The Church is not The Ecclesia!

The Church is not The Ecclesia

The term "Church" or "Christian Church" is a broad umbrella term covering a wide family of beliefs and boasting up to 1.5 Billion people. It is true to it's origin and roots. It comes from a Greek word, Kuriakos, which is rather vague and means pertaining to a Lord.Today it references a large number who have an affection for the things of God or of Christ or of the Bible. Kirke or Church is a mistranslation of Greek word Ecclesia and carries none of the radical rawness of the original. N.B. You can become a member of the Church in various ways!

The Ecclesia (Meaning the called out ones) are

scattered throughout the world, many totally hidden and co-existing within every

segment of "christianity" and a great many more alive and thriving outside anything even associated with "Church".

They are simply known as "believers". Their lives are "hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3) They are not trying to hide their beliefs in any way but their true identity is hidden to most as they do not fit easily into accepted religious moulds or Oxford definitions: N.B. You can't  become a member of the Ecclesia! You could discover you are chosen already as one!

The Ecclesia, as God sees it, has no visible external structures: No buildings nor steeples: No pews nor choirs!They meet in village green, in the back of cars or on trains and buses and rented halls.There is no visible emblem of identity or of union!No man ordained hierarchy nor clergy and no statement of Faith to hang on a wall:The "Unity Of The Spirit" binds them together in inseparable spiritual fellowship and they move on to maturity never losing the freshness and excitement of early days. They are "called out"!

From a human point of view there seems to be over 35,000 divisions 

within christian churches and denominations today. From God's perspective

 however there are only two. God only acknowledges one dividing line 

 "He who has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of 

God does not have life" (1 John 5:12 & Romans 8:9) So simple that most 

people miss it! But it's dynamite!

​

Remember being a member of the Ecclesia is not dependent on doctrines, theology, or statements of faith It's not a doctrine thing at all. Its a transaction of the Spirit that takes place deep within the heart of one chosen. That transaction has however consequences in the life that line up with scripture. Let me try and explain:

This transaction brings with it an awareness of 1 Cor 15: 1-3 and a gradual moving away from injustice and iniquity.(2 Tim 2:19) So I consider all who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart (2 Tim 2:22) true believers and I am ready to fellowship with each one, person to person  on that basis. It's a Unity of the Spirit (as when Mary met Elizabeth) -- not man made at all! You maintain it: You don't create it. {Eph. 4:3}

​​

The prime duty of teachers of scripture is to make the text of Scripture accessible and intelligible. Their own opinion and their own views are worth zero! They are gifted to dig deep to ascertain facts from God's Word and dispense them lovingly. They should leave the task of drawing inferences to the hearers for themselves. That is what I am doing here today: 

Maybe 90% in all the churches and in all the denominations are "called out ones".Maybe it's as low as 10%! Since salvation depends on a secret transaction within the hearts of each one ..who am I to say? My job is not one of judging but of making accessible God's word and His guidelines so each one can judge for  himself. But judge based on scripture! 

Most things I write in this Blog are for those in the Ecclesia. They make very little sense to those not in  it. If you were chosen before time began to be part of the Ecclesia then I hope my writings are some spark of encouragement to you. If you were chosen but that choosing of God has not yet been ignited by "hearing the good news or tidings" then it would be such an honour to know I've had some little part in that awakening. 

If you are not chosen at this time then please read 1 Tim 4:10 "For this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men -- especially of those believing". God has another route for you and it will culminate at the Great White Throne where you will be judged based on your works. Take heart! Keep sowing! God has not yet finished with you either!

A Lesson From The Churn

I remember how an old churn 

would be piously placed

on the forum in the kitchen

creamy milk poured into it's wooden belly:

The lid secured and as darkness fell

The weekly battering began!

A mighty battle ensued

man against an unknown science

as blow after blow 

rained down on innocent cream:

Battered bruised and pummeted

I could imagine it's cry

"Why? What have I done to deserve such?"

"Why me?"

Neighbours who chanced the way

were conscripted and gently coerced:

Lured by long tradition, to partake in the lynching!

Yes there were lapses in the Liturgy.

