{"id":45,"date":"2016-11-13T00:06:27","date_gmt":"2016-11-12T21:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/?p=45"},"modified":"2016-11-13T00:06:27","modified_gmt":"2016-11-12T21:06:27","slug":"the-church-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/","title":{"rendered":"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there is any issue Satan has succeeded in using to destabilize God\u2019s church, it is on how the Church should be governed. Why this? Did Christ built the Church and leave it for men to decide on how to run it? Does the bible give clear and precise instructions on how the Church should be governed? If yes, why the corruption? Why the differing opinions? Christ knew all this, and therefore, He warned, and continues to warn anyone who would belong to that Church of God which He began, of which He is the head, which He is the only one who can build to completion. Are you careful to listen to His warning? He says, \u201c I appeal to you brethren, to take note of those who create divisions, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them, for they don\u2019t serve the Lord, but they serve their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words, they deceive the simple-minded-Rom.16:17-18\u201d.<\/strong> Are these divisive men with their pretended humbleness, yet unwilling to submit to God\u2019s word not what we are seeing today everywhere, claiming to have been sent by Christ to tend the flock? If truly sent by Christ, where is the obedience to His command to \u201c maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, as there is only one spirit and one faith, baptism, one Lord, one God-Eph.4:3-6\u201d? <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Brethren, know and understand that these men are not God-sent. We are living in the days, when men have arisen among Church members, men who, \u201c\u2026..speak perverse\u00a0 things seeking not to teach people God\u2019s truth, but wanting to get followers for themselves-Acts.20:31\u201d. <\/strong>Among the things they have rejected is Christ\u2019s instruction on how to govern the Church, and how to know and appoint those whom God is adding to the Church government. But since the word of God is firmly fixed and abides forever-Psalm.119:89, let those of us who are willing to follow Christ go back to that word, and know for sure how God\u2019s Church government is set up and how we can be sure we are in it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOD\u2019S LIFE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friends, we are here talking about God\u2019s government of which, the Church is His Embassy here on Earth, for we the members are, \u201c\u2026Christ\u2019s ambassadors-2 Cor.5:20\u201d.<\/strong> So, if there be any Church government, it must be the same exact government of God\u2019s kingdom which is in heaven. Also, it is a proven truth that His government\u2019s style is His own way of life. Let\u2019s therefore begin by understanding how God lives; yes, what kind of life He lives which will give us knowledge on how He governs, and so, give us to know those whom He has appointed over His Church, who runs His government in the Church. God is spirit; is \u00a0love; is right, true, wise, perfect, pure, holy, powerful, almighty, light, and selfless. In these perfect qualities of His life, God doesn\u2019t live them as one who seeks to be noticed, but as one who does the right thing. He therefore went ahead and wrote through His prophets and apostles, a detailed explanation of this life which He named His laws. We all know that a law is, simply a code of conduct-yes, a way of living. So God explains His way of life through His laws. If you read the scriptures, you will prove what we are saying here because, they explain the God- qualities we have just mentioned above, for, \u201c The law of God is perfect; is pure, is holy, is love, is true, is right, is everlasting, is light, is spirit, etc-Psalm.19:7-10; 119:105, 142-144,151-155; Rom.7:12, 14\u2026.\u201d.<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>This being the case, it should be an acceptable truth that, if there is any operation, any project, any innovation that has to take place in heaven, or on the Earth, or in the seas, then, for it to be right and true, it must function according to God\u2019s law. I know, to the majority, a law is just a written code which doesn\u2019t mean much to one\u2019s life, except a mere something to quote, or argue about. But here, we are talking about God\u2019s life not just a mere written Code. Remember, this law explains the very \u201c\u2026mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things-Eph.3:9\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0 Therefore, it can\u2019t be changed or replaced, for all things are designed according to it, since, \u201c\u2026\u2026..by the word of God, the heavens were made,\u2026\u2026.Let all the Earth fear Him, and its inhabitants stand in awe of Him; for He spoke(His word), and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood fast-Psalm.3:4,6, 8-9\u201d. <\/strong>It is by this same word that God, \u201c\u2026\u2026..upholds the universe by the word of His power-Heb.1:3\u201d.<\/strong> Men, as we continue, let everyone remember this and stop joking, playing around with God\u2019s word. I know, there are mockers, \u201c\u2026..who carelessly like peddling around with God\u2019s word, who give themselves the freedom to twist it any howly, according to their liking-2 Cor.2:17; 2 Pet.3 :16\u201d.<\/strong> Know and understand that this law is the life which God lives eternally. Long before He created anything, He lived it. He created everything according to it. This is why, when anything is used against the law, it is destroyed, for He confirms this when He says, \u201cThe Earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;<\/strong> why? \u2026.for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant-Isa.24:5\u201d.<\/strong> Therefore, God doesn\u2019t live this life because He wants recognition, or praises, nor does He want to be seen to lead.\u00a0 He lives it because it is the most perfect fulfilling life; one that can\u2019t be exchanged for any other. So, if there is any creation; if there is any expansion of God\u2019s activities around the entire universe, it can\u2019t operate successfully in any other way other than that of God. Any operation outside those laws is disorderly and very destructive. But why talk about God\u2019s life? What has it to do with Church government? Everything my friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOD CREATES MAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c And God said, \u2018 let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them have ruler ship\u2026\u2026 upon the Earth- Gen.1:26\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0Here, God has decided to expand His family, which is also the universal ruling kingdom. When Christ came, the only one through whom we can have any knowledge about God and life in general, He clearly showed that there is an order in which God runs His kingdom. He admittedly said, \u201c.. and the father who has sent me is greater than all..John.10:29\u201d. <\/strong>Adding to this proof, Our Lord continues to say, \u201c\u2026\u2026.God is above all and in all-Eph. 4:6\u201d. <\/strong>As we will continue to see through this message, it is plain clear that God\u2019s way of governance is a top to bottom order. Look even in the animal kingdom; even though they think instinctively, they have that inbuilt sense of top to bottom order. I know right at this point, some people may feel like not continuing to read the message because of the abuse which has come with this kind of governance. Let such people differentiate between a wrong thing, and a misuse of a good thing. If a good thing is misused, does that make it bad? Surely not. This is what happened, and up to now is happening to God\u2019s top to bottom order of government, and by leaders who have fallen from the truth, and put Christ out of their hearts (the only one who makes it possible for any man to rightly apply God\u2019s governance). This has left them, \u201c \u2026..beating the male servants, and the maidservants(the flock<\/strong>), and to eat and drink, and get drunk-Luke.12:45\u201d, <\/strong>\u00a0which has made many to hate the form of governance. But all I can tell you before that same God our creator is; as long as we won\u2019t go by this order, we will witness more chaos than never before. It is this same God whose way of everything in life is good and lovely, and unifying, who has sent Christ, who in turn has sent us to tell you what misuse is being applied to this form of governance so that those who are doing it,( either by rejecting a leader whom God has sent to them, or a leader using the governance for his own gain )may repent, and those who don\u2019t repent may know for sure that