Very nicely written... I enjoyed reading this, especially at this time when the true ecclesia of Jesus Christ (Yahusha Hamashiach) continues to be ridiculed and mocked by this worldly system. Keep eyes on the truth, and let the Holy Spirit guide us through these worldly events friends! Yahuah God bless everyone.🙏
I agree and yes it’s very unfortunate but Jesus told us that the world would be against us as it was Him. Thankfully He has already defeated the world. God bless you.
Amen Amen! Occupy and LIVE FOR CHRIST TO GLORIFY GOD! Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 🙏🏼🕊🙌🏼🔥
Since the ekklesia is a living organism (not an organization formed for a “cause”), and since it is comprised (solely) of those who have elected (by the power of God’s Spirit convicting, drawing and enabling them through His freely offered grace) to entrust themselves to the only One who can remove their past, present & future sins and who remembers them no more – who willingly suffered death (co-crucifixion) and (through co-resurrection) were granted new, eternal (Jesus’) life by an act of (gifted) faith and divine revelation are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (a permanent possession, and evidence of His promise to one day redeem their bodies and the creation that both groan, awaiting the promised redemption/translation) -- living stones who are the temple of the living God (who does not dwell in temples made with hands – God has left the building, the rituals, the rites & the observances that were shadows and types of the now fulfilled reality), then the traditional notion of an organized group of people who are passionate, determined, and driven by a common ideal or the realization of a desired change and/or the attainment of a desired outcome deemed beneficial for themselves and potentially the greater society through self-assembly/organization and willful actions taken in support of and with a view to the attainment and implementation of their identified objective(s), the two notions seem incompatible.
We who are born of the Spirit, who are redeemed, justified image-bearers and Spirit-carriers, exhibitors and transmitters of Jesus to a world who knows Him not are engaged in the production of fruit – love (and the additional aspects of love that are enumerated for us) through our abiding/living in Him (and He in us) – this is an outgrowth of His Spirit producing fruit, evidencing His work through us for His purposes and intentions, for the accomplishment of His will. It is organic, spontaneous, localized, indigenous and specific to each individual circumstance and community, yet it is relevant and knowable by all from every walk of life – it is universal truth, life and the (super) natural recovery of and embellishment upon the original creation and relationship of communion and shared relationship for which humankind was originally made/destined.
The early manifestations of the first century gatherings were not characterized by special buildings, elevated and revered personalities who performed as clergy, and married to dogmas and doctrines or ritualized practices, or to perceived “disciplines” and evidentiary works, but were instead joyous, ongoing, (contagious) celebrations of the life that was flowing through them, which in turn effusively affected others around them, motivating and driving them to share with one another the newfound completeness and virtually indescribable sense of belonging to their Holy Righteous God by His Son through His Spirit, who reckoned their material lives and pursuits subordinate to and of diminished consequence/value in light of having been changed forever by the Son of God, apart from the law (which could not bring righteousness), no longer in need of periodic temporarily “atoning” animal sacrifices, tithes of grain, produce, animals and of resources to support a clerical caste who were devoted to continual offerings to “cover” for abbreviated seasons, the sins and failings of the people. They were free and chose feasting, sharing of their bounty, reaching out to those around them deemed by the societal norms to be marginalized, ostracized and a burden to be shrugged off and embracing them with acceptance and care. They stood fearlessly in the face of acute persecution and grew strong, courageous and unflinching in their devotion, unlike the subsequent days to come when ease and acceptance and even promotion of syncretistic, compromised, systemized forms of religious (pagan and non-biblical) traditions, ideologies and practices displaced the simplicity of Spirit-led informal gatherings comprised of a largely illiterate, unlearned group of simple people who had magnificent treasure in earthen vessels so that the glory of God could be easily recognized and associated with them and their actions and lived lives. Their holiness was imparted to them, not attained by them (bible study, constnat formal meetings, organized outreaches, multi-billion dollar programs, etc.), their “success” a by product of relationship (with one another and their Holy, Righteous loving God who gave all to have them as His own) and their (Holy Spirit-imparted giftings were on display, not a uni-voice beaming one-way lectures and persuasive oratories that characterized the unsaved gatherings all around them (and eventually infiltrated and attempted to eclipse their own times of sacred gathering to honor their LORD). Jesus as LORD made them enemies of a jealous state who suppressed and infiltrated and attempted to discredit, disavow and disappear them as criminals – enemies of state. They faced hardships, rejection and cruelties most of us have never imagined for simply living out their faith, walking in newness of life and in the assurance of eternal, unrelenting love. They weren’t gathering to scheme ways to invite “seekers” but instead, the testimony of their lives was a strong witness – known for their love of one another and their joy in Spirit about belonging to their God, they stood out by their very countenance, their humility, their desire to show the love they’d received and wanted to freely offer to those so inclined.
