How To Live as 1st Century Christians: Recent Episodes
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A simple exposition and guide for us today about how new believers in Jesus Christ can live like the disciples, apostles, converts and believers in Jesus among themselves and to the world.
Greetings Brethren, in this episode we will hear the closing or parting message for this part of the study and broadcast. We will examine how it is not selfish to seek to give one's all to God to receive the most of God, but actually that it is for ones own good to know God in the highest form possible while living on this earth as a preparation for eternity. We echo the apostle Paul's statement of seeing the Christian life as a race, and every race has its finishing line, Paul knew his. At the end of the race, Christ is to be won forever, something King David desired see and enter. We then explore how the approach of being like children for the Kingdom of God is the best one, trusting, and ever depending on our Heavenly Father, much like our Jesus did. In the end, how much of our Christian life, struggles, breakthroughs, and passion do we know is actually God working through us to will and to do for his good pleasure?
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Greetings all, today we will be looking at the 'crown of rejoicing,' after having looked at the 'crown of life.' We will see that when the apostle Paul uses phrases like, 'run the race.' 'not entangling oneself with affairs of this life,' we get from these illustrations that there is a standard, or pathway if you will that we must abide by to get through into the Marriage Feast of the Lord, with the right clothing, or robes. We cannot cheat our way into these crowns, nor take shortcuts as hired hands, but be examples of what we preach as it was preached to us and appears in God's word, and God will in turn send his Son's Spirit that brings one from death to life to abide in us, teach us, and run the face with us, enabling us to let things go that are blocking our path to God. How do we run towards God at the moment? Along this race, do we already have disciples of the Lord tended by us that we may call 'our crown of rejoicing?'
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Hello Guys, in this episode we reach a climatic attribute of Zion, that there will be neither male nor female, or any caste or class over there (just at in the New Jerusalem, and the New Earth). But what is most striking is that dwelling in Zion is not an attainment that is earned or climbed up to (in one's strength) or by one's will. It's more about God's will, providence, knowledge, and gifting based on his foreknowledge, mercy, grace and love. So we can forget about thinking who or whom will be there (just as with who and whom will be in the New Jerusalem, and New Earth). Whether one was married on earth or not is not the centre of it. The closest characteristic of fully surrendered and yielded servants and believers, followers of Christ is the image or profile of the eunuch servant, both figuratively/spiritually and possibly literally for the sake of the Lord and the gospel. Are we happy, and pleased that God will reward in ways we never guessed and not by our human standards of who or whom is deserving of both 'the crown of life,' and 'crown of righteousness,' and what both crowns imply?
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Hello All, in this episode we will outline many attributes about the place and space that is referred to in the Bible as Zion. A part/part in Jerusalem where there is a height, hill or pinnacle of a mountain from which worship to God takes place. The earth shadowing what is in heaven. The characteristics of this holy height range from; a place of comfort, a place where God reigns from, 'is the apple of his eye,' where poor people of God can place their trust, is where God has laid the cornerstone - a sure foundation and much more. These can be chiefly be derived from the Psalms and book of the prophets. The episode ends with how interchangeable Zion and Jerusalem can sometimes be, but the emphasis on Zion is from the highest height. Do any of these descriptions of Zion reflect our Christian life? Which ones?
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Greetings folks in this episode we will describe more of the attributes of those who are going to be with Jesus at his coming. Some references would be made to Aaron, and the instructions God gave him not to defile himself among the people around him. And chiefly how to avoid the luciferin spirit of exalting oneself. On a day to day basis, it is our will or God's will that we desire to be done?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will continue with some further points about the characteristics of the servants to be rewarded in eternity with special crowns in relation to their faithfulness and a portion in the holy city. The characteristics mentioned in this piece is: 1) eunuch-like mindset of having no spousal attachments, 2) being chaste and married to Christ as a virgin, undefiled by thoughts Christ warns of in his sermon on the mount, and 3) the forsake all servant not looking back or letting any material act as fetters to his/her progress with the Lord. Does the modern world need a combination of all three of these characters for the long-for revival in the West to be seen? To what extent can we attest to how steeped, devoted and avowed we are to one of these types of servants?
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Greetings brethren, in this episode we will cover a little bit more about rewards resulting from faithfulness. One facet not often discussed is that God knows the number of servants who will dwell within the most holy place; Zion, just as he knows how many stars are in existence. Hence, there will be a time when the full number of those to be rewarded by having a heavenly abode in the holy place will be fulfilled. Characters such as having the 'The Father's name, and Son's name,' written on the foreheads of servants is substantiated by how perfect, acceptable and good the service of these servants according to God's will. These type of servants partook in the sufferings of Jesus, went where he lead them, spoke truth with their lips as God desired, and whose lives and prayer was like incense and sweet aroma in the heavens, and music to God's ears. What does it mean for us to be counted as 'those born in Zion,' ?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will be hear a little bit more about Zion as the spiritual place of the highest order and a domain from which the promises of God to his servants, sons and daughters is fulfilled. Therefore, anyone that has lost anything before coming to Christ, or has lost family relations, lands, properties, assets, positions in society for Christ is given restoration from God, and such people are in such a state of grace that their service on earth is like a rest from all the hassles and uncertainty that they may have struggled with before. All of this is based on a covenant or agreement with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and receiving his nature and wanting to do the things that please him. How much do we know of the promises to be fulfilled in Zion?
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Greetings all. In this episode we are going to examine two types of 'outsiders,' strangers as it were: what the Bible calls the eunuch, and second the son/daughter of the stranger/foreigner. Firstly, we acknowledge that God forgets no one - not one, no matter their social status, earnings, genealogical background or label that the world has given them. So long as such a person, 'a so-called,' outcast is prepared to have an agreement to serve the Lord with all their hearts, mind and soul, then God will give such outsiders an everlasting name, status, and position in his house, the true and eternal one. Thus people who become eunuchs for the Lord, will have many spiritual children and are free to do so without partiality of biology. Likewise those who leave their biological kin or land for the sake of the Kingdom by faith, will get more spiritual kin in this life not to mention the one to come. Are we prepared to be less earthly cultural for the Kingdom culture when it comes to where we came from, and the expectations to live like others?
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Hi Folks, in this episode we visit the theme of eternal rewards. This is seen through the lens of faithfulness and stewardship - let that read as responsibility and accountability - towards the building of God's kingdom, either by our internal and ongoing sanctification or the use of our spiritual and natural giftings. Summed up in the illustration of 'to he who is given much, much is expected,' we then veer into the encouraging climax of race runners in the Lord, hearing him say 'enter into the joy of the Lord,' being faithful with few can rule with more. Hence the significance of the eternal rewards - the exchange of living for passing pleasures to working to please the Lord - is exemplified with the experiences of Moses and Jesus himself who knew the bigger picture and rewards for their faithfulness. Are we ready to run the race for the eternal crown knowing that our Christian lives is not in vain? If so, has God our Father given us a window in the spirit as to some inkling of eternal settlement in Him?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will be visiting the topic of rewards for our Christian labour in this life. We will do so by first looking at how Paul likens a farmer's crop, and athletes crown to temporal or rewards that are perishable but are a result of hard work and discipline. Therefore the Christian is given more drive to strive for a reward that no one can take away and that won't rot. We then touch on how every Christian's foundation will go through tests to see whether their work or their soul will come out of it, hence the need for faithfulness and truth. We finish off by looking at Jesus' parables about the wise and faithful steward who will rule over bigger things because he kept watch over what he had been entrusted with. How do we keep watch with what God has given us for his service?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will summarise and conclude under which conditions Paul the apostle writes and instructs women to conduct themselves in the church assembly. We acknowledge foremost that unmarried women are freely available to serve the Lord without distractions - as long as they are not usurping male authority - and some of the instructions that Paul wrote to elder male servants in the Lord may also apply to women. How much do we empower unmarried women in our church to reach the depth, height, and breadth of their calling in the Lord?
