The Glory of Christ

By Pastor Bill Taylor

A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 9/Issue 6

“They are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.” (2Cor8:23) Anyone who knows what God expects of His church can see there is an appalling state of apostasy in Christendom today. And much of this relates to a doctrine that is believed in almost all the “churches,” that by becoming saved you become a member of Christ’s universal church and that the universal church is what really counts and the local church isn’t very important in comparison to the “universal” church. So people flip around from church to church and it doesn’t matter to them that they’re not really involved in any particular congregation. The churches themselves have lost sight of what a true congregation is to be and do because they also have come to believe that the local church by itself isn’t very important. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you (1Cor11:22) The sad fact is that almost all “Christians” today despise the church of God. In the scriptures despise doesn’t mean to hate, it means to think little of. People today don’t have a proper concept of what it means to have church. They commonly treat God’s church with disrespect and even in “My Father’s House,” there used to be a lot of what could be called the despising of God’s church going on in our people right here. It may surprise you to learn Christ’s church doesn’t exist in heaven, it exists in the earth. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. (Eph5:30) The people in heaven do not have flesh and bones. The body of Christ is made up of living people who have flesh and bones. We don’t disagree that the believers are seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. (Col 3:1; Eph 2:6) But that is in Spirit. Our bodies have to be located in the church in the earth. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2Cor5:8) Generally that’s understood as saying, “to be absent from your body.” But to be absent from the body is also to be absent from the body of Christ (the church in the earth), and to be present with the Lord in heaven. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word. (Eph5:25-26) There’s no washing of the water by the Word going on in heaven. That only happens down here. People in heaven, “know as they are known.” They don’t need to go to bible studies; they’re in the visible presence of Christ. And that He might present it to Himself a glorious church. (v27) If the people in heaven are the church, then the church has already been presented to Christ. But the truth is Jesus still has to come for His church. And because He still has to come for her that means the church is still in the earth. So in just these few verses we can see there’s a terrible misconception in much of the doctrine concerning Christ’s “church” in Christianity today. And this misconception has caused people to think that they’re in Christ’s church when they are not in a local congregation of His church. And the truth is you are not in Christ’s church unless you are a functioning member in a local congregation of the true church. Almost all the benefits and blessings Christ gives to His church go on in the local congregation if it’s truly a congregation that’s led by Christ’s Spirit where Jesus is Head. You can’t grow up Spiritually into Christ outside His true local church. You’ll never become perfect and complete in all the will of God outside the true local church.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 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; (Eph4:11-13) Christ’s ministers are only found in His true church. If you don’t get into the visible, physical church where Jesus’ ministers are equipping the saints then you won’t be made fit for the work of the ministry nor grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. It’s in the true local church where that equipping and growing is going on; where the saints can minister to one another the things they need to mature in Christ. 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, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ—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. (Eph4:14-15) You’ve seen that in action at “My Father’s House.” The gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, generally operate in gatherings of the local church for the edification of the body. (1Cor14:3-4) And even when gifts of the Spirit operate evangelistically, outside the local church, the evangelist is still connected to the local church. He is sent out by the local church as you see in the book of Acts where the Spirit spoke unto the prophets and teachers and said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts13:2)

That word didn’t come to them when they were outside the church but when the prophets and teachers were ministering to the Lord together and fasting. So, Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Spirit of Christ working through the local church. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts13:2) Later Paul and Barnabas returned to the local church. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts14:26-28) So Paul and Barnabas had to be present in the gathering of their local church to have hands laid on them and be sent out; which is another indication that they’re operating under the covering of the local church and not independently. Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts15:40-41) Can you be strengthened if you don’t come to the meetings where the Apostles and prophets are ministering to the churches? No! You get strengthened when you participate in the local church by being present when and where the ministry is taking place. You don’t get strengthened sitting at home watching TV. And even if you stay home reading your Bible, you won’t get the benefit that would have come through the special ministries given to the church. Of course we know God makes exceptions for people who don’t have the opportunity to gather with the “greater” congregation like prisoners or invalids. God will still meet with them if they make room for Him in their situations. But somebody who sits home because they’re too lazy to go to church won’t be blessed by God. They won’t receive what people who make the effort to go to a real church get.

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2Cor9:6) God won’t be mocked; you reap what you sow. Most “Christians” today are sowing little or nothing, yet they expect to reap abundantly. Jesus says you can’t serve God and mammon. (Matt6:24) Yet these false christians devote their lives to trying to prove Jesus wrong. They seriously try to succeed at serving both God and mammon. If you’re trying to prove God wrong in such things, you’ll have a sad life and a sadder death. Because nobody ever proves God wrong but He’ll prove you wrong. So you’d better get into agreement with Him. God has raised up “My Father’s House” to be a witness to His truth and what He’s saying is “most so-called ‘Christians’ today are not in His church. And what is going on in the false churches is not in agreement with what His real church is doing and therefore their people are not receiving the benefits that God intended for His true believers when He put His church in the earth for them. Wisdom is justified by Her children. And a church is defined by its function. If an organization does the work a true church should be doing then it can rightly be called Christ’s church. But if it doesn’t perform the function that God has assigned to His church then it can’t rightly be called God’s church since if it functions as something else it must be something else. Things are being called “churches” today that are not. Part of the mighty work that Christ is doing in “My Father’s House” is He’s restoring the true gospel, sound doctrine, spiritual Christianity and His real church. Every time I meet with God, and God opens these things up to me, I marvel at the mighty calling He has upon us. This is much like Gideon, where God has a little church of a few dozen people and yet He’ll use us to change the world and when He’s done everyone will know it was God; it wasn’t some big denomination with thousands of people. He’ll change the world right here with this little group.

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (1Cor12:28) God has appointed these leaders to function here; equipping the saints for the work of the ministry in the visible church in the earth. So, are you in a real church where God has appointed the leadership? Has He appointed a real apostle, prophet or teacher to your church? Because if you’re outside the true church where God’s true leaders are operating then you won’t get the benefit of what God, through His appointed servants, does for His true saints. God gives His leaders to equip His saints for the work of the ministry until we come to the fullness of the stature of Christ. (Eph4:11-16) This doesn’t happen because of the work of the leadership by themselves. But God’s leaders equip the believers to minister to each other. 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. (Eph4:16) Through the whole congregation ministering to each other, the church grows and edifies itself in love when every member is doing their part. The brethren love one another and they minister grace to one another. They are joints and they are joined to the Lord and to each other. And from the Lord they receive what they need to help their brethren. When every member in the church is doing that you get a great flow of the Spirit. Everything needful gets done when everybody in the church is joined to the Lord and has a heart to do their part to edify the church and bring her to the place where she’s a glorious church. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- (Eph6:18) What are you watching for? You’re watching for a brother or a sister who needs something. If someone is getting out of the Spirit or something is getting off track, or you can see there’s something lacking in someone and they need extra grace. Then what are you doing? You’re praying for God to meet that need. Now when that’s going on, when the saints are watching, then every time they see something that isn’t the way it ought to be in the church they pray about it and God fixes it, or moves on someone in the church to fix it. That’s how we get rid of spots and wrinkles in God’s church.

When you have a whole church that’s connected to Jesus doing this, then you’re attaining to the glorious church. And it’s only when His church attains to the glory that Jesus can present her to Himself. That’s what Christ is working to bring about in this end time; a glorious church. Then He can come for her, rapture her, and take her home. But first she must be cleansed of the spots and wrinkles. Now we learned a valuable lesson here when we went through the time where Elia came in to her calling and we found that she was in touch with the church in such a way that we were able to see many things that needed to be changed, and we were able to get them changed and the church began to grow very much Spiritually because of that. The point is this— there are things that go on in churches that the leadership doesn’t see, but the members of the congregation can see. And there were some unspiritual things going on in this church several years ago that I didn’t see, and you people saw it only you weren’t doing anything about it. But when God brought the problems to light, then we were able to deal with them and much of that occurred when God connected me with Elia in marriage and because of her I was able to see what needed to be done. Then we were able to get you, the church, to see what your part was in correcting such things. Now we’re at a place where nothing inordinate should get by anybody in the church. And whenever any member sees something that’s out of line, you should be praying about it and if you have to, you talk to somebody about it to correct it. (Matt18:15-17) That way we expose and disallow things like that “Judas” family who pretended to be our friends while behind my back they were badmouthing and criticizing everything the Lord was doing here. We don’t tolerate such things as that around here anymore; wicked people who work against God while they pretend to be for Him. They were sowing doubts and causing divisions until God exposed them and got rid of them. It was after that we came into a real unity here and we saw God start moving greatly. That’s when we began to see healings and prophecies and greater moves of the Spirit, when Jesus cleansed us of these fake “christians” (spots and wrinkles) who were secretly trying to undermine everything God was doing while they smiled at me and pretended to be one of us. The work of the ministry requires the saints be alert to watch and pray because the pastor can’t see everything that’s going on in the church. And the saints will encounter many opportunities to minister to one another where in a true church the Pastor would be overburdened if he had to do it all. God never intended the leadership to do it all, but He intended for the leaders to teach you how to serve each other so that all will get done through each member doing his share. If you have a “church” where all they do is preach and there is no interaction between the brethren, there will never be any growth because the growth doesn’t come from the preaching per se, it comes from the brethren ministering to one another. (Eph4:10)

