Category Archives: Assembling, church

The True People of God

Posted on 30/11/2025 | 1 comment

Here’s my exegesis of Matthew 21:43, considering its context, language and significance:

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

This verse is the concluding declaration of Jesus’ Parable of the Tenants (vv. 33-41), spoken directly to the chief priests and Pharisees (v. 45).

In the parable, a landowner (God) leases his vineyard (Israel; Isa. 5:1-7) to tenants (religious leaders). They reject/kill the owner’s servants (prophets) and finally his son (Jesus). Judgment falls on the tenants.

The leaders themselves pronounce judgment (v. 41): “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants”.

Jesus confirms their verdict (v. 43) and connects it to Psalm 118:22-23 (vv. 42, 44) about the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.

Key Terms & Meaning:

“Therefore” (Greek: Dia touto): Links the verse directly to the leaders’ self-condemnation in the parable.

“Kingdom of God”: Refers to God’s reign/authority entrusted to Israel as His covenant people (Ex. 19:5-6; Dan. 2:44).

“Taken away from you”: “You” = Israel’s current leadership. They failed as stewards by rejecting God’s messengers and his Son.

“Given to a people” (Greek: ethnei): Ethnos typically means “nation” or “people”.
- This people refers to a new covenant community (Jew + Gentile) under Christ (1 Pet. 2:9-10). This includes faithful Jews who accept Jesus (e.g., apostles) and Gentiles who are ‘grafted in’ to use Paul’s term (Rom. 11:17-24).

“Producing its fruits”: These include obedience, repentance, justice, and faithfulness (Matt. 3:8; 7:16-20). This contrasts with the leaders’ spiritual barrenness (Matt. 23:13-33).

Theological Significance:

Divine Judgment: God’s kingdom is not irrevocably tied to ethnic Israel or its corrupt leaders. Stewardship requires faithfulness.

Inclusive Redefinition: The kingdom is transferred to a new people of God (the Church) centered on Christ (Eph. 2:11-22). This fulfils Abrahamic promises (Gal. 3:29).

Continuity & Fulfillment: Jesus is the “stone” (vv. 42, 44) establishing God’s kingdom (Dan. 2:44-45). The Church inherits Israel’s spiritual privileges (Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 6:16).

Warning to All: Leadership in God’s kingdom demands fruitfulness, not just privilege (John 15:1-6).

Application:

To the Original Audience: A direct indictment of Israel’s leaders, warning that rejecting Jesus forfeits their role in God’s plan. Unbelieving Israel forfeits its chosen people status. Plainly, according to Jesus.

To the new People of God: This is a call to faithful stewardship, both Jew and Gentile. Privilege implies responsibility.

To Individuals: Entrance into God’s kingdom requires receiving Christ (John 1:12) and bearing spiritual fruit.

Connection to Jesus:

This verse underscores Jesus’ authority to redefine the people of God around Himself. His impending death/resurrection (which is implied in the parable) will inaugurate the new covenant community which replaces or replenishes Israel.

In Summary

Matthew 21:43 declares a monumental shift—the kingdom stewardship passes from unfaithful leaders to a new, multi-ethnic people under Christ, marked by responsive faith and spiritual fruitfulness. This is both a warning and a promise of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

Jesus’ authority to redefine the true people of God around Himself is emphatically expressed and cannot be denied.

This redemptive plan falsifies the teaching of Dispensationalism. The nation state of Israel is not Paul’s “Israel of God.” (Gal 6:16)

Prove me wrong!

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Eschatology, Israel

Tagged authority of Jesus, christianity, end times, human attempts, jew and gentile, parable of tenants, religion, sayings of jesus, theology

What is Dispensationalism?

Posted on 04/06/2025 | 2 comments

Dispensationalism originated in the nineteenth century in the teaching of John Nelson Darby. It is that recent. It was popularized in the United States through Its growth was spurred on through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible. <Scofield’s Bible (published in 1909) contributed further to the spread of dispensationalism. This ‘bible’ included study notes written from a distinctively dispensationalist perspective.

