"That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

Here is the ultimate. Here is the pinnacle of evangelism. This is it. This is the guaranteed, no-fail, absolute program for bringing the entire world to faith. "So that the world may believe that you sent me."

We all join with the angels of God rejoicing over one sinner that repents. We are thrilled when several surrender to the Lord of life. When we experience, or even hear about large numbers responding to the gospel, the joy stretches the limits of our capacity to be happy. When we can be one, as Father, Jesus and the Spirit are one, the whole world will believe.

I can see people singing and rejoicing in the streets of every city on the earth. Laughter, tears of joy, dancing before the Lord, the rightful ruler of heaven and earth. All the world believing that Father sent Jesus. I vaguely remember the celebrations at the end of World War II. I can see more clearly in my spirit the celebrations when the war between the forces of darkness and the children of God ends in the total victory of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Everything alive is in tension. The absence of tension is not peace and calm, the absence of tension is death. Where there is no pull of different forces, and one position dominates, there is no dynamic, no movement, only stagnation and death. This is true in everything. Every living thing is in tension.

Every dynamic thought has tension. Every living word has tension. Every goal and task has tension. Every expression of living, dynamic unity has tension. Without this tension, there is no vital unity, there is only death.

There is confusion about the unity of Christians.

Unity is not sameness. Sometimes I think that those who are preaching separation think that the call for unity is for all of us to get into a huge grinder and become paste. That's gross. That's death. That is the opposite of unity.

A body functions and lives when each part does its unique task for the common good. My arm moves because there are muscles set against each other. If they become the same, my arm no longer works. My arm is no longer a living unity. It is crippled.

If any of my vital organs get this insane idea about being the same, I'm dead. My heart must be my heart, and my lungs must be my lungs. Each must do its part for my good, the common good of the entire body, my body. If my heart and lungs become the same, it is the same dust in the grave. They must be different, and they must be one.

The word of God is likened to a two-edged sword that divides. It divides soul and spirit. If I am to be a whole person then my soul and spirit need to be divided.

Each has its own task and function. I am healthier and more vital with that division made clear. BUT, if they separate, I am dead. They must be divided, but both continue in me. Both must be one in me. They are divided to stay together.

The Word divides bones and marrow. If they were the same, there would not be enough strength in my skeleton to carry me around. Also there would no longer be the ability to produce blood cells. They are to be divided, but not separated, not removed from each others presence, not put in different, separate places. Bone and marrow must be divided. Bone and marrow are a unity in me.

In the magnificent chapter about the body as a unit, 1 Cor. 12, it says in v7, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." Each one means every individual. Every person who makes up the body of Christ is gifted for the entire body. Without your gift functioning in the body of Christ, the rest of us are cheated of the richness of life with you. Each part together makes up this unit for "the common good."

The "common good" is a translation of the Greek word "Sympheron." Symphony is the same basic word. Symphony is unity. Unique, distinctive, divided sounds, blended together into a harmonious symphony under expert direction.

The drums and the violins do not mush together. That's not unity, that's noise. Neither do the clarinets and the trumpets play in different keys as they feel led. That's not unity, that's disharmony.

When all the instruments in a Symphony Orchestra are in tune, and each plays its own designated part under the direction of the master, there is beauty, symmetry, harmony, majesty, joy, fulfillment, purpose, delight. There is sympheron. There is unity.

This then is our definition of Unity: Unique, distinct, divided parts working together for the common good under direction.

Jesus prayed that our unity would be like the unity of the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Before we get into the specifics of this beautiful mystery, let's take a look at creation as it reflects the nature of God. As the moon reflects the sun, so creation reflects God.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Rom. 1:20. As I understand this scripture, we ought to be able to see the reflection of the nature of God, specifically His Tri-Unity, in the work of His hands.

Time is a unity. Time is one. Time is made up of three distinct, different parts. The past is not the future, the present is not the past. Each part of this trinity of time is distinct and has integrity in itself. Yet each part makes a whole. Without any of the three parts of time, time would cease to exist.

When time is properly divided and we live in the present, not the past or future, we live in this present moment of eternity with our Lord and God who said of Himself, "I am." We build on the past. Our lives are shaped and molded by the past, but to live in the past is to not live fully and abundantly. It is a trap. The evil one who wishes to steal life uses this trap effectively.

To live in the future is also a trap. If I live for when this will be or that will be, I do not live now. I have great hope for the future because of God, but I live here and now. I live in this present life which God has joined to His life in a mysterious union. I live in Jesus, and He lives in me, and He still gives abundant life in the present.

My understanding of matter is that it is also a Tri-Unity, like God. Energy, mass, and motion combine to make a whole. Each part has integrity on its own, but together they make the whole.

I include these examples or illustrations only because they are used so often. I don't like them.

An egg is a whole, made up of shell, white, and yolk. A sort of tri-unity. It is different however, in that though the three parts have integrity together, each part also has a separate existence apart from the others. They can be separated and still have integrity. The yolks are used by themselves in some foods, the whites in others. The shells can be fed by themselves to the chickens and run through the process again.

In a Tri-Unity each part has integrity in itself, but it is not separable from the other parts that make up the whole. Can the past be removed from time, and there still be time? No. Can width be removed from space? Can motion be removed from matter? Do you see the difference? Can the Holy Spirit be separated from the Father and the Son and still have an existence? That question fits with the other one in Eccle. 7:10, "It is not wise to ask such questions."

God the Tri-Unity is a revelation, not a formulation. I am greatly indebted to Dr. W.J.E. Baxter for his teaching that has helped unfold the revelation of God regarding the functioning of the Trinity, especially the Person of the Holy Spirit as the Executive Agent of the God-head.

May God bless these words that we might understand more clearly the nature and function of the Trinity, so we would understand more clearly the direction of Jesus' prayer that we would be one as He and Father and the Spirit are one.

Within God Himself there is infinite counsel and wisdom. The One God Who said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness," is complete and total in Himself. This Ideal Trinity, or Real Trinity would be diagrammed as three circles intersecting each other, yet distinct and different. I like this diagram:

To make the point, let's draw these circles in a horizontal line. This would be emphasizing the truth expressed in the Athanasian Creed that each Person is coeternal and coequal. The representation illustrates the Ideal Trinity.