they are headed for destruction, for against His order, God says, \u201cBut if your heart turns away, and you will not hear\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026you shall perish, you shall not live-Deut.30:15-16\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0 Therefore now, let everyone who reads this message, whether a leader or the being lead, be in a \u00a0deep-spitted, self-examination attitude, to see if you are right with your maker or not. Even though God wanted to create a man who is like Him in every way, He did not do it at once. He has a process through which He will accomplish His desire ( For details on this, request for our message, \u201cWhat is Man<\/a>\u201d). This physical beings we are, is just the first stage of God\u2019s creation for man- 1 Cor.15:46; Psalm.146:3-4; Isa.40:6-7. In it, we do not have knowledge, life, super minds, or power inherent in ourselves. As a people in their creator\u2019s hands, right now, we are depended on Him, for He is still in the process of creating us to finally come up with a man who is like Him- Isa.64:8; Jerem.18:6-7; Isa.45:9-10. This physical life is meant for mind and Character development, after which, the qualifiers will be crowned with a spirit body, and thus, become fully like God who is spirit ( read our messages, \u201cSeek for honor\u201d, and, \u201cIt is Satan\u201d, for details ).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOD\u2019S ORDER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Look at the today\u2019s societies. Chaos reigns from family levels to international quarters. Man is against wife, son against father, mother against daughter, neighbor against neighbor, and so on until now, the stage for kingdom against kingdom is being prepared. If God truly had an order in which societies should operate, and it is this top to bottom leadership, which we see being applied almost everywhere, why the chaos? \u201c The Earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws(the government ones included), violated the statutes, broken the everlasting agreement(covenant). For this reason, a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt- Isa.24:5-6\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0What! A curse ! Yes, here, is invited the very explanation of how almost every man on this Earth is misusing God\u2019s order, which makes it look bad, and also , the reason why He is calling men everywhere to repent( turn from that misuse). Follow on keenly please. Remember, whatever God did in creating, He had fore planned; so it isn\u2019t anything one can try to change with time. Remember also that whatever God created was very good-Gen.1:12; so, it needs no adjustment. We are therefore here, explaining the eternal purpose of God which endures forever. God created man first, and then afterwards, He created a woman out of man. \u201c Ever since the creation of the world, God\u2019s invisible nature, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly seen through the visible things He made- Rom.1:20\u201d.<\/strong> Here, God is introducing his spiritual family to the man He created, by forming him into a family arrangement, so that, through it, man may learn how he will at the end become a member of the spiritual family of God for which he was created; for, \u201c\u2026.God wants to bring many sons into his glorious family (<\/strong> by bearing man into it .our message, \u201cAre you born again\u201d has details)-Heb.2:10\u201d.<\/strong> So, as a display of His spiritual family, God ordained His order of governance in this physical family. This is why He created man to be the ruler of His wife, for He told Eve, \u201c\u2026..your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you-Gen.3:16\u201d. <\/strong>I know right here, you women are yelling at me when you remember the kind of oppression you suffer from your husbands based on this, misuse of the order of governance. And also, you men are wondering whether I know what I am talking about, when I say you love your wives non-conditionally. If this order is Godly ordained, why is it bringing such countless torment to both men and women? If you can remember what Isaiah told us in Isa.24:5-6, do please. It is because of misuse, not because of a wrong order. If it were for a wrong order, when Jesus came long after Adam and Eve, He would not have had it repeated through His apostles who wrote, \u201c\u2026..for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church-Eph.5:23\u201d. <\/strong>Surely He would have had it corrected, for His desire is that all should enjoy peace and happiness, His very nature in Which He created the entire universe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A WRONG START<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though God has a very orderly government, a very orderly life, He lives it through a free- will choice. It is in this same way that He doesn\u2019t enforce it on anybody. Actually, this is one reason why He did not straight-away create a spirit man. In order to be like God, man must freely choose to be so (our message, \u201c the spirit of God\u2019s Sabbaths\u201d, has details). \u00a0After creating man, God set before him, the two life styles; one of God which brings life with peace and happiness, and one of Satan which destroys life with sorrow and pain (read our message \u201c The two trees\u201d). There are those of you who hate this Godly order of governance, blaming it of being suppressive, and they wonder why God ordained it. Let them know that it was not God who made it suppressive. Adam, and up to now, your own choice makes it appear so. Adam Chose the order of Satan, that of (though, as we have seen, man in this physical life doesn\u2019t have life-inherent in Himself) independence, for Satan deceived him saying, \u201c\u2026.. you are like God; you don\u2019t die, you are perfect in wisdom- Gen.3:5\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0Please, stop blaming God. Blame yourselves. Without knowledge and power, man dissociated himself from his only dependence and so began to beat about the bush. If one who has never learned how to drive takes a car, and decides to drive; after engaging wrong gears, hitting on objects after going off-road, and so jamming the engine, will he go ahead and blame the maker of the car? This is exactly, whoever is blaming God\u2019s order is doing. Instead of carefully following God\u2019s instruction on how to engage in that order, man is imagining everything about it, and this based on selfish agendas, as advised by Satan; and God is wondering before him, saying \u201c Woe to him who strives with His maker; does the clay say to him who fashions it, \u2018 what are you making\u2019 or, \u2018 your work has no handles\u2019-Isa.45:9-10?\u201d. <\/strong>After man chose Satan\u2019s way, then the self-centered ignorant way of life took stage and bore fruitage to what we are seeing now, which Satan went ahead and deceived man to think that it is God who made it that way. Had man chosen God\u2019s way of life, then his activities would have been packed with the sense of training to become like God, and so, this order of governance would have applied in the light of that Godly purpose and not, what man thinks, or wants. As we began to see, God is love, good, true, right, etc. These are the qualities which man would have, and should be developing(ed). They are the same by which he would have ruled His wife, and the wife would have applied in submitting to her husband. They would not have been doing it in order to get approval from each other, but as a means by which they will train to live like God, for later on, when Christ came correcting the misuse, He told human beings not to , \u201c\u2026 practice your piety before men in order to be seen by them\u2026..-Mat.6:1\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0This is the way of Satan, with everyone trying to play a god, and seeking acknowledgement before fellow men, which causes oppressions; thinking they have knowledge, and therefore messing in everything they do-see.Eph.4:17-19. Confirming it, Christ said through the apostles, \u201c not in the way of eye service as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart-Eph.6:6\u201d. <\/strong>What is the will of God? That all men train to live like Him, in developing His mind and Character. In the same way God doesn\u2019t live the way He lives to be praised, or chosen, or supported by anyone, but because it is the best life, so also, man was, and up to now is meant to do everything because it is the best and most beneficial in life, and is what God created him to do. So, whether fellow-men will praise, support, despise or reject him, that is none of his business; \u201c\u2026\u2026.his judgment is by God (not men)-Rom.2:29\u201d. See also 2 Cor.10:18.