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Greetings saints, in this episode we will start to conclude some of the points we raised earlier about a 'woman's' position in the house, local church, and in relation to being in one spirit in the Lord as her male counterparts are. We start off by a reminder of how God created the quantities of woman in man, in Adam, and that the distinction of separation was for fellowship of two souls and unification in one flesh that was supposed to be in one spirit before the fall. We are then encouraged by how in Christ there is neither male nor female, servant or free we are all one in spirit, however, as per the order of the conditions of this world it is still fitting and in line with Old Testament tradition for males to take the lead in baptisms, and other church based ordinances. That is not to say that women have no function in the church, as the apostle Paul does designate the same instructions to deacons and bishops also to women in relation to younger Christians. Does our local church rightly balance the freedom to serve Christ for females who are in one spirit in the Lord with the realities of the conditions of Biblical order for men to take the lead in church management?
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Hello All, in this episode we touch on how trusting the Apostle Paul - Like Christ - was to entrust certain positions of responsibility to women. In the case of Christ who had female followers (disciples) and said to John to behold 'his Mother,' and in the case of Paul who mentions Phebe and was well acquainted with Priscilla as a co-worker as we saw in the Book of Acts. The importance of this is that when it comes to some higher positions, 'or calling in the Lord,' of serving and ministering Paul instructs some women as to their conduct, expectations and office just as he would his fellowmen. If females like Phebe were to be protectresses of her local church, do we have fellow workers of the female gender that we can also testify as protectors of ours?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will be looking further at the means, promises, and prophecies which were given to women and men alike at the time of the Pentecost. We later see from this the freedom for females to serve in the Lord, remembering how in Jesus time women were not spoken to by people of the law yet Jesus spoke and taught both Mary and Martha and in return said to John about his mother and how they were to serve one another. In short, Jesus - who was also first seen by women after rising from the dead - championed women to be liberated to serve. Knowing that God is a God of order, and there are earthbound positions in gender, social status, political and spiritual authority and more, how we do reconcile the Biblical accounts of these women (mainly married) who were free to serve in the Lord? Under which conditions can we discern that God authorised, permitted and lead their prophecies, ministries, and services?
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Hello folks! In this episode we will mention some key female prophetic figures, namely: Huldah, Deborah and Miriam of the Old Testament, and Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna of the new. Each of these figures were married, thus an inference that they were operating under a male authority but still free to serve the Lord. In some sense they are anomalies in that they could do both, in some sense. We later verge on the question of how a prophet or prophetess is anointed. Unlike priests which have a special anointing oil rite, prophets and prophetess according to the scripture are anointed directly by God, and in turn they anoint priests (Moses), Kings (Samuel), and leaders (Deborah). What measure or tests do we use to qualify prophets or prophetess in our local bodies, aside from predictions coming to pass?
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Hello folks! In this episode we will be reminded of how the priest in the Old Testament, the high priest more especially were all male, of the Levite tribe, and were not for Gentiles but specifically for Jews, or Hebrews. Knowing that the Old Testament was a type and shadow we are delighted that the 'veil,' has left and in turn the light of Christ has liberated us all; gender, tribe, and state of service to God. We then look at the Old Testament function, and profile of a prophet, ending on the note that one of the kings in the Old Testament had a word from a prophetess when he repented. When the apostle Paul states that women can prophesy openly in church, does it go against his edict in later epistles that they should be silent? If a female had a word of prophesy to declare for the assembly, would she feel liberated or restrained in our meetings?
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Hello folks, the Lord has risen indeed! In this episode we will continue to look at the appropriate way to view Paul's much discussed instructions to women at public church-based assemblies - their conduct, their manner and behaviour. We will first acknowledge that to be the 'head,' as the husband is according to Jewish traditions is not a bad thing as naturally speaking each person's head is the epicentre or brain container through which the nervous system that controls the body directs, provides and serves the entire organisms of our anatomy, and the head is not dictatorial or adversarial to rest of the body. Thus neither should believing husbands be. Christ we are told is the head and we are his spiritual bride of which their is neither male nor female. Thus, Christ is the perfect example of a husband or shepherd in terms of disciplining, loving, caring and sacrificing. At the same time Paul writes differently about our union in the spirit as neither male, female, servant or free than our position or condition in the flesh as gender and freedom based, there are distinctions to be made and order or manner to be adhered to in this sense. Can we see the difference between our union in the spirit and position in the flesh? If so, is there a complimentary rather than adversarial relationship between them?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will make more distinctions between the terms, virgin (unmarried woman), and married woman or the Greek term 'gune.' The importance of this distinction is underlined in the rules or commands given to some types of women with certain status - married. For example, the woman who has a husband is under his authority but the woman who is unmarried is free from the authority of a husband to serve the Lord in a more consecrated manner -mentally - since she has not a husband to please as Paul tells us. This line of thinking results in us asking each other and ourselves whose authority are we under in a biblical sense? As a woman if married, or as a woman unmarried? How this relates to ministry in the formal church and duties at home is also something to look at. Ultimately, Paul's instruction is counter-intuitive to modern sensibilities, and seems chauvinistic, however, the apostles also command the husband to love his wife as Christ loves the church - his bride. To what extent to do we view Christian marriages as a union between Christ and his church? If so, what does that mean for us?
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Greetings, in this episode we will focus a bit more on the meaning behind Paul's instruction to women about being silent in public/church meetings. This consist mainly of seeing that he uses the term 'own husbands' and not 'all men.' The distinction that it is only to her own husband and not all men is key because it means that Paul may be saying that it is not for 'any man,' to say to all kinds of women that they should be under him, but only to her 'own husband,' as mentioned in scripture. Seeing it from this perspective are men to be aware not to use their biological difference over a women as an excuse to wrongly wield authority over her?
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Hello guys, in this episode we will center on the phrase that Paul uses about women keeping silent in church. We will assess this passage from various translations and see to what extent the Mosaic law, and the pattern of husband and wife dynamics relate to it. The Mosaic law was directly referred to by Paul when he made that statement and the law relates to obedience and authority between husband and wife. We then see that if Paul's statement is more about husband and wife, it may have been misused in Christian circles throughout the ages, but that does not mean it ought to be. We finish by looking at how the phrase 'woman' in the new testament is 'gune' and relates to one's wife, and if that is the case - then there could be an authority between couples that should not be interfered with just by anyone even if they are Christian. Do we truly understand the apostle Paul's statement about women, and silence as we ought to and in Greek?
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Greetings brethren, in this episode we will introduce the topic of godly women in the ministry of serving others for and in the Lord. We will begin by first upholding that every creature and all of God's creation has an eternal and continual purpose that is specific to their kind. And that there is value in the distinction and degrees to which different kind of species, creation, and gender function. For example angels were made greater in might than humankind and yet are sent to serve humankind by God. Ultimately it is useful to dispel the notion that the Bible frowns upon woman's rights or the woman's position and some of the most empowering statements and remarks about women, their exploits and contribution to the spiritual conquests that God has achieved through mankind has been with woman. Can we see the celebration of women in God's word (The Bible) without positioning that women have to act, function and be just like men?
