The Doctrine of the Church pt.1

This evening, I want to start a series that I'm going to be teaching for maybe three weeks, every Tuesday for the next three weeks, just to help give us understanding and perspective. Because of the significance of the subject matter. Some of us were born into it, some of us have engaged in it all our lives, but it's always important for us to have accurate understanding, and this is why I want to do a bit of teaching on the subject. Many years ago, based on my study as a scientist, I came to a conclusion that assumption is the lowest level of knowledge. So anything you have based on assumption the moment is challenged, your conviction will will failure. So I made up my. Mind to always try to press deep, get accurate understanding of things so that I know the veracity and so that I can also apply it to make existential impact, because there's no value in just being excited about whatever reality that cannot make a difference when there is a need to be proven. And unfortunately, there are many believers who are excited about many things that they cannot prove and that cannot impact their everyday life. And it's so fascinating that they are so hopeful about eternity when they can't prove the veracity of the reality in time. That's not the plan of God. God is not afraid to prove the veracity of the thing that he affirms, and it will be proven to the degree that it impacts existential things. Our everyday life. Glory to Jesus. And so I want to do a teaching on the subject of the Church, the doctrine of the Church, or what you call ecclesiology, the study the doctrine, the teaching on the subject of the Church. Most of us have been in church, were born in church, some of us have engaged church all our. Lives, but we really don't know what the church is. And so this evening I want to take our time to introduce the subject and then we'll build on it for a period of three weeks to see how far the Lord will take us. And so we will bother our teaching on some critical components of the subject, matter from the identity of the Church, the nature of the Church, the order of the Church, the power of the Church, the period of the church, the mission of the Church, and the destination of the church. Who try to conceptualize what we are doing and break them into parts so that we can have meaning. But to begin with, I just want to give justification to why we have to do this study. Why is it important to study the subject of the church our advance. Ten reasons why we. Have to study the church understand what the church is about. Number one is because the Church is central in God's eternal purpose. One very central thing in God's purpose, God's agenda. Is the institution called the Church. Efficients Chapter three, Verse ten, and eleven, can we project scriptures? I like you to read to look at these scriptures Paul's speaking to the church, and he said to the intent that now onto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he proposed in Christ Jesus Our Lord. What Poin is saying is that the wisdom of God, the power of God should be demonstrated through the Church and by the Church, manifesting the purpose of God and the wisdom of God. That every creation will get. To see, experience, and understand the wisdom of God, the power of God, and the purpose of God, including principalities and powers This is the reason why Christ came to bet the church glory to God. So God wants to use the church as the theater for showcasing his wisdom, his power, his glory and his purpose. So the church is very important. It's not my. Friend, reverendu Wusu my God all the way from Ghana. Can we celebrate this man, Ah, go to see you. I didn't know you would have been the one teaching us this evening. You can't return until you bless us. It's my friend from Ghana. I've known him for over five years. And this man is an apostle. You know, Ghana is the nation of prophets, but reverendu Woosu is an apostolic teacher. Oh he has the Word of God. The intensity and the dexterity of communication is intense. You have to bless us before you go back to Ghana. Let's celebrate him one more time. It's my brother. You know, Ghana is like my home, so I have brothers in Ghana. Praise God. Go to see you. So one reason. Why we must understand on this the church is because God wants to use the church as the theater for manifesting his wisdom, his power, and his eternal purpose. The Church therefore is central in the eternal purpose and agenda of God. This is why we are doing this study. If you don't understand the Church, you cannot understand God's eternal purpose. You cannot participate in God's agenda, and you cannot reflect the power and the grace and glory of God. Number two, why is it important to study the subject of the church. Because Christ died for the church. Christ came to give, give himself to bet the church. He didn't just come to die to save you. He came to die to save and to bet you so that a church can be born. Glory to God. And if Christ died for the church, if Christ did all he did for the church, then you need to understand beyond. Yourself what the church represents. If Christ did not die, if Christ did not do what he did, the Church would not have been born. Efficiens of the five or twenty five. Paul was doing a bit of comparison between the family and the church, and he was speaking specifically to the men, and he says to the man in Officials five twenty five, as the husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. So the reason Jesus died was not just to save you as an individual. There are so many of us that he saved. So the reason Jesus died beyond saving you, is so that the Church can be born glory to God. This is why when he died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. The impact what emerged was the formation of the church. And why is that so? When he died, the price for seeing was paid, so the devil could no longer lay hold and claim on you and I. When he was. Buried, we were separated from the world, so the word ceased to be our home. We no longer had a path in the world. When he rose from the dead, he gave us the life of God, eternal life, And when he ascended, he took the position of authority. The moment these fourteenths were achieved, this church was born. The Church therefore is not guilty of sin, and the devil has no claim over the Church. The Church therefore is separated from the world, as we will see shortly. The Church therefore is the life powered by the life of God, as we will see shortly, and the church is also God's system of authority on the ether realm. So when Jesus was dying, was married, resurrected, and ascended to heaven, he wanted to create an institution that represented God's interest on the face of the earth. So we studied the child because the church is the major reason why Jesus had to carry out the walks of his death, burier, resurrection, and ascension. If Jesus did not assent, the child to be without authority, if Jesus did not resurrect, the church to be dead. If Jesus was not buried, the child to be mingled with the word system. If Jesus did not die, the church would be a puppet of the devil. The reason the devil cannot have any power over the church, the reason the Church cannot be caught up by the word, the reason the Church is alive, and the reason the Church has authority is because Jesus died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. So we studied the child because it is that important. Is the reason for which Jesus did all he did. Number three, why do we need to study the subject of the church, Because our identity is. Hinged in the church. Outside the church, we have no identity. Everything we say we are is possible because there is a caveat for read. First of all, in the church. I cannot say I am part of Christ if I were not part of the church. Because the Church is the body of Christ. The reason I am a member of Christ is because I am part of the Church. So I find my identity in the Church. This is why I must understand the Church, because the Church gives me identity. I cannot be an apostle in oblivion, in isolation. The reason why I have a ministry, the reason why I can operate in the office of an apostle is because the apostolic office is part of the Church. The reason why you are king and the priest is because it is part of the Church. You don't have a place in Christ if you are not in the Church. Glory to God. In First Corinthians twelve, verse twenty seven, the Bible said, now you are the body of Christ and members in particular. So I have my identity in the church. This is why it's important for me to understand what the church is. In efficients to nineteen. Now, therefore you are no more strangers and foriaders, but fellow citizens with these saints and of the household of God. If there is no church, I'm a stranger. I'm a fororiader. The reason I'm a member of Christ, and the reason I'm a member of the household of God is because of the institution called the Church. Number four. Why is it important to study the subject? Because my purpose and my functionality are defined within and from the Church. Outside the church, I have no purpose in God. Outside the church, I have no functionality. So there are things I do in the Church that defines the meaning of my existence, and there are things I do from the Church that also gives value to my existence. So my purpose and functionality is within the context and the allowance of the Church. Efficients For if you read from verse eleven to fifteen, the Bible said, to some he gave to be a passus, to some he gave to be prophets. To some he gave to be pastors evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. So this is for those who are ministers. Then he went further, to everyone who is the member of the church, is that for the perfecting of the saints, every member for the work of the ministry. So every one of us whether you are in the fire food or you are a member. It is within the church and from the church that you have purpose and functionality, except