<\/strong> Are you seeing some light here? If everybody was living this Godly life as one training to become a god and not imagining to already be a god(trying to compete for supremacy which is not there, for we are not like God as yet), and by so doing be affecting each other in that goodness, do you think a man will be oppressing his wife? Do you think the wife will be fighting back? I ask you; do you think governments and their subjects will be engaging in riotous demonstrations? Surely no.Agree with me; societies will be running smoothly with everyone, the leaders and the being lead, striving to do good as a way of life. This is how the top to bottom order of governance, if followed according to God\u2019s instructions, will bring to those who practice it, peace, unity and freedom, for, \u201c\u2026the law of God is not burdensome-Mat.11:29\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0Brethren, from the word go, man rejected this good godly life, and it is what we are calling the misuse of God\u2019s order, and is what God is correcting through His spirit in the hearts of those who will submit to Him through Jesus Christ-the Church.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CORRECTING THE MISUSE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whatever God had in mind when He created Adam is what He has now, and what He is teaching us in Jesus Christ through His Church. \u201cIn the same way\u00a0 He said, \u2018let there be light\u2019, He is now in Jesus Christ saying, \u2018let that light shine in the hearts of men\u2019-2 Cor.4:6\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0What does He mean by shining the light in the minds of men? It simply points to giving men knowledge on how to live, for Christ came, \u201c\u2026to open the eyes that are blind; to free the enslaved—Isa.42:6-7\u201d. <\/strong>So, you who hate God\u2019s order of government, get helped; and you who are misusing it, thus misrepresenting God, get insight and repent, and learn to humble yourselves before your maker that He may continue to create you, for, \u201c\u2026He has a desire for the work of His hands-Job.14:15\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0After a time of hands- off-human-affairs, God decided to restore His plan, and this is when he began to lay the foundation of the present Church from which you are now reading this message. Is it a new and different plan? \u201cWhatever God does endures forever, nothing can be added to, nor, something subtracted from it-Ecles.3:14\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you willing to go back into the hands of your creator that He may finish what He began in you? Then, the first thing is to correct the mess, yes, to remove the lie of Eden. In a world that had strayed from the plan, God called Abraham, whom he set apart from the idolatrous world and introduced him to His original plan- See Gen.12:3. Which plan? \u201c\u2026.Let us make a God-like man, that He may rule upon the Earth-Gen.1:26\u201d. <\/strong>Up to now, the uppermost thing in God\u2019s mind, which is also why He would need to deal with human beings, is to create His mind and behavior in them, so that, once like Him, He can then grant them to rule His possession as His sons. This is what He introduced to, and taught Abraham, who bore the prophets, who bore the Old Testament records. You will find that, Abraham is called, \u201c\u2026the father of the faithfuls-Gal.3:7\u201d. <\/strong>Yes, the father of those who have chosen to learn and live like God as taught by him, for, \u201c..through Abraham shall all families of the Earth learn obedience to God(right living) and be blessed-Gen.12:3\u201d(<\/strong>you can read our message, \u201cin the millennium\u201d for details). <\/strong>In a world of paganism, where nations worshipped idols, with every one trying to domineer his neighbor, \u00a0Abraham, and all the prophets(his descendants) lived God\u2019s life, not for show, or so that they may rule over others, but like God, they knew it to be the best life, and so lived it for their own good, with God using their acceptance and obedience to show all men what God has in place for them if they repent. It is in them and through them that God began His restoration plan through which he will lastly achieve His aim \u00a0of making all those who will freely chose His way(order of governance, which shows His way of life), into spirit beings (which is also the uppermost thing in His mind). When Moses, a true descendant of Abraham, lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, On reaching in the wilderness, Moses tried his own efforts to maintain order among the congregation, but it was quite burdensome and weary. God send his in-law, Jethro, and taught Moses the very everlasting order of governance. Hear it please. \u00a0\u201c\u2026\u2026.Moses sat to judge the people from morning to evening(<\/strong> a one man rulership)\u2026\u2026.His in-law asked him; \u2018 why do you sit alone in judgment\u00a0 with all these people from morning to evening\u2019\u2026. Exod.18:14\u201d? <\/strong>\u00a0Note something here please before we continue. Moses was not doing it out of selfishness; out of want for supremacy, neither did he try to imagine anything about the judgment he passed, for he told Jethro, \u201c\u2026.because the people come to me to enquire of( not Moses\u2019 position but) God\u2026\u2026.and I make them know the statutes of God and His decisions- Exod.18:15-16\u201d. <\/strong>Moses was very careful not to present himself to the people, but rather, have them know God\u2019s will for them. The only point He missed here was the chain of how to go about it. This is why God sent Moses\u2019 in-law, who told him, \u201c\u2026..you are not able to perform it alone. Listen now to me; I will give you counsel, and God(not Jethro) be with you-Exod.18:18-19\u201d.<\/strong> Look at the carefulness with which those who are learning, and living God\u2019s way, are doing it. Always being sure to have God known and seen, not themselves, for they know that they are mere instruments of service, and also beings in the making, even as those to whom they are sent, or given charge over. So they are very careful, first to know what God\u2019s will is, then secondly, to pass it over to the people they are in charge of, then lastly, making sure that the people know it to be from God and not from themselves, and the people also readily took it as God\u2019s message for them, not Moses\u2019 or Jethro\u2019s\u00a0 message, <\/strong>for, \u201c\u2026.the transcendent power belongs to God not to us-2 Cor.4: 7\u201d.<\/strong> Moses and the people alike attended to the order as one coming from God, and therefore there was no thought of, this person or that one. They had nothing to content for but simply, obey, and for their own good. Back to point please. God here introduced His way of governance to Moses. He made him know that God has also chosen other people to help him in his mission. Remember that, the old covenant(the prophets) are part of God\u2019s foundation on Which He built His Church through Jesus Christ( actually, it is Jesus who built it), and that the physical Israel was a type of the spiritual Church, and God\u2019s true heavenly temple, for Moses was ordered to, \u201c..see that you make the tabernacle, in the exact manner of the one I showed you-Exod.25:40; Heb.8:5\u201d. <\/strong>So, God through Jethro told Moses, \u201c You shall represent the people before God\u2026\u2026Chose able men from all the people(today\u2019s, every tongue, tribe, and language)\u2026\u2026 Exod.18:21\u201d.\u00a0 <\/strong>Brethren, there is a very important point to note here please. What kind of people will Moses choose? Those who carelessly support anything he says, because they are men pleasers, and also because he wants to play the pre-eminence? God forbid. Any true servant of God does not judge for himself but for God. So he is always careful to do God\u2019s will which is also what he displays and teaches the people. <\/strong>\u00a0So, here, Moses was not the choice maker. It was God to do it.Therefore Moses was to, by the spirit of God in him, observe (how? by God\u2019s word-Psalm.119:10-11) carefully to see those in whom dwells, \u201c\u2026..the fear of God, men who are trustworthy, who hate bribe, and place such over thousands, others over hundreds,..over fifties\u2026..Exod.18:21\u201d.<\/strong> Are we together friends? This is your maker talking to you, whose word I have no power to change, but, as a faithful messager, I have to speak it as He tells me. The order here is very clearly top downwards to the bottom, with every participant fully emptied of self, and obedient to God, which is proven by walking according to God\u2019s law. Get now the full set up please. Who is giving this plan? \u201c\u2026\u2026and God so commands you-that they judge the people at all times, only bringing to you the great matters- Exod.18:23, 22\u201d.