Congregations Of The Lord Jesus Christ Part 2

Congregations of the Lord Jesus Christ Part 2 First, we see that never is there any instance in the New Testament of the believers building any house of worship. Of course, there was a Temple in existence during the time some of the New Testament was written but this is different. First, it was a legitimate Temple of the Lord on the designated spot for the Temple. It was also built before the New Testament Church was begun. The Temple of course wouldn't meet the needs of those living some days travel away from it, let alone some weeks or even months travel time. Paul (as well as all the other Apostles) never got involved with any Church building type project. This concept of getting the believers to pay for a building that they themselves don't even own or control and can't even live in, is of course an unbiblical practice. The collection is for the Saints and the legitimate ministry workers who are of course also Saints. Can the believers with needs go to the owners of these buildings and say we are out of work and can't pay our bills, let us live in the building or go sell the building so we can have our needs met? Sure they could go and make such a request but I have never heard of any of these so called churches selling their real estate to meet the needs of it's congregants. In the New Testament Church the believers sold their own personal real estate to meet the needs of their brothers and sisters. Now, the Church going to a bank or other lending institution to borrow money at a high interest rate to build a building is even more absurd. These so called churches, use the real estate to give themselves credibility. It's too easy for a few people who love the Lord to start a church if the only requirement was to have a house. Satan has an incredibly intense fear of believers meeting together, especially if they're not in sin. See Math.18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The church building is another obstacle satan tries to put in front of those starting to meet in houses. Many feel there is a lack of credibility to a congregation meeting in a house. This is wrong, it is the way to meet. There were synagogues in the days of the New Testament writings. The Apostles could've raised money to construct such synagogue or church type buildings if they felt it was correct. If I were to set out to do something wrong, I know the conviction that I would come under would be uncomfortable enough to make me go to the scriptures and prayer right away to see where I went wrong and correct my mistakes. If you are a believer you will know exactly what I am talking about. I have no idea how anyone in God's service, supposedly being led by the Holy Spirit, in submission to God and in charge of a congregation, could ever go ahead and build a building with the money from the believers and call it a Church and not even let the congregation members that paid for it, own it or live in it. Look the meetings should be held in homes and the money saved could be used to meet the needs of the congregants or if all their needs were met it could be used to help another congregation meet their needs.

The Greek word for Church (ekklessia, Strong's #1577) means a congregation or a group called out. The Greek word has nothing to do with real estate such as a building. Go out from these so called churches. 2Pet.2:3 "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." The making merchandise of you is getting you to pay for real estate they own and or control. They can sell it, rent it, or mortgage it. It is a solid worldly item of bankable value. This diverts the money from being used to meet the needs of the believers. The meeting in homes also limits the size of the congregation. Perhaps 25-35 people could comfortably meet in a modern day American home, perhaps even 40 or 50 with some larger homes. The exact amount isn't important but it should be noted that groups of several hundred or thousands won't be able to fit into homes. A small group is more advantageous. It let's every one know everyone else. A person living in sin will have a much harder time escaping detection in a smaller group. Think about it. The same goes for people who won't share their worldly goods to meet the needs of those believers in need. The restricted size will serve to keep the false believers out of the congregation. False believers are not interested in helping the believers with their problems financial or otherwise, they are interested in increasing and creating problems for the believers. Remember, home groups as a function of a large church that owns real estate, is not the same thing as congregations that meet in homes. Don't be deceived. 1 Tim.5:20 should be noted and followed and of course is easier to do in a small group: "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." This of course is almost never seen in the churches that own real estate. Aren't they interested in causing the congregation to fear to sin? Have you ever seen anyone rebuked before all for not following 1Cor.5:11, Rom.16:17, 2Jn.9-11, 2Thes.3:14, 1Tim.6:3-5, or 1Jn.5:21. Our gospel doesn't not allow for us to fellowship with any sort of character, doing anything they want contrary to the scriptures yet at the same time holding themselves out to be a believer. The next point regarding meeting in houses is perhaps one of the most important. As the congregations of the Lord Jesus Christ start to act in one accord and cling to all of the Doctrines of Jesus and the Apostles, the body of Christ will become more and more empowered. This means that a persecution could be a possibility. How can a real estate holding Church that has hundreds or thousands of people meeting together in one building, get through any serious persecution? The enemy knows they're all in one place on Sunday morning which would make it very convenient for the enemy. If the property was to be confiscated or destroyed what would the people do ? Where would they meet ?

