The Nicolaitan System is characterized by a top-down hierarchy, power over people, and control, leading to idolatry and spiritual blindness, often manifesting in the works of the flesh. In contrast, the biblical church model emphasizes humble servant leadership, where the "greatest" are those who serve, promoting humility, freedom, and the fruit of the Spirit.
The conversation is focused on kingdom communities, emphasizing the need for believers to transition from a church-centric mindset to a kingdom perspective and the importance of understanding kingdom foundations before starting projects. The group discussed the importance of focusing on foundational understanding and kingdom principles, the need to balance organic growth and systematic approaches, and the transformative nature of discovering the Kingdom of God. The conversation ended with a discussion about the potential for sharing the gospel of the kingdom with entire nations and the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with God and each other on their spiritual journey.
The author argues that over the past few decades, a corporate mindset has overtaken the church, prioritizing success metrics like growth, scalability, and visibility over traditional values of faithfulness and discipleship. This shift, driven by consumer capitalism and the megachurch model, has led to pastors adopting the role of brand managers and executives, congregations becoming consumers, and the pulpit transforming into a platform for influence
This is a discussion about the concept of false religion and false Christianity. The text emphasized the importance of living within the confines of the breath of life, as man was created to exist in a paradise-like state connected with God. They argued that any concept of life that does not lead back to this Edenic state is false and cannot fill the void in the heart of a fallen man.
THE REDEMPTION SERIES. There is a tremendous hidden power in the human soul. In these days there is an increasing interest in releasing that dormant power within. This is what the “Self-Realization” and “Self-Improvement” teachings are all about. This is what the various occult and psychic practices base their activity on. Eastern religions, transcendental meditation, fortune telling, horoscopes, etc., work through the releasing of the power dormant in the human soul. And Satan seeks to gain control of this power and work through it to attain his own goals of control of people and the world.
CHURCH IN THE KINGDOM AGE , by Ayodeji Williams. Apostolic Leader of The Regenesis.
The concept of the church as a "kingdom of priests" is significant because it shapes both the church's identity and its purpose. This idea originates from Exodus 19:6, where God promised Israel they would be a "kingdom of priests. This concept, originally applied to Israel, finds its fulfillment in the church Identity: The church, comprised of people from every tribe and nation, is a "holy priesthood", set apart from the rest of the world as a distinct spiritual kingdom under Christ's reign. This identity is rooted in Christ's victory as both King and Priest, offering Himself as the final sacrifice for sin.
As a "kingdom of priests", the church's purpose is to serve and worship God, proclaiming His excellencies and offering spiritual sacrifices through praise, worship, and witness. This priestly service is marked by living sacrificially for others: Following Christ's example, the church is called to demonstrate God's grace and love through acts of mercy and service, pointing others to Christ as the source of reconciliation. Interceding for others: The church's priestly role includes praying for all people, including those in authority, seeking God's mercy and reconciliation in the world. The church's identity as a "kingdom of priests" is a call to holiness and a reminder of the privilege and responsibility to represent Christ to the world. It emphasizes that every member of the church shares in this priestly role, serving as ambassadors of God's grace and reconciliation.
How does the understanding of the Kingdom of God shape the concept of obedience and its role in a believer's life? What is the relationship between the fall of man, the nature of salvation, and the restoration of God's image in humanity?
Randy Alcorn 6 Reasons to Live More Simply and Give More Generously Simple living enables generous giving, but only if resources are redirected to serve God and others.
The focus shouldn't be solely on deprivation, but on intentionally using resources for God's purposes.
We should live more simply—and give more generously—because it frees us up and shifts our center of gravity. We should live more simply—and give more generously—because we’re God’s pipeline.
The podcast provides a biographical account of John Hus, a 15th-century Bohemian religious reformer who was burned at the stake for heresy. Hus's early life was marked by poverty, but he rose to become a renowned preacher and scholar who adopted the teachings of John Wycliffe, a fellow reformer who had been condemned for criticizing the Catholic Church. Hus's outspoken criticism of indulgences, clerical corruption, and the worship of images led to his excommunication by Pope John XXIII and ultimately his execution at the Council of Constance. Despite being betrayed by the council that promised him safe passage, Hus remained steadfast in his beliefs and met his death with courage and dignity. In 1999, Pope John Paul II apologized for the execution of Hus, acknowledging the injustice of his death.
The Morning Star of the Reformation
As we saw earlier, from 1378-1417 the powerful Roman Church had not one, not two, but eventually three popes. Each one damning the other and all who followed them. For forty years a whole generation was under a curse. In the midst of this dark time, a glimmer of light in England arose named John Wycliffe (1320-1384). Wycliffe was a priest, a theologian and a scholar at Oxford University. Wycliffe had the audacity to question church authorities and, like the reformers after him, was willing to die for his beliefs, saying “I am ready to defend my convictions even unto death.” He exalted preaching, defined the church as the congregation of the elect, denounced the doctrine of transubstantiation, questioned the usefulness of monasteries, and held that the Scriptures should be written in the common English language and read by all, not just priests.
Wycliffe upheld salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, saying, “Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation.”
And “It is not good for us to trust in our merits, in our virtues or our righteousness; but only in God's free pardon, as given us through faith in Jesus Christ.”
Wycliffe held that the Scriptures were the final authority over the Church.
“The true Christian was intended by Christ to prove all things by the Word of God: all churches, all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices," he said. "These are his marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is the flag which he nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered!”
John Wycliffe felt every Englishman should have the Bible in their native tongue. He translated the first English translation of the Scriptures 150 years before William Tyndale. "Englishmen learn Christ's law best in English. Moses heard God's law in his own tongue; so did Christ's apostles," he declared.
The Wycliffe Bible was very influential—it impacted the English language and it set the stage for the Reformation in England. One historian wrote: “In all simplicity he thought to give the word of God to his own age, but in fact he laid the foundation for the Reformation in England, and for the permanence and excellence of the English language.”
His efforts were not well-received by the Roman Church. In 1414 it was ruled that reading the English Scripture was forbidden upon pain of forfeiture “of land, cattle, life and goods from their heirs forever.”
Wycliffe died peacefully in 1384. Forty-four years after his death, however, the Roman Church had Wycliffe's body dug up and burned and his ashes thrown into the River Swift. It is said that as his ashes spread down the River Swift into the sea it touched the banks of countries all over the world, and everywhere his ashes touched so did his teachings.
To not understand the scripture concerning His Church is to delve into the controlling of the churches by man, unregulated by God Himself. Many have written on a specific facet or two of the pattern of the New Testament assembly but often get myopic in their views and never ending up able to communicate the whole picture of that pattern. The author in this book has certainly done justice to all facets of the New Testament Church by incorporating all the necessary ingredients in one book. I highly recommend not only reading this book but taking the time before the Lord to deeply consider it's ramifications and allowing HIM to take control of HIS Church. The Lord has a pattern - a heavenly pattern. We thought we had a better idea... We were wrong..... https://theregenesis.org.ng/
THE EKLESIA To not understand the scripture concerning His Church is to delve into the controlling of the churches by man, unregulated by God Himself. Many have written on a specific facet or two of the pattern of the New Testament assembly but often get myopic in their views and never ending up able to communicate the whole picture of that pattern. The author in this book has certainly done justice to all facets of the New Testament Church by incorporating all the necessary ingredients in one book. I highly recommend not only reading this book but taking the time before the Lord to deeply consider it's ramifications and allowing HIM to take control of HIS Church. The Lord has a pattern - a heavenly pattern. We thought we had a better idea... We were wrong..... https://theregenesis.org.ng/