Disorganizing Churches is Among God's Pivotal Next
You're shocked, right? God "disorganizing" churches. It shocked me, too, when I saw the first time how the modern church had become a far, far cry from how the church looked in the bible--the church Jesus said he'd build. Modern church looks more corporate than being God's family of believers. In fact, sometimes more corporate than the corporate world (worldlier than the world). It's become too organized, and worldly at that.
Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash.
What Church is to God
Organization is good as long as it's the kind God introduced in the bible--which is familial, or how God runs his family. In the Gospel, Jesus introduced Kingdom "organization," for lack of a better term. There's the discipler and his disciples, the brethren. This is the basic unit. Then it grows. All brothers and sisters. A family. A body. A household. As simple as that. "Organization" starts from there and evolves as the Holy Spirit gives it growth and maturity.
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [Ephesians 2.18-19]
...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [Ephesians 1]
...in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. [1 Timothy 3.15]
And here's God's desire for his church:
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
[Hebrews 2]
Church should never look corporate. It should be family.
Man's Church
But church today starts with electing or appointing board members even without having undergone genuine Jesus discipleship. There's almost no brethren element in it. It's all corporate leadership. This is why they're so particular about training and seminars on leadership. Nothing about followership or emphasis on "the least is the greatest" Kingdom concept. Everybody wants to be great and lead.
No wonder, in most church meetings and elections I've seen, there's always the "I'm-the-best" or "bida-bida" spirit. Almost everyone's trying to prove his or her worth.
They won't call a bible study gathering "church" unless it's organized according to their denominational polity. And they're so fond of having everything done with parliamentary procedures 😄, sounding more like congressmen and senators than the apostles in the book of Acts. They think parliamentary procedure gives them order and approval from God.
I don't remember things being decided in our family through a parliamentary process. My dad simply discussed things in the family informally, often with laughter. I do, too, as a dad now in my own family (it's so much fun with laughter). It's family affair. No need for corporate formalities. Jesus and his apostles never sounded like law makers in their discussions. Nothing like, "Is there a motion? Is there a second? All agreed say aye?"
It's not just worldly corporate, sometimes man's church is also corrupted politics. God's going to demolish all that in these last days. To get out of worldly traps, this e-book below can help.
Disciples and Apostles
They elect or appoint directors, superintendents, chairmen, presidents and whatnot, but won't seriously consider having genuine apostles and prophets in church. They'd insist that there are no more apostles and prophets, but seriously believe there should be directors, chairmen and presidents in church and it's God's will to have them. Otherwise, they can't be a church. Soon, they may also have prime ministers. Who knows?
Anyway, from his discipleship, Jesus appointed apostles who were tasked with leading the church to spread his teachings all over the world. You see how burdensome that was? Today, if you choose to be a missionary, especially a mission director or the like, you need seminary degrees. But Jesus never thought so. To him, his discipleship system was enough---in fact, the only way you can be his representative to the world. God's next move is for church to go back to that.
Kingdom Organization
Jesus showed in the bible how Kingdom organization is. He didn't have an election but personally chose those who'd be his apostles. Granted that there are no more apostles today, but the organizational principles must remain intact. Leaders should come from a Jesus-style discipleship and chosen by the pastor, not elected by the congregation. Below is a 7-point Kingdom principle on church administration no one can alter or dismiss.
Jesus went up on a mountainside and [1] called to him [2] those he wanted, and they [3] came to him. He [4] appointed the twelve that [5] they might be with him and that he might [6] send them out [7] to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
[Mark 3]
Church leaders should submit themselves to real ministry training, not just occupy positions. We see in Jesus' ministry that this training involved preaching the Gospel, being with him, performing miracles, and casting out evil spirits. This was what Jesus did and demonstrated as "church ministry" and no one can change it. Ministry should always be like this--and it's apostolic because Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our faith, introduced it. Meaning, as far as faith is concerned, HE alone is authoritative and his ways should be the sole legit procedure in church administration because HE is the Apostle of our faith.
And training is not through bible schools or seminaries or seminars done by professors or lecturers so students can earn certificates or titles or degrees. It should be through the Jesus discipleship where trainees are trained in the supernatural things of God, get hands-on lessons from their disciplers, actually able to preach and do supernatural signs and wonders, especially using their spiritual authority over demons and illnesses. From this supernatural training, church organization is based. It's how church organization should be.
Qualifications are:
- Real believers of Jesus' teachings.
- Doers of his teachings.
- Submitting themselves to Jesus' discipleship.
A lot of folks occupying church positions or doing ministry today do not know anything about the 7 points of Kingdom organization above [Mark 3.13-15], and never had real experience in a genuine Jesus discipleship---much less, experienced performing signs and wonders in Jesus' Name. They just get voted in elections and their qualifications are their consistent church attendance each Sunday and the degrees they may have earned in seminary, functioning as the worldly church sees fit. Nothing about any of it is supernaturally from God.
Not Just for Apostles
The apostolic training introduced by Jesus is not for apostles alone. It's for all believers who desire to follow Christ. After calling the 12, Jesus called 70 others and trained them in the same manner as he did the 12. You wouldn't call the 70 others apostles, too, right? (Although I would. The original was 12 but Jesus added more apostles to his church, the 70 included. But that's just my personal belief).
