Church – God’s Design

Church – God’s Design <– click here

The scripture reveals that church is in the heart of Jesus. In this teaching I cover a brief explainaition from scripture of the fact that the church is something that God believes in and what we should understand about church. It is not comprehensive, but should open up our thinking to draw from scripture an eternal picture of a family of faith.

Independence From Authority

 Independence from Authority – post ready  <– click here

Authority in Church – 1 Tim 3

Authority in Church elders and deacons – 1 Tim 3 <– click here

• A brief description of the different types of authority in church.
• A brief description of the relationship between elders and apostles
• A brief description of the role of elders in church

Vision

Vision and Family

Be Holy – 1 Peter 1:14-17

1 Peter 1:14 -17 (NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; [16] for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”17] Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

EVIL DESIRES

•  Most people have some personal concept of what they would consider to be evil and would not consider themselves to be in the category of evil
  There is a general acceptance of what people would consider as evil but would not consider themselves to be in it
  This, without doubt, is one of the biggest challenges for a person coming to Christ or developing a relationship with God
•  If a person doesn’t accept Christ it is because their deeds are evil
          John 3:19-20 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
• A person without a conscience conviction of their desires been evil will not grow as a Christian
  We are dead in our trespasses (evil ways)!!
  We need Christ not because our life is an a mess and we need Him to sort it!!
  We need Him because we are dead in our sin and are destined for an eternity of hell unless we are made alive.
  God uses the pressures of life to get people’s attention but He didn’t give up His life to save us from our pressures.
• We need to be Holy
  Evil desires try to conform us to the pattern and thinking of this world, but if we live according to them it destroys us
     Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
      Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
      1 John 2:15 (NIV) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves
• THEREFOR BE HOLY

Preparing our Mind – 1 Peter 1:13

 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

 PREPARING YOUR MIND FOR ACTION

• Roll up the sleeves of your mind
  • The thought conveyed in this scripture has the same meaning as ‘to roll up your sleeves’ just before you do some work
  • We have to be mentally prepared and alert because our minds are where the battles are won and lost and where the onslaught of the evil spirit’s takes place
      o 1Pe 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
       o 2Co 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
•  Keeping our minds focused on eternal things rather than temporal things
  • This requires a great deal of self-control
      o During tough times we can be prone to comparison and self-pity
      When times are tough we have to discipline our minds & mouths to praise God
  o During good times we can be prone to pride 
• Keeping your mind on the future and not the present
  ‘set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.’
  When you are in a motor boat, we dont focus ion the wake but what is ahead
• Our life in Christ
  o Many, not all, come to Christ because there is a lot of destruction that is left in the wake of their life.
  o As we obey God good things from God will be left in our wake, but we keep focus on our heavenly calling not the wake

Praise and Joy – 1 Peter 1:3-12

WHY WE PRAISE GOD {Personal motivation for giving Praise to God}

1Pe 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.(NIV)

• Not any God but the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Our hope is living(not a vain hope based on a maybe ) based on that fact that Jesus rose from the dead

Our hope is based on God’s mercy not our merit
Our hope is in an eternal inheritance for us

• God knows that we have need now, but our focus should be for the future inheritance which He has for us.



WHAT WE REJOICE IN THE MIDST OF

1Pe 1:6-9 [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(NIV)

• We have an inheritance that is completely safe and is guaranteed
  Only when a person’s joy is based on something which is definite and immovable can it be effective.
  Nothing in this life is like that. No person, no economy, no fortune, nothing.
• In this life, which is a little while, we suffer grief and all kinds of trials.
  We as believers are not excluded from this and if anything, it can be worse.
  Thes trials actually prove our faith when we rejoice in them
• The result of this faith
  The salvation of our souls which is expressed in an inexpressible and glorious joy
  This joy is the result of actual trial and difficulty and not any particular experience in God we may be looking for.
  The most important result is praise, glory and honor to Jesus when He comes
  When we rejoice in trial it proves our faith genuine, fills us with joy, and ultimately brings glory to Jesus.

A SALVATION REVEALED TO US

1Pe 1:10 -12 [10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, [11] trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.(NIV)

• What has been revealed to us is a great privilege
  Our faith in Christ is built not only on the disciples account of Jesus but also on the prophecy of scripture



TO CONCLUDE

• Our focus is a heavenly bank account not an earthly one
• By rejoicing in trial & being eternally focused, we bring glory to Jesus and joy to our lives
• We should always live with a sense of privilege as a believer, understanding the grace that has been revealed to us.

God’s Elect – 1 Peter 1:1-2

1Pe 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

GOD’S ELECT CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD

This is not a comprehensive look at what would be called the ‘doctrine of election’. It just indicates what some of the common views on this subject are.

