The Church of God is mentioned in Acts 20:28.
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Spoken to the Elders of the Church in Ephesus which Paul sent to meet him in Miletus (Acts 20:17-18). Paul was the Founder, Pastor, and Apostle of this Church. He could summon the Elders since it was he who ordained them in their position.
The word Church:
Greek: "ekklesia" (Strongs 1577-- a calling out, congregation, synagogue, assembly).
Hebrew: "qahal" (Strongs #6951-- assembly, company, congregation, multitude); "edah" (Strongs #5712--assembly, congregation, crowd, multitude, swarm of people).
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said he would build (establish) his Church.
Church as Jesus used it was a contrast replacement to the Temple and those who assembled there. As the Jews assembled in a congregation at the Temple and their many synagogues, the followers of Jesus would assemble in congregations where ever two or three or more gathered in his name. It is the name of Jesus that makes this assembly a congregation to be recognized as a Church. If the name of Jesus is rejected by one or all of the three or more, it is not a New Testament recognized Church assembly. In a real Church the name of Jesus is ABOVE ALL NAMES. We are not to use any other name for God in our Churches.
Moses was "in" the Church in the wilderness (see Acts 7:38). The word Church here is "ekklesia" and refers to the Tabernacle. We are sure that Stephen in his preaching was not speaking Greek. He was speaking Hebrew or Aramaic. He would have used one of the Hebrew words "qahal" or "edah." We believe Jesus used the same Hebrew words in Matthew 16:18 and was not speaking Greek.
It is true that both Qahal and Edah refer to an assembly of people and a congregation of Israelites and not a building. But it is also true, that just as Tabernacle means a place of rest, sleep, and even a house, tent, and home (also applied to the body); even so Church as a replacement of all that the Tabernacle was, is appropriate. Where the people assembled for praise and worship was then the Tabernacle and Stephen called it a Church. Since he made the connection and gave us the revelation, we will abide it without question and debate.
The Tabernacle was a fixture, a building, and the place the people assembled into a congregation. Where the people assembled into a congregation as the Qahal or Edah, that place was called the Church in Acts 7:38. In Acts 7:44 it is called: "the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness." This is Stephen looking back past the day of Pentecost when the New Testament Church was established into the olden days with a revelation of the Church.
The Church in the wilderness was then an assembly of people into a congregation who attended the Tabernacle where they became witnesses of God's power, blessings, and salvation. This assembly of people became the congregation who worshipped God at the Tabernacle Church. For this reason and very revelation, many Pastors have named their Church "Tabernacle" such as First Pentecostal Tabernacle or such like. While others use Church these Pastors used Tabernacle. In practice and reality they are saying by use of either name that this is a place where members assemble and God is present to meet all their material and spiritual needs.
Church--an assembly of people in congregation at a specific place of worship. The meeting place of the congregation where the people assemble to seek God's many blessings. Only when they assembled into a congregation are the members collectively called the Church. Each person is only a part of the assembly and congregation. No person can claim "I am the Church." Because no individual person constitutes an assembly or congregation.
The Church is a religious group since it is a congregation that assembles for the purpose of worship. No Church is a political group. The Church is not a body politic.
It should never be a place of voting on people for any office or position. The officers of the Church (the five-fold-ministry, Bishops, Elders, and Deacons) are not voted in. They are qualified and are ordained in without a vote. Therefore all political voting religious organizations calling themselves a church are invalid. They bear the name Church in contradiction to every verse of the Bible. Only a group of people assembled in a congregation are a Church.
Even as the Israelites after they came out of Egypt, were sanctified, and blood sacrifice was offered for their sins gathered at the Tabernacle; even so, until a person has come under all this spiritual protection and personal salvation can they be part of what constitutes a Church. The place these holy people assemble can be called the Church just as the Tabernacle was called a Church for the holy Israelites to gather. Any collection of people into a group, an assembly, a congregation that does not meet the New Testament standard and requirements are not a Church.
We know that the collection of people into a group, an assembly, a congregation around the altars of idols at a pagan temple could NEVER BE CALLED THE TABERNACLE. To do so would instantly identify it as false. Even so, there are many false churches today who use the name "church" when all they are is a collection of people into an assembly of pagans and heathens who are not born again. They have not forsaken the world or the lusts and idols thereof. No qualified and ordained man is the Minister there. They must comply with Acts 2:38 to transfer over from that which is false to that which is True. And this also depending on the church using Acts 2:38 not holding false doctrines that are not of the Apostle's Doctrine.
The first Church is the pattern.
Mark 9:1, the Kingdom was to come with power;
Acts 1:8, the power was to come with the Holy Ghost;
Acts 2:4, the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost.
Therefore, the Church and Kingdom to which Peter was given the keys in Matthew 16:18-19, was established on the day of Pentecost.
The 120 were assembled in a congregation at a place, the Upper Room. There were chairs or benches or something there to sit upon because the text says they were "sitting."
The Ministry was present, all 12 of the current Apostles were in the first Church service.
