July 3

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

-Ephesians 5:32 states, … This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church …

According to Ray Prinzing:

-"You might "join" or "un-join" some man-made group, but THE CHURCH is not something that can be joined. "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." [Acts 2:47]. THE CALLED OUT ONES ARE GOD'S. He gives the calling, and He works it out experientially in each one. The first time the word "church" is used in the New Testament, is found in Matthew 16:18, when Jesus said, "-- and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The context reveals that it is upon the solid, divine revelation that HE is "the Christ, the Son of the living God,'' [Matthew 16:16], that the church is founded." (Whispers Of The Mysteries, Ray Prinzing)

-The Greek word "ekklesia" means: assembly, or a gathering of called out ones. This would mean that the church is to be seen as a living and breathing organism. It is not a denomination, a building, or any certain religion. It is made up of people. WE ARE HIS CHURCH! Many people think that when they get up on Sunday morning that they are preparing to “go to church”. It is hard to go to something that we already are. We must see ourselves as the very CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light to show forth His praises in the earth. When we assemble ourselves together with other believers we are bringing “the church” to where we go. We are not going to a place to “have church”, but we are the church, coming together to corporately share in the presence of God. In essence, we are coming together to form the Lord’s body. IT IS TIME TO STOP HAVING CHURCH AND TO START BEING THE CHURCH!!! There is a difference.

-The called out ones are those that have received a revelation from God. They have received the revelation that JESUS IS THE CHRIST ( THE ANOINTED ONE ), and that they are part of the many membered body of Christ. This understanding of the Lord’s church remains a mystery to many due to the fact that they continue to look in the physical realm for a definition and explanation of the church. When you realize that you are the church of the Lord Jesus Christ you will stop waiting to press into His Kingdom. We must STOP limiting our relationship with the Lord to a building that we go to on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. WE ARE THE BUILDING OF THE LORD! WE ARE A SPIRITUAL HOME FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!

-YOU ARE HIS CHURCH!-