This is a religious system which claims to be Christian while actually emptying Christianity of that which is essential to it. If dispensationalism does this, then it is a cult. It cannot be considered a section of Christianity.

It is as serious as that. It is impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation.

Dispensationalism can lead to a misunderstanding of key biblical teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, which is binding on Christians today.

Critics of dispensationalism argue that the system misinterprets the Bible. This leads to a fragmented understanding of God’s plan for humanity.

The doctrine of salvation is indisputably and uncompromisingly essential to Christianity.

Dispensationalism has departed from the only way of salvation which is faith in Jesus. If so, then it has departed from Christianity. It empties Christianity of its essential message.

According to the Scofield Study Bible “A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect to some specific revelation of the will of God” (Scofield note on Genesis 1:28).

2. With this definition Christians are introduced to the concept there are “seven such dispensations which are distinguished in the Scripture” (Scofield’s note on Genesis 1:28).

3. The seven dispensations are declared by Scofield to be as follows:

1. Dispensation of Innocence
2. Dispensation of Conscience
3. Dispensation of Human Government
4. Dispensation of Promise
5. Dispensation of Law
6. Dispensation of Grace
7. Dispensation of the Millennial

According to the Scofield Study Bible each dispensation has “a character exclusively its own,” being “wholly complete and sufficient in itself,” that it “is in no wise exchangeable for the others, and cannot be commingled.”

There are four passages in the Bible where the word “dispensation” occurs. Time is not a factor in these. The word means “administration” or “stewardship” and in context has reference to the Gospel being dispersed. Paul was entrusted with the Gospel in order to dispense it to the Gentiles.

Here are the four passages:1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10,Ephesians 3:2, Colossians 1:25.

Next, the Bible never distinguishes between the seven dispensations suggested. The very names of the dispensations are also man-made.

In Scripture, the distinctions suggested by the system among these dispensations are not there. For example, in scripture grace is found under the Law and the Law is also found under grace.

The practical implication of Dispensational thinking also becomes alarming. The System teaches the Sermon on the Mount is not binding on Christians today.

Their System says the age of the Law lasted until the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says:

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. Luke 16:16

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:26). The King has come to His kingdom to tell His subjects of free grace and mercy. The spiritual nature of the Kingdom confused the Jews many long ago. It continues to confound those today who walk by sight and not by faith. Among these are today’s Zionists and their adulation of the state of Israel. Many have been deceived. Lied to.

They accuse us of “replacement theology”. We gladly accept! The truth in the New Testament is that there is total replacement theology!

There is no such thing as the nation of Israel today. That nation was totally replaced as God’s wife by Jesus Christ. In Him, the true Vine, is the true assembly of believers, His New Bride. The only way, truth and life.

The people of God in the Old Covenant, the Jews, was replaced by the Body of Christ in a New Covenant! There is only one people of God, not two.

The Jerusalem temple and the entire Mosaic religion were replaced by the Body of Christ in AD 70!

The parables of Matthew 13 show that Jesus’ emphatically taught that there is no other kingdom but His kingdom and its spiritual nature. For example Matthew 13:47-50:

“the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Under the New Covenant everyone can come by faith to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God (The letter to the Hebrews. 12:22). Let the Dispensationalist and the Jewish Zionist be incensed. The sacred precinct of their literalism is invalided.

We can find rest in His city. There “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: but the Lord shall be unto you an everlasting light, and your God your glory” (Isaiah 60:19).

Conclusion

Look, this is my charge to all you who are dispensationalists—either show me the errors in what I write here or admit your own errors. We cannot both be right. One of us is wrong—seriously wrong. Okay?

If you are wrong, you are preaching a false gospel.

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Covenant, new, old, Eschatology, Israel

Tagged christianity, Dispensationalism, end times, human attempts, Jesus, New Covenant, sayings of jesus, Scofield Study Bible, theology

Receiving Jesus

Posted on 25/04/2025 | Leave a comment

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John we read about the coming of Jesus into the world . . .

