Christian Life Church
October 9, 2022 8:30am & 10:00am
Why God’s People Come to Church #28 To Conduct Kingdom Business Together
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Fullness
Why God’s People Come to Church
#28To Conduct Kingdom Business Together 10.9.22
Remember…
#1. To Worship God together.
#2. To be strengthened in Christ together.
#3. To be equipped to do the work of ministry.
#4. To conduct Kingdom business together.
#5. To be touched and made whole by Jesus.
#6. To be empowered to spread the Gospel.
Getting started…
I. Understanding word pictures that are “part of the puzzle.”
A. Family, Farm, Flock, Army, Priesthood, Body, etc.
B. Salvation: those sacred words that form a collective image.
C. Kingdom Business: No single image or word adequately portrays the whole idea.
II. Understanding the role of Ekklesia
A. A mistaken notion is that the main job of church is to “rule” and “make decrees.” There is a place for that in the definition, but it is not the primary image.
B. Today, the emphasis on “Kingdom Now Theology” is a misuse of the idea of making Biblical decrees.
C. What does the Scripture mean when it says of Jesus - “He sat down”?
D. Decrees are important, but only if they are His (as in Psalm 2).
E. The example of “binding and loosing.”
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Understanding the definition of ekklesia is an important component of understanding the church.
Ekklesia is a Greek word frequently defined as “a called-out assembly or congregation.” Ekklesia is commonly translated as “church” in the New Testament. For example, Acts 11:26 says that “Barnabas and Saul met with the church [ekklesia]” in Antioch. In 1 Corinthians 15:9 Paul says that he had persecuted “the church [ekklesia] of God.”
The “called-out assembly,” then, is a congregation of believers whom God has called out of the world and “into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are called out of Babylon.
The Greek ekklesia is the basis for our English words ecclesiastical (“pertaining to the church”) and ecclesiology (“the study of doctrine concerning the church”).
The word in the New Testament was also used to refer to any assembly of people. In his address to the Sanhedrin, Stephen calls the people of Israel “the assembly [ekklesia] in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38). And in Acts 19:39, ekklesia refers to a convening of citizens to discuss legal matters. However, in most contexts, the word ekklesia is used to refer to the people who comprise the New Testament church.
It is important that the church today understand the primary understanding of ekklesia. The church must see itself afresh as being “called out” by God. If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world. Salt is different from the food it flavors. God has called the church to be separate from sin (1 Peter 1:16), to embrace fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), and to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). God has graciously called us unto Himself: “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you’” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
In my opinion, the church in the New Testament is never seen as concerning itself primarily with decrees except in matters given it directly by The Lord. See the story of Herod in Acts 12. The Church prayed, and God acted.
We are not upper management, but rather we are servants of The Most High God. His Ambassadors. His Bond-Slaves.
III. Understanding the role of Ambassadors
A. Few people have truly paid the price of Ambassadorship.
B. As a result, many (if not most) decrees and declarations are products of our own spirit rather than The Holy Spirit.
C. Ambassadors speak with the authority of the government they represent, but there must be an assurance that the wishes of the king are fully understood, and accurately conveyed. This requires at least four attributes on the part of the Ambassador:
1. A level of integrity
2. A level of intimacy
3. A level of intensity
4. A level of intentionality
All based on proper submission.
We must deal with the possibility that very few Christians walk in intimacy sufficient to sustain the relationship/authority they claim to experience.
A study in “Administration”
John 2:1-4 King James Version And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
New King James Version On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
New International Version On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
Mary
1. To her credit - she knew the value of a pondering heart.
2. What was she after?
3. What transition was happening?
4. What lesson was being conveyed?
Christian Life Lessons
1. From Mary we learn that even the most elevated position does not ensure infallibility or even elevated understanding.
2. From Jesus we learn the most difficult place to minister is often in the context of home and family.
3. Mary was learning that our agenda is not necessarily in agreement with His.
4. Mary was learning that everything must be “cleared or decreed” by Father.
A. I John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
• Note: This is more than just praying what God wishes in a broad sense.
B. John 55:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. Not generically, but very specifically.
• Note: This is the meaning behind the “Lazarus Delay.”
C. So, why did Jesus go ahead and perform the miracle?
• He gained the approval of the Father.
• This wasn’t a favor for Mary. It wasn’t because He was in a good mood.
• It was one of Seven Special Signs.
• Note: Many times we are “in the neighborhood” of understanding what God wants to do, but our role as Ambassador requires that we sit with him for proper instruction.
• There is a fallacy that we are left on our own as Ambassadors because of “great distance.”
5. Kingdom observations
A. Rights do not guarantee authority.
B. Authority does not guarantee power.
C. We must mature to the point of understanding authority AND power.
D. Authority comes by:
• The Permission of The Lord
• Proper relationship and maturity
• A level of integrity
• A level of intimacy
• A level of intensity
• A level of intentionality
• Proper submission
So let’s review…
#1. To worship God together.
#2. To be strengthened in Christ together.
#3. To be equipped to do the work of ministry.
#4. To conduct Kingdom business together.
