What Shall I Do - Part Seven Dec 04, 2022 by: John Herbert | Series: What Shall I Do... Audio Study Notes PDF https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T040_20221204.mp3 Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Ga 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. We shall continue today to look at what it means to be a new creation. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday December 4th 2022 What Shall I Do…….. Part 7 1). Ga 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Within their context, these verses that Paul wrote to the Galatians have to do with ‘Jewish’ Christians who were encouraging the ‘Gentile’ Christians in Galatia to be circumcised in accordance with the Law of Moses, making a connection between circumcision and the salvation of their souls. And in these two verses Paul made it plain that the physical act of circumcision or the absence of it, made no difference whatsoever to the Christian receiving the salvation of his soul – 1 Co 7:18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. What matters, according to v19, is ‘keeping the commandments of God’. a). For those ‘Gentile’ Christians in Galatia, they were to embrace the reality that as a new creation in Christ, the old distinction of Jew and Gentile no longer existed for them – 2 Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. To have embraced the lie that they needed to be circumcised would have taken them back to an association with the disobedient firstborn son from whom the Kingdom of the heavens had been taken. Instead of recognizing and accepting who God had said they were, a new creation, they would have been sucked back into the self-righteousness of Jewish religious practices that the Lord had done away with. And the pressure placed upon them to be circumcised, to embroil them in Judaism, had its origin in only one place, the wisdom from below that is demonic. It would have been a part of the work of the tares sown among the wheat to stop those who were producing fruit for the Kingdom from continuing to do so. b). Now, there is no pressure on us to be circumcised, but there is a constant pressure on us to conform, not only to the patterns and practices of the world in general, but also to be sucked back into the patterns and practices that are found in the Laodicean church, here, at the end of this dispensation. And this pressure may well come from friends and family as they encourage us go back into this environment with them. c). Just about all of us have come from a Laodicean background and over the past weeks we have been identifying areas in our understanding that might still be influenced by the lies we had previously received. And in conjunction with this we have seen the absolute necessity of continually being brought forth from above so that we can be separated from the wisdom from below, exemplified in the false teaching that was introduced into the ‘Church’ by the tares as the ‘Church’ began to produce fruit; separated from the place of death, death with respect to the age to come, and separated from the Gentile nations, that which is the complete opposite to seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. d). We have seen the necessity for this separation in the foundation through the events of Day Three in Genesis Chapter 1, where the land was raised from beneath the waters by God’s Word and was then fruitful. And we should remember that that seen on Day Three is part of the restorative process to bring completion to God’s purpose for the Seventh Day. And as it was set in foundation, so it has always been. Fruit is to be produced in the individual in resurrection by a Divine work for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day. e). And more detail was added to this through the Red Sea crossing by the first generation of Israel to come out of Egypt, where a promised land and an inheritance came into view beyond the Red Sea, along with the expectation of faithful obedience if their inheritance was to be received. f). And alongside the expectation of faithful obedience from them was a journey, where that faithful obedience would be put to the test. g). And from their experience on their journey, we are warned concerning our own – 1 Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. These are familiar verses for us and within this section of Scripture in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 we also find reference to the serpents in the wilderness that Jesus spoke about with Nicodemus – 1 Co 10:7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. And I suppose that if there are two interrelated words that define the Jewish people from the Red Sea crossing onwards they are unfaithfulness and disobedience. With the unfaithfulness and disobedience resulting in centuries of spiritual harlotry among the Gentile nations. h). The warning for us given in v12 we should take very seriously. 