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:9-13.

Despite his amazing miracles, outstanding teaching and divine claims, Jesus was rejected by ‘his own’, the unbelieving Jews. All four gospels in the New Testament tell the constant story of his rejection.

At first, vast crowds from all over Judea and Galilee followed him, attracted by his words and deeds. But the religious leaders hated Jesus because He was so full of the love of God, while they were full of love for themselves and their religious system. His own did not receive him—they will be left behind and replaced by the real people of God in the last days.

But not every Jew rejected him. Some received him.

To all those who did receive him, i.e., those who actually believed in him, there was a sensational result—they had the authority to be children of God. Jesus was fulfilling what the prophets had predicted . . . .

Isaiah 62:4. Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.

Zephaniah 3:16-17. On that day, the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Now let’s consider the ramifications of people receiving the authority to become “children of God”. This means to bring in a completely new people of God!

Those who received Jesus had the authority to be called people of God. But those who refused to receive Jesus do not have the right to call themselves the people of God. Here is the beginning of a new people of God altogether! The whole Gospel story is all about how Jesus’ followers have replaced those who were thought to be the people of God.

This was fulfilled by Isaiah and many Old Testament prophets, including Jeremiah 31 and Hosea . . . .

After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God. “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’ Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together. They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. Hosea 1:8-11.

Then Peter, quoting Hosea and writing to congregations of Jews and Gentiles, declares . . .

. . . . for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy, now you have received God’s mercy. 1 Peter:2:9-10.

Now let’s see what the gospels record about receiving Jesus. Gospel of Matthew 10:40-42 . . . . . .

“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

Here is the Jewish principle of the shaliach—his agent is like himself – שליח shaliach is the Hebrew word for “apostle”. It literally means “sent one”. Strongs 7971. Pronounced shuh lee akh. Plural “shlichim“.

This usage also appears in John 13:20.

I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

And in Luke 10:16.

Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

New Testament theologian R T France wrote: “the reception afforded Jesus’ disciples becomes the test of one’s relationship to God, as is spelt out more thoroughly in Jesus’ parable Matthew 25:31-46.”

It was a privilege for those who carry the word of God. Such acts of hospitality from the lost sheep of Israel made the preaching of the gospel possible.

This fits in perfectly with Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:37. It would have been solid comfort for the disciples under persecution. Thus comparing Matthew 10:42:

if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

With Matthew 25:37-39:

“. . . . . “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Note who really are the ‘least of these my brothers and sisters’ –not the disadvantaged or poor—but those who follow Jesus—see Matthew 12:27.

For us today, it is indeed a privilege to carry the word of God to others. To all of us who received him, we who actually believe in him, there is a sensational result—we have the authority to act as the children of God, his brothers and sisters.

We have the wonderful authority as his children to be his messengers and those who welcome us with the gospel will be welcoming Jesus and the Father who sent him.

Let us take that authority every day!

Peter and His End Times Teaching

Posted on 30/03/2025 | 3 comments

Peter wrote: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Peter wrote this letter to Christian believers living in various places, scattered throughout Pontos, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These were real places in the Ancient World. It’s interesting if you check Acts chapter 2 you find those same places mentioned among the many other regions, from which people had come to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost. Acts 2 describes how on that day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.

So Peter was addressing some of those same people who had heard him proclaiming on that day some 25 or 30 years previously. These would have gone back to their homelands and no doubt bore witnesses for Jesus by the power of the Spirit where they lived.

He encouraged his readers, both Hebrew and Gentile believers, to prepare for a most important, earth-shattering event that was soon to take place. Terrible judgment was about to come on many Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. The temple and the Jewish religion known for centuries, Judaism, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation. This would also seriously impact them and many traditional Jews where they lived.

Although Peter wrote that they were born again and their inheritance was safe in heaven, he said to them that their salvation was the future –it was ready to be revealed! When? In ‘the last time’. What?