The most elaborate and well-financed of plans, the most “anointed” of music presentations, the most eloquent and learned of speakers, the greatest most magnificent of structures, the most charismatic and compelling of oratory to those who are without (usually presented not to them specifically, but a mixed audience of those who have been reborn and those who are being presented to the system for modification) – the displays of “miracles” the promises (of all kinds, mostly appealing to the fallen nature of those who have yet to undergo death and new life) and the appeals made through media, the social gospel together with the “programmed” addressing of perceived cultural and societal (this world) “needs” cannot hold a candle and cannot compete with the transformative implications of the gathering (and observable daily lives) of sold-out saints of God who come together as possible to share what each has been uniquely gifted with and to in turn grow in their experience of “life” & the joy of being His shared and poured out for one another. No “GRASS ROOTS” movement can match what happens when the LORD Jesus transforms a man or woman and invites them into fellowship with the Triunity and with those who are His – when those who have truly believed, truly received and truly embraced the reality of what has occurred and who they are because of Jesus and all that He has done, is doing and will continue to do as they abide (through His fidelity to them, resulting in theirs to Him) in faith and in love, because humankind’s best efforts fall far short of that which is borne of a Holy Righteous God indwelling His people,. And inspiring them to move with His Spirit and to pour out their lives for Him…not to "win souls" but to reproduce in kind from those who are hungering and thirsting for life and who see it lived out in others to whom they can relate.
What happened in the first century, second century and third century is not wishful thinking that is no longer feasible for us because our societies are “different” – it is a template for the kind of every member of the body functioning and building up itself in love so that the work of ministering God’s love, manifested in unique and specific ways as needed in a given situation can occur without the imposition of a structure, plan, organization and purpose-driven statements, etc. It is God’s people changing their surroundings by living out the truth of who they are in Him, caring more for the things of God than the things of man.
Oh, for the privilege (which may be before us all sooner than later, in these troubled times when the dark forces, malevolent and determined, amassing all of the worldly resources and powers possible to do so, have conspired to extinguish light) of being found in a similar manner as this (and that something of this significance could be said about us just from walking out in our lives the promises and assurances that we have from Our Loving God): The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” Please, LORD deliver us from fervent, striving attempts to replicate in our own energies and ways the power of your Spirit in us to transform us and those in our proximity through your sovereign and divine work.
BTW, love your many posts (I'm a relative newcomer to you) and your words of encouragement and statements of fact (about us as His own, chosen, holy & beloved)! Standing in the midst of darkness, shining THE light that extinguishes it.
I loved your metaphor. I “feel” it in church every Sunday. I may not have much in common with many of the people there, but, one thing for sure, as you wrote, we are ambassadors. That is my current goal: to be much more aware that I represent the Lord in my everyday life. Represent. Give no water to the sins or sinful thoughts; let them shrivel. We have much greater to do in being ”ambassadors”.
When’s your next audio? BTW, love the length of them; perfect for my drive 😊
Thank you. It is my desire to lay down my life for Him to live Him out in the world and the church is the true mechanism for that. It’s not always easy though to find others who want to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord. I’ve been asking the Lord to bring such people into my life and I patiently wait for Him.
I’m glad you are enjoying the podcast. I hope to have a new episode out on Tuesday.
I agree with your conclusion. However, it's a strange grassroots movement. We've lost if we focus on the church. Our focus must on the Head of the movement. Our fiancée and Messiah. Yeshua!
