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An idol called the church part 12 - Book of Acts church

I have heard over the years many people say things like “if we could just get back to being the New Testament church…….” Or things like “our desire is to be a ‘book of Acts church’.”

Statements such as these indicate a real yearning by Christians to ‘be’ what they think Christ wants them to be, by ‘doing’ church a different way. Most are genuine in their desire to see change come into the church. I have said things like this myself over the years but I have discovered that this way of thinking is fundamentally flawed.It is fundamentally flawed by these reasons.

1/ we are looking backwards from what we have, to what we think we should have.
This is flawed because we are ‘seeing through coloured glasses’. We are influenced by our experience, teaching, doctrine, belief etc etc. including being influenced by the ‘model’ of the church we have now. We are looking at trying to ‘fit’ something we perceive the NT church to be, into what we have today. This goes on the premise that the ‘church’ we have today is correct and we just need to add something back into it, something we have lost along the way needs to be retrieved to make us whole, a fully functioning church, just like the book of Acts.

But what if what we have today is the wrong starting point. Merely adding or changing something is not going to correct the error. We know it is the wrong way of study to interpret scripture through your own modern mindset. It is the wrong way of ‘building’, to interpret scripture through your own thinking. Most guys would have probably experienced buying something that needs assembly, assembling it without using the instruction manual only to find, it looks ok, but it just isn’t quite working properly. You then go to the maker’s manual to see how it ‘should’ be set up.

We can try to build by our own understanding but if we are going to do something right then we need to go back to what the maker’s manual says. Adding to that, we really need to unlearn what we have been taught and see what the scripture ‘really’ is saying. Coming to the scripture without any preconceived thoughts. Hard to do I realize, but this is where the Lord honours a truly ‘searching heart’. The idol I have been talking about blinds people’s minds to the truth, but this is cleared when we turn to the Lord. The principle is; if we turn to the Lord for truth, the veil is lifted and we then see clearly.

2 Corinthians 3:14-17 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2/ What many are looking for in the New Testament, doesn’t exist. The ‘church’ we have today didn’t exist in the NT. If we are looking for a ‘model’ on how to ‘do’ church, how to run or structure the church, it doesn’t exist. Do we have a clearly defined plan set out in the NT for the church, its order, how it works (its methods), its constitution, business plan etc – No.

Is there a blue print to copy – No.

Why ? The answer is that the concept that we have today of ‘church’ didn’t exist in the NT. Let me say again – it isn’t in the NT, may I suggest you take off your glasses and study the scripture.

If we take a concept, we can use scripture to try to prove the concept, but this is the wrong way around. We need to view the concept of the scripture.

In an earlier article I exposed, that church planting isn’t even in scripture, yet the church planting proponents use obscure scripture to prove their theology. They take scriptures like the great commission, to go into all the world and make disciples. They distort this to say ‘go into all the world and plant churches’. Their reasoning is “how can you make disciples without a church”. This is flawed reasoning and the answer is very basic really, how did they do it in the NT. (how did they make disciples before the church planting movement existed?)

Sure we can take things from scripture and make them fit our concept. Eg “they met on the first day of the week”, “do not forsake the assembling”, “bring the tithe into the storehouse” etc etc but we must make sure the scripture we are using actually means what we say it does. One easy way of doing this is, Take our concept away – does that scripture still mean the same thing, or something different?

The church concept we have today didn’t exist in the NT – they didn’t have church then, as we know it today. Yes the early Christians went to the synagogue or temple but these were Jewish buildings, not Christian. I have explained in previous newsletters that the word ‘church’ didn’t even exist until just before the 12th century. The concept of the word church that we have today didn’t exist until then. There are many, many other writers expressing the concern of the word ‘church’ and the manipulation surrounding the origin and use of it, even this one that says we need to be set free from what the meaning binds us with http://www.lapstoneministries.org/church.html

(I encourage you to read it, not just skim it)

I believe we need to be delivered from the idol called the church – why? Because it is an idol - a spiritual entity that controls people. At the very least we need to repent from serving it, and turn to Christ.

So how did Christians practise Christianity for 1200 years without ‘church’? Before I get to that lets look a little at what we have today.

A western church system is based, believe it or not, on Old Testament concepts, with some of the world’s concepts thrown in.

(a) Church is based at a ‘place’ (OT)

(b) The presence of God is in the building (OT)

(c) The building is the house of God (OT)

(d) Run by a priesthood (OT)

(e) Run on business principles (world)

(f) Use of marketing to ‘grow’ the church (world)

(g) The church is the centre of activity (OT)

(h) Viewed as a place of worship (OT)


ANSWERS.

(a) Church is based at a ‘place’ :-

Nowhere; absolutely nowhere in the New Testament is there any reference to ekklesia being a place - period. (Please read the previous writings regarding what ekklesia is)


(b) The presence of God is in the building

No one place in the New Testament is described as being “where the presence of God is”.

Why? Because every born again believer ‘carries’ the presence of God, everywhere.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 15:4-5

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Eph 3:17, Romans 8:9

(c) The building is the house of God:-

Nowhere; absolutely nowhere in the New Testament describes a building as the house of God.

Please read the article on “The house of God” – (Pt 8)

God no longer dwells in a physical temple.

