by Brett Jacobsen

 

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Stages of structure in the church

We will now take a brief account of past structures, from Jesus’ own methods, through church history to now, a time when Jesus is imparting to His church ‘His methods’ again.

Jesus’ seed example

Jesus modeled the perfect way to live in the Kingdom of God while existing on this planet. He was the example and reference point for the early church and He will be likewise for the end-time church. As multitudes pour out of the man-made wineskins, Jesus is restoring His heavenly-wineskin in order to receive the new wine of the Spirit for this hour. We will look at some key elements in the life and ministry of Christ as He walked the earth, seeking to save “that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)

Although many, through traditional eyes, see Jesus going to the temple and synagogues to “have church”, participating in and advancing their institutions, it is not biblically sound to believe so. Yes, Jesus did attend the ‘holy buildings’ whilst growing up, but when He came of age and stepped into His season of ministry, He became an example of the new covenant. He said “I am not of this world” and spoke to the Jews of their religious centers saying “your house is left to you desolate.” (John 8:23, Matt 23:38) He rooted out, pulled down, destroyed and threw down the old system, with its ways and He went about building and planting, by modeling the new way of the Kingdom. He seemed to be fed-up with their corrupt, fruitless, man-driven kingdom so He set out to establish His heaven-steered, eternally fruitful one. He went to the temple and synagogues merely to lead people out of the decaying system into the Kingdom of God.

The leaders interrogated Him saying:

…By what authority do You these things? and who gave You this authority? And Jesus answered and said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say to us, Why did you not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said to them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. (Matt 21:23-27)

In other words, they were saying to Him, ‘who’s your covering’ or ‘which institution do you belong to’? Then, His response was basically saying, ‘the same heavenly covering as John’. Both John and Jesus came out of the desert in the power of the Spirit, under no human kingdom, only God’s eternal one.

Jesus did frequent the holy buildings as an adult, but not to participate in their kingdom. While there, He:

• Taught those who were hungry for real truth and preached the gospel to them.
  Matt 21:23, Matt 26:55, Mark 12:35, Mark 14:49, Luke 19:47, Luke 20:1, Luke 21:37-38, John 7:14, John 7:28, John 8:2, John 8:20, Matt 13:54, Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2.
• Healed the sick and demonstrated the power of God, in contrast to the church system of the time.
  Matt 21:14, John 5:14, Matt 12:9-13, Mark 1:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:33-37.
• Prompted conviction for change on the corrupt leaders and wayward people, even physically rectifying wrong behaviour.
  Mark 11:11-16, Luke 19:45, John 2:15.
• Prophetically proclaimed the destruction of the old system with its paraphernalia, and the subsequent coming of the new covenant.
  Matt 23:38, Matt 24:2, Luke 4:15-21.

Jesus, when responding to the high priest, showed clearly that His temple and synagogue dealings were for the Jews who always assembled there. He was not setting a precedent for His New Testament church to assemble likewise:

The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort (assemble); (John 18:19-20)

Although Jesus spent some time in the temple and synagogues, it is evident that the new wineskin He was preparing was separate from these institutions; but rather, it was out in the real world where the lost live.

How then did Jesus live out the Kingdom of God on earth and where did He spend His time communing and ministering? There are three main categories that paint a picture of the lifestyle of Jesus on earth:

His communion

Jesus’ prayer life was obviously not attached to an organization, nor was it based around a religious venue, it was with His Father, “in secret”. He regularly departed to mountains and other secret places to pray, usually alone or with a hand full of friends. He was modeling the way to “pray without ceasing” by not being locked into a ‘holy-venue mentality’, the paradigm of which is more than often a hindrance to a fruitful prayer life.

And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say to you, They have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Matt 6:5-6)

His community

Jesus didn’t go to church for His spiritual growth because He was constantly spiritual; He walked in daily love community with a small number of God fearers. His “church community” was made up of the disciples He walked through every day life with. Their church was everywhere they went, rather than being limited to certain times or venues. Although Jesus was clearly the one who brought more of the spirituality to the table, He daily communed with His immediate spiritual family, often acting much like just one of the boys, even though He was called as the spotless Lamb of God. Wherever Jesus found true God fearers He found His extended family, but His ‘spiritual-nucleus-family’ were those He spent much of His time in relationship with.

While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brethren stand outside, desiring to speak with You. But He answered and said to him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother. (Matt 12:46-50)

His commission

Although Jesus did spend a considerable amount of time teaching and ministering in the temple and synagogues, re-laying foundations as a reformation apostle, this was only part of His ministry focus. You could very well say that His greater ministry happened out in the real world: in fields, on boats, in homes, on mountains, at funerals, on beaches, at rock pools, in the streets, at parties, in deserts, at graveyards, and even in politician’s headquarters. He was not hidden in some sacred venue waiting for people to arrive for the weekly address; He was out there where many Christians, not to mention leaders, dare not venture to minister.

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:2-10)

The upper room

After Jesus had set the example of how to live in the kingdom of God on earth, He commanded the hundred and twenty to “not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.” (Acts 1:4) These obedient followers “went up into an upper room” and they “all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” (13-14) They actually continued this prayer meeting up until the day of Pentecost, and they still “were all with one accord in one place.” (Acts 2:1) We know the outcome of such a God-ordained prayer meeting, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting…”

This God-ordered gathering produced much fruit, and so do similar modern day gatherings … if they are ordered by the Lord. We have already noted the contrast between the multitudes assembled at the temple, going through the motions, and these prayer warriors. We would do well to not think of these upper-room-attendees as some kind of prayer-Popes or intercessors as this thinking causes the every day believers to become infantile in their prayer lives. Every one of us should have this prayer principle working in our lives on a consistent basis.