for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, so the saints are perfected to walk in and from the church in carrying out God's agenda. And then for the building up continuous development of the church or the saints so that they can yet do more glory to God. So it's important to understand what the church is. You know, most of us don't know what the church is. That's why we don't have any role in the church. We don't even find purpose in the church if we are proved at best. The reason we come is because maybe we can get a miracle, maybe we can get a breakthrough. Is deeper than that. It's deeper than just having a breakthrough a miracle. There is a function, there is the purpose. You are part of the church because there is a purpose and the functionality that the church gives you a platform to express. Number five, why is it important to understand the subject of the church. The church is the only place where you can find truth. The Bible calls it the ground Festimo. The three point fifteen and the pillar of truth. Now, there is a difference between truth and fact. Fact is not truth. Fact fluctuates based on factors. For instance, environments can change fact, situations can alter fact. But truth is constant in every environment, under every situation. You can't get truth unless you are exposed to the Church and the things that happen in church. This is why the ward is confused. They don't know what to do. They don't even know who they are. So you see their realities fluctuate over time. They moved by trends, they are moved by the modifications in civilizations. They are manipulated by falling spirits. But when you come to the church, you have an understanding of truth realities that will not change even when the world comes to an end. The things you hear here, even when the act is over, they will remain sacrosant. That's the power of the church. This is why you must know what the church is. So when you come. Here, you are hearing the both in your brain. And in your spirit. If you come here, your spirit is activated. When when you are hearing this, the spirit man is bearing witness Because you are dealing with reality that transcends time. You have entered the gangways of eternity. So your spirit can affirme that what's happening here is older than creation. It is a very foundation of meaning and essence. And it's only in church you can find truth. This is early place we can tell you that scene will lead you to her. This is the only place we can tell you that if you don't have Jesus, you won't have life. You can go to a biological institution and they tell you forget you are living creature because you were born you have life. They don't know life. Because when you come here, we can show you life. In Rems there is biological life. There is solish life, the spirit life. They don't know that. In psychology, they don't know that. In biology they. Drink life is only what you have in your blood. But we can tell you that when this body is removed you there's still life because there is bios that is so care and there is a way you can't find. There's no legos away in the university. He is here. We can tell you that abserves from the body, is present with the Lord. Why you die, you are not finished? You transit the child. Here's the child that tells you. Those syllables are not with men. They are crystallizing into child by the spirit of Christ. So why do you the church? This is where you get truth. It's only in the church you can be told that savings are not only in the bank. In the world. You can't think a man is wealthy because it has billions in the bank, but that Bologna can be poor. In another. There is a man. The Bible calls a man a rich fool. He said, he got is banned. It was fool. He said, Now my soul is rest. They were calling a Bologna on earth a fool because he was poor. In another dimension. It's only in the church you can be taught how to have service beyond time. There is a place where you go to that you will not be naked because you have thought of treasures. We are thieves can break through. We have mod cannot enter to this story. This truth. They are only in the church. Many people cross over one second after they are dead and discovered their life. He wished. Many who the world celebrates one second, the moment they come out of their body. They we just know that their life was a wist. But the reason you have assurance of the war to come is because you're. Supposed to truth. Truth that is. And in case somebody saying, how do you know is the truth? The one who told us what we're saying, he went there and came back, and he's he's the only one who went He went to hell, he went to the grave. After three days he came back. And it's not a coincidence. He told us if we go there for three days and three nights and he will come back. So we know he has authority put in time. And in eternity. The church, you know, most of you don't know. So when you hear dreams from the Church, you read dreams from the Bible, you are comparing it with biological science. Yes, comparing it with philosophy and psychology. Those are facts. What we teach you, what the Bible represents is truth and it is only. Found in the Church. Number six, Why do we need to study the church understand the subject of the church. Because God's power and glory is expressed in and through the Church. There's no other institution. Under Heaven with the authority to express God's power and glory. When you become part of. The Church, you are apportioned without measure the power and the glory of God to define you and for you to freely express by faith. It's in the church that these possibilities are found. Ephicients three, twenty and twenty one. You know most of you who don't love the church. You are hearing what songs of Beilia are saying on the internet. So you are angry. You don't come to church anymore. You don't you didn't know the church. If you knew the church, nobody will be able to dissuade you. When you see people get angry and they leave church, they didn't know the church. They were part of a religious group, but they didn't know the church. If you know the church, nothing we dissuade you from being in the church, because this is what the church represents. Forget the fact that there are you know what we are dealing with. It like a drag cleaning press. Some clothes just cave. They have not been washed ion. You have been washed, You have been ironed, and maybe the person who is doing administration put a clothe that is no ion on you. You don't get angry and go. It was in the drag cleaning press you were washed. Where you will remain to be washed and they are young. If you go out, your fair will become like the clothes that just came. So don't be. Surprised when you meet. Do you know some people are here, they've not known the Chorge. They came to Steve phones. It's after they say for a while that they are their ideology we change. But if they have not yet been transformed, and they steer your phone, you won't be angry and say, what can I know? He's a track cleanic house. Do you know some people who come here they're looking for gear? Friends said this, George, They say this. Percent are young people. Let me go there have phone and they they come. They're hanging and doing as if they're busy. They are waiting for one particular person. Where you are now entering by the door, they follow you. So they sit together. When they are praying, they close their eye act. As if they're in prayer. Is a lie. They are trying to impress you. Right is over. They shake us with you, especially if FASTO say check somebody by your left and you're right this first and that is the wise first. This is this is the fastal. This is the fastal. The three guy conversation. See they can't come the way they are. The doors are open, but then. Their church hit them. They can't remain like that because this is the ground and pillar of truth. This is where the power and the glory of God is manifested. That's why you see at some point demons begin to cry out. You give a command, things begin because God is walking on them. That's the church. They can anti building. They're not touch chorch. When they touch church, they will touch the power the glory of God. When they touch church, they will touch it. Turn truth. If will change them. They can't be the same. But while they're in. The building and they have not entered church, you'll be discerning. But not that they we touch it. Nonetheless, glory to God. So the church is the place we have the power and the glory of God is encountered and manifested from it. Said, now onto him that is able to do, exceeding abundantly above what we ask God, thing according to the power that work at in us Verse twenty one, Onto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus through all ages, word without end. Amen, This we have power, dwells. This we have glory, dwells. You're contacted and then you manifested. This is why we understand it, because we will now contend for it, because we now know what it represents. So when I come, while I enjoy the atmosphere and the building, the finery, the serenity, the extasy, the class, the excellence, the elegance, the grand dule, you sit in good chears lighting. That's not the church. So I would transit beyond all of those natural parameters and. Touch the church. Those ones are good, so that I'm not distracted by discomfort, but beyond it. I came to church, not to a building. The church meets in the building, but I must leave the building and participate in the church. Because when I touch the church, I touch power, I touch glory, I touch truth. This is why I came glory to God. Number seven. Why do we need to study the church. Because the Church is God's family and kingdom community on the earth. Ephicients three fifteen sixteen. See Paul was praying. He said, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Read it from verse fourteen. He was praying for the believers in Ephesos, and he said, for this cause, I bow my knees onto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and