To illustrate the Economic Trinity, or the functioning of the Trinity for carrying out the purposes of God, we would draw a diagonal line with the Father at the highest point. Then Jesus, Who was sent by the Father to become the God/man and ransom us. Then the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

This illustrates the way God functions in time and space to work out His purposes in the earth. The Father thinks it, or wills it. The Son speaks it. The Holy Spirit, as the executive agent, carries it out.

In creation, Father thought it, or willed it. Jesus, the Craftsman at His side, rejoicing in his presence and delighting in mankind (see Prov. 8:30), spoke it into being. The Holy Spirit brought order out of the chaos. Father thought it, Jesus spoke it, the Spirit did it.

In redemption, Father thought it or willed it and gave His Son. Jesus, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us, and offered Himself a living sacrifice through the eternal Spirit. He ministered through the Spirit, He offered Himself in the Spirit. He rose from the dead by the Spirit.

The unity of the Body of Christ is Father's idea. It is His will. Jesus spoke it in prayer. The holy Spirit is working it out in the earth, and it will be accomplished.

There is in the nature of God, equality and unity. There is in the functioning or administering of the Kingdom of God, order and placement. Jesus said in His humiliation on earth, "The Father is greater than I." John 14:28.

The Holy Spirit would not come on His own, but Jesus said "I will send him to you." John 16:7. Also the Holy Spirit would do as Jesus did and as we are to do, "He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears." John 16:13.

Therefore in the functioning of the Trinity, the Father is first, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit. As we relate to God it is through the Holy Spirit to Jesus, and through Jesus to Father.

Father submits to this order and serves in the highest place. Jesus submits to Father's headship and sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit submits to Jesus and to Father and to His work of indwelling us.

The Church is the Body of Christ made up of all believers. It consists of Jesus, the Head, and other people. People comprise the Church. There are many illustrations of the Church in the Bible, but it is always made up of people. Whenever the word "church" is used, it always means people.

The evil one has deluded us and corrupted our minds so that we don't use the word "church" according to its real meaning. Ask the average person what he thinks of the Church, and the response will be, "Which one?"

"Jesus' Church."

"Oh, I didn't know He had one." Or, "I've never heard of that one. Do you mean the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I think that's the Mormons." Or, "Where is that located? Is it near that Baptist Church on Elm Street?"

Later. I will have to pick up this theme a little further along because the rage that rises in my spirit will not be contained and if I vent it all now, we won't get to where we are headed.

The Universal Church is made up of the Church in Heaven, and the Church on Earth.

The Church in Heaven is separated from the Church on Earth by only a thin veil. The Church in Heaven is that cloud of witnesses that surrounds us and cheers us on in the race marked out for us. Some of those who make up that part of the called out ones are described in Hebrews 11. Others close to us and loved by us have joined their ranks.

Verse 40 shows how we are one together. "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." You see, even though we are separated, we are still one and we will stand together from every nation, tribe, people and language before the throne of God. Hallelujah!

The Church in Heaven is one. It is with the Lord. It is exciting to think of transferring from this Church on earth to that one in heaven, but that's not our concern now. May the old adage, "The Church is so heavenly minded, it's no earthly good," not be true of us.

Chapter 12 and 13 of Hebrews goes on with encouragement to those of us still on the earth to press on: Listen to the cloud of witnesses. Run the race marked out. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Endure. Submit, Make every effort. Understand what you have come out of and what you have come in to. Listen. Be thankful. Worship. Keep on. Remember. Don't be carried away. Don't forget. Obey. Pray. Receive.

It is pleasing to Christ that the Church, His Church, be a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. It is true that we are this glorious Church in His eyes. He sees us already as this glorious bride.

Our desire is to be what we already are. We desire to walk worthy of our high calling. Our high calling out of the world. Out of the world system. Out of religion. Out of the divisions and factions that bring shame upon our Head.

The Church on Earth is made up of every man, woman and child who believes in Jesus. Every one who is "born again" is born into the Church, into the family of God, into the children of Abraham, the children of promise. The Church on Earth is one. There are not two churches, or twenty, or two hundred, or two thousand, there is only the Church of Jesus, the Body of Christ.

Some of us have a teaching about the "Visible" and "Invisible Church." I understand the concept, and technically it's true, but I think it is a wrong emphasis that blunts our cutting edge. The difference between the Visible and Invisible Church is the hypocrites.

Everyone who says, "I believe in Jesus" is part of the Visible Church on Earth. But, some of these people are hypocrites or pretenders who are hiding behind a mask. They are not Christians, but they are masquerading as believers. If you could identify them and get rid of them, what's left is the real church or the "Invisible Church."

These people are the tares among the wheat. Leave them alone till harvest. You can't tell them from the real thing at this point. If you go after them, you'll hurt the fruit. If you could tell who they are, they wouldn't be hypocrites. If they become obvious, put them out as the Lord commands. In God's timing, genuine persecution will quickly purge the church of hypocrites.

Too much emphasis on the invisible aspect of the church and the City on a Hill or the Salt of the Earth becomes academic. Shine, brothers and sisters. Salt the earth, brothers and sisters. Be the Church on the Earth, a visible expression of Jesus Christ, the many membered man. "In this world we are like him." 1 John 4:17. Let Jesus be lifted up and draw all men unto Himself as the Visible Church shines brighter and brighter until the day of His full appearing.

The next delineation of church in the New Testament is the Church in the City. There is the Church at Rome, the Church at Corinth, the Church at Ephesus, and the Churches of Galatia. Galatia is a region with many cities, and therefore many churches.

Nowhere in the Bible do we read about the Church of Italy or the Church of Syria or the Church of Macedonia. National distinctions are important in God's economy and in our discipling of the nations, but this distinction is not a part of the definition of the Church. In Jesus' rule over the Church, He does not distinguish the Church in Canada from the Church in the United States and the Church in Mexico.

The Church of Jesus Christ is in all these nations. Therefore you can legitimately speak about the Church in Mexico, but it is not a separate entity. The Church in a nation is not a governmental unit. In other words Jesus does not govern the Church in Mexico as some thing other than the Church in the United States. It is not in the administration of the rule of His Body to make that distinction.

