II

Some definitions:

CHURCH - the called out people of God.

HOUSE - a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families.

HOUSE CHURCH - a gathering of God’s called out people in a house.

HOUSE OF GOD - the people in whom God lives. The living stones that together make up His temple.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD - the government or rule of God under King Jesus.

The Kingdom of God has come. Jesus came to this earth to set the captives free and deliver us from death and the devil. "Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Col. 2:15.

When Jesus clashed with the religious leaders over the issue of casting out demons, they accused him of being part of the enemy kingdom. Jesus said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you." Matt. 12:28. Jesus has come, and His Kingdom is firmly established: therefore, repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

The Kingdom of God is coming now. The rule and reign of King Jesus is spreading and growing and nothing can stop it. The earth has a King Who has been installed by God on Zion, His holy hill, and all the kings of the earth are wise to "serve Him with fear and rejoice with trembling." Ps. 2:11. His government and rule extends further and further each day.

The rule of God is extended throughout the earth by the servants of God. Creation is partially under the rule of God, and partially open to the ministry of God's people. Matt. 8:23-27. All creation groans and travails, awaiting the revelation of the sons of God. The children of God can and will function the way Jesus did. As we rise up and function in this way, creation will be set free. Rom. 8:19-23.

He is my King, and I am a king under His government. He is my Ruler, and I rule under His direction. His kingdom comes; His will is to be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. As His servant, I am an instrument of the coming of His Kingdom into those areas where I have responsibility, especially in my body, soul, and spirit.

The antithesis of the Kingdom of God is the world. The whole world lies in the grasp of the evil one. The world is not the created world, it is the world system. The world is MAN ORGANIZING HIMSELF APART FROM GOD. However, men of the world never operate apart from the god of this world who manipulates and deceives. John summarizes the world, or world system, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. In the world, (man organizing himself apart from God) the motive for everything is envy. Solomon said, "All labor and all achievement spring from a man's envy of his neighbor." Eccle. 4:4. Nothing was excluded in this description of what makes the world tick.

The clash and conflict between the world and the Kingdom of God will continue until Jesus returns. The Kingdom of God is coming more and more every day: therefore, repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

The Kingdom of God will come. Jesus said , "My Kingdom is not of this world." Jn. 18:36. Paul explains that, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 15:50. The Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom is that the King Himself has paid the price to re-establish us as the family of God, and He will return to reign forever and ever, world without end: therefore, repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

The KINGDOM OF GOD is not the same as the CHURCH. I repeat: The Kingdom is not the Church; the Church is not the Kingdom. The Kingdom is the rule or government of God; the Church is the people of God who have been called out of the world.

The message preached by John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, etc. was the Kingdom of God. More specifically it was: "Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand." As the message of the Kingdom went out, His church came forth. Today, the message of church, or really a broken part of the church goes out and walls and divisions come forth.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the government of God.

"FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT A MATTER OF EATING AND DRINKING, BUT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT." ROMANS 14:17.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is not a matter of eating and drinking.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is in the Holy Spirit.

THE CHURCH is the people called out. The word in Greek is made up of the prefix "ek" meaning out of, and "kaleo" which means call. The church is the people who have heard the gospel of the kingdom and been called out of the world and into Christ. They are an alternate society that is purposed and destined to fill the earth with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

While Jesus was on earth He said, "I will build my church." Now He is at Father's right hand in the heavenlies where He rules everything for, on behalf of, in the interest of His church. He is preparing His people to join Him as a bride joins her husband. In His eyes, He sees us as we will be. Now He is helping us wash and cleanse ourselves from the filth and pollution of the world. The church is His bride, His beloved, His object of obedience to Father, His prayer burden, His goal and objective in ruling all the affairs of mankind. The Church of Jesus Christ is the most magnificent thing on this earth.

The Church is Jesus' Church. No other person in the Bible is said to have a church. Even the reference from Acts 7:38 about the church (ekklesia) in the wilderness refers to the One like Moses who was there with the church. Of course He was. It was His Church. It was Jesus.