They're too attached to the real estate, or in other words the things of this world. They'd go into confusion and have to start organizing meetings in houses during the onset of a persecution. The false believers would be relatively unknown since the church was so large. They would probably have a real hard time of things, learning their lesson the hard way in the middle of a persecution. Most importantly, at a time when many would need to draw on the strength and faith of others, these others would be running around trying to put the pieces together under most adverse conditions. Their effectiveness in a time of great need would be greatly diminished. You want to know who is tested and tried to be faithful in the little things before you have to rely on them for the big things. Lk.16:10 " He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." A cluster of house congregations is harder to confuse and defeat. They can go underground very easily just changing houses, or meeting outdoors when necessary. Think about it. Satan wants the believers easy to defeat. With a lot of smaller house churches instead of one big church, there are numerous leaders in place in each congregation with people holding higher offices overseeing the groups. If a leader of a congregation meeting in a certain house is taken out of the picture, it is a simple matter for one of the other leaders to step in. Bear in mind the New Testament Church according to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, has five offices. Everything does not rest on a person called the Pastor. Eph.4:11 " And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. " A Church functioning with only the office of pastor or perhaps teacher filled, is of course not doctrinally correct which means they are preaching another gospel. They are saying their church doesn't have five offices, but we know the Bible calls for five offices and of course God will fill these office but only in his church. For the Church to be empowered and function correctly these offices must be filled. Correct doctrine calls for these other offices to be filled. Pray for true congregations to emerge with all the offices filled, and soon. Nowhere does the New Testament indicate that any of these offices are to be done away with at this point in time. Nowhere! The Church of The Lord Jesus Christ operates according to him, he is the head of it. Eph.5:23 - 24 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let their wives be to their husbands in everything." You see the true Church of The Lord Jesus Christ will be listening to him as the head and following his doctrines, which are contained in the New Testament. When you see these doctrines not being followed there is a big problem because that church is not operating with the Lord Jesus Christ as it's head. Read Math.12:30:

" He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Now that you read it, believe it and walk in it. The Lord Jesus Christ doesn't have some churches operating differently than others. It's always the same in every one of his churches. There is only one set of doctrines and they are conveniently written down for you in your Bible. Go back and read about Annanias and Saphira (Acts chapt.5). The church didn't go and reach out to them and smother them with warm fellowship after their lies were discovered. In Acts 5:9 Peter prophesied Saphira's death to her before she literally dropped dead. By the standards they teach in these so called churches today, Peter would be considered harsh, cruel and ungodly, wouldn't he? Theirs is another Gospel. Read about Paul calling blindness down on a guy interfering with his witnessing (Acts 13:11). Read about Paul delivering people over to Satan (1Cor.5:5).What would this so called church say about Paul's behavior? You know what he'd be accused of: being harsh, cruel, lacking love, controlling etc. What would satan say about Peter and Paul? Do you think what satan would say sounds like what the so called church today would say? The true gospel is one of power, strength and glory but requires obedience. Our Bible heroes didn't fool around, did they ? Satan hates to see power operating in the body of believers. Next, let's consider the subject of the cross. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see anyone wearing a cross on their neck or anywhere else. We don't see the body of believers making the sign of the cross, we don't read of crosses on houses or buildings or pulpits. We also don't read of any other sign like that of a fish, etc. being used by the Apostles. The cross is spoken about figuratively. We are never told to go out and get crucified literally. Nor are we told to go get a large wooden cross (or a not so large cross) and drag it around with us or wear it all day long. When you put up a cross on a pulpit or a building you have made it into an idol. Have you never heard them call for people to come to the cross and this is usually done with a cross in place, in the front at an altar of some sort. Folks this is cleverly but intentionally devised idolatry. What about songs focusing on the cross instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. What's that one called that they sing "I will cherish that old rugged cross." You come to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and for prayer, not to a cross. A piece of wood shaped like a cross will not save you, and if you turn it into an idol it can certainly be harmful. Look the New Testament Church didn't build altars (with or without crosses) in the houses they met in and they didn't wear crosses. Read Rom. 10: 9: " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that god hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Just because Jesus died on a cross and it is spoken of in the Bible, it doesn't mean it can't be made into an idol. Of course we all know that the Roman Catholics use statues (they also use crosses) in their places of gathering. Question yourself as to how they can

