10.1In the Silence

In the Silence In this last chapter, I shall attempt to put all these topics together, and explore how they influence our understanding in the gathering of the church. There is a very sensitive distinction to be made between following the blueprint of the Bible in how to function within the church, and doing things in a religious format. It’s not easy to walk this tightrope; but it is very important to get it right. There are a couple of things in a meeting that can quench the working of the Holy Spirit and there are a couple of things in the meeting that will help us to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Often, in the ekklesia gatherings, we take the holy things of God, and use them as alternatives to hearing what the Spirit is actually saying to the church. For instance, when an ekklesia church gathering keep on having Bible studies, debating theology, or talking over what they have discovered on Google, can all distract us from what the Spirit is actually saying to the church. Many of us come from churches where the proper use of spiritual gifts have been replaced by well-oiled church programmes, secular driven music with the name of Jesus in it, and motivational speakers. This has caused many of us who want to practise ekklesia gatherings, battle to function under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Yet, many of us long for to truly experience the leading of the Spirit as we read about in the Bible. For instance: Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Act 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (KJV) On another occasion, there was a theological disagreement, and after long deliberation the church sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit as to how to settle the issue, as we read in: Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (KJV) The church could not function without the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we are to function as the body of Christ, Him being the Head, then we need to hear what the Spirit has to say to the church. Paul writes the following, in: 1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather [especially] 1. that ye may prophesy. (KJV) And again in: 1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (KJV) Then he repeats this again in: 1Co 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (KJV) Every one of the above passages clarifies Paul’s heart that the Corinthian church should practise spiritual gifts, especially that of prophecy. As seen already, prophecy just means speaking by inspiration of God’s Spirit. There is an interesting account in the Old Testament where the Holy Spirit came upon the seventy elders of Israel in the time of Moses, and where Joshua was concerned about two elders who prophesied while not being with Moses and the other elders. Look at the way Moses responded to Joshua’s concern, in:

Num 11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. Num 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! (KJV) Moses, just like Paul’s desire for the church, wanted all of Israel to prophecy. Surely we can see God’s heart in this? God wants to speak to His people. When Paul starts to explain spiritual gifts to the Corinthian church, he writes the following interesting statement, in: 1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. (KJV) Is it not amazing that Paul would speak of being led away by dumb idols? How would dumb idols, in other words, idols that don’t speak, lead people away? The fact is that this very silence from God leads people to trust in their own imagination, which inevitably leads people into error. The living God speaks to His people. Christ is risen and is in our midst, and wants to interact with His body through the Holy Spirit. We read an interesting account in: Amo 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: Amo 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (KJV) When God was silent and refused to speak to Israel, it indicated God’s judgment on them for not listening to Him in the first place. It was in this silence of God that Israel was led into even further darkness as they followed dumb idols. If there is silence between Christ and the Church what do you think it indicates? God wants to speak to His church. The less man speaks, and the more he listens to what the Spirit has to say, the more he finds that Christ has something to say to His church. This is why the instruction to women to have a quiet spirit in the ekklesia gathering, has more to do with the whole church having a quiet mind

and heart than with the behaviour of the actual women in the church. As it has been taught regarding women needing to learn in silence, of the focus is really on the church, as the bride of Christ, needing to learn in silence and submission to Christ. That is why the psalmist would say: Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (KJV) What type of still does God mean? Just being quite, but having our hearts and minds somewhere else, is not what the psalmist is talking about. God want our minds and hearts completely focused of the fact that He is God over all. So it is about our minds and hearts being quite about ourselves and the affairs of this world and just know that God is in control. All that is left is to hear what our Father has to say. In the next section I am going to deal with the church being the temple of God. But there is something about us being the temple that I would like to mention here, that talks of us being quite. The Bible calls Christians living stones in this new house of God that is being built. 1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 1Pe 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. (KJV) The thing about living stones is that they need to be chiselled and prepared so they can function properly in the temple. Yet many house churches make the mistake to do the chiselling and preparation during the ekklesia meetings. Yet the ekklesia meeting is not meant to be the time to work on the needs of the individual living stones. These living stones are not formed at the meetings but outside the meetings. For instance, when Solomon built the temple of God in Jerusalem, God gave them this interesting instruction: 1Ki 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. (KJV) I repeat, the meeting place is not for us to work on our individual lives, but is about us being built into the house of God. We have the rest of the week to

work on our individual lives outside the meeting. When we come together for the ekklesia meeting, we are to keep quiet concerning our individual personal needs, and focus on what the Lord has to say to us as the body, the church, and the house of God. For it might be that there is an unbeliever or an uninformed person in our midst, and as we function as priests of our God, God, through us, in His house, may expose the secrets of their hearts and so they fall down on their knees acknowledging that God is truly among us.