Earth is named. So pol is telling us or telling the church in Ephesos. You are part of God's family on earth, and right here on earth you have a connection to Heaven, and God is your father. So the Church is God's family and community. On the earth. Hebrews three, they say you have come onto Mount Zion, onto the city of the Living God. They have only Jerusalem to an innumerable company of angels, next verse to the general assembly and Church of the First Bond, which is written in Heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the Spirit of just men made perfect. So what is said in Ephesians three point fifteen, this is the other dimension of it. So we are God's family on earth, but we are connected to Heaven. So when I become part of the Church, I have relatives from Zion. I'm in an assembly of innumerable company of angels. I mean the company of God, the George of all. I'm in the company of Spirit of just men made perfect. This is why the resources and the astronauts available to us are too many to ount. A man who knows the Church you are, you are you are under attack. Things can happen from anywhere, from God responding to angelic intervention, to Spirit of Justment made perfect coming on the scene to give you wisdom. They are possibilities. Didn't you see when Jesus stood on the amount of transfigured ratio, it's Moses. An alliance showed up. That means that you can't what were they doing. They were encouraging him about what he would do in Jerusalem. So you can draw encouragement from those who have gone ahead. So you are in the palace, if it is hostile, you can commune with us in the Order of Dan. Here this is church still going on. You have left the building, but Church just not in that because you're in the company or Spirit of Judment made perfect. You can need favor. Those in the Order of Hemaya can show esther the esta or that can is church. They at work. You can be in the worst moment of your life and Jenny beings can show up because you are in their company. This is what church is. This is why you. Need to understand church so that you know. How to make the most of charge. You can secure judgment because in the church God sees as the judge of all, it doesn't your sit as father, it's salvation. He can oppreju with you as father or in the church. He's a George. So anybody who touches you, didn't you read when Paul was going to prosecute the church in Damascus, Jesus strocking with light. So why do you persecute me? He said, who are you Lord? And they said I'm Jesus Christ. Room down, prosecutors. It is hard to kick against the prids. Now rise up, you'll be told what to do. He was going to tell people what to do. George came out, No, you go and. Be told what to do. This is church. Give the Lord big. I know you were third denomination. You were in tod church. This is our logo. This fire means this, this bad means this. Let's leave logo now and do look at church. I'm this where we are, This where live denomination. Let's go church. So fighting about logo, have carried logo your head for ten years. Now coming to church. Our Tod building is bigger, did you see it? With Thank God for the size. It means it can accommodate many worshippers. But we are dealing with stature. Is that the general. Assembly of the Church of the First Bone that is written in every. Where. Are you standing? Where is your congregations standing? Where is your lamp stand That that's what we're talking the sighs of beauty, not the number of people who come. Tante it to be about stature. Stature. Ten people can shake a city ten people, but a million people may just be with another figle I have and who knows that song? The commoner of your Oh standing on the other you shoe. Oh two yeah, h G. I be long you know y of the allway? I understandy. I'm not coming back. I'll talk to y'all my yes, standy, I. S two your show. Two years shoot, I belong. To the comedy of you, my young standy. Unto batherland of you, my young Sandy on the. Autorrodiskaas please on the keyboard, give me follow. At radahasa. Here rumba do sabrahata qui labars. Mandaka oh rap m h oh sun one hunderstand. Only road So. With one. We're part of a mystical organism. We are not at links. We are working on earth as ambassadors. Our root is in the spirit. That's why not think I'll shake you. You are immortal boss and absence from the body's presence with the Lord, we don't die. We translate because our what our reality is locked in another dimension. We need to know who we are. Sit down, Let me not bad. Let's let's just read Bible's Bible studies with Bible studies. But day wants me to. Oh, rubber has a telever reactor cause the arts ready. The door is number eight. Why do we need to study the church? Because we all have a ministry, and the ministry only makes sense if it is in alignment with the Church. Efficients four, eleven, and twelve. We read already gave. Some to be apostles, some to be profets, some to be evangelist, some to be pastors and teachers. So every five foot minister must be in alignment with the Church for his ministry to be accurate. And then every believer must be discipled accurately by the Church. It's say, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry. If you are discipled wrongly, your ministry will be wrong. There's no way you can get it right. This is why we must understand the purpose of the Church. The essence of the church, the meaning of the Church. This is why we study it. Number nine, Error in the church results in error in life. This is where your ideology. Is formed about God, about life, about meaning, both in time and in eternity. So you must understand what the church represents so that you can be able to feed out what comes out of the church and know if it is accurate with God's purpose. This is why you must understand the church. This is why we started the church. If we don't know what the church represents, anything that comes in will adopt it and accepted. You see, our world is becoming the church is becoming like the world today because many don't know what the church is. So we pick things from the Goddess and we bring them here. Worship has become like a gig. So if they're dancing in church, they're singing in church. You can't tell the difference between the church and the club. Modesty has been swallowed up because now we are elegant people. So people dress naked to church so long as they can give there's no problem with it. If we know what the church is, when any fore ing thing coming, we will identify it on the spot. In June. Chapter one, from verse one to two. Jude was telling us how they tendad with strangers who. Came into the church. Jude, he said, Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ. I brought out James to them that are sanctified by God the Father, to them that are sanctified. I am preserved in Jesus Christ and Cord. We are separated and not part of the world. It's not the civilization of the world that defines who we are. No, we were called here to change a dying world. It's a messy On to you and peace and love be butotiflied vers three is my emphasis. Beloved, he said, when I gave all diligence to write onto you of the common servation, it was needful for me to write onto you and to exhort you that you should arnestly contend for the faith. It seems safe for faith for defaith. And I'm going to talk about this when you speak about defaith. This is the heritage of the church. This is what Luke was speaking about in Look chapter one from Wes three, from the one from verse one to three, when he was talking about the things most surely believed among us it's a contend endlessly for the faith. Go back to Jude. I will come to look. Verse four. Is there for there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old or damned to this condemnation on godly man, turning the grace of God into lassiviousness, denying the only Lord and Jesus Christ, so lassivious men. Verse five he said, I will there what put you in remembrance? Though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed. Not. So it's reminding them there's a sanctity about the church. And if we're violated the judgment you read the Book of Revelations to and three. It's one of the things we deal with you as the cardinal problems of church. You say that we come quickly and we'll remove your limpstand. Most of our gardlings today are social gathering. There are stop bearing in the spirit. Anything we do to feel the auditorium, we will do it. Now. They say we want to get the youth. We want to get the youth. So what do the youths want? We study what youths want and we import it into church. No, that's not churge. The goal is not to bring them, is to conquer the world. So it doesn't matter. We have ten youths, set them on fire and send them into the world. Don't import the ways of the world into church. To bring youth. You have not brought them into the church. You have only brought the world into church. You have corrupt the system. And because people under pressure to prove that they are subsiding, so now will come to church just to celebrate. And when we are celebrating, anything that makes us happy is allowed. We are in our father's presence. No honor for worship. Worship is going on. People are doing selfish the same God that Ezeki has put before I'm fired like a dead man. That's the presence. If you need the video weight, there's another bos said, until I come. There's a way to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the ground and pillar truth. There's an odd daily way. If you need video weight, there's somebody that's been put somewhere. Not to distract the worship, to do the video get it later. How many how many. Worship did you see like that in the Bible, he's saying the chat In the fourth month, on the fifth day, Ahi Ezekie, I was among the captains by the river. Kaba, and I saw visions of God. The moment is saw look him. He fell like a dead man. When John was carrying to heaven and he saw worship, he said, the twenty and four elders, they cut their crowns, the fellow on their