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Greetings folks, in this episode we will complete the chapter about marriage and ministry by first looking at how the ultimate purpose of marriage is to show us how wielded those obedient to Jesus will be when they are completely consumed by His spirit and live out a completed life as one with Christ and God. That is the ultimate form consummation - in spirit. Of being totally enmeshed together - in spirit and more so than in a soulish, psychological and physical way we are with our love partners while on this earth and in this body. This is the gospel, that there will be no more limitations, trust issue, fear of loss or decay in our ultimate union with God, and His creation. We will end the chapter and episode by being reminded of what the apostle Paul calls the eternal weight of glory or bliss in God, and how it is not necessarily the showy big time ministers who will be given rule over big things in heaven, but they who followed Jesus wherever he desired to lead them that will be. How much are we going the extra mile in being Jesus love slaves on this earth, washing each others feet and multiplying our resources to feed as many as possible?
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Greetings All, in this episode we will round off by being reminded that servants of old like John the Baptist cast out no demons nor did any showy miracles, yet was commended by Jesus in the most emphatic manner. Therefore we are to be of the thinking that our ministries as full-time servants of God in an official manner is not about size but quality of the life of the minister. Paul echoes this when he states the purpose of the global and local Church is to bring its members to the measure of maturity of the mentality and soul obedience of Christ Jesus. Paul speaks about the effect exemplifiers of Christ have in communities, regions and nations. Not to be defeatist thinking or legalistic, but when considering the calling of God to be a set apart servant, do we think more of the size of the ministry, and people impacted or, the manner of our Christ-lived out lives and to what extent is it shining?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we further look at the apostle Paul's advice to serve God in the state that we became a Christian or were called to offer our bodies (mind and soul) as a living sacrifice for the duties and leadings of God in Christ Jesus. We then see how decisiveness is key, and that it is better to marry and stay clear of a full-time consecrated ministry than to consecrate oneself and then seek to be married. The implications are clear in terms of focus, expectation, temptation and use of time in service and the effect and talk that such a servant would have amongst others. This episode ends by looking at how being called to full-time consecrated service does not necessarily mean that one is going to do 'mighty and big' things in public service and only God knows why and how he will use each willing person in the bigger picture. Can we see how marriage affects ministry and how the latter may strain the former if not discerned and agreed in God's will beforehand?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will continue from where we left off regarding the apostles following Christ and forsaking their all, and Jesus' own promise or pledge of what they would get in return in this life and the life to come. This is later compounded by Paul when he states that he was separated from his mother's womb to serve God through Christ to the unbelievers outside Israel. Ultimately, the call to make oneself a 'eunuch' for Christ must relate to a known calling from God and a willing acceptance of it, rather than forcefully adopted. Likewise, those who are not giving this calling may support the church in many was, but are not to neglect their marriage and family raising responsibilities. The underlining theme is willing acceptance of what God wants. We end this episode by looking at how even married bishops of Biblical times conformed to the category of consecrated ministers of the Lord in the eunuch fashion aforementioned. Why? Because though the married before coming to Christ, their entire household was under the rule of Christ, and they in all turn were prepared and did in fact die for the name of Christ. Is our marital desire linked with our godly calling, and if we are already married, is it a balanced home in submission and jointly church supportive life?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we will continue to explore the purpose of marriage when it comes to serving, and the willing privilege of singleness for those who feel God is calling them to serve Him in that state. What is of foremost importance is 'free will,' and expectation. Free will because marriage will entail worldly responsibilities of each spouse which they must tend to to keep the marriage healthy, whilst 'free will,' also applies to those who choose to remain single and that can only expect full unrestrained dedication to the service of God. Fellowman in these instances does not impose which direction the believer takes in relation to marriage, and we see when Christ speaks about eunuchs, he does not speak in the historical understanding of that state but the spiritual for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, some married couples live fully God centred consecrated lives as well, thus this is a very personal matter for each one to work out with fear and trembling in the sight of God. To what extent have we allowed fellow believers to impose or influence rather than support our marital status?
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Hello All, in this new chapter we will touch upon the topic and subject of marriage. Marriage as it relates to a Christian or new testament servant and their calling in the Lord. This topic derived from the often asked question of whether to serve the Lord as a single or married person. We will of course recourse a little to what apostle Paul advised on marriage as well as what Jesus spoke of regarding God's original plan and now what can be obtained by his followers and doers of the word by his grace. That is to say that Jesus recognises God's plan for mankind to have life mates for procreation and enjoyment, but Jesus also states that there is a calling of His for those who choose to be outside the arrangement of marriage for him. How better served are we to serve God like Jesus if we are not already married, and if we decide to get married is it to our ministerial benefit?
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Hello All, in this episode we will be concluding with the final instructions of Jesus to his chosen 12 disciples - and in turn us believers and servants of Him - to go forth and make disciples of all nations. This is echoed in the transition and promotion of Timothy (from a novice to a bishop) as a beneficiary of apostle Paul's ministry as was Titus. The key ingredient to the passing on of the baton of the gospel truths and how to form Christ in others is the ability to teach God's truths that is given by God's Holy Spirit for the building up of the local body of believers. A willing humble, and honest heart enables this to happen as Jesus instructs us to learn from him - but we need to observe Him if we are going to teach others to observe all that He shows us. When we look at our Christian lives, the believers we are surrounded with, the message in our hearts that God desires we share, can we ask each other if now is the time to take on the baton of discipling others in God's truths, and whether we qualify to do so based on the principles and process previously shared in this chapter?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we will be upholding what it means biblically to be a 'novice,' when it comes to ministry. Anyone who wants to be a formal or full-time non secular income earning member of a Church must start at some point and that starting point is their novitiate, their novice-hood. Our expounding of this is backed up by references of how growing trees in the Old Testament were supposed to grow for three years, then be dedicated to God in the forth and only in the fifth year be used for the consumption and enjoyment of the people. Ultimately, both apostles Peter and Paul continually mention the process of persevering, character building and being tried with many situations to become an elder rather than instantly taking up a high position in the church. In fact the apostles and the Bible guide against instant promotion due to the temptation to be full of pride and other trappings that follow. Are we ordaining ministers of whom we can be certain in the Lord have been found of good report over time? Or are we going by what seems good at the time?
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Hello All, in this episode we will continue to examine the interchangeability between the term 'elder,' and 'bishop.' From this we will see that one pertains more to character (elder), and the other more to the office (bishop), but that the two words were rarely used in one verse, thus inferring the sameness in quality and function. This is important when we look at the 5 fold offices of ministry as we will notice that 'elder,' or 'bishop' was not mentioned, but as the two terms share functions and responsibilities with that of a 'pastor,' which in turn means 'overseer,' then we can also gather that by including one of these, all three are meant to follow. Forgetting the titles, how much overseeing are we under in our Church, and how much if appointed by God are we willing to oversee?
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Hi Guys, we will be entering into the root-word meaning of the term 'bishop,' and 'elder,' in this episode. We will explore both terms as they are somewhat interchangeable, but will also look at the functions of the role and responsibility of an elder or bishop from a spiritual, communal and structure based perspective. Concluding that one's time and experience with a community, church or peoples is what goes into knowing such entities the most, but also how much one has served their community, church or peoples should qualify them to be an elder. Is our eldership or leadership team serving the people the most where we are based?
