What our mission should be as Christians.

Thanks Russell for putting all we have discussed into a well composed writing. Here it is:



Houston! We have a problem! Or better yet. Church of Jesus Christ, we have a problem! The current teachings and structures of the Church in America today have nearly strangled the true mission of the Church.

We see teachings like the purpose-driven life, the prayer of Jabez, the shack, your best life now, a gospel that says that Jesus died only for a pre-selected few, and a gospel that promises a “better” life if you join a certain congregation or give to a certain ministry. We see church structures that resemble worldly business organizations that have layers of “top-down” management or structures that resist any type of leadership having many opinions and no direction.

To the spiritual, it is layers and layers of confusion designed by the spirit of religion to keep the body of Christ from its real mission, Going!
(Mat 28:19-20 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We must stay focused. Let’s review the fundamental issues that keep us from getting to mission. We must see the obstacles, see them as obstacles, repent from the obstacles, and then remove the obstacles. Finally, we start and continue in the biblical direction for which we were intended so that we can accomplish His work.
Doctrine made Simple
Doctrine is our system of belief regarding Christianity. Where do our beliefs originate? Are they born out of our church affiliation, our parents, our favorite author, or are they simple ideas that we have created over time to justify our way of living?

Let’s keep it simple. A Christian’s doctrine should be born out of the Bible and the Spirit’s witness i.e. (John 4:24 NKJV) “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Where then can we locate the basic Christian doctrine in the Bible? In short, the sixth chapter of the Book of Hebrews provides the building blocks of the Christian faith.
(Heb 6:1-2 NKJV) Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, {2} of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The Lord was adamant that those who were sent out did so two by two. In the same way, we see the three “pairs” of Christian doctrine. Repentance and Faith work together to produce a believer forgiven of sin, crucified with Christ, and Risen with Him. Then, we see baptisms and the laying on of hands where the progressive work of baptism works in the believer but also he is expected to produce fruit becoming the baptizer. Lastly, faith, hope, and love are undergirded as the Spirit would emphasize the reality of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.

Continually working through these doctrines keeps the believer on solid ground not straying with strange teachings.
(Heb 13:8-9 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. {9} Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
Once believers are feeding on the right spiritual food, they grow up into mature believers ready to do the will of God.
(Eph 4:14-15 NKJV) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; Why Structure Matters
Did you ever wonder where our current church practices originate? Are they biblical constructions or men’s inventions? Some to think on: Meeting at a building, sitting and listening to a speaker, elevating the five-fold ministry to “higher” callings, praying the sinner’s prayer, having a democratic form of church government; having a “pyramid” or hierarchal form of church government, and providing an event-based form of Christian living. These are just some forms of church structure that keep the body of Christ from Going!

The first three centuries of Christianity happened in believer’s homes. From that point forward, the church was forever changed through the hands of Constantine and the papal reign. Protestants may have broken from the “Catholic” faith, but they kept the church structure which continues to impede the mission of the church even today. Some have ventured from the norm but often were unable to sustain the biblical model. John Wesley charged out the doors of the Church of England and was disdained for his acts. Wesley’s class meetings stirred believers to not only live holy or set apart for the Lord but made them witnesses to all the earth. Yet, though a great effort, Methodism has dwindled to another denomination with weak doctrine and weaker believers. Neither denominationalism or non-denominationalism is the answer, Christianity is the only solution.

Suppose then we have corrected our doctrine and our structure according to Biblical standards. What then should we expect when it comes to our great commission of making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them.
The New Testament Mission: from Baptized to the Baptizer
There’s no other mission. There is only one. Go and make disciples.
This commission is to all disciples. He equips us by giving us His Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts tells us why we were given the Holy Spirit:
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit came and is present to witness through us. Not to perform as some exotic dancer on a stage providing sensual satisfaction for a few bucks. God Forbid! The Holy Spirit has come for outside the four walls of the Christian hideout called the church building or the house church for that fact. Any meeting without the mission of witness will morph from encouragement to entertainment to extinction. We must go!

Where is the urgency to tell others what the Lord has done? Where is the manifestation of the Spirit? In the book of First Corinthians, the twelfth chapter, the Apostle Paul instructs us regarding the gifts of the Spirit. The expectation should be that all are given a manifestation of the Spirit. Whether on the street or in the store, He may desire to manifest Himself through you to others.
(1 Cor 12:7 NKJV) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
We must expect and prepare to manifest the Spirit as He wills. Are we prepared? Are we willing? What may happen? You may see either a plucking up or a planting. The Book of Jeremiah gives us insight into what may transpire:
(Jer 1:6-10 NKJV) Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” {7} But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. {8} Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. {9} Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. {10} See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
When the Lord sends us out, we may be found rooting out, pulling down, destroying, throwing down, building, or planting. It is a diverse work. Isn’t a peculiar thing to see four out of the six actions in Jeremiah’s call seem to be destructive rather than constructive? Many people today have wrong belief systems and exist in non-biblical structures. The Spirit of God seeks to gently extract the person from the problem. We are the ones that He desires to perform the extraction.