<\/strong> If you look at all the players and the arrangement involved, you will realize one thing. God\u2019s primary interest in men is not who takes what position, but that all may grow to His full likeness and be born into His spiritual family. So, every one\u2019s focus and effort here is not what roll one plays, or how his fellow beings see or take it, but whether one is continually learning, and practicing what one learns, being the process through which God will develop His mind and character in us who obey. So, every individual\u2019s concern here has nothing to do with human beings, because no single human being can create his fellow human being, neither can any one stop the other from being created by God. This is why Christ said; \u201c Do not fear human beings, but rather fear God who can both destroy and throw one in the lake of fire-Mat.10:28\u201d.<\/strong> It is also why, \u201cChrist taught the truth about God\u2019s will for people, without worrying what others think, and paid no attention to any one\u2019s status-Mat.22:16:.<\/strong>\u00a0 Now, if all of us are standing before God, and He is the one who chooses what to do with whomever He pleases, where does the wrangle among human beings come from? How do human beings arrive at, quarrels, disagreements, fights and separations? This comes only when we walk out of God\u2019s hands, and stop pursuing the spiritual creation, which is in progress through this Christian life; it is after abandoning our obedience to God, and going back to Satan\u2019s lie where everyone strives to show himself as a god. And because at this point, we stop living according to the fore plan(we start driving without knowledge), then our cars( bodies), are colliding, and crashing in every step. We become blind and stop seeing God, and knowing those whom He is using because, instead of using the only light that can make us see-Psalm.119:105,9, we start imagining things based on, \u201c\u2026our stubborn evil hearts-Jerem.18:12\u201d<\/strong>. What shall we do then? Deny self and put yourselves into the potter\u2019s hands. Where is He?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the beginning until now, God has maintained His position concerning His purpose for man and life in general. He has all through sent His messagers to their fellow human beings to remind them of this unchanging eternal purpose; from the prophets to the apostles, whom Christ used to deliver and record this plan to mankind, and on which, He built His Church, all spoke the same thing. Let\u2019s not forget what we began to see please. That God lives His life not for show, nor for supremacy contest, nor for any personal standing before anyone, but because it is the right and good way to live; yes, it is the only true and fulfilling life in all aspects. He created us to be like Him, that we may enjoy with Him this good life. So we should be, \u201cimitators of Him-Eph.5:1\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0 God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ who established His instrument to continually, and throughout the age, remind man of that eternal purpose. This is non-else other than His Church, for of it, He says, \u201c\u2026.that through the Church, all men may know the mysteries hidden for ages in God who created all things-Eph.3:9-10\u201d. <\/strong>When God draws people into the Church, He opens their minds, \u201c\u2026to understand this mystery of His kingdom for which they were created-Mat. 13:11\u201d.<\/strong> After having been drawn to the Church, one\u2019s focus shifts from, what we are used to thinking about ourselves, what we pursue as the purpose of life, and how we do it ( our messages, \u201cChristianity\u2019s value\u201d, and \u201cSeek for honor\u201d have more). The first thing we realize is that, we are incomplete, and that there is a God in heaven who created us, and who alone can make us complete. And because our desires do change with this realization, then all our efforts do also change from human-set-values, and goals, to the Godly ones. What for? Is it so that we may be given leadership positions and be elevated above our fellow human beings? Can God really approve the lie of Eden, that we are somebody, when He clearly says, \u201c..we are nothing—-\u201c, \u201c.a mere dust, and like grass-Gal.6:3; Psalm.103:14; Isa.40:6-7?\u201d <\/strong>Answer me please. Can God contradict Himself, and against the truth, say that you are superior than your fellow beings, and so worthy of worship? Can He support the lie that you are already perfect and so your work is to rule others, that you are not being spiritually created like others? Paul was a leader in God\u2019s Church in his days. Did he take it as anything to abide with? Did he think he was ok, and his work is to make others like himself? Here his acknowledgement which was also Abraham\u2019s. \u201c\u2026.even though I am nothing-2 Cor.12:11\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0Abraham knew it also for He told Christ, \u201c\u2026.i am only dust- Gen.18:27\u201d.<\/strong> All of us are called and given the same instruction, which if obeyed sets the spiritual creation on course. Which one? \u201c Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life, which is corrupt through deceitful lusts- Eph.4:22\u201d. This command is for all Church members(leaders and flock alike). <\/strong>This is the only reason why one should be in the Church. If this is not the reason why you are in God\u2019s church , then be sure of this one thing; that you are an imposter(knowingly, or uknowingly) who keeps the lie of Eden and are not being spiritually created. \u00a0Try to get it if you are given to understand please. All Church members, whether leaders or lay members, are called purposely, to be developed into God\u2019s way of thinking by which, they will develop their behaviors ( do everything in life). No one is called to be a leader or for any other purpose. God is simply furthering His creation process which stopped after man was deceived. Now, once every one as an individual is striving by God\u2019s power to \u201c\u2026put on the new nature which is being created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness-Eph.4:24\u201d, <\/strong>then they also collectively become the body of Christ-the church. Now, remember God\u2019s plan of having the physical, being a visible display of the invisible spiritual. With that in mind, take your body and its parts. Do you remember any time, when any part of your body has ever thought of itself independently, and pose as better of, or as greater? Is there any time, when a certain part gets jealousy of another part, desiring to do the work of the other part? Am asking you; Do the parts feel themselves individually or, all that comes to mind is simply the body- one? Does any one part get concerned whether the other is doing or not, or give another part terms of corporation? Surely no. They uniquely each work, coordinately and perfectly. I am here talking about the Church of God. About its members (Church body parts), Our Lord wonders, \u201c If the whole body was just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were just an ear, how could it smell?\u00a0 However, as it is, God (not any man) put every different part in the body just as He wanted (not as it requested or strove for) it to be. There would not be a body if it were all only one part- 1 Cor.12:17-19\u201d.<\/strong> You who are clinging to, and fighting for a position; and you who are rejecting positions in God\u2019s Church, get this from your master Jesus Christ, and let both of you repent, with prayer and fasting, that God may give you, to know yourselves and get busy, as one who works before your God, as commissioned by Him, and not by men. For that kind of concern shows a people who are not committed to the training, yes- who are not putting on the new nature in God\u2019s likeness, which makes one strive, because it is life but not because one is fighting for a stand among His\/her fellow men.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0CHURCH LEADERSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>At this point, every Church member is putting off the self and eyeing God\u2019s righteousness and holiness with all his mind and body. Everyone is fully fixed on the goal, that of acquiring Eternal life and immortality in God\u2019s kingdom. No one has time to lift His eyes from that concern, to wonder what God will make Him, or, what the other person has become. Concern for the other person, is strictly for, to benefit from the gift of God which He has put in that person, for the sole purpose of edifying.The disciples; when they were yet unconverted missed the mark, and were busying themselves with people-centeredness. One time, Jesus talked of some of them as ones, who may never see death until He comes. Whether the rest felt jealousy, or simply got anxious about it, I don\u2019t know. But Christ showed them that, to harbor that kind of mind is time wastage. He told them, and is telling you now, \u201cWhen Peter saw John following them, he asked Jesus, \u2018 what about that man?\u2019 Jesus answered him; \u2018if it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you; engage in the right concern; which is to follow me- simple-John.21:21\u201d.<\/strong> As we saw concerning acquiring positions in God\u2019s kingdom, or even right now in the Church, so also here, Christ shows clearly that it is God\u2019s work not ours. Remember also the farm master who hired laborers in different times, from morning to evening, promising each, the same kind of payment. Come the time of payment, those who came first felt unjustified against the late comers, feeling that they should have been paid more since they worked for more hours. But the farm master corrected them saying, \u201c Did I give you what we agreed? So, why bother if I decide to give the other ones as agreed?\u201d<\/strong> \u00a0During Jesus\u2019 time, some got diverted also and began to waste time instead of getting busy with their work, which is to train in righteousness. Hear what He told them, and He is telling you now. \u201c \u2026..i want my sons to sit, one on your right, and the other, on your left in your kingdom-Mat.20:21\u201d.<\/strong> This is what you in the church, who is fighting for positions, or, who are rejecting those in positions, are doing. Take Christ\u2019s advice and quit that mind immediately. Stop wasting time, if you are truly desirous of being completed into that perfect man God wants you to be. Get busy with changing from, the carnal nature to the spiritual one without which, you can\u2019t inherit the kingdom. Getting a position or putting others into position is not any man\u2019s work, for Jesus further says, \u201c I (you) do not have the right to choose who will sit on my right or left. This is God\u2019s work-Mat.20:23\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0If everyone will approach His\/her Christian life from this godly point of view, you will agree with me that, God\u2019s order of government, that of top to bottom, is the best and the only one that will endure forever. But it can\u2019t apply with carnal minded people, a people who push God and His word aside, and then, making themselves, as wise as God, they make their own arrangements, hiding themselves in the mere quotations of God\u2019s word which has no place in their hearts because they don\u2019t obey it, for they obey their appetites. These are the people who misrepresent not only God, but His Church also. As for the truly called, they have neither time for self, nor for people, but are committed to the truth. Like their father Abraham, they have known their physical lives to be valueless (mere dust-Gen.18:27)<\/strong>, and so with all their efforts, they are prayerfully appealing to God to be made perfect and given eternal life, being His family members. These are the true Church members.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOD APPOINTS SOME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we get into this passage, I would want to make a point here.This message is not for everybody. I was send to write this to those who are worshiping God in spirit and truth. The true members of God\u2019s Church. They are the only ones who can understand, and fit themselves in this order, for they are not fighting for themselves, but for the truth, being ready to be corrected and changed by it. \u00a0So, concerning them, Our Lord says , \u201cNow you are the Church(the body of Christ), and individual members of it- 1 Cor.12:27\u201d.<\/strong> Understand please if you can. Hear, Christ is talking to a people who are busy to achieve their life goal; who already know why they are in the Church; who know the Church to be a spiritual training college; they are not looking for something to do, or to be. They already know what to do and what they will be, for they have Christ\u2019s promise very clear in their minds; for they say, \u201cAnd this is what He has promised us, eternal life- 1 John.2:25\u201d.<\/strong> So, they are seriously pursuing it( Our message, \u201cSeek for honor\u201d has details). Now, since it is God\u2019s project, and He is\u00a0 the one \u201c\u2026at work in everyone of the Church members, both to will and to do, and this, for His own good pleasure-Phil.2:13\u201d, <\/strong>\u00a0according to His own gracious decision(not any man\u2019s), \u201c God has appointed some to be apostles, others prophets, others evangelists, <\/strong>\u00a0teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators\u2026.. 1 Cor.12:28\u201d.<\/strong> This is the God\u2019s Church government, appointed by God Himself. And get it please. He doesn\u2019t go picking men any howly from everywhere. As it was during Moses\u2019 time of choosing His government, So it is with this time. Moses was told, \u201cfrom among the people, those who fear God\u201d. Here, God appoints, from among the Church( those who are very busy pursuing righteousness). Remember, the Church is a person, or persons who have turned from man-made traditions( the worldly life), to the Godly life(His word); a \u00a0people who have resolved to become like God, and are daily dying to self that they may live for Christ. It is these God-appointees who make up the Church government, and are what the bible is calling, Church leaders. It is of them that God commands the Church members to, \u201c \u2026be subject to such men, and to every fellow worker and laborer-1 Cor.16:16\u201d. <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0SUBMITTING TO CHRIST<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is very strange how a people who began in the spirit are now thinking physically. The Leodiceans are saying; \u201c We are only subject to Christ and not to men. How can you say we be subject to men?\u201d. Brethren, this is history repeating itself. This is exactly what the Jews told Christ when they were rejecting Him. Listen and wonder why you have to make the same mistake. \u201c\u2026Abraham is our father\u2026\u2026\u2026.Jesus answered them, \u2018 if you were Abraham\u2019s Children, you would do what Abraham did\u2026\u2026..If God were your father, you would love me-John.8:39-40, 42\u201d.<\/strong> Because of thinking carnally, they didn\u2019t see the God they claimed to obey, at work in Jesus Christ. This is exactly what Leodiceans are doing, because they are saying, \u2018we are subject to Christ alone\u2019, and so, like the Jews, they are telling those whom Christ has sent to them; \u201c you are just a believer like us, how can you claim to lead us?\u201d Sure yes, Church leaders are believers like the rest, but God has purposed that they serve you, according to His gracious providence. Let\u2019s listen to those who were before us confirming this please. When Christ was commissioning them to go into all the world and preach to all men, He first told them, \u201c All authority has been given to me<\/strong>( He is telling them to have this in mind, before they start their work). Therefore, go now into all the world (with my authority), and preach the gospel-Mat.28:18-19\u201d.<\/strong> We need to understand that, Church leaders, and their subjects do everything on behalf of Christ( in the name of). So, the leaders are authorized by Christ, in the same way Christ was authorized by God, for He tells them, \u201c as the father has sent me, so I send you.\u201d <\/strong>Confirming this, Paul says, \u201c Even if I boast a little, for the( what?) our authority( from where?) which, the Lord( not man) gave( what for? For self-exaltation? ), for building you(Church members) up- 2 Cor.10:8\u201d. <\/strong>Is this not leadership brethren? Is it by man, or for man? Christ is coming in the flesh through those He has commissioned ,and sent, whom, the members will know because they will live and talk like Him(according to His word). This is why Christ tells you, \u201c if you receive anyone whom I have sent, you receive me-Mat.10:40\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0You hypocrite! How can you(whether a leader or a lay member) pretend to know, and obey Christ, and when He comes in the flesh through those men He has sent to you, you neither know, nor receive Him? Don\u2019t you clearly prove to be a son of the world, which, \u201c when He came, it neither knew ,nor received Him?\u201d \u00a0<\/strong>Here, Christ is clearly saying that, there is no difference between Him and his servant, for this servant is one who, \u201chas died and the life he lives is no longer that of his but the one of Christ-2 Cor.5:15; Gal.2:20\u201d. <\/strong>Even then, it is very important for all of us, to first examine ourselves, and once, \u201c\u2026we have taken the log out of our own eyes\u2026..Mat.7:5\u201d,<\/strong> then we go to the next step, that of using the eye salve we have bought from Christ( His word)- Rev.3:18, to examine and see if a leader is sent of Christ. Yes, with opened eyes, packed with the knowledge of the truth by the holy spirit, \u201c\u2026.we will see clearly and, will be able to take the speck out of our brother\u2019s eye as well-Mat.7:5b\u201d. <\/strong>Brethren, what I am saying here is; no one can obey God\u2019s government, if he himself is not ruled by it, yes, if God and Christ have not made his heart, their dwelling place(their temple).<\/p>\n