I agree completely. The point of said movement, it’s very life is Jesus Christ and nothing more and we must not make an idol of the anything that is not Him. Still, the church is His body residing on earth and is integral to Him expressing Himself to the world. And yes, one day He will come again and bring us all together in His bride to reign with Him for eternity.
The existence of denominations has been impressed by the Spirit to me as a very real problem in the church. The very nature of denominational separation runs counter to His establishment of the ekklesia. There is obviously going to be local congregations of believers - on a very practical level though even this has been diminished by virtue of today’s communication systems. The existence of congregations does not have to mean separation or competition.
The rise of non-denominational congregations has followed the Lord’s intent more accurately though, as with anything man puts his hand to, there have been aberrations of this with mega-marketed “in things “ that have seriously strayed from the fellowship He intends.
I personally believe the Lord is calling us all to a new level of community fellowship where local congregations meet, fellowship, minister, pastor, disciple etc but are free and willing to come together in unity as scope and callings may dictate. I see that happening in nascent forms in my locale and many of us are praying for growth in practice and understanding.
Agreed, there is but one body of Christ. Yes, there are local expressions but still one body not 30,000+ denominations. Still, the Lord has His people in and works through all churches.
The good news is that denominations are near to being tossed in the trash heap of humanity. Soon, we'll all be the spouse of the Messiah — or not, sadly.
"The eklesia was a political assembly of citizens in ancient Greek city-states. The word eklesia translates to "gathering of those summoned". The Athenian eklesia was established in 594 BC and was a place for citizens to conduct public business and consider matters proposed by the council. A typical meeting of the assembly would include around 6,000 people out of a total population of 30,000–60,000."
Having been established before the birth of Jesus Christ, how would it be related?
Yes, that definition is correct. This term, ekklesia, which does mean a political assembly of citizens is the greek word most translated into the english word church in the New Testament. The church is an assembly of followers or members of Christ living together in community by His indwelling life.
Very nicely written... I enjoyed reading this, especially at this time when the true ecclesia of Jesus Christ (Yahusha Hamashiach) continues to be ridiculed and mocked by this worldly system. Keep eyes on the truth, and let the Holy Spirit guide us through these worldly events friends! Yahuah God bless everyone.🙏
Thank you 🙏🏼
I agree and yes it’s very unfortunate but Jesus told us that the world would be against us as it was Him. Thankfully He has already defeated the world. God bless you.
Amen Amen! Occupy and LIVE FOR CHRIST TO GLORIFY GOD! Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 🙏🏼🕊🙌🏼🔥
Amen 🙏🏼
To truly live is to live for Christ and Him alone.
God bless you.
We are to be the city on the hill - our lights shining for Jesus. Thank you for your writings - may good continue to shine through you.
Yes! We are His light in a dark world. God bless.
Amen Mike. Amen!
Thank you 🙏🏼
Since the ekklesia is a living organism (not an organization formed for a “cause”), and since it is comprised (solely) of those who have elected (by the power of God’s Spirit convicting, drawing and enabling them through His freely offered grace) to entrust themselves to the only One who can remove their past, present & future sins and who remembers them no more – who willingly suffered death (co-crucifixion) and (through co-resurrection) were granted new, eternal (Jesus’) life by an act of (gifted) faith and divine revelation are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (a permanent possession, and evidence of His promise to one day redeem their bodies and the creation that both groan, awaiting the promised redemption/translation) -- living stones who are the temple of the living God (who does not dwell in temples made with hands – God has left the building, the rituals, the rites & the observances that were shadows and types of the now fulfilled reality), then the traditional notion of an organized group of people who are passionate, determined, and driven by a common ideal or the realization of a desired change and/or the attainment of a desired outcome deemed beneficial for themselves and potentially the greater society through self-assembly/organization and willful actions taken in support of and with a view to the attainment and implementation of their identified objective(s), the two notions seem incompatible.
We who are born of the Spirit, who are redeemed, justified image-bearers and Spirit-carriers, exhibitors and transmitters of Jesus to a world who knows Him not are engaged in the production of fruit – love (and the additional aspects of love that are enumerated for us) through our abiding/living in Him (and He in us) – this is an outgrowth of His Spirit producing fruit, evidencing His work through us for His purposes and intentions, for the accomplishment of His will. It is organic, spontaneous, localized, indigenous and specific to each individual circumstance and community, yet it is relevant and knowable by all from every walk of life – it is universal truth, life and the (super) natural recovery of and embellishment upon the original creation and relationship of communion and shared relationship for which humankind was originally made/destined.