They had been meeting here for at least ten days in worship. We know they held one business meeting when the Apostle Matthias was chosen by lot (not voting). We know someone numbered who was present "about 120." Could be some came and went and the number changed from time to time.
The purpose of the people to assemble in a congregation was to wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost. They were not there for any other purpose than to receive the Holy Ghost. All things being prepared by each of them to receive the Holy Ghost was already accomplished.
John prophesied that he baptized with water but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost. We will assume here that only those who had been baptized by faith and waiting on the Holy Ghost were in the Upper Room Church service.
Yes, the meeting of the assembly was a Church service. Before the Holy Ghost came they were like Baptist or some other group of people without the Holy Ghost. But when the Holy Ghost came they became the Holy Ghost Church. Because of this great spiritual blessing we refer to those on the day of Pentecost as the first Holy Ghost Pentecostals. Before this, they were all Jews and Israelites still lost and going to hell. They were not born again as Jesus spoke in John 3:3-5. They needed the Holy Ghost to be born again. Church is then the place to be born again. This happened in Jerusalem among an assembly of people in a congregation. Jesus started his Church after this fashion and it is the pattern for all Churches until Jesus comes.
Are you a member of a real Church?
Or are you a member of a false church?
Or are you a member of a backslid church?
Or are you an on-fire Holy Ghost filled person under the Apostle's Doctrine?
The first Church was completely under the Apostle's Doctrine. There were no false doctrines in the Upper Room Church. They were no false apostles, false prophets, women preachers, Jezebels, homosexual and lesbian evangelists, teachers, and so forth.
The people of the endtime Church will come out from among all that mess. They will restore the Church to the Body of Christ and they will know this assembly of people are a holiness congregation. Indeed sinners and backsliders are welcome to come among us and find salvation. But they are not welcome among us to evangelize our members to accept and do evil. Therefore, in a real Apostolic Church there will be holiness standards that determine conduct, order, and practice. By these we will maintain ourselves as people saved from our sins and who are indeed born again. The Church is not a place for evil people to gather as tares among the wheat who have no intention of becoming saved and joining our holiness congregation as a member of the real Church.
The last day Church will be a restoration of the First Church.
All falsehood will be rejected from false apostles, false prophets, false evangelist, false pastors, false teachers, false bishops, false elders, and false deacons. All these pigs in the pulpit rendering will be rejected. All those novices out of order will be rejected. All those haughty and high-minded individuals who reject the Truth and become railers will be rejected. They can increase in numbers but this does not mean they have the right Spirit or doctrine. When God has his Church back and the sanctuary has been cleansed, and the body is fitly joined together, each part humbled to its place, the first Church will be the last Church.
More....
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Spoken to the Elders of the Church in Ephesus which Paul sent to meet him in Miletus (Acts 20:17-18). Paul was the Founder, Pastor, and Apostle of this Church. He could summon the Elders since it was he who ordained them in their position.
The word Church:
Greek: "ekklesia" (Strongs 1577-- a calling out, congregation, synagogue, assembly).
Hebrew: "qahal" (Strongs #6951-- assembly, company, congregation, multitude); "edah" (Strongs #5712--assembly, congregation, crowd, multitude, swarm of people).
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said he would build (establish) his Church.
Church as Jesus used it was a contrast replacement to the Temple and those who assembled there. As the Jews assembled in a congregation at the Temple and their many synagogues, the followers of Jesus would assemble in congregations where ever two or three or more gathered in his name. It is the name of Jesus that makes this assembly a congregation to be recognized as a Church. If the name of Jesus is rejected by one or all of the three or more, it is not a New Testament recognized Church assembly. In a real Church the name of Jesus is ABOVE ALL NAMES. We are not to use any other name for God in our Churches.
Moses was "in" the Church in the wilderness (see Acts 7:38). The word Church here is "ekklesia" and refers to the Tabernacle. We are sure that Stephen in his preaching was not speaking Greek. He was speaking Hebrew or Aramaic. He would have used one of the Hebrew words "qahal" or "edah." We believe Jesus used the same Hebrew words in Matthew 16:18 and was not speaking Greek.
It is true that both Qahal and Edah refer to an assembly of people and a congregation of Israelites and not a building. But it is also true, that just as Tabernacle means a place of rest, sleep, and even a house, tent, and home (also applied to the body); even so Church as a replacement of all that the Tabernacle was, is appropriate. Where the people assembled for praise and worship was then the Tabernacle and Stephen called it a Church. Since he made the connection and gave us the revelation, we will abide it without question and debate.
The Tabernacle was a fixture, a building, and the place the people assembled into a congregation. Where the people assembled into a congregation as the Qahal or Edah, that place was called the Church in Acts 7:38. In Acts 7:44 it is called: "the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness." This is Stephen looking back past the day of Pentecost when the New Testament Church was established into the olden days with a revelation of the Church.
The Church in the wilderness was then an assembly of people into a congregation who attended the Tabernacle where they became witnesses of God's power, blessings, and salvation. This assembly of people became the congregation who worshipped God at the Tabernacle Church. For this reason and very revelation, many Pastors have named their Church "Tabernacle" such as First Pentecostal Tabernacle or such like. While others use Church these Pastors used Tabernacle. In practice and reality they are saying by use of either name that this is a place where members assemble and God is present to meet all their material and spiritual needs.
