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Unless the Lord joins people together, there is no complete assembly.
An associate of mine, Art Nelson, through several social networks provided an outstanding explanation on the meaning Hebrews 10:25. This verse is the main gun pointed at those who leave the paid clergy system. He provides many outstanding points that are worth meditating upon.
by Art Nelson
Let’s look at the Greek word [in Heb 10:25] for “assembling”–episunagoge (Strong’s # G1997). This is the only occasion that it is used in connection with the translation “assemble” (there are other Greek words that are normally used for “meeting”). The only other place that this particular Greek word is used in in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, which refers to our gathering together with the Lord at His return.
[Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (II Th 2:1 KJV) -episunagoge]
The original Greek word comes from episunago (Strong’s #G1996) and means “a complete collection”. Its root is in two other Greek words—Strong’s numbers G1909 and G4863, which mean “to collect upon the same place; gather”. Putting all of this together, we get “to collect upon the same place to complete collection (assemble).” Based on this, it appears evident that the way we have been using “assemble” falls far short of its true meaning. To assemble together is more that meeting together. The parts of the Body are collected together upon the same place to complete the assembly. Read the rest of this entry →
Danny DeVito defines character as actually caring about people, instead of selling Jesus to people.
I have posted this video of Danny DeVito in the “Big Kahuna” because he provides a rough illustration of organic pastoring. In a previous article I made the case that we all have only one Pastor, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus referred to all His help as “hirelings“ who care not for the sheep, but will flee when wolves arrive (John 10:12-13). I stand by this still. Only Jesus knows everything about us and cares about all the details of our lives. It is impossible for another human being to do so.
Later on I wrote another article on the organic functions of the “5 fold ministries” in which I explained the temporary nature of ministry. God brings people into our lives from the body of Christ to meet needs temporarily in those seasons of our lives when we have such needs. Pastoring is one such ministry, even though we are all hirelings while we are in His service. Read the rest of this entry →
Selfish love is good when it is in the joy of loving others
Valentines is a week away. So I think it is appropriate to talk about love. In the world there is a selfish love, which is the basis of most love experienced. This selfish love has the motive of “what do I get out of this relationship?” The focus is on receiving, not giving.
In contrast the agape love of God is one of giving. This is usually considered a good love for there is no expectation of return. But anyone who has given this kind of love knows that it is not truly selfless. Read the rest of this entry →
We are not human marionettes controlled by the Spirit
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).
Life and salvation as given by God is one of freedom. I have heard statements like these many times in the past.
“We are either controlled by our self-centered flesh or by the Holy Spirit who indwells us.” (Bible.org)
“Spirit-Controlled Temperament , by Tim LaHaye, examines the four basic temperaments and discusses how Christians can live Spirit-controlled lives.” (Young Ladies Christian Fellowship)
“Acts 13:52, from The New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest reads, ‘And the disciples were constantly filled with joy and CONTROLLED by the Holy Spirit.’” (One Thing Blog)
The examples are numerous but you can see the common opinion that God should control our lives. But, frankly, this is a lie. God did not create us to be robots or marionettes on strings. He created all life to be free, and He controls no one. Read the rest of this entry →
This is a little thought, but very basic and good to remember. Last night I was outside in my backyard with my wife. She was still in the hot tub and I had finished, so I was sitting there cooling off when our cat Dexter came up to me.
He has become an outdoor cat since we got this frisky kitten, Freddie, who is always ambushing him with flying leaps upon his back to wrestle. Dexter is now an older cat who has lost his kittenish play, and prefers hunting mice and birds instead. So he tends to stay outside in one of our neighbor’s yards keeping a fence between him and Freddie.
Dexter is a very affectionate Tom cat. He wanted some love. So I was loving on him when I became aware of the Lord’s presence. God rarely speaks to my heart with discernible words these days. Instead I just “know” what the Lord wants me to understand. Read the rest of this entry →
In the last month two movies came out that had been promoted on Christian radio. I don’t see movies in a timely manner, so my comments are dated. Nonetheless there may be some of you who have not seen these movies, so I am still giving my 2 cents.
My wife and I went to see An American Carol first. That was a mistake and waste of money. We knew that it had gotten an “F” by a secular reviewer, but went thinking it was because he had a liberal bias.
The movie is a poor adaptation of Dickens “Christmas Carol” by David Zucker in the heavy handed slapstick style of Airplane for American conservative politics. The Scrooge of the story is played by Kevin Farley in a thin paradoy of Michael Moore (called Michael Malone) as an anti-American documentary film-maker who sees the reality of Terrorists by the visitation of one ghost, Kelsey Grammer, as General Patton. There are two other ghosts, George Washington played by John Voight and a country star that I am unfamiliar with, but they are brief cameos. Read the rest of this entry →
The “Armour of God,” as described in Ephesians 6:11-17, is known by every Pentecostal Christian, and, I believe, every Evangelical Christian. It is often used in a superstitious way of chanting in prayer that one is putting on the whole armor of God. There have been many who point out that it is not a superstition, but a representation of how we live our lives.
The breastplate of righteousness is stated in verse 14. It provides a glimpse in understanding what godly righteousness really is. But to catch that glimpse we need to jump to Thessalonians. Read the rest of this entry →
In my gymnastics class this week I explained to the kids that gymnastics is a high maintenance sport. They did not understand the expression, so I illustrated the expression. A rock requires no care. But a plant requires more care since it is a living thing. You must water it, make sure it gets sunshine, fertilize it, and even prune the dead wood off it. Also it needs protection for insects and disease. To keep the plant alive requires more maintenance. The rock is low maintenance but the plant is higher maintenance. They understood after wards that they have constantly practice gymnastics to keep the skills they already have, and to work harder to gain even more skills, thus it is a high maintenance sport..
But the expression “high maintenance” also refers to people, often women. To keep a relationship strong with a “high maintenance” person (for it could be a man, too), one has to be mindful of a multitude of likes, dislikes, irritations, pleasures, moods and interests. A low maintenance relationship does takes no offense, is easily pleased and remains consistent. Read the rest of this entry →
Eph 5:25
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (KJV)
While praying this morning a thought came to me from the Lord regarding laying down our lives for our wives. The usual thought that I have had based upon this verse is the extreme of dying on the cross. Or perhaps in modern terms, pushing my wife out of the way before being struck by a car, and dying as a result of being hit myself.
But those extreme actions never occur without the simple acts preceding it. The spirit of the verse is one of self denial towards one’s spouse. That is, in preferring her wants and needs over my own. Read the rest of this entry →
Ps 127:1
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (KJV)
This famous psalm is clearly understood to mean that it is God who builds the family and home. This is understood by the following verses:
Ps 127:3-5
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (KJV)
But the crux of the psalm is found in verse 2:
Ps 127:2
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (KJV)
In a nutshell the psalm is telling us that without God making the arrangement, all our efforts are wasted, for they come from our natural strength and not by His Spirit. Read the rest of this entry →
This is a little thought, but very basic and good to remember. Last night I was outside in my backyard with my wife. She was still in the hot tub and I had finished, so I was sitting there cooling off when our cat Dexter came up to me.
In the last month two movies came out that had been promoted on Christian radio. I don’t see movies in a timely manner, so my comments are dated. Nonetheless there may be some of you who have not seen these movies, so I am still giving my 2 cents.