My Message to a Small Group of Believers

This is Part 1 of the write-up of a message I gave to a small group of believers who meet regularly in an older couple’s home. I offered them this list of progressive truths for God’s people.

First, I played the old Bill Gaither song, The Church Triumphant. Then I spoke:

My Talk

Congratulate yourselves for being here. You all are in on the beginning of a powerful move of God, the next phase in rebuilding God’s Kingdom on Earth. This message is about the next step in God’s restoring truth and power to His people.

When Constantine became emperor, he legalized Christianity and stopped the persecution against it. The Catholic Church went on to institutionalize Christianity into a religion. The Church leaders burned people who disagreed with their teachings, which were destroying people’s lives. They created a hierarchy of lay people, monks and nuns, priests and abbots, monseigneurs and bishops, cardinals and popes. Then God began to restore Kingdom Truth to His people.

• Luther restored salvation by faith – not payments for indulgences.
• Calvin taught that God rules over ALL areas of society.
• Protestant churches were led by deacons, elders, and pastors – not apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
• Colonial patriots gave us freedom of conscience – no state religion.
• Azusa Street revival returned us to the overflowing of Sarayu (Holy Spirit) and the power of prayer languages.
• Word of Faith movement and prosperity preachers taught us to speak out what God wants for His people.
• Over the recent decades, God has brought back evangelists, teachers, prophets, and apostles.

List of Kingdom Teachers

I then handed out a list of teachers I have listened to on YouTube with links to particular messages. Those teachers of progressive truths for God’s people and links are given at the top of each section below.

Following is what I have learned about the truths that God is restoring to His people.

KINGDOM VS CHURCH /Myles Munro: http://bit.ly/3jKIpi3 /

Jesus preached God’s Kingdom, not a religious institution. The two references to “church” in Matthew 16 and 18 are mistranslations of ecclesia, enforced by the King James Bible.

A church is a religious institution or organization. And Jesus fought religious leaders. He never wanted people forced to submit to church teachings or commands. Jesus preached the benefits of Kingdom citizenship.

Synagogues were community centers for Jews – with religious activities added. Political decisions were made there.

KINGDOM COLONIES /Myles Munro: http://bit.ly/3vHkUsT/

The Romans sent colonies of citizens to conquered lands in order to make those cultures like Rome. The emperors sent ecclesias – groups of citizens, led by apostles. (These are political words – not religious ones.)

Earth is a colony of Heaven. King Jesus wants His will done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus wants Heaven’s culture taught to Earth’s natives, despite an  Enemy that fosters rebellion against the King’s will.

ECCLESIA /Greg Simas: http://bit.ly/3IufqJD/

In Greek culture, an ecclesia was an assembly of citizens of a city. They were called out to attend political assemblies. They made policy decisions, raised armies, and ratified treaties for their city.

The Romans turned ecclesia into an assembly of colonists. These were sent to a conquered land to bring Roman culture to that land, to enforce the emperor’s decrees in that land. These colonists were led by an apostle, usually the conquering general, who had spent time with the emperor to learn his heart and plans.

Jesus called His followers His ecclesia. When He said this in Matthew 16:13-19, His students did not think “church”. That was not even a word yet. 

Jesus called His closest students His apostles. He spoke of their political power to bind and loose. These were legal terms used in court, standing before political leaders.

In a personal aside, I believe the liberal government tried to use the Covid epidemic wasd to shut down the gathering of religious congregations, which worked. However, it became an opportunity for small groups like this to gather. God is working to restore ecclesias.

SEVEN MOUNTAINS OF SOCIETY /Lance Wallnau: http://bit.ly/3GpLvQ6/

The Seven Mountains or spheres are areas of influence in society. These are areas where the gates of Hades take control unless opposed by the ecclesia of the King. God’s people have been religious – not political. They have surrendered control of these seats of influence. These areas include 

• religion
• family
• education 
• government
• media
• arts and entertainment
• science and technology.

The ecclesia of King Jesus is not meant to take over, like a jihad. It is meant to serve those in leadership. We have examples in

• Joseph and Pharaoh
• Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Cyrus
• Jesus and Jewish leaders

God wants His people to influence the leaders for God’s Kingdom, decree and declare the King’s will for Earth through prayer and preaching. They are to bring Kingdom solutions to the problems of society.

What are the levels of ecclesia?

• Couples like Fred and Reba, the small group leaders, who pray in the Spirit for each person attending their group
• prayer partners, who can know each other’s weaknesses and support each other
• households, whether families or single men or women, who live together for mutual support and encouragement in growth
• neighborhoods where families gather for fellowship and prayer and community development
• communities, where political issues start to rise up.

Ecclesias can pray and work for God’s Kingdom in county, state, and national jurisdictions.

Questions

Can you lay aside the old wineskins of Church teaching and take in the new wine of God’s Kingdom? His ecclesia? 

Can you see yourself as a colonist from Heaven, sent to bring Kingdom culture to this conquered land?

Shalom.