So a “church” where the members don’t minister to one another isn’t a real church, it’s a fake church and if you stay in such a “church” you’ll go backward and not forward. You’ll become a worse Christian, not a better one. And if you go to a “church” that despises authority then you’ll not have correcting and chastening and you’ll end up with the leaven of sin and hypocrisy ruining the church as Paul warns. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1Cor5:6) Sin will get in and take over if no one will deal with it to expose and expunge it. So you must have these various offices, joints and ligaments, operating and functioning properly or you’ll not accomplish the purpose that God has for His true church. Jesus is the Head of all the true churches and all the true churches together constitute the whole church, and they are visible, functioning churches in the earth. They are the churches in which He’s appointed the leadership and the helps ministries. God has appointed these in the church; Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (1Cor12:28)In Ephesians it says that Jesus gave gifts to the church. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are Christ’s gifts to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. (Eph4:11-12) This means to be real your Pastor, your evangelist, your teacher, your prophet has to be appointed by God and not man.

In most “churches” today, God does not appoint the leaders, they are appointed by man. Man builds seminaries and sends men to college and gives them a degree and tells them they’re fit to be pastors without any consultation with God. God doesn’t think much of man’s seminaries. As Paul was, I have been educated by the Lord. (Gal 1:11-12) I know that most “church schools” and seminaries are citadels of lies and that almost all of them are corrupted and heretical. They all drink from the same sewer: intellectual man-made theology; the knowledge that puffs up as opposed to Spiritual revelation. Every day the revelation that God shows me concerning what the Bible says churches ought to be, proves that these man-made schools of theology don’t know or hear the Lord Who teaches His true saints. (Jn6:45) Nor do they rightly understand His Word. There’s no other church today that knows what we know. But there will soon be a whole new wave of true Spiritual churches because of what we’re doing here in publishing in the Glory of His Grace the truth God is showing us. We’re shouting from the rooftops what Christ is whispering in our ears. And I can testify when Jesus called me I heard Him speak and He commanded me NOT to go to seminary and NOT to study scripture commentaries written by man, because I was to be taught by Him – Jesus Himself. Which He has done. So I’m taught of God and that makes me dramatically different from those who are taught of men. In the days of the beginning of the New Testament EVERY true church and every church leader was taught by God. (Jn6:45) When Jesus appointed His apostles – what did He spend the night doing? He prayed all night. Then who do you think was appointing the apostles? Jesus or His Father? He was asking His Father whom to appoint. When you get to the place Paul is telling Titus to appoint elders what do you think Titus is doing? Do you think that man is making the appointment or is Titus being a vessel used by God to appoint the ones God tells him to appoint? But what has happened in the so-called churches and seminaries of today is men appoint men and they don’t talk to God about it. All you have to do now is pay your tuition and pass your tests. But the elders that Titus and Timothy and Paul were appointing were never sent to college or to seminary. They learned from God Himself and from God’s appointed leaders in the church – not the seminary. God’s church is God’s seminary and if you have to go to a different “school” than the church itself, that proves your church isn’t God’s church. And God’s leaders are watching over the churches and also recognizing who God is anointing for leadership. They can see which ones are learning well, being good examples and which ones God has qualified as being worthy of the offices of bishop and deacon as 1^st Timothy 3 describes. Find a deacon today in the churches that meets those biblical qualifications. If they don’t, then how can they be acceptable to God? God set the standard and what man is allowed to break that standard? The church is the pillar and ground of God’s truth in the earth. (1Tim3:15) Then how can these “churches” of today be so wrong and so disobedient on so many scriptural issues and still be God’s church?

In “My Father’s House,” we have the truth. Everything we speak and everything we preach, we can prove from the scriptures with verse after verse. And even after we’ve sufficiently proved it God gives me more confirmations, because He’s backing me up powerfully in this. God shows His truth to me and after I preach it He shows me even more so the truth gets stronger and stronger being irrefutably established with many infallible proofs. And when we receive God’s Word and put His truth to the test in our lives it works. It’s not mere theory. It’s real! God’s true church has people appointed by God in the leadership positions and in the helps positions. All the appointments are by God. Man doesn’t make the appointments except in obedience to God. When God makes the appointments, He appoints people who know Him and His Word and they can teach and uphold His truths accurately. And the people God chooses will be backed up by His Grace and they will be able to do the job successfully, even gloriously because God will powerfully sustain them if they stay faithful to Him. Notice how when God chose him, Paul described it as, “God counted me faithful.” (1Tim1:12) A very important aspect of being called by God is that He must count you faithful. It isn’t talent, it isn’t intelligence, it isn’t just knowing the Bible because someone who knows the scriptures and can quote you a hundred verses but won’t be faithful to get to the church on time, or he stays home whenever he feels like it, such a man is worthless to God compared to one who is faithful to be where God sends him whenever and wherever. For 22 years I went to the prison to minister every Thursday. It was a 60-mile trip and I spent my own money to get there. I was there on holidays; Thanksgiving; Christmas. I didn’t stay home on such days but I went up to minister because these men needed God even more on a holiday than any other time. These were times when other ministries would stay home, and the men are often especially grieved to be separated from their families. I never missed a service except when the administration closed the doors for some reason. For example, if the weather was stormy and they couldn’t bring the men out to the meeting. I received no thanks from man in this but I know my reward is with God. Faithfulness is what God is looking for, so if you’re expecting God to appoint you to something worthwhile you better take hold of faithfulness. A faithful person can make mistakes and God can correct them and straighten them out. And when a faithful man of God lays his life down to get to your meeting to minister and you don’t bother to attend you’ll get no benefit even though God has appointed such men for your edification. If you’re not in the place where God’s men are ministering you get nothing. So get this idea that you are in the universal church and you can just go or not go any place you want to or whenever you want to out of your head because it is NOT true. God turned that upside down here at “My Father’s House” when He called us to meet every night. You are to be led by the Spirit – to go where God says and when He says at all times.

So the many false “churches” and false christians around us say we are legal or weird, but we are growing spiritually and they aren’t. We true believers aren’t weird, we are being conformed to the image of Christ, the perfect man, and He isn’t weird. We are different but not weird. It’s the false believers who are weird. They’re a crooked and perverse generation. Perverse is weird. Crooked is weird. They are blind leaders of the blind. That’s really weird! They hate the righteous and love the wicked. They think they are approved by a God they won’t take the time to get to know and yet reject the counsel of the people who do know God. That’s weird. Their brains are dysfunctional. They can’t see the things that pertain to their own well being and act in ways destructive to their own souls. WEIRD! They claim to love God, but in works they deny Him! They claim to love Jesus but hate anyone who behaves like Jesus. They say the Bible is true but argue against much of what it says. Such behavior is completely irrational. At the very least it is weird. We must be thankful we aren’t like them. That we are upright, rational, and wise in Christ. If we were like them, that would be what would make us weird. Just because there are a lot of weird and few straight doesn’t make straight weird. Weird is still weird whether there are many or few. And righteous is still righteous even if there be only one.