2). With all this in mind, we will remember that the seven churches in the Book of the Revelation provide us with an overview of church history, from its beginning when the first love of pursuing His Kingdom and His righteousness, the Word of the Kingdom, seen in Ephesus, was turned away from, to its end when the Word of the Kingdom has become completely leavened, seen in Laodicea. a). And then within this overview additional information is given to us. Following the account the church of Ephesus in Revelation Chapter 2, we come to the church in Smyrna, which is a name derived from the word ‘myrrh’, a spice that is used in connection with death and burial. b). The church ‘in Smyrna’ then figuratively points to that time in church history when Christians were relentlessly persecuted to death by a succession of Roman Emperors. And this persecution was of course demonically inspired to eradicate those who had embraced their heavenly calling and were producing fruit in relation to it. c). This strategy failed though, and rather than destroying the ‘Church’, it produced an exponential numerical growth in Christians. d). Consequently, our enemy reverted to the same strategy he had used against Israel at the incident of Baal of Peor – assimilation into the Gentile nations, rather than extermination. e). This change in strategy began during the reign of the emperor Constantine and accomplished its goal toward the end of the fourth century AD when Theodosius I issued an edict that made Christianity the exclusive religion of the Roman empire. The church, which was a new creation, a new nation with a heavenly land, which should have remained separate from the Gentile nations within the world system and its structures under Satan, was now fully engaged within them. f). And it is through the name of the next church in the Revelation, Pergamos, that we are figuratively shown this conclusion. The name Pergamos is derived from the Greek word ‘Gamos’, which means marriage. Pointing to the time in church history when the church became ‘married’ to the world, forsaking their true Husband to become engaged in spiritual adultery, in a parallel to Israel’s harlotry – Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. This assimilation into the kingdom of darkness is the very thing that the Lord Himself had foretold in – Mt 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." In this parable, we find specific commentary on the work of the tares from the previous parable, we see the Word of the Kingdom sown into the Lord’s field, His Church. And this ‘mustard seed’, was at the beginning of the dispensation, ‘the least of all the seeds’, with a projected natural growth to make it ‘greater than the herbs.’ However, rather than a natural growth the ‘mustard seed’, both the Word of the Kingdom which was corrupted and the Church into which it was sown, grew unnaturally, becoming ‘a tree.’ g). The false doctrines introduced by the tares to pervert the Word of the Kingdom did just that, allowing the Church to develop in such a way as it became ‘a tree.’ It became a national power within the kingdom of Satan, thereby relinquishing its national status in the heavenly realm and turning away from its heavenly citizenship. h). And so complete has the perversion of the Word of the Kingdom become, as seen in the parable of the leaven, that the ‘Church’, in a general sense, no longer teaches it and instead has made a home for ‘the birds of the air’, the earthly, sensual, demonic wisdom coming from deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, within its midst. Within this setting fruit production cannot take place - 1Ti 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons….. 3). Now there are two references in the Lord’s condemnation of the church at Pergamos that we should take note of – Re 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. And both the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans are examples of the corruption and perversion of the Word of the Kingdom brought by the tares sown among the wheat, the leaven placed in the three measures of meal. a). Balaam had persuaded Israel that there would be no negative consequences for them if they assimilated themselves into the nations that surrounded them, as they were God’s chosen people and as such, no harm could come to them. And this was and is, the same message, from a Christian standpoint, that was introduced within the Church through the work of the tares, a lie that has its origins in the Garden, ‘You will not surely die’. b). The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has to do with bringing worldly power structures into the church, that in its worse excess has created a ‘priestly’ class that has elevated itself to a position of superiority and exclusivity, thereby ‘lording it over’ those who could not attain to this privileged position. And this, after some fashion, we have all witnessed within the Laodicean setting we have come out of. c). For those who ‘rule’ within the church, their authority does not come through the possession of a title or a privileged right, but through service. And Paul has set this out nicely for us in – Php 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Notice where Paul’s focus is, on being able to ‘rejoice in the day of Christ’ because his labor among those in the Philippian church had not been in vain. The Philippians then, receiving the salvation of their souls in that Day, allowing Paul to rejoice because of it – 1 Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. And notice the nature of his ministry among the Philippians to that end, being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith. For every pastor/teacher and church leader within those congregations where the Word of the Kingdom is being taught, this is the model to be followed. Their lives are to be given on the sacrifice and service of the faith to the saving of the soul of those whom the Lord has entrusted to their care – Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve……. Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. To go back to the Book of the Revelation, the Lord’s comments to the next church seen there, Thyatira, add the final part to the picture of false doctrine – Re 2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And what we see by putting these three together, the doctrine of Balaam, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and the teaching of Jezebel, is a message completely contrary to the Word of truth in every respect, a message that has completely corrupted the Word of the Kingdom, just as the Lord had said it would in - Mt 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." This unholy trinity of doctrines, introduced at the beginning of this dispensation to stop those who were producing fruit from continuing to dos so, sought to replace seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness with the green-light to pursue self-gratification, self-exaltation, and self-interest within the present world system under Satan instead. And through the misuse of Scripture a lie has been created that there are no negative consequences for doing so. And in these doctrines reside the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, that which is earthly, sensual, and demonic, the world, the flesh, and the devil. d). And perhaps with this background in place we can more fully understand why we must embrace our heavenly citizenship and see ourselves as strangers and pilgrims in a foreign land. 4). Now we began today with that which has been a common theme in past weeks, the necessity for us to keep in mind that we didn’t just wake up one day as Kingdom believers. Rather, as we have seen, we all have a Laodicean background. And during the time we were there we were the recipients of those very doctrines we have been looking at today. And it is because of having been exposed to these, that we, once again, need to be careful that we are not still carrying around ideas concerning ‘church’ the way we remember it to be from our Laodicean days. In other words, is what we do here at Cornerstone ‘church’ the way it used to be, only with a different message? a). As we have embraced the Word of the Kingdom over the years it must result in change in every aspect of our life – and particularly with regards to our understanding of the nature of what we call ‘church.’ b). As the Word of the Kingdom works its metamorphosis in us, we can begin to understand that there is a profound difference between living in the world, which is inescapable, and being of the world through the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of this life, within the kingdom of Satan. Hopefully we have come to understand that we are to submit our lives to Christ as His bondservant so that we might lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven and receive that which is promised in the age to come – Joh 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. Col 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. There was a time for us all in the past when ‘church’ was something to be attended, that had a physical location and set times of operation. c). But as we have come to know ‘church’ isn’t something we attend, like going to the cinema, church is the description of who we are, wherever we are, always. d). Let’s remember, that the word ‘church’ describes those who are called out – those called out of the world - Eph 4:1 ¶ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called….. And we have been called out of the world for a singular purpose – Heb 3:1 ¶ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus….. Consequently, every aspect of our life should be directed to the fulfillment of our ‘heavenly calling’. However, if we see the ‘church’ as just something we are to attend, it provides us with the opportunity to step away from the personal responsibility we have for each other as ‘holy brethren’, with a view to realizing our calling. e). And right along with this, if the ‘church’ is seen as something we attend, rather than who we are, we can become more concerned about the form of it rather than being focused on our function as a part of it. f). Scripture gives a marvelous description of how the corporate body, the ‘church’ in Ephesus, functioned together at the beginning of the dispensation - Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 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-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. And we can add to this what Scripture mandates is the reason we are to come together today as a corporate body, the church - Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. So, what do we see in the Scriptures with respect to how the church is to work together? We see the ministry of the pastor/teacher for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry through the teaching of the Word of the Kingdom – 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We see an individual responsibility to act upon that which is taught from the Word of the Kingdom, whereby every part, each one of us, does our share for the benefit of all the others. g). And as this process continues, we then see the mandate given to each of us to assemble with one another for the purpose of exhorting one another to love and good works, which will result in the spiritual growth of the body in love. And according to the verses from Hebrews we are to do this so much the more because we see the Day approaching. Because the coming of Christ’s Kingdom, the 7th Day, becomes more certain and more real with every passing day. h). And that on which our focus is set will then determine how we choose to live in the present. Will we live as one of David’s four hundred men or a subject in Saul’s kingdom? – Heb 12:2 looking [from this world] unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Mt 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Will we make the three days’ journey or cling to the leeks and cucumbers? It’s always our choice. But not if we are a bondservant of the Lord. We will continue with this next time if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed. What Shall I Do - Part Seven Dec 04, 2022 Speaker: John Herbert Series: What Shall I Do... Category: Sunday Morning https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T040_20221204.mp3 Download Audio x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Ga 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. We shall continue today to look at what it means to be a new creation. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday December 4th 2022 What Shall I Do…….. Part 7 1). Ga 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Within their context, these verses that Paul wrote to the Galatians have to do with ‘Jewish’ Christians who were encouraging the ‘Gentile’ Christians in Galatia to be circumcised in accordance with the Law of Moses, making a connection between circumcision and the salvation of their souls. And in these two verses Paul made it plain that the physical act of circumcision or the absence of it, made no difference whatsoever to the Christian receiving the salvation of his soul – 1 Co 7:18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. What matters, according to v19, is ‘keeping the commandments of God’. a). For those ‘Gentile’ Christians in Galatia, they were to embrace the reality that as a new creation in Christ, the old distinction of Jew and Gentile no longer existed for them – 2 Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. To have embraced the lie that they needed to be circumcised would have taken them back to an association with the disobedient firstborn son from whom the Kingdom of the heavens had been taken. Instead of recognizing and accepting who God had said they were, a new creation, they would have been sucked back into the self-righteousness of Jewish religious practices that the Lord had done away with. And the pressure placed upon them to be circumcised, to embroil them in Judaism, had its origin in only one place, the wisdom from below that is demonic. It would have been a part of the work of the tares sown among the wheat to stop those who were producing fruit for the Kingdom from continuing to do so. b). Now, there is no pressure on us to be circumcised, but there is a constant pressure on us to conform, not only to the patterns and practices of the world in general, but also to be sucked back into the patterns and practices that are found in the Laodicean church, here, at the end of this dispensation. And this pressure may well come from friends and family as they encourage us go back into this environment with them. c). Just about all of us have come from a Laodicean background and over the past weeks we have been identifying areas in our understanding that might still be influenced by the lies we had previously received. And in conjunction with this we have seen the absolute necessity of continually being brought forth from above so that we can be separated from the wisdom from below, exemplified in the false teaching that was introduced into the ‘Church’ by the tares as the ‘Church’ began to produce fruit; separated from the place of death, death with respect to the age to come, and separated from the Gentile nations, that which is the complete opposite to seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. d). We have seen the necessity for this separation in the foundation through the events of Day Three in Genesis Chapter 1, where the land was raised from beneath the waters by God’s Word and was then fruitful. And we should remember that that seen on Day Three is part of the restorative process to bring completion to God’s purpose for the Seventh Day. And as it was set in foundation, so it has always been. Fruit is to be produced in the individual in resurrection by a Divine work for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day. e). And more detail was added to this through the Red Sea crossing by the first generation of Israel to come out of Egypt, where a promised land and an inheritance came into view beyond the Red Sea, along with the expectation of faithful obedience if their inheritance was to be received. f). And alongside the expectation of faithful obedience from them was a journey, where that faithful obedience would be put to the test. g). And from their experience on their journey, we are warned concerning our own – 1 Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. These are familiar verses for us and within this section of Scripture in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 we also find reference to the serpents in the wilderness that Jesus spoke about with Nicodemus – 1 Co 10:7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. And I suppose that if there are two interrelated words that define the Jewish people from the Red Sea crossing onwards they are unfaithfulness and disobedience. With the unfaithfulness and disobedience resulting in centuries of spiritual harlotry among the Gentile nations. h). The warning for us given in v12 we should take very seriously. 