The same is true of other geographical distinctions other than cities. The Church of Jesus located in the State of Iowa is not governed differently than His Church across the Missouri River in Nebraska. Neither of these geographic distinctions are governmental divisions for the Church.

There is, however, the Church of Council Bluffs Iowa, and just across the river a different church, the Church of Omaha Nebraska. There is the Church of Juarez, and just across a line a different Church of El Paso. This is the basic New Testament use of the word church. The church in the city.

The church in the city is the primary use of the word "ekklesia" in the New Testament. Of the 115 times the word is used, I counted 3 times it had nothing to do with "Church." This was the assembly of the City of Ephesus in Acts 19. The other 112 uses were:

81 The Church in the City

16 The Universal Church

10 Gathering as a Church. 1 Cor.11:18, and 1 Cor 14 meetings. These could be larger, even city-wide, but I suspect they were flock meetings or congregational gatherings.

4 The Church that meets in someone's house. Twice it refers to Priscilla and Aquila's house, once to Nympha's, and once to Philemon's. Again, these could be large houses that served as meeting places for the entire Church in the City, but I doubt it.

1 Stephen's reference to the children of Israel as the church in the wilderness.

There are then references in the New Testament where the word church is used for a part of the Church in the City that gathers together as a church. These are units of the one Church in the City assembling in groups which are less than the entire church of the city. This is a legitimate use of the word church. However, because of our absolute disregard today of the primary use of "church," the Church of the City, I feel we should minimize referring to the smaller units as church.

Even when we do refer to a church as one of these smaller gatherings, remember it is always people. These are congregations, and congregations are made up of people who are part of the one church in the city.

Using the picture of sheep and shepherds, these smaller gatherings are like flock meetings. In Israel the flocks would gather together into a fold where the doorkeeper opens to the various shepherds. A fold meeting would be more like the Church of the City, while flock meetings or congregational meetings would be like smaller flocks feeding in various places. Though there are many small flocks or groups, they are part of one fold.

These could also be like the two or three who gather in Jesus' name with Him in their midst. It could be a Christian family around the table in their home. This is not technically a church, but it is a gathering of a part of the church.

The Church is holy. The Church is God's idea. The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church is the Bride of Christ. The Church is the people of God in a given city called out to be a holy dwelling place for God.

How dare we call the work of our hands a church? Jesus said, "I will build my church." But we build a building of wood and stone and say, "My church." What kind of arrogance allows us to take that which is so special to God and rename it?

We treat this corruption of a word as a small thing. Beloved, this is not a small thing. Jesus rules the world in the interest of His Church. He desires a glorious Church. "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:21.

The greatly loved, highly responsible, many faceted people called church are described in a variety of ways in the Bible. Each picture of the church highlights certain aspects of our called out life.

As the Body of Christ, the Church reflects its Head. Some times our Lord feels militant. At other times He is tender and loving. Certain periods are focused on expansion, others on relationships. Our responsibility as the people of God is to know what is the mind of the Spirit and fit in with Him. This is our joy and our work.

If you work for a godly man in some enterprise and one day he says, "Today we celebrate!" you will celebrate. Another day he may growl, "Okay, it's time for an accounting. What is this?" You will be much more serious as you relate to him. At another time he may be consumed with expanding the business.

God is like that man. The following pictures of the Church fit the various moods of the Spirit. Each description carries its own emphasis.

The Vine. A vine spreads out and covers everything. As it spreads, it puts out new roots, and different parts of the vine become self-sufficient. It is easily transplanted. If unchecked, it will cover the earth.

The Bride. Expectancy electrifies the time before a wedding. The love relationship is nurtured in preparations by both bride and groom. Tenderness, faithfulness and entering into a covenant relationship is the appropriate consideration. To love, honor, and cherish. Cutting the old ties, and joyfully walking on into new uncharted paths with the one who is loved above all else.

The Army. A good army is alert and disciplined. Each soldier knows where he fits, what are his duties and to whom he reports. When the trumpet sounds he knows where to fall in. There is a clear chain of command. Good soldiers are warriors, heroes, people prepared for battle, ready to endure hardships, willing to lay down their lives.

The Body. The Church is not like a body, it is a body. It is the Body of Christ. It is made up of millions of intricate parts all joined to the head, and each with a specific task. Paul does much teaching about our being a body and members one of another. 1 Cor. 12 is the classic chapter on one body, many parts. Another classic is the book by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey, FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. I heartily recommend a thorough study of both texts to heighten your realization of the awesomeness of who we are and what we are. We are the Body of Christ.

The City. A city is a bustling community of activity, enterprise and building. It speaks of a variety of interpersonal relationships, each different, yet each one alive and vital. There is community, the sense of belonging, the common goals and achievements. The city has foundations. The architect and builder is God. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." Ps. 46:4. "Glorious things are said of you, 0 City of God." Ps.87:3.

The Flock. The flock speaks of the relationship of sheep to shepherd, shepherd to sheep. There is dependence, love, concern, care, feeding, and leading. The Lord is my Shepherd, and He also gives me an earthly shepherd. His gifts to the church includes undershepherds for the care and nurture of His flocks. Jesus and His appointed shepherds provide green pastures, still waters, leading in right paths, close presence, comfort and protection, blessing and security in hostile environments, the oil of His Spirit and abundance of goodness and mercy.

The Temple. Living stones are shaped and placed together, "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." Eph. 2:21. The temple is a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. The Tabernacle and the Temple were built according to the pattern given. The Temple described in Ezekiel is a powerful prophetic revelation for this day. Together, in the Spirit, we are the Temple of God on the earth to reflect His Temple in Heaven.

The Church receives from God and distributes among His people. Each individual part of this saved society is a recipient of God's grace gifts, and a sharer of those blessings among the believers. The Church is where there is salvation.

Outside the Church there is no salvation. Everyone who is saved is a part of the Church. The Church is the fellowship of the redeemed.

Salvation is much bigger than we usually think of it. We are saved from sin and death. But we are also saved from despair, hopelessness, sickness, evil, frustration, purposelessness, revenge, demons, legalism, wrong thinking, bad company, etc. etc. etc.

Salvation joins us to Christ and eternal life, but we are also saved to joy, hope, fruitfulness, community life, beauty, appreciation, health, wholeness, genuine laughter, integrity, peace, kindness, mercy, understanding, love, patience, holiness, etc. etc. etc.