1. Insertion is mine for clarification

10.2When We Come Together

When We Come Together. Those who have embarked on this journey of what is called home church or organic church, would have found it a lot easier said than done. Why is that? The reality is that we are faced with much opposition to the success of our home church fellowship. I want to take some time to discuss these, because once we can properly identify these forces of opposition, we are better armed to defend ourselves against them. 1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: (KJV) 2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (KJV) Each one of us imagines what church should look like. Even though we would all claim that we are seeking the church that Christ is building, we are actually seeking the church we wish that Christ is building. By that I mean, that each one of us fantasises about a type of church that would be constructed around our personality, our needs, our desires, our biases, and of course our religious baggage. Many people, who “try” home church / organic church, became very disillusioned very quickly. So, the group will start off with nervous excitement and may experience a honeymoon period. This often includes a big portion of the meeting being used to criticise institutional churches. However, this becomes stale quickly, as brothers and sisters are confronted the reality of their own inadequacies in ministering to one another. They might look back and wonder whether what they can offer is better than that provided by the institutional church. These doubts and frustrations lead to personal agendas which various people try to force on to the group. Unfortunately, each person has their own agenda, fuelled by their own needs, personality, and religious baggage. This eventually leads to disagreements which in turn lead to emotional arguments, which can lead to bitter feuds, which cause splits, hurts, or the breakup of the fellowship. What is the solution? Before we explore for a solution, it must be said that disagreements are unavoidable, but they are not always a bad thing. Disagreements can actually show the members who among them has wisdom from the Spirit of God.

1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (KJV) However, disputes can become bad when the flesh or carnality dominates the fellowship and the meetings. The fruit of the flesh is strife and divisions. Those led by the Spirit of God, seek the bond of peace and unity. 2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (KJV) 1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1Co 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (KJV) Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (KJV) Those who are spiritually mature and are led by the Spirit, place the well-being of their brothers and sisters above their desire to win arguments or to be seen to have the correct doctrine. You see, any doctrine that does not bring us closer to

Christ, is not worth being correct on. Ultimately Jesus is our doctrine, as He is the only way to the Father, the truth, and the life. However, I am not insinuating that all other biblical topics are just peripheral, and not really important. What I am saying, is that we should not think that our own personal understanding of all the other topics in the Bible is infallible. We know in part, and all of us have to admit that we have been wrong before in our interpretation of some Scriptures. Where knowledge fails us, love will not. 1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (KJV) Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (KJV)

Those who are mature in their walk with the Lord are able to discern whether it is merely a discussion where disagreement takes place in a healthy way, where everyone is searching out the truth with mutual respect, learning together, or whether the argument is merely about who is right and who is wrong. Love does not seek its own, but rejoices in the truth. When it’s becoming evident that a discussion is becoming emotional and negative, then those who are mature need to respectfully intervene and request that the fellowship deals with the topic on another day, when everyone has had time to pray about it, and search deeper into it. As I said before, the goal of the meeting is to deal with the affairs of God’s Kingdom. For that to be accomplished, we need to hear what Jesus has to say to His church. I repeat, that the Kingdom of God, is about Christ’s rule which produces righteousness. It starts with Christ’s rule in our hearts, and overflows to Christ’s rule over the rest of our lives. The foundation of the church is built on the rock of who Jesus is – the Christ, the anointed King. Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Mat 16:17 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. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV) Because of this fact, our church meetings should first be about seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness. Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (KJV)