scripturally do this in the face of the prohibition against idols: 1Jn.5:21 "Little children keep yourselves from idols." They can't. They will say that the statue (idol) reminds them of who they are praying to, compared to a person who prays directly to the statues or idols. This is of course nonsense and both types of behavior concerning statues and idols are to be avoided as sinful. What the Devil has done is turned the cross into an idol, deceiving the believers into accepting it since a statue of some ancient demon idol would be much harder to sell them on. The cross on the roof of the church, or anywhere else is a sign of idolatry and avoid such places. If someone knows you to be a man or woman that is God fearing and loving and sees you go in such a place they may be snared to do so also. There is also a prohibition against eating food sacrificed to idols, see Acts 21:25. Read Paul talking to believers about eating food sacrificed to idols. I'll quote part of it, Acts 8:10-11 " If any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died." These churches have a different gospel, they just use the real Bible to develop their gospel. Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Scientists), Joseph Smith (Mormons), and the jehovah witnesses use the real Bible to develop their gospel as well. Please note they don't practice what the Bible calls for and they don't preach according to the Bible, but they use it even preaching out of it. Don't be deceived. And please remember 1 Thes.5:22: " Abstain from all appearance of evil." Stay out of these Churches. Don't wear crosses or have them. Believers don't make the sign of a cross with their fingers on their body when praying. This too is idolatry. Don't put those fish medallions on your car. If you want to advertise the fact that you're a believer put a scripture verse on your car or in your window. Now, there are some so called churches that are in a Denomination. What is a denomination anyway? Is it in the Bible? Sure, the concept is in the Bible but it's treated as a sin! Let's read about it. 1Cor.1:12-13 " Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul." 1 Cor.3:3-4 " For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?"

