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All Scripture quotations are from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.

November 25, 2008

The

Local

CHURCH

Part 1

Published for:

HANDS FOR JESUS

P.O. BOX 18655

MILWAUKEE, WI 53218-0655

For Free Books by downloading,

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2008 by Merle E. Koepke

Introduction

In Colossians 1:18 it says, "And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead..." The "body of Christ" is called the Church. In 1 Corinthians 16:19 it says, "The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." Therefore, "the Church" includes where Christians gather together to come before the LORD to worship Him and receive from Him, even in small groups such as in houses.

By this we see the LORD has set in the body of Christ, "Churches" where Christians gather together "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). Within these local churches the LORD "...gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (Eph. 4:11). The Holy Spirit (Who carries out the works of God here on earth) "...hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (1 Cor. 12:28).

God has established an order in the Church by which He is in control of what happens in "the Body of Christ" (which is the Church). It is important that Christians understand the order which God established in "the Local Churches."

Why is it important to understand the order which God established in the churches? Simply put, because what happens here on earth depends upon what happens when we leave this earth. Those who obey the order of things that God has set up, will also spend eternity with God. By obedience to God's plan for mankind we reap the rewards in heaven.

What happens in the body of Christ here on earth is a type and shadow of greater things to come in eternity. The glory is in heaven where those who do the will of God will spend eternity. Yet, not everyone will inherit eternity in heaven, only those who do the will of God the Father will spend eternity with Him in heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Let us understand God's order here on earth that we can do the will of God the Father while we are still here on earth. Not our will, but the Father's will must be done.

For those who love the LORD and the Word of God, Jesus said in John 6:45, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God..." In 1 John 2:27 it says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." We must be taught by God if we are to know the truth that is written in the Word of God. We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit as He teaches from the Word of God (1 John 2:27).

Order is

Established by God

When the LORD God created man upon this earth, He established a certain order among people. In Genesis 2:7 it says, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." First the LORD God created mankind when He formed a body of the dust of the ground and breathed into that body the breath of life and man became a living soul. Acts 17:26 says, "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." We all came from one body and one blood which the LORD God formed of the dust of the ground.

In Genesis 2:18 it says, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:21,22 it says, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof...And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." Out of "one body," the LORD God took a rib and formed "woman" to be "an help meet" to the man. Eve became Adam's help meet.

Then in Genesis 2:24, it says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." When one man and one woman get married, they become "one flesh." This does not mean one physical body of flesh and bones. It means "one in agreement with each other."

Look what happens after a man and a woman get married? Genesis 4:1 says, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." In marriage Adam and Eve became one flesh (one in agreement), and they began to have children which formed a family.

It takes one man and one woman to have a child. When they have children they become a family. Be aware, Satan does all he can to destroy families.

Genesis 3:20 says, "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living." Adam was the beginning of all mankind, but Eve was the mother of all living people.

When Adam and Eve began to have children, they became a family. God used the family to set the beginning of all order in this creation, and in heaven thereafter. Keep in mind what God does on this earth is a type and shadow of things to come in heaven after this earth is passed away.

In Isaiah 65:17 the LORD God said, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." If Christians think this world is great, just think how much greater it will be in heaven. Let us be like Abraham, where it says in Hebrews 11:10, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." We should look to the future in heaven and not get too concerned about the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17).

God's order is, the husband is the head of the family. The wife is the husband's help meet. The children are a blessing from God, but subject to their parents until the time appointed by God.

When the LORD God formed "woman" from the rib of Adam, He was establishing the order of things to come, including the order "in the body of Christ." What happened in the natural in Genesis 2:21-24 is a type and shadow of the Church, which is the LORD's Body.

In Ephesians 5:21 (writing to the body of Christ), it says, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." This is written to all who are a part of the body of Christ.

Then in Ephesians 5:22-32, it gives us the order that the LORD God established in the Church using the type and shadow of husbands and wives. This is the order that was first established with Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:21-24.

The husband is the head of the wife in the marriage. Christ is the head of the Church in the body of Christ. Therefore, the same order that the LORD God established in Genesis 2:21-24, is the same order established in the Church in Ephesians 5:22-32. The order God established in the Church, applies also to all the "Local Churches."

Look at Genesis 2:24, which says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." This is a type and shadow of the body of Christ and the local Church.

The one whom the LORD has put in charge of the local church must leave the world system (no longer walking after the flesh, but after the Spirit). Galatians 5:25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Note: God does not put a Pastor in a local church who is not led by the Holy Spirit and anointed for the office (Eph. 4:11, 1 Cor. 12:28, Jude 1:4). (Satan puts those in local churches who are not led by the Holy Spirit and not anointed for the office). In Matthew 13:38,39, Jesus said, "...the tares are the children of the wicked one...The enemy that sowed them is the devil..."