The early manifestations of the first century gatherings were not characterized by special buildings, elevated and revered personalities who performed as clergy, and married to dogmas and doctrines or ritualized practices, or to perceived “disciplines” and evidentiary works, but were instead joyous, ongoing, (contagious) celebrations of the life that was flowing through them, which in turn effusively affected others around them, motivating and driving them to share with one another the newfound completeness and virtually indescribable sense of belonging to their Holy Righteous God by His Son through His Spirit, who reckoned their material lives and pursuits subordinate to and of diminished consequence/value in light of having been changed forever by the Son of God, apart from the law (which could not bring righteousness), no longer in need of periodic temporarily “atoning” animal sacrifices, tithes of grain, produce, animals and of resources to support a clerical caste who were devoted to continual offerings to “cover” for abbreviated seasons, the sins and failings of the people. They were free and chose feasting, sharing of their bounty, reaching out to those around them deemed by the societal norms to be marginalized, ostracized and a burden to be shrugged off and embracing them with acceptance and care. They stood fearlessly in the face of acute persecution and grew strong, courageous and unflinching in their devotion, unlike the subsequent days to come when ease and acceptance and even promotion of syncretistic, compromised, systemized forms of religious (pagan and non-biblical) traditions, ideologies and practices displaced the simplicity of Spirit-led informal gatherings comprised of a largely illiterate, unlearned group of simple people who had magnificent treasure in earthen vessels so that the glory of God could be easily recognized and associated with them and their actions and lived lives. Their holiness was imparted to them, not attained by them (bible study, constnat formal meetings, organized outreaches, multi-billion dollar programs, etc.), their “success” a by product of relationship (with one another and their Holy, Righteous loving God who gave all to have them as His own) and their (Holy Spirit-imparted giftings were on display, not a uni-voice beaming one-way lectures and persuasive oratories that characterized the unsaved gatherings all around them (and eventually infiltrated and attempted to eclipse their own times of sacred gathering to honor their LORD). Jesus as LORD made them enemies of a jealous state who suppressed and infiltrated and attempted to discredit, disavow and disappear them as criminals – enemies of state. They faced hardships, rejection and cruelties most of us have never imagined for simply living out their faith, walking in newness of life and in the assurance of eternal, unrelenting love. They weren’t gathering to scheme ways to invite “seekers” but instead, the testimony of their lives was a strong witness – known for their love of one another and their joy in Spirit about belonging to their God, they stood out by their very countenance, their humility, their desire to show the love they’d received and wanted to freely offer to those so inclined.
The most elaborate and well-financed of plans, the most “anointed” of music presentations, the most eloquent and learned of speakers, the greatest most magnificent of structures, the most charismatic and compelling of oratory to those who are without (usually presented not to them specifically, but a mixed audience of those who have been reborn and those who are being presented to the system for modification) – the displays of “miracles” the promises (of all kinds, mostly appealing to the fallen nature of those who have yet to undergo death and new life) and the appeals made through media, the social gospel together with the “programmed” addressing of perceived cultural and societal (this world) “needs” cannot hold a candle and cannot compete with the transformative implications of the gathering (and observable daily lives) of sold-out saints of God who come together as possible to share what each has been uniquely gifted with and to in turn grow in their experience of “life” & the joy of being His shared and poured out for one another. No “GRASS ROOTS” movement can match what happens when the LORD Jesus transforms a man or woman and invites them into fellowship with the Triunity and with those who are His – when those who have truly believed, truly received and truly embraced the reality of what has occurred and who they are because of Jesus and all that He has done, is doing and will continue to do as they abide (through His fidelity to them, resulting in theirs to Him) in faith and in love, because humankind’s best efforts fall far short of that which is borne of a Holy Righteous God indwelling His people,. And inspiring them to move with His Spirit and to pour out their lives for Him…not to "win souls" but to reproduce in kind from those who are hungering and thirsting for life and who see it lived out in others to whom they can relate.