The picture that comes to mind is a person getting a new life. He is transported to a new planet. There are new friends, new things, new attitudes, new ways of seeing things, new goals and dreams, new opportunities, new ways of doing things, new starts, new, new, new. When we are saved into the Church, God makes all things new. Thank God He doesn't make new things, but takes us, and makes us new.

The Church is the alternate society. It is the place where we live out the new life. It is the living out of the lives of God's people, in contrast to the living out of the lives of the people under the dominion of the evil one. It is the community of the redeemed.

The nature of unity. Unique, distinct, divided parts working together for the common good under direction.

The Tri-unity of God reflected in creation. The valid living tension between the ideal and the functioning Trinity.

The nature of the One Church. The Church in Heaven and the Church on earth. The Church in the City and smaller configurations. Some Bible pictures of the Church. And blessings of the Church.

Jesus Christ is the absolute authority. There is no authentic government in the church or in the world that does not come from Him. He rules the world and the church. He rules the world for the church. He rules the world through the church.

The last statement may be misunderstood. The church, the Christian people, salt the earth so that corruption is stopped and God can bless. The church, the people of God, shine the light of the glory of God and the darkness is dispelled. The church, the people of the Covenant, become lazy and selfish and evil comes rushing in: murder of unborn children, sodomy, delay of justice, pornography, and all manner of Biblically mandated causes for the land to be cursed.

The church is the only body that can bind and loose. The church is the only entity that can apply the curse-breaking blood of Jesus to the curse causing sins. So the church provides both the cause for sin to flourish by its negligence, and it is the channel through which Jesus brings healing. That is why I said, "He rules the world through the church."

All other world events are for the church. Everything that happens in the affairs of mankind is from the throne of our loving dictator, Jesus of Nazareth. He does it all in our best interests, that we might serve His best interests. The church is a greatly favored, highly responsible people.

Jesus' rule in the church is through His delegated authorities. The administration of His government is through the systems He has authorized. Throughout the broken segments of the one church, I see three basic forms of church government at work.

The first is hierarchical The primary example is the Roman Catholic system. The Pope is the ultimate authority and is considered to be the Vicar of Christ. Next are the Cardinals, then Bishops and Monsignors and Parish Priests. Government and authority for all Roman Catholics rests in these offices.

This same type of government is used with varying degrees of authority and intensity by the Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, and others. The Greek word for Overseer, often translated Bishop is "Episcopos." The gathering of the Overseers or Bishops for government is called the Episcopacy. The Greek word for Elder is "Presbyteros." The gathering of the Elders for government is called the "Presbytery."

The second type of government is congregational This is a democratic form, where the membership of a congregation has the authority. The vote of the people is the government. One denomination is even called "Congregational" to identify the form of government. Most Baptists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, and Independents follow this form of government.

The third type of government practiced in the various segments of the church is the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is most often an individual matter where a person strongly believes the Lord told them to do something and they are going to do it, period. There are also congregations that make governmental decisions only when everyone believes that God has spoken to them. There must be a unanimous agreement on any item, or else the entire congregation just waits.

I understand the early Quakers got their name from the phenomenon of persons shaking when the power of God came upon them. I was told that their governmental meetings required complete agreement. If only one person dissented from a course of action, they would all wait for the Spirit of God. When the Spirit fell upon them with the accompanying quaking, they would listen to some prophetic utterance. However, they still had to wait until all agreed no matter how long it took.

Today the Friends, the modern day sector of the Church that was the original Quakers, do not necessarily follow that form of government. Most denominations have evolved greatly from their inception. Many modern denominational groups would not be recognizable by the servants of God who were used to bear the torch of the message that ultimately birthed the denomination.

Now the question, "Which of these three forms of church government is the right one?" STOP! The question is wrong. The question is a reflection of the corruption of our thinking. The question indicates the willingness to take a portion of the truth and fight against other portions of the truth that together make up the whole.

In Acts chapter six a problem arose. The Apostles, the delegated authority of Jesus Christ, gathered all the disciples and told them to choose Deacons. They did, and the Holy Spirit witnessed to the ones chosen. The Spirit empowered them through the laying on of hands. He was verified by the fruits of their service and the dynamic ministry that followed. All three forms of government functioned together in harmony.

In 2 Cor. 8 we have the same thing clearly outlined in verses 16-19. Paul, the delegated authority, appealed to Titus. Titus responded "on his own initiative" or by the witness of the Spirit. Then it says, "What is more, he was chosen by the churches." All three forms were functioning with harmony and fruitfulness.

These three forms of government are also reflected in the propositions or articles of faith of the various parts of the broken Body of Christ. We challenge each other with "Shiboleth" type questions such as, "Where is the true church?"

The first type says, "Where the representative of Christ is, there is the church." The second, "Where the Gospel is preached in purity, and the Sacraments administered according to God's will, there is the church." The third, "Where the Holy Spirit is, there is the church."

Now these various emphases are fine, but the problem is the different parts of the body fight with each other about which is the correct position. That friends is a stupid fight. It is like fighting over the question, "Which is my body? My head? My torso? My organs?"

We have been duped into fighting over stupid issues. We have consistently taken a part of a whole truth and fought against the other parts.

In the actual day to day administration of these various bodies, all three forms of government are functioning in spite of strong doctrinal statements that try to limit them. All have leaders who represent Jesus no matter how much they are honored or dishonored. In this day of the fractured church, each member has the vote to go somewhere else. And all those who belong to Jesus desire to be led of the Spirit.

We will speak more about this tendency to take part of the whole and make it the sum total.

A denomination is a group of Christians with different emphases or doctrines or champions that separate them from the rest of Christendom. When I think of denominations, three things from the Bible come to mind.

The first is the Transfiguration. Jesus took Peter, James and John apart from the others. They went up a high mountain where they were all alone. Jesus was there transfigured.

Mark says, "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them." Matthew says, "His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." Can you imagine the terror and awe they must have felt?

It was something like Moses returning from the mount, his face shining with the radiated glory of God. The people were struck with fear and would not come near him. This was in daylight in the midst of the people. The three disciples were alone, in the night, on a high mountain.

And then Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus about His "departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." Luke says the disciples were sleepy. Mark says they were so frightened they didn't know what to say.