Acts 7:47-50 But Solomon built him an house. 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? Hath not my hand made all these things?

Again Paul said in

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

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.

(d) Run by a priesthood:-

Nowhere; absolutely nowhere in the New Testament is the ekklesia run by a priesthood or any form of hierarchical office.

The body of Christ (the ekklesia) is ‘a holy priesthood’ – the whole lot of us.

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 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

While many ‘churches’ say they believe in the priesthood of every believer they do not allow the function of the priesthood of every believer. The function they adhere to is that one or two priests, pastors or clergy act as the priest in the local church but everyone else just sits by and spectates instead of functioning as priests themselves, or are taught that you are priests in your own home but not in the ‘church’.

You see there is no hierarchy, ladder, grade, chain of command or pecking order in the ekklesia – we are ALL priests. The five fold gifts are ‘functions’ - not positions. Some people over the years have asked questions like “are you a pastor” as though it is a position, title or job. I should have said “no I am a human being, my function, or the thing I do, is pastoral in caring for others but it isn’t who I am or the position I hold”. It isn’t scriptural to view the five fold gifts as offices or positions. (yes there are translations that talk about offices but if you look at the Greek meaning they are all talking about ‘serving’ rather than a ‘position’.)

No one should smother our priesthood or our functioning as a priest, the gifts or functions of others should encourage, guide and build up. There are functioning gifts within the ekklesia, there are elders with responsibilities to the local gathering (usually elder people with some years under their belt) but they are not positions of employment.

This is another huge subject that will follow in future articles.

(e) Run on business principles:-

There shouldn’t be any need for explanation for this but for many they just don’t see the error in using the worlds concepts to ‘expand’ their church.

“There is perhaps nothing worse than reaching the top of the ladder and discovering that you’re on the wrong wall” Joseph Campbell.

When Roman Catholicism evolved around the fourth century it embraced many pagan practises as well as embracing Judaism. It instituted a professional priesthood and erected ‘sacred’ buildings to worship in.

The western church has been built on top of these foundations of religious idolatry and then mixed in worldly concepts or ideas. Today most churches are run on business principles rather than biblical principles. People would argue that bible principles are the same as business principles – dear Jesus, please open their eyes.

(f) Use of marketing to ‘grow’ the church:-

The vast majority of changes taken place in the last 50 to 100 years have been basically a smokescreen used to screen the religious spirits by making things ‘relevant’ (I hate that word used in church circles) Choose any trend, church growth, mega-churches, seeker sensitive, purpose driven, multi campuses, worship style, big productions using music and large screens, credit card giving, cell groups, home groups are all different marketing attempts to perform the same things in different ways or in different places.

The church system embraces marketing in all its various forms to expand the Kingdom. Question how can the Kingdom of God be expanded by marketing? Jesus never said go into the world and market the Kingdom. He never said go and use fads to entice people in. He said go preach the gospel to every creature. Go make disciples.

Some would say they are just being ‘relevant’ and using modern ways to perform what Jesus commanded. This shows a complete lack of the understanding & working of the Holy Spirit to draw people to the Father. Instead they use surveys to work out where to ‘plant’ a church. Instead of relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus they use programs to get people into ‘church’. Instead of relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to convict and convert people they use all sorts of ‘tools’ and gimmicks to get people into church. Instead of leading people to Jesus they get them to sign up for church membership.

(g) The church is the centre of activity

You have probably seen the signs, heard the statement, but what does it mean?

What does ‘I Love my church’ really mean?

Does it mean I love the building I go to? (The seats, the lighting, or the décor)

Does it mean I love the coffee and the fellowship at the organization I go to?

Does it mean I love the ‘worship’, the preaching, or the programs of the church?

Does it mean I love the culture of my church? (the way we look, act or do things)

Does it mean I love what I do at my church?

Or

Does it mean I love my church because it is where I meet with God?

Do you realize that if you said yes to any of these questions you are probably loving the idol.

Why you may ask?

You see the bible clearly states that we are to love Christ and put no other before Him.

Anything man made that we love, is an idol

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21

Please read what constitutes and idol here

http://www.miraclerevival.com/articles/208-an-idol-called-the-church-part-9.html

Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Like so many churchianty statements they lead to doctrinal confusion. For example, some would argue that the church is the body of Christ – if this is true, how can you accurately say “I love MY church” – when the body of Christ isn’t yours.

The church that we experience in the modern western world is not necessarily the ‘Ekklesia’ - ‘the body of Christ’,

There are members of the body of Christ within the system called the church but that doesn’t make the church system the body of Christ.

Many people (protestants) outside of the Catholic Church system see this clearly within that system yet are blind to see the same system at work around them, Pentecostals included.

People have accused me of bashing the church, well I don’t want to bash the Church (the system, the idol called the church) I want to see it destroyed because it is an idol. It is actually against the body of Christ. It is designed to keep people immature and bound within the system.

If you don’t believe me try and get out and see what happens. I am not talking about leaving the body of Christ I am talking about leaving the system of the church (the idol). Leave and all hell breaks loose in your life, people disassociate you, lie about you, distort what you say, treat you as a backslidden idiot etc. Some pastors have left the system and they appear to lose everything, yet they gain everything.