What happened in the first century, second century and third century is not wishful thinking that is no longer feasible for us because our societies are “different” – it is a template for the kind of every member of the body functioning and building up itself in love so that the work of ministering God’s love, manifested in unique and specific ways as needed in a given situation can occur without the imposition of a structure, plan, organization and purpose-driven statements, etc. It is God’s people changing their surroundings by living out the truth of who they are in Him, caring more for the things of God than the things of man.
Oh, for the privilege (which may be before us all sooner than later, in these troubled times when the dark forces, malevolent and determined, amassing all of the worldly resources and powers possible to do so, have conspired to extinguish light) of being found in a similar manner as this (and that something of this significance could be said about us just from walking out in our lives the promises and assurances that we have from Our Loving God): The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” Please, LORD deliver us from fervent, striving attempts to replicate in our own energies and ways the power of your Spirit in us to transform us and those in our proximity through your sovereign and divine work.
BTW, love your many posts (I'm a relative newcomer to you) and your words of encouragement and statements of fact (about us as His own, chosen, holy & beloved)! Standing in the midst of darkness, shining THE light that extinguishes it.
Amen brother. Well said. God bless you.
...And YOU!
Thank you, for another great post 🙏
I loved your metaphor. I “feel” it in church every Sunday. I may not have much in common with many of the people there, but, one thing for sure, as you wrote, we are ambassadors. That is my current goal: to be much more aware that I represent the Lord in my everyday life. Represent. Give no water to the sins or sinful thoughts; let them shrivel. We have much greater to do in being ”ambassadors”.
When’s your next audio? BTW, love the length of them; perfect for my drive 😊
Thank you. It is my desire to lay down my life for Him to live Him out in the world and the church is the true mechanism for that. It’s not always easy though to find others who want to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord. I’ve been asking the Lord to bring such people into my life and I patiently wait for Him.
I’m glad you are enjoying the podcast. I hope to have a new episode out on Tuesday.
God bless.
Well, he’s brought us into each other’s lives. Thank you for being a Christian voice in the Substack world.
I agree with your conclusion. However, it's a strange grassroots movement. We've lost if we focus on the church. Our focus must on the Head of the movement. Our fiancée and Messiah. Yeshua!
I agree completely. The point of said movement, it’s very life is Jesus Christ and nothing more and we must not make an idol of the anything that is not Him. Still, the church is His body residing on earth and is integral to Him expressing Himself to the world. And yes, one day He will come again and bring us all together in His bride to reign with Him for eternity.
The existence of denominations has been impressed by the Spirit to me as a very real problem in the church. The very nature of denominational separation runs counter to His establishment of the ekklesia. There is obviously going to be local congregations of believers - on a very practical level though even this has been diminished by virtue of today’s communication systems. The existence of congregations does not have to mean separation or competition.
The rise of non-denominational congregations has followed the Lord’s intent more accurately though, as with anything man puts his hand to, there have been aberrations of this with mega-marketed “in things “ that have seriously strayed from the fellowship He intends.
I personally believe the Lord is calling us all to a new level of community fellowship where local congregations meet, fellowship, minister, pastor, disciple etc but are free and willing to come together in unity as scope and callings may dictate. I see that happening in nascent forms in my locale and many of us are praying for growth in practice and understanding.
Agreed, there is but one body of Christ. Yes, there are local expressions but still one body not 30,000+ denominations. Still, the Lord has His people in and works through all churches.
The good news is that denominations are near to being tossed in the trash heap of humanity. Soon, we'll all be the spouse of the Messiah — or not, sadly.
Amen 🙏🏼
Googling ekklesia brings you this:
"The eklesia was a political assembly of citizens in ancient Greek city-states. The word eklesia translates to "gathering of those summoned". The Athenian eklesia was established in 594 BC and was a place for citizens to conduct public business and consider matters proposed by the council. A typical meeting of the assembly would include around 6,000 people out of a total population of 30,000–60,000."
Having been established before the birth of Jesus Christ, how would it be related?
Yes, that definition is correct. This term, ekklesia, which does mean a political assembly of citizens is the greek word most translated into the english word church in the New Testament. The church is an assembly of followers or members of Christ living together in community by His indwelling life.