Are we not all commissioned to be the watchmen of the souls of men? Do our hearts hurt for those not experiencing the grace of God in doctrine or body life? Ezekiel was addressed in a stern way. This warning is our warning. We are all watchmen!
(Ezek 33:2-6 NKJV) “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, {3} ‘when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, {4} ‘then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. {5} ‘He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. {6} ‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
We may say, “ well that call is only for the fivefold ministry.” The full time ministers of the Gospel. Another lie! We are all “full time” ministers i.e. witnesses for Christ. There’s no delineation. Believers may have different functions in the body but no one is exempted from the commission to go. Case in point, what is the difference between Jesus’ disciples in Matthew Chapter ten first one and His apostles in verse two. Is not that they were called? We are all disciples and are all apostles because we are all called? No exclusions, no exemptions.
(Mat 10:1-2 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and allkinds of disease. {2} Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: …
Okay! So we are convinced that we must go. But what should be happening? Well, the Spirit of God will manifest Himself to those around us. The intent is that He will guide everyone into the Truth. He bears witness of Christ. He has a convicting work. The apostle John pens this in his Gospel:
(John 14:17 NKJV) “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 16:13 NKJV) “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 15:26-27 NKJV) “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. {27} “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. (John 16:8-11 NKJV) “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {9} “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; {10} “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; {11} “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
As you can tell, this is a sobering and daunting task. Yet, the Holy Spirit promises the joy of doing the Father’s will through it all. It is the commission of the Gospel to all believers.

Remember, right the doctrine, right the structure, and ready the witness. The Holy Spirit will manifest Christ’s glory through you and I.

All believers have a calling and a grace given according the measure of Christ’s gift.
(Eph 4:4-7 NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. {7} But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
In Christ, the mission is Go!

Russell White
October 29, 2009

What Is The Church?

Let me start by what the church is NOT…

The church is not a large building where massive groups of people meet to hear a sermon over coffee, nor is it a small chapel where a smaller group of people meet to hear a sermon in a pew.

I Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] Christ.”

Samantha Williams
The church is a living breathing organism otherwise known as the body of Christ. That body is made up of many individuals who lay down their status as an individual at the cross. This cannot be laid down at the door of a building and picked back up at the end of a rousing emotional sermon. This is a continual work of the cross. We lay our lives down for our friends.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

We pray together, we weep together, we laugh together, we bear each others burdens, we admonish each other, we bear with each other, and we grow in the knowledge of Christ TOGETHER.

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”

This kind of love cannot be expressed in a twice per week succession of programs. This kind of love must be an encompassing love where we are compassionate toward each other, setting aside ourselves and searching for ways to serve every day.

If you and/or your “church” do not look like the living body of Christ, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to either get out or start a revolution of reformation. Make your dead gathering a living organism. It can start with you. Repent of your self-seeking ways and learn to love one another.

Samantha Williams

Good day of fellowship following the Word.

We assembled with the "Wilbert" church Sunday. It was so good to see everyone. After we discussed the Word we had our weekly love feast/communion. Following that we went outside and played games, visited, and enjoyed the beautiful day. The men all played croquet and it was full of energy. Here is Elvis a sweet brother from Cameroon, Africa that is part of our fellowship. We love the Body of Christ and the loving relationships that we have.

Finishing the Race Set Before Us

There were a couple of verses that I was thinking on during worship Sunday morning. Ron went on to talk about Hebrews 12:2 later that morning, but I didn't feel led to interject because he had a good word and was going in a different direction. I want to take a minute and share with you what the Lord was showing me this morning. Also, if you notice anyone that didn't get it, please forward because these were the only email addresses that I had of the attendees from Sunday.


Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author (beginning) and Finisher (end) of our Faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Picture a runner before a race, many have on some type of clothing (windsuits, sweatsuits, etc.) over their running shorts and shirts. This other clothing is heavy and bulky. It isn't good running cloths for racing because it is restrictive. It keeps you from reaching your potential. Also, many runners put their running shoes on just minutes before the race because they are lighter and easier to run with, but they aren't always as comfortable as other shoes. Other shoes are built for comfort, but they are often heavier and bulkier.
This is the picture of the first verse, but our problem is that we get consumed with the besetting sin (clothes) and the weights and burdens of life (shoes). We then forget to run the race, or we try to run and tire out because we are dragging to much with us. Then when we try to run, we run it like it is a 100 yard dash instead of a marathon. If we take our eyes off of the finish line we will not make it. A few weeks ago, Peyton and I raced a cross country motorbike race. It was a 1 1/2 hour grueling race in the hills of Sicily Island. My first lap took 23 plus minutes. I was so tired after the first lap that I wanted to quit, but I couldn't quit because I was in third place. I kept telling myself to go just one more lap. Keep pushing and ride one lap at a time. I stayed in third place until the end of the third lap which was over 1 hour into the race. I had told myself that if I was no longer in third (top 3 get a trophy) that I would then quit, but when I came to the finish line, Haven was waving the white flag (which means one more lap). Now I couldn't quit because that would be a horrible example for my son. So I dug deep and finished. I did finish fourth, and I didn't get a trophy. What I did get was the confidence to know that I overcame. Although I lost the race, and some battles, I finished it. I pushed myself farther than I thought I could. Many times in Christ, we give up before we should. We quit right before the breakthrough happens in our lives. We have to look to finish this race no matter what it cost us or how bad it hurts. We need to readjust our sights and focus. We look at the pain when the race gets hard and we want to quit. It does no good to only run 25 of 26 miles in a marathon. You could lead the whole race up to that point, but if you don't finish then you lose all of the reward and prizes. Many grow weary, lose their focus and quit. God will not congratulate us for 25 great miles run in Christ, but will condemn us for not finishing the race in Christ.
Look to Jesus, his last mile was Horrific, but he finished. Why? Quitting or disobedience wasn't an option for him, and his focus was on his Father and His Will for Him. He knew the rewards of finishing the race, and He knew He had to focus on his Goal, God's glory. Through the Cross, God was glorified because sin was defeated, and Jesus took the keys to Hell and Death from Satan.
Now, let's look at another man who had a tough last mile to run, Stephen the Martyr (Acts 7). If Stephen would have backed off his preaching of Truth, this probably wouldn't have been his last mile, but God had greater things planned (Apostle Paul). Stephen had his eyes on the finish line and he saw the reward: (vs. 55-56) - But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said Behold, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.
Because of Stephens focus on the reward, Christ himself, he was able to push past all the obstacles, even death itself. Even in his death, with the heart of Christ, he cried out, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. I want that Spirit to richly dwell within me, but it takes obedience, focus, and throwing aside the things that hold us back. Jesus is well worth it.
One more thing that I noticed is that Hebrews 12:2 says ...Jesus is set down (seated) at the right hand of the Throne of God, but Acts 7:55-56 says... Jesus is standing on the right Hand of God. I believe Stephens Obedience and Faith brought Jesus to His feet as He watched what took place with His child. Just as a loved one or coach is standing close to the finish line of a race screaming, "Your almost there!!!" Encouraging that person to finish the race. God also revealed Himself to Stephen to carry him through his persecution and death. The more we obey and walk by Faith, the more the Father will reveal himself to us. The world and the love of the world and its treasures is what blinds us from really seeing God. What in our lives (yours and mine) robs us from seeing God. Every time in Scripture that a man sets himself apart to God for his use, God revealed himself to this man. May we be the people that set themselves apart to see His Holiness.

In Christ,
Scott

The New Dark Age

Historically we are in the Age of Information, but I submit that we are in another Dark Age of Christianity. I know that this is not a new concept but we need to be reminded of it to see religion for what it is, to know our enemy.

In the Middle Ages, “church” attendance was booming, everyone from serfs on up to Kings attended the “church” of the day.

An article from Minnesota State University states, “From the moment of its baptism a few days after birth, a child entered into a life of service to God and God's Church. As a child grew, it would be taught basic prayers, would go to church every week barring illness, and would learn of its responsibilities to the Church. Every person was required to live by the Church's laws and to pay heavy taxes to support the Church. In return for this, they were shown the way to everlasting life and happiness after lives that were often short and hard.”
“In addition to collecting taxes, the Church also accepted gifts of all kinds from individuals who wanted special favors or wanted to be certain of a place in heaven. These gifts included land, flocks, crops, and even serfs. This allowed the Church to become very powerful, and it often used this power to influence kings to do as it wanted.”
Due to the caste system, called the feudal system, most common people and all serfs could not read. The ignorance of the people and the greed of all who had understanding allowed the Roman Catholic entity to thrive. Selling God to the highest bidders and assuring people if they say certain prayers and pay the church they will go to heaven.

The modern apostate church still sells God to the highest bidder and teaches that if you say the sinner’s prayer and be a good little pew-sitter and pay your tithe, surely you will go to heaven. And, if you really want to support and be a champion of their ministry they’ll even send a miracle healing cloth or anointing oil that will wipe away your sufferings and send you straight into a life of ease and prosperity. And even better, that life is in the here and now not the obscure beyond.