Now concerning edification Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Cor14:1) This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (1Tim1:18) We’re all in a warfare, fighting a fight of faith to overcome sin in the soul and enter into God’s Kingdom. And Paul says to Timothy that he can wage a good warfare because of the personal prophecies that were spoken to him which would be concerning him and his calling. If you’re in a “church” that doesn’t believe in prophesying then you’ll not be able to wage a good warfare according to this scripture nor can you be properly edified, exhorted or comforted by God. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (1Cor14:3) Prophecy is God speaking directly to the church. Churches who reject the gift of prophecy reject God. They might as well say, “God, shut up!” When God is speaking in prophecy it may be personal to a single person or it may be a prophecy to the whole church, but it is still God speaking directly. Often He’ll be speaking things pertaining to the call upon a particular believer or congregation. In Revelations 2 and 3 there is a special prophecy given by Christ to each of the pastors of the seven churches. John writes them down and sends them to the churches. Each of those seven letters to the seven churches is individually tailored to the very church that it’s sent to and the special problems that are going on in those churches. Some of the churches were rebuked, some commended, some warned. But in every case it was just what they needed; the most important and timely message concerning their relationship with God.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Cor14:1) If God says in the Bible to desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy, then you better do it. Yet how many “churches” are disregarding God’s Word concerning this? And if they don’t obey God in such needful things why would you even bother going to them? Why would you want to be in a “church” that doesn’t care enough about edifying you to even permit the gift of prophecy to operate? You’re responsible for choosing the “church” you attend, and if you expect to make it to heaven you must choose a true church; one that will help you to fight the good fight of faith and win your race – a church that’s doing what God says a church ought to do for the people in it. This has always been our purpose at “My Father’s House” because we’re not a church that man started; God called this church into existence and He named it “My Father’s House.” And when God did this He spoke His purpose plainly to me and said, “Build Me a church where My Spirit can be free.” And God showed me how the man-made man-run “churches” had been keeping His Spirit from moving. I thought we’d see fabulous gifts of the Spirit from the very start, but I found out the first thing God wanted His Spirit free to do was to get the sin out of the people. Flesh has to be crucified for the Spirit to be free and in other churches they weren’t doing that. And many from the other “churches” began to criticize me because God’s Spirit would lead me to rebuke people, to expose and get the sin out of them. And when sinners wouldn’t repent the Spirit would work through me to remove them from the church and many “believers” thought I was cruel and unloving for doing that. So they’d leave in anger. And where do they go when they leave? They run all over town telling people what a mean pastor I am. But this is God’s church and He’ll have it His way and He’ll have a holy church. The people in this church aren’t playing games with God, because this church has a real calling. Jesus said about Himself, “your time is anytime, but My time has not yet come.” (Jn7:6) What He means is they have no part in God’s plan so whether they live or die means nothing to God and His purposes. But Jesus has a calling – and His time won’t come until it suits God’s purposes. I can say about most “churches” your time is anytime, but our time has not yet come. This church has been called by God and it has a purpose and God will fulfill His purpose in creating “My Father’s House.” Most churches are of man and they serve no purpose in God’s plan. It doesn’t matter much to God whether they rise or fall. But concerning “My Father’s House” I am telling you the truth before God – God called me and He called this church and He told me what we’re to be doing. If you think that is pride then you’re just like the ones that accused Jesus when He said He was the Son of God. It’s wrong if it is not true, but if He is the Son of God then you’re wrong. And if I am called of God and you disbelieve or argue with what I’m saying, then you’re wrong, and you’ll find out when you meet God that you’re wrong because I know what I am saying is true. Jesus knows and I know it too. Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.” (Jn8:14)

 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (1Cor14:4) Prophecy strengthens the church; it builds faith in the believers. Then how important is the gift of prophecy to God’s true church? I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues. (1Cor14:5a) In God’s Kingdom the greater one is the more useful one; greatness is equal to service. (Mk10:43) Concerning edification of the church the one who speaks in tongues is doing a less important service; it’s less helpful to the church. This doesn’t mean tongues is not helpful but it is less helpful. So the one who prophesies is doing the greater work because prophecy has a greater power to edify the church: unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. (1Cor14:5b) which tells us that interpretation of tongues is equivalent to prophecy. In large Pentecostal churches where tongues and interpretation operate, the utterance in tongues is often like the blowing of a trumpet to get people’s attention. Particularly when you have the kind of service where many are praising God out loud and would not be able to hear a “prophecy” unless they were first quieted. Often Pentecostal churches have very loud worship services, and yet when the anointed utterance in tongues comes forth, everyone quiets themselves and waits for the interpretation. So the interpretation “prophecy’ is then easily heard by all. Prophecies usually come forth in praise and worship or prayer time. It is possible for God to interrupt the preaching with a prophecy, though when He does the prophecy will always be meaningful to confirm the Word being preached. It will never be distracting but helpfully enlightening. So true prophecies should come forth at a sensible time. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. (1Cor14:32) But the gift of tongues and interpretation is especially helpful when the congregation is boisterously shouting Hallelujahs and praises to the Lord, and rejoicing. Then you may hear someone speak in tongues with the anointing and everyone will stop and the interpretation will come. Now, if somebody was just trying to prophesy at such a time the believers might not even know it. So there’s a special value to the gift of tongues and interpretation under certain conditions in the church. And it’s a sign and a wonder, particularly to unbelievers. (1Cor14:22) But when interpreted, tongues and prophecy are equivalent although the gift of tongues is inferior to the church unless it is interpreted.

To be profitable to the church the message must be understandable. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? (1Cor14:5-6) So because prophecy edifies the church, you must be in a church where you can be edified by prophecy or tongues that are interpreted or your “church” will not properly benefit you. So if you’re attending a “church” that doesn’t prophesy you’re disobeying the Spirit in a church that disobeys the Spirit, and how can you even call such a place “church,” if they aren’t obedient to Christ in edifying the brethren. Another truth concerning this is when a prophecy comes forth to edify the brethren, if you aren’t in church to hear it, what good does that prophecy do you?

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:4-5) Most believers today think salvation is found in the “wisdom of men” – just knowing certain things about Jesus. But Paul shows us true salvation is found where there is faith in the power of God. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Rom1:16-17) It’s not faith in what you know, but faith that God will act on your behalf and use His power to accomplish needful things, such as conforming you to Christ in every way. “That you may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” (Eph1:19-20) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph2:4-6) Faith in God’s resurrection power is the faith that saves you by changing you from sinner to saint and conforming you to Christ in heart and mind and behavior. And how will your faith be in the “power of God” if you don’t go to a “church” where God’s power is being demonstrated? You can’t cheat God, and you can’t trick God, and you can’t go to a bad “church” and get a good salvation. If Paul says you must be present when God demonstrates His Spirit and power in order to have faith in the power of God then that’s what you must do. You must go to such a church as demonstrates the power of God otherwise you’ll have only a powerless faith in the words of men. And you’ll think you’re saved “by faith” when you’re not being changed by God’s power. And you’ll be lost because of your “workless” powerless “faith!”

Most so-called “christians” today have no real faith in the living God or His eternal Word but only in man’s faulty interpretations of God’s Word. And they’re not saved, but deceived by men into thinking they are. You can’t be saved outside the true church. The early church was on a setting sun; the sun went down pretty quickly and then came the dark ages. But now the sun is rising again. And what we’re seeing is the book of Acts in reverse. We in God’s true church will see the glory increase and increase whereas in that day the church saw the glory decrease. So the true church is headed for Saphira and Ananias’s and for greater and greater miracles. We’re headed for awesome things like what happened on the day of Pentecost, because we’re in an ascending light. Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Is60:1-2) So we are headed for better and better prophecy, better and better gifts of the Spirit, better and better miracles. For us, all God’s gifts are increasing.

Concerning that the early church began on the day of Pentecost and met daily. (Acts2:46) And they did pretty well while they met daily. So how is it that so-called believers today can tell us it’s too much to meet daily? The Spirit fell on Pentecost and three thousand were saved and they met daily. They were truly Christ’s church. Why did God call them to meet daily and believers today have decided they don’t have to? It’s obvious to see that the day of Pentecost church was holy and Spiritual. The believers were separated from the world. They didn’t count their belongings to be theirs; they shared all things in common. You could see the early church were a people who weren’t like most “church people” of today, in fact, if we behave like the early church, the false “christians” of today will call us a “cult.” All who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (Acts2:44-46) That’s what the fools who think they are “saved” today call a cult. The early church people were so holy that when somebody false like Saphira and Ananias tried to pollute His church with lies; God killed them. When that wicked sorcerer Simon tried to buy his way into the early church he was rebuked and cursed by Peter. (Acts5:9) The holiness of the church was guarded by the Holy Spirit. Then why should we think if we’re to be a glorious church before Jesus comes, He won’t call us back into that level of holiness? And how much does their holiness have to do with the fact that the church met daily? 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. (Heb10:25) Is the day of the Lord approaching? If it is then God says to assemble even more. So in “My Father’s House” we’re obeying Christ in meeting daily as He’s called us. But it is obvious the so-called “believers” who claim this is too much, don’t know God and they don’t know the scriptures. And that’s the real difference between the true and the false church. The false church is asking God to bless their activities in this world and give them success in their interests in this world and the true church is preparing to meet Jesus and get out of this world.