House to house and temple gathering

The number of true disciples in Jerusalem grew extensively from the day of Pentecost’s outpouring. “The same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41) This rather large group of believers began to function together as a spiritual community, meeting in homes and gathering at the temple:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)

We know that they continued to see fruit in their midst, as they were “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47)

The church at Jerusalem’s meeting daily “from house to house” to break bread was the backbone of their truly spiritual community. It was there that their lives were sharpened by God and one another as they flowed with the Spirit over a common covenant meal. They had obviously been taking notes while observing how Jesus outworked the Kingdom of God.

The fact that they met daily “in the temple” for a season, as well, will need a little more explaining to provide a true context. Firstly, they were inundated with three thousand new converts in one go, which would surely test the resources of even the most mega church of all. The temple court was a practical place to fit a large crowd and surely these new converts were hungry for a clearer picture of this new life they had embraced. Also, the believers would have appreciated daily updates on how the gospel was affecting the region.

Besides these practical reasons for their gathering together as a big crowd, there was also a second reason which was an obstacle to the commission that Jesus had given them. Because this community was made up of Jews and God fearers who were already believers in Yahweh, they had a false bias which caused them to look at the temple as something special, even though Jesus had cursed it outright. (Matt 23:38) Remember that these new converts came from the gathering at the temple for Pentecost; they had come from “every nation under heaven.” (Acts 2:5) Having been delivered on Pentecost from dead religion based around the temple, they found themselves gravitating back to what felt familiar.

Jesus had said, “Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”, but they kept hanging around the temple. (Mark 16:15) To endorse people going to churches rather than living out daily house to house Christianity, based on the early church gathering in the temple, is incorrect. It does not say that the early church was participating in the temple activities nor does it paint a picture of them having church services there. It merely has them “continuing daily with one accord” at that particular venue.

The temple was in fact not just a religious building but also included the temple court, which was a large public courtyard the size of a few football fields. It seems that the apostles did begin to fulfill Jesus’ commission to take the gospel to the world but it is evident that the mission was retarded by their clinging to the temple.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)

Even while meeting in large numbers at the temple for a season, they carried a great grace from God as they were “daily with one accord”, gathering as the Jerusalem church rather than a denominated and thus divided church.

House to house and commission

As God was setting the scene for the next season, He put a message in Stephen’s heart which would see the Jerusalem church step into a fuller picture, yet not without friction. At the heart of Stephen’s message to the apostate Israeli church (Old Testament church) was this truth:

But Solomon built Him an house. However the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will you build Me? says the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? (Acts 7:47-49)

God, through Stephen and others, was going head to head with the stronghold of temple worship. This new direction, with its strong emphasis on God’s Kingdom rather than man’s memorabilia, let the cat out amongst the pigeons.

We have seen in chapter one the repercussion of this potent new doctrine with its scathing prophetic proclamation against the apostate Israeli church. Acts 8:1-4 shows that

• “there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem”
  We have seen how this proved helpful in that it pushed the church underground.
• “they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,”
  They hadn’t “gone” yet, like Jesus had said to, so He made sure they did now.
• “Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house,”
  The majority of the church was found gathering in homes only; they were hidden.
• “they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
  The church was sent out with the gospel.

The church now met house to house and went out spreading the gospel. There was a huge change in dynamic within the church community when opposition arose with violent persecution. Whether God sent or just used this opposition He only knows for sure, but one thing is for certain, God utilised it to disperse His people out across the world, and into people’s homes and everyday lives. He effectively, for almost a century, pulled the Old Testament and Pagan systems out of His spiritual Israel and sent them out into a desperate decaying world. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves…” (Matt 10:16)

From what I have seen of the other church communities in the New Testament, gathering the whole church in a city or region was mainly for announcements, delivering epistles and making decisions (Acts 15:30, Acts 6:1-5). I can’t locate a “church meeting”, as we might know it, in the New Testament.

The dark void with the underground stream

As we have already considered the church’s downhill plummet into the Dark Ages in previous chapters, we will only review the major points. We know that from around 110AD the church officially began to transfer the reins over from God to man. It is clear that the church adopting the Roman city structure was a great idea in man’s eyes, but an abomination in God’s. The historical evidence also strongly suggests that Constantine and many other “church leaders” took the greater part of the church even further away from God’s headship, tightening man’s grip on the reins. Ignatius, Constantine and other humanistic leaders steered the church out of the homes and mission fields, opting for sleek synagogues, which have now become, for the most part, hedonistic holding stations. They even went as far as outlawing house meetings.

Although this Dark-Age church has lived on in some form until now, with much of Christianity still forming similar wineskins, there has always been an underground stream of true believers, flowing beneath the surface. Even in the darkest of seasons, God has kept a remnant of these true believers; some hidden away in proverbial caves, others mixed through the systems of man.

At this point in history, as we continue to be reformed and remolded according to the ‘Jesus pattern’, we see a bit of a mixed-bag of structures. While some are blatantly void of God, apostate, choosing to stagnate rather than obey Him and move forward, many others are beginning to fumble their way through a reformation process. During this transitional stage we see true believers gathering in temples (“churches”), houses and prayer rooms, as well as other venues. It is in this next crucial stage that structural reformation will be mandatory for all who wish to remain in obedience to the Master plan of the Holy Spirit.

 

REPRINT AGREEMENT

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is permitted provided that complete source and website information for CHRIST IS ALL is included.
Thank you.

www.christisall.org

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 31st, 2006 at 3:26 pm and is filed under Biblical Leadership, Brett Jacobsen's teachings, Church Structure, Evangelism / Discipleship, House to house community, Living Christianity, Reformation/ Revival. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.