Here is a simple chart to compare Moses and Jesus. I’m sure there are more to find.
“I will Build My Church” – What Jesus taught about the Church
Mt. 16:18
By Kevin W. Earls
We talk much today about restoring the New Testament Church. Why do we use this expression and why should we be interested in restoring the NT Church? Because the Church when the New Testament was being written (30 A.D. to 100 A.D.) was as near to being the perfect church as the world has ever seen. It was not actually a perfect church; read the New Testament and you will find many imperfections. But it was a near perfect church: Why? The obvious; the church was so close in time to days of the Master that His Spirit Pattern that was received from Him dominated the atmosphere and activities of that Church. Think of a stream or river; the farther back to the source you get, the purer the water is, while farther downstream, it can become more polluted.
This is our constant task: seeking to get back to the spirit and pattern of the original Church.
The very early Church: As it was getting under way Jesus wrote letters to seven churches. They are found in Revelation chapters two and three.
Ephesus: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” Re. 2:4
Smyrna: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.”
Pergamos: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel . . . , you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” 2:14-15
Thyatira: “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” 2:20
Sardis: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” 3:1-2
Philadelphia: “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept my word and have not denied My name.” 3:8
Laodicea: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” 3:15-16
Even when wrong things were creeping in as time went on things got worse; the stream became more polluted. We must constantly guard against these things. We must repent and turn back: Constantly seeking the spirit and pattern of the early Church.
Let us go back to the originator and founder of the church and see what He has to say about the Church. Mt. 16:18: “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.”
My Church: The Church is Christ’s because God gave Him all authority over the church. Ephes. 1:20-22. “He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come, and He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.”
He is the Head: Where are the headquarters for your church? “In Heaven.” There is no earthly head of Christ’s church. It is presumptuous for any man to claim to be the head of the church whether he be pope, bishop or other.
The Church is Christ’s because He bought it with His own precious blood; He paid for it. Ephes. 5:25: “Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her . . ., 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.”
Acts 20:28: Elders at Ephesus – “shepherd the church of Christ which He purchased with His own blood.”
How was He going to build this Church?
How did He build the Church? (accomplished fact).
First:
He laid a foundation. This He accomplished by His own life, ministry and teaching because His life, ministry, teaching established the one great fact or Foundation Stone upon which the church is built.
What is that great fact or foundation stone?
His identity as the Son of God!
“You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” “on this rock (foundation) I will build My church”
Paul was talking about building the church in 1 Cor. 3:11; “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” :10 “Let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
There are many would be modern builders who have rejected this foundation.
Identity as a builder, teaching and obeying; Mt, 7:24-27 “build on the rock not sand”
Second:
After establishing the foundation through His life and teaching the next step was to give authority to His apostles.
Mt. 16:19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (see another trans.)
This was to be under the direct guidance of a third party, The Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever; the Spirit of Truth … for he dwells with you and will be in you. :26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” 15:26; “the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of Me.”
He would continue to establish the foundation; which would consist of the establishment of the divine pattern for the ministry, mission, message, ordinances, worship, organization and conduct of the Church.
Jesus continued to build:
“According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” 1 Cor. 3:10
Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” Eph. 2:20,
Acts 2:42; “steadfastly in the apostles doctrine.” They helped lay the cement around Jesus’ work.
The First Apostles had a primary function that ceased when the foundation was complete. (There is still today the ministry of apostles, prophets and other giftings under the direction of the Holy Spirit.)
Third:
In building His church the next step was to establish in the church certain other offices or functions besides that of the early apostles.
How odd of Jesus to allow His church to exist for 2000 years and then suddenly discover He forgot something important to tell us.
If the foundation of the church is still being built by special “revelations” through modern day self-appointed “apostles and prophets”, then Jesus somehow “muffed the ball” in not finishing the foundation first.
Revelations through a modern self-appointed “prophet” not only alters but even nullifies much that had been established 2000 years ago. Jesus is not that kind of bungling builder.
Jude 3; “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”. Finality
Offices and functions:
Ephes. 4:8; “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive. And gave gifts to men.” … :11-13; 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.”
“And God has appointed these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues …” 1 Cor. 12:28
Fourth:
He builds HIS church by adding to that church daily those who are being saved.
Acts 2:47; “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved”.
We cannot add anyone to the Church. All we can do is bring people to Christ and He adds them to His church. He brings material, good material, then it’s added.
