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June 12, 2009

The

Local

CHURCH

Part 4

Published for:

HANDS FOR JESUS

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MILWAUKEE, WI 53218-0655

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2009 by Merle E. Koepke

Introduction

Part 4 of "The Local CHURCH," is a continuation of the previous Parts. This Part will deal with the way local Churches are to operate according to the Scriptures of the New Testament. This part will not go back into the details of the first three parts. Therefore, to understand the complete operation of the Local Church, it would be helpful to read the first three parts also.

To understand the Local Church, we need to understand the body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up of many members, and everyone is important. In 1 Corinthians 12:12,13 it says, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ...For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Nothing in the Local Church should be any different than it is in the Body of Christ. The only exception is that the Local Church may not have every anointing operating within it at all times. There are many anointings in the Body of Christ, but not all of these anointings manifest in every Local Church.

Local Churches may not be large in numbers of members. Therefore, the anointings of the so called fivefold ministries may not manifest all the time in smaller churches. That does not mean the Local Church cannot function and accomplish all that the LORD desires for those who are members of smaller local churches.

As we study the Scriptures, we will see the plan of God for smaller local churches as well as larger local churches.

The Local Church

To understand the local church, we need to see what is required of those in a local church. When Jesus gave the commission to the Body of Christ, He was speaking to every individual, not just a few select people.

In Matthew 28:18-20 it says, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth...Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

When Jesus spoke these words, He was not speaking only to those gathered there at the time He was taken up to heaven. Jesus was speaking to everyone who becomes a part of the Body of Christ. Therefore, this commission is a personal commission to every born again Christian. This is the responsibility of each member of the Body of Christ.

Too often, Christians follow the teachings of men, and end up never fulfilling the call of God on their lives personally. God personally chose everyone who is born again. No one came to receive Jesus Christ without God first drawing them. Jesus said in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Everyone who is a member of the Body of Christ came by a work of God in their lives. John 1:13 says, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

In John 15:16, Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." What Jesus is saying applies to everyone who is a member of the Body of Christ. The LORD Jesus Christ has chosen everyone in the body of Christ "that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." This is not just for a few who think they are someone great and others should serve them. This is for everyone who is a part of the Body of Christ. When we look at John 15:1-6 it says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit...Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you...Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me...I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing...If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

What Jesus said in John 15:1-6 applies to every born again Christian. Everywhere we look in the New Testament, what is said of one applies to everyone. Therefore when we look at the Local Church we should base what we believe according to the Word of God for everyone "individually" not just for some who think they have a special anointing and everyone else should do as they say.

The real truth is in the Word of God. What applies to one applies to all. The Word of God is a personal Word to everyone personally. Each one should consider others within the Body of Christ before they go off doing their own will.

The anointings within the Body of Christ are to be under the control of the Holy Spirit here on earth, not under the control of the individual that says he has been anointed. In 1 Corinthians 14:39,40 it tells us, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues...Let all things be done decently and in order."

Everything that is done in the Local Church and in the Body of Christ should be "...done decently and in order." When we look at the Scriptures concerning the New Covenant we see that already in Zechariah 4:6, it was prophesied, saying, "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." This is a prophetic message concerning the New Covenant Church. Everything must be by the Holy Spirit working all things together as one Church, one Body of Christ. The Local Church is a part of that same Body of Christ.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said to Peter, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The LORD Himself is going to build the Church (which includes the Local Churches and the complete Body of Christ). The building of the church is not done by individual people, but by the LORD working through the Holy Spirit in everything that is of God. If it is of God, then it is not of men.

When the LORD is building His Church, it is done according to the principles that He set up Himself, while He ministered here on earth. The first of all principles that the LORD ordained in the Body of Christ is, "he who is greatest among you, must become your servant" (John 13:15,16). We are all called to serve one another, not to be served, but to serve. Along with that principle, comes self-denial. Unless a Christian denies himself, he cannot be a disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:27,33). Everyone must place others before themselves (Matt. 20:26,27; Mark 10:42-45).