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Hello folks! In today's episode we will stress once more that the book of Acts was written from the point of view of the Holy Spirit and his working through the apostles and Jesus' disciples. Hence, their pattern, and manner of communal living and the forsaking of all can make more sense if argued as a step that disciples, take, if we distinguish a Jesus disciple as a higher calling than simply a Jesus believer. We then return to the term deacon and look at its origin in Greek and how it simply comes down to the application of being a scrutinised and trusted responsible minister of Christ for the Body, either in apostolic, prophetic, teaching or pastoring ministries or offices. These distinctions, phrases, terms meant Biblically, and appropriated colloquially in Christian speak today makes for a maze, but the question or principle is all the same, a responsible minister of God desires for God to be his all, his inheritance, assets, source of income and sustenance. How much of eating from God directly in order to serve his children in this manner - discipling manner do we desire today?
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Hello brethren, in this episode we will veer more into the difference in life and conduct that Jesus calls for who he calls his disciples to be a distinct calling than what he calls for his believers in Him to live by, namely the forsaking of all and communal living. We will assess how modern day commentators may have lumped everyone into one category and why throughout the church age and exemplified in the epistles and the book of acts the Church went from its birth and infancy (Gospel and Book of Acts) into its childhood (epistles) thus demonstrating the giftings, callings, and service level and emphasis that the Lord calls believers in him to explore, take up and attain. Are we ready to be his disciples?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will see how the Acts of the Apostles were written about some of the deeds that the disciples did. Ranging from selecting the aforementioned seven deacons in the previous episode to being the voice, witness and instructor of Jesus throughout the Holy Book of Acts. Why this is important is because there is an element of emphasis on selecting workers, and being called, being a supporter and being a chief actor in the ministry of the Church that was spearheaded by Christ through the twelve. Thus knowing of the high calling of being a disciple as differentiated than only being a believer. On that basis. should a believer should know from within and externally whether they are called to be a disciple of Christ?
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Happy New Year Brethren, in this episode we will examine more about the function, and title of the term to be a 'deacon,' mainly drawing from the book of Acts of the Apostles. We will see how deacons serving widows was conditional on the basis that the widows had no nuclear or extended family and also how when Jesus told the Apostles to feed the multitude as the multitude had taken a journey away from their houses and possibly jobs that they - unlike the Apostles - could always return to. Thus, showing that there was a distinction between lay members, and ministers or deacons. This is greatly exemplified in the person of Stephen the first listed Martyr who was a preacher and full of wisdom, rather than a believer who only waited on tables and served other ministers constantly as opposed to by exception. Do we desire the call of the minister of Christ?
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Hello folks! Today we will be introducing and exploring a little bit about the function of a deacon of a church or fellowship. We will first look at the term from its Greek origins in meaning which is - of service - as a noun or - to serve- as a verb. Jesus was a server, or minister rather than one who came to be served or ministered to. Thus, modern day usage of Deacons has profiled it as a role apart from the five offices, but in actuality of the intended meaning and pronouncements of Christ to be a deacon is about the fundamentals or functionality of service, and what qualifies this server, or Jesus worker to be called a deacon would be how much they serve, or are willing to serve. A deacon is then a server, not only a table waiter as common parlance but a minister, set apart to serve. In one official office or five, the generalised intended origin of the term is service. Would you like to be referred to as a deacon of and for Christ today?
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Happy holydays to mark the coming of Jesus my brethren! In this episode we will complete the emphasis of the function and office of evangelism, as something that all members of the five fold ministry do, desire to do, and find reason in continuing to do to the lost of the dying world. We then venture onto the function and office of pastors, looking at the synonyms and meaning behind the term, 'shepherd,' and 'overseer,' and how Jesus is the true Good Shepherd who will lay his life for the 'sheep,' or followers, and finally we end this episode with the office of the teachers, which is also an expectation of all offices of the church. And conclude by looking at why 'dividing,' or explaining the Bible is important, despite the spirit of He who wrote the Bible being alive in the life of believers at all levels. Is there any office or function of the church that we most identify with and how deep, or happy to grow in this area of service are we at the moment?
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Hello folks! In this episode we will introduce the modern day workings of a prophet as one who informs, inspires, and rebukes those within the Church. But that there is also a difference between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophesy. We then finish with the primary function of an evangelist whose work is to preach the basic truths of the gospel, second coming of Christ, water baptism, divine healing, repentance, the new birth and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
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Hello Saints, today's episode lays out six qualifications for being a modern apostle for the Lord. The case of the continuity of the apostolic position is first made, reminding us of how the functions of the apostle are as necessary now as they were in the 1st century. Following this, we look at how the modern apostle must have a personal revelation of God and the Saviour, Jesus Christ. As well as a special revelation of God's word first and foremost. Other qualifications are that they are sent for ministry by the spirit and body of believers, they have an overview of the wider area (as opposed to local) the ministry is based in, they can settle matters of doctrines local churches may face, and they have the special grace to bear the tribulations the church may be experiencing. Who wants to be a modern apostle for the Lord?
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Hello Saints, in this episode we will cover what it means to be an apostle or sent by the Lord, the authority of the sender and the sent. The awareness of this dynamic is key for church planters and their attachment to the church formulated through them by the grace of God and the will of His Holy Spirit. This awareness is also important for grumbling speculators - who are also believers - when they consider the authority of the sent and the mission developed or in development. That the speculators are aware that true apostles are not be self-willed or have an entitlement mentality but are completely God willed, God proven, approved, and their mission is fruit bearing on truth. Thus, members of churches from obedient apostles are assured and comforted that they belong to a local body that God approved and sent to plant Himself. Have we done the checks and balances based on God's truth and spirit for acknowledging that the local church we attend has God's seal for us?
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Hello Saints, today we will conclude with the remaining three qualifications necessary for formal or consecrated, set apart time for serving the Lord, and they are: 1) The Love of God, and fellow man, 2) being known to only born of the spirit, 3) and finally being humble under God. Within these remaining three pillars for functioning properly and dynamically in the Lord, a checklist of sorts is provided. Thus, a servant of God who wants to do the work of the gospel can be sure that they are free of self-pride, ethnic or traditional ties, and free to operate in the true depths of God's love both for them and for all humanity. Are we satisfied with the extent of our spirit led, humble God loving life of service at the moment?
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Hello saints, in this episode we will introduce 4 qualities or qualifications that are essential for a Christian to take on an office of service, and they are: 1) being anointed by the bower of Holy Spirit, 2), being knowingly chosen and called by God, 3), know how to live by faith, 4), being set apart as holy exclusively for the service of God's word being expounded. These four key qualifications challenges notions of being self-appointed, asking for proceeds and offerings, and mixing up God's gospel work with secular work. Are we who have plans or are in the process of working for God truly qualified to do so? And if not, what can be done to make it so?
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Hello Everyone, we will begin this new chapter by looking at what it means to be one people or 'body,' in the Lord. That is, our local contacts and networks of believers are to have no divisions on grounds of belief and operating in the service of the Lord. How do we enact this? By always looking to the risen Jesus as the 'head' and decision makers of all our affections, affairs and attitudes to him and one another. Knowing that between us one is at the door, listening in to all our thoughts, words, and attachments of the heart. Once this is recognised, then when the outpouring and giftings of the spirit result in governing, admin, diversities of tongues, healings and miraculous ministries we can channel multiple gifts in the right manner without jealousy, useless competition and misunderstandings. Can we confidently say with the Christians we live and serve with that we are one mind in the Lord?
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Hello folks! We are so delighted to end the chapter with a reminder of how preaching the gospel is its own reward and that by having restraint in our everyday talk we may be able to hear from God better, and effectively helping people and members of our church when matters arise. Finally, we land on how the achievements of a servants service in the Lord is a reflection of his or her prayer life, a result of it. Do these attributes, sound prayer life, stewardship over godly responsibilities, and restraint in speech attract or repel us?