The true church is doing the work of the gospel. She’s interested in the activities of the Spirit and forwarding the Kingdom of God. Doing the work of the gospel doesn’t just mean getting people “saved,” it means getting them perfected. The gospel promises to present believers holy and blameless and irreproachable in God’s sight, conformed to the image of Jesus. (Col 1:22; Rom8:19) The real work of the gospel is to actually bring the believer into the fulfillment of that. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Col 1:28-29) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (Phil 1:6-7) And Paul’s confidence in God to complete this work in the Philippians is based on the fact that they have that same grace in them to defend and confirm the gospel. Because to fulfill the gospel is what confirms the gospel. And the gospel is found from Genesis to Revelation in virtually every book in the Bible. The gospel was preached to Abraham. (Gal 3:8) The gospel was preached to Adam and Eve where God spoke of the Seed that would destroy the serpent. (Gen3:15)

The gospel is prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. Remember the early “day of Pentecost” church didn’t have a New Testament and everything the Apostles preached concerning the gospel came out of the Old Testament. So when you see so-called “christians” and their “churches” telling us we don’t need the Old Testament or that the gospel is found only in the New Testament, such people are not of the truth. (See our previous Glory of His Grace publication “The True Gospel”) Such believers are ignorant and foolish. They get their doctrines from some place other than God. Their teachers don’t know God. The Old Testament Gospel is the foundation of the New Testament Gospel. When you look at what the early church preached in the New Testament, they are continually quoting the Old Testament. So the gospel they preached that became the New Testament gospel was and is supported by the Old Testament quotations which they used to confirm the New Testament Gospel. Take away the Old Testament and the New Testament Gospel will be misinterpreted. It becomes heresy without the Old.

I discovered the gospel in Ezekiel 36 and that’s where I found God’s power to live a sinless life of obedience to God. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezek36:26-27) When I saw God’s promise to cause me to walk acceptably before Him and keep His statues, I said, “Lord, please do that for me. Cause me to walk rightly.” And He’s doing it. I was saved by Ezekiel 36:27 as much as by John 3:16. Because Ezekiel tells me what “salvation” will be like when it comes. And John 3:16 tells me it has come – but not what it’s like. So both are needed to understand the gospel and receive it correctly by faith. I know the value of John 3:16, but most “church” people today do not understand how much more there is to the gospel than just John 3:16. God intends to have a people He can keep in obedience to Himself by the power of His Spirit and His saints are to believe for Him to do that. He said He’d do that in Ezekiel 36 and that’s where I first discovered His power to do that in me. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Rom1:16-17) And Paul says, And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:4-5) Your faith is to be in the power of God, not in the mere words of men. Paul is demonstrating the power of God in his church gatherings. So if you’re to be edified or be able to see God’s power demonstrated, you must be there when the Spirit is working in the church. It’s an absolutely essential thing for true believers to be in a true local church that is really seeking to follow the Lord and have Jesus as its Head. And to be a member of such a church you have a part to do and you must be faithful to be there to do your part. (Eph4:16) You can’t do your part if you aren’t there, and you can’t receive the benefit of the others doing their part if you’re not there. And God started His church with daily meetings and He will finish it that way. God’s true church won’t have just a Sunday and midweek service. When the Lord comes for His glorious church, they’ll be meeting every day because that’s how they started and that’s how His church will end. His true church loves the Lord not the world. So they’ll give up their TVs and their entertainments and the foolish things that are just getting in the way of their Spirituality and they’ll take hold of Jesus with all their heart. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Heb12:1) We’re a first fruits church, in that respect. “My Father’s House” is ahead of the rest of the churches on this. We’re a leader and groundbreaker, that true believers elsewhere will follow after.

 Even so you, since you are zealous for Spiritual gifts. (1Cor14:12) Are you zealous for the gifts? True believers should be zealous for Spiritual gifts. What is one of the things the Spiritual gifts do as opposed to a church where all you get is preaching? And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:4-5) Gifts of the Spirit, when you see them operate, cause you to have faith in the power of God. They cause you to see that God is actually present and His power is actually working and God is real today and He’s not just historical and Christianity is not all theoretical and just words. So how important is it for your faith to be established in the power of God and how needful that you be in a place where the power of God is visibly manifesting? Again we’re looking at what constitutes a true church. Is it a place where the people’s faith is just in words? Because that’s the kind of faith you find in most of the “churches” these days. Or is a true church the place where your faith is in a God who moves powerfully and supernaturally on behalf of His people, so you can have faith for Him to move in your life too?

Jesus gives teachers as gifts to the church to help you grow and help you to learn, but not everyone who says they are of Christ really is. And what if one who appears to have been sent by Christ goes bad? If you have Jesus in you, you’ll know the teacher has gone bad. Because you’re not depending on man alone to teach you, you’re depending upon the Holy Spirit in the man to connect with the Spirit of Truth in you. (1Jn2:20,27) And if the teacher goes bad the Spirit of Truth inside of you will cause you to see something’s not right. Paul experienced that when Peter got off. Here a senior Apostle who knew the Lord had to be corrected. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? (Gal 2:11,12,14) Who corrected Peter? Another member of the church, Paul. And if Peter wasn’t fellowshipping with the church he might have remained in his error. And who were the people who led Peter astray? False christians – Judaisers. He got too close to the bad guys and the peer pressure pulled him off course. “Evil company corrupts good manners.” (1Cor15:33) But Paul pulled him back on course and that’s one of the values of being in a real church; when you get off there’s somebody to pull you back. (Gal 6:1) And if Peter can get off so can you. So, the idea is that in a real church, God has enough godly people working; provoking one another to love and good works, (Heb10:24) that if somebody starts to stray another can get the sinner back on course. (James5:19-20) And if the church will do what God tells them to do they’ll not become leavened (1Cor5:6-7) and they’ll be able to protect their holiness. So in such a church the people won’t be led astray by the evil one – because the brethren will watch and pray and strive to protect each other. That’s one of the very real values of being in a true local church where the brethren care for one another. When you understand this you can see the disadvantages of being in a church of 2000 people where everybody’s a stranger. In a church where nobody knows you and where there are too many people and nobody is intimate with each other, how can the saints ever watch over one another?

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1Cor14:12) Jesus is the Head of the true church, but that means He’s the Head of every true local church. You’re not in church when you’re not in a true local church. There is no in between place where you could say, “I’m in the invisible church, but I’m not in the local church,” because the local church is the place where He has appointed the authorities and where godly edification takes place and if you’re outside the influence of these authorities then you’re not in His church. And if you’re not in the true local church you’re not under the protection of Christ. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Ps91:4) Feathers, wings, truth; these can only be speaking of His church: “the pillar and ground of the truth.” And Paul shows the believers they can cast the sinner out of the church. (1Cor5:1-7) And satan can destroy that sinner, because when he’s cast out of the church he’s no longer under the protection of the Almighty. (1Cor5:4-5) And the sinner can’t run to another “church” and be safe. If Paul or any true believers throw you out of the true church then you’re out of ALL the true churches. “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt18:17-18) Do you think God has changed the rules? If somebody gets thrown out of real church they can run to a false church and think they’re in church today, because there are so many false churches, but they will NOT be received into a real church unless they repent. God doesn’t throw you out of one real church and then take you back into another one. What is bound, the false believer, in one true church is bound in all. The false believer is “bound” from being a member of Christ unless he repents. And that’s one of the grave misconceptions people have today about God’s church. They don’t recognize the true church’s power of excommunication.

If you are to excel in the edification of the church you must really want to see Christ’s church making progress. If you were on a team in a game of football etc., you’d see the progress you were making. But when you are in the “invisible church,” you can’t see anything. If the only church you’re in is the so-called invisible universal church then you don’t know when any progress is being made. You can’t see the church growing. You can’t see the saints putting on Jesus or becoming more holy. You can’t see the problems your brethren need to overcome and you can’t help them get cleansed because you’re not in touch with them. But when you get into a local body you can see what needs to be done to forward God’s work in the people and you can see if and when real progress is being made. You can be edified by participating in that progress and you can also help to edify the church and help them excel even more. And the only place you can really participate in the edification of the church is where you get connected to a true local body that has a heart to go after God. Jesus started “My Father’s House” with three people. The first meeting we had was in my living room and we grew from there. Where two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, it’s a church. But it has to be in His name; meaning we identify with and seek to accomplish Christ’s purposes. If you’re called by Christ you’re better off gathering with two or three people who have the same heart to be a real church than trying to fellowship with a multitude of people who don’t. It took me ten years to learn that. I was tried dreadfully with other churches. I prayed revival into two churches and saw the pastors stop it both times. One of them because of jealousy; the pastor wasn’t going to have revival come into the church through somebody other than himself. A guest speaker was brought in who was a real man of God and my wife and I prayed and fasted for him. The day he arrived at the church he said he’d asked God to give him just two prayer warriors who would stand with him, and we stood with him, and that church started jumping. My wife and I were praying and fasting and this man was preaching and that church was coming alive. Then the pastor closed down the meeting. The Spirit was moving like they’d never seen before. The people were repenting and were getting baptized in the Spirit, but because of his jealousy, the pastor wouldn’t let revival come to the church through somebody other than himself, so he refused to continue the meeting. This pastor will never see revival! He missed his chance and it won’t come again! For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. (Heb12:17) That was an “Assembly of God” church. The other time was at a “faith movement” church. Again my wife and I were praying for a real move of God, and God sent pastor Leon Stump to the church. Pastor Stump was a man who’d been a party to the very beginnings of the “faith movement” but then God revealed to him their very serious doctrinal errors and how much they contradicted true scriptural Christianity. He began preaching on the problems with the “faith movement” as God used him to uncover the errors. He also was preaching real salvation. But the Pastor of that church stopped him. And this is the reason – the members in that church started telling the local pastor that after listening to Leon Stump they didn’t think they were saved! Guess what? They weren’t! But that shook up the local pastor who was afraid he was losing his congregation. So he canceled the meetings. When you’re in a false church you don’t get saved until you start doubting you’re saved. Then you can repent and really get saved. But that local pastor was afraid the people would leave and he’d lose their offerings. It was shortly after that God called me to start “My Father’s House.” I prayed my heart out for two churches and saw revival come and saw two ungodly Pastors kill it, because they didn’t know God. One of them was jealous and the other a money lover and later I found out also an adulterer. When people feel like they aren’t saved, that’s conviction. And they need to repent and do the things that accompany salvation to be really saved. This “faith movement” pastor was a bank teller that heard Ken Copeland preach and thought, “here’s a way out of a dead end job and now I can be successful” and that’s why he got into the ministry. He wanted to be financially prosperous. Money is the bait the faith movement uses to catch souls and money lovers is what they get. People who “suppose that godliness is a means of (financial) gain.” (1Tim6:5) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1Tim6:9-11) Here’s how I got into the ministry – I was making  $100,000.00 + a year at the time. I was a gemologist and a very well known name in the colored gem trade. But Jesus broke my heart and called me to become a preacher. I put my business ambitions away. I didn’t get into the church to get rich, I got into the church because I loved the Lord. But the reasons most have to become preachers today is a grief to the Spirit!