So, if the 70 others were not apostles, they were the rest of the disciples who were trained in like manner by Jesus--trained to preach, use their supernatural authority, perform miracles and drive out demons. It's Jesus' SOP in training.
Apostle Paul said all God's promises are a "yes" in Christ. Meaning, regardless of who you are, the promises are for you--and will be fulfilled in you--if you genuinely and wholeheartedly believe them---even if you're not an apostle or pastor or whatever. Any true believer has the apostolic and prophetic anointing, as well as evangelical, pastoral and teaching (or demagogical) anointing in him in Christ (but which doesn't mean you have become an apostle, prophet or whatever).
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
[2 Corinthians 1.20]
"Lord, did we not prophesy and performed signs?"
Doubtless, smart Alecks and those so opposed to the supernatural giftings in Christ will quote this verse below, thinking that what Jesus meant here was that any miracle done in his name is a fake, or that doing God's will is NOT about performing signs and wonders. They believe Jesus condemned miracle workers here:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ [Matthew 7]
But we must reconcile this passage with what Jesus said in John 14.12:
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
No passages in Scriptures should contradict each other. How do we reconcile Matthew 7 with John 14? It's simple---Matthew 7.21-23 is hinged on verses 18 to 20 that precede. Jesus says those who will enter heaven are limited to those who "do the will of my Father," and verses 18-20 say these are believers who bear the good fruit. "By their fruit you will recognize them," Jesus says.
If you perform miracles and signs and wonders but lack the good fruit, you're not doing the will of the Father and Jesus does not know who you are despite your great ministry. But if you bear the fruit and do the miracles, you're okay. Those who bear the fruit have entered through the narrow road and small gate. The rest (those who lack the fruit and do not do the will of the Father) have entered the wide road to destruction.
True Faith Makes You Do What Jesus Did
The context of John 14.12 is the works Jesus did as evidence that he was in the Father and vice versa. And what the bible means by the "works" of Jesus is preaching, discipling and performing miracles. Nothing more, nothing less. As an example, when Jesus supernaturally cursed the fig tree (and his disciples marveled at seeing it actually happen), Jesus assured them that they could do likewise. He didn't forbid them and say that miracles were strictly exclusive to him.
In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. [Mark 11]
That's literal, not figure of speech.
So, what Jesus is saying in a gist is producing the good fruit that true prophets have, not just performing miracles. But he never meant to negate miracles and signs and wonders. The correct reading is, produce good fruit (Kingdom character) like a true prophet (as Jesus is), as Jesus discussed in Matthew 7, and perform miracles and signs and wonders while sharing the Gospel, as Jesus did, as he declared in John 14.12.
God Will Restore His Church
God will soon "disorganize" the church, even demolish all human ways and systems they use to organize it. Because Jesus is coming back ONLY for the church he built and organized. The church man builds is a definite no-no. You easily identify the church built by Jesus himself---it crushes the gates of hell and the powers of darkness. .
..on this rock (rock of the revealed Christ) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. [Matthew 16]
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. [Romans 16]
The genuine church Jesus himself is building will crush Satan under its feet, not man's church built on worldly patterns and systems. In the last days, man's church will be dismantled by God and his true glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, built by Jesus himself solely by his ways and principles in the bible, will be revealed. Make sure you're part of his glorious church.
Hell is not Satan's kingdom because God punishes and torments evil spirits in hell. The devil doesn't rule and reign there; in fact, he greatly fears it. Satan has no kingdom or property or ownership. He doesn't own anything, so he has his kingdom hanging in the air. He's "ruler (or prince) of the kingdom of the air," though neither does he own the air or any level or realms of the heavens. In these last days, he will be "thrown" to earth and his squatter status will make him madly distraught.
...in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Ephesians 2]
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him...the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” [Revelation 12]
Two Hells
Hence, though not the devil's turf, "hell" symbolizes the rule of darkness, as if Satan rules, lives and has set up headquarters there. But the real hell is an actual place in the spiritual realms where the devil, his minions and people who opt to side with him are destined to be punished and tormented everlastingly (later, it will be thrown into the Lake of Fire). But the "hell" Satan rules is the kingdom or spiritual atmosphere of wickedness that he governs as its prince. It's the "hell" with gates that cannot "prevail" against the church that Jesus himself is building.
Church Built through the Ways of the World
...in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Ephesians 2]
Paul says here, the ways of this world is actually the ways of Satan. And he is the spirit at work in the disobedient. If a church does not use God's ways alone, the spirit at work in it is Satan. That's clear in the passage above. I don't care how "sound" and effective a church is, or how sound or "biblical" its doctrines are, if it uses the world's ways and systems, it's Satan working in it, not the Holy Spirit. It disobeys the ways and principles that Jesus taught on church planting, administration and organization.
Thus, God will disorganize man's church and restore his church. The Spirit and flesh can never mix together. What is born of Spirit is Spirit; what is born of flesh is flesh. There's nothing common or reconcilable between the Holy Spirit and Satan.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
[1 Corinthians 10.21]
So God will dismantle everything "movable" or shakable, including the temporary and man-made, anything not of his eternal Kingdom, to make sure only what's HIS will remain.
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [Hebrews 12]
Make sure your church is part of the unshakable Kingdom true believers are "receiving" right now, and onwards. This is among pivotal things in God's Next moves in these last days.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD's NEXT MOVES!
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