Christians need to see God's plan for the Local Church from the Scriptures. God reveals things to us in many ways. Everything God does has a pattern for it shown in the Scriptures. God's plan for the body of Christ and the Local Church is revealed in type and shadow in John 15:1-6. A vine starts with a seed planted in the soil. That seed begins to grow and a vine appears. That vine then grows branches. The branches grow leaves and fruit. The fruit grows and becomes mature. Within the fruit there are seeds. Those seeds, when planted start the same operation over again, a new vine, branches, leaves and fruit with seeds.

One thing about the whole operation is that the seed produces another seed "identical" to one it came from. Each one produces "after it's own kind." Grape seeds produce grape vines (not apple trees).

Christians are to help each other reproduce the image of Christ in each other. Like anointings are to help those who have like anointings to mature and become productive in the work of the ministry (each after their own kind).

As an example, praise and worship leaders should help others who have the anointing to lead praise and worship to mature and become fully operational in leading praise and worship. The same applies to intercessors. Anyone with the anointing of intercession should look for those who have the evidence of becoming an intercessor, and help them to mature and become fully operational in the area of intercession.

There are many anointings within the body of Christ, besides those of the fivefold ministries. Every individual has been given an anointing for some service within the church. The mature Christians should be helping those who are still immature to become mature in the anointing they have.

What the Devil tries to do in the churches is stop the operation of the anointing among the members. Whatever he can do, to hinder the anointing he will do. The Devil tries to bring in a false anointing, or to stop those who have a true anointing from helping others become mature in the anointing they have.

When Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." this should have been translated, "make disciples of all nations." A disciple is a student in learning. Everyone should become a student of the LORD in learning to do the same things Jesus did. These should go throughout the world as witnesses of Jesus. By this, the whole world should get to know the truth concerning Jesus Christ. As the world gets to know the truth and abides in the truth they will also mature and obtain all that God has promised them in His Word.

The body of Christ is to reproduce "after it's own kind," which is the likeness and image of the Head of the Body, Jesus Christ Himself. This can only happen when Christians have the same purpose that Jesus had when He came into this world. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of God the Father. This is mentioned many times in the Gospels. Jesus was teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:10. He said to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." There is no place in the whole New Testament where God encourages Christians to do their own will.

Christians, no matter where they are or what anointing they have, God has given them the ability to do that which He has anointed them to do. It is the anointing that does the work. The anointing is within each individual from the day they are born again. The anointing receives the ability to mature when a Christian receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit that manifests the anointing within an individual. By the anointing you will know if they are truly called to operate in that gift. The gift will make a way for a person to mature, because the true gift operates by the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

The Devil tries to hinder the anointing to keep it from producing and reproducing within individuals. The Devil tries to bring in false anointings to deceive those who are truly anointed, and permit the false to manifest in their midst.

Have you ever been in a church service where you see the anointing manifesting, and people are getting healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit? This is the plan of God for every Local Church.

Have you ever noticed certain individuals in those meetings acting in unusual ways? If you are listening to your spirit, you will know what is not of the Holy Spirit. All indications are that Jesus had a sound mind. The Word of God will verify that a Christian should at all times be of "a sound mind." In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." In Mark 5:15, speaking of the man who was possessed with a legion of demons, it says, "And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid."

Christians should at all times have a sound mind. Satan is a god and has the power to do great signs and wonders among people. Many in the Churches today do not discern the spirits that operate in their midst. Everything they see that is supernatural they think it is God.

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 to come before the LORD, Satan comes also.

Satan comes to manifest his operations right along with the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to set people free of the works of the Devil, by the true anointing. Satan comes to snare Christians into following him in false manifestations in the spiritual realm. Anytime a person is not in their right mind, it is very questionable if the Holy Spirit is in control. The Holy Spirit will always agree with the written Word of God and the blood of Jesus (1 John 5:8). The Holy Spirit never comes to deceive or lead anyone away from the truth revealed in the written Word of God.

