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ARE WE JUST AN INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH IN SMALL PACKAGES?
The IC will not miss the Holy Spirit because of their programs, the Home Church will not miss the programs from the IC but can not exist without the Holy Spirit.
Look at this picture of a first century fellowship meeting in the back stoned in courtyard somewhere in the Mediterranean. There is not a Jewish synagogue in this community, just heathen temples. There may have been a Jewish banker and a silversmith or two, and maybe a business man, but no temple.
But in this picture, neighbors are gathered together. Why? Because of the supernatural happenings that are constantly taking place. Neighbors are being healed by Jesus Christ as everyone ministers to one another, and as the brethren live their lives out in the community, they meet people that they see are hungry. These brethren have the spiritual discernment to know all what there is to know about the people they run into.
Some of these people they meet in the marketplace they give a word of knowledge to about their lives and the need for the Redeemer of their lives. They pray for them to be healed and minister to their other needs. They tell them that if they want more, then where and when to meet with the rest of the brethren. And word spreads about the supernatural things going on.
They gather without a bible or any written letters for it wouldn’t matter anyhow, because the majority could not read because they are mostly illiterate. But the real power behind this fellowship comes that most of the brethren move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The body is displaying Jesus Christ to the community as He lives His life out through the brethren.
They were taught the basics when the apostles passed through this community several years ago and started the fellowship. They were imparted with gifts that the apostles had when they laid their hands on them. Word of mouth was the common means of education then and they all share in teaching the new brethren.
But these brethren have learned much more about Jesus Christ since the starting of the church because of the fruit from walking in the Holy Spirit and a rich life brought forth because of this practice. They are learning from one another through the testimonies that are shared. They see what the Lord performs through them. They too are astounded.
To leave the IC we must have many paradigms broken.
There are no Christian spectators, and there are NO theologians in heaven. The church can only be as alive as its participators are living in Jesus Christ and are following the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. This means that each member must function using the tools the Holy Spirit has made available to him. He has to function as a hand, or an ear, or a mouth, or a foot, or a lung, a leg, etc. If we don’t function and move as our part of the Body is suppose to function, Christ loses His inheritance in us to be Christ on the earth!
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4:- the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,[So] that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning]. In this way [our] witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed and established and made sure in you. That you are not [consciously] falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian grace [the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit], while you wait and watch [constantly living in hope] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being made visible to all. Col. 1:9b- you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things—
Please, do not let us not fall into the institutional church pattern, we all must move in the power of the Holy Spirit. That means our lives are lived 24/7 under the power of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the pattern Son that we are to look like.
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Oh brother Eric, Thank you for sharing this. I do trust that it's impact will be more spiritual than literal to the reader. God bless you real good. If you, or any other reader can relate to this first hand, you are walking with God day by day.
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