The lid removed:

Sunlight penetrating the battle ground

Observations made and taste buds sated!

and for a brief moment 

the cream dared breathe again

But all in vain as the slaughter resumed:

until at last the lovely liquid died

and all was still and breathless in the kitchen:

Awaiting the miracle ..I'm told

For lo and behold! 

A transformation!

The butter beamed inside.

And yes .. I must admit

even the buttermilk was sweet a while.

God's Grace Is Sufficient

             Grace Stands Alone!

"The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold

and his cohorts were gleaming like purple and gold" (Lord Byron)

​

Assyria.. your middle name was cruelty! The Assyrians believed in making an example of the leaders of a city or nation as they began their very determined and ruthless 

assault: Usually that took the form of stringing 100 men up outside the walls and whipping them until they died from nerve shock, loss of 75% skin tissue or blood loss. Jonah had seen it all. It was rehearsed over and over in the psyche of every Israelite.: They had grown up with it in their head and in their hearts and in their history: Oh how he hated those savages! Oh how he longed and prayed for vengeance! (Psalm 137:9)

No wonder Jonah behaved like he did when word came from God to go to Ninevah and warn them of coming destruction. Warn? Jonah knew that if God is fore warning then in fact He is saying there is still hope. Even the Ninevites knew that much and I'm sure Jonah had figured it out also. "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? the king of Ninevah pleaded: "Over my dead body!" Jonah must have thought "I just want to see them burn!"

Jonah was convinced he knew better than this" gracious and merciful God of great kindness" and his plan was if he got as far away as possible then just maybe those wicked  Assyrians would be wiped out: Nobody in Israel would shed a tear: Good riddance!

So he decided to travel 2500 miles in the opposite direction to Tarshish and abandon the Assyrians to their doom: Let the wrath and Destruction begin! It was obvious God was making a basic mistake, and someone had to stand up for justice and truth!: Feeling totally vindicated he slept soundly even as massive turbulence rocked the boat.  "Better for him to die" he thought, than see that lot of sinners escape their "come uppance" or deserved punishment!

Forward a few thousand years to 2017 and I hear similar self righteous pronouncements:" Look how wicked and ungodly people are today. Look at the lack of integrity in business, the attack on the very foundations of marriage and  family life and so little interest in Godly things. Surely God must be very angry at this generation! He could never offer salvation free of charge to people who have no time for Him?" Wrong reasoning friends as it insinuates that our good lifestyle makes us more saveable than others: Jesus was crucified for all sinners: All are lacking God's glory, Not just the usual suspects.

N.B I don't condone sin or irreverence of any kind but Law has failed to deal with sin for over 6000 years: Law was given so sin would get worse!  Death puts an end sinning! (Hitler is sinning no more!) Resurrection put an end to Sin itself. Grace uses teaching (not preaching) to elucidate these matters,tease them out,  renew the mind  and trains us (Titus 2:12) to say no to sin. 

       

Peter was dumbfounded when God sent him to the house of Cornelius. There the most amazing thing happened: Peter was gob smacked! His mind. his upbringing and his traditions could not take it in. How could Salvation be so different for gentiles to what it was for Jews?   "Paul made the distinction very clear in Gal 2:7 " But, on the contrary, perceiving that I (Paul) have been entrusted with the Evangel  of  the Circumcision, according as Peter  the Gospel of  the Uncircumcision  New Wine?... ".

Was God saying that Peter's message and that of James and John (Gospel of the Circumcision) was essentially different to the Gospel of the Gentiles? Or did the Holy Spirit err and mean to say "the Gospel to the circumcision" and the "Gospel to the uncircumcision"? No way!
Later in his life, in 2 Peter 3;16, Peter calls Paul "beloved" but records that even at that point some of the things Paul  (Apostle of the gentiles .. Romans 11:13)) wrote were difficult to understand. Even today some lovely believers struggle to understand this basic difference and try to square the circle between the two messages.

