Return to Christianity of the Apostles

I didn't write the below statement; however, I did find it speaking volumes to God's people across America, thus I am sharing it here. Of course, since I didn't write it I have include (given credit) to whom the credit belongs.

One Nation Under God and Above Nationalism by Robert Ricciardelli

Can a nation be born in a day? You are that nation, you are that people, you are my people. Beyond America and nationalism, and in all nations, is a people called by my name. The shaking felt around the world is my doing. Many of you have asked, “Lord where are you in all of this? Have we not prayed? Where are you in my challenges? Where are you in my problems?“ I say, “I am in them, around them, and have cause many of them. “ What is a temporal shaking will cause an eternal awakening for those who will hear my voice. Much of what has been built by man, I have not built. What I have built, many have failed to see and understand.

Eyes that have not seen will see. Ears that have not heard will begin to hear my sound. My sound will resonate above the noise of confusion, and beyond the bankruptcy of religion. False centers have risen up and missed my center, which is me. What they have created and called me has stood in the way of who I am, and cannot contain I Am. My Kingdom ever expands, and my glory will fill every gap upon the earth.

What has been good in the past will not take you to my best for your future. The things that are good are often the enemy of best. This is a swift season of change, like a mighty wind blowing. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Will you embrace it as I blow this season of change from the north, the south, the east, and the west?

As my Wind blows, false centers will have to go. The walls of religion will crumble. Systems that oppose my will, will be deposed by my will. My people will be drawn to come under one banner and one name, the Name above every other name. I am returning all things unto myself. Posers of my Kingdom will be exposed, and ambassadors of my Kingdom and of my love will rise up and be released in power. As they return to me, my love will remain, because all else has been removed. My light in them will increase because more darkness has been dismissed.

The nation of my love and of the substance of heaven can now love me, and love one another in supernatural abundance. I in them, them in me, and in one another. A love force will come forth that the world has not seen. My Kingdom has come, and my will is going to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Embrace my Wind, embrace my change, watch, wait, and go as I lead. This nation, my people, will never be the same, cannot remain the same, because of what I am doing, and what I will do.

You have questioned many things. I have put those questions in you to expose the false foundations that have kept you bound. I declare, those foundations will no longer bind you. I have shown you what to do in the past, but fear had gripped you. But now the fear of missing my best for you will cause an overcoming of all previous fear. My love and purpose for you will propel you through all hurts and setbacks, as the journey forward continues to unfold.

My glory that has been concealed in you, will be revealed to you and through you in transformational ways. Atmosphere will change because of my glory. Where you go, I go, and where I go, you go. Circumstances and natural elements will bow to my supernatural substance. My eternal seed in you will reap an eternal harvest, and that harvest is both hear and approaching. The seed in you cannot die, but can only be delayed for maturity. Maturity will surely come as those hindrances are exposed and removed. Live daily in the inheritance of my Kingdom. Let me take you where I will, and I will do what only I can do to fulfill everything I have planned for you in the days ahead.

Ekklesia Not Hierosulos

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:15-18 KJV)

In the gospel according to Matthew we have the Lord carrying on a conversation with His disciples, and He then tells them He was going to build His church on this revelation of who he is.

From the beginning we can see its Jesus’ church. He is the builder, and owner. Acts 20:28 says God purchased the church with his own blood.

The word build in Matthew 16:18 comes from the Greek word oikodomeo, to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (fig.) confirm:--(be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

So we can see Jesus purchased and is building his church. Next we need to Biblically define church. The Greek word Jesus used for church is ekklesia. This word ekklesia means a calling out, a popular meeting, a religious congregation, assembly.

Jesus Christ himself is the architect of this ekklesia. Over the past two thousand years the term church has been misused and misrepresented far and wide.

God’s people need to be organized in some manner, and God’s people need some place to gather for collective teaching and encouragement. I am not opposed to God’s people being organized or having a place to meet.

Those things are helpful and needful. Yet, nowhere in Scripture will we find the term ekklesia used to describe an organization, an institution, or a building. The church (ekklesia) is a living organism made up with lively stones of Spirit filled believers.

Church is not something we do, it’s not a place we go, it’s what we are. As believers we need to establish in our hearts that we are the church, and where we go the church goes.

Let us look at some other translations of Matthew 16:18

The “Hebrews Names Version” translates Matthew 16:18 as follows: “I also tell you that you are Kefa, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of She’ol will not prevail against it”

William Tyndale who translated the New Testament into English in 1526, and paid for it with his life, translated Matthew 16:18 as follows: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock I will build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The “Analytical-Literal Translation” of the New Testament words Matthew 16:18 as follows: “Now I also say to you that you are Peter [“a stone”], and on this solid rock I will build my Assembly [or, Church], and [the] gates of the realm of the dead [Gr., hades] will not prevail against it.”

This word "ekklesia" in the New Testament was not a religious word at all.
Ekklesia is used 116 times in the New Testament. Of those 116 times it is translated church or churches 113 times. The other three times it is translated assembly.

In the nineteenth chapter of Acts where Paul, was threatened by an angry mob who wanted to kill him Luke, the writer of Acts, uses the word, ekklesia and the translators of the King James Version translated it "assembly".

(Acts 19:30-41)
And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly (ekklesia) was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, (hierosulos) nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly (ekklesia). For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly (ekklesia).
(Greek word inserts mine)

The interesting thing about this passage is that the word assembly in the original language is ekklesia in all three occurrences. Ekklesia just happens to be the word we use to translate, "church." We can see from the Scripture ekklesia is used to describe an assembly of people.

First, it was a confused ekklesia, then their inquiring would need to be done in a lawful ekklesia, and lastly the ekklesia was dismissed. Yet, when describing a building as a temple Luke used the Greek word hierosulos.

So when Jesus used ekklesia to say "I will build my church." It was not a religious word. It simply meant a called out group, or crowd, or fellowship, or assembly. The only place in the New Testament where churches is translated using a different word other than ekklesia is in Acts 19:37 and the Greek word hierosulos is used and it means temple. After all it was in Ephesus where the crowd, or assembly (ekklesia) was concerned about the temple of Diana. If the church was a building, an institution or organization surely Jesus would have used hierosulos or some other word and not ekklesia.

From the Scripture as well as the definition of ekklesia we can clearly see that the church is an assembly of people whenever and wherever they meet.

Jesus did say in Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Acts 7:48-49 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

The Lord himself is erecting the building and he is doing it with people. The apostle Peter said the following concerning the people of God and the building of the church in 1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)

The word house in first Peter comes from the Greek word oikos, a dwelling (more or less extensive, lit. or fig.); by impl. a family (more or less related, lit. or fig.):--home, house (-hold), temple.

The New Testament temple of God is living breathing Spirit filled people.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Ephesians 2:19-22
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We have established the church (ekklesia) is people, and the Lord is building his church without mortar and brick, without drywall and carpet. If the church was a building, an institution or organization surely Jesus would have used hierosulos or some other word and not ekklesia. Therefore, let us always be mindful the church (ekklesia) is people and not hierosulos.

A Look at First Century Church Life

My desire here is to look deeper into first century church life. How did they meet, and what were their meetings like?

Lets begin by taking a look at Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

From this we can see four elements of early church life. They are Apostles Doctrine, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread, and Prayer.

Apostles’ Doctrine: My purpose here is not to debate what doctrine the apostles taught. I believe doctrine is important, and the Bible warns us of a time when sound doctrine will not endure.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

My desire here is to look deeper into first century life; therefore, let’s move on to element #2. Fellowship.

Fellowship: The early church enjoyed close intimate relationships with each other. They really were family. They did more than just call each other brother and sister. They shared their life with each other. IMO, this is something the 21st century church in America lacks for the most part. We call each other brother and sister on Sundays and Wednesday nights then spend the rest of the week to ourselves. The first century Christians were really family. They took part in each other lives.

Let’s move on to element #3 Breaking of Bread.

Breaking of Bread: They ate together. This breaking of bread here was more than going to your local Applebee’s after Sunday night “church service” this was a time of celebration of the Lord’s Supper together as part of a full meal. The Lord’s Supper as shared by Jesus with his apostles was originally part of a full meal. Mark 14:22-23 “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.”

The very first Lord’s Supper is also called the Last Supper, because it was the last meal Jesus would share with his disciples before His crucifixion. The occasion for the meal was the Passover, and Jewish tradition tells us this meal typically lasted for hours. Jesus and His disciples reclined at a table that would have been heaped with food.

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible on page 594 says “In the early days the Lord’s Supper took place in the course of a communal meal. All brought what food they could, and it was shared together.”

According to Dr. John Drane professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, in California “Jesus instituted this common meal at Passover time, at the last supper shared with His disciples before his death…the Lord’s supper looks back to the death of Jesus, and it looks forward to the time when He will come again. Throughout the New Testament period the Lord’s supper was an actual meal shared in the homes of Christians.

We can see communion/Lord’s Supper during the first century was part of a full meal, and thus it should be today. Our local assembly practices this element in like manner of our brothers and sisters of the first century, and it truly helps us grow in element #2 fellowship.

Element # 4 Prayer. They prayed together. This should go without saying. If someone is a believer in Jesus Christ they pray. And in first century church life they prayed together, as they were truly family.

Let us continue moving forward into this first century gathering of Christians. Travel back in time and space to a place called Corinth. If we turn our attention to what is now know as the 14th chapter of 1st Corinthians (Remember, when the Bible was written there was no chapter and verse division). We already determined in an earlier part of this discussion about the 4 elements (of Acts 2:42) that when they came together and had the Lord’s Supper it was part of a full meal.

The meal is now over, and the believers have gathered perhaps in a different room. We must remember in 1st century Corinth they had no special buildings like modern Christianity does today. A study of church history will show this was a post-Constantine era development. (That’s another discussion for another time), anyway, they gathered together in the living room and the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:26-32 “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

From this we can gather the meetings of the church in the first century were different than what we see today in most assemblies. It appears their meetings were open, spontaneous, interactive, and Spirit led. We can see the gifts of the Spirit in operation, we can see more than one person shared with the assembly (congregation), as a matter of fact Paul said “every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.“ ; “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge” and he also said “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”

Kind of different from what we see in today’s Christian assemblies. A study of church history will reveal the modern order of worship which most assemblies follow was the creation of a man named Gregory the Great sometime late in the sixth century. It (the order of worship) has been modified some since, but for the most part almost all modern churches follow this pattern. Very different from what we see in First Corinthians 14.