You see denominations are sinful divisions designed to divide up the body of Christ. Read Math.12:25: " And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." This is the goal of satan, to have the believers divided. Each denomination is subtly, but firmly holding itself out to be better than and separate from the believers outside of their denomination. Read Rom.16:17: " Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them." We are told to avoid those causing divisions. This means in plain English stay away from any church that calls itself a member of any denomination. Remember what Paul said regarding those who say they are of Apollos or Cephas. The equivalent of this today is when a believer says I'm a Baptist, or a Lutheran, an AG man or woman, etc. The word in the King James "offenses" (referencing Rom.16:17 quoted a few lines up) is not translated as accurately as it should be. It is Strong's #4625 and it means a snare, a stumbling block, or a cause of sin or error. You see the making of divisions and the setting up of snares goes together as our Bible teaches us. We read of the Church at Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, etc. It is the same Church always, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of which he is the head and he is not interested in having his body divided against itself. Avoid denominations. Don't believe they 're not divisions. How could they get any more divided. Read Gal.5:19-21 from my interlinear New Testament and pay attention to the words divisions and sects: " Now manifest are the works of the flesh, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strifes, jealousies, indignations, contentions, divisions (Strongs # 1370), sects (Strongs # 139), envyings, murders, drunkenness, revels, and things like these; as to which I tell you beforehand you, and even as also I said before, that they who such things do kingdom God's shall not inherit." This is a literal translation and thus a bit choppy. The KJV translates divisions as seditions, and sects as heresies but the underlying Greek words open it up to us. God considers divisions and sects to be a serious offense, serious enough to keep a person out of heaven. So according to the Word of God divisions and offenses can eternally damage a person as much as murder, adultery, fornication and so forth. Hmmmmm. It is not okay for us to go and fellowship in any old church irrespective of what they teach and practice is it? If you want to go and put yourself spiritually under those committing such sins all I can do is point out the scriptures but as for me and my house we'll serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 1:1 " Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Some of you will want to E-mail me and argue how a denomination can exist without being a division or a sect. It's impossible. By definition a denomination is a division or a sect, why have them if they weren't. Remember Paul's discourse regarding Apollos and Cephas. They both had correct doctrine and served the Lord Jesus Christ, yet Paul still admonished this behavior as being divisive. They didn't even call themselves apollonians or cepallians and Paul still admonished them. Don't be deceived. Let's look at how women are to behave in the Congregation according to the Word of God. 1Cor.14:34 - 37 " Let your women keep silence in the Churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of god out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." Please note Paul said the things that he writes are the commandments of the Lord, not just this thing. And we'll also read 1Tim.2:11 - 12: " Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." You can't take out what you don't like from the Bible and keep what is comfortable. This is how one can create another gospel using the Bible to do it. Women must be silent during the meetings of the congregation. They sit in silence. It's real black and white. This is Apostolic Doctrine that must be followed. The women don't make the announcements, they don't lead the worship, they don't preach or teach, they're not in charge of ministries or functions, they stay silent during the formal meetings. Simple. I'm not going to go into this in great depth. It is a simple concept that is not followed very much today. Women can minister to other women, women can own and maintain houses in which meetings take place, women can minister to those holding a church office such as helping with their daily needs, women can do the daycare, women can work on the refreshments. Women can't break the scriptures as to how they should behave in regards to the church. There are no women Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists. The same for Elders, Deacons and Bishops. The gifts of the spirit are for women as well as for men but this is not the same thing as holding a ministry office. A woman can have the gift of prophecy, see 1Cor.12:10, but this doesn't designate her as holding the office of a Prophet. A man can have the gift of the working of miracles but that doesn't mean he is an Apostle and doing the signs of an Apostle, see 2Cor.12:12. We have no such women role models in the New Testament holding these offices.

People will sometimes find mention of someone in the New Testament and say that is a female name and she is holding an office in the church. Even though these people are grasping at air to support their position I checked into some of these names and found that some of these names were used by members of both sexes. For example today men and women use the name Robin. A woman can't hold a ministry office in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Women do not usurp authority over the man in a New Testament Church. If a woman held a ministry office she'd be usurping authority over the men. What happened with the Israelites before the New Testament was given cannot be used to cancel the New Testament prohibitions against women holding positions of authority in the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you must dwell on some of the women God used in the Old Testament Days, also recall that the priesthood had no provision for women priests and the High Priests were always men. Once again, God will use women. The gifts of the spirit (see1Cor.12:4-12) will operate through women. Women play a very vital and important role in the church and in the family. They support the husband, they are domestic engineers par excellence, they take a vital role in raising the children, they can and should be prayer warriors, and they can function in a business role (read Prov.31). God loves them and they should be treated as loved by God, as part of his body of believers. Men should tremble at the thought of mistreating a God fearing woman who might cry out to God against him. Women should also be submissive to the Lord and his commandments as to how they should behave in regards to the church, their husbands and their families. I'd also like to point out that it is fine for a woman or a man to remain single and not have a family or a husband. One should never routinely encourage all single believers to marry. Read Paul on the subject, see 1Cor.7:25-40. The entire series and much more on www.messianic.biz