faces. And they cry, Holy, Holy is the Lord. It's the same God. We are worshiping now like a clode. When you talk, they say, you know, music has many genres. Want your music's in music. We're not talking music, We're talking worship. We're not musicians. This is not Juliet. It's not a music school. It is a grand of worship. That we worship through music does not mean what music is worshiped. So don't tell me about genres or music. Do you have more genres? That didn't? Just say? Heaven? Is this how they waship? The Bible said when the temple was commission and the priests blow their trumpets, said the glory fair. And people were slaved in the presence of God. You why you said that? They say, you know, hey, we are to be like people go and read God's idea of a garment. When they made garments for priests, it said, it's for beauty and for glory. How come you cut off glory and your own dress? It's all about beauty. Church have become a hooking crown. Who cop and we can't that. Many people who are doing hoho cop and we say we are in charge. Most of the programs we call youth program. It's not a youth program, it's a hoo cop program. You can use music to tantalize yourself when that meeting is over. There are many boyfriends and girl friends that begin from there that results in many adulteres, many moralities. I'm gonna enter the message, so let's let's take it my body in two over take the Bible. Study all right? Number ten? Why do we study the church. Because the future eternity, we have no meaning outside church. At the end of time, the civilization of God you will discover is actually the church revelations of nineteen verse seven say, let us rejoice and be glad, for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. He said, there was a voice, the word and the bride say come. They say harmony. At the end of time, we are the head and the body. We truly be united experientially. So the civilizations of eternity is actually the Church. So if you don't know the church, you don't know where you are going to. The Church is our destination. Brow it to God. This is why we study the church. This is why we must understand the doctrine of the church. Most of what we are doing now, we'll be shocked that it's not charge. Face said, our walk will be tried by fire, and he said many walks will be bunt off like chaff. So we want to look at the patterns, the ordinances, they order, this structure that God has put in place to define what the church is. Glory to go. Do you think we should stop here? Meditat on, rest, meditate on what we have heard, because sometimes when I teach these things, I'm careful not to give too much information that we can't. Process too much. Okay, let's pray for one minute, Just pray, pray tongues, let it entire spirit said today. If you know this thing we are doing today, if real singers come here, they won't be touched. How many places have you had in recent time. Now somebody say I'm a smoker. Oh, I'm a murderer, I'm a harlot. I had the message and I had an encounter. Do you see here those testimonies the church that should be the light of the world. If the government says today, let's bring all the and robbers into your church for three months, happus by the time three months is doing. If we are not careful, the number will increase because we only testeddy in number. In number. We are the biggest church in town, and we think the idea of big is number. Now I'm not against number. It means many souls have been influenced. But if you don't translated to discipleship and stature, we are playing of our armstand will be removed. This is why if you study, study most of what we do today, he doesn't outlive the general of us here. No matter how they try their create structures to preserve it. The moment there go it dies. Because it's either built on excitement to gather people, or on miracles to appay to people's appetite, or transactional gospel to give people possible. And because the man is anointed and called God will remain with him until he dies. If we put structure here, my. Uncle is a board of trustee, my wife, my son. If he goes the thing, we collapse. It doesn't mean the standard of heavel. But go back churches three and see the churches that we were there one thousand years, two thousand years. No relative is in the board. No relative, it's not on there too. And I'm not saying anything wrong. If God costs your song, he can't take over. But no relative is there. For church is there one thousand years before the church gets carrot. Sometimes it took five hundred years and God to start another move. But at least they were able to sustain some of the things God did for hundreds of years. Our own is max forty years. We need to come back and started this subject. And because we do know what we are doing is not accurate. That's why we are looking for human structures to trap and preserve it. May I not God to heaven and see that what God used me to build. Is bringing reproach to his name. This is holy moment when God walks in honors every happiness. Give him EC's holy moment. Where every guess he's on the lion and the land. EC's Holy movement. When God was seen, every guess the lie. When the blue why the doc. Tell me what you say? Oh, when the gloor recon. There'll be no hars to see. Oh when the bloor recmes tell me no how to see. Oh when the door recame, tell me no loss to say. When the door recall tell me no house to see it. Oh. When you hear this like this, don't start nothing and becounting churches in your head that you think are wrong. One case is even more than more perilous. You know why. Some of the churches are pointing in your head. At least they've been there for forty years. Some of us we started two years ago. We're already gotting it wrong. So the hope of even being around for forty. Years, that in itself will take message. At least some of these churches, they can say cop or early money prayer and times us with goda, w who's that tire yesterday? People can't pray after some of those churches. People are just having God from their hearts. Here we who just started. People can't serve onto your pad. Some of those churches. The beat to evangelism, people go out to wind saws. We who are just started our generation. We can't given winsaws. So before you said yeah, yeah you are, you are the only ones saying the truth. You don't you deceive yourself. This is God talking to the church so that everyone of us would take heat. Oh, sit down, Let's do some some beat, some study. Let's do some study. If it becomes too much of bodies, we can't teach again. But it's a body. It's the body. So let's do a few things. I've just touched five things quickly as the way of introducing the subject. Number one is the origin of the church. The church is not man's idea or invention. The church is God's idea, God's strategy, and God's program. The church is what God's idea, God's strategy, and God's program idea because God better did strategy, because it's God's system of inventing the air through heaven, and program because it's God's structure of propagating this agenda on the pace of the earth. So this is what the church is. Matthew sixteen. That's eighteen. I don't want to go to theological to talk to you about the church in the wilderness. I just want to deal with the organic aspect of what we are doing. But again, when we start school of ministry, Doctor Divine, we give us the theological layers. Glory to God. And I say, onto thee thou art Peter, upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus gothered his disciples and was asking them, who do men say, ay, the son of man i Am say? Some say you are Jeremiah's. Your message is as hash and as aggressive as Jeremias. Some say you are liars. You will powers and miracles the same way Elijah did. Some say you are joined the Baptist. You came back from the dead, that's why you are sources of the natural man. And I say, who do you say, Ah, the son of man i Am. And Peter said, you are the Christ, the son of the Living God. And he said, flesh and blood has not relat this to you. And he said, thou art Petros, upon this Petra, and we build my church. You are, Peter. I've named you the rock. But upon this revelation, which is the most solid foundation, the revelation of Me as Christ. The Son of the Living God. And we build my church. So the church we're talking about here, it is not appossible. Mike's church is the Church of Jesus Christ. So anything I say, you don't need to have it by us about the nomination. Talking church of Jesus. Upon this revelation, I will build my church. And it said the gets of hell shall not prevail against it. So it was his idea, it was his strategy, and it was his program. Glory to God. Now, if you study this subject carefully, you are going to discover three things. Number one that the church is built on Christ. It's not built on a man. It's not built on a gift. It's not built on an idea. Upon takes revelation, I will build my church. So it is not a church except as the foundation is Jesus. If your come any we are aware the emphasis is not Jesus. Something is already wrong. And if the foundation be destroyed, what would the right ChEls do? No matter how spiritually looks. If you come to a place and the major emphasis is miracles, the major emphasis is breakthrough, the major emphasis is. Honor on Papa or prophet or apostle, something has gone wrong. Meanwhile, these are the things we want to because we come to church for transaction. So if there's no miracle, we don't go. If your say miracles is everywhere? Is fact why God intervenes and blackest us because it's a father. You must understand that if it's church you are coming to. The foundation must be Jesus. So if you're in a place and you have not known Jesus after one year, two years, you are the one who knows where you are. Because if it is church, if you come, you will encounter Jesus. Because it is built on Christ. Upon this revelation number two, there would be spirit life. It's not philosophy, it's not human ideology. Flesh and blood has not repeat this to