In this article, I am not advocating Globalism – far from it, as it is an anti-Christ Babylonian system. Nor am I advocating “Christian Nationalism”, to which I am also adverse, because it is a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the Kingdom of God. Nor is it within the scope of this article to detail the evils of Globalism and Nationalism. The purpose of this article is to simply point out what Scripture has to say about Globalism. And to infer
The two correlating facets of Holy Spirit Fellowship are “the fellowship OF the Spirit” and “fellowship WITH the Spirit”. They both have to do with personal relationship with the Holy Spirit in the context of a devotional life consisting of various spiritual disciplines or “holy habits”. Further, “the fellowship OF the Spirit” and “fellowship WITH the Spirit” alsohave a collective or corporate dimension: The members of the Body of Christ each partaking of the life of the Spirit, partnering with
When the Lord is the true Source of provision for the servant, it allows the Holy Spirit the opportunity to affect spiritual growth in the worker within the very context of his walk and service in the Lord. The spiritual growth has to do with faith and faithfulness in service. This process is, of necessity, sovereign. Certainly, there must be spiritual accountability and submission of one’s life and ministry to a local eldership and congregation. But no ecclesiastical oversight, or
Throughout the New Testament, ministry is referred to as “work”. Scripture also speaks of “the work of ministry” being materially or financially “supported”. This article addresses that subject matter with an overview of scriptures associated with “giving”, drawing on 50 years of personal experience of being supported in “the work of ministry” in various contexts – living “by faith” in a foreign country for 13 years in both itinerant and local ministry, 18 years in both “independent” ministry and “paid
In this teaching, “Breaking Bread”, I attempt to elucidate what the term means and what it is referring to by discussing its Hebrew origins and its connection with the Old Covenant Meal – The Passover Meal, as well as its Christian usage and its connections with The New Covenant Meal – The Lord’s Supper. Both of these meals are examples of “Breaking Bread” – which is essentially an Agape Meal to Celebrate Life.
Paul the apostle explained that what he had written to the Ephesians about husbands and wives spiritually applied to Christ and the Church. Paul was comparing the marriage relationship to the relationship between Christ and the Church – the husband being Christ, and the Church being the wife. Starting with this passage in Ephesians, and referring back to Ancient Jewish Wedding Customs, this teaching looks at the Bride of Christ as His Partner and Confidante.
“The weakness of God” – this is, indeed, a captivating phrase penned by Paul the apostle in his letter to the Church. (1 Corinthians 1:25) This “weakness” is God’s chosen “methodology” from “before the foundation of the world – in “the Lamb slain” (Revelation 13:8), in His choice of Israel and Gideon’s company, and ultimately in the cross of Christ. The Lord revealed to Paul that He dwells in our weakness. And, since the Church is the dwelling place of
Another Look at Consensus in the Church In certain movements within the Church, it is currently in vogue to criticize church leaders for usurping the Headship of Christ. I agree that, generally speaking, this is a valid criticism. But the more accurate statement would be that human beings, church leaders and people alike, are very guilty of usurping the Headship of Christ in the Church – and numerically speaking there are more people than church leaders doing so. I am
In His prayer to the Father in John 17, Jesus said that both He and His people (the Ekklesia) are in the world, but not of the world. Throughout church history, it has been, and still is, very difficult for the Church to understand this paradox, and has been even more difficult for the Church to embody its spiritual realities. The Church is to represent a heavenly King and a heavenly Kingdom. Herein lies the challenge: How do we effectively
In this article, I am focusing on the adjectives, “apostolic” and “prophetic”, rather than the nouns, “apostle” and “prophet”. My goal is a more Christ-centered perspective and understanding of the phrase, “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20-22), as well as, what it means to “lay” that Foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
