A brief look at Psalm 86.
From the Ooty Bible study on March 24

A look at our position in Christ, our mission here, and the benefits of being present in the throne room of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxYwUiwckPA

A study on our position in Christ and our attendance in the throne room of God.

Excerpts from the Sunday sermon preached at The Father’s House Church, Cochin
January 09, 2011.

The Eternal Gospel must be preached, but who does the conversion?

What is the Lord’s Supper? Why and when was it instituted? What does it involve naturally and spiritually? How must one partake of it? Who is eligible to take part in the Lord’s Supper?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxgVlY8hN0

Galatians 3:13-14: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”[a]), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxgVlY8hN0

with love in Jesus

John Kodiyil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyl5XqagF28

Galatians 3:13-14: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”[a]), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyl5XqagF28

with love in Jesus

John Kodiyil

Nicolaitanes:

Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

Revelation2: 14 … So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth

The root of the word Nicolaitanes comes from Greek nikos, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from.  The laity comprises all persons who are not in the clergy. A good translation of Nicolaitanes would be “those who prevail over the people”.

Priests acting as a separate spiritually elite class, who have special supernatural powers given only to them by God, who alone are His authorized representatives before man, is not biblical. The abuse of this position to rule over people is detested by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Biblical Leadership

1 Peter 5:1- 7

1. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4. and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Peter exhorted us to

1. Shepherd the flock of God,
2. Serve as overseers,
   1. Not because we have to but willingly
   2. Not for any gain, money or popularity for example, but eagerly
   3. Not be Lords over those entrusted to us but being examples to the flock.
      1. Not being controlling, but revealing.
      2. Submitting ourselves to our elders
      3. Being submissive to one another, and being  clothed with humility.

This comes with a warning: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The Lord Jesus was very clear in His Word about how He wishes His church on earth to be organized and managed.

• First, Christ is the head of the church and its supreme authority (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).
• Second, the local church is to be autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of Spirit filled-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5).
• Third, the church is to be governed by spiritual leadership, meaning the leaders are led by the Holy Spirit.

What went wrong?

The first three centuries of Christianity were years of persecution by the succession of Roman Emperors – from Nero to Diocletian – that drove it underground. After facing nearly three centuries of hostility by Roman emperors, the persecution and martyrdom of Christians in Rome ended with the reforms of the Emperor Constantine (r. 306-337). Constantine was responsible for legalizing Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Constantine’s Edict of Toleration (313 A.D.) granted to “Christians and to all others full liberty of following that religion which each may choose,” thus legalizing Christianity.

And Constantine went even further, favoring Christians in the filling of the chief offices, exempting Christian ministers from taxes and military service, and making Christianity the de facto religion of the court. Thus began the migration from the rags of the caves and catacombs to the silks of the Imperial Court.

On March 7, 321, Constantine introduced the first civil legislation concerning Sunday: “Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun.”17 In 325 A.D., Constantine issued a general exhortation to all his subjects to embrace Christianity.

Under Constantine, Sunday was declared a day of rest; slavery, gladiatorial fights, killing of unwelcome children (abortion), and crucifixion as a form of execution were also abolished.

It was Constantine’s second successor, Theodosius II (378-398 A.D.) that would declare Christianity the single state religion of the Empire.

In 378 A.D., Damasus, the Bishop of Rome, took on the office of  Pontifex Maximus, (high priest) of the Babylonian religion, which  had previously been the prerogative of the Roman emperor, thus combining the “Christian” church with pagan religion.  The ceremonies, rites, titles, vestments…celibate priests, Mariolatry, image and crucifix worship, veneration of saints, adoration of the host…papal infallibility, transubstantiation, etc…all idolatry thinly veneered by Christian nomenclature.

In 380, the Flavius Theodosius (r. 379-395) made Christianity the official religion of Rome.  His legislation in 380 affirmed the dogmas of the Council of Nicaea and made church membership compulsory.

This is the worst calamity that has ever befallen the church because thus began the great apostasy as the church began its pursuit of temporal power.

