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My Soul and the Church
(Mt16:15-19, 18:18-20)
God is the Head of every authority (Col2:10).
All authorities come from Him and they are established by Him (Rm13:1), and
No one can withstand the power and the might in His hands (2Ch20:6).
Faith is acknowledging the authority of God and knowing the authority of my soul and
Faith life is submitting to the authority from above (Rm13:1), and
Using the authority of my soul (Jn1:12).
All things were called forth by God through His power and brought into existence (Is40:26).
For God did not spare the angels when they challenged His authority in the spiritual heaven,
He contained them in Hades until the great day of judgment, that is,
The universe (Is14:12-15; 2Pe2:4; Jude1:6).
Authority was given to Satan, the devil, who deceived Adam to sin (Ge3:4-5; Rm13:1):
The gates of Hades, the prince of the air, the ruler of death (Mt16:18; Eph2:2; He2:14).
This was according to God’s dispensation of
The offspring of the woman coming to judge the devil by His authority (Ge3:15; He2:14).
The slavery of Israel showed the current state of all mankind (2Pe2:19) for
When the wicked rule, the people groan (Pr29:2).
Israel eating manna that rained down from heaven during their 40 years in the wilderness was
A foreshadow that, in the future, they would eat of the bread of the Mighty One (Ps78:23-25),
For man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Dt8:3).
However, destruction came upon Israel for they broke God's commandments (Eze22:4–7).
Meanwhile, the appearance of the One whom God will redeem from the power of Hades after death,
Whom God will receive was prophesied (Ps49:15, 89:48).
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” and
Angered the Jews who had longed for a time when they would come out of their Dark Age,
But through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21):
The name of Jehovah—Israel—God’s people—the land of Canaan—>end;
The name of Yeshua—souls of all nations—God’s children—the kingdom of heaven—>begin.
The origin of the Church:
1) The wilderness tabernacle—Moses (constructed according to God's pattern)—set up amidst the camps of the 12 tribes of Israel—gave sacrifice;
2) The Temple of Jerusalem—Solomon—Mount Moriah;
3) Yeshua Christ Himself—One greater than the Temple (Mt12:6; Jn2:19-21);
4) The Church—two or three gathered in the name of Yeshua (Mt18:20); and
5) Saints—God’s temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (1Co3:16).
The Church is the rock built upon the rock that the gates of Hades cannot prevail against,
The pillar of truth established on the foundation of truth (1Ti3:15),
The gathering of those who hold the confession of faith that
Yeshua Christ is God who came as man.
As Yeshua died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Acknowledged the Father’s authority—using the authority to die following the command was to receive the authority to live again (Jn10:18);
2) By His authority to die destroyed the ruler of death, the devil (He2:14); and
3) His death—all mankind—redeemed—set free from the price of sin (He2:15),
His blood—to souls—gave the right of the children of God (Jn1:12).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven and
He is the Head over every power and authority on the throne (Col2:10).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent came to the church of Christ, and
The gates of Hades cannot prevail against it.
It holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt16:18), and
It is an open door, the gate to heaven (Rev3:7-8).
Christians are in the church where souls are treated as souls, and they:
1) Are taught the word of truth, rebuked sharply but endure discipline (Tit1:13, 2:1; He12:8-9);
2) Worship—by the blood of Yeshua seek the face of God (He10:19; Jn4:23-26) and serve God (Nu16:1-32; He9:14);
3) The right of petition—ask the Father for anything (Jn14:12–14);
4) The right to drive out demons—cast out demons, illegal intruders (Mk16:17); and
5) The right to pardon—forgive anyone’s sins (Jn20:23).
O Lord, the church where my soul is treated as a soul!
Let me rather willingly accept the rod of discipline, and turn from my ways! Amen.