Those who are genuinely saved (born anew) are added to the Church. Their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
“but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
Fifth:
He builds His Church through the faithfulness of each individual member. We could do a tremendous amount to help Christ build his church by following the example of the early New Testament church in the following ways.
1. Practical Bible reading church. – “Continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine” – daily – continued intermittently – periodically – occasionally – rarely ever
Berean church: “they searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so”
2. Praying church. – “in the prayers” Jesus taught both by word and example. prayer secret of Pentecost, spiritual power, wisdom; we can have greater power in our church, pay the PRICE – does not come easy.
3. Partnering and Paying church. “fellowship” relationships with sharing; money and possessions
We are ever going to build Christ’s church as we should if we don’t take seriously Christ’s command “Give and it shall be given to you.”
4. Participating in Breaking bread. Remembering the Covenant
5. Proclaiming: Leading others to Christ. Discipleship
6. Personal involvement: Ten Things That Build.
When Jesus said he would “build” His church, the Greek work He used is “oikodomeo”, and it is translated in the New Testament as “build, built, builders, building, edified, edifies, edify, edifying, edification, and built up.” Thus, you can see that whenever you see the words translated in the King James version “edify”, etc., that it means to build or build up.
Here is a brief list of the things given in the New Testament which God tells us are necessary for us to be builders, and which will help build into our lives that which God wants and thus contribute to the building of the church. In each of the following things listed, the Greek word “oikodomeo” is used to indicate that which builds up or edifies the church. (the following quotes are taken from the NKJV).
- Faith builds: “but you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20). In contrast, doubt, fear, unbelief, etc., tear down and destroy.
- The Word of God builds: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up.” (Acts 20:32). See also Mt. 7:24-27.
- Love builds: “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies (builds up).” (1 Cor. 8:1). “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond (uniting, building factor, like mortar, which holds together) of perfection (completeness or maturity). (Col. 3:14).
- Right speech builds: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephes. 4:29). “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.” (Col. 4:6).
- Right attitudes build: “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Rom. 14:19, 15:2). See the Beatitudes of Mt. 5:3-12.
- Greater depth in Christ builds: “rooted and build up in Him and established in the faith,” (Col. 2:7). The “work of God” is to believe INTO Jesus Christ (see John 6:29, where the King James uses the word “in”, but a literal translation of the Greek word eis is “into”).
- God-ordained ministry builds: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together; grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22). “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.” (Eph. 4:11-12).
- The ministry of each member builds: “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 edifying.” (1 Cor. 14:26). “… from whom the whole the 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.” (Eph. 4:16).
- Gifts of the Spirit build: “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men … for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification … Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12).
- Spiritual sacrifices build: “… you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5). “Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb. 13:15-16)
The Road Back
An Outline of Jacob’s return to God and the Promised Land
The Road Back
Ge. 31-35
Theme of Rebirth and Renewal
1. A Decision to Make
Pushed by circumstances
“Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.
Pulled by God’s drawing
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
2. An Action to Take
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.” (Genesis 31:1–5, NKJV)
“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”” (Genesis 31:13, NKJV)
3. Resolving the past; Choosing the future
“Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.” (Genesis 31:51–52, NKJV)
4. Confirmation by God’s Angels
“So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim (two camps).” (Genesis 32:1–2, NKJV)
5. A Struggle with God
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”” (Genesis 32:24–26, NKJV)
“So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”” (Genesis 32:30, NKJV)
“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Genesis 33:4, NKJV)
6. A Return to the House of God: Bethel
“Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”” (Genesis 35:1, NKJV)
“So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.” (Genesis 35:14–15, NKJV)
7. Choose How You Live
“Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”
And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.” (Genesis 35:16–21, NKJV)
The Seven Trumpets: Introduction
The Seven Trumpets: Introduction
By J. Leland Earls; edited by Kevin W. Earls
The word tells us that “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished” (Re. 10:7). The time is hastening and the tempo of events is rapidly growing in momentum.
The trumpet was used in ancient times to sound a warning. It was also used to call God’s people together that they might receive His instructions and be ready to move on to where the Lord would show them (Nu. 10:1-9). This is now the fulfillment of this pattern. The trumpets have been sounding during this end time, bringing to pass certain events to the world scene, to signal the warning that the judgment of all things is at hand and the wind-up of this age is rapidly drawing near. Coupled with the unfolding of these events is the fact that the Lord has been moving by His Spirit in a special way to call His people together so that they might be ready for the grand climax of all things.