Yes, the last time or the end of the age. That’s not the end of history or the end of the world but the end of the Mosaic era, the Old Covenant, and the Jewish sacrificial economy. He wrote they are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

The New Testament teaches that salvation was not complete until the return of Christ: . . . so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:28).

You see, this strongly reflects the Old Testament type of the high priest’s role on the Day of Atonement and his safe exit from the Temple to appear to those Jews who eagerly awaited him (Leviticus 16). God had accepted the sacrifice! In the same way, when our Great High Priest, Jesus, appears a second time, Christian believers are assured of their complete salvation. Until He appears again, believers are waiting.

In the gospel of Luke, we read So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near (Luke 21:28).

‘All these things’ included Jerusalem ringed by armies, great tribulation in the land wrath against the Jews and the coming of the Son of Man in judgment. Jesus was addressing His disciples 2000 years ago (not us today). If those things did not happen then completed salvation did not happen!

If Christ did not return, then your salvation is incomplete and no one has yet gone to heaven. Jesus had told Peter on the Mount of Olivet that all things which were written would be fulfilled when Jerusalem was destroyed and that included His coming again. See Luke 21:22: For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.

Then Peter wrote: In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy 1 Peter 1:6-8)

Though they were excited and joyful, they would suffer for a little while until the time when Jesus was revealed. They were suffering persecution most likely from Jews who had rejected Jesus.

Peter says at the coming of the Son of Man, after ‘a little while (not 2000 years!) these believers will offer up praise, glory and honour. At His coming the dead will be raised! (1 Corinthians 15:52-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Their Jewish persecutors judged! This has happened long ago.

Since resurrection begins only at the Second Coming, the ‘End’, so if the Son of Man did not come no one yet has been resurrected. The dead remain in Sheol.

But, dear reader, where do you believe that you go at death? Heaven, yes!

Well, I have good news for you! Jesus DID return in clouds of God’s glory 2000 years ago and that means your salvation is complete! Sheol has been emptied.

Peter wrote, Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (1 Peter 1:13)

Peter said they are to set their hope on the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of His coming. Peter expected His coming was soon for them. Do you honestly think that they were disappointed, left utterly without any hope? No grace brought to them? Of course not!

You may not have known it, dear reader, that your salvation is complete! Because He came!

Please comment

3 Comments

Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Eschatology, Kingdom of God

Tagged born again, christianity, end times, Jerusalem temple, Jews, New Covenant, persecution, religion, resurrection, salvation, St Peter, theology

You Ignore My Son

Posted on 03/03/2025 | 1 comment

“You have ignored my Word, my plan, my purpose. Above all you have ignored my Son. My Son, who has given His life for you, my Anointed One, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

You have not listened but have continued with your traditions and useless religious programmes.

You have ignored what He taught, what He demonstrated as your example, to follow Him and His lowliness.

You have ignored His way, neglected His power always available from the Holy Spirit.

What did my Son start on the earth? What did he command his followers?

Make disciples!

Instead you have trusted in what the world has to offer. How can you treat Him like this? You should be ashamed of your apathy, of your lifeless sermons, keeping your seated membership in ignorance and in straightjackets, bound up in practices I never intended.

Who told you to build ‘churches’?—that word is an abomination to me.

You give yourselves a name, an identity, a constitution, an incorporation. You build buildings and spend money on things that are perishing. You rely on money and serve it as your master when I have called this Mammon and warned you that you cannot serve me and mammon at the same time.

Like the world, you use their marketing strategies, and thus compete with rival pathetic pseudo-religious corporations. You appoint CEOs and call them ‘senior pastors’. Where is this in the teaching of my Son or in the doctrines of the apostles?

Like the world, I see jealousy, ambition, merchandise, control, titles, vainglory.

You try hard to follow me in YOUR way but not in MY way. So you end up doing it YOUR way.

You strive when my yoke is easy, my burden light. You are labouring for wages and not out of love for me.