I heard a visiting speaker a few months ago say that there were more people outside the church than inside and that we should be encouraging them to ‘get back to church’. He didn’t mean outside of the body of Christ, he meant outside the organized system called the church?

It’s almost as though you are backslidden if you don’t tick the box of ‘attending’ church. One pastor shared of their concern about getting their son back to church – what about his relationship with Jesus, if he hasn’t got one, what about getting him back to Jesus. A church system is the last thing he needs.

A pastor of one of the largest churches in New Zealand said on his TV show recently, where he preached about his church, “you cant be a Christian and not attend church” –
Well Peter, that’s heresy.

He also made statements like “you should be found in the house of God” referring to his church. “you must belong to a church”. And that his “ministry was successful” because it was large and growing.

Again that’s heresy Peter. It is just preaching to build your kingdom and people are swallowing the error.

You see statistically, most Christians don’t go to church.

If there are more people of the body of Christ outside of organized church, why?

Could it be that the system is not working? Could it be that they have something that the system hasn’t – a relationship with Jesus instead of a relationship with church.

Pastor Peter, why should I be found in the house of God when I am the house of God. Where does it actually say in scripture that I have to belong to a church, when in fact the moment I accept Christ I belong to His body.

Many People are leaving the system in the droves; pastors are leaving the system in the droves also. One example of a maga church pastor, Francis Chan, in the USA recently left the church because he said “his life, including how famous he has become in the Christian circle, no longer fit the Bible and he wanted to take time off to realign it with Scripture.”

View full article here http://www.christianpost.com/article/20110103/francis-chan-shares-details-of-asia-trip-at-passion/

Bill Hybels discovered that older Christians were leaving churches in the thousands because they felt they were not able to mature in the system. That’s because it is designed to keep you from maturing. Mature saints see the futility of the system; it is designed for failure from the start.

Don’t get me wrong; I love the body of Christ and I love meeting with the body because the body isn’t an idol and its not man made.

Someone once said “you shouldn’t go to church you should be the church” I like to go one step further and say “I shouldn’t go to church or even try to be the church (because of its error’s), rather I should be the person Christ called me to be within the body of Christ.

You may say “how can you say I am loving the idol if I love my church, because it is where I meet with God”

Acts 7:47-50 But Solomon built him an house. 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? Hath not my hand made all these things?

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

(please read part 8 and part 10 for further understanding)

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

You know this was the scripture Pentecostal preachers were using to get people out of ‘traditional churches’ and into theirs. Now I believe God is saying it to all believers.

What does ‘My church’ really mean?

http://www.vimeo.com/10345604

(h) Viewed as a place of worship

This is a religious term not supported in the N/T – Jesus actually said in Jn 4:21-24 that worship would not be confined to ‘a place’ and if we study what worship actually means we then understand that it is not going to a place to sing three fast songs, three slow songs, communion, offering, announcements and then listen to a sermon. A Christian’s worship is more than singing songs – it is their whole life, as an expression of worship, in word, thought and deed. So the actual place of worship is – the person.

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An idol called the church part 11 - Disillusionment

Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints; to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory:
  • Why are so many people disillusioned?
  • Why are more and more people being disillusioned?
  • What is disillusionment anyway?
  • Is disillusionment the work of the devil, the flesh or the indwelling Christ?
Most Protestants (yes this includes Pentecostals) can see the error, doctrinally, and the idolatry within the Catholic church system as plain as day but are actually blind to the error, doctrinally and the idolatry within the Protestant church system. It is a blindness that can only be swept away by revelation given by Christ. To say we are right and they are wrong without even going to the Lord for His light to shine on areas that He wants changed is ludicrous, yet people dismiss the leading of the Holy Spirit so easily because it challenges the very ‘system’ they believe in.

Maybe you have been involved in ‘church life’ for many years, served the church through many different roles, faithful in attending, but then all of a sudden you become disillusioned. Why?

You see if you are in a church system, obviously you are influenced by it, you are taught by it, ‘corrected’ by it, told it is true, even that ‘truth’ is backed by scripture – but wait, even the Catholic’s think they have the truth, even to the extent that they say they are the one true church. So how do I know the ‘truth’ I know, is real truth. How do I know what I believe, is true?

It is true we don’t have the physical statues, false doctrine such as praying to saints as the Catholic system does, but does that mean we are right and they are wrong. Does it mean that we have a better ‘system’ because we don’t do those things? How do we know we are not found serving a different idol?

The idol called the church has many faces; it takes revelation to see truth.

A pre-cursor to revelation is disillusionment.

I am very disillusioned. But – before you think how bad that is, let me say, it is only good. Let me explain.

Isa. 43:18-19 (NCV) 18 The LORD says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. 19 Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?  (NIV) do you not perceive it?

Most people of the spirit are very perceptive. In fact we cannot be people led of the Spirit if we do not perceive things.

What you perceive determines what you believe. If people have no perception then they believe the wrong thing – they have false belief.  