Luke records Peter's words as follows in Acts 10:15ff  (Remember up to now Peter had witnessed that the gift of tongues only fell on repentant baptised Jews who were saved and worshipping within the existing structures) But watch what he is about to experience:

​

"Now as I begin to speak, the holy spirit falls on them, even as on us also in the beginning. Now I am reminded of the declaration of the Lord, as He said that 'John, indeed, baptizes in water, yet you shall be baptized in holy spirit.' If, then, God gives them the equal gratuity as to us also, when believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I -- able to forbid God?"

Before his eyes Peter was witnessing salvation of gentiles in a non traditional way: How could this happen? Did the gift of God-Faith somehow make redundant the former need for repentance and water baptism: (Peter, not fully grasping or understsanding, felt that God needed a little correcting.  So he had them belatedly baptised: Happy now Peter? Not really! He was still very uneasy about it all! It just did not sit easily from his Jewish perspective.

Fast forward now another 12 years and Peter had come to understand that being "cleansed by faith" was indeed a totally new evangel and not an add on to the old. Yes it had taken 12 years for the penny to drop that in the case of Gentiles water baptism and repentance, were still necessary but now came all pre-packaged within this gift of God-faith : If you were gifted God-Faith you also displayed repugnance and repentance towards previous sinful lifestyle: If you had the son you became aware of a baptism into Christ not made with hands 2000 years previous! (Not vice versa) The cross achieved far more than Peter had even dreamed of up to this point. "The times they were a changing!" and it was not easy! 

P.S. When God graciously grants God-faith (Phil 1:29) it comes fully pre- loaded with suffering, repentance and turning away from sin. Baptism becomes a new awareness of being dipped into the death of |Christ 2000 years ago. It also comes with a fresh revelation of what Grace really means: Calvary alone makes it possible to say: "Saved By Grace Alone!" ... and mean every word of it:

The Kingdom Of God

Even a child knows what a kingdom is: It's not democracy: It's not a republic or a nice form of dictatorship: No silly! It's where a King rules completely and everybody loves Him and delights to obey. A Kingdom is where a King reigns 100%!. Even a babe or child can understands that! But it can be hidden from the wise and prudent.

Jesus said "The kingdom of God is within you" ! If Jesus is reigning as King in your life then the kingdom is within you: If He isn't .. then Ego is Lord: Simple as that! If Ego is reigning then the kingdom is not "within you" yet. The scripture tells us that "He who has the son has life" And that quality of expectancy of  life is one that acknowledges the Lordship of Christ and bows before the King of heaven. (2 Cor 10:3-8)

Since the world and the flesh and the accuser is luring us to stay under their power of slavery (Kingdom of darkness) we are "extricated" (loaded word) out of Satans jurisdiction and into the kingdom of the Son He loves! (Col 1:13) Like slaves of old who were about to be set free were given the option of rejecting that false form of freedom: They went to the doorpost of the house and had an awl pierce their ear lobe to indicate they wished to remain as voluntary slaves of a kind master: Today, we, like Paul, are proud to be marked as "circumcised" in the spirit & willing "slaves of God" (Titus 1:1) and voluntary obedient servants of Christ.

King Jesus reigns at this very moment in "called out ones" (Ecclesia) up and down the land: They are His! In spirit they march to a different drumbeat: They are ready to punish every disobedience or even hint of a thought contrary to Him. In spirit they hold no opinions of their own and flesh is in crucified mode: "Slave ambassadors of a coming King:" In spirit the surety of what's about to happen becomes a living expectation within them: Like Stephen at his death they see heaven opened every day: They live under a different reality: They are not "of this world"

That kingdom is today active within Jew and Gentile who are chosen members of the Ecclesia.: It is deliberately hidden within hearts by God at the moment but not hidden from the forces of darkness. Today the only Kingdom in town is Christ in me "It no longer is I who live but Christ lives in me" King Jesus is in total control inside the elect and every thought and plan and idea is brought into obedience to Christ. The flesh never co-operates but is slowly getting the painful message!