You ignore Truth and prefer to believe lies like expecting some future rapture experience after my Son actually returned 2000 years as He promised!

And the lie that you believe about this nation you call Israel when you are the chosen race, the holy nation, My own people.

Yet I still love you even as you ignore me, as my love for you is forever and inexhaustible.”

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Posted in Assembling, church, Discipleship, Eschatology, Go Forth, Israel, Make disciples

Tagged Bible, chosen race, christianity, end times, faith, god, Jesus, sayings of jesus, theology, truth

How Jesus’ first disciples learned about ‘the End’

Posted on 27/02/2025 | Leave a comment

Jesus took the disciples up on Jerusalem’s Mt Olivet (Matthew 24) go discuss the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. What eschatological understanding would the disciples already have understood?

Jesus would have expounded many OT scriptures that pointed to end times. Also He would have given them His own direct teachings. Matthew recorded many of these He gave them before the Olivet discourse. I was surprised how many there were. This article shows what I discovered.

The disciples would know about John the baptiser warning the Jewish leaders of the wrath to come. Mat 3:1-2, 7-10: . . . John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” . . . . . But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? . . . . And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

The disciples would also have heard Jesus announcing the nearness of the kingdom–Mat 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

They heard Him declare “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfil. Mat 5:17.

They heard this: I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mat 8:10-12.

They witnessed Isaiah 53:5 fulfilled: He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “He Himself took our illnesses and carried away our diseases.” Mat 8:16.

He warned them what to expect as he sent them out on their mission to the Jews.

“When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel”. Mat 10:23.

Clearly, here He gave them then a time frame when He would return. This would hasten them to finish the preaching of the coming Kingdom of God to the Jews while there was still time for them to repent. This was a very urgent mission—a race against time. There was no time to waste in towns especially where they would be persecuted. We can read in the Acts account and in the letters of Paul how they quickly went from town to town and brought results e.g., Rom 1:8, Col 1:6.

Jesus told them His coming would be “soon”, in their generation. “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” Mat 16:27-28.

The disciples asked Him to explain the parable of the weeds. He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat 9:36-43.

And to explain the Parable of the Net: . . . the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat 13:47-50.

He promised them: Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He referred to the future time when God will restore creation to its original perfection. His “glorious throne” symbolizes His authority and rule over the restored creation. Mat 19:28.

They will have positions of authority and leadership in Jesus’ kingdom. This is not a literal judgement, but rather a way of expressing their role in governing and guiding God’s people.

They heard Him declare to Jewish leaders: . . Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. . . . . . When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. Mat 21:33-45.

In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus gave more information to the disciples :

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Mat 22:2-14.

Here they learnt about Jesus’ eschatological marriage to His assembly (Greek ekklesia – church) of believers who follow Him. The guests at the feast that are clothed in the proper wedding garments are clothed in Christ’s righteousness provided by God through faith in Jesus. The man without the proper wedding garments is about the unbelieving Jews. It symbolizes a lack of proper preparation or acceptance of the invitation on God’s terms—that is, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally in the week of Jesus’ passion, they heard Jesus’ final words of declaration of judgment on the whole house of Judaism: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . . Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Mat 23:37-39.

Their house is left to them ‘desolate’—solitary, lonely, uninhabited unfit for anyone especially by the Lord; replaced by the Household of faith in the Blessed One who comes in the name of the Lord.

HOW SHALL WE GATHER?

Posted on 31/03/2019 | 4 comments

I believe that most of these religious institutions, though appearing divided and competitive, taken together are one unbiblical system, and thus not what God wants–it is all a human construct and centred on control, power over people, money, competition and industry. The system is sick and reflects the systems of control and apostasy which Jesus identified in his first coming and recorded in the Gospels. He came began to bring in His whole new concept of the Kingdom of God in a new covenant ‘in his blood’. Every act he did, every word he taught was bristling with new life and the soon-coming end of the old system, the old wineskin. He told the religious elite that they were dead and needed life which only he could give (John 5:40).