2). With all this in mind, we will remember that the seven churches in the Book of the Revelation provide us with an overview of church history, from its beginning when the first love of pursuing His Kingdom and His righteousness, the Word of the Kingdom, seen in Ephesus, was turned away from, to its end when the Word of the Kingdom has become completely leavened, seen in Laodicea. a). And then within this overview additional information is given to us. Following the account the church of Ephesus in Revelation Chapter 2, we come to the church in Smyrna, which is a name derived from the word ‘myrrh’, a spice that is used in connection with death and burial. b). The church ‘in Smyrna’ then figuratively points to that time in church history when Christians were relentlessly persecuted to death by a succession of Roman Emperors. And this persecution was of course demonically inspired to eradicate those who had embraced their heavenly calling and were producing fruit in relation to it. c). This strategy failed though, and rather than destroying the ‘Church’, it produced an exponential numerical growth in Christians. d). Consequently, our enemy reverted to the same strategy he had used against Israel at the incident of Baal of Peor – assimilation into the Gentile nations, rather than extermination. e). This change in strategy began during the reign of the emperor Constantine and accomplished its goal toward the end of the fourth century AD when Theodosius I issued an edict that made Christianity the exclusive religion of the Roman empire. The church, which was a new creation, a new nation with a heavenly land, which should have remained separate from the Gentile nations within the world system and its structures under Satan, was now fully engaged within them. f). And it is through the name of the next church in the Revelation, Pergamos, that we are figuratively shown this conclusion. The name Pergamos is derived from the Greek word ‘Gamos’, which means marriage. Pointing to the time in church history when the church became ‘married’ to the world, forsaking their true Husband to become engaged in spiritual adultery, in a parallel to Israel’s harlotry – Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. This assimilation into the kingdom of darkness is the very thing that the Lord Himself had foretold in – Mt 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." In this parable, we find specific commentary on the work of the tares from the previous parable, we see the Word of the Kingdom sown into the Lord’s field, His Church. And this ‘mustard seed’, was at the beginning of the dispensation, ‘the least of all the seeds’, with a projected natural growth to make it ‘greater than the herbs.’ However, rather than a natural growth the ‘mustard seed’, both the Word of the Kingdom which was corrupted and the Church into which it was sown, grew unnaturally, becoming ‘a tree.’ g). The false doctrines introduced by the tares to pervert the Word of the Kingdom did just that, allowing the Church to develop in such a way as it became ‘a tree.’ It became a national power within the kingdom of Satan, thereby relinquishing its national status in the heavenly realm and turning away from its heavenly citizenship. h). And so complete has the perversion of the Word of the Kingdom become, as seen in the parable of the leaven, that the ‘Church’, in a general sense, no longer teaches it and instead has made a home for ‘the birds of the air’, the earthly, sensual, demonic wisdom coming from deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, within its midst. Within this setting fruit production cannot take place - 1Ti 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons….. 3). Now there are two references in the Lord’s condemnation of the church at Pergamos that we should take note of – Re 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. And both the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans are examples of the corruption and perversion of the Word of the Kingdom brought by the tares sown among the wheat, the leaven placed in the three measures of meal. a). Balaam had persuaded Israel that there would be no negative consequences for them if they assimilated themselves into the nations that surrounded them, as they were God’s chosen people and as such, no harm could come to them. And this was and is, the same message, from a Christian standpoint, that was introduced within the Church through the work of the tares, a lie that has its origins in the Garden, ‘You will not surely die’. b). The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has to do with bringing worldly power structures into the church, that in its worse excess has created a ‘priestly’ class that has elevated itself to a position of superiority and exclusivity, thereby ‘lording it over’ those who could not attain to this privileged position. And this, after some fashion, we have all witnessed within the Laodicean setting we have come out of. c). For those who ‘rule’ within the church, their authority does not come through the possession of a title or a privileged right, but through service. And Paul has set this out nicely for us in – Php 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Notice where Paul’s focus is, on being able to ‘rejoice in the day of Christ’ because his labor among those in the Philippian church had not been in vain. The Philippians then, receiving the salvation of their souls in that Day, allowing Paul to rejoice because of it – 1 Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. And notice the nature of his ministry among the Philippians to that end, being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith. For every pastor/teacher and church leader within those congregations where the Word of the Kingdom is being taught, this is the model to be followed. Their lives are to be given on the sacrifice and service of the faith to the saving of the soul of those whom the Lord has entrusted to their care – Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve……. Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. To go back to the Book of the Revelation, the Lord’s comments to the next church seen there, Thyatira, add the final part to the picture of false doctrine – Re 2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And what we see by putting these three together, the doctrine of Balaam, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and the teaching of Jezebel, is a message completely contrary to the Word of truth in every respect, a message that has completely corrupted the Word of the Kingdom, just as the Lord had said it would in - Mt 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." This unholy trinity of doctrines, introduced at the beginning of this dispensation to stop those who were producing fruit from continuing to dos so, sought to replace seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness with the green-light to pursue self-gratification, self-exaltation, and self-interest within the present world system under Satan instead. And through the misuse of Scripture a lie has been created that there are no negative consequences for doing so. And in these doctrines reside the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, that which is earthly, sensual, and demonic, the world, the flesh, and the devil. d). And perhaps with this background in place we can more fully understand why we must embrace our heavenly citizenship and see ourselves as strangers and pilgrims in a foreign land. 4). Now we began today with that which has been a common theme in past weeks, the necessity for us to keep in mind that we didn’t just wake up one day as Kingdom believers. Rather, as we have seen, we all have a Laodicean background. And during the time we were there we were the recipients of those very doctrines we have been looking at today. And it is because of having been exposed to these, that we, once again, need to be careful that we are not still carrying around ideas concerning ‘church’ the way we remember it to be from our Laodicean days. In other words, is what we do here at Cornerstone ‘church’ the way it used to be, only with a different message? a). As we have embraced the Word of the Kingdom over the years it must result in change in every aspect of our life – and particularly with regards to our understanding of the nature of what we call ‘church.’ b). As the Word of the Kingdom works its metamorphosis in us, we can begin to understand that there is a profound difference between living in the world, which is inescapable, and being of the world through the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of this life, within the kingdom of Satan. Hopefully we have come to understand that we are to submit our lives to Christ as His bondservant so that we might lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven and receive that which is promised in the age to come – Joh 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. Col 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. There was a time for us all in the past when ‘church’ was something to be attended, that had a physical location and set times of operation. c). But as we have come to know ‘church’ isn’t something we attend, like going to the cinema, church is the description of who we are, wherever we are, always. d). Let’s remember, that the word ‘church’ describes those who are called out – those called out of the world - Eph 4:1 ¶ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called….. And we have been called out of the world for a singular purpose – Heb 3:1 ¶ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus….. Consequently, every aspect of our life should be directed to the fulfillment of our ‘heavenly calling’. However, if we see the ‘church’ as just something we are to attend, it provides us with the opportunity to step away from the personal responsibility we have for each other as ‘holy brethren’, with a view to realizing our calling. e). And right along with this, if the ‘church’ is seen as something we attend, rather than who we are, we can become more concerned about the form of it rather than being focused on our function as a part of it. f). Scripture gives a marvelous description of how the corporate body, the ‘church’ in Ephesus, functioned together at the beginning of the dispensation - Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 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-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. And we can add to this what Scripture mandates is the reason we are to come together today as a corporate body, the church - Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. So, what do we see in the Scriptures with respect to how the church is to work together? We see the ministry of the pastor/teacher for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry through the teaching of the Word of the Kingdom – 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We see an individual responsibility to act upon that which is taught from the Word of the Kingdom, whereby every part, each one of us, does our share for the benefit of all the others. g). And as this process continues, we then see the mandate given to each of us to assemble with one another for the purpose of exhorting one another to love and good works, which will result in the spiritual growth of the body in love. And according to the verses from Hebrews we are to do this so much the more because we see the Day approaching. Because the coming of Christ’s Kingdom, the 7th Day, becomes more certain and more real with every passing day. h). And that on which our focus is set will then determine how we choose to live in the present. Will we live as one of David’s four hundred men or a subject in Saul’s kingdom? – Heb 12:2 looking [from this world] unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Mt 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Will we make the three days’ journey or cling to the leeks and cucumbers? It’s always our choice. But not if we are a bondservant of the Lord. We will continue with this next time if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed.