Module 5-Design of the Messianic Community by Eternal Purpose Institute

design of the messianic covenant community

… you people are God’s temple and … God’s Spirit lives in you… God’s temple is holy and you yourselves are that temple 1 Corinthians 3. 16-17

a temple of the Holy Spirit in a mysterious way the people of God have been called to become a living body fitted together into a structure, a literal temple, which God indwells by the Spirit of the Messiah a dwelling place that ultimately reflects and reveals his innate goodness and glory to all nations, tribes, languages and peoples who do not know him

curriculum—part one the high call of God to his messianic covenant community

destiny… vocation design… dynamic… of the messianic covenant community

design 1. 2. 3. 4.

to formulate a plan for to have as a goal or purpose a detailed plan for construction a purposeful arrangement of parts

edified built according to plan, pattern; edifice

established built with appropriate standards quality

messianic design 1. pattern… 2. commission … 3. structure … of the messianic covenant community

pattern… of the messianic covenant community …a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven; this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ Hebrews 8.5; Exodus 26.30

reign of God

world, olam hazeh • • • •

kingdom of God

world

earth population of earth this (evil) age present (rebellious) system

kingdom, reign of God • • •

God’s rule, through Messiah advancing within world eventually whole world under Messiah’s kingdom rule

minds blinded to the light if indeed our Good News is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of being lost; they do not come to trust because the god of this age has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good News about the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God… it is the God who once said, ‘let light shine out of darkness,’ who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Jesus — 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

world subject to dominion of darkness •

people blinded to light of Messiah’s glory — 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Act 26:18

system rebelling against God’s moral order •

in grip of Evil One — 1 John 5.19

people are lost, without hope •

subject to God’s wrath — Ephesians 2.2

will finally be fully redeemed by kingdom — 1 Corinthians 15.24-28 © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

dominion of darkness spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms • • • •

invisibly governing present dark, evil world order destructive, wicked, rebellious against God dominion, not kingdom: dominating with deceptive power, not godly authority formidable opposition to God’s purposes — Colossians 1.13; Ephesians 6:10-18

defeated by Messiah’s death • •

must be recognised, resisted, overcome by faith will suffer eternal defeat — Colossians 2.15; Romans 16.20; Rev 20.10

messianic kingdom of God primary expression : messianic community • • • •

kingdom rule of Messiah, not ‘another world’ redeemed community heralding new order first fruits of new creation, heralding new age advancing within world — Colossians 1.5-23

rulers, authorities, institutions, organisations • • •

instituted by God, essentially neutral Christians called to obey redeemed, reconciled through repentance — Romans 13.1-10

messianic community in the world, but not of it I made your name known to the people you gave me out of the world… I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world… — John 17

separated, delivered from it deliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father —

Galatians 1:4

separate yourselves… let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit and strive to be completely holy — 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1

… must overcome world neither conformed to, nor polluted by it — Romans 12.2; 2 Peter 2:20

not loving the world … or the things of the world; if someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him, because all the things of the world – the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes and the pretensions of life – are not from the Father but from the world — 1 John 2:15-17; James 4.4

victoriously overcoming by faith — 1 John 5.4-5

kingdom characteristics essential, but hard, to enter — Luke 9.57-62; Mark 10.15, 23-25

healing, deliverance from evil powers — Matthew 12:28; Luke 10.9

grows imperceptibly, to become significant — Mark 4.26-32

hidden from wise, revealed to children — Luke 10.21; Mark 10.15

not a matter of words, but power — 1 Corinthians 4.20

exposes world darkness — John 3.17-21

kingdom growth spiritual victory in heavenly realm I am sending you to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place amongst those who have been separated for holiness — Acts 26:18

godly work on earth a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do… with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows… — Ephesians 2.10 & 4.16

five-fold ministry pattern

he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News and some as shepherds and teachers; messianic leadershi community p workers body members

their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection

works of service leadership given by the Messiah • • •

apostles, prophets evangelists pastors, teachers

to equip God’s people for works of service • • • •

equipping body members to become workers works of service build the body of Messiah producing unity within covenant community leading to full manhood, perfect maturity

progression in service all to work, each to serve • • •

bringing kingdom rule into our families, workplaces, communities… business, education, health, government good works provides testimony to the Lord

works of service = acts of worship — Romans 12.1-3

all to progress in our calling — 2 Peter 1.10

messianic community leadership not for all — James 3.1; 1 Corinthians 7.17-24 © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

progression in spiritual maturity progression of spiritual maturity • • •

“children” “young people” “fathers” — 1 John 2:12-14

spiritual fathers • • • •

not only religious leadership family, community business, education, health government leadership

leaders fathers workers youth members children

spiritual maturity and warfare members / “children” • • •

require milk of word hard to lead / teach fail to ‘keep oil in lamp’; bury talents

workers / “young people” • • •

committed, hard working leadable, teachable, available follow other’s vision

leaders / “fathers” • •

pursuing God-given dreams messianic–anointed–leadership

fathers

youth children

path of spiritual maturity

“children” “members” • •

self aware religiously aware

satanic opposition to • •

freedom of the Spirit in relationship with God discipleship

overcome by • • • •

repentance, faith, trust water baptism messianic community membership submitting to community discipleship

“young people” “workers” • •

evil aware warfare aware

satanic opposition to • •

lifestyle of service messianic character

overcome by • • •

baptism of Holy Spirit dedication to serving purpose of God submission to discipleship of spiritually gifted, mature leadership