Today many people’s belief is derived from education instead of perception, information instead of revelation

A while ago a person visited us who had a hearing impairment – their comment was that NZ was basically boring because they couldn’t hear the birds singing. They wore sunglasses that were more like blinkers so they could only see basically what was in front of them & missed out on a lot of the beautiful scenery. They perceived something that was untrue – (NZ is one of the most beautiful places in the world)

We believe only what we perceive. We believe only what we see. (ask for the teaching on ‘Seeing is believing’)
  • So firstly we need to have ears that hear what the Spirit is saying.
  • Secondly perceive correctly what God is saying or doing.
When God spoke to me about the state of the body of Christ a number of years ago I rapidly became disillusioned with the Church. People have accused me of this, but it is actually good, not bad.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you must have faced disillusionment in your life. Have you become disillusioned with life, with other Christians, with church, with yourself - with God? Do you find it harder than you thought to walk as He walked? Do you agonise over unanswered prayers, harsh or shallow people in church, a loss of joy, peace or passion?

If any of these rings true for you, then praise God! Disillusionment is a work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. In fact, I will go so far as to say that, if you have never known such disillusionment as this, then you have not been growing as a Christian.

What is disillusionment anyway?

Firstly, to understand this - what is an illusion? The dictionary states an illusion is:-
  • an erroneous mental representation
  • something many people believe, that is false;

When we witness an illusion, we perceive something that does not correspond to what is actually out there—what exists in the real world. Illusions fool us. They convince us of things that are not true. Dictionary definitions of illusion usually state that an illusion is a sensory perception that causes a false or distorted impression, or a misrepresentation of a "real" sensory stimulus.

Biblically an "Illusion" is something that is false. A false way of seeing things or believing. An illusion can be in the form of false gods of whatever system (or mindset) we are in.

So therefore Dis-illusionment: - means the loss of false belief. Realizing that what you understood is not correct, what you believed to be so is not so.

For, what is it to be disillusioned, but to have your illusions shattered? And what are illusions, but untrue ideas and beliefs that we have acquired along our way? The Holy Spirit wants to root out your illusions, he wants you dis-illusioned – this makes way for revelation – revelation then brings forth truth. Education or knowledge, the things we have been taught, doesn’t bring truth it is revelation that brings truth.

For Jeannette and myself, one of the major reasons God bought us to Ashburton was to get us out of the church system. We had an illusion that what we were doing and had done for nearly 30 years, was God. When we became disillusioned with the ‘system’ we saw all its faults and errors in bold technicolour.

After some time we began to see that what God was doing - what we were perceiving, the revelation God was giving us could never have come while being part of the ‘system’ – Ashburton was to take us out, literally – the bible calls it ‘dying to self’.

After a while instead of seeing the faults of the church system we began to see the ‘system’ in us or the illusions we had, in us, for decades. The focus became the error in us rather than the error in them.
Disillusionment set in but - disillusionment, rightly understood, is a very beneficial force! The more illusions we can be rid of in this life - and there are many - the better! In fact, you will discover that disillusionment naturally leads to renewal. The Lord breaks down; but He also builds up.

In fact, it is sometimes so hard to have our illusions challenged, that we prefer not to grow any further, and to keep our illusions intact.

illusions are a false way of seeing things. Revelation is the true way to see things.

And these things have to do with how we see God, the Christian life, our brothers and sisters in Christ, ‘church’ and ourselves.

The reason that disillusionment is so widespread is because people consistently put their hopes in the wrong things. Even in Christian circles, they almost universally put their faith in organisations more than in God himself. When the organisations let them down (and they always do), there is nothing left for most people to do except hide their disappointment and carry on the best they can.

Disillusion is the child of illusion… i.e., we feel betrayed and let down because from the beginning we’ve had the wrong ideas, the wrong expectations.

You see, our problem is that we tend to try to box God into acting one way… our way… the way we want Him to act, the way we want things to turn out… and then if that doesn’t happen… we get discouraged, we throw in the towel and in despair, turn back to the old life.

Many people were disillusioned by the crucifixion of Jesus – wasn’t He supposed to bring freedom to the Jews, wasn’t He the King of a new Kingdom?

THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS, BUT RATHER THEIR PROBLEM HAD BEEN WITH THEIR EXPECTATIONS.  

Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions.

However, though no longer deceived, our experience of disillusionment may actually leave us cynical and overly critical in our judgment of others.

The problem is a disillusioned person is often cynical.

But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the point where we see people as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism.

The disillusionment with our own abilities is, perhaps, one of the most important things that can ever happen to us.

So with this in mind – are you disillusioned with church? Maybe it is the Holy Spirit wanting to bring you to a place of freedom from the illusions you had about the church system.
You have two choices

1/ Keep pressing in, trying to deal with the disillusionment, brush aside those feelings, thoughts and yes the promptings of the Holy Ghost so that you can stay in the ‘system’, stay in the familiar.

2/ Ask the Lord to show you why you are disillusioned, what is it that you had false belief in?
Are you actually practicing churchianity instead of Christianity.

It may cost you everything – are you willing to die to self.

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An idol called the church part 10 - A mystery

Ephesians 3:9-10 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the assembly the manifold wisdom of God,

I want to talk to you about a mystery. The dictionary states a mystery as a ‘puzzling event or situation’ and to the unsaved or those that are not walking in the Spirit this mystery can be puzzling. To the spiritual, a mystery is known by divine revelation.

I like a good mystery but even more than that I like a 'revealed mystery'

Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints; to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory:

Paul proclaimed this Christ as being in them. For the design of the Gospel is to put men possessed of the Spirit and walking in the power of Christ, to make them partakers of the Divine nature, and so prepare them for an eternal union with himself.