The beginning or initial blast of each trumpet sets in motion what is to unfold on the world scene because of its sound. What is portrayed in the scriptures as taking place under the sounding of each trumpet, does not find its complete fulfillment until all the trumpets have sounded. The sound of each trumpet initiates events and forces which carry through the entire end-time period. For example, when the second trumpet begins to blast, what was unleashed under the first trumpet is still in motion and continuing, and when the third trumpet begins to blow, that which was unleashed by the second trumpet continues its march on the pages of history. This is how it is with each trumpet, so that by the time the last or seventh trumpet begins its blast, all the previous six trumpets are still sounding and will continue to sound until a mighty crescendo is reached in the climax of all things. What is unleashed by the successive trumpets continues until the end, and each successive trumpet overlaps the blowing of the previous trumpet or trumpets.
The Lord has been showing His people what He desires for these last days in a BODY which will go forth in power to reap a great harvest to Him; a BODY which shall be anointed even as Jesus was anointed in His day to do mighty works. As this BODY fulfills its mission, it will be made ready to cross over into the promised land to receive the fullness of that which has been prepared for those who are called and chosen and faithful (Re. 17:14).
The Lord will reveal that which is about to take place on the earth at the blowing of the seventh trumpet. When this comes to pass, it will cause the final veil to be removed, and all men shall see clearly that which has been a mystery up to that moment in human history. We must fully understand what is unveiled under the seventh trumpet but cannot until we are given insight into the events which lead up to it which have their inception under the six preceding trumpets, Let’s continue and look at the revealing of the sounding of the trumpets for these last days.
First published in March of 1967 by Word of Life Fellowship in the book:
Prophecies for Our Time 01: The Finished Mystery
The First Trumpet
The First Trumpet
by J. Leland Earls; edited by Kevin W. Earls
The first angel sounded; and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. (Re. 8:7 NKJV)
The first trumpet angel sounds following the casting of fire on the earth (8:5-7). What does this mean? It means that man discovered the secret of the atom and its mighty firepower under the blowing of the first trumpet. For it was both during and after the second world conflict, which saw the first explosion of an atomic bomb used in war, that the events unleashed under the first trumpet began to unfold. Notice also that a third part of the trees were burned up by the fire under the blowing of this trumpet (8:7). Trees are used as symbols in the Bible for leaders among the people.
The blowing of a trumpet unleashes certain forces and brings to pass certain episodes which continue to the end. The fact that succeeding trumpets blow after the events of the first trumpet begin, does not mean that the first trumpet is through blowing. Each trumpet continues to sound to the end. What is unleashed under the first trumpet is the power of the atom’s destruction, which shall eventually destroy one-third of the population of the earth and devastate completely one-third of the nations on the face of the earth.
Because it is recorded that fire and hail are mixed with blood, it indicates that the fiery blasts of man shall be mixed with the blast of the breath of Almighty God as much water is vaporized by the intense heat which is created by the atom’s explosion and congealed in the frosty heights above. Then it will descend in the form of hailstones which will be mixed with the fire of the exploding atoms and the blood of multitudes who will be slain.
In that it says that all the green grass was burned up, it indicates that all the inhabitants of the earth will be affected mightily by the devastation of the atom’s fury. All shall be scorched or burned in one way or another – all except those who are protected by their God. Those who are under the covenant seal of their God do not come under the symbolism of the green grass which is a type of all carnal flesh. (Is. 40:6-7). The fact that one-third of the population will die because of the atom’s explosion does not mean that only one-third of the earth’s inhabitants will be destroyed. There will be many other types of destruction which will take a heavy toll of life.
First published in March of 1967 by Word of Life Fellowship in the book:
Prophecies for Our Time 01: The Finished Mystery
The Second Trumpet
By J. Leland Earls; edited by Kevin W. Earls
Then the second angel sounded; and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Re. 8:8-9 NKJV)
What does this mountain represent? A mountain in the scripture is a type of a nation or kingdom (Isa. 2:2-3). Thus, a great mountain would be a great or leading nation on the earth. Where do we find on earth a nation which is great enough to fulfill this description? Don’t think that greatness is to be equated with size or land mass, or with numbers of people. There is only one nation which can adequately fulfill the designation given and that is the United States of America. Why will this nation, which is so great in its Christian tradition, be able to give direction and example to the entire world? Why will it be cast into the sea? How will this take place? It is written that to whom much is given much is required. (Luke 12:48). What nation on the earth has received more material wealth than America? What nation has been blessed with such abundance that most other nations are paupers in comparison? What other nation has been so blessed in scientific achievement and accomplishment in the undoing of the burdensome toil that man has known for millenniums of time? What nation besides America has received as great an understanding and enlightenment from the Word of God through many movements of the Spirit of God unto the blessings of untold thousands? But what has American done? She has failed miserably in her stewardship. Therefore, she shall be judged severely.