Whatever we seek in our meetings has to direct us to God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. How does that look like in our meetings? 1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (KJV) The Greek word for edification in this passage is: oikodome which according to the Vines dictionary means the act of building. The Vines dictionary explains it 1. comes from two words: oiko meaning house and demo to build. We need to ask ourselves, when we minister to the fellowship, has what we have to say, or sing, to do with the purpose of building up the house of God, or is it to build up our own egos? In fact, the whole theme of one Corinthians fourteen, has to do with edifying or building the church instead of ministering to our personal needs. Does this mean we should not care for each other’s burdens, thus neglecting the law of Christ? No, but we must realise that a family of believers who only see one another once a week for the ekklesia gathering, is not fulfilling the law of Christ anyway. We have the whole week to minister to each other’s personal needs, shaping the living stones at the “quarry” so no noise of chiselling individual stones are heard at the temple. This is so that the ekklesia gathering is focused on the affairs of God’s Kingdom directly.

1. Vine’ s New Testament “edification”, e-Sword 13.0.0

10.3How We Build

How we Build In the previous section, we saw that the edification of the church has to do with building up the church. The way we minister or edify can make or break the church; this is especially true for those who lead the church. Paul writes: 1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (KJV) The temple of God indicates two contrasting realities: the separation of mankind from God because of sin, and, simultaneously, God’s desire to dwell with mankind. Let me explain what I mean, by highlighting something interesting concerning the temple that was built in Jerusalem. There are many spiritual meanings of every aspect of the temple, which I don’t have the space to go into now, and other Bible teachers have already done an excellent job on the topic. What I do want to highlight is something that I have found to be relevant to this chapter. Theologians speculate that the Holy of Holies, the most consecrated room in the temple in Jerusalem, was in the west part of the temple. The high priest would only come into the Holy of Holies once a year to make atonement for the whole nation. According to theologians, the entrance to the Holy of Holies would have been on the east side. The Ark of the Covenant was situated in this room. Above the ark were two gold covered, olive wood statues in the form of cherubs. The cherubs were designed in such a way, that their wings touched each other in the middle of the room while another set of their wings touched opposite walls

of the Holy of Holies, to indicate in a sense that one cannot past them. Now when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, because of their sin, to prevent anyone from entering the garden of Eden, God placed cherubs and a flaming sword to guard the entrance to Eden. This entrance was on the east side of the garden. Theologians believe that the sculptured cherubs in the Holy of Holies represent the separation between God and mankind because of sin from the time of Eden. Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (KJV) However, God’s desire was to have mankind come back in His presence, and this seems to have been symbolised by the annual entry of the high priest into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies, with the blood of the sacrifice for the sins of the nation. As you all likely know, Christ has fulfilled this prophetic foreshadowing as both high priest and the sacrificial perfect lamb once and for all, to give humanity access to God (See Hebrews nine). Mankind can now enter God’s presence through a new temple that is not made with human hands. This temple is called the body of Christ, which is the church that He is building, the temple in which the Spirit of God dwells. I repeat Peter’s words: 1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 1Pe 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. (KJV) As quoted above from 1 Corinthians 3, Paul gives us all a warning as to how we ought to build this temple, especially those who seek to lead in building God’s temple. Paul exhorts us to build with gold, silver and precious stones not with wood, hay and straw that can be easily burnt up. So what are those works that Paul describes that would either remain or be burnt up? Well Paul writes in another place:

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) What are those good works? First of all, the ability to do those good works comes from us being in Christ Jesus. The good works is grounded in Christ’s love: Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (KJV) When we act out of Christ’s love, we can more readily discern people’s motives. Everyone has an agenda; therefore we need to be able to discern what those agendas are. If our agenda is not motivated by our love for the members of the body of Christ, then what results will be dead works. For instance, if people feel that their opinions, or interpretations, or goals, or vision for the ekklesia is more important than the well-being of the body of Christ, is the outcome will be dead works. Unfortunately, only dead works will follow the efforts of those people who are more interested in being right, or reaching the goal they believe God has called them to achieve, rather than taking care of the body of Christ in unity and bond of peace. Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (KJV) Tit 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. (KJV) Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (KJV) Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him