Firstly one of the most commonly held view

Romans 9:10-16 (NIV) Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. [11] Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: [12] not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” [13] Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” [14] What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! [15] For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [16] It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Human Beings are incapable of choosing God because sin has incapacitated their ability to choose God.

• Faith is not possible unless God gives the individual the ability to believe.
• If God does not choose to reveal Himself to a person and enable them to have faith then no one would be saved.
  • Peter’s revelation of who Jesus is. Matthew 16:17 (NIV)Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
• If God chooses to reveal Himself to a person then they will believe because God is choosing them.
  • God reveals Himself to those He chooses to believe.
• Human Beings are out of the equation in terms of choice because God is God and any salvation is at His discretion and not the individuals.
• The people He chooses, He enables and motivates so that they fulfill exactly what He has planned for Himself through them.
• Once a person is saved the person will always remain saved because his salvation is not dependant on himself but God.



The second view is based on the foreknowledge of God

Romans 8:29-30 (NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

• God chooses people based on His foreknowledge of those that will choose Him.
• Before time, God knew those who would choose Him and therefore He chooses the people He knows will choose Him.

A third view primarily works with varying degrees of responsibility on the part of people to choose God.

• God has made all the provision that is necessary for every person to be saved in the cross (This statement is scriptural )
• Every person is capable of salvation if they activate that provision of salvation through faith.
• The extreme view however indicates that God does not do any more in the work of salvation because it has already been done
• It is up to the individual to ‘work out their salvation’ with fear and trembling’ and there is no certainty of salvation until you die.
  • He who endures to the end will be saved’.

A fourth view is election is communal more than it is individual.

Just as God chose and old covenant people Israel, God has chosen a new covenant people, His Church

Ephesians 1:11 In him we(corporate) were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

• Choosing on God’s part is corporate not individual and ‘I’ was included in the choosing when I believed and was added to His community of elect.
• In this view all the scriptures to do with election emphasize that when the scripture indicates ‘we’ it is not dealing with one but a many.
  • It is interesting that in the west we interpret things based on how it relates to the individual, but the Jewish mind would always interpret things from a communal mind.
  • Take for instance the Lord’s prayer. When we pray individually “Our Father” in our mind we are thinking “My Father”.
  • When we think of ‘we’ were chosen, we are actually thinking when ‘I’ was chosen. But the scripture is actually meaning ‘we not I’

What is the purpose of mentioning these views?

Awareness so that we are not caught off guard

• Some of us are very aware of these positions and have made our mind up on the matter.
• Some of us this may be the first time we have heard that there are these views.
• These differing views have the potential to divide some and cause others to stumble and so we need to be prepared, so that we don’t divide and we don’t stumble.
• What is important is the fact that these views are still debated strongly by good intelligent believers.
• This means that the matter is in no way settled and there is freedom to have a position that differs from others

TO BE THE ELECT

Privileged position
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Strangers in this world

• The desires, wants and ambitions of people in this world should be strange to us.
• 1 Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Submitted to the sanctifying work of the Spirit

 Rom 8:12-17 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

• We need revival, but it must be a “Holy Revival”! The Holy Spirit brings a Holy revival
  • John 16:7-8 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
  • A revival without the conviction of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit will not last
  • I believe we need to see the power of the Holy Spirit manifest in all kinds of signs and wonders.
    • It would be a tragedy however if there was no conviction of sin that accompanies those signs and wonders.

Our Objective is to obey Christ

• Obedience in walk as well as word
  • We have to hear the voice of the Spirit and do that

God’s Workers – 1 Peter :1-2

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Jesus designates certain specific workers.

•  Mark 3:14-15 (NIV) He appointed twelve–designating them apostles–that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. [Matt 10:2, Luke 6:12-16,  }
• Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV) It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
• There are some of God’s disciples that He specifically designates and uses as His workers.
  • We are all God’s fellow workers (1 Cor 3:9) but there are some that God appoints to give their full attention to this matter and receive their living from it.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NIV) Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? [14] In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
  • We are all called to preach the Gospel, but some are called to give their full attention to this matter.