Do you think you can go to just any church and Jesus is the Head? If Jesus was the Head of that Assembly of God church, the revival would have kept going. If Jesus was the Head of that charismatic “faith” church, the revival there would have kept going. Men are running the churches and they are men who don’t know God. God called me to have a church where He could run it. And those were His very words to me, “These people are not letting Me run My church. Will you build me a church where My Spirit can be free?” Now what this tells you is, the very call that’s upon “My Father’s House” and upon me is an indictment of other “churches.” Don’t tell me to be friends with them! God is not pleased with them. If God were pleased with them, He’d have sent me to join them, to help them and to be a part of them, because that’s all I was looking for; a real church. But Jesus didn’t have a real church to send me to. Now, that means He’s not happy with them, and when they think He’s happy with them, they’re in a vain imagination. Casting down imaginations is what must happen. Until the saints learn what a real church is, God won’t be happy with them and all the things they think they’re doing to make Him happy are just vain imaginations.

Even so you, since you are zealous for Spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1Cor 14:12) Are you zealous for Spiritual gifts? If you’re not then you won’t have a church where there’s a demonstration of God’s Spirit and power, and you won’t have faith in the power of God in such a church. So for the church to be zealous for Spiritual gifts it means YOU, and ALL the true brethren must be zealous. In the process of leaving the last church I was attending; God spoke to me in a prayer meeting and said, “Bill, you will see My Glory.” But I was zealous to see His Glory, and was praying to see His glory. I knew what “His Glory” meant was the operations of the mighty power of His Holy Spirit in the midst of the congregation. When you have a congregation that’s zealous to see God’s Glory, to see God manifest; He will manifest. This isn’t a pride thing. We want to see Him manifest powerfully in ways that edify. Let it be for the edification of the church. Let it be in such a way that the people are built up and made more like Jesus because of their faith in the power of God. We are seeking the things that would cause people to become stronger in faith, truly knowing the Lord, really letting Christ live in them; full of the power of God.

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; (1Cor14:18) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. (1Cor14:4) In church you must speak things that can be understood and that are useful to the others. But speaking with tongues is a good thing to do at home in private prayer because it builds your spirit man up. In the church, if you pray in tongues you should be doing it quietly. But there are exceptions. One of our twelve year olds a few days ago asked to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I think he began to be serious about it when he heard that James, my eleven year old, received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. James was baptized in the Holy Spirit in our bible study. He’d asked for it and had been praying for it. At first he wanted to participate in edifying the church by prophesying. So I told him that he couldn’t receive the gift of prophesy until he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Then James began looking at the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the scriptures and finally during one of our home bible studies he asked to be baptized in the Spirit. I began praying with him and it didn’t happen quickly. It took about 20 minutes or so before he received the gift of tongues. I had to be very patient with him. The Spirit doesn’t force you to speak in tongues. You need to have the faith to start making the utterance and trust God to give you the language. And James was very cautious about that. But when he got it, he got it good and he held on to it and he was praying in tongues all day and most of the night for several days after he received. So Kevin heard about James and he decided he wanted the baptism too. Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (Heb10:24) How does this happen outside of the church? If you’re not in fellowship with the brethren then provoking one another to love and good works can’t happen. So, James was sitting behind Kevin and a few days ago after the church service Kevin had asked me to pray for him to get baptized in the Holy Spirit. I said ok if you believe you’re ready. The service was already over so I intended the next service that I would call him up to pray with him. But evidently in the next service James was praying in the Spirit behind him and Kevin could hear James speaking in tongues, which generally is forbidden in the church according to 1^st Corinthians 14:27,28. But Kevin heard James and the Spirit got a hold of Kevin and he just started speaking in tongues himself. So God baptized him in the Holy Spirit through his proximity to James as James was exercising his gift of tongues. Because James is praying in the Spirit, Kevin catches the Spirit and starts praying in the Spirit and gets baptized in the Spirit.  Such things don’t happen except where the saints are fellowshipping. So how important is the church? Regarding the members of “My Father’s House,” you’d all be lost if it wasn’t for this church. You’d be out there in some goofy false church teaching you lies that don’t accomplish anything concerning salvation. The church is altogether important to salvation. The more we look at this the more important you can see it is.

Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1Cor14:19) Because speaking God’s Words in the church has a powerful effect. Jesus says His Words are Spirit and His Words are life. (Jn6:63) And when an anointed man of God is speaking the Word of God, it changes your life if you’ll believe it. But if you don’t understand what’s being said then it doesn’t change your life. “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” (Matt13:19) In corporate prayer you must pray in a way that people can understand you; corporate prayer is praying in agreement. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (Matt18:19) So when you pray and your brethren say “Amen” they are agreeing and God will do it. But how can they agree to what they don’t understand. So you must speak clearly if the brethren are to agree and say “Amen.” And when you’re sharing a testimony how can it help anyone unless you speak clearly. Otherwise, if you bless with the Spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? (1Cor14:16) “If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound” (v8) doesn’t apply only to tongues. This applies to when you are speaking English: to be understood you must speak clearly. Paul prays for utterance so he can make known the mysteries of the gospel boldly as he should. (Eph6:19-20) That also means he wants to speak clearly so people can understand what he’s saying. What good is it if you stutter and mumble? How will anybody get any edification out of that? What good is it if you don’t have a vocabulary where you can express yourself accurately? You’ll mislead people if you use the wrong words in the wrong places. Even in our home school we tell our boys that being able to speak clearly is something you do for the Lord. Learning how to use the English language well makes you more useful to God.

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. (1Cor14:23-25) The local church is called to be a habitation for God in the Spirit. (Eph2:22) God is in a true believer, (Col 1:27) but He’s also in the midst of 2 or 3 gathered in His name (Matt18:20) meaning that He’s not just in you He is now present externally in such a way as to be able to manifest openly and outwardly. The true church is the place where God walks among His people. (2Cor6:16) He’s not just to be in their hearts. In the Revelation Jesus walks in the midst of the lampstands – His churches. (Rev1:20,2:1) The true church is the place where God most powerfully manifests Himself. In His church God desires to show Himself in such a way as to cause unbelievers to see that God is real. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. (1Cor14:24-25)