Now before you say "I know that Christ is in me" and stop reading - I am not talking about a 'symbolic Jesus is in my heart' type thing - I am talking that the creator of the universe is actually living in you.

If we get a revelation of this (not just a head knowledge) it will transform you life.

This is what the Lord wanted right from when He created Adam - to Live with man, to have deep fellowship with him, to walk and talk with him.

Because of Adams sin, God departed. Then God chose to live among men via the tabernacle, His presence was seen by all, He was worshiped there, people ‘came’ to worship, people ‘came’ to hear from God.

In the New Testament, under the new covenant instituted by Christ,

God no longer dwells in a physical temple.

Acts 7:47-50 But Solomon built him an house. 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? Hath not my hand made all these things?

Again Paul said in
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

A building is not the habitation of God anymore.

I want to talk about:-

•    Christianity not churchianity - Churchianty is about church – Christianity is about Christ
•    The body not a business
•    Organism not an organization
•    Relationship not religiosity – religiosity is about doing or seen to be doing – relationship is about being.
•    His Presence not our performance – performance is about me and about me doing – presence is about Him and about Him doing. Performance is about my involvement – presence is about His involvement. My works are as filthy rags – His works in and through me are as gold. He must increase – I must decrease. I must realize that the less of me equals the more of Him. I need a revelation of Christ in me the hope of glory. The Apostle Paul put it this way – “its no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me”.
•    A spiritual building not an earthly building

1 Peter 2:4-5 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice [chosen, elect] and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

You are God's 'spiritual house' - He no longer 'dwells' in buildings made by man, He doesnt live in churches, He dwells in you.

All sources agree that ‘ekklesia’ denotes not a physical structure but a living, eternal spiritual dwelling place. But many sources misstranslate this to the word church. A living spiritual house - not a system, an organization or a place but a living 'body' Being assembled and fit together by the Lord for His dwelling.

Paul said: (Ephesians 2:20-22).
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [holy ones] and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple [sanctuary] in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit"

The true assembly of believers of God is not of this world but is a spiritual dwelling place for God.

So the church building is no longer inhabited by God – it is not the house of God anymore, it is not sacred, it is not holy, it is not sanctified.

But the body of Christ is now being built up as a dwelling place of God, the body of Christ is now the temple, and individuals are of the household of God.

His house will be (is) within His believers. We of the Body of Christ are His dwelling place forever.
Hebrews 3:6 but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

We so need a revelation of ‘Christ in Us’

We have got to get off the focus of meetings, going to see miracles in a meeting, going to worship God somewhere, going to a meeting to get healed, going to a meeting to get……

We have got to turn meetings into ministry.

Got to get off the focus of meetings and onto personal ministry.

Do you realize that Christ is in you, all the power, authority and ability of Christ is in you. Healing is in you. Miracles are in you. All you have to do is learn to let Jesus Christ minister through you.

God is taking the emphasis off superstars and onto the saints.

You see God wants to use you to perform miracles, He wants you to worship Him from your relationship with Him, every day, rather than a religious meeting where your heart isn’t. He wants to use you to heal others out in the market place, in your everyday life.

1 John 4:4 ………. greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

When you have the revelation that God lives in you you partake of the divine nature and you don’t sin, and secondly you realize that the power of Christ to do what He says is IN YOU. The power to heal is in you, the power to do miracles is in you.

When you have the revelation that God is in you you worship differently because He is with you, walking with you every second of every day – that’s why I can fellowship with Him anytime, anywhere.
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An idol called the 'church' part 9

In this article you will discover if you are being influenced by the idol

What constitutes and idol?

“An idol occupies that place in our esteem and affections, in our thoughts, words and ways, in our dependence and reliance, in our worship and devotedness, which is due to God only? Whatever is to us what the Lord alone should be, that is to us an idol.”

“You may not be found out. Your idol may be so hidden, or so peculiar, that all our attempts to touch it, have left you and it unscathed. Will you therefore conclude that you have none? Search deeper, look closer; it is not too deep for the eye of God, nor too hidden for the eyes of a tender conscience anointed with divine eye-salve. Hidden love is the deepest of all love; hidden diseases the most incurable of all diseases. Search every fold of your heart until you find it. It may not be so big nor so ugly as your neighbour’s;  but an idol is still an idol, and an image still an image, whether so small as to be carried in the coat pocket, or as large as a gigantic statue.” J. C. Philpot, October, 1855

An idol is a human-made object that is worshipped in some way.

A false concept or notion; fallacy, is an idol.

“Every man has his idol; but it is not every man who sees it. Few groan under it.” J. C. Philpot

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21

How to overcome an idol –

A. Discern the idol.
B. Expose the idol.
C. Defeat the idol.

The first thing you need to do is ask God for discernment, the second, ask Him to show you how it is working in your life, to expose it, the third, ask Him to bring victory in defeating it in your life.

The most powerful (suicidal) prayer I have ever prayed a number of years ago was “Lord expose what is in my heart”, “even if it means losing everything even if my ministry dies, create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit in me”. – yikes, He did, and it didn’t happen as I expected.

A. DISCERN THE IDOL

The first step in defeating the idol is to discern it. I and many others within the ‘church’ system have over many years been discerning ‘something’ and over the last number of months I have been exposing that which has been discerned, the idol called the church, through the revelation and teachings the Lord has given me. (Maybe you could go over the teachings again to reemphasise it into your heart.)

Many others have been discerning ‘something’ but not having a name for it, I thank God that this teaching has bought revelation to the discernment, so now we see what we have been discerning.

You need to have an open, unbiased heart to discern. Ask the Lord to take off every veil that may be on your eyes that clouds your discernment - Let Him show you and in your spirit, not your mind (that has been taught all sorts of things) receive.

Someone recently said “we need to get rid of all the heretics – what constitutes a heretic, someone who dares to question”.

The idol doesn’t want you to question things, the system is designed to blacklist you if you dare question it but I want to assure you it is ok to question things. And don’t push aside that niggling feeling when something happens, pursue it to find out what the Lord is saying.

Many people’s discernment is labelled as being judgmental or critical to keep them in line in the system but you know the bible actually tells us to judge.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

There is a vast difference between judgment and being judgemental and between discernment and criticism.  

Discernment is a gift of the Spirit that needs to be cultivated. Over the years Jeannette and I have learnt to rely upon this gift so many times. Many times ignoring the ‘niggling’ because we thought we were being judgmental only to find the feeling was right and if we had acted on what the Spirit was telling us would have saved us a lot of grief.

2. EXPOSE THE IDOLS

You see the preaching of the Gospel changes people's lives. No lasting and genuine change can come apart from the Gospel! It is the truth that sets us free. Truth may not be very palatable at times but it has to be preached.

If idols aren't confronted, there's no change in the behaviour of people.

It's true that manmade idols are not real gods, however they have power, especially when they have a demonic entity fuelling it.

Paul's response to the idols he saw:- His spirit was provoked. And he then preached against the idols. He exposed them through the preaching of the truth.

I pray that my preaching will continue to expose the idol in people’s lives

Acts 19:26 “Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands.”

Through the Lord’s grace I have been exposing this idol, and through His word, persuaded many.

The Lord is opening our eyes to see and I pray more and more eyes and hearts will be opened.

But whenever you threaten someone's idols, people themselves feel threatened and they will fight back, e.g.-as we see in Ephesus when Paul exposed idols there.

Please be aware of that – things can get nasty in and around your life when you expose this idol and especially when you begin to share your revelation. I have had pastors actually manifest in front of me when this idol was exposed in them.

I want to expose the idol in your life (if it is there) –
Don’t take my word for it, please be open hearted and seek the Lord in this because it is He and He alone that can reveal it and set you free.

Firstly I want to ask you a question - Can something intrinsically good become an idol?

The answer is yes.  Anything good that basically takes the place of God for whatever reason can become an idol. Even the bible can become an idol if it is worshipped. So can worship, Some people talk about worshipping worship, if the act of worship takes on any form other than worshipping God for who He is alone, for example how great this song sounds, the music is so professional etc can become an idol. We leave the meaning and pursue the act.

So church can become an idol when it takes the place of God.

Here is a test to see if you are influenced by the idol called the church.

•    Do you your serve the house of God (church, building or organization)?

•    Do you feel guilty if you do not attend meetings put on by the church organization?

•    Do you feel pressured to ‘give’ your finances or time to the church?

•    Have you ever been told that serving the house is serving God?

•    Do you think God is well pleased with you if you attend church but displeased with you if you don’t?

•    Do you feel pressured to bring people to church?

•    Is there an underlying feeling that if your church can just grow to a certain number then it is successful?

•    Is there a sense of either failure or lack of success if you don’t achieve requirements put on you by your pastor or leader?

•    Do you go to church to grow in your relationship with God?

•    Are you different on a Sunday to every other day of the week?

Do you see your value as a person attained by:-

•    How you perform?

•    Your Position?

•    What you do?


For Pastors and leaders.

Is there pressure to perform by your church system to…… ?

a)    Grow your church numerically – (you must grow to be recognized by the system.)
(Many movements / denominations will not even recognize groups under a certain number as a church ie you are not a church unless you have 100 or 150 people attending – one movement it is 300)

b)    Produce leaders or pastors.
(some movements have requirements that you must train up leaders so they will go and plant churches)

c)    Increase financially
(Some movements view the financial state of your church as an indicator of being healthy spiritually)

d)    Increase in position within the system.
there is pressure to perform and increase in ‘rank’ – if you don’t then you are a lesser leader.

e)    Does your denomination or movement own the building, property or equipment?

Is there a sense of either failure or lack of success if you don’t achieve requirements put on you by your denomination or movement?
For example do you pastor a group of 50 people but you feel you are less than successful.

Do you see your value as a person attained by:-

•    How you perform?

•    Your Position?

•    What you do?

•    How big your group is that you lead?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you are probably being influenced by the idol, If you answered yes to 2 or 3 of these questions then you are definitely being influenced and if you answered yes to 4 or more then you are certainly being controlled by the idol.


3. DEFEAT THE IDOL

Acts 19:30-31: When idols are opposed, it's dangerous. It's true that idols are empty yet they wield enormous power over us; through them the powers and principalities try to control us.

