baptized in a cloud? Or baptized in the sea? First of all, notice who the Apostle Paul calls the "fathers" of the believers here in Corinth. Paul speaks of the Israelites as the church fathers. What made them children of Israel? Faith. They made the conscious decision to live by faith, and to wholy follow the Lord, whose Divine Presence manifested to them at that time, in a magnificent cloud that towered into the sky and overshadowed them from the burning heat, in a protective way. Some of you have made spiritual fathers of those whose doctrine has little to do with scripture. Secondly, look at whom Paul addresses this epistle about being baptized in the cloud and in the sea to: It's directed to the Corinthians,among whom Paul had planted the church at Ephesus on his second missionary journey. Corinth was built on a narrow isthmus tying the Peloponnesian Penninsula to the Greek mainland. During the first century, Corinth was the capital of Achia, the seat of the Roman procounsel governing southern and central Greece. By divine inspiration of God this epistle is not addressed to the Corinthians alone, but it's addressed to all believers in Mashiach/Christ, for all time.

Paul's tremendous success in Corinth, surely had to do with the fact that he determined to know nothing among them, but Mashiach/Christ and Him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2, 3:6-10) The pillar of cloud that accompanied the children during their wilderness journey was "the divine presence of God," who never forsook them in all of their trials, as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.(Nehemiah 9:19) Israel followed the guidance of the cloud. (Exodus 40:36,Psalm 78:14)

ISRAEL MARCHED UNDER GOD'S AUTHORITY IN THE CLOUD

"All our fathers were under the cloud." (1 Cor. 10:1)

Israel marched under the pillar of cloud by day, as we see in Exodus 13:21, 14:19) and it covered or you could say immersed them in God's presence. Hadn't they known God back in Egypt? Yes, but when they all partook of the lamb for a house, they entered into covenant with God in a renewed way. There was not a weak nor feeble one among them. Some became weak and sick along the way, as they lost sight of the revelation of God, but to begin with, it was a tremendous miracle of God to see all of one mind and one accord focused on God for their direction, and living in divine health as such a large body of people. (Psalm 105:37)

All were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea. (1 Cor. 10:2)

The immersion was complete for all of them in the sea around them, and the cloud over them. Moses was their leader, and the scriptures emply the term "EIS" or into concerning the relationship of the Israelites to Moses, even as EIS or "into" speaks also of our baptism into Yeshua haMashiach/Christ Jesus, in Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5, and Galatians 3;27

And baptized in the sea...(1 Cor. 10:2)

If you, in your wildest dreams can imagine this Red Sea crossing, picture this: In order for such a massive amount of people to pass through the Red Sea in one night, here's one possible idea. If they crossed on a narrow path, double file;the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to be space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide for them to get through. They had to walk 5000 abreast to cross in one night.

FEEDING ON SPIRITUAL MEAT

"They ate the same spiritual meat. (1 Cor. 10:3)

This is a reference of the manna given miraculously by God in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:13) It's termed "spiritual" because of it's heavenly origin or character, even as Jesus is the True Bread of heaven, which the manna merely typifies or symbolized. Consider this: The Quartermaster general of the army calculates, that Moses would have had to have 1500 tons of food per day to feed this many people. Two freight trains, each a mile long would be needed to bring in the rations. They were in the desert, so would need 4000 tons of firewood and trains to bring it in just for one days supply of meals.

For they drank of that spiritual rock which followed them. (1 Cor. 10:4) Theirs was an abundant and continual access to a supernatural supply of water for the thirsty Israelites. It's been calculated by modern sources, that for these 3 million Israelites to have an adequate water supply, to drink and wash their dishes; 11,000,000 gallons of water would be required each day, and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long to bring in the water. They followed God by faith, as obviously they didn't wait to accumulate provisions of this sort. But when needs arose, God met them, as Israel placed their trust in Him.