Why do we need to fill all the available space with words? Especially when we are frightened and not thinking properly, why must we blurt out stuff?

"This is it! We have now arrived! We will memorialize this experience. We will build here, in this place, the monument to these three great prophets. 0 won't Jesus be pleased with us for doing this? We'll have the Moses booth, the Elijah booth and the Jesus booth."

We are forever taking a part of "it" and making it the whole "it." We are forever taking the building God is constructing and putting on the roof, saying, "This is it!" "This is the pinnacle!" "We will stay here!" "This is the ultimate in revelation and experience!"

"You're going on? But this is where God just met us. We know this. This is real. But to go on? We will stay here! We will build here our system and preserve this wonderful revelation. We know that God was here, but as for this new thing, we don't even know where it comes from."

Father God intervened on the mount of transfiguration. The cloud enfolded them. More fear came upon them. The voice of God spoke to them and to us, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."

The "it" is Jesus Christ. Anything less than Jesus Christ in all His fullness and glory is not "it." Do not put the roof on God's construction until the day of His appearing.

The second thing that comes to mind from the Bible about denominations is prophecy.

So many denominations are built on some prophecy about Jesus coming. Some denominations require Pastors to take an oath that they believe in "the rapture." Some are built around no tribulation for Christians, others around preparing for the great battle. Some emphasize the glory of God filling the earth, others the great darkness that will mark the end times.

If the same spirit had prevailed before Jesus' first coming, there would have been the "church" of the Bethlehem birth; the "church" of the "Netzers," the Nazareth people; and the "church" of the "out of Egypt" crowd.

Then great debates could have been held. Great contests could have gone on. People could have been drawn into one of three different "churches." This would have made the leaders feel worthwhile and fulfilled if they could get more people to come with them.

I suppose the Pharisees and Saducees, or the Zealots were something like that. However, none of them had the audacity to call themselves "The Israel of God." Modern denominations, however, call themselves "The Church."

The third thing that comes to mind regarding denominations (and also buildings used by some segments of the church) are the high places of the Old Testament. God used the high places. Let's look at two examples.

The Prophet Samuel functioned in the high places. These were not just clumps of trees or small groves in nice locations. From 1 Samuel 9 we can gather that Samuel offered sacrifices there, meals were prepared in the kitchen at the high place, and there was a hall (v22) where at least thirty people could be seated for a meal.

The second illustration of God using the high places at certain times is from 1 Kings 3:4,5. "The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream...

It appears from this that God accepted Solomon's worship at the high place. However the preceding verse (3) says, "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places."

All the other references to the high places in the Old Testament are negative. When there was revival, the high places were destroyed. When Israel went after other gods, they went to the high places. I suspect that high places were considered holy all by themselves just because they were high places. Sound familiar?

Denominations are isolated and separated portions of the one church. They have specific emphases that God stirred at certain times. Lutherans champion Justification by Grace, Baptists, The Sovereignty of God. Another group, Holiness, and still another the Speaking in Unknown Tongues. The treasure that God gave the church through His servant William Booth is contained in the Salvation Army Denomination. I want all that's mine.

Beloved, my heritage is Christ Jesus, and I want it all. I do not want to be cheated out of some of the truths of God or the work of God. I want it all. I want what is for me in the Methodists, and the Mennonites. The Greek Orthodox, The Arminian, The Pentecostal, The Moravian, all have some of my heritage. I want it all.

Don't ask me to forego my heritage that's locked up with the Amish. I won't do it. Even if the Church of Christ would say I am not acceptable to them because of this or that, they are my brothers, and I will not forsake that part of my heritage.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is like the Holy of Holies for the Church. Many themes and threads of revelation run throughout the letter, weaving a pattern of intricate beauty and design that highlight this awe some entity: the Church of Jesus Christ.

First the Church of Jesus is presented in all her glory and splendor in the heavenlies right now in Christ Jesus. This is not some future goal or hope. It is what is real now.

In the heavenlies we are seated with Him. In the heavenlies we have already received every spiritual blessing. The Church ministers in the heavenlies. We proclaim now the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. We join Paul in making plain the administration of the mystery.

The mystery is always union. In Col. 1 the mystery is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." In Ephesians 2 and 3 the mystery is one, united, glorious church; Jew and Gentile, heirs together in Union with Christ. In Ephesians one the mystery is the union of, "all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."

Then comes the working out of the destiny of this glorious church in her day to day activities. How she is to function. What steps are taking place as she becomes here on earth what she already is. How each part of this magnificent creation is to walk it out together.

Lastly Ephesians presents the Church at war. The victory of our King will be worked out among us as we stand our ground. Together we stand and do battle in the heavenlies. Together we are armed and do everything to stand. Together, under the leadership of our Head, we tear down the gates of hell which have already been defeated at Calvary. Now, together, in the Spirit, we stand.

Back to the day to day walking out of our glorious destiny. Ephesians three ends with the beautiful doxology, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20,21.

Then in chapter four comes a section of the letter about levels of unity. The three levels of unity are a clear blueprint for our coming together in the Lord. The order is important.

This first level of unity already exists throughout the broken Body of Christ. There is a unity of the Spirit. It is the same Spirit, the same Lord in each part of the church. That unity does not have to be created. We do not have to work to make it happen, we have to work to keep it.

The next verse describes the absolute unity that exists. "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Eph.4:4.

We are to "make every effort" to keep this unity that exists. Other translations say, "Endeavor," "Being diligent to preserve," "Do all you can," "Eager to maintain," "Make it your aim," "Do your best to." Do you get the picture?

Work at this maintenance of unity. It already exists. Put it high on your priorities of life in Christ. Go out of your way to uphold what is now. Don't try to create it. Keep it. It is holy. It is sacred. It is part of living your life worthy of your high calling in Christ.

The way you do it is, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Eph. 4:2. There is much "bearing with one another" that needs to be done in love. If you haven't noticed, there are many obnoxious brothers and sisters who are hard to love.

Jesus is the treasure hidden in the field. We sell all and buy the field that contains the treasure. The treasure is beyond our highest dreams and expectations. Jesus is our portion and great reward. He is the bright and morning star. Jesus is our fullness that fills all in all. But the field is a mess.