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Greetings all, in this episode we will concern ourselves with the concept and function of stewardship or overseeing. Looking at three components that make a good overseer, being faithful, watchful and wise. We will touch upon how Paul speaks about this application for the gospel in all seasons, and also to rebuke, exhort, lead, teach in all sound knowledge of God's truth as a template for trusted believers. Overall, the precious privilege that God gives to us Christians through Jesus to know more of his Mind, and be trusted to do his work is something worth committing to in a lifelong developmental fashion. How committed are we to the privileges of overseeing fellow believers entrusted to us and ensuring they are grown and lead properly by His spirit and in truth?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will emphasise the character attribute of holiness. What it is from God's perspective, how he devised it for his initial and future followers and how it can be attained as Christians. The importance of holiness is ever around us, that is those who have received God's Spirit, His Holy Spirit. Meaning how we reflect, exude and practice holiness will show how far, wide, and high our growth and development with His spirit that we have inhabited has been. Can we really enjoy the Comforter, and Advocate, the Helper without being holy ourselves?
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Hi all, in this episode we will expand the character trait of self-control or 'temperance' by looking at its virtues or benefits. The first being that once a Christian is in a safe standing self-control wise, they never have to worry about returning to old ways of life that deny the Christ in them as that would indicate a lack of progress in someone's life if they turned back. So inherent in self-control is character progression and soul-prosperity in a directional and journey led way that means where one is today is further along than yesterday and last year in the Lord. We read how Paul learned how his soul, body, mind and spirit could take on and succeed in all situations, both favourable and seemingly unfavourable by the grace given through the sacrifice of the person, and body of Jesus Christ. To what extent do we have a renewed mindset like Paul, the apostle where nothing can shake us, and we know how to be 'more than conquerors,' in all situations?
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A new day beckons All, in this episode we will examine the term 'diligence' or carefulness when it comes to a Christian's calling at three levels: 1) what it means to be careful and considerate in how we serve God the Father, 2) being sure of our calling in the first place in order to enjoy it come what may, and 3) being faithful with our carefulness when it comes to serving in order to yield results and know that we did all we can. These three definitive sides to carefulness/diligence respecting the service of a Christian is then linked to 'temperance' or self-control and we end the episode with a reminder of how Paul likens the Christian walk to an athlete or soldier ready to forgo certain bodily pleasures to ready themselves, discipline themselves for crowning victory. Have we equally measured the lengths and depths of carefulness we would apply to obtaining a secular degree or career position as we would to serving God, in how we are called?
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Hello everyone, we now take a new line of thought as we consider the ways that God uses spiritual offices in the body (or Church) to make fellow believers like children obedient to their spiritual overseers or parents in the church. And that this act of humility carries blessings, unity, strong bonds that enable order and effective functions of the church. We have Paul, and Timothy, Paul and the Philippians and Jesus and his disciples as good examples of this parent/child dynamic in a successful manner. Do we really delight in taking advice, instructions and direction concerning our lifestyles, practices, and spiritual walk from elders in the church as if we were hearing from God himself?
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Hi guys, in this episode we are reminded of Christ's obedient cry at the point of death at Gethsemane as well as the instructions of the apostle Paul to Titus regarding obedience to elders that we are entrusted to by God. Just as Jesus told Peter the difference between the way he walked as a young man compared to how we will walk when he is older before his death, we are all reminded that the obedient life of a Christian is linked to how we are in harmony with one another as members of the body with Christ as the head. Are there two or three things that I could acted more in obedience today?
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Greetings all, in this episode we finish off what not to do - that is how not to act like the anointed figures of old who disobeyed God. And instead recover from a position of disobedience in hope through the hearing or hearkening of the word of the Lord. We then land upon how God rewards those who are obedient to Him, and how they are a blessing rather than a hazard to themselves and their Church. We finish off by recalling how being in Christ obedience teaches us how to treat disobedience where we find it, thus preparing the world for total obedience to its King to be, that is. How will we bring every thought captive to Christ today?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will take our queue from both Saul and Samson as how not to be when called by God and instead first and foremost assess how obedient we are to the Word of God, and ask - "is God the Father our Master only by lips or in deed?"
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Hello brethren, in this episode we begin by appraising what it means to exude the character of Christ. We will do this by first looking at what the character is not, and starting with examples in the Old Testament. Thus we will arrive at the knowledge of what it means to not just preach an abstract gospel but live it, and by doing so the light shining in the darkness of the unbelieving and consumer-led selfish world. So we may have to think, is our lives reflecting the gospel to our colleagues, neighbours, fellow passengers and space sharers?
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Hello guys, in this episode as we close Chapter 3, we will look at the responsibilities of being 'good shepherds.' A full-time minister of Christ has to be so, and in return protect, visit, intercede on behalf of and work with members of the body, the Church based on how such a shepherd is hearing and working with God. A servant is not greater than his master, so all the things Christ had to do, and chose to do, we should too., especially for those who are weary in soul or physically ill. So we conclude by asking, to what extent have we learned from Christ, and taken his yoke to do his will to those who need releasing, leading and feeding, both physically and spiritually?
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Hello Brethren, we begin this episode by echoing the apostle Paul's personal testimony and instruction that it is best for a full-time minister to live from the proceeds of his gospel ministry of reconciliation of souls to God. However, the apostle is not advocating begging baskets or compulsion of tithes, rather a mindset of expectation that a minister has or should have knowing that even if the members of a church are unwilling to offer finances, God will ultimately provide. The apostle takes us to the Old Testament where God did this with the future holy nation Israel through the wilderness. So the question for us today is, are we assured even without labour for material needs or church tithe setting that God can provide for our ministry and responsibilities because he is our Father?
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Hello guys, this episode will be split into four parts. We begin by observing how immersive and all-consuming the work of a Christian servant like Paul was, so that with all the affairs of the church there was no distinct hint that gainful employment was sustainable for such full time ministers like he. We see how this translated itself to the statement which the apostles uttered about their 'widows' not being neglected since there was no time to solely deal with income generation for widows in need and the full affairs of the church altogether. We touch upon alternative income streams such as the selling of possessions to provide for full-time servants and finally we define and appraise what the apostle Paul meant by 'soldiers,' not going to war at their own expense or being entangled with affairs of this life. In summary we see that for Paul to be requesting material resources from churches meant that he himself was not always making tents. Is our tent-making strength, mindfulness and time pledged more to God and his calling for us as a collective or for our own personal care?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will examine a bit more about the context to which the apostle Paul worked, 'with his own hands.' We will position this occurrence against the backdrop of the many forms of persecution and maltreatment that he received in his ministry to deduce whether it is possible in our case to maintain a steady flow of income from a stable job yet effectively preach the gospel and tend to one's own spiritual needs of sanctification and the needs of the local members at hand. Thus, we will end the episode by calling to mind, how effective is the new testament servant of God's ministry in relation to the time they have set apart to do God's work in the mission field and to shape and edify the church?
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Greetings Brethren, in this episode we start by looking at how Paul's charge to live of the gospel was firstly enshrined by Jesus when he sent them out in twos to live by faith. That Jesus was setting a model, a mentality, a mode and way of life for us to follow in that seminal occasion. After being reminded how everyone of his disciples did the same as he - a former carpenter - we uncover why Paul worked with his hands for a time, and as an example not to be confused with the ideal state of a disciple of Jesus. Do we see how we can live off the gospel we preach from God and by faith, or would we rather be self-supporting through personal income? Does the living off God as an inheritance in all gains materially and financially truly appeal to us as a calling?