you. So if it is charged, there must be the organic spirit life and spirit interaction. If you come to a place and everything is about strategy, human ideology, human intelligence, something is wrong. I'm trying to I'm talking origin here. This is what I'm saying. The things I'm saying, see why it's important for us to honor people, to receive people were and all of those. This is not a place wrong by human intelligence. It's not flesh and blood, it's spirit. There's any discreet for projecting scripture, there is a sy this is not what we are about. When you are here after why you. Must touch the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. Must begin to influence your life. Otherwise this is. Not the one Jesus better. And then number three, it most constantly advance God's kingdom and disarm the power of the enemy. The gift of Her shall not prevail against it. So when we talk the origin of the child, these are three cardinal things. Flesh and blood has not reveal this, So it's a spirit reality. Upon this revelation. It is built on Christ. The great of Her shall not prevail. Is constantly advancing in mission and disarming. The power of the devil. If the devil cannot be stopped, then something is wrong. And if the kingdom of God is not advanced, not just by pastor, but everyone who says it's a member, then. You have not encountered the church that Jesus better. So what's the origin. Christ centered, spirit powered, mission oriented? If you find that civilization, you are dealing with the church. This is how Jesus healed the church. Now what's the identity of the church? Since that time is going to warm. Summarizing when we deal with the identity of the church. We define the church and then we place it in perspective. The word church, if you study it, the etymology of the word church is from two Greek words eck and calio. Ek means out of and calio means to call. So usually the church is referred to as called out ones. We are people called out, we are separated from, we are summoned. That's why when you become part of the church, the world can no longer be your home. You can't say you are in church and you see, you see have a place in the world. No, you are not in charge. The very word itself speaks separation, called out ones ech calios, and it is trans It is called eclesia card out one. Now there's another root word for church that is not commonly used. It is called chyrie a con and what that word means is belonging to the Lord. So we are not just called out ones. We are called out to belong to the Lord. So when you are defining the church, you are defining the essence of the church. You are dealing with a people that are called out to belong to the Lord. So it is ecclesia and Chyrieer con. That makes the holistic definition of the church. This is why Jesus said in Matthew sixteen eighteen that we. Just read I we build my church. You see that he personalizes I'm not building a church. I'm building my church. I'm calling out to belong to me. It's not enough to be called out. We are called out to belong to Jesus. On account of this, the church is not the building. The building is a product of the civilization of the age. The church meets in a building as they can meet anywhere s But the church is in the building. Now because we are in the building, there are things we can trap in the building. But the church is not the building. The church are the called out ones that belong to Jesus. This must become your primary ideology. So if we decide to move from this tent and gather under the tree where we are. Is the church. We are the church. That's why the building can be demolished. Church continues. The building has a lifespan. Church is e tanner and this is why our glory is not the building. Like I said already, the building can be beautiful and comfortable. We are not animals. But what we are doing here is beyond the building. We are a called out people and we belong to Jesus. On the strength of this, we attempt to define the different categuees of the church, because when you started the card out people, they can be categorized and there are three broad categories where you are dealing with these card up people who belong to God. Number one, we deal with the church. We define the church. This is giving perspective now to the cord up people. And the first perspective is looking at the church as an organism. And when we say organism we mean living entities. It's for that buttresses the argument that the building is not the church, but the church meets in the building. The church is a living entity. The building is not living. So these card out people are first of all defined from the perspective of their life. We are a living organism, We are a living unit. We are a living system. First Corinthian twelve twenty seven. I read it already. They say you are the body of Christ. Is talking to the church. You are the body of Christ, and men baths in particular. So we are living, We are alive, we have the life of God. We are sensitive to the realm of God. We are not disconnected from the transmissions of Zion. We are alive. When we stop. Interacting organically with God, then we are losing our essence as church. We are a living of dism. In Ephesians one twenty three, he calls us his body. We are the body of Christ. Read from verse twenty two. Was talking about Jesus. He said he had put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of Him that feels all things. The building is not the part of the body of Christ. We are we who have the life of God. So we have the life of God. But beyond being the life of God, we are called out. This is why you can't sit in the ballow. You are drinking alcohol. You say it doesn't matter, what do you mean. No, you are not just alive. You are a church. You are called out to belong to Jesus. You no longer belong there, so your identity defected. If you still have a place in the world, it means you are not defining yourself from the church. Now when you study it a bit fun. The church as a living organism there are four layers to that reality. Number one, we are his body, and what that. Means is that we are alive and a quoted already Ephicians one twenty three. Number two, we are His pride. That means there is a love relationship between us and Jesus. Number three, we are his temple. He dwells in us. That means we are plain hosts to him. And then number four, we are the household of God. That means we are connected. So when we refer to the church as alive, you can find four aspects to our living. Number one as his body Efficients one twenty three, meaning we are organic members. What is in him flows into us. If you're consider the church as a living augnisy. Number two, we are His bride. That means there is a living love relationship between us and Jesus Christ Christians. Five twenty five. The way the housband is the wife is to the hosband, so is the Church to Christ. So we are the bride of Christ. He loves us and we are expected to submit to him. Is the proof that we are alive, is the proof that we are living. If we don't submit to him, it means we don't know. We are living organism. So when you find somebody who is a member of the church struggling to submit and obey the word of God, he doesn't recognize that as part of the church, he is the bride because as a living augism, he doesn't just have life. He is the bride of Christ. So he submits to Christ, and Christ loves him. This is what you tell Many people what God is saying, what the Bible is saying. They have a witness, but they don't do it. They don't know that they are alive, and as alive, they are His pride. And the proof of being the bride is submission to him. Number three is that we are his temple. He twells in us. You know when when and a host to an organism, when that host dies, the organism. Can't live there anymore. So as a temple, we have to be alive because we're host Him. So you must understand that you are the body. You are the host of Jesus. This is why you can't commit your body to anything. If you see fine people who commit their bodies to all kinds of things, they don't know that, as a living organism they are the host of Jesus. The Bible said in a fish in First Corinthians six seventeen to twenty. If you read it, he said, him that is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him, and none went further. It's the fleetphunication. This is the proof that you are alive and that your body is the temple of God. You are his host. So you can't say it's my body, I will do what I want. No, it's not. You can't. You are his host. The moment you recognize that you are alive as a charge, you recognize that your body is not your own. Your body is his house. You can't use it for whatever you want. It's the fleet funication. Go back. Every scene that a man does is without the body. But he that committed funication seen it against his own body. Verse nineteen. He said, what, no, year not that your body is the temple of the Holy ghost, which is in you, which you have of God. And you are not your own. You see people want to commit suicide. It's my life. Who told you? Where did you read it? Verse twenty? Except for you are bought with the price. Glorify God in your body and in your stated, which are God's. So when we said the church is a living opleasing. Number one, it's because we are his body. His life is shared with us. Number two, we are his bride. There's a love relationship between us and Jesus, so we submit to him. Number three. We are his temple. We are the hosts that carry him. Our bodies must remain sanctified. We can't touch our body to anything we feel like touching, because our body is not our own. He induels us, and then when we say we are a living opleasing, he also. Means we are the household of God. We are one family with him. Efficients too. Nineteen. And if we are one family with him, it means we are interconnected. That means the person sitting next to me cannot be my enemy. The person sitting next to me cannot be somebody I keep mindies with. It's like slapping myself my hand, beating