The field is full of junk in various stages of decay and renewal. In some sections the field is littered with beer cans and cigarette butts. Other parts have mountains of pamphlets and flyers condemning everyone and everything. Religious artifacts are strewn here and there, and every so often there is a pile of "donkey heads and dove's dung." Someone is usually defending the pile as if it rivaled the treasure, or the treasure depended on these things which remain after the Spirit has moved on.

O.A. Waech, a beloved Lutheran evangelist said, "The Church is like Noah's Ark. If it wasn't for the storm outside, you couldn't stand the stink inside." Can you imagine the smell in that ark? The ark is a picture of the church, the redeemed people, saved by the water of baptism from the judgment upon the whole earth.

The second level of unity is the unity of faith.(v.13) Notice that this is something we come to. It is future. It is not in practical existence now. It is not even on the horizon, but it is coming. We will come to the unity of the faith. We will come to the knowledge of the Son of God. We will become mature. We will attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The process comes about through the functioning of the grace gifts. Each one of us has gifts for the Body. Jesus gives special gifts to the Body in the persons of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These special, ascension gifts are to prepare us for the ministry.

Evangelists save us. Pastors feed and care for us. Teachers instruct us. Prophets make course corrections. And Apostles keep it all together.

The ministry however, belongs to the saints. Each individual member of the Body is a minister. The special ones are to prepare us for our service, so that we Will come to the unity of faith. We said this unity of faith is not in existence now in a practical form, but it is in existence.

A big hang-up is doctrine.

We use the term doctrine to mean a teaching - a truth clearly taught in the Scripture. We make lists of doctrines and require intellectual assent to them as a basis for fellowship in "our church." We call these lists Confessions, or Articles of Faith, or Statements of Belief, or some other title that conveys the importance we place on the teachings.

A doctrine or teaching cannot legitimately be separated from life. All that Jesus taught, He first did. All His teaching came from life. We have no doctrine that we don't live.

If I say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and do not forgive others I am lying. If I take various teachings or doctrines and make them abstract intellectual propositions, I am creating a Gentile system that snares people into sophistry.

The Great Commission instructs us to teach people to obey, or to observe all that Jesus has commanded. Those who hear but don't do are building on sand.

Jesus is not pleased with the words, "Lord, Lord" when they are not accompanied by the deeds that go along with it. Doctrine and life must agree.

He warned His disciples about the "doctrine" of the Pharisees, but He also told them to do what they tell you, but not according to their deeds. If I understand this correctly it means what they said was right, what they did was wrong, therefore watch out for their doctrine.

Paul tells Titus (Ch. 2) to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. That is, how the older men are to live, how older women should behave, what the young men are to do, how Titus should set the example, how slaves are to relate to their masters, "so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." Titus 2:10. That is sound doctrine.

During the great Old Testament return (revival, renewal, restoration, reformation, reclamation) God placed His good hand upon His servant Ezra. Ezra was mightily used of God because (7:10) he set his heart or devoted himself to three things: the study of God's law, the observance or practice of the law, and the teaching of it.

This is the right approach for sound doctrine. "Do what I say, but not what I do." is unacceptable for God's servants. Ezra's second step must not be omitted. We study the ways of God. We practice these things. Then we can teach.

The requirements for the office of Overseers, Deacons, Deaconess' are all life related. Is the man of God living the teaching? Or is he disqualified by his "doctrine" that others can read in his life?

Doctrine, then, cannot legitimately be removed from life. My doctrine comes from what I say when it is validated by what I live. When doctrine is separated from life it becomes sophistry that follows the example of the Pharisees.

Also, doctrine cannot be removed from the larger body of truth. Truth is in tension. Remember that everything alive is in tension. If it is static, without opposing forces, it is dead. God deliver us from dead doctrine.

When a champion rises up and proclaims truth, the message is dynamic and alive because it comes in the context of a whole body of truth. This is the process of restoration, or bringing to the body a needed balance.

Truth out of balance is heresy. Fresh, dynamic revelation all by itself without the body will be a brilliant fizzle. Fresh, dynamic revelation is not new, it is a gift from God to bring things back into proper harmony. "There is nothing new under the sun." Eccle 1:9.

When the Body gets stuck in works, God sends His servant to proclaim faith. Well then, which is true? Is it justification by works or justification by faith? Bad question.

Of course we are justified by works. Doesn't James say, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."? James 2:24.

Of course we are justified by faith. Doesn't Paul say, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law."? Rom 3:28.

Now, instead of getting locked into a portion of the doctrine or teaching of justification, take the whole thing, and take it in tension. It is alive. It is vibrant. It is dynamic. It is like a pendulum.

A pendulum has its extreme positions. Without these way out extremes it doesn't work. A pendulum also has dead center. If it stays there, it's dead.

The Body of Christ is alive. God is pleased. The Church begins to turn in on itself with excellent educational programs, nurturing events that inspire and build-up the saints, its Pastors do a good job in leading to green pastures and still waters.

God is pleased to send some Prophets. "Thus says the Lord, 'I didn't tell you to stay. I said to go! Go, and make disciples. Go, and compel them to come in.' Church, if you don't hear the word of the Lord and repent, and change your ways, God will come and scatter you among the nations." Isn't it great? Then comes the Evangelists, and the gift of evangelism working in the people.

The Church is alive. God is pleased. The people love Jesus. "The Lord is my Shepherd." The relationship with Him deepens, and then the people begin to act out the extreme, "It's me and Jesus." The relationships within the body suffer, and the good can become rebellion.

God is pleased to raise up Prophets. Biblical principles are sounded loud and clear. Discipleship. Shepherding. Authority. Submission. Accountability. Plurality. The leaven begins to work throughout the body. Isn't God good?

Naturally every extreme, by itself, without the whole truth, is wrong. It is terrible when restorative truth is isolated and then separated from the rest of the body. That makes it dead. It must have the rest of the truth. Each part of the body needs the other parts. The whole truth includes the extreme positions.

When a truth is being restored, it becomes a rallying cry for the reformers. It is an invitation to come. "All who believe this, come on in." Later, if the movement dies to the rest of the body and remains an isolated fragment, the rallying cry becomes a doctrine that says, "Stay out if you don't believe this."