Immediately after his conversion, Paul began to preach that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts9:20) He didn’t have to go to seminary. He was testifying to what he knew was a fact because he’d seen it. It wasn’t some book learned theory on theology he was preaching. Until his conversion, Paul had not believed Jesus was the Son of God. But then he met Jesus and Jesus supernaturally knocked him off his horse, blinded him and showed him His Glory. Then Paul gets up and says, “I’ve seen Him! Jesus is the real Christ.” From that time on you can’t shut him up. Concerning my testimony, I was practically an atheist until Jesus sovereignly revealed Himself to me on a business trip back from India. And when I got off that plane you couldn’t shut me up. I didn’t have to know some seminary theology to know that Jesus was the Son of God. I knew God was real because I’d met Him. When a man meets God it changes him and he isn’t going to be quiet about it. Meeting God is an awesome thing. We’re living in a world of people who question whether God is real or not and suddenly I know the answer. I’ve met God. I’ve got the answer to their question and now I’m supposed to shut up? Impossible, I’ve got the answer to life’s biggest question! I’ve seen God! Now, if there is a lack of evangelism in the churches, guess what the problem is? The “believers” haven’t met God! Because if you’ve met Him, you can’t be quiet about it. I know Christ is real and I’m not speculating like some Baptist that got his religion out of a Roman’s road tract. I’m not theorizing and I’m not just repeating what someone has told me. I’ve met Jesus! And I can testify to it and God will back my testimony up. And you’ll find when you get to the judgment that my testimony is true. The people who’ve met Christ are the ones who constitute the real church. The people that haven’t really met Him; they sit around talking about God saying, “maybe this or maybe that,” and if they have “church” they have a fake church. They become followers of men and they become Baptists not because they met God themselves and learned the gospel from God, but they listened to the Baptist lies long enough that they started to believe them and then they just figured that must be the way. And all of the Baptists say the same things essentially so they all agree, but they didn’t get it from God; they got it from the same source; their Baptist theologians. Then somebody comes along that’s met God and here’s the interesting thing: the ones who’ve met God all hear the same thing I hear, only we never talked to each other and we’ve never had the same human teacher but we’ve all been taught the same thing by the same God.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” (Jn6:44-45) There’s a supernatural work that brings true believers together with the true church because they all come having been taught the same truths by the same God. And that’s what Jesus is saying when He says that nobody comes to Me unless the Father draws him, and they shall all be taught by God. He is saying that He’s building His church upon people who hear God. And the people who hear God, if they stay in a right relationship with God, won’t be led astray, because they have a witness inside of them, and God is their chief Teacher. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (1Jn2:27) I’m a sub-teacher just like I am a sub-shepherd, but Jesus is the chief Shepherd, and if you’re staying in contact with the chief Teacher you’ll know what’s true and you’ll know when I am speaking the truth; you’ll have the witness that comes from the chief Teacher. And if I get off you’ll know it because the chief Teacher will show you. When a Baptist gets off there is nobody to show him because he doesn’t have the chief Teacher and he doesn’t have a witness in his heart, because he never met God in the first place, and never received the anointing from God. Everything he knows comes from man so he just follows what his leaders tell him. And the Baptist church is a man made “church.” It’s “the Jerusalem below” that won’t inherit because it’s not born from above. (Gal 4:22-30) Any organization of men can make a false church. Nazis become Nazis the same way Baptists become Baptists. Communists become Communists the same way Baptists become Baptists and Catholics become Catholics. It’s just the way man-made organizations work. The real church is supernatural and her people have come together because they’ve heard supernaturally from God and not merely from man. (Jn1:13) And when they come together they find out they’ve all been hearing the same voice and they’ve come together around that same voice – Jesus. That makes the church real. And God gives gifts of godly men to them to help them learn more. But if they stay in faith they still have the supernatural witness (1Jn2:27) that protects them. They have the potential to be protected from error if they continue to be led by the original Holy Spirit that enlightened them and taught them, and which the Galatian church got out of contact with. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (Gal 5:4) It’s not automatic that you stay in the Spirit. The Galatian church had to be brought to repentance to get back to the Spirit because they’d fallen from grace and were separated from Christ.

 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. (1Cor14:27-28) If there’s no interpreter the person who has an utterance in tongues should keep silent; speak to God in his heart and not aloud, because if he speaks aloud he becomes a distraction. You become a problem to the church if you speak in tongues in such a way that other people can’t hear or understand the preaching or praying. You can see when this is going on it can’t be of God because it contributes to confusion. God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints (1Cor14:33) A real church is the place to edify, build up, and strengthen the faith of the saints. And that can’t happen where people aren’t able to hear the message or where what’s being said is erroneous. Paul says if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound who can prepare for battle? (1Cor14:8) Keeping order in the service always pertains to maintaining an environment where the Word of God can be easily spoken, heard and understood. There must not be distracting noises, unnecessary movements, anything that would interfere with people hearing what’s being said, because it’s primarily through what’s spoken in the church that the people are edified. Edification comes from the preaching, the testifying, the prophesying and from the supernatural communications of the Holy Spirit.

Recently in ministering healing in the church, the Spirit led me not to call Mr. J. out to lay hands on him, but to rebuke the illness while he stayed where he was in his seat. That still required speaking didn’t it? And one of the things God has been doing here is taking us into a higher faith in – instead of striking or laying hands on the rock He’s having me speak to it. (Num20:8) And like the centurion who said “Jesus just speak the word,” (Matt8:8) we are speaking the word and God is healing. And this is a higher level of faith which Jesus called “great faith.” (v10) Now we’ve been asking God to increase our faith. In this case I was led to not have Mr. J. come out in the aisle or to lay hands on him but to have him stay in his seat while I rebuked the sickness. But there was another reason the Spirit wanted to do that. Because Mrs. K. was sitting in front of Mr. J. and although she hadn’t asked me for healing, she’d been praying. And when I rebuked Mr. J’s sickness – Mrs. K’s left also. God knew what He was doing. I knew what God wanted me to do concerning Mr. J., but I didn’t know what He was doing with Mrs. K. until she testified to her healing. And this is an example of the awesome workings of the Spirit in the church. You won’t see this kind of thing when you sit at home “worshipping” God by yourself. In God’s true church there is a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God. That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:5) And there is a provoking to love and good works. (Heb10:24) There are things going on in a true church where the members are ministering to one another in such a way as causes each of us to desire to do more: proximity causes somebody who doesn’t have the baptism in the Holy Spirit to have faith for it because he sees his brother receiving it. When everyone can see what the Holy Spirit is doing for one person, then others can take hold of faith to receive also. God isn’t partial so what He’ll do for one He’ll do for another. Wonderful things happen in a real church! But we must not permit distractions that might get in the way. For example, a couple days ago in our service someone was prophesying and someone else was coughing so loudly that we couldn’t hear the prophecy. Which means we’re not getting the benefit of that prophesy because of the interference of the coughing spell. Now is this God’s will? Obviously not! If He doesn’t want you distracting people by praying in tongues so others can’t hear the message, He sure doesn’t want sickness interfering with the ministry of God’s Word either. (1Cor14:33,40) So this should give you the sense that it is not God’s will for you to be sick in the church and we can believe He’ll heal you.

It’s not to the glory of God that Christians should be sick. It’s to the glory of God that they be healed. So we prayed and God healed. But if you’re the kind of “christian” who sits at home, and rarely attends church, what difference does it make if you cough or are sick? Nobody is distracted by you anyway. So there are important reasons for God to manifest healings in the church. And when He does, it contributes to the edification of the church in more ways than just helping the ones being healed but it also builds faith in the others. And that’s one very important purpose concerning the healings and demonstrations of God’s Spirit. I want to be healthy, not just to make myself comfortable, but so I can do a better job for God. He wants you to be healthy so we can have better church and we can be more glorifying to God. There’ve been times we’ve had to put up with severe discomforts and by the grace of God we can do it if it’s necessary. Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered and we may have to suffer at times in the Lord. (Heb5:8) There’ll be things God has to put us through to teach us to have perseverance, because perseverance is needful and is glorifying to God. But to glorify God in the congregation there ought to be healing; abundant healing. And there ought to be healing in all the brethren, because Jesus healed them all! Everyone who came to Him! (Luke6:19) That’s what I’m believing for. I’m pressing towards the highest levels of faith in Christ; the fullness of Christ. Let’s get as much like Jesus as we can. Healing glorifies God in the church and it has great purposes because it pertains to the believer’s faith being edified, as well as the elimination of distractions and confusion.