Genesis 2:24, Adam said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 4:1 says, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." What happens when a man leaves his father and mother and marries a woman? They become one in the flesh (one in agreement), and they began to have children which form a family.

Therefore, God has established the families. First the husband, then the wife, then the children. Likewise, just as a husband causes his wife to bring forth a child in the marriage, Acts 2:47 says, "...the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

What about the children? In Ephesians 6:1-3 it says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right...Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)...That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." The parents are not to be controlled by the children, but the children are to obey the parents.

What happens to children who do not obey their parents? Look at the court records, look in the juvenile detention centers, look at the mortality rate among children, you will see what happens.

There is an order established in the families and local churches. We must learn God's established order, then we will prosper and be in good health, even as the LORD prospers and is in good health.

When the wife has a child, it is her responsibility to "breast feed" the new born child. The husband does not breast feed the new born child, even though it is his child. The responsibility to do the breast feeding is that of his "help meet."

Even in a family the older children help with caring for the infants and smaller children. Older children love the new born children that come into the family. So should it be in the Churches. The more mature members should help care for the new members. They should love them and make sure they know they are a part of the church family in the LORD.

When the Pastor of a local church receives new members, it is the responsibility of "the elders" to care for the new members like a mother cares for her children. There are two types of "elders" mentioned in the Scriptures (those who are "spiritually mature," and those who are of older age). Those who are "spiritually mature," become the helpers of the Pastor. Sometimes the elders includes all the areas of ministry that are under the Pastors care (those who are mature in the areas of which they serve, including, praise and worship, intercessors, ushers, children's ministries, etc.). This group are like the older children in a family.

Those who the Pastor appoints as "spiritually mature Elders" are a type and shadow of the mother in a family. The mother is not over the father, but she has responsibilities appointed by the LORD and the husband.

The husband does not rule over the wife, neither does the wife rule over the husband, but all things must be done in love, decently and in order. Everyone must prefer others before themselves (Phil. 2:3). "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:24,25).

All the members of the local church are like the members in a family. There are those who are immature, and those who are more mature. There are lambs and sheep (John 21:15-17). There are babes in Christ, and there are those who are more spiritually mature (1 Cor. 3:1-3). There are children of God and there are sons of God (Rom. 8:14, Heb. 5:13,14).

Those who are mature, must care for those who are babes in Christ. Those who are sons of God must care for those who are children of God. Everyone has a place and a purpose in the local church. Everyone has a responsibility in the local church.

If anyone is a born again Christian they are a part of the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Cor. 12:12). Each one is important, and none is more important than another.

The Pastor is chosen and anointed by God to be the Shepherd of the church. (The word Pastor and the word Shepherd in the New Testament mean the same thing). The Pastor must lead and the members must follow. To lead, the Shepherd must go in front of the flock and lead them, not behind them and drive them. The Pastor must look upon the needs of others before himself (Phil. 2:3).

For every position in the body of Christ there is an anointing. If the Pastor of a church is not anointed for the position, the LORD did not put him in that position. If he does not have the anointing, he may not have come through the Door (John 10:1-9). He may be a hireling (John 10:12,13).

When Christians look for a church, they should look for a Pastor who has the anointing for the position. If there is no anointing, it is questionable if the LORD called that Pastor to that position.

If you are in a church where the Pastor does not have the anointing, pray for the Pastor, that he receives the anointing. Otherwise, do not die in a dead church. Pray that the LORD will lead you to a church where the Pastor has the anointing.

How do you know if the Pastor has an anointing? Let me ask you, how do you know if Jesus had the anointing? The Scripture says that Jesus spoke of His anointing when He read from Isaiah 61:1,2, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised...To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18,19). Acts 10:38 says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Jesus proved He had the anointing by how He lived and the works He did.

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and all Pastors are to follow the example of Jesus. Jesus said in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." This should apply to Pastors and fathers also.

All Pastors need to be anointed with the same Holy Spirit that Jesus was anointed with. All Pastors should do the same works that Jesus did (John 12:14).

God never planned for Christians to belong to churches where the Pastor does not have the anointing to do the works that the LORD called him to do.

Local Churches

Every local church should be a type and shadow of a Christian family as set forth in the Scriptures. Every family should have a father who loves his wife and his children. A father who will set his own desires aside to supply the needs of his family. A father who is taught by God, and obeys the LORD in his position.