They use position, manipulation and fear to try to control us – they make you fear the of loss of ………, (insert here whatever you fear the loss of - maybe friends, position, ministry, money, welfare, even your salvation etc ) if you dare to come against it.

Paul risked his life to break/defeat the power of idols.
Jesus gave his life to defeat the power of idols. (Colossians 2:15).
Power and principalities are unleashed all their fury on Jesus and He died...yet in doing that He defeated them!!!

So, how do you defeat the idol in your life?

One option, albeit the wrong one, is to try real hard to stop making it an idol.

But the only way to successfully defeat the idol is to turn to the one who has defeated every idol – who went to the cross for you and disarmed, for all eternity, the “rulers and authorities” of this world. Colossians 2:15 speaks of this: “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Position yourself in His victory

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 2 Cor 6:17 –

You see you cant change a system from within, I have seen many try to, but fail. You can’t put “new wine in old wineskins". You cannot defeat the idol while you continue to submit to it, again that is something the idol uses to stop you – the feeling of being disloyal – it is actually a false loyalty.

I remember many years ago when the Lord was trying to get me to do something. I unwittingly disobeyed Him because of the feeling of being disloyal if I left what I was doing. For over 12 months it was agony. When I finally dealt with the false loyalty and obeyed Him things dramatically changed – but I had to make the first move. False loyalty binds people to the idol so you need to break free and be loyal to Jesus and what He is saying to you.   

Yield your mind, your entire being to Him for Him to bring change. You will most likely have to unlearn all the Greek philosophical teaching / thinking you have been influenced by over the years and re-learn, His way. This will take many years for most people but the more you yield the quicker the process.

Casting down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God 1 Cor 10:5 – we wage war – it’s a fight – it may be difficult but don’t give in this is one reason we have set up Christian Assemblies to help you with the transition.
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An idol called the 'church' part 8

In this article we will discover the answer to two important questions.

What is the House of God?

Where is the House of God?

A sign outside a ‘church’ read “If you come to my house, I will come to yours”

While this simple statement may appear good it isn’t scriptural or doctrinally correct at all. It paints a picture that is incorrect. I will explain later.

Some have criticized me saying I am ‘picky’ or ‘playing on words’. Many excuses for not dealing with the idol have been made saying things like “does it really matter” or, “they don’t really mean what they say”. (when I use examples of statements people say).

Maybe the individual, incorrect statement in itself may seem insignificant (like “If you come to my house, I will come to yours”) The problem is the number of small incorrect statements combined paint a huge picture that people see, and that is how the idol seeps into our thinking, little by little. It then takes revelation to break through that mindset.

2 Cor 10:3-5 states how to do this.

You see a power (idol) manifests through strongholds, arguments, speculations, imaginations, every high thing that exults itself above the knowledge of God, even thoughts that are not taken captive to the obedience of Christ.

A thought – A series of thoughts is an idea.
A series of ideas put together you have a concept.
Several concepts, now you have an argument (something you can have an argument about). Arguments together you have a stronghold or an ideology or a culture, a worldview. You may not have a visible idol but you have ideology or culture & so spiritual powers manifest through ideas that keep people from truth.

The powers manifest through man – through ideas, culture, a way to see things, a way to do things.

This statement (“If you come to my house, I will come to yours”) as well as others bandied about by well-meaning people are influenced by the idol to enforce its effect in people’s lives. The idol seeks to enslave people to serve it, rather than serve Christ.

Example: how often do you hear statements like:-

“Welcome to the house of God today”

“We are building the house of God”

“We are taking up an offering to build the house”

“God is in the house this morning”

I have heard whole series of sermons on “We are sons of the house” and “We are to serve the house”

I hear these statements and actually cringe. Why?

Well first what is the house of God?

In the Old Testament both the temple in the wilderness and Solomon's temple were filled with the Spirit of God, to the extent that the priests could not even stand to minister.

In the Old Testament God actually dwelled in the temples made by men.

There are countless scriptures that talk about God dwelling in man-made structures. This was very important for people of that era as a temple was far more than an expensive and beautiful place to worship: a temple was the place where the God they worshiped lived.

The first mention of the house of God in scripture is where Jacob experienced the manifest presence of God and thus said “this is none other than the house of God” Gen 28:17. The house of God literally became where God’s presence was.

Right from the beginning God wanted to dwell with His people. After the fall God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle for His presence to dwell. Exo 25:8

It was an incredible thing; the people of God seeing God descend into the tabernacle.
Ex 33:8-11 where Moses spoke with God face to face. Where Joshua ministered to the Lord.

Worship was given because God was there.

The writer of Hebrews, in chapter 9, describes the Old Testament temple; its appearance and the activities of the Levite priests (vs. 1-8). He then compares it to the temple of Christ as follows:

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle [or sacred tent] not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (Hebrews 9:11).

In the New Testament, under the new covenant instituted by Christ,

God no longer dwells in a physical temple.

Acts 7:47-50 But Solomon built him an house. 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? Hath not my hand made all these things?

Again Paul said in

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

A building is not the habitation of God anymore.

There are only 3 references to the term ‘house of God’ in some translations of the NT. (Other translations translate the Greek word oikos ‘houshold’ All three of them referring to the spiritual household of God which is the assembly. We must view these scriptures in light of all other NT scriptures which refer to the body as the house of God (1 Pet 2:5) Not a building or organization.

