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

December 3, 2008

The

Local

CHURCH

Part 3

Published for:

HANDS FOR JESUS

P.O. BOX 18655

MILWAUKEE, WI 53218-0655

For Free Books by downloading,

Visit our Web sites at:

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2008 by Merle E. Koepke

Introduction

Part 3 of "The Local CHURCH," is a continuation of Part 1 & 2. Therefore, being that some who are reading this Part may not have read Part 1 &2, some things will be repeated in this Part.

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).

The Holy Spirit 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 (The Holy Spirit) established in "the Local Churches."

At this time it is important that Christians understand the position of the Holy Spirit in the Churches. When Jesus ascended to be with the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to prepare Christians for eternal life in heaven and also prepare the way for the second coming of the LORD (This information is all contained in seven mini-books "THE KINGDOM," soon available on Hands For Jesus, Inc. Web sites).

Jesus is the King of kings and the LORD of Lords, but the Holy Spirit is God in "the Kingdom of heaven" and "the Kingdom of God" here on earth (all of this is easily seen in John 16:7-15; Acts 1:1,2; 13:2-4; 16:6-10). We are now living in the time when the Kingdom of God is here on earth, and the Holy Spirit is in control of what happens in "the Kingdom of God," and what happens in "the body of Christ" (which is the Church).

It is important to understand the order which God established in the churches. 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.

If you do not have a copy of "The Local CHURCH, Part 1 & 2," please get a copy. There is a lot to understand in Part 1 & 2, that will help greatly to understand this Part 3.

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

Part 3

One day while I was visiting someone in their home for a week, I awoke in the morning and from my spirit came "Look up the word one in the dictionary." This was unusual to me, for most of the time when something comes to me from my spirit it concerns something in the Bible. This time it was a dictionary.

Knowing it came from my spirit I got the dictionary from the place where I was staying and started to look up the word "one." I spent an hour or more studying everything it said about the word "one." When I finished looking it up, it came to me. No matter how you consider the word "one," it still means only one thing, that is "not more than one and not less than one."

Why was the Holy Spirit having me look up the meaning of the word "one"? Simply, because that word is used many times in the Scriptures to emphasize the importance of God's operation here on earth and in heaven. In heaven there are three in the Godhead, yet all three are "one." The body of Christ is "one" body, not many bodies. Christians are "One Spirit" with the LORD (1 Cor. 6:17). Husbands and wives are "one" flesh. Families are "one" family.

In God's creation, we must become as "one" in what we do. We must be in one accord. Everyone must work together as though they were "one." Wherever there is division and strife there is every work of the Devil (1 Cor. 3:1-3; James 3:14-16).

I have learned something of importance over the years by listening to my spirit. That is, if we are talking to someone and they are not interested or they disagree, then the Holy Spirit is not involved. If the Holy Spirit is not involved, then we do not need to be involved either.

"...Where the Spirit of the LORD is there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3:17). "Liberty, means "freedom." Freedom stands for no opposition or control of anyone or anything else. Therefore, where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is no opposition by the enemy, who is the Devil. In heaven there is no Devil or demons to put people into bondage or anything that would hinder the love of God from flowing in and through everyone. God is love, and where God is working there is love.

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. 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."

In 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." They became one flesh (one in agreement), and they began to have children which form a family. God used the family to set the beginning of all order in this creation.

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.

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 the LORD established in the Churches, 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."

In the family, the mother is not over the father, but she has responsibilities appointed by the LORD and the husband. The older children have responsibilities appointed by the father and the mother. This is the same in the local Church.

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).

When we understand the type and shadow of the Church, which is explained in Ephesians 5:21-32, we can better understand God's plan from the foundation of the world, first starting with the family, then the body of Christ, then the local churches throughout the world.

For those who have not read Parts 1 & 2 of "The Local CHURCH." it would be very helpful if they would get a copy and start with Part 1, then Part 2. These booklets should be on our Web sites shortly and can be downloaded freely by whosoever desires.

When we study our Bibles, it is important that we understand, "God's Word is progressive." That is, what is in the beginning continues until the end. Do not take one verse and build a doctrine from it. The Word of God was not designed that way. Go back to the first time something is mentioned and follow that all the way to the end. Then you will see what God is teaching us from His Word. Remember, God's Word needed to go forth into this world before God could bring it to pass (Isa. 55:11).

