by Brett Jacobsen

This brief article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

 
It was a shady church that nose-dived headlong into the Dark Ages and it is a shady church that has existed ever since. We would be kidding ourselves to say or think that it has been anything more than a shadow of the complete “fullness of Christ” church that God is searching out and preparing.

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 6 of 6

by David Orton

God views a human king as idolatry

Third, Samuel was shown that in rejecting him, as prophet, Israel was not only rejecting God but, in fact, pursuing other gods: “…but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods” (1 Sam 8:8 NIV). The kingship was the product of the nation’s idolatry and proven to be so by its unfolding history as the kings by-and-large led the people further in their pursuit of false gods.osea, as a prophet recognised the connection between idolatry and human government: “They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction” (Hos 8:4 NIV).

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 5 of 6

by David Orton

WHAT IS GOD’S RESPONSE

TO HUMAN GOVERNMENT IN THE CHURCH?

As we have seen, just as Israel rejected God as king in their rejection of the prophet Samuel, the church rejected Christ as king when the office of bishop (the senior pastor) superseded the apostles and elders.

by Brett Jacobsen

This brief article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

by Tom Sparks

For as far back as I can remember the Lord has been unveiling the competition He experiences with those things that oppose Him, and the story of my life is a journey from one exposure to another exposure of the religious systems that compete for centrality of life focus.

Let me make this as simple as I know how to.  Either Jesus is going to be the focus of our lives or religious systems are, but you are never going to find a religious system that maintains the focus on Jesus He is due.

We have now reduced the price of Heaven's Underground Blueprint to what it costs to print (plus freight and tax) because we feel the Lord would have us do so. Although I wouldn’t condemn people who do make a profit from their book sales, I am not comfortable with doing it myself. So, you can now purchase the book for cost price no mater which country you’re from, but the freight is on you. You can also get the e-book version for free if you like. Of course we are open to donations towards the ministry from people who purchase the book (or get it free), but there is no compulsion. If you would like to read the introduction and back cover of Heaven's Underground Blueprint, and/or obtain a copy, click here- http://www.christisall.org/hub-book

Part 4 of 6

by David Orton

Confusion of terms - Elders, Bishops, and Pastors

Consequently, the Western church’s traditionally inherited structures have confused three important terms: elders, bishops, and pastors. Traditionally, they have been seen as three distinct layers of church office: the bishop originally presiding over one congregation but in time over many, and, therefore the pastor of each congregation, who in turn presided over the elders. It is important to note that Paul in his address to the Ephesian elders used all three terms inter-changeably, for one category of person. In verse 17 of Acts chapter 20 he called the presbuterous or ‘elders’ of the church to meet with him. In verse 28 he also referred to them as episkopos - as ‘overseers’ (NIV, NASV) or ‘bishops’ (NKJV, NRSV), reminding them that it was the Holy Spirit who placed them in this role. And in the same verse he exhorts them to poimainein (to feed and rule) or ‘shepherd’ (NASV, NRSV) the flock, which is the verb form of poimen, translated ‘pastor’ in Ephesians 4:11.

This post, called Talking Tithes and Other Money Issues, is in three parts. The first is a small article form Heaven’s Underground Blueprint concerning money amongst true New Testament communities. The next part is a lengthy dialogue/disputation between myself and my now friend Tom Sparks which was in response to my article some time ago. The third part is a link to an article of Tom’s called Provisioning the Minister of God which he has recently posted on his sight. (In my opinion, his article is insightful, balanced, clear, and biblically anchored).

Which Kingdom Do You Inhabit?

by Brett Jacobsen

There are many prophetic shadows in the Bible which display what God has done and will do in the New Covenant season of His Kingdom. One such biblical illustration of the current transition from old wineskins to new, from flesh to faith, from Christendom to Christ, is the relocation from Sinai to Sion. This shift from mountain to mountain: from kingdom to kingdom, is very instructive for all those who wish to live “in Christ”.

Which Mountain?

The writer of Hebrews has done a great service to the Kingdom of Christ in drawing a bold line between the carnal kingdom and Christ’s:

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 3 of 6

by David Orton

How did the Apostles function?

So, how did the apostles function, and who led the local congregation?

Christ anoints and appoints apostles, but apostles appoint elders.176  While the former were mobile ministries planting and caring for multiple congregations, functioning according to their relationships and the leading of the Spirit, the elders were the local resident shepherds of one congregation, functioning as a team of general overseers. However, the latter, while free, never operated independently of their relationship with the apostles.177

How did the Apostles relate to the Churches?