will I give power over the nations: (KJV) Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. (KJV) Many Christians claim that we should place truth as the highest calling, but they are willing to cause so much damage in the body of Christ for their so-called truth. You see the problem is, that we only know in part and none of us has the complete truth. Every Christian will have to admit that they have been wrong in the past on a particular topic. When they did change their perspective, it did not change because they were persuaded by arguments, but by the truth that was revealed by the Holy Spirit, when they placed Christ, who is the truth, at the centre in all things. So, we need to show grace towards each other, and discuss things with respect and love and care for each other. We need to leave the work of revealing all truth to the Holy Spirit and give no place for the flesh. When we are driven by our carnal emotions over our doctrine, we start arguing about things that are not important, and we divide ourselves from the body of Christ, which Christ died for. When we are anxious or upset by differences of opinion, we can see that this behaviour is carnal. What should stir our emotions is the spiritual well-being of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. In other words, the only knowledge that is worth being emotional about is the person Jesus who is the way the truth and the life. The reason why is that it’s only Christ who can bring us into the presence of the Father. In fact, we who are the living stones and are being built up together as the temple of the Holy Spirit, have but one function, and that is to reveal God’s presence to the world. Our goal for the ekklesia meeting is God’s presence. The blood of Christ has reconciled us to the Father, so that we may have fellowship with the Father in the body or temple of Christ. You see, the body of Christ is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So, whether you consider yourself a leader or not, you are still a living stone in that temple not build by human hands, but by Christ Himself, in Himself. That means that the good works that have been prepared beforehand for us, has to do with building up the temple of God in the love of His Son. Every effort from our side that is focused on meeting our personal needs, whether we want to be affirmed and approved, or whether we actually want notoriety, or whether we yield to the temptation to get impatient with each other’s weaknesses, or whether we are trying to gain control, and so on… all these are dead works and will be all burnt up on that day. So, how are we to conduct ourselves in the house of God?

1Ti 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV) Those who feel the unction of the Spirit to lead, must do so with sensitivity. They need to discern their own motivation, and agendas. They must not be forceful, or manipulative but gentle in the way they leading in the areas that they sense are from the Holy Spirit. The good works of the Spirit are not driven by fleshly motives, but rather, have the well-being of the fellowship above their own desires, just as Christ demonstrated at the cross for us all.

10.4Me and My House

Me and My House The relationship between family life and church life has taken very strange forms in most of the Christian world. For most, it seems that family life has been compartmentalised in the church according the demographics of each particular fellowship. One would think that that is normal, as people’s needs are different. For instance, the needs of husbands and wives are different from each other. The needs of parents compared to children’s needs are different, and those from the needs of grandparents. The needs of those who have children are different to the needs of those who don’t. The needs of those who are married are different to those who are not. It is therefore logical to think that church programmes are appropriate when they are geared to meet all of these various needs. The churches who can make their congregations feel that their needs are being met, are more likely to succeed in keeping their church attendance full. However, those who have already been part of organic church, have come to realise that church is not about fulfilling our needs but about establishing God’s Kingdom in our lives. The rule of Christ over His church starts at home as we submit to Him in our families. Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (KJV) We saw in the previous chapter that the relationship between a husband and a wife represents that of Christ and the church. The marriage relationship is based on the example of Christ as the head of the church. In the same way, the husband is to be the head of the wife. As the man is the head of the wife, so he is also the head of the home. What many men don’t realise is that this is not a right, but a responsibility. The husband will have to give an account to his Head, Christ, regarding the spiritual well-being of his household, and what happens in his house, physically and spiritually. Paul gives the following instructions: Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (KJV) The spiritual well-being of the wife is the husband’s responsibility. When a husband neglects his responsibility it is often manifested in the church. However, it’s also true that if a wife is unwilling to submit to and love her husband, this also affects the church. This is why Paul gives the following instructions to the older women: Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV) The needs of the children are one of the greatest concerns for parents when they consider becoming part of an organic church. It is sad to see how many children become anti-Christian because they are forced to go to church and Sunday school, without seeing that reality in their parents. The children gain head knowledge without the substance of living out their faith from their parents’ example. Instead of leaving the Christian education of the children to a church programme, parents should rather teach their own children at home. In fact, even though both parents have to share the load in teaching their children the ways of the Lord, the father as the head of the home, is ultimately responsible for this. The Old Testament is clear about the importance of a father teaching his children the ways of the Lord. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (KJV) Deu 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; (KJV) Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine

heart: Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (KJV) Deu 11:18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. Deu 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (KJV) However, the father should be loving and patient, not dictating as he leads by example. Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (KJV) Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (KJV) What then of the absent father, or what if the mother alone is holding to the faith? Well, one of Paul’s most helpful workers in the gospel was Timothy. From Scripture it seems that Timothy’s father was either absent or not a believer, but because of the faithful examples of his mother and grandmother, Timothy became one of the main second generation apostles in Scriptures. 2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (KJV) The fact is that training children in the ways of the Lord, is not accomplished by church programmes. Instead, the day by day examples of parents who are living out their faith, both in word and action, train up the children to be faithful disciples themselves. In fact, discipleship in general is not effected by Sunday school classes, but in the day to day sharing of lives. Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Tit 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (KJV) An organic church that is led by the Spirit, starts at home. It starts with the man in the home who says to all, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Men who head up their own households do not have to force anyone to be a Christian. Rather, through his daily speech and actions, he shares the life of Christ with those whom he loves and cares for. He does not have to act perfectly, but he should show that he has no confidence in his own abilities in the flesh thus demonstrating his dependence on Christ. Furthermore, the man is strengthened by a wife who is confident in who she is in Christ. Such a wife does not seek her own glory, nor tries to control and manipulate her environment, including her husband and children, for her own security. The wife should be able to submit to her own husband as she supports him in taking ownership of the spiritual well-being of the household. She should aim to do this with a gentle spirit, thus demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit within her life. 1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (KJV) To reiterate, being led by the Spirit in the church, starts at home. It starts in the relationships between husband, wives and children, because these relationships impact into the fellowship. However, if we think that we have to be perfect in our family relationships, or if we pretend that we are perfect, we would never be able to meet together! What is needed, rather, is the realization that none of us have arrived but that we are willing to take up our responsibilities towards our own households, instead of thinking that church programmes must do this for us. Having stressed the importance of not relying on church programmes to disciple our households, I am not negating the importance of the body of Christin helping as can be seen within the previous quoted passage two Timothy one verse five. Having said all this, how do the children function within the gathering? Well they can be part of the meeting according to their willingness to participate. There is no need to plan something special for the children. Children learn more from their parents’ examples as they interact in the meeting, and leave the Bible lessons for the parents at home. Let’s remember that church meetings are not about meeting our individual needs, but are focussed on engaging with the head of the church, Jesus Christ. The children don’t need to be forced to sit with the adults who are dealing with the affairs of God’s Kingdom. They can sit and play in another room or quietly nearby. However, we should not hinder them to engage, together with the rest of the church, in an ekklesia meeting, if they choose to. Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

10.5Church Practices

Church Practices So, how do we go about forming a church that is Spirit-led? I wish it was as easy as just giving a simple formula, which, if followed correctly, would result naturally in a Spirit-led church. I mean, the word naturally implies organically doesn’t it? However anyone who has been part of an organic or home church will testify that it just does not work like that. Why is that? Well, simply put, we deal with people, and people are complicated, especially when we deal with so much carnality in our personal lives. This however, should not demoralise us as we seek to do the good works that are in Christ Jesus for us to do. Furthermore, there are a couple of principles that we can find in Scripture, to help us start. These principles are not a magical formula for success, but they will point us in the right direction, making success more probable, and helping us to avoid so many traps of man-made wisdom and traditions. These principles are especially geared to those who consider themselves to be leaders of the church. I would like to repeat the point that leaders are not managers. Leaders inspire, and direct people to Christ, while managers control and dictate as though they do it on behalf of Christ. So, what should leaders do to start to inspire the rest of the disciples and to lead people to our Lord? Jesus taught His apostles the following: Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (KJV) 1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing. 1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. (KJV) Our gatherings will become useless and a waste of time, if they are not led by the Holy Spirit. We need to hear what the Spirit has to say to the church. If we are not able to hear, then we need to wait to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. After having been baptised with the Holy Spirit, we need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (KJV) Why is this so important? The answer is obvious, but I think it’s important to highlight the obvious. Jesus says the following in: Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (KJV) The goal of each church meeting should be to hear our Shepherd’s voice. From the start, people need to learn to always go back and talk to the Lord about; whether there is a dispute about doctrine, whenever there are personality clashes, or when carnality or sin shows its head. In all of these we need to hear our Shepherd’s voice: Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one. (KJV) From Christ becoming a man, laying His life down, being raised from the dead, to His ascending and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Church has all to do