WITNESSES OF THE SAVING POWER OF YESHUA/JESUS

In Acts 1:8 the Yeshua/Jesus spoke to His disciples before ascended into heaven saying He wanted them to be His witnesses, and where: "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be WITNESSES unto Me both:

• IN JERUSALEM–the starting point (see Luke 24:49)
• IN ALL JUDAEA–the home of the JEWS
• IN SAMARIA–the home of the SAMARITANS
• UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH"–the bane of the GENTILES

THE SCRIPTURAL DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH

(1 Peter 2:4-8) "And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed." This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve. The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone," and, "A stone of stumbling an a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this doom they were also appointed."(1 Peter 2:4-8) In speaking of New Testament believers, I will begin with by stating that Jewish believers were the first upon whom the Holy Spirit was out-poured. This occurred at the Feast of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4) The New Testament focus is primarily upon the believer as the Temple of God.

"What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God?" (1 Cor 6:19) However, the synagogues were utilized as a gathering place.

The term synagogue, is derived from sunagoge, meaning 1) "a bringing together 2) Gathering (as of fruits), a contracting in the NT, 3) An assembling together of men, an assembly of men a synagogue. 4) An assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures; assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of every week. 5) A name transferred to an assembly of Christians formally gathered together for religious purposes the buildings where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held. Synagogues date their origin from the Babylonian exile. In the Yeshua/Jesus day not only in Palestine, but also among the Gentiles if a town or village contained a considerable number of Jewish inhabitants, there was least one synagogue, with arger towns possessing several or many. James tells us that Jewish Christians continued to congregate, in some cases, in synagogues. (James 2:2)

In Acts 17:1-15, Paul visited two cities, Thessalonica and Berea. "It was Paul's practice at the time in his missionary journeys to visit the synagogue in the city he was visiting and preach the Gospel of Christ. He did this in both cities (Acts 17: 1-2, 10).

The word translated as "church" in Scripture is translated from the Greek word "ekklesia." This Greek word is made up of two separate words:

• 1) The first word is "ek," meaning "out of."
• The second is "kaleo" which means "to call."

Ekklesia literally means "called out ones." This word which is translated in the bible as "church, synagogue, assembly, congregation, gathering," means "called out ones" for a purpose. We are continually to "examine ourselves, to see whether we be in the faith." (2 Cor. 13:5, 1 Cor. 11:28) Furthermore, we are "called" according to God's purpose." (Rom. 8:28) Our English word "church" does however, comes from the Greek term EKKLESIA. This does not presuppose a cathedral like structure, such as came into vogue in Constantine's day, when pagan temples were converted to houses of worship. Unfortunately the pagans forced to convert were not. We know that believers met in private homes (Romans 16:3-5) and open air meetings. Chloe is noted as leader of a Christian meetings held at her house. (1 Corinthians 1:11) Other women mentioned in connection with the church are: The mother of Mark in Acts 12:12, Lydia in Acts 16:14-5, and Nympha in (Col 4:15).

The Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers, both men and women. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) The New International Version obscures this message; in Verse 6 is translated "all men", whereas other translations use the terms "all", "all persons", "in everyone", and "in all." Paul refers to a married couple named Priscilla and Aquila as his fellow workers in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:3) Paul refers to two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as his coworkers who were active evangelists, spreading the gospel. (Philippians 4:2) Paul writes his letter to "Apphia, our sister" and two men as the three leaders of a house church. (Philemon 2)

God has "called His people from out of darkness" into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9) As believers, we are born "not of , nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (I John 5:4)

The Greek word "kuriakos" is the root word from which the English word "church" is derived.

