The Church (Ekklesia) Jesus is Building
Articles
1 Corinthians 14:26 ~ In Context (Article)
There is a movement afoot where so many run with this verse without considering the context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians – particularly chapter 14.
Fellowship WITH the Spirit (Article)
In other articles, I have written at length about what could be called “THE REVELATION – RELATIONSHIP – REFLECTION CONTINUUM”. The concept is that the life of one who “has received the Spirit of Christ and therefore belongs to Christ” (Romans 8:9-10) can be viewed as the pursuit of Revelation of Christ, which grows into Relationship with Christ, with a view to Reflection of Christ. This article will deal with “The Fellowship with the Spirit”, being presented here as integrally
Until the ‘Perfect’ Comes (Article)
Are the ministry gifts of apostles and prophets mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (4:11-16) still operative in the Church today? Admittedly, there is much abuse and controversy in connection with these ministries. However, as the Latin phrase states: “Abusus non tollit usum. Abuse does not cancel use. Misuse of something is no argument against its proper use.” (Merriam Webster) To reject the ministries of apostles and prophets is a personal preference in practice – most likely to avoid
Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, The (Article)
In this article, I attempt to briefly establish a Christ-centered New Covenant perspective of the Law of Christ. I believe a particular verse in one of Isaiah’s messianic prophecies is foundational to an understanding of the Law of Christ in the New Covenant context: “I give YOU as a covenant to the people, as a Light to the nations.” Isaiah 42:6 The New Covenant is a Living Person – Christ – not a contract of written letters.
Christ Our Life & Pattern (Article)
To discern the mystery of Christ fully, we must have revelation of Him as the New Covenant Pattern, because the New Covenant is all about the life of Christ in us. This is the subject matter of this article.
Christ Is All (Article)
“I will give You as a covenant.” Isaiah 42:6 The covenant Isaiah refers to is what we know as the “New Covenant”. God’s New Covenant – by which He made the Old Covenant obsolete (Hebrews 8:13), does not consist in the letters of written words, but is embodied in a Person – Jesus Christ, the Living Word – “Christ Jesus, became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30) “Christ is all.” (Colossians 3:11)
Realm of Christ, The (Article)
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
From Children to a Mature Man (Article)
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
What’s the Harm? (Article)
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
Tearing Down & Building Up (Article)
“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? *******