And what shall this judgment be? It shall be that which shall arise from within her own borders. Don’t think that American will escape destruction from without; for many bombs and missiles shall fall upon this land. But the primary judgment upon America will be the turmoil and unrest that will arise from within, plunging that nation into a “sea” of confusion and strife.
The “sea” is a type of masses of people in agitation and revolution. Already there are signs of this turmoil and unrest evident in many places and segments of society; the trumpet of judgment has already been blown, and the inevitable falling of this great nation into a sea of revolution is now in its initial stages.
Also, it says that as a result of the mountain’s fall a third part of the sea became blood, and a third part of the creatures in the sea died, and a third part of the ships were destroyed. (8:8-9).
The sea is a type of people, and ships are a type of local governments which are amid the sea of peoples. This portrays the fact that one third of the people in this nation shall be embroiled in such serious conflict that they will become a menace to the very life of the nation, and the governing bodies represented by the ships will be so completely overwhelmed that law and order will be completely disrupted in many states and areas, causing a chaotic condition unprecedented in the history of the nation.
Violence shall erupt in many places as strife and unrest increases among the masses of the peoples. One out of every three people shall be involved in one way or another in such violent disruption that the very existence of the nation will be threatened. Then shall come the necessity of clamping an all-powerful dictatorship upon the inhabitants of this land with absolute controls in every facet of life. This will continue as the nation is involved, not only in unprecedented civil strife, but also in increasing peril from without. Only a great awakening and spiritual revival among certain segments of the nation will keep the nation from being completely inundated by the waters of internal turmoil. Truly a once great nation shall fall into the “sea” of conflict which will mean the end of an era.
You will note that it is a great mountain “burning with fire” that is cast into the sea (8:8). Fire is a type of inflamed passion with which the people will become engulfed, and the burning desires which will become an obsession to multitudes. It will be these insatiable and requited “burnings” of lust, greed, avarice, jealousy and hatred which will pit class against class, race against race, employee against employer, people against government and people against religion, and people in general against one another in one mad orgy of lawlessness and violence. This will be the direct result of the moral and spiritual decay which has been eating away at the vitals of the nation for many years. The “flames” will be continually fanned by subversive elements which have become entrenched in the nation in almost every segment of society.
Notice that the third part of the “creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died.” (8:9) The “sea” is not only a type of masses of people in turmoil; but water, whether in the sea or otherwise, is a type of the human soul with its emotions and desires. Even as water is unstable, so is the human soul unstable when uncontrolled by reason and righteous judgment (see Gen. 49:4). The creatures in the sea are a type of the entire gamut of emotions and desire which “swim” in the human soul. Usually, an emotion or desire does not have “life” unless it is stimulated or stirred up one way or another. When “made alive” such emotions and desires have great power unto either evil or good. The picture before us is one of base emotions and desires being stirred up or “made alive” unto evil and destruction. Thus, they are potential “killers” of the peace and wellbeing of others. This is the meaning of the statement that the third part of the creatures which had life, or which were made alive, died. The only way an emotion or desire which is stimulated to life can die, from a carnal perspective, is to give vent to it until its strength is spent and it abates into silence. Thus, it will be to a once great nation which has lost its moorings, and to a people who are no longer anchored to the faith of their fathers.
First published in March of 1967 by Word of Life Fellowship in the book:
Prophecies for Our Time 01: The Finished Mystery
Pursue God: Traction (Mark Chapter 12)
Jesus teaches and interacts with many in chapter 12 of Mark’s account.
Origins: 8 The Provider: Joseph
Joseph’s life is a wonderful example of a journey with trust in the Lord. From his father’s house, the pit, slavery, prison and the Lord’s favor causing him to rise to the top.
Origins: 6 The Promise: Isaac
The son of Abraham was a promise given by God. He was born when Abraham was 100 years old. His life had ups and downs. As he grew older, he faded in his ability to discern and was deceived by his son, Jacob.
Origins: 7 The Prince: Jacob
Jacob was a twin who deceived his brother, Esau. He fled to another country and lived there for 20 years. When he returned, he had an encounter with God that changed his life and his name.
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