God used the family as a type and shadow of the Body of Christ (the Church). God also has shown us this type and shadow in the Law.

Under Moses, who is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ, the LORD God first separated the tribe of Levi, choosing them in place of the first born of every family. In Numbers 3:12, it says, "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine." Moses and Aaron were both of the tribe of Levi.

The LORD established the priesthood from among the tribe of Levi. Moses himself, being a prophet, was over Aaron, who was the first High Priest. In the Old Testament, the highest position in God's order was the Prophet or Prophetess (a Prophet being a man and a Prophetess being a woman). The next highest in line was the High Priest, and then other Priests. The third in line was the Kings. These three were God's order in the Old Testament.

In the New Covenant, the order is Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, and Pastors (1 Cor. 12:28). Therefore the New Covenant has Apostles over the Prophets. There were no Apostles in the Old Covenant. There we no Evangelists in the Old Covenant either. God was using the Children of Israel to establish Himself as God over the whole world. God made Himself known to the world by how He had chosen the children of Israel as His own.

In the Old Covenant, no one could become a High Priest unless they were of the descendants of Aaron. Order in the Priesthood was established under Aaron and the sons of Aaron. It says in Numbers 3:6,7 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him...And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle."

This is a type and shadow of the Church, and the Local Churches today. The sons of Aaron were like "the Elders" in the churches. The remaining tribe of Levi were like all the others who were needed in the work of the LORD as a part of the ministry (praise and worship, intercessors, helps, etc.).

There was an order setup in the Law concerning the work of the ministry. The Prophet (Moses), the High Priest (Aaron), the Priest in every location (the sons of Aaron and their sons), other Levites to teach in the homes and other locations. These were all chosen by the LORD, not chosen by the people. No one was allowed to become High Priest unless they were of the sons of Aaron. Everyone who was allowed to work in the ministry had to be chosen by the LORD, under the guidelines of the Law.

This is the same in the Body of Christ. The LORD is the Head of the Body, and no one else can occupy that position. The husband is the head of the family, and no one else can occupy that position in God's order. In the Local Churches, the Pastor is the head of the Local Church, and no one else can occupy that position. Therefore, the Pastor must be ordained by God, and anointed by the Holy Spirit to occupy that position. (Many have tried to occupy that position, without the anointingthat is not of God to say the least).

The more we study the Law concerning the Priesthood, the better we understand the Body of Christ, and the Local Churches. It is important that we understand God's plan for ministry work within the Body of Christ, and not be deceived by those who teach otherwise.

For every position within the Priesthood there was an anointing. For every position within the work of the ministry today there is an anointing. The anointing comes from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit anoints whomsoever the Father and the Son give Him.

Unless we understand the Holy Spirit, we will not truly understand the Body of Christ, or the order which the LORD established in the New Covenant. It was the Holy Spirit that did the works that Jesus did. It was the Holy Spirit that sent out Barnabas and Saul in Acts 13:2. It says, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."

Notice, the LORD chose Barnabas and Saul, but it was the Holy Spirit that sent them out. The LORD is at the right-hand of the Father and the Holy Spirit is in charge of what happens in the Body of Christ today.

Look at Psalm 110:1 which says, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This is repeated over and over in the New Testament. Who is to sit at the Father's right hand until He makes His enemies His footstool? Read 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 and see what it says. Then look at Hebrews 2:6-9 and see what it says.

Jesus is at the right hand of the Father while the Holy Spirit is working in the Body of Christ to put all things under the feet of the Body of Christ. When the Holy Spirit (working through those who are anointed in the Body of Christ), puts Satan under the feet of the Body of Christ, then the end will come.

Therefore, it is important to understand the Body of Christ (which is the Church), and the Local Churches here on earth. God is working within the body of Christ, within the Local Churches to put the last enemy under the feet of the Head of the Body, which is Christ. When the last enemy is destroyed (which is death), then the end will come.

The Body of Christ must come in line with God's plan and purpose for the body of Christ. The Local Churches must come in line with God's plan and purpose for local Churches. When Christians follow God's plan everything will come in line, and Christ will be glorified over the works of the Devil.

Watch what is happening in the Body of Christ today. Does it line up with what God has shown us in the Scriptures? What is happening in the Local Churches today, is it lining up with what is shown in the Scriptures?