with being reconciled to the Father through the Son. The point of it all is for us to come into the presence of the Father, to talk to Him and hear Him talking to us. As indicated in the previous section, the communion of God with Adam and Eve, the structure and rituals of the temple, as well as the activities of the priests of old, were all pointing towards the glorious truth that we, His household, may hear what the Father has to say, and have communion with Him. If we can grasp this, we will also realise that actually anything that we consider to be the affairs of the church, should have this relationship between us and Christ as its main emphasis. Let me explain by using two well-known ceremonies in the Christian world to illustrate this truth. The first is the wedding ceremony and the second is the funeral service. I don’t have the space here to explain how the church marriage ceremony evolved to what we have today. I would rather explain how the old Jewish customs give us a beautiful picture of the marriage between Christ and the church. Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (KJV) Any person entering into marriage must realise that their marriage has to represent the same covenant as that of Christ and the church. This does not leave much room for divorce and even less room for re-marriage, or adulterous relationships. Even being unhappy in a marriage is hardly an excuse for divorce, re-marriage, or being in an adulterous relationship, because marriage symbolises the love that Christ has for His church. Christ, suffered, died and gave everything for His bride, and so should we be willing to do, when we get married. Christ did not bind himself to the church because he is always happy with her, instead He is bound with her, because He has loved and will love her for eternity, irrespective of whether she is always pleasing Him or not. In what way is this symbolised in the ceremony? The symbolism of the wedding of Christ and the church is based on a very old Jewish tradition. This tradition had the son leave the house of the father to meet a wife chosen for him by the father. When the son finds that the woman would make him a suitable wife, he would present a coin (today the engagement ring) as a seal that they are betrothed to each other (engaged). The son would

often use the services of a marriage broker usually a faithful servant who dealt with all the affairs of the father. Once the bride has prepared herself and the son has prepared a place for her to live with him, she would go with the marriage broker, to the place the son has prepared. There would be a feast, with all the guests as witnesses and then the bride and groom would enter a tent to consummate their marriage. There was no church marriage ceremony or legal papers in the modern sense, signatures, or any of the traditional things that are seen as essential to a marriage today. The intercourse was the act of marriage and the blood stained sheet of the deflowered virgin was kept in a safe place as a 1. witness of the pure consummation. In the New Testament we see Paul referring to the act of intercourse as becoming one flesh: 1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (KJV) One can see that this whole aspect of marriage symbolises Christ and the church. Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to function both as the marriage broker and to symbolise the seal of promise (wedding ring) till we are taken to Him at the great wedding feast. Christians must realise that sexual intercourse is the marriage, not a piece of paper, nor the religious ceremony. Yet, I do believe that the couple and their parents need to give a witness of their promise of intent by a seal such as an engagement ring, and then later by their wedding feast, before the couple consummates their union through intercourse to become one flesh. This makes room for the Holy Spirit to speak to all who are witnesses of the church’s destiny. The second ceremony is that of a funeral. As Christians we have the hope of eternal life. Again, I am not going to use the space here to discuss the theology of precisely what happens to those who have died. The goal here is rather to consider the ceremony itself. There have been many funeral customs and rituals throughout the world and all the ages. Many of them have religious meanings depending on different beliefs. Christians throughout the ages have adopted many of these customs, so as to ease the way for many pagan cultures to the Christian “religion”. I do however believe that the religious ceremony of the