Every living doctrine or teaching is in tension as a part of a whole truth. Every truth has appropriate applications to specific situations. The need in the church today is for mature servants who know how to correctly handle, or rightly divide, or appropriately apply the word of truth.

We need those who can minister peace to aged saints about to go home. Servants who can sound clearly the eternal security of God's choice in Christ before the world began as in Ephesians one. Or the eternal security of being a sheep in the hand of Jesus which no one can take out. That is eternal security.

Then this same servant can minister the fear of God to the smart aleck who combines an unregenerate life with the confession, "I'm saved and going to heaven." He points him to Hebrews six where those who have tasted the fullness of the Spirit and the life to come and then crucify anew the Lord are no longer capable of repentance. Or "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall." 1 Cor. 10:12.

Here is a sad commentary: The church has divided over the two positions just stated. "Well," you ask, "which one is the correct one?"

Stop it! Don't do that anymore! It is a reflection of your own stupidity, insecurity, lack of maturity, and irresponsibility. Is that too harsh? Let me describe for you those who divide the Body of Christ.

According to Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James, those who divide the church (are):

godless

change the grace of God into license for immorality

deny Jesus Christ

dreamers

pollute their own bodies

reject authority

slander celestial beings

speak abusively against whatever they do not understand

follow their instincts like unreasoning animals

take the way of Cain

rush for profit to Balaam's error

destroyed in Korah's rebellion

blemishes at your love feasts

shepherds who feed only themselves

clouds without rain

autumn trees without fruit and uprooted - twice dead

wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame

wandering stars

ungodly doing ungodly acts in ungodly ways

speak harsh words against the Lord

grumblers

fault finders

follow their own evil desires boast about themselves

flatter others for their own advantage

scoffers

These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. Jude 19

"Wait, wait" you say, "What about 'How can two walk together unless they be agreed?"' That's not the way God said it in Amos. It was, "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" Answer. No. God says He agreed to walk with the people of Israel. I agree to walk with everyone who is part of the same Lord that I am. I will walk with everyone who confesses, "Jesus is Lord."

"Wait, wait, wait. This is radical" That's right. It gets right to the root of the sin of divisiveness in the Church.

"Well what about Romans 16:17?" I'm glad you brought that up. I cut my spiritual eye-teeth on Romans 16:17, and I've been looking for a good opportunity to straighten out the heresy I was taught.

I was taught to mark everyone who taught anything different from what I had learned, and separate from them. Anyone who varied in the slightest from the specific doctrinal statements, which of course we backed up from the Bible, was to be avoided.

That teaching or doctrine was taught by sincere men who loved the Lord. I love them. I love that part of the church body where I was trained. That teaching serves Satan. It is the absolute opposite meaning from what Paul wrote.

Here is my amplified translation of Rom. 16:17+ which agrees with both the text and the analogy of faith: "This is important. I urge you, I beseech you, watch out. Be watchful for the division makers and offense givers because that is so contrary to the doctrine you've learned, you have to avoid them. Keep away from the dividers, because the dividers are not serving our Lord Christ, but themselves."

Do you see what was done to the text? Instead of speaking against divisions, it was used to justify further division.

Church division feeds on pride. Pride says, "I'm better than you." Or, "You're not as good as me." God is duty bound on the oath of His Word to resist the proud.

Under this veneer of pride lurks the sin of fear. "I'm afraid of what you will find out about me, so I push you down and lift me up. If you really saw what I was like, if I ever let you in, you would reject me. I am afraid of being rejected."

Beloved, fear is sin. The first thrown into the lake of fire are the cowardly or fearful. Fear of rejection absolutely denies the eternal fact that I have been accepted in Christ. Fear is an enemy of our souls. Be kind and merciful, be forgiving and loving, but do not tolerate the sin of fear in your lives.

Fear is a cruel taskmaster. Fear demands its payment every hour, every minute. It is never satisfied. Fear makes us ineffective as individuals, and sows division and separation in the body. Cowardice almost dies continually. Courage lays down its life at the cross and never dies again.

The third level of unity from Ephesians 4 is organic - the body functioning with health and strength as each part does its work. The Church will function like the organic body that it really is. When the world sees it, the world will believe.

I believe that the Local Church is the Biblical model for us. It is the seat of government. It is the place for the harvest to be gathered. It is the only model I know that incorporates all God is doing into a workable, organic unit. I do not mean a single congregation or one flock. The Local Church is the church in the city or the church of the city.

The city where I live has a population of forty five thousand, and the Chamber of Commerce lists forty five churches. That's a Biblical ratio. A remnant. A tithe. It also reveals a huge harvest field for building more congregations.

Assuming there is an average of one hundred members in each congregation, there is an approximate tithe of the population who are members of existing congregations. This again reveals a gigantic harvest field of people for whom Jesus has paid the full price.

In the City of Jerusalem three thousand were added to the One Church on the day of Pentecost. It says the Lord added daily to their number. Shortly after this (Acts 4:4) the number had grown to five thousand men. This One Church had differing opinions, sharp sociological cleavages, and even different languages. It was One Church.

The City of Corinth at the height of its power probably had a free population of two hundred thousand plus a half million slaves. There was One Church. The Church had some problems with divisions, but they remained one. The membership of the Church at Corinth was many thousands. There were rich and poor, slave and free, and even Jew and Gentile. The Church was one.

The City of Ephesus... The City of Antioch... The City of Rome... The City of Philadelphia... It's all the same. One city, one church.

The implications for one church in one city are staggering. You ask, "How can such a thing ever happen in this day and age?" That question is irrelevant. The valid question is, "Is it the will of God to have one church in one city?" For the answer to that question ask God, and then listen.

Once we are clear that it is the will of God for one church, one city, we can ask questions about how. This time however, the questions are asked to determine a course of action, not to justify inaction. Just because it is impossible for man, does not make it impossible for God.

While we're on the subject of questions, let me take an aside. I have discovered that questions are more important than answers. Answers will be found, but they will be the answers to the questions we ask. If you ask a wrong question, you will get the right answer for the wrong question and therefore, even though it is the right answer to the question, it is still wrong.

As you listen more intently to the voice of the Spirit, you will notice that questions are answered specifically. "Should I?" and "May I?" are a case in point.

