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Welcome to any seeking
to know God
This is an
introduction to a collection of Christian commentaries
entitled "The Gospel Without Religion" which best
captures its focus and intent. It is based upon
my own Spiritual revelations of and in the liberating
promises of Scripture.
I came to
a better understanding of the "Gospel" only after
becoming a "believer." I had experienced
God in his love and forgiveness in my own life,
encountering God and being 'born of the Spirit'
in 1981. I was amazed and also a little dismayed
that the simplicity and truth of the power of Jesus'
Gospel was never presented clearly from the pulpit
of the Spiritually impoverished denomination I grew
up with. I was not taught that the Gospel had
spiritual dimensions and more importantly that Jesus
had the power to
change lives.
Knowledge
of these same Bible truths are still either virtually
unknown or unpracticed by many of the tradition-
bound teachings of thousands of supposedly Christian
"churches" throughout the world.
I have discovered that there
are 3
paradigms of "wisdom"
and "truth" which people are inclined to live
by:
Read
about the power of paradigms in life and thought
The
first, the paradigm of worldly wisdom;
Except for a few remote and primitive societies,
most all human culture is ruled by the natural or
materialistic world experience. The contemporary,
worldly-wise person, follows a humanistic, materialistic
belief system. This belief system is based upon
experiences and observation of a strictly physical
kind. Yet, as described in the writing of Paul to
the Corinthians, (1Corinthian; Chapters 1 &2)
the natural man can not know God, neither through
science nor through scholarship.
The Holy
One through his wisdom has made it nearly impossible
for the strong, the wise, the self sufficient, the
noble, the well-off of this world to know
the truth. To advance in the knowledge
of God we must first recognize our desperate need
and our inadequacies. We must become "needy" and
"poor" and be made small like a child in order to
enter in at this gateway of truth and the
"Kingdom of God."
The
second, the paradigm of religious wisdom;
As it pertains to "godliness" and truth, "church
house" religion offers many well defined and unequivocal
answers, though not always the right answers. This
religious paradigm is observable more or less in
every formal and institutional house of religion
where human leadership and traditions rule. The
theology and disciplines of years of tradition build
the dogma which at times includes Biblical terms
and understandings. While at the same time omitting
certain important features of the Gospel that might
have been stipulated and practiced by the first
century apostles. For those who think that
the Gospel of the book of Acts doesn't pertain to
the twenty first century seeker they present a fragmented
or perverse form of Christianity.
The
third paradigm of Truth is a belief and experience
revealed by the power of the Spirit whom we
call the Holy Spirit.
The new covenant actually provides us a teacher.
The Holy Spirit is given only through Christ Jesus
to each believer who seeks it. Through the Spirit
we are enabled to become disciples (children of
God) to know the ways of God which were once totally
alien to us. It is a token investiture of heaven,
the Kingdom or God, or Divinity. And it is freely
given as a gift who seek the higher life of God
on earth.
The true
believer, in the Holy Spirit paradigm, requires
no priests or intermediaries though whom we access
God. We are all called upon to be first disciples
(learners) then, guides, mentors and eventually
mature. There is so much richness, depth and revelation
within the Bible, the Word of Truth, that no disciple
or teacher can exhaust the depths of its glory.
The object of the Spiritual life is to continuously
grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Messiah.
Discipleship is a very real priority. New born babes
require milk but it must be pure and free of taint
or else it will spoil the life and maturity of the
believer. Year after year of studying the Word and
seeking Jeshua, Jesus and the wise counsel of matured
gifts of the body of Christ bring each of us into
greater understanding. Understanding and the expression
of Godliness are the principle things.
We need a fellowship that is pure, not one dominated
by human authority and control. Such a fellowship
will express love, acceptance and forgiveness that
extends the "kingdom of heaven" to our hearts (our
spiritual selves) and transforms our souls (mind,
will, and emotion). Two
or three centuries after inception of the "Church"
in the age of apostles, human rulership and tradition
took the place of the divinely ordered fellowship
of believers in which Jesus reproduced himself in
each believer.
Apostolic
Teachings point to Expectations and Guidelines
for Christian Fellowship
What
we are called upon to seek in
'Koinonia'
The word 'Church' (Ecclesia
in the Greek meaning those
called out) now has so much
institutional baggage associated
with it, I hesitate to use it
when talking about true fellowship
or life in the Kingdom of God!
Today say "Church"
and our first thought is my church
versus your church; Or the building
that stands on such and such
corner of town.
A better term is Koinonia. Koinonia
is the bond of fellowship and
mutual participation made possible
by being of the same mind and
faith in the Lord Jesus. The
word tells us "If we have
fellowship in the Light as He
is in the Light, we have fellowship
with one another. It is always
a common testimony or a common
experience that binds friends
together. The Lord calls the
solitary soul to become part
of a "family". We are
the children of the Holy one,
God Almighty. This is an awesome
starting point for fellowship.
Do
Not forsake the gathering of yourselves together,
and even more as you see the day
(day
of the Lord - Jesus Christ - a dispensation
of judgment
against the ungodly and rebellious)
approaching (Hebrews
10:25)
I
would like to add a brief comment to the above
scripture relative to the gathering of a body
in fellowship. As simple as the words might
appear, it would be good to look at it more
deeply. If we ask questions certain understanding
might be revealed:
1. 'The Day of the Lord' is a long held prophetic
event spoken of throughout the prophetic books
of the Old Testament.
and reiterated throughout the New Testament.