“fathers” “leaders” • •

God aware destiny aware

satanic opposition to • •

divinely inspired dreams and visions establishment and extension of kingdom

overcome by • • • •

baptism of fire—testing of faith prophetic revelation and intercession discovering personal ministry-calling, gifting building messianic community, discipleship

baptism and warfare

fire baptism

discipleship

religious life

dreams, visions leadership

spiritual warfare

water baptism

spirit baptism

spiritual maturity and gifts members / “children” • • •

religious expression, service worship, fellowship, financial giving occasional prayer

workers / “young people” • • •

serving, spiritual gifts, evangelism showing mercy, sacrificial giving, devotional prayer, spiritual warfare

leaders / “fathers” •

pursuing, expressing dreams, visions © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

discipleship

religious life

dreams, visions leadership

spiritual warfare

messianic design

pattern … commission … structure … of the messianic community

commission … of the messianic covenant community …a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven; this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ Hebrews 8.5; Exodus 26.30

a worldwide community… Jesus’ prayer, of John 17, confirms that he clearly envisaged a growing community that trusted and followed him, accepting his kingdom rule in fact, throughout his teaching he gave a whole series of remez (Hebrew: “hints”) that he intended the message and revelation of God which he was bringing, to reach out into all the world in the final days of his ministry and following his resurrection he taught and commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and to make that community a reality…

commission 1.

put into commission into a state of being in good working order

charge with a task grant authority to undertake certain functions

equip for service make ready for action

Christ’s five-fold commission pray reach disciple teach send go and make people from all nations into disciples, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit… teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you — Matthew 28:19-20

commissioned to pray

the harvest is rich, but the workers are few pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather in his harvest — Matthew 9:38

commissioned to reconcile

as you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned — Mark 16:15-18

commissioned to disciple

go and make people from all nations into disciples immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you — Matthew 28:19-20

commissioned to teach

he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Scriptures, telling them the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; in his name repentance, leading to forgiveness of sins, is to be proclaimed to people from all nations… you are witnesses of these things… — Luke 24:44-49

commissioned to send

shalom aleikhem!

– peace be upon you

just as the Father sent me, I myself am sending you — John 20:21

commissioned to ends of the earth

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, indeed to the ends of the earth — Acts 1:8

commission launches a movement

send

pray

teach

reach disciple

a movement equips and sends an organisation controls and holds be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth swarm on earth only a movement can impact a nation or a region like 10/40 window

swarming on the earth

how bees grow, swarm hive reaches certain size begin equipping new ‘leadership’ to take over existing hive maximum size swarm around queen leave hive locate new home cycle of growth begins again © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

organisational growth

movement growth

only a movement… can change a nation or a region like 10/40 window or East, West, North, South Africa!

organisations control and hold movements equip and send “… swarming over the earth”

commissioning a movement the Holy Spirit takes hold of a person who imparts a vision which launches a movement core of which is the messianic commission pray  reach  disciple  teach  send © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

design

pattern … commission … structure … of the messianic community

structure … of the messianic covenant community …a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven; this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ Hebrews 8.5; Exodus 26.30

messianic community structure messianic covenant community has a unique calling and task; to carry out and bring task to completion, provided with unique spiritual structure Ephesians 4: ministry gifts with clear distinctions, strengths, weaknesses; an inter-dependence in relationship with each other and ideally suited to being fruitful, multiplying, swarming! © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

structure God’s ordained structure for messianic covenant community / body of Christ

reflects God’s global priorities built according to kingdom pattern founded upon messianic covenant accommodates, supports messianic, apostolic commission

essence of messianic community allegiance

community

messiah

spirit power

truth truth

messianic community structure discipling into allegiance

pastoral, evangelistic community

intercess ory prayer

prophetic teaching agency equipping with truth

messianic community structures pastoral, evangelistic community • •

discipling community reflects allegiance to Messiah

prophetic teaching agency • •

teaching, encouraging, correcting, rebuking reflects truth, God’s prophetic word

apostolic missionary movement • •

reproducing community, teaching, mission reflects Spirit’s dynamic power

intercessory prayer ministry • •

heart of community, ministry, mission reflects Messiah’s priestly, intercession

pastoral, evangelistic community pastoral community, fellowship and care • • •

commonly called church, congregation etc modality—open membership generally denominational

discipleship • • •

congregational life, corporate worship small groups, prayer, relationships developing allegiance, faithfulness, holiness

sending / supplying workers • •

teaching and training agencies apostolic missionary teams

evangelism proclaiming / demonstrating Good News • • • •

preaching, publishing, sharing, persuading signs, wonders, healing, deliverance from evil calling people to holiness, allegiance to Messiah calling people into messianic, covenant community

mobilising community evangelistically • •

utilising tools, resources, methods of evangelism clarifying gospel message

balance lifestyle & outreach; words & actions • •

workplace evangelism presence evangelism – St Francis of Assisi ‘preach by all means possible and if necessary, use words’!! © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

prophetic, teaching agency bible school, theological college, university • •

sodality—selective membership (ideally) inter-denominational

teaching / educating / equipping • • •

theological framework, prophetic impetus for pastoral, evangelistic service for apostolic / missionary work

mission mobilisation • • •

part of wider apostolic, missionary movement strategic development, research, statistics mobilisation resources

apostolic missionary agency team, organisation, movement, order • •

sodality—selective membership interdenominational

cross-cultural mission • • •

highly focused, targeted plants pastoral communities, teaching agency laying messianic foundation, ‘master builders’

team building • • •

intercessory heart flexible, mobile lifestyle sacrificial demands

prayer and intercession ministry ‘engine room of the church’ • • •

at heart of community behind every move of God; rarely recognised must transcend denominational barriers

clear sense of purpose essential • •

beware of conflict seek cooperation with leadership of other messianic agencies

‘house of prayer for all nations’ • •

uniting around a vision for world mission or national evangelism / transformation

dynamic

of the messianic covenant community

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