The common people of today live under a sort of chosen ignorance. People don’t challenge what they’re taught, not because they are illiterate, but because they choose to be devoid of understanding. Not wanting to upset the delicate balance of their greed-driven humanistic theology. Unfortunately what Karl Marx said is too true, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” People must drug themselves to sleep with religion so that they can live their lives without sacrifice and feel that they are going to heaven.

Today’s apostasy is a dual force where the powers that be and the common man unite in their endeavor to maintain their lifestyle of greed and complaisance. A monster of epic proportions that is blasphemously called the body of Christ. In this endeavor there is an updated caste system of the “Super-Christian” and the “Pew-Sitter”. The elite clergy and their inner circle of faithful tithers/yes men and the other guys who sit on the pew listening to an inspirational, if not mildly challenging at best, sermon to feel that they have done their duty to God.

II Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

II Timothy 3:1-5

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

I remember when I used to read that scripture, I was put off by it thinking, surely that is not me! Look again though, some of the descriptions are blatant but some are subtle to our “enlightened” humanistic minds. The ones that we can look at with disdain and say that Paul definitely didn’t mean us are obvious: blasphemers, unthankful, unholy, unloving, slanderers, brutal, despisers of good, traitors… but what about the rest?

Surely, Paul was talking about the world, sinners, those who do not claim to know God. Wait a minute… “having a form of godliness but denying its power”? What does that mean? What is having a form of godliness? Perhaps having a form of religion, a code of ethics, a man-made set of standards of church attendance and growth that we think establishes God’s kingdom? And wouldn’t that very fact lead you right into all of those other blatant sins? If you come up with your own standards and leave biblical standards, you are open to justifying God’s laws away in your freedom and liberty.

What is the power of godliness?

2 Peter 1:3

as His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Luke 24:49

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father, the power from on high. He will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance the things that Jesus said!

Having a form of godliness but denying its power; is having our own standard of behavior and thought but denying the work of the Holy Spirit in us to repent and change our thinking to God’s thinking and our standard of behavior to the standard that God has set before us in His word and in the example of Jesus’ life!

Until each of us looks at ourselves through the Word of God and sees that we are the ones who are denying the power of God, we will be in a darkness and strong delusion. We must repent and change the way we think so that the Holy Spirit can give us power to live godly lives. And then, He will give us power to be witnesses to Him to the ends of the earth. Showing people the real enemy of their souls… RELIGION!!

With all love in the spirit of truth,
Samantha Williams


** all emphasis in the scriptures are mine.

I can't talk to you...UNLESS!

Great word from David Wilkerson. It was posted on his blog. It went along with what we discussed on Sunday. Diane spoke on Romans 8 and that if we are His we will walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. It is about pleasing Him and not our flesh. For so many that is backwards. What's sad is these are people claiming to be Christian. We need to shake ourselves. Here is what David shared:

Sadly, great numbers of Christians do not know God’s voice. Some can go for months, even years, without ever receiving an intimate word from the Lord in their inner man. Oh, God did speak to them at one time. But over the years, they’ve learned to silence his voice in their hearts. Others have been turned off by so much foolishness among those who believe that every word that pops into their minds is divine. Such people boast, “God told me”—yet the “word” they hear is only their covetous flesh taking voice!

If you want to know and hear God’s voice in the days ahead, be ready to have him speak of cleansing before he speaks of direction. Many Christians want God to tell them how to hold on to what they’ve earned, how to provide for their family, how to keep their business or career afloat. But the truth is, before God gives us a word of direction in any of these matters, he’ll speak to us about his commandments.

“These things I command you, that ye love one another” (John 15:17). God will first speak to you about your actions at home with your wife and children—about your quick temper, your grudges, your unforgiving spirit. He’ll point out every hidden, secret thing in your life—and he’ll lovingly tell you, “I want to be your adviser, your counselor, your guide, your protector, your provider. I want to walk with you through every trial and hardship. And I want to favor, bless and keep you by my Spirit. But first, you have to get honest with me about the hidden idols in your heart. Right now you’re holding on to them—but you must give them up! We simply can’t walk together unless we agree on these matters of your heart!”

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to our blog. We are a group of believers who love the Lord Jesus Christ and love each other. Paul told the Galatians: "My little children for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." Galatians 4:19. We are laboring together until Christ is formed in each of us. This is not a quick fix or a magic wand to instantly transform you, this is the work of a lifetime. Day in and day out, putting to death the works of the flesh and growing in the knowledge of Christ, TOGETHER. Check back with us to see what we are up to!