19“In accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 … He (Father God) brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave
This is a brief essay on a passage in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. My “bottom line” flies in the face of a current tendency in much of the professing Church in western nations, including most of the so called “Ekklesia” movements. That tendency is to shun the reality and necessity of authentic spiritual leadership.[1] To be clear, by “authentic spiritual leadership” ministries I am NOT referring to those who have well-known, large, and popular, “successful” ministries. Nor am I
In Search of New Covenant Worship in Spirit & Truth In his book, “Custom and Command”[1], Stan Firth’s stated purpose was this: “All I am trying to do in this book is to encourage dear friends in the unstructured churches that they are well within God’s framework in the way they are moving; and to re-assure dear friends in the ‘structured’ churches that those of us who have ‘gone unstructured’ have not gone off the rails, as they may have
“For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 ******* This essay is about “tearing down” and “building up” the people of God – “God’s field” or “God’s building”. There are plenty of scripture references which speak about exposing error.[1] This essay is NOT questioning IF we should expose error. It is questioning HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT we should spend tearing down and exposing error? What should be THE PRIMARY FOCUS of ministry? *******
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 We must seek God for guidance in the work of God. When I speak of “seeking God for guidance”, it can be equated with “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”[1]. Reflect on how Jesus described the ministry of the Holy Spirit towards us who are His disciples: 25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
What is the essence of the New Covenant? The most significant scriptural reference to the New Covenant is Jeremiah 31:31-34. Its significance is attested to in that the writer to the Hebrews, who was focused on distinguishing the New Covenant from the Old Covenant, chose to quote Jeremiah verbatim in Hebrews 8:8-12. Let’s look the passage in the Amplified Bible translation: 8 “However, God finds fault with them[1] [showing its inadequacy] when He says, “Behold, the days will come, says the
“We are asking God that you may see things, as it were, from his point of view by being given spiritual insight and understanding.” Colossians 1:9, J.B. Phillips Translation “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 God’s point of view is primarily internal – not external. God considers the heart – not external activities. From God’s point of view, what does it mean to
“I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.”[1] Isaiah 42:6 In the midst of this Messianic prophecy in Isaiah,[2] we see disclosed the fact that the Father has given Jesus Christ as a covenant – specifically, Jesus Christ personified (incarnated) the New Covenant. As with the Old Covenant, the New Covenant is between God
This article will be an investigation into the nature of “the elementary principles of the world” (ta stoicheia tou kosmou) – a phrase penned by Paul, the apostle. We will look into the meaning of the Greek word, stoicheia; review the passages of scriptures in which Paul uses the term “elementary principles of the world”; reference the major interpretations of the term; state what seems to be the most consistently accurate meaning of the term; and discuss the sacralization of
“The weakness of God” (1 Corinthians 1:25) – this is, indeed, a captivating phrase penned by Paul the apostle in his letter to the Church. This article is about weakness, meekness, the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), “a people being formed by the Lord” (Isaiah 43:21), and the commission of the Church. (Ephesians 3:10)
