World Affairs
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Matthew 28:18
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations” (Ps. 22:27-28)
1. The Diplomatic Ecclesia
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
In the New Testament, "ecclesia" (signifying convocation) is the only single word used for church. It (ecclesia) was the name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens, duly convoked (called out) by proper officers and possessing all political power including even juridical functions.
Obviously, in Greece an ecclesia had no resemblance to a church. An "ecclesia" was a civil assembly in Athens even before the writing of the New Testament. In the Oxford Universal English Dictionary (considered the standard for the English language) the word "ecclesia" is listed in its English form as used by our English forefathers. (Nowadays, only forms of the word appear - like, "ecclesiastical").
Quoting from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary on the word "ecclesia": Ecclesia [mediaeval Latin, and Greek - from: SUMMONED] -A regularly convoked assembly, especially the general assembly of Athenians. Later, the regular word for church.
Thus, two of the most prestigious word resources in the English language confirm the fact that an "ecclesia" was originally a select civil body, summoned or convoked for a particular purpose. What, then, did the writers of the New Testament mean when they used the word "ecclesia" to describe a Christian body of people? We can assume that they intended to convey the original Greek meaning of the word: a body of Christians called out of the Roman and Judean system to come together into a separate civil community. It meant a politically autonomous body of Christians under no king but Jesus; under no other jurisdiction but that of Jesus. No man ruled them—Only Christ. And that was the reason these same Christians ran into trouble with kings and rulers; were arrested, crucified and martyred. They dropped Caesar as their King and took up Christ.
Prayer One
Pray that the Gospel would speed ahead and be honoured.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured, as happened among you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1
2. The Ambassadorial Ecclesia
In Acts 17, verses 1-6 we see that Paul and Silas had a reputation that preceded them. They were "turning the world (system) upside down." What was their inflaming message? Were they telling the people to find a minister and support him; go to church every weekend; be nice to their neighbours? Could this have been the message that set the city fathers against them? Or maybe they were asking people to send their tithes to them so they could build a nice church or develop a Christian recreation centre? No? What then? What were these guys doing that was "turning the world system upside down"? The answer is found in verse 7: "Whom Jason hath received (into his house): and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."
Now is that clear? Do you see what they were doing? They were announcing ANOTHER KING! Not Caesar! This was a king who was bigger than Caesar. They were forming civil bodies that no longer looked to Caesar as their king. They were forming civil outposts for Christ's conquering army!
Prayer Two
Pray that God would send out reinforcements. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:3
3. Kingdom Builders
Paul and Silas weren't "church builders" like preachers today claim. They weren't evangelizing people from one church or synagogue to another. They were kingdom builders! They were dethroning rulers in the minds of the people and alienating them from the mental hold Caesar had upon them through heathenistic (central) government. They were teaching the principles of Christian government. They were putting forth the call of God to whomever would hear and obey, and those whose hearts responded to the call became citizens of Christ's kingdom and joined themselves to the ecclesia, or community of believers.
Prayer Three
Pray for a mind of discernment.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10
4. Kingdom Roar
The Kingdom cannot be kept quiet. The Lord’s Kingdom will be proclaimed in the open. “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops” Matthew 10:27
Jesus was sent into the world not away from the world. Kingdom Christians will not keep quiet. The Kingdom of God cannot be kept secret. It must be proclaimed. It must continue to bring in new subjects.
In Acts—Jesus, Peter, Paul and the other apostles were: “Preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3; 8:12)
“Disputing and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8; Acts 28:23)
“Teaching those things which concern the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 20:25; Acts 28:31)
Prayer Four
Pray for boldness in proclamation.
Praying at all times in the Spirit…and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:18-19
Principles of our GOVERNMENT
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...." Philippians 3:20
“The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land.” Psalm 10 16
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:27-29
“For the Lord is the great God, and great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3
“For God is my King from old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” Psalm 74:12
“You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob.” Psalm 44:4
“For the Lord Most High is awesome; he is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.”
“A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters all evil with his eyes.” Proverbs 20:8
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:7
“How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:3
“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:29-30
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the Kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Daniel 7:18
“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Luke 4:43
"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out... People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Luke 13:22-30
“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” 1 Corinthians 15:24
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Revelation 5:10
“For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” 1 Corinthian 4:20
“Fear God. Honor the King.” 1 Peter 2:17
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15
“The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” Exodus 15:18
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Revelation 15:3
“For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.” Psalm 89:18
“For the Lord is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.’ Isaiah 33:22
“The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.” Psalm 99; 1
“God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts then forever.” Job 36:20
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.” Psalms 145:13
“The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.” Isaiah 22:22
Fear not, little flock, for it is your father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Wherefore if we RECEIVE A KINGDOM which is not moved, we have grace, whereby we may serve God and please him with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
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