#5. To be touched and made whole by Jesus.
#6. To be empowered to spread the Gospel.
Why God’s People Come to Church
#28To Conduct Kingdom Business Together 10.9.22
Remember…
#1. To Worship God together.
#2. To be strengthened in Christ together.
#3. To be equipped to do the work of ministry.
#4. To conduct Kingdom business together.
#5. To be touched and made whole by Jesus.
#6. To be empowered to spread the Gospel.
Getting started…
I. Understanding word pictures that are “part of the puzzle.”
A. Family, Farm, Flock, Army, Priesthood, Body, etc.
B. Salvation: those sacred words that form a collective image.
C. Kingdom Business: No single image or word adequately portrays the whole idea.
II. Understanding the role of Ekklesia
A. A mistaken notion is that the main job of church is to “rule” and “make decrees.” There is a place for that in the definition, but it is not the primary image.
B. Today, the emphasis on “Kingdom Now Theology” is a misuse of the idea of making Biblical decrees.
C. What does the Scripture mean when it says of Jesus - “He sat down”?
D. Decrees are important, but only if they are His (as in Psalm 2).
E. The example of “binding and loosing.”
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Understanding the definition of ekklesia is an important component of understanding the church.
Ekklesia is a Greek word frequently defined as “a called-out assembly or congregation.” Ekklesia is commonly translated as “church” in the New Testament. For example, Acts 11:26 says that “Barnabas and Saul met with the church [ekklesia]” in Antioch. In 1 Corinthians 15:9 Paul says that he had persecuted “the church [ekklesia] of God.”
The “called-out assembly,” then, is a congregation of believers whom God has called out of the world and “into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are called out of Babylon.
The Greek ekklesia is the basis for our English words ecclesiastical (“pertaining to the church”) and ecclesiology (“the study of doctrine concerning the church”).
The word in the New Testament was also used to refer to any assembly of people. In his address to the Sanhedrin, Stephen calls the people of Israel “the assembly [ekklesia] in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38). And in Acts 19:39, ekklesia refers to a convening of citizens to discuss legal matters. However, in most contexts, the word ekklesia is used to refer to the people who comprise the New Testament church.
It is important that the church today understand the primary understanding of ekklesia. The church must see itself afresh as being “called out” by God. If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world. Salt is different from the food it flavors. God has called the church to be separate from sin (1 Peter 1:16), to embrace fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), and to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). God has graciously called us unto Himself: “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you’” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
In my opinion, the church in the New Testament is never seen as concerning itself primarily with decrees except in matters given it directly by The Lord. See the story of Herod in Acts 12. The Church prayed, and God acted.
We are not upper management, but rather we are servants of The Most High God. His Ambassadors. His Bond-Slaves.
III. Understanding the role of Ambassadors
A. Few people have truly paid the price of Ambassadorship.
B. As a result, many (if not most) decrees and declarations are products of our own spirit rather than The Holy Spirit.
C. Ambassadors speak with the authority of the government they represent, but there must be an assurance that the wishes of the king are fully understood, and accurately conveyed. This requires at least four attributes on the part of the Ambassador:
1. A level of integrity
2. A level of intimacy
3. A level of intensity
4. A level of intentionality
All based on proper submission.
We must deal with the possibility that very few Christians walk in intimacy sufficient to sustain the relationship/authority they claim to experience.
A study in “Administration”
John 2:1-4 King James Version And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
New King James Version On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
New International Version On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
Mary
1. To her credit - she knew the value of a pondering heart.
2. What was she after?
3. What transition was happening?
4. What lesson was being conveyed?
Christian Life Lessons
1. From Mary we learn that even the most elevated position does not ensure infallibility or even elevated understanding.
2. From Jesus we learn the most difficult place to minister is often in the context of home and family.
3. Mary was learning that our agenda is not necessarily in agreement with His.
4. Mary was learning that everything must be “cleared or decreed” by Father.
A. I John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
• Note: This is more than just praying what God wishes in a broad sense.
B. John 55:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. Not generically, but very specifically.
• Note: This is the meaning behind the “Lazarus Delay.”
C. So, why did Jesus go ahead and perform the miracle?
• He gained the approval of the Father.
• This wasn’t a favor for Mary. It wasn’t because He was in a good mood.
• It was one of Seven Special Signs.
• Note: Many times we are “in the neighborhood” of understanding what God wants to do, but our role as Ambassador requires that we sit with him for proper instruction.
• There is a fallacy that we are left on our own as Ambassadors because of “great distance.”
5. Kingdom observations
A. Rights do not guarantee authority.
B. Authority does not guarantee power.
C. We must mature to the point of understanding authority AND power.
D. Authority comes by:
• The Permission of The Lord
• Proper relationship and maturity
• A level of integrity
• A level of intimacy
• A level of intensity
• A level of intentionality
• Proper submission
So let’s review…
#1. To worship God together.
#2. To be strengthened in Christ together.
#3. To be equipped to do the work of ministry.
#4. To conduct Kingdom business together.
#5. To be touched and made whole by Jesus.
#6. To be empowered to spread the Gospel.