The word "ekklesia" is used 115 times in the New Testament. Three times it does not mean the people of God. Those references are to the "assembly" of the City of Ephesus during the Acts 19 riot. Here are the other 112 times "ekklesia" is used as the people of God:

81 The Church in the City.

16 The Universal Church.

10 Gatherings as a Church. I Cor. 11:18 and I Cor. 14 meetings. These could be larger, even city-wide meetings, but I suspect they were flock or congregational meetings. I think I Cor. 14 type meetings had around 50 people participating.

4 The Church that meets in someone's house. Twice it refers to Priscilla and Acquila's house, once to Nympha's, and once to Philemon's.

1 The church in the wilderness from Acts 7:38 mentioned above.

If you are interested in the biblical model, the pattern, the normal, typical, ordinary, regular, common, standard use of church, it is the church of the city. In Jerusalem or Ephesus, with the thousands upon thousands of members of Christ, there was one church per city. That church obviously met in a myriad of configurations, but it was one church with a body of elders who were to guard and keep each other and the flock (one) of which the Spirit of God had given them oversight.

Let's brace ourselves and examine the corruption of this word and some of the extremely evil ways we use "church" today. These perversions of the word describing Jesus' Bride are flippant, arrogant, and audacious. Since we are to give an account for every idle word, I expect there to be much apologizing to Jesus for this mockery.

Jesus said, "I will build my church." Some, not to be outdone by anyone, start nailing boards and cementing stones and say, "my church," or "our church." The materials of Jesus' building are living stones, joined by Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Himself the Chief Cornerstone. It is a building or temple of PEOPLE who are a dwelling place for God. "Our church" is built on the foundation of the city's building code, blessed and authorized by Caesar through a "501 c 3" status, with the chief cornerstone being the division or separation of "our church" from every other "church."

Speaking of "my church" is the fruit of self-deification. Adam and Eve bought the lie in the garden, we have all been paying the price, and this is some of its rotten produce.

We could go on about High Places (a place considered holy because it is some special kind of sacred place), compromising Jesus' betrothed, entering into covenant relationships with organizations that separate and divide the body of Christ. Another way of saying this is, fornicating or committing adultery with a religious system. Rather than the word "church" for our buildings, there is a more appropriate name for these kinds of "houses." He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Therefore, do not use the term "church" for a building. Please stop this detestable practice. It is evil to make such a reference. It could be appropriate to say something like, "the building where the church meets," or "That is our church's (meaning the people's) house." However, this is so confusing, I recommend that you NEVER AGAIN REFER TO A BUILDING AS A CHURCH. Warning: if you do this in my presence, I may correct you and refer to the building by a more accurate description.

This inappropriateness is also true for using the word "church" for a denomination or franchise. At best, denominations are para-church organizations which keep various parts of the church in the city pure to their function. For example, all "Praescalopeans" meet with other "Praescalopeans" to keep the "Praescalopean" heritage thriving. This is like stomachs meeting with other stomachs in order to encourage one another to be good stomachs. That's acceptable, but the stomach must function with the other parts of the body. The "Praescalopeans" are first of all part of the church of that city [The people, that is, not the "Praescalopean" organization].

So, in one sense, denominations are containers to hold and preserve the uniqueness of a portion of the body. But in another sense, they are prostitute systems that divide the church in the city. Therefore, it is unwise to use the term church for such a system.

The church (ekklesia) is always people. The church is always the people who are called out of the world and belong to Jesus. There is only one church in any given place. The universal church is the Church in heaven and earth, separated by only a thin veil. The church on earth is the people who are joined to Jesus on the earth. There is only one church on earth, or in any other geographical designation of the earth. "Church" is used 16 times in the New Testament as the universal church.

The Bible refers to church of the city as the primary expression of church (81 times). Smaller groupings are also called church, but the place of government and function and wholeness is the city-wide church. The Bible, in fact, could be called a tale of two cities: Babylon and Zion. Both exist in the same city, and the battle rages everywhere for the lives of each person for whom Jesus died. Are they part of Zion, or lost in captivity in Babylon? Zion, the city-church, is the church that has elders with the authority to sit at the gates and rule. The fact that we seldom use the word in the biblical manner is a clear indication that we really don't care what the Bible says. We are more interested in our own ways.