The Church of God and its government is not known, and can\u2019t be obeyed by the world, for its kind of life is spiritual, which, \u201c\u2026is foolishness to the world;\u00a0 it can only be understood spiritually, and so, specifically by those who have the spirit of God- 1 Cor.2: 13-14\u201d. <\/strong>Christ clarifies this when He says that, unless He lives His life in someone, \u201c\u2026..we can do nothing on our own- John.15:5.\u201d<\/strong> Remember the Jews. They continually studied the scriptures, very much in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. They imagined that they believe everything the scriptures said, but it was only a lip-believing. For, when the Messiah, whom the scriptures talk about came, \u201c\u2026.they received Him not; they knew him not-John.1:11,10\u201d.<\/strong> \u00a0Why? Because the word they were reading had no place in their hearts-See Mark.7:7-9. It wasn\u2019t their lifestyle, and so, when Christ came living by it, they could not know Him. Sad to say, this is the case of those who are rejecting the true Church of God leaders, as well as leaders rejecting members, and are listening to leaders\/members of their choice- 2 Tim.4:4. If you want to understand those whom God in Jesus Christ has sent, and to submit to them, the first thing to do is to submit to God\u2019s word, so that by it, you can see and understand, for, \u201cit is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path-Psalm.119:105\u201d.<\/strong> Once you do that, \u201cGod will love you, and He and Christ will come and make their dwelling in you-John.14:23\u201d.<\/strong> It is Christ, living His life in you who will, make you know (and this, by His word), those of your brethren in whom He also lives, \u00a0whom He will send to you as your shepherds\/flock. How will you know whether Christ is living in you and, you in Him? First, we are sure we know Christ, if, \u201c\u2026.. we live by His word(\u00a0 obey His commandments)- 1 John.2:3\u201d.<\/strong> Once we are sure we know Him, then we come to the second step. Which? How can we know whether Christ is living His life in us- Yes, Him and the father have made their dwelling in us? \u201c.. whoever keeps(lives by) His word, truly, love for God is perfected in him. By this( living by his word), we are sure we are in Him- 1 John.2:5\u201d.<\/strong> With this arrangement, the government of God in His church is complete, and runs very smoothly, peacefully, and in one accord . No one can know the true servants of God, if he himself doesn\u2019t live in the truth. The only way a leader will know his flock, and the flock know him; Yes, the only way Church leaders and the lay-members will recognize each other is strictly by God\u2019s word. Don\u2019t forget what we said; that everyone in the Church is busy training according to the word, and all that one looks for and wants to hear is that word. Therefore, God makes sure that His chosen leaders, \u201c\u2026\u2026 comes speaking and living by the word of God( Acts.1:1; 2 Cor.10:11-<\/strong> which the members seek for)– John.3:34\u201d. <\/strong>On the other hand, since the same God who is speaking through the leaders is also living in the members, they will know Him, for, \u201c..those who are of God, hears the word of God-John.8:47\u201d. <\/strong>What do we say then? The word of God is the binding glue which makes the Church members, one body, and only when everyone is living by it. Or, do you not know that the foundation on which the Church (members) is build, is, \u201c\u2026the apostles and the prophets, all in Christ-Eph.2:20?\u201d <\/strong>Yes, is it not Christ who spoke through the prophets- 1 Pet.1:10-11? Is it not the same Christ who spoke and taught the apostles, and had them write down all that He taught ( Isa.30:8; 2 Pet.1:12-15)? All true Church members were baptized into this word ( because it is their life now). This is what it takes to be built in that foundation. Therefore, they don\u2019t seek for any other approval except to be sure to live by that word, for it reads, \u201cExamine yourselves to know whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test-2 Cor.13:5\u201d. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t you think it strange, when someone claims to know and have God living in him, and when the same God is living in the same way in His brother, he can know Him? How do we do it? Aaah! Have you just forgotten? Have we not just said that, by seeing oneself living by the word, then you are sure to be in Christ and Christ in you- 1John.2:24? Once one is sure he\/she is in the word, we don\u2019t need to turn from the word to our pastors, or, our pastors don\u2019t need to turn from the word to us, the members, to seek for our approval, in order to be sure( we, or him) are in Christ. Church members (leaders and their flock) \u00a0are a people who, like Christ their example, don\u2019t \u201c\u2026receive glory from men, but look to the only glory(word) which comes from God-John.5:44\u201d. <\/strong>Yes, \u201c\u2026 they don\u2019t compare themselves with one another, since their only example is Christ, and they can compare themselves with one another only if, everyone is first in Christ- 2 Cor.10:12; John.13:15; 1 Cor.11:1\u201d. <\/strong>It is strictly, when everyone is in Christ that, members are admonished to, \u201c remember their leaders, those who spoke to us the word of God; to consider the outcome of their lives and, imitate their faith-Hebr.13:7\u201d. <\/strong>It is Christ first, then the leaders, if they are in Christ, which is confirmed by someone living by the scriptures. The members (Leaders and flock alike) only trust is in God, and in a person once they see Christ in him, for, \u201cThey seek to know nothing in any body, except to see Christ in that person- 1 Cor.2:2\u201d. <\/strong>So, if they don\u2019t see Christ, then, no fellowship with such a person, for, like Christ, \u201c they don\u2019t entrust themselves to any man( except to the converted ones; as long as they are in the word, they are not themselves but Christ in them, so, one can trust such), for they know what is in a carnal man-Joh.2:24\u201d.<\/strong> The conclusion of the matter is; \u201c If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house(fellowship), or even give him greetings- 2 John.1:10\u201d.<\/strong> We don\u2019t need somebody in order to be in Christ. We don\u2019t need any man\u2019s approval in order to do the work God has assigned to us, neither do we need to comment ourselves to anyone, for, \u201c It is not the man who comments himself who is accepted, but one whom God comments- 2 Cor.10:18\u201d. <\/strong>So, if anyone is fully convinced that God has chosen Him to be part of the ministry, whether an apostle, an Evangelist, a teacher,..whatever ministry, do it, for it is God who will, \u201c\u2026\u2026work with you to confirm His word by the signs that will accompany the work- Mark.16:20\u201d.<\/strong> It is the same God who will work with those unto whom He has send you to confirm to them that He has sent you, for as we have seen, \u201cit\u2019s God at work in the members(leaders and flock) both to will and to do for His own good pleasure-Phil.2:12\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0We were called each by God, to serve and stand before Him(not before men), \u201c\u2026\u2026..to do His will, and seek praise from Him- Eph.6:6\u201d.<\/strong> If one is self-imposed, God will not back that person\u2019s work, and even his behaviors and character will not be those of Christ(for without Christ in somebody, the carnal mind can\u2019t live God\u2019s life- Rom.8:7), though one may speak the word as it is. Remember the Pharisees. God says, \u201c\u2026 Garmaliel told them, \u2018leave these men alone, lest you be found to fight God. If the work is not God\u2019s, it will fail. But if it be God\u2019s, no one can stop it\u201d.<\/strong> Let\u2019s therefore not waste time. Let everyone obey the spirit in all the truth ( word-John.16:13).Why should I go round saying, \u201c I am an apostle\u201d? If I am truly an apostle sent of God, why not simply does the work, and it is sure that those who have the spirit of God will know me? What is this effort to comment oneself before men about? Have we not read what God says through David, that, \u201c\u2026.once we learn God\u2019s word, those who fear Him, once they see us, they will recognize us and rejoice; and God will have them turn to us that they may learn His statutes-Psalm.119:73-74,79?