We are anointed by God to see the invisible.
2 Cor 4:18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV
If we can see the invisible we can do the impossible. This is a year of moving beyond logical reactions to a place of spiritual response. This is also a year of less talk and more action.
Matt 16:16-19 (Peter told Jesus), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you..! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ESV
The word Jesus used that translates as “church” is “Ekklesia.” This was a very common word but it wasn’t familiar in expressing religious ideas. When Jesus purposed to utter this word to describe the gathering of God’s family he did so very strategically. “Ekklesia” had been in existence for centuries in both the Greek and Roman empires to refer to an institution operating in the marketplace in a governmental capacity.
Perhaps Jesus raised some eyebrows when he chose to use a term that defined a secular institution to bring understanding to “church.”
The word 'church' in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word 'ekklesia' which comes from two words 'ek' meaning 'out' and 'kaleo' meaning to 'call.' An ekklesia or 'calling out' was not just an assembly. Greeks were using the word Ekklesia to describe a group of citizens called out for governmental purposes. The word ekklesia was a political term, not a religious term. Jesus was the King and the Bible used the term ekklesia for a good reason. In classical Greek "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly."
At the time of Jesus’ birth and all through his ministry time on earth there were three major institutions in Israel: the Temple, the Synagogue and the Ekklesia. It is assumed that all three were religious, but actually only the Temple and the Synagogue fit that description. The Ekklesia, as it was called, was first developed as the ruling assembly in the Grecian democracy to govern its city-states. It consisted of men 18 years or older who had done two years of military service; in essence, people committed to their city-state and willing to invest to protect it. In a broader sense, Ekklesia came to mean an assembly of citizens duly convened.
When a group of Roman citizens, even as small as two or three, gathered anywhere I the world, it constituted as the Conventus, or “an assembly of citizens” as a local expression of Rome. Any new citizen in town was qualified to be part of it even though geography separated them from Rome and the Emperor. Their coming together in the community brought its power and presence to their midst. This was the Roman Ekklesia in a microcosm. Jesus said that if two or three gather in His name they were empowered to bind and release in the authority of the King (Matt 16:19, 18:18). Jesus viewed the Ekklesia as an assembly of His people who had become members through baptism.
We are citizens of heaven with a purposed assignment of influence in a fallen world that Jesus wants to completely redeem by his love.
The power of God was invading every realm of society as God’s people carried God’s presence to real life. We are not here trying to build a better church. We are here as the church trying to build a better world.
Interestingly Jeremiah 29 is quoted often by many believers about the amazing life God has planned for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says God has good plans to bless us, prosper us and not to harm us giving us a hope and a future. Just a few verses earlier (verse 7) God’s people were told, “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” NIV
God was blessing them but notice this word was coming to a people who were suffering oppression and captivity in Babylon. God’s plans were still good plans but it involved being planted in a very dark place. There is a wrong perception among believers that all the bad people are keeping us from God’s blessing and God’s best in our lives.
2 Chr 7:14 if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (NAS)
The problem isn’t the abundance of darkness. The problem is the absence of light. Nineveh turned in a day when Jonah finally got his head on straight!
God is raising up a church that understands we have been entrusted great power to produce great change in society.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Work to make a meaningful difference in somebody’s life every day this week.