God has clearly shown us the model for our behaviour as we relate to one another: in Jesus. HE is the way, truth, life. ‘It shall not be so among you . . . love one another as I HAVE LOVED YOU’. Jesus is the model–the image of the Father, for us to see and manifest in our lives.

Any other way, idea and mode of gathering is bound to be scattering, divisive, arrogant, exclusive, and not ‘abounding in the work of God’.

We are his bride, getting ready for the wedding and the bridegroom is with us. He is WITH US! He calls us to Himself. To gather around Him.

We are a family who eat together and share our lives with one another around Jesus. This is a spiritual kingdom only entered into as a little child and by invitation of the Master through a tumultuous experience of being born all over again.

Either we obey Him or we don’t.

Instead of top heavy, mono-ministry and a sleepy compliant laity He has given us gifts, manifestations of the Spirit to bless and upbuild the whole body wherever it may be gathered—whether together in the New Jerusalem above or in the humble get-together of His friends and brothers. Together we are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Discipleship

LONGING FOR GOD’S DESIGN FOR HIS BODY

Posted on 20/01/2019 | 2 comments

As more people read the New Testament and see what it actually says about ‘church’ and what is God’s design for us in the New covenant in contrast to the Old they begin to long for something more authentic, more participatory–what God actually wants.

Many are leaving the religious institutions. Yet they have not left the Lord Jesus.

What is the alternative?

We are certainly not to abandon fellowship.

The Lord has clearly provided the most glorious pattern for us–the Lord Jesus, himself, his example, His commands, His works and His constant obedience to what the Father said.

If He was so obedient then so must we also. God will show the way.

Just ‘as Moses was ‘faithful in all his house’ so Jesus is faithful in His house which He is building and gathering, a house not being built by earthly hands. His Design originating in the heavenly places!

The believers we read about in the N.T., though not perfect yet obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit and the instructions of the apostles found for example in 1 Cor 1, 11-14. They carried out the plan.

But since from as early as 2ndC (and even earlier as we see trends in some N.T. letters & Revelation’s 7 assemblies) men have had their own ideas and preferred them to God’s plan.

We have thought we could change from the word of God, that we could do better ourselves. Such arrogance. Such disobedience.

The result is sectarianism, pharisaic attitudes, false teaching, mono-ministry, programs, monetization, entertainment, the loss of supernatural power and authority, timidity, maintenance of buildings, open competitiveness . . .

There is such a need to simply repent, change our minds, humble ourselves, weep and begin to radically OBEY. To admit that we have disobeyed the plain teaching and examples of Jesus and His apostles.

This will require humility, the will and some searching to do only what the Father wants and to be willing to suffer reproach loss of friends and loneliness.

A decision must be made. Either . . .

You keep on disobeying the word of God by continuing this ‘church’ stuff founded on what men have decided is best and trying to get God to agree with it and to bless it, or
You change your mind (repent) to what God wants—be founded on the words of Jesus and his apostles alone and humbly seek His guidance in actually doing it.

Then being obedient to God, you will know you are asking God to do His will and you can expect to see Him pouring out His rivers of living water—the glorious work of the Holy Spirit.

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Discipleship, Uncategorized

When that which is perfect comes

Posted on 18/07/2018 | 5 comments

If the age of healing, signs and wonders has passed with the original apostles—the ‘perfect having come’ (1 Cor 13:10) as some teach— then what else has ceased? What other promises and instructions which we read about in the New Testament have now passed away as being ‘childish things’ (I Cor 13:8-12)?

What about all the things Jesus commanded, prophesied or promised us such as . . .

Mat 28:19. ‘Go and make disciples of the gentiles, teaching them to observe ALL I have commanded you’ and ‘I am with you even to the end of the age’

Mark 16:17-20. ‘These signs shall follow those who believe . . . . . ‘

John 4:24. Worship of the Father in spirit and truth.

John 7:37-39: rivers of living water for any who thirst and comes to Jesus after He is glorified.