Congregations are also referred to as churches in the New Testament (10 times plus 4 times as house church), but they are not the unit of completeness. They are like organs or limbs in a body; or instrumental sections in a symphony; or flocks that together make up a fold. Each flock is led by shepherds (pastors) who together with the other elders rule or govern the church in the city. A shepherd may have primary responsibility for the flock entrusted to him by Jesus, but he is to be in mutual submission to all the elders of the city who guard each other and the flock. Acts 20:28. When you gather as church in your home, either as one family or as a house church, that is as valid a meeting of part of the church of your city as any other church gathering whether it numbers 100, 1,000, or 10,000.

A military emphasis

The voice of God has thundered among His people about army, warfare, and preparation. Army is an appropriate, timely emphasis for the church. Factually speaking, the church in the city (the biblical model of the functioning, warring church) is more a rag-tag mob. There is little semblance of discipline, order, rank, assignment, specialties, objectives, and all the other factors that make up "army."

The elders have the authority in the heavenlies to shut the gates to the shedding of innocent blood, pornography, drugs, gangs, satanism, humanism, and every other devil inspired form of wickedness that permeates this pagan culture in America. The fact that we once occupied the centers of justice, education, and culture for Jesus Christ, and that now it has been lost or eroded beyond recognition, is sin that rests at the feet of the elders. The elders are responsible.

When Jesus encountered and plundered the kingdom of darkness by healing the demon possessed man who was blind and mute, He gave us one of the keys of warfare. The religious leaders accused Him of working by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus responded, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Satan's strategy is to divide and conquer. God's strategy is to unite all things in Christ. It is significant that the need for unity is presented in these three units: kingdom, city, and household.

God is calling the elders of the church (one per city) to repent for the divisions in the body of Christ. Elders, turn away from everything that hinders the function of the church as Jesus desires. Elders, seek the other elders in the city and begin to rule in your God appointed places. I believe that if even a remnant portion of the elders began to function, we would see health and blessing multiplied instead of the constant increase of pagan wickedness that is now the norm for the divided churches (one per city) throughout the United States.

Organic structure of church

The cellular and organic structure of the church in the city is as varied and complex as the make up of a human body. The various organs and parts must be different, they must be divided for function but not separated. The flocks are not the same, yet each is a part of the whole church in the city. Some flocks, or organs in the body, are tightly compacted while others are large and loose. Some are able to handle germs and bacteria, other parts must be kept sterile. I recommend the book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Brandt and Yancey as an illustrative guide to the structure of church in the city.

Pastors, evangelists and teachers do not readily understand the nature of church. Because of their gifting, they even resist the truth until God sends clarity. Apostles and prophets are the men assigned to lay the foundations of the church in the city and set it in order. Some have been dreaming and eating and breathing the church in the city for years, and have felt tremendous frustration that others don't see and quickly embrace the revelation.

Different principles of organization and structure have been used by various denominational franchises and assorted groups of Christians. The better the plan, the more effective the organization, the more damaging it has often been to the coming forth of church in the city. The stronger the denomination, the more it divides brothers and sisters from the rest of their family in the city and deprives them of their inheritance. If the house church movement denominates [as it is in constant danger of doing], it will become another move of God, corrupted into Satan’s plan to divide and conquer.

The Crushed Grapes Model

We have suggested this model in the past, but have not implemented it in any of the "house churches." The concern is that it would become too structured for the free flow and direction of the Holy Spirit. However, there are some redeeming aspects of this Crushed Grapes franchise model: 1. It recognizes and holds up the church of the city as the norm and pattern for church. 2. Supervisorial oversight for an elder beyond the elders of the church (one per city) is forbidden

The Crushed Grapes structure is a compilation of sorts of family order, the Jethro plan and biblically mandated church of the city. Jethro was Moses' father-in-law who suggested that Moses appoint captains of tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands. God approved of the plan and it was set in order.

We begin with the groups of ten as the basic family unit. This family unit, or family church, is led by the father, or perhaps the mother if it's a single parent family. Broken family units are often better off, however, in experiencing the blessing of family church if they can come together with another family unit. The upper limit for size of family church is ten, unless there is a very large natural family involved. Remember, the franchise structure in Crushed Grapes is a guideline.

Two to five of these family churches make up a house church, led by a pastor. He is the captain of fifty, although fifty will be the extreme upper limit of this house church. This size group can fit into an average home. Jesus had the multitude sit in groups of fifty for feeding.

