|
Disciples
Handbook 03
click below for
AUTHOR'S
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES
The Foundation of the Apostles
Learning
Christ
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, thus
gaining familiarity with His character and
personality. We, in the process of time, should
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 hearken to the voice
of His Spirit and respond accord to the way
we are directed. I call this learning Christ.
God's model for learning Christ is imitation
of the first born Son of God, Jesus Christ.
We are to model his manner of thinking, and
his manner of acting. We are to duplicate his
interacting with the Heavenly Father and his
Spirit-directed ministry. The first disciples
were given a living model but they were only
able duplicate his Spiritual behavior after
they had received the enabling Baptism of the
Holy Spirit.
With Christ's life within us, we submit our
egos and wills to him. We aim to become as
he was in this world. (John 16:16; 1John
4:17) The
total spiritual inability and helplessness
of the natural man or woman, places huge limits
upon him. We can not be the light of the world
if God's light does not burn within us.
To
many nominal Christians experience a religion
which could function just as it is without
any resurrection.
We can not be witnesses of his resurrection
if we have not been touched by the fiery hand
of God that raised Jesus from the dead who
also quickened our own body and spirit. We
can not reflect the goodness of God if he has
not made us good who were once reprobates.
We
come in to this world to know God. This is
our first calling and some come and go from
this world not having achieved that first calling.
If we are fortunate to have God reveal himself
to us then we press on to the next stage, that
of being a functional witness. It is also unfortunate
how many are thwarted in this second stage
predominately by the incomplete or ineffectual
teachings of religious tradition.
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 Jesus Christ. Time has eroded
true understanding, and spiritual subterfuge
authored by an unrelenting adversary has come
in to subtlety sidetrack our spiritual lives
and foster human understanding instead.
I
am not interested in presenting any kind of
private methodology that is contrary to Biblical
teaching.
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) came on
board some time later being called by Jesus
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 doctrine of the resurrection
from the dead. Saul was added to the order
of discipleship but in a special way after
Christ's resurrection.
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 horse 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 that
speaks to a different audience, the gentile
world. What he calls 'His Gospel,' also explores
power of the crucified and resurrected Jesus.
The emphasis in Paul's teaching is directed
to the entire world (the Gentile world.) His
resurrection brings to all, not just the Jews
in Jerusalem, the promise of sonship and new
life as a Spiritual Creation in Christ.
The original apostles, including Peter, James
and John, focused on the Jews and Israel. The
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.
|
|
Jesus
Christ, True son
of God almighty,
Virgin born, fulfilling
the Messianic Scriptures
of the Old Testament,
Christ Jesus, crucified,
resurrected and
alive;
|
|
| Jesus
Christ, the only
mediator between God and
man; |
|
| Jesus
Christ the lamb of God; |
|
| Redemption
through the blood of God's
Lamb (Jesus Christ) the
perfect sacrifice; |
|
| The
new creation in Christ
Jesus; |
|
| Enablement
through the Holy Spirit
who reveals all truth
in Jesus; |
|
| Christ
Jesus reigns now as the
High Priest and intercessor
who has been given authority
over all dominion and
worlds. |
|
| The
essential doctrine of
Faith and Grace in the
Word and the Power of
God; |
|
| The
law of the Spirit, has
bought us liberty and
freedom from the Law of
sin and death; |
|
| Unity
of all believers; All
blood bought believerrs
are one in Him, Unity
produces peace and potentiality.
|
|
| All
believers must discern
matters and maintaining
unceasing vigilance over
matters of the common
faith; |
|
| Believers
must continuing to
walk in Love and Forgiveness; |
|
| Rebellion
and unbelief will be dealt
with at the hand of the
returning Jesus in divine
judgment before &
at His second advent; |
|
| The
culmination of the church
age; Is not the end of
the world but concludes
when the false prophet
and deceiver is revealed |
|
| False
doctrines, false messiah
and the period of anti-Christ;
Rampaging ferocity of
anti Christ. |
|
| Safeguarding
against false teachers;
Awareness of doctrines
of Demons that take believers
into bondage |
|
| The
redemption of Israel as
a praise in all of the
earth; The second advent.
Israel will be the head
of all nations |
|
| The
authority of the believer
against spiritual powers;
Deliverance and discerning
of the spiritual world |
|
| The
potentiality of the children
of God. Widely unknown
or untaught who we are
as children of God. |
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 was cast down
he was given another job description. A "slave"
of Christ.
It is Paul who addresses two points of doctrine
which are at times in tension or contrast.
First the purely Spiritual nature of the Gospel
and the God-connected source of life; and secondly
teachings on leadership, headship and government
impacting the long-term course of this entity
called "the church," the body of believers.
Contradictions
have occurred in this respect, that individuals
are placed in positions of leadership and authority
who do not have spiritual credentials but merely
human approval. 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 though there motivation were 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 Diotrephes.)
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 of crucifixion is where the exchange
of righteousness was made. The cross of crucifixion
is where the sacrifice was made. The cross
of crucifixion 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
or 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 and peace
to every man, woman and child. It speaks about
the ability to become a new creation in
Christ.
Kingdom of God Versus Human Wisdom
Paul
going on 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
disregard outward manifestations, the outward
world. Neither is the mind the highest organ
to lead and direct, children of God are
led by the Spirit, not by acting purely
out of reason. 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 your
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 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 message they would ordinarily
hear or be exposed to. Many
are born again through the 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
power. Though
there may be concepts, doctrines and
information imparted there is a serious
limitation for immediate fellowship.
To deal with this home fellowships or
satellite congregations are set up to
allow blessings of human interaction
and loving community. Recipients
of 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 committed to be audience or onlookers.
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 achieved revelation
or status in God's eyes. Typically,
they are told that they must be submitted
to a greater ministerial authority who
must oversee.
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 empire numbers in
tens of millions. 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.
Some basic
principles identified on the pages of
the Bible shed light on the subject
of giving.
|
It
is more blessed to Give
than to receive
|
|
Give
and it shall be given
unto you |
|
Lay
up for yourselves treasures
in heaven |
|
Those
who give to the poor lend
to God |
|
The
Tithe is the Lord's -
(Old covenant principle) |
|
In
the measure you give it
shall be given to you |
|
Sow
sparingly, reap sparing |
|
Give
to the poor, and you shall
have treasure in heaven |
|
Give
as you purpose in your
heart, Let no one give
out of obligation |
|
God
loves a cheerful giver |
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without Religion
E Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible
Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Go
to next book: Disciples
Handbook 04
|