John 14:12. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.’

John 14:13. ‘Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’

John 14:14. ‘If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.’

Acts 2:39 ‘. . . this promise (the gift of the Holy Spirit) is for you and your children and to as many as are far off, to those who call upon my name’

So many promises found in the letters of Paul (Romans 8, 2 Cor 3, etc) and Peter.

What else then may we doubt applies to our times? The grace of God? The indwelling of the Father and the Son? The fullness and power of the Holy Spirit? The guidance of the Holy Spirit? His convicting of sin? Our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit? Marriage only between a man and a woman?

Has healing of our sicknesses now ceased and if so what about the forgiveness of sins? Is it suddenly no longer the will of God to heal the sick (these go together in many scriptures!) Has the new covenant ceased too? Do we set aside the Lord’s supper as being childish? Do we now doubt the resurrection of the body?

Then we also see many other things Jesus commanded have been forgotten or ‘wiped’ unceremoniously in the teachings of many denominations and sects, such as spiritual gifts for each believer, the spontaneous exercise of edification and sharing in the ekklesia, the form or pattern of meeting as the simple gathering together in Christ, the prayer of faith that saves (heals) the sick, the baptising and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the work of Christ in the believer—I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

In the place of what Jesus gave us, Christianity, ‘the church’, has largely left us with mono-ministry, a paid clergy class, clerical titles, the laity concept, man-made liturgies, programs and strategies, reliance on finances, dependence on holy buildings, and so on. I think you know what I mean.

Let’s admit it: we have failed miserably in ‘teaching them to believe all things I have commanded’ and instead taught so many things that are alien to Jesus, unknown to the NT writers, and counter-productive to the Kingdom of God.

So for us post-apostolic times, are we really just left with teachers and theologians deciding which things to believe still apply? Or do we each one just pick and choose what doesn’t apply now?

That is unthinkable.

“Let God be true and every man a liar.”

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Discipleship, miracles

How to pray when threatened

Posted on 21/12/2017 | Leave a comment

We were reading that early passage in the NT book Acts where the authorities–the high priests and religious elites of Jerusalem–interrogated and threatened Peter and John not to proclaim Jesus any longer and the two leaders being let go, joined a house full of other believers and they all prayed . . . .

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

The authorities were conspiring, but not against Peter and John or the believers in the resurrected Christ but conspiring against the Lord’s anointed one.

But there are enormous consequences for their attitude, their opposition, their actions.

We can see that Jesus and his people who obey him, are one. Jesus taught that to act against his servants is to act against the King and the Rule of God. We who truly act in his name in obedience to his word are in an indissoluble union with him.

Acting against his people is to act against him. Not very wise.

The disciples could see clearly and proclaimed that these authorities were actually doing “what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” What confidence in the living God! They knew, prayed and lived out Psalm 2!

We realize we can live in that reality. He knows what he is doing.

“All things are working together for those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose”!

The living God cannot be defeated. He may be mocked but it is all in his stride. He will turn men’s plans to suit himself and he will have the glory.

Authorities today are making laws and threats of prosecutions against us who are led by the Holy Spirit. They seek to change the unchangeable, what IS and act as if they are gods. They are calling good evil and evil good.

They are acting against the Lord’s anointed, the Christ.

The living God is not taken by surprise! Politicians think they are in control. But they do not realize that God has decided beforehand what should take place. And at the same time they have chosen to act improperly and without the counsel of the Almighty.

If God is for us who can be against us, the apostle Paul excitedly and emphatically stated.

We looked and marveled at how these early believers prayed.

They asked for power and boldness in proclaiming the truth that saves. And at the same time, for God to stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders . . .

Both are necessary — us together boldly making the saving word known, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, and powerful signs following the words of life by the hand of God. Truly an exciting partnership!

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

And that scenario has never been withdrawn. Is there is any sensible alternative for us, for you, for me? But to pray like that and expect the Mighty Presence with us.