When our Awesome God tries to instruct us regarding doing impossible things, we usually respond with something that sounds like (hick accent) “Ha! You ain’t from around here, are ya?” His very gracious response is then usually, “No, I am not from around here. And where I come from, I can do anything. Would you like to join Me? I can do anything here, too.” I pray that the God […]
Category Archives: Ekklesia
Purged of Clergy
When the racist issue of Hellenistic Jewish widows being treated poorly compared to the Hebraic Jewish widows in Acts 6 developed, the apostles responded. They called for 7 sons from Hellenistic families to take up the responsibilities of distributing food to their widows daily. The apostles’ stated rationale was that it would be inappropriate for them to “neglect the word of God” to wait on tables. Here are a few […]
Prophets and Babylonians
Daniel was a prophet. In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Daniel’s coworkers, the Chaldeans (implying Magi or powerful wise men), magicians, astrologers and mediums (who consulted the dead and exorcised demons), were all called together by Nebuchadnezzar. The king had an assignment for them. After they told him what he had dreamed during some troubling dreams he had recently experienced, they were to interpret those dreams as well. The […]
Spirit-Filled
If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.(Galatians 5:25 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.(Galatians 5:25 Complete Jewish Bible) A phrase made popular during the Charismatic Renewal from the 50’s through the 70’s makes me chuckle when I hear it anymore: “Spirit-filled.” […]
2 Kings Usurping
Two kings, Constantine and James 1 of England, attempting to usurp the authority of the King of Heaven over His people, brought forth the institution James named the “church.” Jesus never said anything in the Bible that mentioned what James 1 called church except some comments He made about synagogues. What Jesus did mention, over and over and over, was His Kingdom. He did mention “ekklesia,” which means something very […]
Gathering in the Name
How many of our meetings, if missed, would prevent us from actually experiencing a meeting with Jesus? Much of our activity is done in some name other than His. In the name or interest of a mission, a congregation, a ministry, an event, a day of the week… not in the name of the King. He hasn’t promised to be in all of that. When Jesus was talking about His […]
Expecting Help
Daniel’s three friends Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah (their demon-glorifying names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego) prayed for him to get revelation about the king’s dream so that they would not be killed. We need to expect such blessing, including such supernatural intervention in our lives: The king replied to the Chaldeans, “My word is final: If you don’t tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb […]
Home Style
The Holy Spirit was not poured out on the people of Jesus at the temple, nor in a synagogue. He met them in a home (Acts 2:1-4). When He was poured out again on a gathering of the people of Jesus, including a refreshing for some of the 120 just mentioned, He met them in a home (Acts 4:18-31). When He was poured out on a gathering of God-fearing gentiles, […]
Greater Callings
The King of Glory calls some of His people to greater sacrifice. To some, He calls into greater revelation. Some find greater provision. The idea that any of these differences in callings have a line drawn between them that could be called “clergy” on one side and “laity” on the other is quite different from any of the writings we call the New Testament. According to what Luke wrote in […]
Pain and Offense
People we don’t really love offend us. People we really love hurt us. Both of these responses must come to be surrendered to the power of the cross. Jesus was paying for our offenses and our harm of Him when He took the position of Priest and Sacrifice on the cross. When we take up our crosses, we become worthy of being called His followers. In taking up our crosses, […]