 Let your women (wives) keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they’re to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women (wives) to speak (in a distracting way) in church. (1Cor14:34-35) The word translated “women” here should have been translated “wives” because only “wives” can ask their husbands at home. So it should be read this way – “let your wives be silent in the churches.” Now what is Paul saying here? Does he mean wives can’t prophesy? “Every woman who prays or prophesies (publicly) with her head uncovered dishonors her head” (1Cor11:5) Paul is talking about behavior in public in the church, not in private. So if the woman has a covering on then it’s permitted her to prophesy and to pray in the church gathering else the covering has no meaning. And if women can pray and prophesy in church then they certainly can share revelations, they can testify and they can do any of those things described in, how is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1Cor14:26) Women therefore are permitted to minister, participate, share in the service as long as they’re not usurping authority over men or being a distraction. Having authority over men means to be in a position where you rule over or chasten men. Women in Christ’s church are not to rule men; that’s against Gods law. (1Tim2:12) So when Paul says that wives are to keep silent in the church he’s not forbidding them to participate in the Spirit led activities of the congregation. But Paul is forbidding the kind of speaking that contributes to confusion and distractions. I’m preaching and Mrs. M. turns to her husband and says, “What did he mean by that?” Now you have a private conversation going on and everybody near to Mrs. M. is having trouble hearing the preacher. So the church environment is not conducive to edification if wives are continually questioning their husbands about what’s going on. That’s what Paul is forbidding here. The Greek word translated “speak” in this verse could also be translated “murmur.” The wives are forbidden to murmur. They’re murmuring because they can’t wait to get home to ask their husbands what’s going on, or what they didn’t understand or missed. In the church they ought to be quiet so everybody else can hear what’s being preached. When they go home they can ask their husbands about these things if they’re having a problem. This, however, is not forbidding a woman to participate in the service in an orderly manner in the same way that any of the saints are permitted to participate. Praying, prophesying and sharing a testimony or a teaching are not forbidden to women. But Paul is forbidding disorder or things that would cause people to be distracted. That’s what the Word is working towards here. It’s shameful for women to be a distraction in the church. Now the problem in Paul’s day seemed to be predominately with the “wives.” But it would be shameful for a man to be a distraction in the church too, wouldn’t it? 

Who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1Cor15:9) Who was Paul persecuting? He was persecuting the visible church in the world, in Jerusalem. Then he was headed for Damascus to destroy the church there. So as Paul is persecuting the visible church, Jesus is saying, “you are persecuting Me” (Acts9:4) What you have done to the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me. (Matt25:40) Paul is not persecuting the “universal church”, because you can’t persecute the universal church, unless you persecute the “real visible” church. Likewise you can’t do any real good for the “universal church” unless you do good to the visible real church. So, if you’re to bear fruit unto God you must be involved in the visible local church and make sure it’s God’s true church or you will be unfruitful because only towards the visible real church can such godly fruit be born. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Jn15:7-8) Abiding in Christ can also mean abiding in His body the true church and the habitation for God’s Spirit. In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph2:22)

Again the lie that’s been prevalent among contemporary “believers” is that as a Christian you’re automatically a member of the universal church even if you are not in a local church. Ephesians says there’s a mystery concerning Christ and the church, but the mystery isn’t that the church is in Heaven. The Church is not in Heaven, it’s in the earth waiting till it can be presented to Christ! (Eph5:27) The “mystery” concerns the church being “Christ’s” body. And Christ’s body is not composed of any independent “lone wolf” believers because if they are not in a local visible church, they’re not a part of His body. His body is the visible church. That’s the mystery. And you have to be in a real church congregation if you’re to be a part of His body. That’s something many “Christians” don’t seem to believe anymore. In fact there are not too many congregations that are in the real body of Christ. There needs to be a mighty work of God to reestablish the true church, because what calls itself the church today has come out of the dark ages and most are not in the true light yet! Everybody who has thought that “I’m in the church just because I’m saved,” hasn’t understood what it means to be in church. To be in Christ’s true church is to be a part of a congregation where Jesus is the functioning Head and where God has set His authorities in order. And because of the Headship of Christ and the organization of God and the work of the Spirit through the godly authorities in the true church, the members are making real progress in being conformed to Jesus and attaining to the fullness of Christ both individually and corporately. You aren’t in God’s church if you aren’t in a place where that’s happening. You can’t be rightly thinking you’re in Christ’s “church” just because you’re a believer, when you aren’t participating in any of the activities that go on in a real church.

Prophecy: Consider and be wise My children. Take heed to My Words. For great is the foolishness of the peoples around you. I have appointed the church and have brought her forth. I’ve put her in the earth for the salvation of My Elect. I’ve set great esteem and importance upon My church, and where do you think those are who count little that to which I give great importance? You cannot be acceptable to Me if you despise what I count great, saith the Lord. And I have also said, My church will testify of you before Me. My church, My saints, will testify of each one of you individually as well as the “churches” corporately. And they will ask of Me to allow or disallow you in My kingdom. They will testify of what you have done or have not done. So I have said “be wise” and use your earthly goods to help My people that they may accept you into everlasting habitations. Now how do you think you can do that outside of My visible church? How do you think you can do that when you aren’t edifying, building up, or helping any member of My body? How can you be considered a part of Me if you do not participate in My body in such a way as to bless My people? You’ll be found in that day to have no-one who will testify of you, because you weren’t in My church; and you weren’t a blessing to My church. And I tell you this – it is not good enough to just be in church, for if you don’t edify, if you don’t bless, or help, you’ll still have no-one to testify of you. Now, I say to you, “be wise” and find My church and do your best to help her, and find My way to help her by faith in Me, so I can accept you. For if you do your part she’ll bless you and testify of your good works before Me, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at "My Father's House")

The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts2:47) not those who were saved, but who were being saved because they’re being saved by entering into what goes on in God’s true church. They’re being saved because first they’re being baptized and born again which is a necessary requirement before you can even be added to the church. And they’re being added to the visible church in Jerusalem where they can partake of and benefit from the Spiritual activities and ministries of the apostles and saints. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. (Acts2:42,44,46) They’re being saved because they’re participating in the “saving” activities of the local church congregation. Which things are not possible to partake of in the so-called “mystical” or invisible church. They’re being saved because the church God is adding them to is the local visible church at Jerusalem.

What people today think of as salvation has been terribly perverted. True salvation is absolutely connected to the believer being added to the true local church. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk16:16) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (Acts2:41) Being baptized in a true faith qualifies you to belong to the church. And it’s because you believe in Jesus and have a like precious faith that you can participate in His true local church where the Lord can keep saving you and perfecting you through His people who are led by His Spirit. You can’t separate salvation from the true local church. What has happened today is people have tried to say that you can be saved outside the church. You hear them saying, “I prayed the sinners prayer with so and so and they got saved.” If they weren’t baptized in faith and added to the church, they’re not being saved! They can only be saved if they’re in a church where the things that take place in the church work towards their salvation to save them and keep them saved; keep them in a place of sanctification; to help them grow into perfection in Christ and all the things that are required so they can be found acceptable to God in the day of the Lord. We hear testimonies all the time where “believers” say they’ve witnessed or prayed the sinner’s prayer and got someone “saved.” But it’s a lie. You’re not “saving” the people if you are not churching them. And I’m charging you in the Lord, if you don’t get them into a true local visible body of Christ church, you won’t see them in Heaven. If you don’t get them into a good church where God can watch over them and help them to grow, they won’t be “saved.” The whole purpose of sharing the gospel is to get those who believe into the body of Christ, and this idea of thinking the body of Christ exists apart from any visible congregation of believers is insane. The church is not mystical, theoretical, invisible – it’s real. It’s Christ’s flesh and bones; His people in the earth who function together as His body ministering God’s grace to one another in a congregational setting. To be saved you must get into that functioning real body of believers, and stay in. If you’re not in you won’t be saved! Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph5:26-27) How can He cleanse you or present you to Himself apart from your being in His true church where the cleansing takes place?

Prophecy: I’ve made you My church to be a vessel unto Me. I’ve composed you of many members, but all together work for Me. I’ve called you to meet daily so I can teach you My Word, cleanse you and work through you. For My church is a place where My people learn to dwell with each other. And I tell you My Eternal Kingdom is a place where we will dwell together. Now how can you be alone and learn what you need to know to dwell together. For it’s in My church you learn how to fellowship in My Spirit and how to be one body. As that’s what My Kingdom is; it’s fellowship; fellowship with one another, and fellowship with Me and My Spirit for all eternity. And I’ve brought forth My church as the place for you to learn to love one another and to have a godly care for one another. I’m uniting you with My Spirit and My ways and My heart that you may know true unity with one another. And in My church I’m teaching you how to know one another by the Spirit, I’m teaching you how to minister to one another. I’m teaching you how to edify one another, for you must learn to bless one another in godly fellowship. For My Kingdom is all about fellowship; everlasting blessing and everlasting fellowship, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at "My Father's House")

For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. (1Cor14:8-9) Fellowship has to do with communication. For the saints to fellowship with one another they must communicate with one another. And if communication is to be helpful it must be truthful and accurate. But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-- Christ-- Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Eph4:15,29) In the church, you should speak useful words in a way that you can be easily understood because that’s the only way somebody can be edified. Mumbling, speaking too low to be heard, speaking with unnecessary explanation, or excess detail; speaking in ways that are not concise, such things are detrimental to God’s purposes which must be edification of the brethren. Some people’s prayers are so long and drawn out that it makes you want to stop them and say, “Look!” “God knows what you need before you ask Him, so He doesn’t need to hear all these endless little details and explanations of why you’re asking.” The only place you need to give explanations is if you have to get the church into agreement with your prayer, and most of the time the church should already be in agreement concerning these things. Excessive verbage causes your prayer or testimony to lose it’s punch. If you take too long to make your point, people get tired of waiting for it. As the number of the brethren in the church increases it becomes more and more important that we behave properly so everyone can have a fair opportunity to share. (1Cor14:31) That means staying to the point, being clear, concise so you can have your turn to speak and everyone else can have their turn also. Speaking so you’re well understood, includes speaking as the oracles of God, speaking loud enough to be heard, and using words that others can understand.

Paul says, “My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of mans wisdom” (1Cor2:4) This means he didn’t come with “eloquence of speech.” “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” (2Cor10:10)  A misinterpretation of contemptible would cause you to think he’s not speaking clearly, or he doesn’t know how to put words together rightly. Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts24:10-16) That’s what they call “contemptible” speech. The truth is if Paul’s speech is being judged contemptible in the eyes of men it has nothing to do with him being unclear. His speech is clear and accurate. He’s communicating very well. But what ignorant people sometimes do is they’ll say, “Paul’s speech was contemptible, so if mine is contemptible it’s ok.” They’ll say it’s alright for them to speak in a way that’s unclear or inaccurate. But it’s not acceptable. And they’re misinterpreting the scriptures. Such people are excusing themselves based on a faulty interpretation of what Paul’s saying when he was accused of “contemptible speech.” The reality is, Paul is a skillful speaker, and if there are places where people have a hard time understanding him, it’s not because of his inaccuracy, but because of his Spirituality that he gets beyond where carnal people can see in the Spirit. This is what Peter warns about, that some twist the scriptures and they twist the things Paul says even to their own destruction. (2Peter3:16)

In the days in which Paul’s speech is called “contemptible” many people were proud of being “eloquent” in speech. They were proud of having an “orators voice.” You’ve heard men who put on a special deep and “authoritative” voice when they preach. Paul isn’t doing that. Paul is speaking in a normal way and not trying to impress people with his great erudition or the big words some use to show off their education or intelligence. Paul isn’t trying to be eloquent or to dazzle people with his fancy vocabulary. In an age when oratory was considered very prestigious, Paul rejected it as a way of preaching Christ! In those days of no TV, radio, movies it was primarily oratory that served as entertainment and people could put a lot of flesh into trying to build themselves up as orators. Paul wasn’t doing that. So they called his speech contemptible because he didn’t have a “preacher’s voice,” or that eloquence they enjoyed so much. But what he did have was the Holy Spirit; and plainness of speech, and a godly ability to communicate. So these fools are looking at the wrapping on the package but we’re to be looking at what’s in the package. It isn’t that he says it eloquently, it’s what he’s saying that matters. What do the words mean? And in that Paul is quite skillful at conveying truth. In fact, everything we’ve been studying here concerning how to have church properly, in an orderly fashion, and in a way that will edify the brethren comes from Paul’s speaking plainly and effectually. To edify the brethren you have to speak in ways they can understand; if you don’t it isn’t glorifying to God. To speak well you must organize your thoughts so you know what you’re saying and why you’re saying it, so you can take the listeners from point to point and get what you’re sharing across effectually. You need to pray for God to help you do that, and expect Him to because it’s to His glory that you communicate His truths well. It isn’t to the glory of God to speak in ways that confuse people. It isn’t to the glory of God to leave them wondering what your point is. It isn’t to the glory of God to run on and on with vain things until people fall asleep while they’re waiting for you to finish. It all works against the purpose of the church when you take too much time to do too little.

We’re asking God to give us the fullness and increase in “My Father’s House.” It’s our desire that every believer should have an opportunity to share something worthwhile in the services. But we must understand the essence of being able to edify your brother is connected first to the fact that what you have is truly coming from God but then it relates to the clarity of your communication; it’s conciseness and accuracy. And this normally doesn’t just drop on you when you get out of bed in the morning that suddenly you’re a great communicator. If you want to communicate clearly you need to make an effort to do it; you must learn to use words. In our home we consider bible study to be one of the children’s most important home school classes. If you understood the meaning of every word in the Bible, you’d have a great ability to effectively communicate anything God might want to say. So you’re depriving yourself of effective communication skills if while you’re reading your Bible you skip over words that you don’t understand and you’re restricting your own understanding of God’s Word if you don’t make an effort to find out what these words mean. But if you would get Bible literate, just by learning the meaning of the words in the Bible and the phraseology in the Bible, you’d be able to more accurately speak the things God wants to speak, and you’d be able to speak in ways that people can better understand you; especially Christians who read their Bibles, because you’d be speaking God’s vocabulary. So utilize your dictionary and your concordance and you’ll be a better witness for Christ. Again to increase your accuracy in communication when you’re reading the Bible, don’t skip over a word you don’t understand, but search it out and make that word a part of your vocabulary.

My youngest boy was reading a verse this morning and ran into a word he couldn’t pronounce. So we explained it to him. Out of that he learned how to say it, how to read it, and he learned what it meant. Would you say that’s not Spiritual? Anything that helps you read or speak more clearly and accurately is going to pay off in Spirituality. This is very practical. This is what the Spirit is saying in 1^st Corinthians 14; the church is the place where the brethren are edified, and they get edified because of what they’re taught, what they hear, what they share with one another. It edifies their understanding; and they’re transformed by the renewing of their mind. (Rom12:2) That renewing takes place in the church. Of course we have devotions in our homes which is an extension of the church and God shows us many things at home. But there’s a special anointing, a greater dimension of the fullness of Christ in the larger church body that usually surpasses what we can do at home. Something happens when we come into the greater assembly and there’s an interaction where you share your part and everybody else has something they see and it always ends up richer and fuller in the greater church body. The people who aren’t in the church meetings don’t grow the way they ought to. People who are in the church meetings who participate rightly grow much more quickly. But to do things right in the church requires us to make the effort to communicate well. Therefore let’s not get into excess detail when we’re praying. Let’s stay close to the necessary petitions, and understand the purpose of what we’re saying and get to the point quickly without excessive repetition. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1Cor10:31) Let’s ask God to help us with that because it’s very much a glory to Him when we can have an effectual meeting where everybody can share and not be putting people to sleep with meaningless verbage, but always having useful things coming out.

 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:(1Cor16:1) Once again, Paul is teaching the same thing in every church; giving the same orders everywhere. You can see the churches may be different geographically but they’re not different doctrinally or in the good things expected of them. In verse 19 we see their unity as the churches of Asia greet the Corinthians. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia (2Cor1:1) Achaia is the state and Corinth is a city in that state. Again, we’re talking about the “visible church.” Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (2Cor8:1) Macedonia is the state and Philippi is a city in that state. The grace of God that’s bestowed upon the churches tells you if you weren’t participating in the churches you wouldn’t get the grace. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches. (2Cor8:18) A man whose “praise is in the gospel” has had a very dramatic manifestation of the fulfillment of the gospel before the churches in his life and testimony. It’s certain he’s been well approved by God before the believers. So they’re talking about him and they’re recognizing God has done a mighty work of grace in him. He’s an unnamed man in the scriptures but when you have a statement like, “whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches” you know he’s a bright and shining light.

One of the phrases that comes up concerning the gospel is “the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.” Paul is called to defend the Gospel, and the Philippian church has joined him in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. (Phil 1:7) No doubt this unnamed man was also defending and confirming the gospel. And what the defense and confirmation of the Gospel means to us today for example is: I’m defending the Gospel against the Baptists who are perverting and twisting the Gospel; turning it into something that’s not what the Bible or God makes it to be. If you’re to defend the Gospel, then whenever you see somebody twisting or perverting it, you must stand up and defend the truth. Jude says, “contend earnestly for the faith.” (Jude3) Also to confirm the Gospel is to demonstrate its truth in your own life. You need a testimony that shows the things you’re preaching are not mere theory. To most people religion is fairy tales; untried and untested. They wrongly think it’s faith to believe what they can’t prove. But to confirm the gospel is to prove it. Recently one of my boys brought Isaiah 58 into the bible study and tried to share about fasting. He wanted to teach his brothers about fasting when he’s never fasted himself. Of course we rebuked him. What kind of religion is that? To read a few verses then try explaining them to others when you’ve never experienced or practiced their reality yourself. This is what Paul calls “intruding into things that he has not understood; vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” (Col 2:18) What causes people to do that? Pride, thinking they know something when they know nothing yet as they ought to know. (1Cor8:2) Thinking that religion is just knowledge and not the doing of God’s will. If your religion is mere knowledge then it’s just something to talk about. But Isaiah 58 is not telling you to talk about fasting, it’s telling you why to fast and how to fast. If you want to explain Isaiah 58 to me then you better get some experience in what it’s talking about. You need a testimony about fasting. And there are a lot of things in the Bible that are that way. Concerning the gospel you’re not to theorize on what it means, you’re to experience it so you can testify to wh