A person that God sends will be

• Qualified by scripture
• Recognized by others and particular those who walk closely with them
• Recognized by the local church that they are in relationship with, in submission to and from where they are sent.
  • Acts 13:1-3 (NIV) In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Among God’s workers we find church equipping gifts

•  Among those that are appointed/designated to this task we find apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. (Eph 4:10)
  • This does not mean that these gifts only reside within God’s ‘fulltime’ workers.
  • These gifts are probably more frequent than we realize, but I believe that every person appointed to give their full attention to the ministry of the gospel will have at least one of these gifts
    • If one has one of these gift that does not necessarily mean they are called to be a  fulltime worker

    

• To sum this up
  • Jesus appoints certain people to be workers that give their full attention to the ministry of the gospel.
    • This person will operate with a certain fivefold gift which will be evident in its effect but it’s not so important as to its designation.
      • If we go into great detail of who’s an apostle and who’s a prophet then even if we don’t use title’s we have given people a title.
    •  The gift is not something a person can learn or strive for.
      • They will automatically have a bend to that gift and will seek out others that will equip them with that same bend.

Context of Workers and these gifts

• We see only two places in scripture that people are appointed to give their full attention to the Gospel
  • The local church 
  • Trans local apostolic team (with apostolic capacity)
• Local church and the apostolic team are always inter connected 
  • Local church send apostolic people who in turn establish local churches
  • One is not over the other but should always be mutually submitted.

  

• Local church (not the church overall) is the focal point of those appointed both apostolic ally and in the church
  o We see this again very clearly in scripture both in the individual letters going to specific churches addressing local matters, and in the book of revelation local churches are addressed by Jesus Himself.
  • There are occasions when the church overall needs to be addressed but this is the exception rather than the rule.
  • When the local churches are strengthened the church overall is strengthened but it seldom works the other way round.
•  Those appointed to either the local church and/or trans-local apostolic ministry are intimately connected to the local church.
  • Why
    • What is taught must be modeled in flesh and blood
      • 1 Corinthians 4:15 (NIV) Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
      • 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 (NIV) For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. [9] We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
      • Fathers model, guardians teach.
        • Qualification on a subject that a person teaches is based firstly on what they model in the flesh & then in what they teach
        • A person must be connected to a local church and committed to the local church in their focus to qualify what they teach
• Appointed ministry always operates in the context of team
  • Examples
    • Jesus sets this example by traveling with a close-set of relationships
    • Jesus sent the disciples out in two’s
    • Peter and John go down to Samaria
    • Paul and Barnabas went as a team
    • Later Paul without Barnabas had a team
    • Elders plural are called to lead a church
  • Note – Teams always have a s person that will lead. {This is certainly well established in scripture}

In conclusion

• Every local church needs all the gift ministries operating from time to time in their midst to be fully equipped
• Those appointed to the ministry of the Gospel who are apostolic/trans local are sent from the local church for the primary purpose of either encouraging and building up local churches and/or the establishing of local churches

Addressing respected people in the church – 1 Peter 1:1-2

No titles

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ
Romans 1:1 (NIV)  Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
– Neither Peter nor Paul introduced themselves as ‘apostle’ Peter or as ‘apostle’ Paul.
– They are simply referred to in the church by their given names and not by their function.
2 Peter 3:15 (NIV) ………………, just as our dear brother (not brother Paul either ) Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
Gal 2:9 ….and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

All titles belong to Jesus

Joh 13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and  you are right, for so I am.
– Jesus allowed people to refer to Himself as Teacher and Rabbi (teacher / master) because He understood that calling Him Rabbi or teacher they were elevating Him, and rightfully so.
– But to his disciples he said this in Matthew 23:8-12 (NIV)”But you are not to be called `Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. [9] And do not call anyone on earth `father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. [10] Nor are you to be called `teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you will be your servant. [12] For whoever  exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
– What Jesus was saying to His disciples here is that if you allow people to call you father, teacher or rabbi you are putting yourself above people and on the same level as God.

Rom 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To  him be glory forever. Amen.

Any title Exceptions?

– Are Teacher, Rabbi and Father the only titles we can’t use?
– No!! The heart of what Jesus is saying is that we must not elevate one another by using any title.Titles are the worlds way of gaining respect.Among us there should be no such thing, because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what position we hold in life.
What about pastor?
– Well, you have one pastor who is Jesus.
– The Fault lies with us as leaders and Teachers who have not obeyed God’s word and have allowed , justified  and even mandated this practice.
– We are to respect those who God gives us to lead us but not with titles.

People worship the Root

– The exalting of one human being above another is the true spirit of this age.
– We may not worship idols, but we certainly worship people.

Where does this come from?
– There is the need in every creature to worship because God has put that desire within them.
-- The devil knows this and tempts every Human being with this desire as he himself was tempted and fell.
Ezekiel 28:13-15 (NIV) You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and Emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. [14] You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. [15] You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Isaiah 14:13-14 (NIV) You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [14]I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

To receive or illicit worship from people is to make one’s self like God.
Revelation 22:8-9 (NIV) I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. [9] But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brother’s the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book

Worship God!”