God's Mandate -- Move!
God's mandate is for us to move. He is about movement. He tells us to "Go and make disciples."
The original word for church in the New Testament, (the Greek word ekklesia) means "the called out ones." God's church is a group of called out ones. They are called to move out of their ruts, traditions, and habits and to move forward with God.
The church is not a building. The early Christians met in homes, yet they were still the church.
The church is not an instution or a religious orgnaization. The New Testament says that Christians are to be led by the Spirit -- not by an institution.
The church is a movement -- a God movement. Think of the Civil Rights Movement. It was not a building. It was not an instution or an organization. No. It was a mighty group of people stirred up for a cause and eagerly taking action to accomplish a noble purpose.
That is what Jesus meant when He said "I will build My church." A God movement cannot be built by man. Christ must build His movement.
Jesus said: "Upon this rock, I will build my church." What was the rock? Peter wasn't. He fell apart and denied Jesus. Rocks don't crumble so easily.
"Flesh and blood hasn't revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven." That's the rock. Supernatural revelation. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not." But when God personally reveals Himself to them, they see! That is the rock. Personal revelation of God. I have encountered the living God -- I have "seen" Him.
Revelation from God puts fire in a person. One person, however, does not a God movement make.
Shared revelation -- shared testimony spakes fire in others and a movement begins.
The original word for church in the New Testament, (the Greek word ekklesia) means "the called out ones." God's church is a group of called out ones. They are called to move out of their ruts, traditions, and habits and to move forward with God.
The church is not a building. The early Christians met in homes, yet they were still the church.
The church is not an instution or a religious orgnaization. The New Testament says that Christians are to be led by the Spirit -- not by an institution.
The church is a movement -- a God movement. Think of the Civil Rights Movement. It was not a building. It was not an instution or an organization. No. It was a mighty group of people stirred up for a cause and eagerly taking action to accomplish a noble purpose.
That is what Jesus meant when He said "I will build My church." A God movement cannot be built by man. Christ must build His movement.
Jesus said: "Upon this rock, I will build my church." What was the rock? Peter wasn't. He fell apart and denied Jesus. Rocks don't crumble so easily.
"Flesh and blood hasn't revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven." That's the rock. Supernatural revelation. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not." But when God personally reveals Himself to them, they see! That is the rock. Personal revelation of God. I have encountered the living God -- I have "seen" Him.
Revelation from God puts fire in a person. One person, however, does not a God movement make.
Shared revelation -- shared testimony spakes fire in others and a movement begins.
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© 2009 Created by Mark Van Steenwyk
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