1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 10:21 & 1 Peter 4:17

Paul never refers to the Ekklesia (assembly) as a physical structure but as a dedicated group of disciples; a new race redeemed by the blood of Christ (Mounce's Expository Dictionary).

"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice [chosen, elect] and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices 1 Peter 2:4-5

All sources agree that ‘ekklesia’ denotes not a physical structure but a living, eternal spiritual dwelling place.

Paul said:
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [holy ones] and are of God's household,

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple [sanctuary] in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).

The true assembly of believers of God is not of this world but is a spiritual dwelling place for God.

So the church building is no longer inhabited by God – it is not the house of God anymore, it is not sacred, it is not holy, it is not sanctified.

But the body of Christ is now being built up as a dwelling place of God, the body of Christ is now the temple, and individuals are of the household of God.

His house will be (is) within His believers. We of the Body of Christ are His dwelling place forever.

Hebrews 3:6 but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now, here is the clincher

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

What agreement has a temple of God with idols? None. Repent and turn away from idols, repent and turn away from the idol called the church to Christ.

I am not saying turn away from assembling together as the assembly of believers in Christ, I am not even saying do away with buildings in which we meet but I am saying turn away from the idol called the church.

The glory doesn’t reside anymore in the building or organization.

Where God’s glory resides:-

From the temple (OT) to Christ & the body of Christ (NT)

We are told that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus is the Chief cornerstone of the spiritual building of God.

Matt. 16:15-18  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  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. 18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my assembly; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This passage has given rise to many different interpretations. Some have supposed that the word ROCK refers to Peter himself. This, I believe, is not correct because the assembly Christ is talking about building is not built upon a man but rather it is a spiritual building. We see the idol’s philosophy here - when man is made the centre of anything. (you could study the Catholic church’s doctrine of Peter being the rock & foundation of the church)

Jesus is the foundation and the rock – Not Peter

Others have supposed that the assembly will be built upon Peter’s confession; and that he meant to say, upon this rock-- this truth that thou hast confessed, that I am the Messiah--and upon confessions of this from all believers, I will build my assembly.

Others have thought that Jesus referred to himself.

Christ is called a rock, Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20

1 Peter 2:5-9 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed." For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone," and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

I believe the later to be what Jesus was referring to. He being the chief cornerstone and the ‘lively stones’ (believers) being built up as a spiritual house where the presence of God dwells.

This is the assembly that He is building. The word assembly could be understood like the assembling of a jigsaw puzzle rather than just a group of people meeting together. Another way of looking at the word is like a car assembly line where cars are being assembled.

Jesus said “I will build my assembly” the house of God is being assembled, (built, put together) with Christ being the cornerstone.

These other passages make clear that Jesus Himself is the foundation. The chief cornerstone was the foundational stone in ancient architecture, from which all measurements began, so every other stone was laid in relationship to the cornerstone. Clearly this position belongs to Jesus.

Jesus being the foundation stone, all other stones should be laid by Him & directly from Him.

In other words if you want to see what the assembly should look like, look at the cornerstone.

Look at Jesus the ‘fundamental beginning’ to see what He is building now. What did Jesus do, how did He do it. If what is being built is not the image of Christ then its probably not Christ.

Jesus said "I will build my assembly" & the book of Acts shows Him doing it.

J.B. Phillips wrote that the reader of the book of Acts "is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history .... as it was meant to be."

Many have been saying for years “we need to return to the Book of Acts Christianity.” (Christianity as portrayed by the early saints) Many have been saying “we need to build our ‘churches’ by the pattern of the Book of Acts.”

I agree, but we can’t do it while keeping the old. We cannot stay in the ‘system’ and try and change it. I have been in ministry around 30 years and I have never seen it done. People have said things like “well I am just staying and praying that things will change” – Experience shows - they don’t.

You cannot put new wine in old wineskins. You cannot patch old cloth with new cloth.

It is not developing a new ‘system’ within the ‘system’ to overcome the idol.

I believe it is all about looking to Jesus and seeing what He is assembling. Many are, I am amazed at what God is doing, there is a spiritual reformation going on. People are getting revelation, connections of parts of the body coming together in unique ways.

‘Churches’ are being transformed. I know a number that are transitioning well, some started but have slowed for various reasons and some started but have stopped because it’s too hard. Needless to say there is a shift going on.

One in particular in NZ has had an awesome transition from a church to an Assembly – they have forsook the idol and the old ways and simply sought Christ to live His way. It has sometimes been a hard road for them, many not understanding them, but they are flying high in Jesus, seeing people’s lives change by teaching them how to ‘be’ Christians and flow in the power of the Holy Spirit instead of being pew warmers and learning how to get a good life style. While some think they are ‘off the planet’ others think they have given up far too much. I believe their response is that what they have now as an assembly far outweighs any cost of transition.

We are looking at joining with and setting up something to help others on a similar journey, not a network as such but a group of likeminded people on the same page helping, resources, encouraging one another etc.

While this is in its infancy, If you are interested please email me and I can let you know more as things become clear.


In Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28

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  • This is good stuff brother and the heart of the good news. Christ in you is what this is about. Peter said you are the Christ the son of the living Go... More...
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