But soon that kingdom within us will express itself in two different ways: For the Jew it will be an earthly physical manifestation of the kingdom as a 1000 year reign on earth: The former resurrection will see people like the Apostles and David resurrected to rule as promised (under Christ) from Jerusalem. For the believer it will express itself in being snatched to heaven to co reign with Christ, to demonstrate God's redeeming grace and to judge messengers (Angels)

Born again Jews will be in control here on earth enjoying a level of life suitable for that age. The Gospel of the earthly kingdom will be preached throughout the whole earth, Knowledge of the Glory will be everywhere.The Law of God will be written on hearts and Temple worship restored. Capital punishment for transgressors will be introduced with corpses thrown into a burning rubbish dump outside Jerusalem called "Gehenna"! What a disaster for Jews who will miss that glorious period of 1000 years!

                               

The Ecclesia is Not Part of the 1000 Year  Kingdom

For the Ecclesia it will mean a swift "twinkling of an eye" snatching away into the celestials: Mortality and death will vanish into amazing Immortality: No more death! No more vile corruption: Absorbed into the body of Christ under the kingship of God the Father: Manifested with Christ when He is manifested on earth! Enjoying the dress rehearsal!

Later will come the "New Heaven and new earth" age. Jesus will gradually subdue all under His feet and finally (maybe 100,000 years away) when He becomes "All In All" He will hand all authority over to the father and the joint body will become one body under the Kingship of the father: (1 Cor 15:28)

My Soul Magnifies The Lord

 God is Spirit essentially but within that definition He is also a Supreme Mathematician. All the intricacies of structure and process of His mighty cosmos are, at least in principle, capable of being described mathematically, and the goal of science is to do just that. Our pleasure is to look and be amazed. How does He do it! He's an Awesome God!

This precise structure of the universe clearly points to a marvellous mind as its Creator. God even counts “the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4). Astronomers estimate that at least 10 trillion trillion stars exist in the heavens, and God has counted and identified each one! Imagine He has a separate name on each one!

 And that is not all: You are His masterpiece: His Poema! He says that  “the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” (Matthew 10:30). From the most massive star to the tiniest hair, God has counted each component of His creation. Such feats are far beyond human capabilities, for, “the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured” by man. (Jeremiah 33:22). 

 But God has also created, “an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22) and has promised that the redeemed are “a great multitude, which no man could number” (Revelation 7:9). Time to come outside our limited narrow human conceptions and see the length and breadth and height and depths. What an awesome God!

 No wonder David exclaimed, Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered (Psalm 40:5).

 Perhaps the most wonderful of all God’s counting activities is that implied in Job’s rhetorical question: “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?” If He has numbered the hairs on our heads, we can be certain He numbers our steps along the way, and guides them all. 

Psalm 139 talks about you: No joking!

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

God Declares (Not knows) The End From The Beginning!

Prophecy is foretelling an event in such detail before it happens so as to necessarily require divine guidance. The Bible is a book containing hundreds of detailed prophecies. 

There are, for example, well over 60 distinct predictions in regard to our divine Saviour Jesus Christ. Not only were the predictions made 1000 years before Christ came from heaven to earth, but they were made over 500 years before crucifixion was first used anywhere in the world as a form of capital punishment! Crucifixion didn't exist when the prophecies were made. 

A scientist picked out 48 such prophecies and determined that the probability of one man randomly fulfilling them all is 1 in 10 to the exponent of 157. That is one followed by 157 zeros! 

The same God who was so accurate in declaring the 60 prophecies below has also declared, before time began or before sin even enterd the equation, that you and those "who have the son" are justified or righteous in His sight. You better believe it: He is 100% accurate in that too. Listen to this song before looking below and see how amazing your Dad  

                      Awesome Daddy ..ABBA!