The church through the new birth, becomes one with the Spirit of the living Christ, "bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. (Eph. 5:30) We are described in scripture, as the body of Christ, and He is the Head. (Eph. 1:22)

Various names for the church include 1) The New Creation-Paul states that if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)2) The branches-As extensions of Yeshua the True Vine. (John 15:1-11) 3) The People of God-These references include "My people, Romans 9:25-26 and remnant in Romans 9:27, 11:5-7 God's chosen (Ephesians 1:4) God’s own possession-Titus 2:14, Romans 8:33 and (God’s elect (Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 1:2 and 2 Timothy 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9 as well as "A chosen race, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The New Testament church was birthed with the Old Testament pattern of extended periods of prayer. This was a pattern Yeshua/Jesus ed Himself. Worship involves freely praising God and giving him glory (expressing his greatness), both because of who he is and what he has done, and will do. We praise his holy and righteous character and thank him for the merciful deeds which He performs. Worship is described in Ephesians 5:19-20 as stemming from being filled with the Holy Spirit--The glory spills out in singing and making music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything."

God is honoured as we rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, so that we do not forget who He is and what He has done, and fall away from the faith due to unthakfulness. (Deuteronomy 8:19) Israel was commanded to remember the Passover as an act of worship (Ex 12:14-27). Jesus Christ atoning work on the cross is commenorated with the ordinance of communion. (Luke 22:16-20) "Do this in remembrance of me." Paul regulated this ceremony in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. He stated that this wwill proclamation of the Lord’s , until he returns (vs. 26).

Was it Mashiach's/Christ's will to have a church? In Hebrews 10:7, we read:

"Lo, I come to do thy will O God."

Yeshua/Jesus lived to do His Father's will, being obedient even to on the cross. God in His love for His Son, gave the church to Christ. The one thing needful for Christ's receiving the church, holy and sanctified and without spot or blemish or any such thing, was that Christ be willing to pay the redemption price, for mankind was held in to Satan because of sin. The ransom price was very costly. It was His own shed through His atoning sacrifice. In John 17:10-11, Jesus prayed:

"And all mine are thine and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are."

The church was not God's second choice after Israel. The church was included in the fulness of the LOGOS, or divine plan of the ages. For by aabolishing in His flesh, the enmity which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, in Himself, He would of twain, (Jew and Gentile) make one new man, so making or establishing peace. (Ephesians 2:15)

Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ gave/gives to His followers the Great Commission, to share their faith and make disciples of all nations who will continue both to do and to teach all He has said.

Go teach disciples, in every people group, (who have all the Godhead backing them), to do what Jesus commanded His first disciples to do. (Matt. 28:19)

A commission is (1) An authorization to perform certain duties or tasks, or to take on certain powers, (2) Authority to act in behalf of another, (3) An entrusting, as of power, authority, etc., to a person or body.

Who Is the great commission given to? It is given to all of the disciples of Yeshua/Jesus Christ. It was originally given to Jesus first disciples to obey, so the work of the gospel would be perpetuated.

18 Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matt 28:18-20)

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything ly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)

21 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12) Believers today can do what the first disciples of Jesus did -- because they have the same authority and power and ability available to them in Christ Jesus. MATTHEW 10:1 NKJ 1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Jesus' instructions to His disciples as He sent them out to preach is recorded in Matthew 10:5-42. (Note that Matthew 11:1 says Jesus finished commanding His disciples.) You should read the whole passage in your Bible, but here are the first few verses. MATTHEW 10:5-8 NKJ 5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the , cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Luke's account is found in chapter 9. LUKE 9:1-2,6 NKJ 1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Yeshua/Jesus sent out the twelve, and then He sent seventy more disciples with the same instructions.

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 "Carry neither money bag, sack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 "But whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house.' 6 "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 "And heal the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 16 "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:1-9,16-20)

Yeshua/Jesus is our pattern. We are commanded to follow in His steps and to learn how by His examples in scripture. We actually carry this out through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why a person doesn't necessarily get healed because we spit and apply it to his eyes as Yeshua/Jesus did. He taught His disciples by example and the torsh so to speak is passed to each generation of disciples in this same way, so that there will be a rapid expansion of efective gospel miniostry through which to reach the world. He wants us to make disciples of all nations and this takes work.

Couer de Lion

Alouette Prophetique

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