I wanted to go into a certain venture. It seemed right and good. Just before starting, I asked, "Father should I do this?" I heard a clear "No." Well, I wanted to do it so much I asked, "Father, may I do this?" This time the answer was, "Yes." Then I pressed it further and asked, "If I do this, will it harm our relationship?" I heard "No."

The answers were all correct. Our relationship was not harmed. It was permissible for me to do it. Also, it was a horrible disaster. What I did was stupid.

Get the questions right, and the answers will be right. "How can I make this work?" will get answers. The necessary question may be, "Should I even be doing this?" Think the questions through before you put too much importance on them.

In preparing to write this chapter I threw stuff into a folder. As I sorted through it I came across the same question twice. One time it is the title of a tract, the other a Pastoral Paper on unity. I highly respect both authors. I esteem them in the Lord.

The question/titles ask, "UNITY....At What Price?," and just, "WHAT PRICE UNITY?" I propose that both questions are wrong, or at least misleading. Both start as if the underlying division of the Body of Christ is acceptable. Both present unity as an option which we can decide. Both skillfully present Scriptures that validate their positions. (The type of unity that each confronts is not the unity that exists in the Trinity, or the kind we are proposing.)

For our purposes, try the questions the other way. "DIVISION....At What Price?" "WHAT PRICE DIVISION?" What price are we willing to pay to disregard the will of God? How important is our own status? Our own little kingdom? Our own valid emphases? Are we willing to bring shame and reproach on Christ by breaking His Body?

What price are we willing to pay to allow the world to continue to see the "church" in its brokenness. What's it worth to keep those dirty - (insert Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Liberals, Conservatives etc.) out of "our church"?

What is it worth to go on without recognizing the body of the Lord? Eating and drinking judgment? Weakness? Sickness? Death? 1 Cor. 11:29,30 means more than the communion with bread. "Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." 1 Cor.10:17.

Christ, the many-membered man, is expressed by the church in the city. When an individual comes to health or salvation, he seeks to be a part of something bigger. This is true of all living things. Everything desires to be a part of the larger expression unless it is sick.

Individuals wish to relate to a family, unless they are sick. An indication of sickness is a desire to isolate. Healthy families seek to be part of larger units. They get into Bible studies, neighborhood groups etc. If these are healthy, they become vibrant parts of a congregation. If the congregation is healthy it seeks to be part of the Local Church.

Families are governed by God. Each person is loved and cherished. Redemptively they are equal. Functionally or governmentally they are different. The husband is first, then the wife, then the child. This is not to put one over the other, but to bring order and life and abundance. The family agrees together. The family submits to one another in the will of God. This is a lot like the unity of the Trinity.

A congregation is a flock of God's people. They are all equal redemptively. Here too, there is order. The Shepherd, or Pastor leads the flock. He is the delegated authority for Jesus. He is to lead them. He is the first among equals. He leads them as they decide to follow God. He leads them to the Good Shepherd whose sheep they are. He leads them as a part of the one church in the city.

Pastors who are caring for congregations are usually elders. An elder is first "an older." The name suggests someone with experience and age - not a novice. One able to rule. One who has proven himself. One who has already experienced enough in God to lead and govern and rule. One who submits to God and His will.

The term elder and overseer seem to be used interchangeably in the New Testament. The terms reflect different aspects of the same office. The Apostle Peter refers to himself as a "fellow elder," and appeals to the elders to shepherd the flock, oversee the flock and set an example for the flock. 1 Peter5:1-3.

Elders are ordained. They are set apart for the office to which the Lord Jesus calls them. Elders rule the church. Elders are to govern in the name of, the Spirit of, and the will of Jesus. Elders rule the church in the city.

Elders are strong and courageous. They should be able to appropriately apply the word of truth. They are not to compromise. They are to speak and rule fearlessly and courageously. They are to guard the other elders.

When Paul was going to Jerusalem, as he passed nearby, he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. An intense and loving farewell took place as he told them he would never see them again. During the meeting he charged the elders, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." Acts 20:28.

The word translated, "keep watch over" is defined be concerned about, care for, pay attention to. Elders guard each other. Elders honor and esteem each other. Elders care about each other.

If the order of this passage is important, then the responsibility of the elders for each other comes before the responsibility to the flock. Also notice there is only one flock. Even though each elder has the primary responsibility for the congregation he serves, together with all the other elders he helps rule the local church or the church in the city.

Pastor Wood, Father McCarthy, Rev. Saunders and Brother Berg are to rule the one church in that city. How can this be? If these men, together with the other elders, guard each other, love each other, submit to each other like Jesus does with Father and the Spirit, they can do it.

Each man can discharge his duties in his own field, that portion of the one church where he is primarily responsible. Together they can govern the whole. Together they can provide every need for that local church. They can provide more and better than any denominational system.

There is in this eldership or Presbytery help and protection for the elders. No longer do they function alone, or a thousand miles from their "government." No longer do they have to compete with every other man of God. Men to whom they are joined by the blood of Jesus live and minister in the same church in the same city.

They are committed to love each other, guard each other, correct each other, encourage each other, pray with each other, search the Scriptures with each other, spend time with each other, rule the church with each other, serve as the gate through which other ministries come in and out of the local church, stand together, plan together, struggle together, stay together.

Radical? Yes! It gets right to the root, the radix, of the matter.

Heretical? No! The real heresy, (sect, party, dissension, faction) is the ungodly denominational division that keeps the church broken into so many pieces, and allows the world to deny that Father sent Jesus.

Challenging? Difficult? Yes! But fellow kings and priests, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14.

Sure it's always easier to build a new house than to rebuild an old one - especially when the foundations are wrong.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I am calling for God's servants to work together with Jesus in building the one church in the city. I am calling for heroes. I am calling for courageous people who have nothing to loose, since they have already died with Jesus.

As you think these radical thoughts and begin to implement them, hold tight to the example of the Trinity. Repent of, "I'm better. I'm more important." Lift up and exalt, "You're better. You're more important. Together we are whole."

The next step is to pray John 17 again. Let Jesus in you, pray it new and fresh through you.

God bless you.

We hope Ultimate Evangelism has been a blessing and will help you in your ministry in these exciting days. We are most happy to provide this without cost. Donations to Crushed Grapes Ministry, however, are gladly received.