Concerning his birth	Prophesied	Fulfilled
1. Born of the seed of woman	Gen 3:15	Gal 4:4
2. Born of a virgin	Isa 7:14	Mt 1:18-25
3. Seed of Abraham	Gen 22:18	Mt 1:1
4. Seed of Isaac	Gen 21:12	Lk 3:23+34
5. Seed of Jacob	Num 24:17	Lk 3:34
6. Seed of David	Jer 23:5	Lk 3:31
7. Tribe of Judah	Gen 49:10	Rev 5:5
8. Family line of Jesse	Isa 11:1	Lk 3:32
9. Born in Bethlehem	Mic 5:2	Mt 2:1-6
10. Herod kills the children	Jer 31:15	Mt 2:16-18
Concerning his nature	Prophesied	Fulfilled
11. He pre-existed creation	Mic 5:2	1 Pet 1:20
12. He shall be called Lord	Ps 110:1	Acts 2:36
13. Called Immanuel (God with us)	Isa 7:14	Mt 1:22-23
14. Prophet	Deut 18:18-19	Acts 3:18-25
15. Priest	Ps 110:4	Heb 5:5-6
16. Judge	Isa 33:22	Jn 5:22-23
17. King	Ps 2:6	Jn 18:33-37
18. Anointed by the Spirit	Isa 11:2	Mt 3:16-17
19. His zeal for God	Ps 69:9	Jn 2:15-17
Concerning his ministry	Prophesied	Fulfilled
20. Preceded by a messenger	Isa 40:3	Mt 3:1-3
21. To begin in Galilee	Isa 9:1-2	Mt 4:12-17
22. Ministry of Miracles	Isa 35:5-6	Mt 9:35;11:4
23. Teacher of parables	Ps 78:1-4	Mt 13:34-35
24. He was to enter the temple	Mal 3:1	Mt 21:10-12
25. Enter Jerusalem on donkey	Zech 9:9	Mt 21:1-7
26. Stone of stumbling to Jews	Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22	1 Pet 2:6-8
27. Light to Gentiles	Isa 49:6	Acts 13:46-48
The day Jesus was crucified	Prophesied	Fulfilled
28. Betrayed by a friend	Ps 41:9	Jn 13:18-27
29. Sold for 30 pieces of silver	Zech 11:12	Mt 26:14-15
30. 30 pieces thrown in Temple	Zech 11:13	Mt 27:3-5
31. 30 pieces buys potters field	Zech 11:13	Mt 27:6-10
32. Forsaken by His disciples	Zech 13:7	Mk 14:27+50
33. Accused by false witnesses	Ps 35:11+20-21	Mt 26:59-61
34. Silent before accusers	Isa 53:7	Mt 27:12-14
35. Wounded and bruised	Isa 53:4-6	1 Pet 2:21-25
36. Beaten and spit upon	Isa 50:6	Mt 26:67-68
37. Mocked	Ps 22:6-8	Mt 27:27-31
38. Fell under the cross	Ps 109:24-25	Jn 19:17; Lk23:26
39. Hands and feet pierced	Ps 22:16	Jn 20:24-28
40. Crucified with thieves	Isa 53:12	Mt 27:38
41. Prayed for enemies	Isa 53:12	Lk 23:34
42. Rejected by His own people	Isa 53:3	Jn 19:14-15
43. Hated without cause	Ps 69:4	Jn 15:25
44. Friends stood aloof	Ps 38:11	Lk22:54;23:49
45. People wag their heads	Ps 22:7;109:25	Mt 27:39
46. People stared at Him	Ps 22:17	Lk 23:35
47. Cloths divided and gambled for	Ps 22:18	Jn 19:23-24
48. Became very thirsty	Ps 22:15	Jn 19:28
49. Gall and vinegar offered Him	Ps 69:21	Mt 27:34
50. His forsaken cry	Ps 22:1	Mt 27:46
51. Committed Himself to God	Ps 31:5	Lk 23:46
52. Bones not broken	Ps 34:20	Jn 19:32-36
53. Heart broken	Ps 69:20;22:14	Jn 19:34
54. His side pierced	Zech 12:10	Jn 19:34+37
55. Darkness over the land	Amos 8:9	Lk 23:44-45
56. Buried in rich man's tomb	Isa 53:9	Mt 27:57-60
His Resurrection & Ascension	Prophesied	Fulfilled
57. Raised from the dead	Ps 16:8-11	Acts 2:24-31
58. Begotten as Son of God	Ps 2:7	Acts 13:32-35
59. Ascended to Heaven	Ps 68:18	Eph 4:8-10; John 3:13
60. Seated beside God	Ps 110:1	Heb 1:3+13

Just a small segment of the 2000+ prophecies already fulfilled: Man has made over 260 prophecies of the end of the world and they all have one thing in common: All 100% wrong! Stop looking to Man: Magnify the Lord only! Rejoice!