Church--an assembly of people in congregation at a specific place of worship. The meeting place of the congregation where the people assemble to seek God's many blessings. Only when they assembled into a congregation are the members collectively called the Church. Each person is only a part of the assembly and congregation. No person can claim "I am the Church." Because no individual person constitutes an assembly or congregation.
The Church is a religious group since it is a congregation that assembles for the purpose of worship. No Church is a political group. The Church is not a body politic.
It should never be a place of voting on people for any office or position. The officers of the Church (the five-fold-ministry, Bishops, Elders, and Deacons) are not voted in. They are qualified and are ordained in without a vote. Therefore all political voting religious organizations calling themselves a church are invalid. They bear the name Church in contradiction to every verse of the Bible. Only a group of people assembled in a congregation are a Church.
Even as the Israelites after they came out of Egypt, were sanctified, and blood sacrifice was offered for their sins gathered at the Tabernacle; even so, until a person has come under all this spiritual protection and personal salvation can they be part of what constitutes a Church. The place these holy people assemble can be called the Church just as the Tabernacle was called a Church for the holy Israelites to gather. Any collection of people into a group, an assembly, a congregation that does not meet the New Testament standard and requirements are not a Church.
We know that the collection of people into a group, an assembly, a congregation around the altars of idols at a pagan temple could NEVER BE CALLED THE TABERNACLE. To do so would instantly identify it as false. Even so, there are many false churches today who use the name "church" when all they are is a collection of people into an assembly of pagans and heathens who are not born again. They have not forsaken the world or the lusts and idols thereof. No qualified and ordained man is the Minister there. They must comply with Acts 2:38 to transfer over from that which is false to that which is True. And this also depending on the church using Acts 2:38 not holding false doctrines that are not of the Apostle's Doctrine.
The first Church is the pattern.
Mark 9:1, the Kingdom was to come with power;
Acts 1:8, the power was to come with the Holy Ghost;
Acts 2:4, the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost.
Therefore, the Church and Kingdom to which Peter was given the keys in Matthew 16:18-19, was established on the day of Pentecost.
The 120 were assembled in a congregation at a place, the Upper Room. There were chairs or benches or something there to sit upon because the text says they were "sitting."
The Ministry was present, all 12 of the current Apostles were in the first Church service.
They had been meeting here for at least ten days in worship. We know they held one business meeting when the Apostle Matthias was chosen by lot (not voting). We know someone numbered who was present "about 120." Could be some came and went and the number changed from time to time.
The purpose of the people to assemble in a congregation was to wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost. They were not there for any other purpose than to receive the Holy Ghost. All things being prepared by each of them to receive the Holy Ghost was already accomplished.
John prophesied that he baptized with water but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost. We will assume here that only those who had been baptized by faith and waiting on the Holy Ghost were in the Upper Room Church service.
Yes, the meeting of the assembly was a Church service. Before the Holy Ghost came they were like Baptist or some other group of people without the Holy Ghost. But when the Holy Ghost came they became the Holy Ghost Church. Because of this great spiritual blessing we refer to those on the day of Pentecost as the first Holy Ghost Pentecostals. Before this, they were all Jews and Israelites still lost and going to hell. They were not born again as Jesus spoke in John 3:3-5. They needed the Holy Ghost to be born again. Church is then the place to be born again. This happened in Jerusalem among an assembly of people in a congregation. Jesus started his Church after this fashion and it is the pattern for all Churches until Jesus comes.
Are you a member of a real Church?
Or are you a member of a false church?
Or are you a member of a backslid church?
Or are you an on-fire Holy Ghost filled person under the Apostle's Doctrine?
The first Church was completely under the Apostle's Doctrine. There were no false doctrines in the Upper Room Church. They were no false apostles, false prophets, women preachers, Jezebels, homosexual and lesbian evangelists, teachers, and so forth.
The people of the endtime Church will come out from among all that mess. They will restore the Church to the Body of Christ and they will know this assembly of people are a holiness congregation. Indeed sinners and backsliders are welcome to come among us and find salvation. But they are not welcome among us to evangelize our members to accept and do evil. Therefore, in a real Apostolic Church there will be holiness standards that determine conduct, order, and practice. By these we will maintain ourselves as people saved from our sins and who are indeed born again. The Church is not a place for evil people to gather as tares among the wheat who have no intention of becoming saved and joining our holiness congregation as a member of the real Church.
The last day Church will be a restoration of the First Church.
All falsehood will be rejected from false apostles, false prophets, false evangelist, false pastors, false teachers, false bishops, false elders, and false deacons. All these pigs in the pulpit rendering will be rejected. All those novices out of order will be rejected. All those haughty and high-minded individuals who reject the Truth and become railers will be rejected. They can increase in numbers but this does not mean they have the right Spirit or doctrine. When God has his Church back and the sanctuary has been cleansed, and the body is fitly joined together, each part humbled to its place, the first Church will be the last Church.
More....
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