funeral has detracted from the actual focus, as seen from a Christian perspective. So how ought a funeral be conducted? As Christians, we must first recognize that any funeral ceremony has no impact on the person who has died. The whole point of the funeral is for the loved ones to deal with the loss, and somehow find closure. Even so, in Western civilization, it is an accepted practice for a religious leader, such as a pastor, a reverend, a priest, for example, to conduct a ceremony and give some kind of sermon to comfort the bereaved. The rest of the people attend as a way to “pay their respects”. In some circumstances, some family members might be appointed to share something about the person. This ceremony is not found in Scripture. Not being in Scripture, is in itself not really the issue. The real problem is that it does not really celebrate a life that has been lived on earth, so as to give real opportunity for closure. In order to celebrate the life of someone who has died, there is no need for some religious leader (who often doesn’t even know the deceased) to conduct a ceremony. The occasion should rather take the form of a memorial, where everyone is given an opportunity to share their loving thoughts of the person they will miss, as well as their joy that they will see them again in that final marriage feast with the Lord. This is obviously only possible for those who have placed their hope in Christ. This can be a beautiful time of rejoicing even if it is also accompanied by tears. It is also an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to minister to those who do not have this type of hope. Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (KJV) Whether we live or whether we die, we are Christ’s. Christ has purchase a bride – the church with His blood. The church fellowship, the church gatherings and the church practices is centralised around the fact that the church is Christ’s. As individual Christians we demonstrate that we belong to Christ; by the way we are part of His Body, the church. This church is not an organization but a body of believers, with all their short comings, have dedicated their lives to follow Christ. 1.https://www.bible-history.com/biblestudy/marriage.html, 7 June 2021

Questions and Answers What follows are a collection of questions that people have asked me, concerning how we practice church. I hope that the answers to these questions will be able to bring further light as to how the Ekklesia church functions. 1.

What does a typical ekklesia meeting look like in your personal gathering?

Our group has agreed to come together every Sunday evening around 17h00. When everybody has arrived and has put their eats on the communal table, which is the dining room table or something similar, one of us, whoever wants to, would get the attention of the rest and then lead us in a prayer for the meal, praising Jesus for what He has done for us. When it seems that everyone has prayed that wanted to lead us in prayer, we would start dishing up from the table. The men would generally allow the women to go first to serve themselves and the children. This is merely a cultural practice and we suggest you do what is acceptable in your culture as long as it does not go against Scripture The meal becomes the catalyst to connect and share with one another. The loaf of bread is also on the table, and each person would break from it as they dish the other food up for themselves. The bread is eaten with the meal. When most of us have finished the meal, someone would take the jug of grape juice and start going around, pouring the juice in everyone’s glass. During this time everyone would quiet down, because this is the time that we have agreed to wait upon the Lord. We would pray, sing songs, or keep quiet waiting upon the Lord. Someone might bring a word of prophecy, or share a vision. This could lead to a discussion of the prophecies or visions in order to make a judgment as to whether they were from the Lord or not. On other times there might be teaching or reading of Scriptures and discussion about what we understand the Lord would like us to do about what we are being taught from Scripture. The teaching would be in a discussion or interactive form as opposed to a monologue sermon. In other words, the rest of the church may ask questions and contribute to the teaching. During the discussion, depending on the circumstances, this time may lead to more prayer and psalms or songs. We try to finish by 19h00. However we keep it flexible. If the Spirit’s work with us has been completed, we would even finish by 18h30, or if it needs too much later than 20h00. After the meeting some of us either give others a lift home, while others stay a little bit longer for some socializing and coffee. If personal counselling is needed we try to leave it for after the meeting or during the week

where possible. 2.

Do you meet in just one person’s home?

No, we meet at the homes of the members who invite us during the week beforehand. But we generally meet at the homes with the largest living rooms and which are more central to where most of the members live. 3. Who provides the loaf and grape juice or wine? We have come to agree that the home that we gather at would provide the wine/grape juice and bread, unless someone else would like to bring some or both of these at that time. 4. Do you have weekly Bible studies and prayer meetings? Our fellowship does not have planned weekly Bible studies or prayer meetings. We pray and look at the Bible when we visit each other or as the need arises, during the week. Remember that the church that Christ builds is a church of members that exhorts each other DAILY so that they may not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We don’t inforce this practice of DAILY fellowship, but let each person practice this as they feel convicted by the Holy Spirit. Some feel