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 2 of 6

by David Orton

Apostles and Prophets replaced by Senior Pastors!

Tragically, as Israel did, they opted for a king, for human government. As the church transitioned into the sub-apostolic era, the ascension-gift ministries of apostles and prophets were gradually replaced by the office of the bishop.167 It was believed that this office was the only legitimate continuity of apostolic authority and teaching (apostolic succession)168; thereby addressing the two-horned dilemma of heresy – the crisis of continuity in apostolic teaching – and division – the crisis of apostolic authority.

by Brett Jacobsen

This article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

The Secret Place of Underground Power
 
You could go to a new church-growth seminar every week for the rest of your life and learn how to build “your church”. However, you cannot escape the fact that biblical principles (which many of these seminars are virtually void of) not only work, but they glorify God rather than man. It is very clear who God wants in the limelight and, sorry to all the famous preachers and “worship leaders”, it’s not you. We all know the victorious place that Psalm 91 has available to the saints, but have we missed the key that unlocks that victory? It lies in the first verse: 

by T. Austin-Sparks

“It pleased God… to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him” (Gal.1:15,16)

1. Everything Tested by Inwardness

by David Orton

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 1 of 6

“They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.
With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction”
Hos 8:4 NIV
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way…”
Jer 5:30-31 NIV 

by T. Austin-Sparks

We realize, with intense sorrow of heart, that all is not well with that which ostensibly represents the Lord here… and that there is a state of things widely prevailing which does not truly accord with the revealed desire of God.

We live in a time of more than usual dearth spiritually - the state of things may well remind us of Ezekiel's valley of dry bones. We have not merely to cope with evils which have characterized bygone ages, but also with the matured corruption of a time wherein the varied evils of the Gentile world have become connected with, and covered by, the cloak of Christian profession; and when we turn to the state of those whose knowledge of truth and high profession might naturally encourage the expectation of more healthy and vigorous Christian action, we find, alas! in many - yea, in the majority of cases - that the knowledge is but cold and uninfluential theory… and the profession but superficial.

by Brett Jacobsen

This small article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

There is a spiritual principle in operation throughout every aspect of the Kingdom of God, from the personal to the corporate, from the least to the greatest; it is the ‘seed to cedar’ principle. We have previously observed how “the kingdom of God, [is] as if a man should cast seed into the ground; […] and the seed should spring and grow up” (Mark 4:26-27). This principle not only applies to personal lives, but also to the overall Kingdom of God as it is outworked in history. Yes, the early church presented a fairly thorough demonstration of the kingdom, and many moves of God since that time have restored certain spiritual elements, possibly in a more broad and potent application. However, the end of the ages will surely manifest the fuller exhibition; the proverbial cedar compared with the earlier seed. Jesus said: 

by David Orton

 
“…And he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel…”
 
Jer 48:11

by T. Austin-Sparks

If we go on with God, the Cross leads us immediately to the House of God. The Cross opens the way to the House of God, and the House of God depends for its full meaning upon whether the Cross has done its work.

A great many people think that the Church, the House of God - or whatever you may term it - is a doctrine, a part of a system of Christian truth. Have you thought that? Well, let me say that you are wrong. What is the House of God? We may first name a number of things which it is not.

Brett Jacobsen's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint is now available. The book has a twofold thrust: it is a prophetic work that paralells church history with Old Testament Israel, presenting insight into current happenings and great hope for the future. It also is instructive in the current reformation of the church into underground community. Some of the main topics covered are: How the church spiralled down into the Dark Ages (and largely remains there), How God is changing the guard of church leadership, How to do New Testament community, What is New Testament leadership instead of hierarchical humanism, Biblical unity rather than ecumenical compromise, God's proccess of reformation, de-construction or destruction, Promised Land Christianity, Reformation of eschatology, and more.

by Edwin Hatch

(The following is an excerpt from a book by Edwin Hatch [1888]. Thanks to Jon Zens for connecting me to this great author. What I found very helpful was to realize that the troubles with "church-as-we-know-it" did not start with Constantine but can be traced back even earlier, to the 2nd Century.) - Jeff Gilbertson

It is impossible for any one, whether he be a student of history or no, to fail to notice the difference and contrast between the Sermon on the Mount and the Nicene Creed.