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Hi Folks, in this episode we will venture onto how the apostle Paul encapsulates the true meaning of God saying to his servants, 'I am your inheritance.' And how this now applies to the New Testament Minister as it did to the Old Testament Priest. We will see how the principle of tithes precedes the commandments given to Moses and is meant for the sake of the giver not only the recipient of it. Thus, we will touch upon how tithing of old which becomes offerings anew in our time is more about investing in hope and reaping from this hope with God and His people. Do we understand how tithes, and offerings are seen from God's perspective as a Christian today? Can we differentiate between the formal obligatory manner once decreed from on high, and now the free-will promptings that is expected, or should be expected from us today? Does the latter exceed the former in amount given? And if it does, aren't we comforted all the more knowing that if we live by faith God will provide directly and through His people?
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Hello Guys, in this new chapter we will outline and unpack the true intention behind the Apostle Paul, as a new testament stalwart working with his hands, the example he meant to set, and the precedent based on exception that he put forth. We will then look at the four levels of income, being paid by the church, asking the church, working in secular employment and finally living by faith. When it comes to our daily bread, our income, can we really say we are living by faith. We end this episode with Paul likening the Christian warfare to that of a soldier who does not entangle himself with the affairs of this life, to what extent can others say that about our modes of living, and are we living off the gospel that we preach, if not how can we?
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Hello Folks, in this episode we will conclude the 2nd chapter about what it means for the Christian to forsake their all, and the mentality or mindset that we can have to yield to and sustain our decisions in such a narrow path. We conclude the chapter by looking at the mentality that Paul invokes, whereby we read how he talks about setting our minds on things above, and what it means to spiritually discern the things of God, aided by having the mind of Christ. What will occupy our mind the most today? What is at the centre of our plans for the next 5 years, and how do we see it as coming from above, and being set on the things of God?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we will start by rounding off how we are 'stewards of the mysteries of God,' as Paul says it, and then we will explore what it means to have rulership with Christ and His saints both now and in the age to come. The three types of Kingdoms, 1) of His Dear Son, 2) Of the saints, and 3) of the Father are also expanded upon in relation to pre and post judgement day. We complete this episode by contrasting the Apostle Paul's mentality of giving up his identity and reputation to the rich young ruler's heart for riches that he held on to, and see how one truly ruled in the Kingdom of God and the other left sad. Are we constrained by family and past bonds that will restrict us from ruling and reigning with Christ in the Kingdom of God?
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Hello Folks, in this episode, we will venture deeper into what it means to forsake all for Christ. How it helps bind similar servants of God together as well as allowing unbelievers to see the living patterns of Christ exemplified through united but fully devoted believers in Him. After this we return to what the life of faith means, and what Jesus meant by taking nothing along when He sends us out to the lost and captive. That it is to be a longer-term spirit filled state of mind rather than temporary approach. Finally, we conclude by the reminder of how only those 'sold-out,' for Jesus such as Paul, can truly have the mysteries of the Kingdom of God revealed to them. Is Jesus asking too much from us to have these revelations, and to be these examples sold out for him without any earthly inheritance, assets and possessions?
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Hello Guys, in this segment we carry on the theme of the forsake all command by first being reminded by the apostle Paul of ministers who didn't complete the race for the prize from God. We then hear from Christ what it means to be a prisoner for him. So, can allow ourselves to be his bond servants of love to do what he wants with our lives?
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Hello folks, in this episode we will use two key analogies for what it means to forsake all, 'a King going into battle,' leaving palatial comforts a 'man building a tower.' Both having in common with Christ this, they have to give all they have in the process. If we are sure of his calling us to serve Him what price are we willing to pay for his call?
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Hi Guys, in this episode we will close the 2nd Chapter with a reminder of how the apostle Paul literally lost his all and considered his past reputation and achievements as nothing compared to the upward call of Christ for him. We position Paul's statements with a further explanation of how fleshly ties such as family and friends could be a stumbling block for us if we are to move in the spirit successfully. Are we Christ-like enough to rebuke a dear friend if they are only after our fleshly interest rathet than spiritual one as Christ did to Peter whom he loved?
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Good day folks! In this episode, we will be unpacking the new chapter which will center on the command to forsake our all for Christ. We will touch upon how this is a literal command only achievable by the grace of God which starts first with counting the cost and ends with lands, brothers, sisters, and more in the faith for those who forsook all, and heeded Jesus' call, and carried their cross with many persecutions. The call to forsake all for the Lord is truly a special call. The question is, have we allowed Mother, brother, sister, or friendly attachments to get in the way of hearing this special calling?
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Hi Guys, this episode will complete the end of the first chapter by remembering how Paul and Peter remind us how each of us must be sure of our distinct ministry within the Body. We explore how this exhortation and encouragement is not to say that we should be inflexible in our ministry as Paul and Peter must have interchanged and some point or for brief periods, but that we should remember to pray, fast, and Listen to the Spirit of Promise as He may at times demand that we be separated for a specific work. This work needs to be held onto once identified in a general sense until we fulfill it. Have we heard from the Spirit of Promise what, and where our ministry is to be? If so, how are we fulfilling it as distinct from other ministers within our body of members and the Body as a whole?
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Hello saints, in this episode today we are firstly reminded of how both Old and New Testament servants of God had elders who had to act responsibly over their disciples, and thus that disciples of God through Christ must be prepared to be corrected, disciplined and obedient also to those who have been given earthly stewardship over their development in the faith and ministry. We then venture onto where Jesus speaks of the mentality of consecrating him when he challenges us that unless we hate our lives, Mothers, sisters, brothers, etc we cannot be His disciple. We attempt to qualify this charge for our benefit without interpreting it away as if it was something light. And we conclude with how the individual's life on earth is likened to a corn of wheat that unless dies (to self), cannot bear fruit - this being the central message for New Testament servants, the cross like Jesus our Master, the dying to self, like Jesus who did not count it robbery to have equality with God. Do we consider dying to self to be a form of robbery of ourselves or counted as pure joy because of Him who has bought us by His blood?
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Hello brethren, in this episode we continue to discuss the requirements of the New Testament minister. We begin by emphasising what it means to be called by God, not man, or of one's sole desire, with examples of how figures like Paul, and Jeremiah acknowledged how they were called or separated to be an apostle (Paul), and prophet (Jeremiah) from the womb - they were set apart. We position this 'God's not man's call' with the mention that Jesus made when he said that many are called, but few chosen and with the apostle Peter's ringing words that we are to 'give diligence to make your calling, and election sure.' How sure are we - whether in full or part-time formal ministry - that we have taken the discerning care to attest that God is behind our ministry and that we are executing His perfect will through it?
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Hello folks, in this episode we are introduced to the beginning of the 2nd book which is joined to the previous book where we explored the parallel between the Old Testament priesthood and New Testament ministers. This book forms the 2nd part on the subject of New Testament ministry and this chapter opens with how God chooses His servants of today without respect to their race or background as opposed to the tribe of Levi of old. Then we further get into how the New Testament minister, the Christian servant must be anointed with the power of the Holy Spirt just as Christ and the apostles were in order to serve. And that the calling to service comes from God, not self-willed, or based on talents, degrees, or reputation. So friends, can we confidently assert that our formal ministers or ourselves have been called to service by God?
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Hello folks! Happy Pentecost day. In this episode, we will focus on the clarity of speaking truth in season and out of season without fear and for the sake of the church and her holiness, and spotlessness before the coming of the Lord. We will navigate to this point by recalling purpose of the trumpet as an instrument for battle cries and its function for gathering the assembly, with its clear and distinct sound - knowing that such should also be the manner of the words of a new testament servant or priest. Are our words seasoned with salt enough to cut through the heart for conviction, rebuke, reproof, and edifying?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we begin by being reminded of how the eventual desire of a Christian believer is to feed on the strong meat of God's divine revelation to rightly divide His word of truth (the Bible), and be able to know with faith what is good or not advantageous for us and our fellow servants and believers in the Lord. We then keep with the theme of being fed the spiritual meat (or bread) of being sustained in God the Father's will for our ministry as something that Jesus prepares for us just as the old testament priests had showbread in the presence of God for a whole week before consumption. We round this by highlighting how like Christ we must also be bread providers to our brethren and the teachings we espouse we must practice ourselves - thereby giving the bread of our lives as Jesus did. Do our spiritual teachings and advice match up to what we live and do?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we will start off with the underlying goal and purpose of the call from our Father which is, "to be holy as I am holy," or as Jesus said, "be perfect as thy Heavenly Father is perfect" which is done through continuous sanctification within the members which form the body, His bride - the Church. We then move on to the heritage from which the privilege of this call was made flesh as an example in the story of the Levites, how they did not complain of thirst while they were thirsty nor did they value their relatives above God. Their reward of which was that they were instructed (or trusted) to teach God's own people His Laws respecting sanctification and holiness. Thus, this tribe passed both the physical and spiritual hardship and trial to allow God to show us the way we can be trusted to carry out this service of teaching His members the way to true life. How much are we excelling in this continuous physical and spiritual trial by trusting God and putting Him above others we are related to today?
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Happy Palm Sunday Folks! This episode will give an overview of 3 more points respecting the duties of the "Priest" in the Old Testament fashion and its parallels to us today as New Testament serving Christians. They are: burning of the incense (or intercessory prayer), trimming of the lamps (or shining as a light and faithful witness to believers and unbelievers), and purifying the unclean (setting boundaries within the Church for the sake of holiness). The instruction to keep the lamps always burning links to praying without ceasing whilst imagery of the candlestick (or even lampstands) reminds us both of local churches in revelations having lampstands before our Heavenly Father and urges us to heed the challenge that Jesus set before us to glorify God through our good works that proceed from our salvation. With this in mind and on this Palm Sunday the New Testament servant of God may also challenge himself by reflecting on his or her prayer life and assessing to what extent is it; "praying without ceasing?"
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Hi Folks, hope you are all well today! This new chapter and episode opens up with a reminder of 3 instrumental functions of the Old Testament type priest as a model for us New Testament servants and they are (1) tabernacle caring for, (2) offering of sacrifices, and (3) incense burning. The first two notably will be discussed by espousing how our physical body is also a temple carrier of the Holy Spirit and for the latter, we will unpack the deeper meanings to the meaning of the term sacrifice as it relates to oneself and self-denial. The Bible speaks about daring sons of God who will take the Kingdom by force, if we want the same are we looking after our own temple (a gateway to the Kingdom of God) enough?
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Hello folks, a new season is upon us. Join me in concluding Chapter 7 where we are reminded of the words that Isaiah uttered before he was sent to be a spokesperson or 'prophet' for the most High. That he (Isaiah) like others in the Old Testament have this non-negotiable criteria initially - they are called and are sanctified by the Lord. Whoever wants to do something for God, must first ask themselves, now that I have been predestined, called, and justified by God, do I live by His sanctification to do His work?
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Hello Brethren, we will split this episode into two parts. Firstly, we will conclude the significance of the sin and trespass offering that a servant of God makes on behalf of the Church and he or herself. The sin offering we make pertaining to the lawlessness of a church or ministry we belong to, and the trespass offering we are aware of concerning where we may have had faults or logs in our eyes to be rid of so to speak. The second part of this episode opens with the forbidden food that the Aaron type of priesthood was not allowed to consume; and how that relates to us (new testament servants), whereby we are prohibited from taking in unclean doctrines. Can we testify to how God is revealing, but touching and treating the faults of our churches and ourselves based on our awareness of bringing both to Him?
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Hello folks! In this episode, we will continue with the theme of consumption, both ideal and prohibited for the servants of God. We will see how the new testament servant borrows from the old priesthood not to consume flesh which dies of itself (backsliders) or is torn by the beast (the devil) but rather yield to eat the meat (or food) which is the acceptable, good and perfect service in line with the will of God. Therefore, the servant of God, the Christian must be careful as to what he/she takes in (consumes). If we were to look in proportion the time we spend in God's word, or with God's people to the time we spend listening to news various entertainment, and other forms of stimulation, is our daily consumption of Him balanced on the acceptable, good or perfect side in God's eyes?
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Hello folks, in this episode we conclude with the description of the ideal servant of Christ modeled on the old-time priest whereby like Christ the forsook the attachment of 'mother, brother, family,' for the will of God. This was where they the Levites in the case of the golden calf in Moses absence and us in the case of any form of idolatry (in Christ earthly absence) have to make a decision of who is on the Lord's side between us and our family members when it comes to forms of worship that are not in alignment with God's will. We then conclude with how the servant of God must be filled with the spirit and not strong drink to make righteous judgments in his priestly service. Does detaching from kinfolk and intoxicants for the pure service of the Lord seem an easy yoke to take on in light of the joy and full salvation found in Christ?
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Hello brethren, in this episode we venture into what it means for the traditional figure of the priest not to defile himself with or by association with the dead - even his own relatives. This principal truth transposes into the new testament servant of God, whereby defilement is no longer to do with association with the physical death, but now spiritual. This begs the question, are we as servants of Christ still influenced by our folks of the same blood to the point where we turn a little to the left and a little to the right, and miss the mark of looking only straight to Jesus from time to time?
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Happy New Year my fellow brethren and listeners. In this episode we veer unto the hidden meanings and parallel, warning to do with fidelity and faithfulness to God that a New Testament minister/servant must have which Israel and Judah at one point did not have when they broke the first covenant and were likened to whores and adulterous women. We discuss how the New Testament servant must keep to his/her first love steadfastly using God's marriage to Israel as a benchmark for how things should be according to God's covenant stipulations and conditions. If we now have a special law - the law of Christ - which is our covenant condition, are we walking in it with love and joy?
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Hello saints, in this episode we introduce the list of special laws for the priesthood and highlight their spiritual significance for the New Testament Servant of God as Christians. They are concerning chastity, and purity of our body, soul, and spirit when regarding the choice of a spouse, and their background as to whether it is holy or not. After all, the scripture does say that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4.4). The pause for thought for the New Testament full-time servant of God therefore is, who are we united to in the body? A fornicator, or a holy son or daughter of God? And how does this affect our unison to God in the spirit?
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Hello brethren, today we will summarise these three areas, (1) burnt offering, (2) ram of consecration, and (3) the wave offering. With each reminding us that the Priest, and High Priest figure that is in us as new testament servants of God must be aware of the letting go of human wisdom and status, dedicating our total self, walk, and life to serving God, and to ask ourselves how far we are willing to go for the gospel and to do God's will under the guidance of and submission to the Holy Spirit. Chapter 6 is completed; the offerings and sacrifices made at the dedication of the priest and of the high priest. We can pause for thought and ask ourselves, is the totality of our lives in alignment with God's will even to the point that we can confidently say that the daily walk of our personal sanctification and burden carrying for the church shows this?
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Hello folks! In this episode, we will finish the sixth chapter by first the reminder of how we are commanded to serve the Lord with full gladness of heart and that our heart must be right with the Lord even when doing his will. We then jump to the anointing oil poured on the priests and his sons, which for us is through the holy spirit to make a Kingdom of Priests. Finally, we summarise the 8 points of the sin offering, what it meant at the dedication of the priest, high priest, and what it means for us today. For us to say that we are willing servants offering ourselves for the Church and the lost, can we confidently say that we have a joyful heart in all of our service for the Church and for Christ?
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Hello Brethren, In this episode, we will carry over from the last one describing how it is the Spirit of the Lord in us that carries the burden of our church, or the body to which we belong, rather than being ourselves who do so. We then learn of the ways in which cakes were heated and formed for the priests which signify the food offering or the will of God which is our daily meat and bread as believers. Finally, we finish off with the breast part of a minister alluding to the heart of giving oneself totally to do the total will of God for his people. Whether that means feeding His sheep His word or interceding for the brethren's sins and weaknesses as the old priest in the order of Aaron used to and Christ and his new priest the Christians ought to do today. So, to what extent can we confidently say that our daily meat (or food) is our doing of the will of God with a single-minded heart not to please men but God?
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Hello Brethren, in this episode, we will cover the other parts of the sacrificial ram's anatomy which is a part of the dedication of the priest and high priest. These are: the right ear, right thumb and right toe. Each representing Christian servants hearing the voice of God (right ear), doing His work in the harvest with all our ability (right thumb) and walking in His ways (right toe) respectively. The segment will conclude first with the symbol of wave offering which typifies our ministry wherever God through His spirit may lead us (even unto the end of the world to preach to every creature). Then we skim over and end with descriptions of the sacrificial 'rump' or end part of our life, and 'right shoulder' for where we carry the burdens of the Church through God's spirit. So brethren, can we say that today our listening, work and walk in in synch with God's spirit?
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Hello brethren! In this episode, we will cover the burnt offering of the dedication of the priests, the rams legs and head which represents strength and wisdom being burned up for God. We then conclude with the blood which was put on the right ear, hand, and great toe to Aaron and his sons by Moses.
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Hello folks! In this episode, we conclude with the other outward parts of the burnt sacrifices made at the dedication of the High Priest and Priest, the hide, flesh, and dung. Each represents areas of our lives such as earthly distinctions (hide), disobedience towards God's spirit (skin/flesh), and our past life or achievements (dung) that must be totally burnt and done away with to help us as personal ministers of God have a personal, and ministerial life that is surrendered to him in a perfect, good, and acceptable way.
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Hello again folks, in this episode, we venture into the parts of the animals' insides which were placed on the altar of sacrifice and dedication of the priest and high priest for ministry. The fat (pleasure, comfort), liver (self-seeking, self-centered), kidneys (elimination of profanity) and the outer parts to be burned outside the camp. We explore the ways in which these symbols inform ministers of the Church today of how they must also proceed with inward examination and outward elimination of what prevents further consumption and reconciliation with God our Father.
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Hello Friends,
In this episode, we go through what the dedication of the priest means by the sin offering as the first stage. We open with the initial sacrifice of the bull, the laying of the hands, and burning of the entrails and other unwanted parts by fire. We then transpose the blameless and spotless animal of the sin offering as to us as Christians who are to be blameless and offered for our ministry in the Lord.
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Welcome back Brethren, hope the year is finding you well. In this episode we will introduce the four types of sacrifices offered by the Priests and High Priests, and how they relate to the New Testament servant of God. We will discuss how Christian servants of God are more than admirers of Christ from afar but partakers in God by their lives which is hid in Christ.
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Hello Brethren, in this episode we conclude chapter 5 about the dedication of the priest, his garments - their symbolic meaning for us. We touch upon the two onyx stones the priest wore on each shoulder piece of the ephod. The mystery of the stones relating to its preciousness in the sight of God and how the priest work is precious and that by carrying the burden of the Church as God bears them they are precious to the Church as they are to God. We then summarise with 14 points the significance of the washing, clothing ceremonies of the high priest and what this means for the New Testament Minister. Thank you.
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Hello Brethren, Happy New Year! This episode will cover the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the curious girdle, breastplate of judgement and finally Urim and Thummim. Exploring the beauty of what the colour blue of the priestly robe represents for us Christians which is pure love founded on wisdom rather than sentimentality to run the church faithfully and without partiality. Also touched upon is the layers or foundations of doctrine - basic and mature onto developing the mind of Christ which is symbolised by the girdle which the typology of the priest wears. We then close with the breastplate of righteousness worn to carry the names of the tribes, or in our case the members of the church as a new testament servant is also an intercessor for the brethren.
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Hello Brethren, here we will cover the other garments of righteousness; coat of fine linen, girdle, mitre, and the golden plate. The latter which concerns the forehead and seal of the new testament saints, that they belong to God, and are holy, as 'Holiness To The Lord.' Also of mention will be the difference of anointing between the Old and New Testament sainthood as well as the believer from the servant, for the latter needs a higher anointing and blessing for their service, ministry, responsibilities. At last we end with the words of the writer of Hebrews to consecrate ourselves and obey them that have rule over us.
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Hello Brethren, we enter deeper into Chapter 5 The Dedication of the Priest and High Priest, and hear about both the inner and outer garments, their relation to the entering into the holy place, and what they mean for us new testament ministers in terms of righteousness, obedience and faith. We learn from the lesson of the rich young ruler how not to lean on our own righteousness but God's.
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Hello All, in this episode we briefly what it means for the new testament servant to be of a royal priesthood tradition. A part of a 'kingdom of priest,' as declared by God and referred to by Apostle Peter. We then venture into what the garments of the priest represent for us, the glory and the beauty designed by God Himself.
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Hello Brethren, in these closing pages of chapter 4, we conclude the type of offerings - key offerings - meat, sin and burnt offerings that were conducted by the Levites in times of old. Also, how these offerings were fulfilled in Christ as an everlasting offering that should be continually dwelling in the servants of Christ today. We close by summarising how these offerings in the light of Christ will make a servant be subjected to perform the ministry of Christ only. This is described in 10 points in summary.
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Hello Brethren, after summarising the order of the Levites, we will now explore how the harmony of ministers in the New Testament ministry in order of holiness and calling under the subjugation to elders within the Church. We will then enter into the, meat sin, burnt, and offerings, and how Jesus Christ was, is and became all for us Christians today.
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Dear Brethren, here we introduce the families of Levi ministers in the Old Testament and there responsibilities. We then introduce the two offices, Priest and High Priest and what each role and function meant and means for believers of Christ in the age of grace and time of New Testament
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Hello Brethren, here we finish off the Chapter 2 and the parallel between the ministry of the Old Testament with that of the New Testament servants who have no share in the world and literally forsake all for the cleansing gospel ministry service.
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Dear Brethren, here we exposit on the five-fold offices of the Church, the role of the New Testament servant to intercede for the Church and its saints and how both Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ liken the ministerial service to that of warfare
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Following on from the last episode here we see the parallels of separation of the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament to the Apostles of Jesus Christ then and today in the eternal New Testament
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Here we follow from the last episode and read of the importance of those who are consecrated for the Lord in the manner of the Apostolic ministry in the first century.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters. In this episode we prelude to what it means to be called to be a minister from the Lord in the New Testament grace period and how it differs to the Old Testament law period. Happy listening. Amen
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