my leg. We are intact connected. We are beyond brothers and sisters. We are members of one body, so we are live. That's what it means. Now, dear boy, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. We are now one family. I can look at you and know you are my sister, and this relationship is stronger than biological relationship because biological relationship survives on blood. Church relationship is speeded, is beyond time. When your brother, your sister, your father, your mother dies, that relationship is severed. But in church we are family on earth and in heaven. That's why it's called the General Assembly of the Church of the Firstborn. That is written in heaven. So my connection with you is eitana. Even if we get to heaven today, we are still one body. There's no time that would this was see it. So when we come into charge, the first understanding is that we are called out. We belong to Jesus, and we are alive. And because we are alive, his life is in us. This is why here we keep declaring we can't be sick. It's because it's the life that powers in the powers of us. This is why we declare that we live and not die. This is why we declare that absence from the body's presence with the law, we are alive. We are connected to Jesus, our faith is not baseless. And in that same vein we are his bride. There's a love relationship. I don't come here like I go to a habilist. That's why you can't just come to church and say give it. I'll be giving on to you. And that's all. No, that's not all there is to it. It's not they happen. You know, when you go to a shnai, you don't need to know the spirit. Bring two veggies and slatter them, Bring torchis, Bring water from Indian ocean. You put it. They give you what you are looking for. You said goodbye to the spirit. There's no relationship. This is not how it works here. Here there must be the communion. Of the spirit. He wants to hear your voice, he wants to hear your heart, he wants your presence, he wants intimacy with you. So when it becomes transactional, it loses the meaning of church. It means that church is not alive. There has to be loved, there have to be affection, there has to be submission. And then if it no longer matters what we do with our body, it means we are not alive because we don't know. We play host to him. He's a free fundication. You can't do anything you want with your body. Your body is his house. You are His hosts. So your body must be both be caud churled and pattern in a way that can host him. And then if you are alive, it means we are connected to one another. I can't claim you and I are host. Think God and me? Are you strangers? They said, we are no more strangers, We are no more foreign us. We are part of a household. So the first definition of the church is a living organism, and that living organism operates as the body of Christ. It operates as the bride of Christ. It operates as the House of Christ, and it also operates as the household of God. This is why you are church. I am church. We are church, whether as individuals or as a fellowship, we are church. But that's not where it starts. Then it goes a bit further. It becomes an institution. So the church is also an institution. As an institution, the emphasis is no longer on the life, is on order, governance, structure, and doctrine, because we are completely united as church. So there has to be an orderly way of engagement. There has to be a structured way of engagement. There has to be some form of governance and a well defined belief system or doctrine. So the church is not just a cart out people that belong to God that are alive. The church is also a cart out people that belong to God that forms God's institution on the earth. And as an institution, there is an order that defines the church. There is a belief system, a doctrine that defines the church. There is a structure that defines the church. In First Remote fifteen, Paul said, if I tarry along, he said that them mayors know how thou art test to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the charge of believing God, the pillar and the ground of the ground of truth. So the charge is the pillar and the ground of truth. There is an odd daily way to behave here. You can't come here naked and expect that we leave you like that. We will not castigate you, but won't let you remain naked. It's an oddly behavior. You can't come here talking voga words and you say there's love that we can't accommodate it. Why we don't despise you. We must change your language. There's an orderly way to behave Paul said, there's a way to behave with the young ladies with all purity. You can't be here defining young ladies. And you said, why is there nod love here? Never there's another everybody can be talking here the same time. There is governance, there's structure. So God has an agenda. But he also knows that agenda cannot be stewarded except it is systematized. So God creates an institution. I tell you here, a vision can never be immortalized unless it is institutionalized. So the church is also an institution. In fact, the Bible was speaking in chapter eighteen, verse seventeen. If a man is in error and you tell him and he refuses to hear, it's a take one or two brethren, go and talk to him. If he refuses to hear, He now went further. If there I feel negless. To hear, tell it to the church. If the ifing neregless to hear, the church is a let him be onto d as a heid and as a public cast him out. If he has no regard for the institution of the child, he say, the child have the authority to cut them out. So the church is God's institution on the face of the earth. It's a place of honor. It's a place of doctrine. There is an odderly way. All of us came with a lot of baggages. It's as we came that we are aligned. We are aligned. Some of you are sitting here now. You can't sit anywhere for ten minutes. You want to walk around. But when you come this, you know some of you. If you were at home, you would have made twenty cars within the time you are here. But you can't say hello, how are you there? No, No, that's odd. Glory to God. And the idea is to is to model the principles and the ways of Christ into your life so that as you depart, it. Becomes your way of living. That's why it's an institution. And then number three, the church is the universile body of Christ. Please not the things I'm sharing. When we deal with church as a living org Liziny, it means major emphasis is life. So don't say I belong to a church if that life is not there. You don't have anything from Jesus in you. We can't see. Anything of Jesus in you. And you are fighting that I belong to the denomination. You don't know the church. Don't claim that you are a church member when we can't see that life in you, manifested through a love relationship. That what defends you to submit to Jesus. Don't say you are the church. You are a member of the Church of Jesus when that life is not in you enough to. Trill you until you live sanctified. Don't say you are a member of the Church of Jesus when that life is not in you enough to motivate you to have a respectful spiritual relationship with another person. You are not part of the church. A denomination may give you an ID card, but you are part of the Church when the life is at work. That means the things we see in Christ, we should see in you. The power of Christ, the character of Christ we should. See in you. If that life is there, where you see a love relationship, there should be a. Connection between you and Jesus. If they are specting you, motivating you to come to God's presence, if they are comparing your ego to submit to Jesus. Don't say you belong to the church. If you belong to the church, the church is a living organization. The life must be seen in you. And don't say you belong to the church. When you don't submit to the ordin nancis, the order, the principles of Christ, that defines the institution. You want to do things the way you want, nobody can talk to me. I know. No, that's the hard don't is the ground and the pillar of truth. That's why sometimes we gather. You see professors, they are us. You see bad managers, they're in the protocol. It's a different institution. It's a different civilization. Just the same way you enter the family. A woman can be the governor of the state. Boy, if it comes to her house, her husband is ahead. If family we walk, the institution must be kept. You can't be governor in your home. In your home, your husband is your head. Otherwise it can no longer be home, the home with gatter. So that is the institution. And as we go, Father will look at the divers or the Nazis that defines this institution. This is what people don't want to hear. That's what the Bible commanded the elders to teach the younger ones. The elderly woman to women to teach. The younger women. He said, teach your wife, your daughters to love their husbands and being subjection. So this generation of peacocks where you come to, where you come to toe, will tell you are part of a kingdom. And in this kingdom you love your husband through submission. My husband. That's secondary school graduates. I have a pH d. So p d is in the circular world, in family, church oriented. And then the term the young man. You love your wife as Christ loved the church and died for him for for her. So you you, you will, you will consider your wife before you. You will sacrifice for your wife. You can be selfish and surviving this institution. So all these men that are egoistic, proud, and the thing the world begins. And end with them. He said, no, your wife comes best, and you leave to not show her on till she discovers her identity and God. That means if you got up with your wife, for instance, what Jesus assume is that she doesn't know. He is. You are supposed to wash her and cleanse her by the word of God. The war does the matter, So you use the word to make her become like the pride of Christ. So what you now do is that you're a swallow. I didn't know these things, so I started this God, you're a swallow your ego and