EKKLESIA

 

EKKLESIA

“EKKLESIA:” in Greek.

"Ecclesia" in English.

Both are still the same thing.

So, what do we mean by that word?

The dictionary interpretation has its own meaning.

1: a political assembly of citizens of ancient Greek states, especially the periodic meeting of the Athenian citizens for conducting public business and for considering affairs proposed by the council. 

2: church sense 

3: one of the local organizations of the Christadelphians.

But let's break it down in scriptural context and spiritual understanding.

What it actually meant is:

1. Forum

2. Caucus

3. Assemblage

These are literal interpretations from simple English.

In other words, it means,

A Gathering

A Fellowship

A Group

A Body

So, therefore, we're talking about a Large Body, which is the Body of Christ.

Thus, the body of Christ has been before we were BORN AGAIN into it. Hence, we need to check how the early church had this communion and fellowship.

When a man got saved,

HE'S BORN INTO THE BODY.

Let's have that consciousness of the BODY.

Thus, when a seemingly Believer is insulting the Body of Christ, He's inclusive.

So, whatever we do, either in ministry or as a living, must have the focus of the Body of Christ in mind.

If a man of God falls, the whole world will talk about us, and thus, it affects us all because it is a Body.

Whatever we do must ADVANCE THE BODY.

You and I are part of the Body that Jesus Died for.

When we talk about ECCLESIA

We meant:

1. BODY OF CHRIST/SAINTS.

Some of us were not raised by our parents. 

Some don't even know their parents.

Some of us didn't enjoy the love of mother and father as much as we should.

I even know of a little girl that was aborted when she was small.

I happened to see her placed under a vehicle to be crushed. An irresponsible lady did that. But God loves that girl… not sure she's a month old.

People gathered and she was taken to an orphanage home.

She doesn't know her parents.

So, the ONE BEST Family that God has on earth is the Body of the saints.

Your parents might not love you, but God does.

Your siblings might not care about you, but the Body Will.

Have you noticed if something happened to any Genuine man of God around us, it touched us differently.

Do you know why?

Because the DNA running in us is the Blood of Jesus.

2. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS.

You and I.

Two is the least of numbers.

"Where two or three are gathered in My Name." This means, I can have a conversation with you, and I'm being blessed.

I can have a chat with you, and I feel God's presence in my life.

Why?

Because Jesus is Present with us.

Either we fellowship in Numbers (multitude) or in Number (Few), fellowship is achieved and God is Glorified.

Any coming together of two or more believers is significant before God.

Because they can do anything on earth for God.

3. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

It is a communion.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, *Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Either we fellowship with God individually or collectively, it is a moment of Encounter.

Have you noticed, when you got in conversation with a brother or a sister and before you knew it, you sensed the anointing and the Power of God flowing?

Did you feel peace and light in your heart?

You got encouraged and strengthened.

That's fellowship.

We may not need to gather in church before we experience that Encounter. 

"Where two to more."

Your spiritual nourishment is found within the Body.

And God placed it in the body.

That's why you'll meet many Men of God who carry a deposit of what God wants you to have.

Not all men of God will God allow you to meet.

Not all books you'll read.

Not all messages you'll listen to.

But, as the Holy Spirit leads you and me.

No man grows in isolation.

A plant needs the cooperation of SOIL, WATER, SUN (PHOTOSYNTHESIS), AIR, AND HUMAN FACTORS to germinate.

So, therefore,

To grow

We need:

1. The Holy Spirit

2. The word of God

3. The meal of prayer

4. The fellowship of the saints.

The PURPOSE OF ECCLESIA

(Fellowship, Coming together, Gathering)

1. FELLOWSHIP

Acts  1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Fellowship isn't just for GIVEAWAY OR SUYA NIGHT, it is thus,

1. A time of prayer

2. A Time to feast on the word

3. A Time to examine ourselves

4. A Time of corrections

5. A Time of instructions

2. GROWTH

We grow in Unity.

Psalms  133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  

133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  

133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.

The Oils flow from the Head.

We benefit from it together.

We disciple

We Teach

We groom

We grow

We impact

We send

3. DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTIONS

We must endure corrections.

If we come together and we can't tell ourselves the truth.

We're not growing the body.

When a Brother is keeping 5 Sisters at a go, doing sampling, such people must be disciplined.

That character isn't part of the Template.

The Early Church takes discipline seriously.

If not, many will go out of the FAITH.

So in Gathering we also correct when and where necessary

4. AN ARRAY OF GOD'S ARMY

When we come together, God is seeing us as

1. Sons

2. Vessels

3. Armies

5. ENCOURAGEMENT.

We encourage ourselves.

We support ourselves.

Romans  14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.*

Romans  15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

6. NO ROOM FOR SCHISM

1 Cor 12vs12-14

1 Corinthians  12:12 For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

We all have

1. Different roles.

2. Different responsibilities

3. Different offices

4. Different Abilities.

Righteousness is our badge.

Hebrews  1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Jesus saves us from sin, not to continue in it.

Holiness is possible.

Anyone telling you you can't live Holy is taking you away from God's supply of God.

“With God, nothing shall be impossible”

Even if the world is going upside down (which it will be till Jesus comes), God's Standard doesn't change with a generation.

As New Preachers and Vessels of Revival,

God's STANDARD HASN'T CHANGE AND IT WON'T CHANGE BECAUSE WE CAN SPEAK IN TONGUES.

Our Fathers were strong as lions because they chose the WAY OF THE LORD.

Today's generation wants to make it "easy" "something light".

No!

The way of the mighty is not easy.

The way to heaven isn't broad.

The way of the Eagles is full of heights and flights.