1.1 The scripture above reinforces the idea
that ISRAEL is still a part of the prophetic
time table.
1.2 Contrary to Kingdom Now or Preterist theology,
we are still outside of the dispensation of
the Lord's kingdom on this earth;
1.3 The so-called Christian church has not
replaced Israel;
1.4 Evangelistic outreach in itself will NOT
bring in the Kingdom but the supernatural time
of judgment will through God directed natural
and political events and finally Jesus Christ's
direct intervention.
2.1
'Even more so - -"
Although the obvious and assumed meaning would
be to continue faithful in church attendance
and not to neglect obedience to the God focused
life.
But, what if a church fellowship does not manifest
the power and giftings of the Holy Spirit?
2.2 The next and probably more important aspect
of this phrase, hinges upon the insights and
revelations which are expected and normal in
true fellowship where revelation is brought
forth by the prophetic word.
2.3 God through the Holy Spirit must be active
and in charge in the gathering together.
2.4 "As the day approaches" indicates
that God will not only give us encouragement,
but life saving insight into the times in which
we are living.
Expectations and Guidelines
for Christian Fellowship
& Worship
To be: United in Spirit and purpose
- knowing the reality of Jesus as Savior; and having
fellowship with God through Him and giving glory
to God. After any person is reborn spiritually,
they become part of one heavenly family who share
the gift of God.
- To continue to be United
in Spirit - That same Spirit that is
in Christ Jesus.
- For the body in fellowship
to continue to grow (be edified) in
knowledge of Truth (Bible is guide)
- To be bound in mutual
love and acceptance. The spirit
of Love denotes we are Christians.
- To seek God's manifested
presence corporately. See 'gathering
together' comments above
(Activating His kingdom being manifested
in earth)
- To invite the Holy
Spirit that He be given place to
empower, lead and guide to reveal Jesus.
- To value and build
from the unique gifts and abilities
that the Holy Spirit of God has given
to each believing disciple. (our brothers
and sisters)
- To follow the "gatekeeper",
a leader, or the head of the home. This
person should be equipt with spiritual
knowledge as well as experienced in
following the Holy Spirit in an orderly
way. (This is not about one person being
the only gift used.)
- For all to discern and
guard against spiritual pitfalls, against
against disunity; To guard against the
expression of any wrong spirit -- anger,
prejudice, suspicion, jealousy that
will "grieve" the Holy Spirit.
- To see to it: That
all things serve to edify, building
each believer with liberty in the
Holy Spirit.
- Correct precepts (understanding)
must employ the whole counsel of God,
The Word of God
(Scripture) is the guide for instruction
in Godliness, correction and reproof.
This matter addresses doctrine.
The Scriptural model
of intimate corporate fellowship (Koinonia)
is found in
1 Corinthians, Chapters 12, 14; 1 Peter 4:10
Growing
in the knowledge of God as a Disciple
Our understanding of how things "are supposed
to be" are called paradigms
Paradigms control our level of faith and our
ability to believe
-
Discipleship provides learning experiences
for a believer.
-
Knowledge of fundamental principles
of doctrine which are taught in the
Word:
Essential Apostolic Doctrine.
- Becoming
grounded in spiritual matters and apostolic
doctrines, such as:
- understanding
fellowship with God through prayer
- understanding
our position and authority as righteous
believers
- understanding
our liberty, peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit
- understanding
the power of agreement recognizes -
-spiritual law pertaining to agreement
between
2 or 3 witnesses, the Amen of
God.
-
understanding principles pertaining
to God speaking the "end"
from the beginning,
The Spirit of prophesy is the testimony
of Jesus. Prophecies from the covenant
foundations of Israel
-
understanding principles pertaining
to words and their power.(Veracity and
faithfulness exhibited in words)
-
understanding principles pertaining
to blessings and curses. (Spiritual
power exhibited in words)
-
understanding principles pertaining
to apostolic foundations and order
-
understanding principles pertaining
to the New Covenant (gospel); Our new
position as believers in Christ
-
understanding principles pertaining
to the blood of Jesus, Purity, power,
the cross and salvation, etc.
-
understanding principles pertaining
to types and foreshadows of Christ in
the Old Covenant Scriptures
-
understanding principles pertaining
to respecting our Jewish roots
of the Gospel; the law, the prophets,
the psalms, fulfilled in Christ
-
understanding principles pertaining
to feasts of Israel, fulfilled
in Christ
-
understanding principles pertaining
to the Kingdom of God - Heaven's rule
Spiritual hierarchies
-
understanding principles pertaining
to kingdom authority of the believer
over demonic (spiritual enemies)
-
understanding principles pertaining
to praise and worship entering the streams
of God
-
understanding principles pertaining
to agreement the first step in receiving
from God
-
understanding principles pertaining
to spiritual warfare, the ongoing battle
for each divinely invested saint
-
understanding principles pertaining
to ways of prayer, communion, intercession,
enforcement, faith
-
understanding principles pertaining
to ministry of every disciple
-
understanding principles pertaining
to baptisms (Hebrew 6)
Baptism the command of Jesus, Holy Spirit
baptism, equipping and empowering the
disciple to minister.
For
any wishing to investigate the practice of
active discipleship,
you may click on the link below. The e-book
is called
"The
Disciples Handbook"
C 1995-2010
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