It is sad to say how many have taken the position of a Pastor, and have become controllers of others for their own benefit. Many Pastors are not willing to give responsibility and authority to others within their churches. They want total control over everything that happens within their own churches. This was never the plan of God from the beginning.

When the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, He then took a rib from Adam and made Eve (woman). The LORD did not take the toe, or the foot of Adam to make woman. The LORD took a rib out of the side of Adam to make a woman. The woman was not taken from the head of Adam and also was not taken from the foot of Adam.

Why a rib of Adam. Woman was to be an equal part of man, not the head and not the foot. Woman was to be an help meet, not a slave, and not someone to be looked down upon as less important than the man.

Yes, Adam was first formed and then Eve. But without Eve, Adam would be useless. What could man do without an help meet (without a woman to bear children into the family). There could not be any children without a woman. There could not be any children without a man. That is the way God planned it to be.

The same applies to the Local Churches. How can a Pastor be a Pastor without any members in his congregation. How can a Pastor be effective without "elders" as helpers in his church? How can elders be effective with no Pastor, and no members? Look and see God's plan for the local Church, and then see what Satan has done to destroy what the LORD started?

Pastors do not belong trying to do everything themselves, and controlling everything themselves. The LORD has given into the body of Christ many anointings to carry out the work of the ministry. Each one is important, and they all work together for the good of everyone in the Local Church. Those who are anointed for a work within the Church know their calling. Those who are not anointed, are not sent by the Holy Spirit for that position. They need the anointing to do the work of the ministry they claim to be called to.

The Body of Christ is One Body, controlled by One Holy Spirit, for one purpose. The LORD puts the ministry gifts in the Church. The Holy Spirit puts them in order, under His direction. The Holy Spirit is the Anointing in the Church. He distributes the anointing according to His will, not the will of people (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

Satan has many in the Churches today saying they are anointed, but those who know the LORD and are in fellowship with the Holy Spirit will know the true from the false. Some say they are Apostles, but they are liars (Rev. 2:2).

Let us follow God's plan for the Local Church and let the Holy Spirit control the operations within the Local Church. Look at what is said in Zechariah 4:6, "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The true operations within the Local Churches are not going to be done by those who are not anointed by the Holy Spirit. What men do of their own ability will not be approved by God. It cannot be by man's might, or man's power, but only by the Holy Spirit.

Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, what men do will be of no avail and could also lead to following the Devil. That would not be a very good place to be in the end, when we all stand before the LORD (Rev. 20:12-15).

When the LORD spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:18 saying, "...That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," He did not say Peter was going to build His Church. The LORD did not say any man will build His Church. The LORD said He will build His Church Himself.

The LORD and the Holy Spirit are working together today, building the Church (which is His body here on earth). Psalm 127:1 says, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

We must be careful when someone tries to be a controller in the local Churches. When we see this, it could be a person trying to build his own church. In Job 1:6 it says, "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them." Wherever Christians gather together, Satan comes also. Satan is a spirit, therefore you cannot see him with your eyes, but you can know when he (or some of his demons) are present.

If you spend at least one-tenth of your time every day in prayer and in the Word, the Holy Spirit will equip you with the anointing (discerning of spirits), to recognize spiritual operations. Those who do not spend time in the Word and in prayer will lack in spiritual discernment and easily be taken by the snare of the Devil.

Spending one-tenth of a day in prayer and in the Word is only a tithe. The tithe only gives us access to the blessings of God. When you go beyond the tithe and spend many more hours a day in prayer and the Word, God will rebuke the devour and Satan will not destroy what you have and you will increase in every good work of the LORD. You will find reference to this in Malachi 3:10,11. Those who do not tithe their time with the LORD in the Word and the Holy Spirit in prayer, will not partake of the true anointing which comes from the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are given to each one individually as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

Some believe the gifts of the Spirit are transferred from one individual to another by the laying on of hands. This is questionable according to the Scriptures. The "gift" of the Spirit, which is "the Baptism in the Spirit, or the filling of the Spirit" is transferrable by the laying on of hands. Therefore, the anointing of the Holy Spirit Himself is transferrable by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17). But the nine "gifts of the Spirit" are controlled by the Holy Spirit Himself (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

Many false anointings are manifesting in the Churches today. Just as Jesus said, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" (Matt. 24:11,24).

For more information on this subject get Part 4, of The Local Church."