\u201d<\/strong> Is this effort to convince members, not a sign of one who is self-imposed and, who does not trust God to do His work in him; whose interests are also men-centered? If we believe that it is Christ who is building His Church, why turn to men? Why not focus on Him, and in His word (light and guard-Psalm.119:105,9), so that He can lead you to those who are His, and present the message He sent you to convey to them? A true servant of God and those who are being served, are ones who, \u201c don\u2019t seek the favor of men, but God\u2019s; they don\u2019t try to please men, but their master, Jesus Christ. For, anyone who is people-focused is not a servant of Christ- Gal.1:10\u201d.<\/strong> Brother, the ball lies squarely on your side. Christ is recollecting His Church from the spiritual Babylon, and the voice you are reading hear is His, through His faithful servants. It is in His government, which we have explained, where He places His name and in which, He will unite His one Church, where, \u201c\u2026the whole body, knit and joined together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and up builds itself in love- Eph.4:16\u201d. <\/strong>It is in that top to bottom organized government, where these body parts will edify each other, \u201c\u2026..until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried away by every wind of doctrine- Eph.4:13-14\u201d. <\/strong>It \u00a0is not something we as members(leaders\/flock) can sit and agree to do. It is Christ who is doing it in every member as an individual. This is why we said that, every individual (whether the leader or the being lead) is carefully pursuing the training, keenly listening to the word; \u201c\u2026.working one\u2019s own salvation with trembling and fear-Phil.2:12\u201d.<\/strong> The word in turn, once it is operating in every individual, is the means by which Christ will pull us together, for by it, we will all \u201c..be in agreement, with no divisions( for the word is one) among you, that we will be united in the same mind, and the same judgment- 1 Cor.1:10\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0Are you understanding something here? Whether a Prpophet,an Evangelist, an administrator\u2026\u2026whatever God-ordained gift, It is simply to help all Church members to develop God\u2019s spiritual Character; yes, the gifts are not anything for anyone to abide with, for once these gifts finish their work( and that of developing God\u2019s nature in every member, which is love), \u201c whether prophecy, tongues, knowledge\u2026\u2026they will pass away after attaining their intended purpose, but love( which is what the gifts are being used to develop in the members) will remain and endure forever-1 Cor.13:8\u201d. <\/strong>Now see, you who are priding in these gifts ( leadership), prophets, Evangelists, administrators\u2026\u2026.etc, or, you who are envious or jealousy of\u00a0 these same, if that is what you are hanging on, if that is what you are striving for, instead of striving to put on God\u2019s character of righteousness and holiness( love); when they pass after accomplishing their purpose, what will you remain with? Love is the life of God, which all human beings were created to live by, and which every Church member is training in. It is those who have been given to mature to this level, whom Christ is commanding, saying, \u201cRemember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith-Heb.13:7\u201d. \u201c Let the elders who rule(this surely is leadership) well be considered worthy of double honor- 1 tim.5:17\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0And again, \u201c I beseech you brethren to respect those who labor among you, and over(rule) you in the Lord;. Esteem them very highly in love- 1 Thes.5:12-13\u201d. See also,Heb.13:17, 1 Cor.16:16. <\/strong>Look for such men and join Hands with them in Christ, not as one forced by circumstances (fearing to remain alone), but as one who has found Christ in them. Support the work of God which they are doing with your moral, and spiritual, as well as your material possessions ( for you are part of that body, and so, a co-worker). For surely, if our goal is to inherit the kingdom, and right now, we are loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds and bodies, then our efforts will be in what the Church is doing(wanting to see it succeed).<\/p>\n

Here, we will realize that it is God and Christ in everyone (His temple), revealing His nature of oneness to all men, for Christ said, \u201c That they may all be one, even as thou father art in me and I in you; that they may also be in us. <\/strong>\u00a0what for? \u201c\u2026.that by this oneness, the world may know that you have sent me-John.17:1\u201d.<\/strong> In this unity of the spirit, we must be subject to one another in the Lord. We must submit to God\u2019s government, in the order Which He Himself has ordained. Here, men are not doing their own things. It is God at work in them. So the members submit to the God in the leaders, for whatever office one is given to serve, it is Christ\u2019s office, and the man is only Christ\u2019s hand, feet, eye (a mere Radio\/Television)\u2026..whichever part Christ may deem to make someone, for, with this understanding, we will, \u201c Hold unfailing, our love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. We will practice hospitality, ungrudgingly to one another- 1 Pet.4:8\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0This will result from understanding that, in each member, it is God at work, for, \u201c each has received a gift so that we can employ then to one another,<\/strong> as what? One who is great and should be exalted, praised by fellow members? Get it please. \u201c\u2026..as good stewards of God\u2019s varied grace. Whoever speaks, as one who utters the oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything, God (not the service person) may be glorified through Jesus Christ- 1 Pet.4:10-11\u201d.<\/strong> It will be a mere pretense for anyone to say he\/she is submitting to God, if one can\u2019t submit to these chosen servants of God, who are the God\u2019s government at work in the Church. For surely, how do we separate Christ\u2019s hand (his servant) from Him? How can you submit to God, and when He sends His servant, you don\u2019t submit to him? It is impossible, for Jesus our Lord says this of you who harbor this kind of thinking, \u201c \u2026\u2026.you who rejects anyone I have sent rejects me, and you who rejects me rejects God- Luke.10:16\u201d. <\/strong>Satan wants to do away with this oneness, which is properly coordinated through the top to bottom government, by deceiving people out of God\u2019s word, thus making everyone live by self-imaginations, and so, destroy this proof by dividing the church to look like the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IMPOSTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

We saw that, human beings live divided and disagreeing, ever in arguments because they accepted a lie, and everyone became a god to himself. For this reason, they rejected God\u2019s instructions (word) on how to live, and each deduced a way of life based on their stubborn evil hearts-Jerem.18:12. So also, when the Church fell from the foundation ( see our message, \u201cThe endtime Church of God\u201d for details), the members revived from the spiritual grave, and began to think carnally, just like the world. So, with everyone going according to what one likes, \u201cthey stopped listening to the truth( the binding glue), and each began to follow their likings- 2Tim.4:3-4\u201d.<\/strong> This gave the wolves the opportunity, and they tore the sheep apart, bringing the divisions we are seeing now-Acts-20:30-31. The once self-denied Leaders of the Church turned to self, and began to compete for following, because the desire to be a god revived, and they began to fight for domination. Here, History repeated itself again. Like the Pharisees, with all the knowledge of the truth, they continued to teach the word, but not from the heart, not for the sake of pointing people to God like Moses did, yes, they taught without doing it themselves. So, sitting in the seat of Moses ( claiming to administer God\u2019s government), they began to impose their own will in the name of God\u2019s government, and began to demand a forced submission from the members. Why am I using the word forced? Because they have fallen away, and the word of God has become to them, like a story, for, \u201c they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as people, and they hear what you say but will not do it; for with their lips, they show much love, but their hearts are set on their gain-Ezek.33:31\u201d. <\/strong>\u00a0For this reason, anyone around these kind of leaders, who insists on living by the word, or any\u00a0 leader who insists on teaching the word before these fallen members, is eyed with contempt, and, \u201c\u2026\u2026becomes a prey-Isa.59:15\u201d. <\/strong>With the selfish spirit of the world, they can only acknowledge those who bow to their liking. \u201c\u2026they lead people astray. They cry peace, when something to eat is put in their mouths; declare war against those who don\u2019t put anything in their mouth-Micah.3:5\u201d.