Two house churches make up a congregation led by an elder or elder in training. This leader has direct oversight from a captain of a thousand, a definite elder who oversees up to ten of these congregations.

This type of structure fits well into the pattern of church of the city, is flexible, and protects the integrity of each unit while also providing a system with accountability. The network of Crushed Grapes units can spread throughout a region while early growth takes place, but it never violates the different units and the leadership of those units, nor does it violate the elders of the city church. It is a franchise developed for this day. We will more fully describe this model later.

If you believe the Lord is telling you to follow or establish a structure like this, please feel free to use whatever you want from this material. If we can be of any help, feel free to contact us, but ask Jesus if it wouldn’t be better to counsel with some other leaders from your church [one per city].

GOVERNMENT

The true form of government throughout the earth and the world is a benevolent dictatorship. Jesus, Mary's Boy, the One like us who came from Nazareth, is the absolute ruler of everything. Jesus rules the world for the church. Jesus rules the world through the church.

Church government is the means of bringing the will of Jesus to the different levels or expressions of church. There are some trans local servants that help with this, but the seat of church government is the local church (one per city), where the elders govern. The local church is not a single congregation or flock or house church. The local church is the church in the locality, or the church in the city.

There are three forms of church government: hierarchical, local church and the individual leading of the Holy Spirit. All three of these types are working together in the biblical account of the choosing of the deacons, Acts 6; and in the appeal to Titus, 2 Cor. 8. As is the case with almost all truth, the divided church has separated these three forms and pitted them against each other.

It is the will of God for the church today to be governed by Jesus Christ through these three forms of government. The three are to function together, and not separately. The tension of the three keeps life and protection in the church.

The hierarchy is the apostles and prophets. It is not denominational officials, although some of them may well be called to be apostles or prophets. The local church form of government, or the voice of the church, is the elders body functioning as the governors of the church in the city. The individual leading of the Holy Spirit is the witness of the Spirit to each person.

Here is how a specific issue might be dealt with: A prophet hears from God that the Church of Springfield has become too ingrown. He tells the elders to repent, to change. The elders hear the prophet and others who wish to speak to the issue. Proposals are made. The elders inquire of the Lord what His will is, and how to implement it. Then each elder speaks his heart and mind without interruption. He says what he believes God is saying, and what God wants accomplished. Beginning with the youngest, every one must speak. (This is called the Sanhedrin method, and it keeps the younger men from being intimidated by the older elders and apostles.)

Then a lead elder, like James of Jerusalem, speaks forth the will of the presbytery. If all agree, each shepherd, who is primarily responsible for that part of the church which makes up his flock, implements the will of the church as he leads and feeds the flock of God. The elders may feel that a certain ministry should come into the church and help. Each shepherd would then lead his flock into some kind of fold expression to receive the ministry.

Each individual member of the presbytery and each member of the church must respond to the leading of God's Holy Spirit. 1 Jn. 2:27; 1 Cor. 2:12; John 14:26; etc. Each person must also obey their leaders and submit to God's authority. Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 11:1; etc. Do not remove the tension this causes. Thank God for the tension.

ELDERS

Jesus has given some special gifts to His church to help us in our ministries (everyone has a ministry). These special gifts are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These ascension gifts are to prepare us for our ministry. Eph. 4:11,12. We are to eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1 Cor. 12:31.

Evangelists proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom and usher us into the Church. Pastors care for and feed us. Teachers instruct us. Prophets make course corrections and proclaim what time it is, what God is calling for. Apostles keep it all together, or in this day, put it together - set the church of the city in order.

I believe that every elder is one of these gifts to the church. When he is in the local church, he usually functions as any other elder. When he goes out (through the gates) he goes according to his special gifting or calling.

We must give special attention to elders, because the Lord has put this item high on His agenda. As the church is set in order, and ministry is released, it is imperative that the elders begin to function according to the pattern set by God.

In the world systems, leaders "rule over" people. It is not that way among us. Elders wash feet or toilets, count others more important, take bum raps, accept punishment they don’t deserve, ascend to their office by suffering, and have learned more than most to stop trying to save their lives.

The Greek word "presbyteros," translated elder, first means older. The elders should be the older men who have faithfully walked with Jesus longer than most, and have lots of experience for the youngers to draw from. It is a sad commentary on our subnormal church life that so many elders are young.