What is sad is that many of these young Christians who came under that spirit in a meeting, later you will find them all messed up in their minds. Some of them end up in mental institutions. We need to be careful of what spirits are manifesting in the Local Churches today. There is a true manifestation of the true anointing of the Holy Spirit, and we need that manifestation in all of the Local Churches. But, the false manifestations should not be permitted in the Local Churches.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be manifesting in the world. But the false manifestations of the world should not be manifesting in the Local Churches. There should be a true anointing of the true gifts of the Spirit in every Local Church. But there should not be any manifestation of the false in any Local Church.

Every Christian should be sincere in the desires of their heart to became a vessel fit for the Master use. The first desire should be, "Thy will be done," not my will be done.

The anointing for the gifts of the Spirit come and operate "as the Holy Spirit wills," not according to man's will (1 Cor. 12:7-11). All manifestations of the Spirit should be manifestations of the Holy Spirit, not any other spirit. All manifestations of the spirits should be judged (1 Cor. 14:26-33).

I have been in Churches where false manifestations were taking place. No one seemed to care. Many were clapping their hands and praising God for the false manifestations. When these are taking place, you sometimes get a sick feeling in your stomach (which is a witness of the Holy Spirit letting you know that is not of God). Sometimes, you only get a slight indication in your stomach, an uneasiness, but you know in your mind, there is something wrong. That is the Holy Spirit letting you know, what is happening is not of God.

Every mature Christian should know in their spirit when false manifestations are taking place. The Holy Spirit is not willing that any false manifestation should be taking place in the Local Churches. He will identify the false operations if mature Christians are listening to their spirit, rather than their mind.

When you know the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit, it will be easier for the Holy Spirit to alert you of the false manifestations. But, if you accept the false manifestations, the Holy Spirit will not correct you, He will let you do according to your will. The end results of your doing your own will, will be revealed on the last day, the day when the books are opened and everyone will be judged according to what is written in the books (Rev. 20:12,13).

The Local Church should be a place where Christians come together to receive from the anointing of the Holy Spirit, whatsoever is needed to do the work of the ministry. The Holy Spirit should have vessels that He can use to manifest through to set people free of all the works of the enemy. The Local Church should be a place where Jesus is worshiped and glorified, and not men.

From the Apostle down to the new born babe in Christ, there is none greater than the other. We are all members of the same body of Christ. We are all to be servants of the LORD Jesus Christ. We are to serve any other than the LORD Jesus Christ. In this serving the LORD Jesus Christ, we are never to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Romans 12:3 says, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Every member of the Body of Christ has been given faith to do the ministry work the LORD has ordained for them to do. Every work ordained by the LORD is important. None are more important than another.

Those who think their position is greater than another have been listening to a wrong spirit, a spirit of deception. The Apostle is not greater than a new born child of God. The anointing and the person are two different things. We will not be judged on the last day according to the anointing. The anointing is not our anointing. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. No man will ever receive praise from the LORD for the anointing which operated through them. What is of God, belongs to God and God alone. Those who receive glory for the anointing in this life will give an account to the LORD on the last day.

All glory and honor and praise is to be given to the LORD, and God alone. No glory is to be given to man, no matter what anointing manifests. God will not share his glory with another. In Isaiah 42:8 it says, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

God permits on earth whatsoever man permits. The Father judges no man. In John 5:22 Jesus said, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." Jesus does not judge anyone at this time. In John 8:15, Jesus said, "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man." In John 12:47, Jesus said, "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." Then Jesus explained this by saying, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

All judgment is left until that last day, when the books will be opened, everyone will be judged out of what is written in the books. Why is it that way? Because God does not desire that any should perish, therefore, we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8,9). By the grace of God, we can repent and receive forgiveness, and that which we repent of will not be found written in the books on that last day.

If anyone, who has been deceived by the enemy will repent, they will be forgiven and their past will not be remembered anymore. What they have repented of will not be remembered, and will not appear in the books which will be opened. But, beware, unless we repent what is written in the books will still be there on that last day.

No matter what a person has done, if they will repent and turn from their ways, they will be forgiven. Jesus said in Luke 24:47, "...that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This repentance includes all things which are done which are not right before God. This is not just for those who are not born again. It is also for those who are mature Christians, who do things which are not right in the sight of God.

The wrath of God does come upon Christians who do not repent. Romans 1:18-32 explains the wrath of God that comes upon Christians who do not repent. For those who do not repent, God gives them over to a reprobate mind (rejected, unapproved mind). This includes all those things mentioned in Romans 1:18-32, not just those who defile their bodies in sexual immorality.

It is important to notice that some of these who do such things will not be able to repent. Hebrews 6:4-8 explains this very clear. We cannot come against the principles of God and not be judged according to the written Word on the last day. Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, and Pastors will all be judged by the same standards set in the Word as those who reject Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior. God is not a respecter of persons. The LORD will judge everyone according to their works.

Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 7:22,23 saying, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?...And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Those who are workers of iniquity will be judged for their iniquity. The anointing will not get anyone into heaven. The true anointing is not a work of men, but a work of the Holy Spirit. No man will get any glory for the anointing. No man will receive praise from God because of the anointing. Each one will be judged "according to their own works," not by the works of the Holy Spirit through them by the anointing.

The works in the Local Church are to be the work of the Holy Spirit, working through those whom the LORD has called and anointed to do the works. The whole New Covenant is based upon what is done by the Holy Spirit, not what is done by man. In Zechariah 4:6 it says, "...This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" In short, the name "Zerubbabel" is Zerub, meaning "to flow away, rub out." Babel means, "confusion, false religion." Thereby "Zerubbabel" means "called out of religious operations controlled by other spirits." Christians are called out of this world, to inherit the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, God should reign in complete control of all that is done. Nothing should be the work of man, not by man's power or man's ability, but by the Holy Spirit only.

The Holy Spirit should be in total control of everything that is done in the Local Church. When men try to control others for their own benefit in any type, way, or form, they will give account on that last day. Until then, we must all seek to do the will of God only in our lives, never our own will.

What is written in the Scriptures applies to everyone. We must all be taught by God, not by man. Jesus made reference to this in John 6:45, saying, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." When Jesus said, "all be taught of God," that means everyone, not just a few. Every Christian should make it a purpose to be taught by God, not just follow the teachings' men.

We must be led by the Holy Spirit, not by men. We should all continue to grow from Children of God to sons of God, and become mature in Christ. Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

We must walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh. In Romans 8:1 it says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The words "which are in Christ Jesus" pertain to everyone who is born again into the family of God. Those who are still walking after the flesh are still subject to condemnation. Only those who walk after the Spirit are not under condemnation. The only way to be free of condemnation is to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This applies to every born again Christians, not just a few.

When Christians look for a local church to become a part of, they should look for one that operates according to the Scriptures, not one where man is in control. The Holy Spirit is to be in control of everything that concerns the kingdom of God here on earth. Where the Holy Spirit is not in control, there are works of the enemy present.

The conditions within local churches today that do not line up with the Scriptures are not unusual. These false operations were already manifesting at the time the Epistles were written. The Epistle of Jude was written mainly because of what was happening in the churches at that time. As we study the Epistle of Jude, we will see why the churches today are not being controlled by the Holy Spirit, but rather by man.

Jude wrote "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints...For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ...I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" (Jude 1:3-5).

We need to be aware of what is happening in the churches today. It is not something new, or something that has not been known over the years. It is a work of the enemy that comes because men who are not listening to the Holy Spirit have come into the churches. The operation of the Holy Spirit is very limited in some of the churches today.

In Jude 1:17-19 it says, "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ...How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts...These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." In verse 19, where it says, "...having not the Spirit," does not necessarily mean they did not at one time have the Holy Spirit. Having, implies that at that time the Holy Spirit was not working among them. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:1,2 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils...Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." These were at one time in the faith, and possibly led by the Holy Spirit. But they have departed from the faith, and permitted the spirits of this world to have a place in their lives. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 it says, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."

We need to be in a Church where the Holy Spirit is in control. Where everything is done by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

For more information on this subject get the other Parts, of "The Local Church." There are many other books available on many subjects that help us to understand the Local Church and God's will for Christians here on earth. These can all be downloaded freely from our Web sites at: