Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 Why church?
Why don’t we all just do our own disassociated fellowships? Or no fellowship at all?
Why do those who have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead need to stay physically connected to the ‘ekklesia’?
The church is a nation and believers are its citizens. All of its citizens are priests. However, not all of its citizen-priests are appointed to lead the ekklesia. A nation has national, and local leaders which are also known as ministers - especially in Europe. These ministers serve the people of the nation as the ones who enforce laws and see to the welfare of the nation.
“Nation” “Kingdom of God” “Ekklesia” “Church” “Chief Apostle” “Ministers” “Leaders” Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Healings, Helps, Administrations, Tongues” “Finances” “Health Care” “Education” “Business” “Economy” “Media” “Arts and Entertainment” “Government” “Military” “Justice System” “Legislature” “Emergency Responders” “Ambassadors”
“High Priest” “Priests” “Citizens”
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?” (1 Corinthians 12:27–29, NKJV)
Appointed means set, fixed, or placed. First means chief. For a church to be established in God’s order, God will use an apostle. Let’s look at the example of Christ Jesus. The Father sent (apostle) Jesus. Jesus gave birth to a new covenant and in doing so, he gave birth to the ekklesia (the church). He appointed 12 apostles and sent them to disciple the nations by establishing churches. The churches that each of them established were all connected to Christ because Christ appointed the apostles. The 12 apostles then appointed apostles after them. Apostles also identify and recognize prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:11–16, NKJV)
The word “some’ shows up in front of these categories of leaders in the ‘ekklesia’. Therefore, not all are apostles. An apostle may operate in the other offices, but he will operate in those primarily to identify, establish and raise up someone to fill that office in the local church. These appointed ministers are not like the Levitical Priesthood of the Old Covenant. Christ Jesus is The High Priest and He is not a Levite. Jesus established a better covenant with better promises.
The two Scriptures quoted above give us many reasons why we need to stay connected to the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher in the local ‘ekklesia’. Think of the church as a nation and the priesthood as citizenship.
Jesus is apostolic. He was sent by The Father. He had a purpose when He walked on the earth. Christ Jesus appointed apostles. The twelve apostles were sent by Jesus. The twelve apostles had a purpose. The twelve apostles appointed apostles. The apostles they appointed were sent by God and had a purpose to fulfill. Apostles appoint apostles to carry missions forward.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:18–20, NKJV)
Until the mission is fully accomplished, and the kingdom of God is fully manifest in the earth, apostles will continue to be called, chosen and sent.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14–15, NKJV)
The ‘ekklesia’ is the kingdom of God manifested in the earth. Those appointed are kingdom ministers.
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28, NKJV)
First is translated from the Greek word, ’proton’, as first or chief, it denotes order of importance or rank. Many in the modern church do not like ranks because we are one body. Many in the modern church do not like the word submission either. However, we should let the Scripture interpret itself. Clearly, apostles are set in the church in order of importance because they lead the rest of the leaders in establishing the kingdom of God in the earth and discipling the nations. They are sent by God with a purpose. They establish, build and instigate, and they challenge others to step into their callings.
An apostolic church is placed by God in a city and has a purpose to see that city discipled and transformed. An apostolic church establishes the culture of the kingdom of God in a city. Kingdom Life Church is an apostolic church chosen, called, and sent to Holiday, Florida.
The Levitical Priesthood is not a model for the New Covenant Church.
It doesn’t even seem to have been God’s original intention. GOD promised Moses, in Exodus 19:5–6,(paraphrased) “If you as a people will listen and obey and keep covenant with Me, then I will make you My treasure, and you’ll be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
A kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
The priesthood citizenship ministers to God and to people. They submit to the High Priest and follow His example.
The holy nation has a king. It also has national and local leaders who lead on behalf of the king.
This New Covenant model was established when Jesus came and made the Old Testament priesthood obsolete. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV)
Every believer is a priest with a direct connection to GOD by the Holy Spirit. Every believer becomes a minister of reconciliation who can connect a lost person to GOD. However, once we connect someone to GOD, we do not become their priest. We are all able to minister to them but they become a priest and a citizen of God's kingdom with Christ Jesus as their High Priest.
The kingdom of God is administered through the church and the churches. The church and the churches make up the ekklesia - the called out ones - the senate of heaven on earth. Church leadership is not your priesthood. They are kingdom leaders under Christ Jesus.
The New Covenant Priesthood is everyone submitted to Christ Jesus, The Apostle and High Priest of our Confession and Faith. Church leadership is for those appointed by The Chief Apostle, Christ Jesus, and He appoints some as apostles, some as prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.The church of The LORD JESUS CHRIST is apostolic in nature.
he church is built upon the foundation of New Covenant apostles and prophets of which Christ Jesus is The Chief Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
It is the responsibility of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to disciple, equip, train and raise up the body of believers as a nation.
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (Hebrews 13:7, NKJV)
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17, NKJV)
“Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.” (Hebrews 13:24, NKJV)
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.” (1 Corinthians 16:13–16, NKJV)
It is the responsibility of all believers to serve one another by the love of God and bear one another’s burdens. We also need to submit to God and the authority that He places in the church. We focus on our personal relationship with God, and we should, but we should not forget our relationship with the kingdom of God. Every believer acts as a priest and ministers to God. Every believer ministers to those who do not know God on His behalf. Every believer has the ability to minister by the Spirit to the whole body as The Spirit leads.
Exodus 19:5–6,(paraphrased) “If you as a people will listen and obey and keep covenant with Me, then I will make you My treasure, and you’ll be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Would you look at what makes you God’s treasure? Maybe you won’t like this, but listen to what I am actually saying - not to what you think I am saying. God treasures all of us and everyone. And yet, something makes you His treasure. What is it? Faith in Him. Faith in His Son. Listening to Him which produces faith. Obeying Him because of faith. Keeping His faith covenant. Then you will be His treasured people and enter into His priesthood of personal intimacy with Him and He will make you into a holy nation.
The gifts of the Spirit are awesome and necessary in the church, but love is a more excellent way to show each other that you are a disciple of Christ Jesus. It is the commandment of The New Covenant that fulfills all of the law. If your love is not evident to all, keep growing in love. If you are able to love, then you are in Christ Jesus. If you are able to forgive, you are in Christ Jesus. On the other hand, if we are hardening our hearts and not loving nor forgiving others, we are not of GOD. When we are receiving the love of God, we are giving love to others. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20–21, NKJV)