Elders are governors. In Heaven, 24 elders sit on the thrones around the throne of God. During the Old Testament Theocracy, the elders ruled the city, sitting at the gates and judging. God ruled through the elders. There was no king, except Jesus, and that name had not, as yet, been revealed. Elders are rulers.

In 1 Peter 5:1-4, the Apostle Peter writes to the elders as a fellow elder. He highlights the two aspects of the elders job: shepherd and oversee. The word for shepherd (pastor in Latin) includes nurturing and care as well as feeding. It is the work that a good shepherd does with his sheep. The word for overseer is a combination of epi (upon or over) and scope (see or watch). It is translated as bishop in the ancient King James Version, but most modern translations correctly translate this overseer. An elder, then, is an older ruler who shepherds and oversees.

In Acts 20:28, Paul addresses the elders of the church of Ephesus, and uses both of the above words in the one verse. He tells them first of all to keep watch over "yourselves," that is each other, the other elders, and then all the flock. I estimate that the church of Ephesus was around 30,000 members at that time. It was one church with many elders who had the assignment to guard each other and the flock.

Elders are accountable to each other. Elders are to guard and love and keep the other elders. Part of Paul's anguish was that he knew that some of these very men would draw disciples after themselves. That is the history of almost 2,000 years. It's time, beloved, to get it back to what was (one church per city), and then go on in Him unto His purposes.

The pattern for unity is God. God is one. God is in three persons. God is tri-une. The relationship between Father, Jesus, and the Spirit is the kind of relationship we are to have. John 17:21. When we are like that, the world will believe.

This unity of God is reflected in His creation. Time is one thing, made up of three distinct parts with integrity, yet each is time. There is past, present and future. Time is tri-une. Space is one thing, made up of three distinct parts with integrity, yet each is space. There is height, width and depth. Space is tri-une. Matter is one thing, made up of three distinct parts with integrity. There is energy, mass and motion. Matter is tri-une.

In this unity of God, there is equality of worth and value in each part; together with ranking and order according to function. Functionally God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit from the top down. From our perspective, we relate through the Holy Spirit within us, to Jesus our Savior and Lord, and through Jesus to our Father in heaven.

A family reflects this same unity. Each individual member of the family is equal in worth, value, and importance; and the family functions with the order of father, mother (husband, wife) and children beginning with the eldest. Each is loved, valued and precious before God, yet there is governmental (Kingdom) order that carries rank and authority.

In Ephesians chapter four, we have three levels of unity for Christians. Verse three tells us to keep [work at, fight for, maintain, don't let go of] the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Verse thirteen says we will come to a unity of faith. Even though there is only one faith (v. five), we haven't gotten there. In the process of coming to the one faith (with the help of the ascension gifts in verse eleven) keep the unity of the spirit. Verse sixteen is the goal of this unity, the highest expression of it. We are going to be an organic unity, a real body. Hallelujah!

A body is "unique, distinct, divided parts working together for the common good under direction." The Sword of the Spirit divides bone and marrow, soul and spirit so the body can function. The parts must stay divided in order for the body to live. The parts must not separate or disregard each other in order for the body to function and not die.

In 1 Cor. 12:7, the Greek word, "Sympheron" is translated "common good." Our word symphony is another excellent example of church in the city. The Great Conductor for the Symphony of your city is now standing at the podium. He is tapping His stick for attention. It is time to stop tuning your instruments. If it's not tuned, you're out (Matt. 25:1-13). It is time to stop running around the country to be with like instruments, and to get into your proper place in the great symphony orchestra of your city.

When this music is heard, the world will believe. The Bride will be joined with the Bridegroom in ecstatic union. The marriage supper will begin, and we will drink the new wine with Jesus. Ready or not, this is it!

The house church you oversee for Jesus is part of the body. It participates in the symphony of the city church. You are not an isolated, unimportant part. You must hear the voice of the Great Conductor and play at His direction. If He wants to you to lead "The Hallelujah Chorus" in B flat, and you’re playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb," in C, you are an annoyance, or worse an obstacle to be removed.

Jesus has enough obstacles to get out of the way in this day. Therefore, listen to Him by His Spirit within, and do what He says. It is time for Zion to be a praise in the earth.

  Chapter III