Theodosius undertook the forcible suppression of all other religions, and in 392 he prohibited paganism. (It was through this fusing of extant paganism with the new Christianity that the December 25 of Sol Invictus became the Christmas of the Christians, etc.)

At the close of the fourth century, the majority of Roman citizens had converted to Christianity. The separation between Church and state was all but extinguished. When the political power of the emperors collapsed with the fall of the Roman Empire, in 410, the Church and its leaders endured as the dominant influence in Roman culture and politics.

From that we see the current form of clergy develop. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership. The term ultimately comes from the Greekklēros, “a lot”, “that which is assigned by lot” (allotment) or metaphorically, “inheritance”.

The Biblical concept of the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4:11, “It was he who gave some to be (1) apostles, some to be (2) prophets, some to be (3) evangelists, and some to be (4) pastors and (5) teachers” were all but extinct because  those who were in leadership of the Church were not born again and Holy Spirit filled.

The clergy were rulers over the people, often there for their own political ambitions.This clerical system later developed into the papal hierarchy of priests and clergy lording over the flock.

Pope Leo I (440-461), declared himself Lord of the Whole Church, advocated exclusive universal papacy, resistance to his authority was a sure path to Hell, and he advocated the death penalty for heresy.  Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) declared himself to be “Vicar of Christ,” “Vicar of God,” “Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World.” “All things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ.” He forbade the reading of the Bible in the vernacular. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), in his famous Bul, Unam Sanctam, he said, “We declare, affirm, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary forsalvation that every creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

The Council of Trent, the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church stated, “If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema.” banished, exiled, excommunicated.”

Priests or clergy to represent the people before God is wrong. The wrong separation of the clergy from the laity is a great evil in God’s sight and He hates the lust for religious power over others. The Church of Ephesus was commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans Rev 2:6. The deeds had become doctrines in the Pergamos Church Rev 2:15.

There is an ungodly spiritual authority in the Church today, which is nothing more than the prideful spirit of control, manipulation, domination and intimidation and a rebellion of the rightful authority of God.

Shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God, in essence, this makes them false christs.

Under the plan God has ordained for the church, leadership is a position of humble, loving service. Church leadership is ministry, not management. Those whom God designates as leaders are called not to be governing monarchs, but humble slaves; not slick celebrities, but laboring servants. Those who would lead God’s people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness.

Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet, a task that was customarily done by the lowest of slaves (John 13). If the Lord of the universe would do that, no church leader has a right to think of himself as “Lord over his people”

Early church leaders were established as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy.

Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the Church, and the believers the body. We all have direct access to Christ, the Head of the Church.

I personally believe that the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough to demonstrate a New Testament belief in the “priesthood” of all believers who imparts to faithful men what they have learned so that these men shall be able to train others.

SUMMARY

From the day of the Pentecost, till the time that Christianity was made the official religion, a Christian had to pay a price to be identified as one. It was not about power, but about sacrificial service, about hospitality, about Jesus. It was living, vivid and life changing.

Making Christianity official and attendance compulsory had the exact opposite effect. It moved from houses to large independent buildings. As unsaved leadership established Satanic models of leadership, it became something “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” In 2 Timothy 3:5, Paul tells Timothy to “Have nothing to do with them”.

This corrupt idea of leadership was taken over by the Protestants with their own corruption of leadership roles and coverings.

I believe the next move of God in our midst will be to move away from the “Nicolaitanes” style leadership and the resurrection of  home churches to spread the message of Jesus Christ at a grass roots level.

Next week, God willing, we will study about what a “church’ was when the New Testament was written.

“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been COMMITTED TO THE GRACE OF GOD for the work they had now completed” (Acts 14:26).

Why was the grace of God so important in the experience of the early Christians? Why did the church in Antioch pray that the GRACE of God would be upon Paul and Barnabas, and later on Paul and Silas, as they set out on their missionary journeys?

A. THE MEANING OF GRACE

The most common understanding of the word “grace” is “God’s unmerited favor” – in other words, even though we were sinners, deserving of judgment, God looked upon us in love and forgave us.