Any father who is not subject to the LORD, and does not follow the Scriptures that apply to fathers is a disobedient father. Any father who is a born again Christian and is disobedient to the LORD is still walking in the flesh and under the control of "...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).

A father cannot do the will of God without obedience to the written Word and the Holy Spirit. Fathers, of their own ability cannot fulfill the requirements of the New Covenant, no matter how they try. Fathers must be subject to the LORD and the Holy Spirit within them. Fathers cannot live according to the written law of the Old Covenant, they must live according to the Spirit of the New Covenant.

What applies to fathers in the family, also applies to the Pastors of churches. Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit we cannot walk after the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." It takes the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be a good father, and it takes the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be a Pastor of a church.

Likewise, mothers cannot be a good mother without obeying the written Word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit. Even a mother needs the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be a good mother. Of her own ability, she cannot obey the LORD and be a good mother.

The same applies to the elders of the church. Without obedience to the written Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit they cannot be a good elder. Elders who do not have the anointing will destroy more in a church then they will do good. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy not to put in an office "a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:6).

Children who do not obey their parents become partakers of the devil's works. They cause shame on the parents, and cause themselves to suffer much for their disobedience. Disobedient children are being controlled by "...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).

This same applies to members of a local church. Members who are disobedient to the Pastor or elders are disobedient to the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Disobedience to the Word of God is as witchcraft (serving another god). In 1 Samuel 15:23 it says, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." Rebellion by members of a local church are guilty of witchcraft, which is the same as idolatry.

If the Pastor of a local church has the anointing, the members should remain in that local church and learn obedience by the things they suffer. Even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8). Are we greater than Jesus? Cannot we also suffer for the sake of the gospel and the ministry within the local church? We learn by obedience, not by causing strife and division. For the works of strife and division among Christians are all works of the devil (1 Cor. 3:3; James 3:16).

Pray for the Pastors and the elders, for they are God's servants to help you do the work of the ministry the LORD has called you to do. In Matthew 16:6 it says, "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." The leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees is "putting the law before Love, grace, and mercy." It is using the written Word to destroy the move of the Holy Spirit. They tried to do it to Jesus and the spirits of this world will try to use Christians in the same way. Therefore, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Love, Grace, Mercy

& Forgiveness

In 1 John 4:7,8 it says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God...He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

As Christians, everyone must learn to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Helper, Guide, Leader, and Comforter. We all need the Holy Spirit to live in this world and do the work the LORD has ordained for us, whether it is a husband, wife, or child; whether it is an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, Deacon, Elder, or a member of a local Church.

These four, "Love, Grace, Mercy & Forgiveness" all work together. Without all four, we cannot do the work of the ministry. We cannot succeed as a Christian in this life without all four. These four are the beginning of a successful Christian life here on earth and also in heaven to come.

God is Love (1 John 4:8). If God is love, then every born again child of God must also walk in love. We must walk in love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness or we will hinder the anointing of the Holy Spirit from manifesting in us and through us. If we hinder the Holy Spirit in our lives we will be no different than those of this world who do not know God. Let us therefore, strive for the unity of the Body of Christ, beginning in the family, the local Church, and the Body of Christ.

The Pastor of a local church is accountable to God. James 3:1 says, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." The Pastor of a local church will receive greater judgment than the members. The higher the calling the greater the responsibility, and the greater the judgment for failure to follow the example of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd.

A note to Pastors: There are many Pastors who could spend eternity in hell for their misuse of the office they were given by God. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12 it says, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:..That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Study 2 Thessalonians, Chapter Two, not according to what men teach, but according to what the Holy Spirit teaches. For more information on this get "Part 2" of this series of "The Local CHURCH."

What about those who come against the Pastors, fathers, mothers, or any Christian? Here is wisdom if you can receive it? When anyone comes against any Christian, they are in fact coming against the LORD Himself.

Look at Acts 9:4, where the LORD spoke to Saul, who is now called Paul, saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Who was Saul persecuting, Christians or the LORD? When anyone comes against another Christian, they are also coming against the LORD Himself.

For more information on this subject, get "Part 2" of this series of "The Local CHURCH."

Of all seven "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22,23, love is the greatest fruit. Without love we cannot walk by faith for "faith worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6). Prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge will vanish away, but love shall never fail (1 Cor. 13:8).

God is love! In heaven everyone must walk in love. There will not be any in heaven who do not walk in love. We must learn to walk in love here on earth to prepare ourselves for heaven when we leave this earth.

On earth we must walk by faith to please God (Heb. 10:38). But without love faith does not work. Many Christians desire more faith. The reason many do not have more faith is they do not walk in love.