call her sit down and explain if apology is what will help her come down. Well, I'm sorry about what happened. I guess we misunderstood me. But this is I should be this, I should be this. If she doesn't understand it, you will do it until you understand it. Now, some some women are dangerous women. Why are you doing? Then? Now say that means any time I wreck this man becomes reasonable, she. Has found her weapon. So anytime there's anything chewing right, chewing up your swallow ego, untidy you no ego to swallow what you now discovery? Is that why you are happy? How you two are being heaped? And if talk is not working, you will not wake up in the night and be praying for your wife for three hours. Father, he had to have sense help. If it's not short, when. Your wife talk talk, talk, you will look aside and slap her. She wants that's who you were, But now this is who you are. It's ordinance, ordnance, it's ordinance, it's truck. That is institution. There are odd dnancis. So there is the church as an organizin powered by life. There's a church as an institution powered by all denancis so that order can be factored, and on the all that is factored, the glory can rest. The glory of God does not rest because people are praying. The glory of God rests when order is attend build according to the pattern that was refeat on the mound, the moment to do it, or that comes when everything was. Set in order. As the prince began to worship, the glory descended. So you can't find the full weight of God until the church match chores as an institution when you see order or die in worship, not just wonder. Somebody just just come out of a night club and things we's seen night club. They carried microphone. Everybody, jot up, where are you from? See there is it's not jump up, jump pop. Mean it's chidish. But the issue is that why didn't you sense what the Holy Ghost was doing? Because that moment, why it came up, I said, jump jump job. The Holy Ghost was touching the hands of people. The move of the spirit was transformation and takoro, why didn't you pick it to a line? It means you don't know the order. Something is wrong with your alignment and because something is wrong, you cannot have their place in the church. There is order, there's order. There are times when someone in this prayer, God. Is still moving. I'm the person come and say yes Amen, And let's say we are taking announcement. Okay, Oh God, Oh God, where are you from? Through the annoucement we get out of there. The monarchy is still moving the order. So there is order burds on alignment in the spirit, and. There's order based on alignment with one another. And then number four, number three, the church is a universal body. That means it doesn't matter the name of the denomination. The name of the denomination just re fee us the prophetic assignment that is given to that member of the church. It doesn't mean we are different. We are one. The hand is uniquely built because of the row place the leg is uniquely built. It doesn't mean the hand is accurate and the leg is wrong. Wherever the left finds itself is playing a role for the body. Wherever they hand finds itself explaining a role for the body. So whether you are called. Living faith or deeper life, or redeemed or dona means, it doesn't matter. It means the prophetic assignment is fat oriented. It means the prophetic assignment is intimacy and transformation oriented. So if there is the living fair, it means it's faith oriented people who can model the audacity of the spirit. If you say deeper life, you mean people who are intimate to be God and are transformed to reveal the life of Christ. You said to Namis, you are talking power manifestation of the power of God to shut down the oppression of darkness so that God can happen agenda on the face of the earth. So why do we do all things that are unique areas were homes are exhorted. If you say method is it means you're talking about the systematic ordering of churche operation. It doesn't mean we are different. We are one. The eye does not look like the ear, neither does the ear look like the leg. But it's all one body. If you're now said here, it's not important. See how tiny it is? Why is this o comes? Can't you let? Can't you get it? Cut it off? You will see how cutter you will become. Because every sound. That's why you know that even the shape is designed to arrest air and to channel it, so that you know God. They say, the leg is big, I carry the body everywhere. You don't know how useless leg will be. There's no brain. Universa. The Church is universal, So don't be quick to condemn other people, to write them off. Why all of us have been transformed into that chest pride. All of us are needed in order to do what God is doing. So it doesn't my type is Anglican or Catholic. If you write anyone off, you don't know what you're saying. God brought them at different times, allowed them in different territories so that the corporate and universal agenda of God can find expression. So when we call the church universa, what are we saying. We're talking about the global invincible spiritual union of all believers across all times. The global invincible spiritual union of all believers across all times, that is past, present, and future. That's why the Bible said in Hebrews eleven, you're read verse twenty three. He said, where we have come to the general. Assembly of the Church of the Firstborn, that is within in heaven. So those members of the church when it started as still part of the universal body, and those who will be members when Jesus come, are still part of the universal body, and then the global body. Whether you're in Russia or Ukraine, or you are in Iran, or you are in America, you're in Nigeria, you are exactly, It doesn't matter. We are spiritually connected as one family. This is who we are. So the church in Russia is one with the Church in Ukraine, even though the government is at war. Do you follow if you study after chapter nine, I'm rounding up verse one five. Saw received letter from the Pharisees, and I wish I had time to talk about the Church in the wilderness. Now they didn't recognize Jesus. They already in the falling Street and poor received letters from. This son Hendry. So now go and attack their believers, the New Testament Church that was in Damascus. And Jesus shows up and said, so, so, why are you persecuting me? It is the Church in the wilderness, the New Testament Church, the Church in Jerusalem, the Church and the. That's nothing like that. Universally, we are connected as one family. Jesus sees all of us as this body. We are the general assembly of the Church of the Firstborn. Efficients four to fifteen cause us the Church on Earth and the Church in Heaven efficients three fifteen. The one on Earth, the one in Heaven, and universally we are all one. That's what you actually called the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church is different from the Catholic Church. When we speak about the universal Body of Christ, we are talking about the Catholic Church, the global Church, and not just the global Church, the Church of all age. Past, present, future. That's the Todd definition of the church. You need to understand it. If you know it, you will not allow denominational differences make you pitch your tent against your brother that is operating as another part. Of the same body. Glory to God very quickly. Less random headship, because when I come next, I'm going to go into governance, which is the leadership structure of the church. The church has three basic leadership structures. Number one is the head You know, because we are also universal, it. Is deepficult to synchronize. Even in the deaths of the Apostle, there were churches that the only goes used Peter to pioneer. There were churches that the only goes used to pioneer at the time when there were only the twelve persons, they had the Jerusalem Council where they could meet. But the point came the Gospels, prays and a lot began to happen. The manay to coordinate to when Paul and Bannabash brought report from the Gentile Child to the Jerusalem Council, and they gave them prescription of what to do. But the church keep stick kept growing. So it's important to understand the leadership structure of the church so. That you can understand the governance. And so when you are dealing with the leadership structure of the church, there is the universal leadership, and the universal leadership is the head which is Christ. So whether as an uglisim, as an institution anywhere, or the universal body, Jesus is the absolute authority of the Church Colossians one eighteen. And he is the head of the body, even the Church, who is the beginning, the first bond from the dead, that in. All things he might have the pre eminence. So Jesus is the universal head or absolute authority of the Church. This is why ever pre church preware uses. The Scripture as authority, because Jesus is our head. Now because their persons knew that a time we come when the child to be so fragmented because of the universal nature. They left for us established truth of scripture, and they carded their Pursu's creed. So when you studied the Bible, you're gonna discover a pre church believe in it. But those things modeled the foundation of the world and the reality of Christ. This is what Luke was talking about in Luke Chapter one, verse one to three. Except in as much as many look one verse one to three, have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are emo surely believed among us, it said, even as they delivered them onto us, which from the beginning where eyewitnesses and meanings parts of the world. Is that it seems good to me, also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write onto de in order most excellent Theophidos. Now, why is this important? Because when we said Jesus is the head of the child, some people are wondering, how do we now receive order? Instruction directed from Jesus is through the world. And the things we get from Jesus are not the dog mass of