This, however, is only half its meaning. It also means “God’s enabling power.”

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Ths 2:16,17).

Not only does His grace make us accepted into the family of God, but it also provides the power we need to live the Christian life. Two scriptures indicate the two aspects of God’s grace in every believer.

1. God’s Unmerited Favor
“For it is by grace [God's unmerited favour] you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8,9).

2. God’s Enabling Power
“….In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace [enabling power], which he has freely given us in the one he loves” (Eph 1:4-6). Read also the whole chapter, which describes all that we have received by grace (by His enabling power).

In salvation, not only is God’s unmerited favor expressed (that we receive forgiveness and restored relationship with Him even though we don’t) deserve it), but so also is God’s enabling power – for it is only by HIS power that we can be transformed.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17).

This principle of grace continues throughout our walk with God. In every area of our Christian lives, it is God’s grace that causes us to grow and be strong – God’s enabling power given to us without any merit on our part.

“…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” (2 Pet 3:18).

B. GRACE GIVEN THE HEROES OF FAITHFULNESS

This operating force of grace is revealed in the lives of men and women throughout the whole Bible. Every hero of faith began his walk with God aware of his own weakness and inability.
It was only through him allowing God’s grace – His enabling power – to work in his life that he was able to become the kind of person that God wanted him to be, and to fulfill the plan and purpose God had for his life.

C. GRACE IN THE LIFE OF MOSES

Read Exodus 3:11-13; 4:1-13. The command the Lord gave Moses was no small task. Egypt was the ruling empire of the day. It was an evil nation, and Pharaoh, its satanic leader, held authority that was claimed to be divine. Every nation in the known world lived in fear of Pharaoh.

When God told Moses to go down to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let His three million people go free from slavery, Moses’ immediate response – out of his own weakness and inability – was as follows:

3:11 “Who am I?”
3:13 “Who are You?”
4:1 “They won’t believe me!”
4:10 “I’m not eloquent!”
4:13 “Lord, send someone else!”

But with God’s grace, Moses did go down to Egypt, and with signs and wonders brought the people of Israel out as God told him to.

D. GRACE IN THE LIFE OF GIDEON

Read Judges 6:1-24. The call of God came to Gideon to deliver His people from the conquering armies of Midian. Israel had known only defeat for many years. Gideon’s response to God’s word in verse 13 reveals his initial unbelief:

”‘But sir, ‘ Gideon replied, ‘If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”’

Even when the Lord encouraged him and promised to be with him, Gideon answered: “How can I save Israel? I’m the smallest member of the smallest family in our tribe!” (see verse 15).

But despite his fear and inability, with God’s grace (enabling power) Gideon saved Israel. And he did it with just a small band of men. It was GRACE that made the difference!

E. GRACE IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

Read Acts 15:40. Before Paul and Silas set out on their missionary journey together, the church at Antioch prayed for them and “commended [them] … to the grace of the Lord” for the work that was ahead of them.

Read Paul’s description of his experiences in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33. It is understandable that he was first commended to the grace of God!

He needed it to survive! The Lord’s answer to Paul’s confession of weakness is His promise for us too:

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..” (2 Cor 12:9).

F. GRACE RELEASED IN OUR LIVES

In our relationship with God – as we walk with Him each day – we constantly meet situations that would try to over whelm us. Our response to God is to trust His Word. We express our trust through obedience.

This proves we believe what God’s Word says despite what the circumstances might indicate – His enabling power, which causes us to triumph in every situation.

G. TWO IMPORTANT PROMISES

1. We Have Bold Access To The Throne Of Grace
“Let us then approach the THRONE OF GRACE with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and FIND GRACE [divine enablement] TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED” (Hebrews 4:16).

2. God Is Able
“And God is able to make ALL grace ABOUND to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need you will ABOUND in EVERY good work” (2 Cor 9:8).

MY COMMITMENT

Today I decide to receive God’s grace – His enabling power – into every area and problem that arises in my life, and teach others to do the same also