<\/strong> These Leodiceans have begun to play Deotrepes, for, \u201cthey like to put themselves first, and don\u2019t acknowledge God\u2019s authority( though they claim to uphold it), \u2026\u2026they prate against true members( leaders and flock alike) with evil words\u2026\u2026..refuse to welcome the true members, and puts out of the Church those who welcome them- 3John.1:9-11\u201d.<\/strong> \u00a0It is these imposters who have made the top-to- bottom-order of God\u2019s government to feel burdensome, and so, many have hated it, because they want freedom the-Jesus\u2019- promised- freedom which comes by everyone submitting to God\u2019s word, which the imposters have put aside. Even, as I talk right here, am sure there are those who have stopped reading this message, because instead of reasoning according to the God\u2019s mind, which is being addressed here, they also have turned cold, and all they can associate with this government, is suppression. If you are one of them, stop that attitude; it is not Godly. Be sober and differentiate between wolves and the true servants of God who are your fellow brethren. Yes, differentiate between Moses and the Pharisees, and join hands with Moses in the true spiritual worship which is guided by an outgoing selfless loving treatment as we have explained.<\/p>\n

The God who created us is the one who ordained this form of government, through which all men will be taught his ways and behaviors, and be lead into the new tomorrow\u2019s world, in the same way, Moses, succeeded by Joshua, lead the people of Israel to Canaan. These imposters have turned to darkness, but have remained with God\u2019s word in their mouths. Mark them, and don\u2019t let them be your reason of rejecting God\u2019s government. Watch out lest you also be like them unawares. Any sincere member of God\u2019s Church who lives and walks in the spirit will smoothly fit in this spirit- based- and- guided- government, whose administrator is God Himself through His chosen servants who are in Jesus Christ; that person will freely and lovingly submit to it with joy and happiness. If you see anybody whose concern is to mob people around Himself (hiding in the word of God), who doesn\u2019t encourage the mob to dig deep into the word that they may grow, who is not insisting on people looking to Jesus through His word, but rather insisting on people rallying behind him, watch out on him, mark and avoid him, for, \u201c\u2026..it is these who cause divisions, and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you were taught. Such persons do not serve our Lord, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words, they deceive the hearts of the simple minded- Rom.16:17-18\u201d.<\/strong> This attitude doesn\u2019t apply to the leaders alone. Everyone who has abandoned the carefulness to walk in the word, whether a leader, or a lay member, has a problem with God\u2019s government. After turning selfish, the desire to be superior erupts. The leader will not allow anyone whom God may raise for ministry to perform; for, after he himself has fallen way, he is now in fear of the light. He has also become a god, and all he can accept is those who bow to his orders (which are disguised as God\u2019s word); he doesn\u2019t want to submit to the truth. So he ends up choosing somebody who is not godly, who will not question his truthfulness. The lay member also, who has turned selfish will not want to associate with the true servant of God, who teaches self-denial. These two, bands together against the faithful.<\/p>\n

The God chosen, the God- guided leaders and their members will also, band together in this true top to bottom government of God, but, \u201c\u2026..not like the world does-Mat.20:26\u201d,<\/strong> and will be opposed by the imposters who, \u201cprofess to know God, but deny Him by their deeds-Tit.1:16\u201d; <\/strong>who claim to uphold that same government while they use it to load it over their subjects in the same way the world does, and so misrepresent the Church. We have exhaustively laid before you the true Church government and how it operates, also warning you against the counterfeit. Now you are at cross roads to choose which direction to go, for God created you a free moral agent. It is so sad that, many will say, \u201c\u2026we will not go by the right way- Jerem.6:16\u201d.<\/strong> But we would rather, that you choose God\u2019s way and live in freedom, now and for all eternity. As many as are of this truth, grace be multiplied to you, and the love of God, which enables us to love one another, and be united in the spirit and truth in Jesus Christ, abide in every one of you.<\/p>\n

This is your master, and savior, Jesus Christ, speaking to you through His chosen instrument,<\/p>\n

THE ENDTIME CHURCH OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If there is any issue Satan has succeeded in using to destabilize God\u2019s church, it is on how the Church should be governed. Why this? Did Christ built the Church and leave it for men to decide on how to run it? Does the bible give clear and precise instructions on how the Church should…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english-messages"],"yoast_head":"\nTHE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If there is any issue Satan has succeeded in using to destabilize God\u2019s church, it is on how the Church should be governed. Why this? Did Christ built the Church and leave it for men to decide on how to run it? Does the bible give clear and precise instructions on how the Church should...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"End-time Church of God\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/endtimecog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"james\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"james\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"57 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/\",\"name\":\"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/712ee17a931abb36c2b2fcf1530cccfc\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/\",\"name\":\"End-time Church of God\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/712ee17a931abb36c2b2fcf1530cccfc\",\"name\":\"james\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/904dfea7a9a2673e22a19f8c34f45d6c9a987b99451567ea0c2e728ed363cded?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/904dfea7a9a2673e22a19f8c34f45d6c9a987b99451567ea0c2e728ed363cded?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"james\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/author\/james\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God","og_description":"If there is any issue Satan has succeeded in using to destabilize God\u2019s church, it is on how the Church should be governed. Why this? Did Christ built the Church and leave it for men to decide on how to run it? Does the bible give clear and precise instructions on how the Church should...","og_url":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/","og_site_name":"End-time Church of God","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/endtimecog","article_published_time":"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00","author":"james","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"james","Est. reading time":"57 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/","url":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/","name":"THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT - End-time Church of God","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#website"},"datePublished":"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00","dateModified":"2016-11-12T21:06:27+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/712ee17a931abb36c2b2fcf1530cccfc"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/the-church-government\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#website","url":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/","name":"End-time Church of God","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/712ee17a931abb36c2b2fcf1530cccfc","name":"james","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/904dfea7a9a2673e22a19f8c34f45d6c9a987b99451567ea0c2e728ed363cded?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/904dfea7a9a2673e22a19f8c34f45d6c9a987b99451567ea0c2e728ed363cded?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"james"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html"],"url":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/author\/james\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/endtimecog.org\/html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}