our church. It's what their persons called the things most surely believed. What are those things? This is what the whole Synoptic Gospels are about. That there's only one God, that this God operates in three persons, the Father, the soul, and the Spirit, and that Jesus is the only begotten son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of a virgin, that while they lived on earth a seinless life, he died for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day he rose from the dead to give us life. He has sented into heaven and enthroned as Lord and Christ. And on the strength of that he released the Spirit to bet the church. If you believe this truth about God and about Christ, then you have come on that the authority of Jesus Christ. Because if you believe in one God, it means you are calling Jesus God. If you believe in him a son of God, it means you are referring to him as the one the Father sent to bring salvation to the Word glory to God. If you believe it died, buried, was rose from the dead, it means you believe that you are born into the Church. And if you believe in him to have been enthroned, it means you have the authority to represent him. This is why we call Jesus the head of the Church, the authority of the Church, because it is only in Christ that we can be one. Then after that authority, Jesus himself now establish other. Authorities, which is what we call the overseers. He created offices and Odain, setting men to need to be in them as overseers. And the goal is continuity and discipleshing ephicients. For versy level is said to some, he gave to be apostles, to some, he gave to be prophets. To some, he gave to be evangelists, to some, he gave to be pastors, to some he gave to be teachers. He said number one, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the biddistry. So there would be no continuity of the church if these offices are not there, because Jesus is not here in person. So he gave and not that layer of authority, so that the charge can be built up and continue in advancing the kingdom. And then he said for the defining discipleship, building and maturing of the body. So Jesus is the head. And then he has three putrees through which he exercises is governance and government, which. Is what the overseers or what we call the five food offices. Are you following, So anywhere you see a church, you must find one person. You must find somebody who are pressed in one of the offices. There must be an apostle, There must be a prophet, There must be an evangelist, the must be a pastor, there must be a teacher. Because if that office is not there, Jesus cannot bring administration. Jesus cannot bring order. Jesus cannot bring governance. Jesus cannot bring maturity. Jesus cannot advance his agenda. So he himself created those offices. In fact efficients to twenty. You see the way Paul puts it. Officials and the church now are built upon the foundation of their. Postles and prophet. Jesus be in the corner stone. Who are these prophets is the Old Testament prophets. They were the ones who prophesteside the coming of the Messiah, and that the New Testament are possus. They are the ones who brought the revelation of the Messiah, the Christ. So Paul said, those who prophesied is coming. They created the way for him to come. That's why when they asked Jesus, he said what the John says, and then they are Pursus were the ones who reveed him who they through revelation explain who he was as son of God, the one who died. What was seing the implication of his death. So it is this work that now builds the church and brings the church to continuity. So anywhere these offices are present, they are able to present Christ. And if they pray, then Christ and people believe in Christ. Church is born. And if Church is born, they remain there expounding on who Christ is so that people are developed. Church continues. So the second authority is the Five Food. If the apostles profit, evangelist persons and teacher sees, then there will be no perfecting of the stains for the work of the ministry. There will be no defined of the body of Christ. And then the third layer of authority, it's what we refer to as ordained ministers. Because everywhere the Five Food comes and Jesus begins to bet and build the church, there will be need for internal structure and order. So if you study acts of the apostles, This is why I'm stopping no more temptation. If you study Acts of the Apostles, chapter six, from verse one to three, you're going to find this. The Bible said, and in those days when the number of the disciples buttiply, there arose murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrew because their wives were neglected in the deadly ministration sharing no food. Does it not shock you that in Eiden it was food, Here too is food? May not be food again? Please please efect. Then the twelve called the multitude of the people and said, it is not reason that we should leave the world of God and safe tables verse three. We are for brethren. Look here out among you seven men of honest report, full of the holy Goths and wisdom, whom they have when they appoint over the business. So this one's are dickens the dark on it. But it's not just dickens. If you study titles chapter one, verse five, you're gonna see that beyond dickens all that subordinate ministers are also ordained in. The church for administration. Except for this cause, I left the in crete that down shoot are set in order. The things that are lacking and ordain. Elders in every city, as I have appointed thee in Festimoy three, verse one. He said to Timothy this is the truth, saying, if any man desires the office of a bishop, it desires a good walk ver true. A bishop then must be a non gave criteria, blameless husband, no one, white, vigilant, sober, good behavior. When you find this. Kind of person, you can ordain him so that you can bring order, governance, discipleship on the behalf of the five food. So what's the authority of the church. Jesus is the universal head, and Jesus expresses his leadership through the world and the spirit. Because we may not have any assembly that unite the whole church together, but it doesn't mean we are scattered, because they heard his Christ and he establishes his head shift through the ward and through the speirit. Then he has the prerogative toward day the five fold apostles, prophets, evangelist parsons, and teachers tourgoning your village, Jesus can raise an apostle there. And when he raised that person, and I will show you our talk about the offices, the Fivefold offices. If somebody is called there are Marcus. If he raises them and starts an expression of the church there, then it becomes necessary as the church grows, that we den other structures are established so that they can be order, governance, and administration. So you see, when it started, it looked like, oh, it was the twelve Disciples, and there too thought they were the only ones. They started in Jerusalem. On tie he exploded beyond Jerusalem. It became global. They couldn't contain it the same Jesus now or then Paul, or then Barnabas, and began to ortain other pursues. That was when it dawned on them that, oh, we are not the only apostles. When Paul came, Paul said, when they saw the grace of God, they saw the signature, you are one of us, because this thing is by grace, and they gave him a hand of friendship and sent him. Okay, you go to the Gentiles. And when Paul went, Paul began to establish the same structure that they established. They ordained Dickens to manage the churches. Poor came and began to leave people as well, Timui titles so that they can be ordered. This is why today you find different denominations, not because. They are wrong. They are different apostles in different errors. Jesus ordain them. And when Jesus ordained them, and as they began to spread, there was need for continuous continuity and discipushing began to ordain other people who had received it first. Then the second multitube as two the things you've received from me before, many witnesses the tame commit to faithful men. Who shall be able to teach others. So they would then others who were operating on that their culture, the truth, the governing system that God gave them, so that there is quality control across every sphere where. The influence of the Truch spreaders. So if you find yourself anywhere in any denomination, you must understand the structure of leadership. Whoever so then to oversee you, you submit to them. They submit today five Ford ministers that God raised to start that operation, and. They submit to Jesus through the world and. The spirit, and then the church structureice established. This is how the Church continues to spread across the nations of the world. In Hebrews eleven thirteen, and say, obey them that have ruled over you, and submit yourself. To them for the watch over your soul. They say, when they give account of you, so that they do it with joy, for it is profitab want you. When we begin to ap plad like this we know the church. Most of us don't know the church as a living up, as an institution, or as a universal body. Some of us do, but we don't submit to the authority of the church. How can they say this, My boy is my pastor. What does he know? Then? Now say, okay, they put an old man. This old man is outdated. Now does he know what's happening? Now you have a problem. Aligne, aligne, aligne, so that you can function as a member of the church. Bow your hands, let's worship him. I choose the way, Oh. The low the way. He's the way. You lose the way. I choose the way. All use. Choose the way. Choose a. Father, thank you for what we have received. Prayer, and ask that you will cause your spirit to breed upon it, cause them to become life in our spirits opena, understanding to interact with them from the depths they came from, and caused them to become uses, tools and instruments to which to transform us. And bring us internal empowerment. Take all the glory in Jesus' mighty name. Amen, give the Lord a big hand.