Defining Church_Part 9: Israel, the Pattern Church

Defining Church, Part 9: Israel, the Pattern Church

Acts 7:38

38 He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us (NIV).

Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us (NKJV)

Acts 7:38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness… (KJV).

There are various platforms in the Word of God that can be used to define church. The first definition platform that we used was in looking at the very meaning of the word church. We had to do this because God is very deliberate in how He uses or chooses words and descriptions. Like we said, Jesus could have said, “I will build my synagogue” since this (synagogue) was the term that was generally used to describe a gathering of people for religious purposes. There are scriptures that tell us plainly that Jesus Himself used to go to synagogues (see Luke 4:14-16). This can only mean that Jesus was quite familiar with the synagogue system or operations. The revelation and declaration of His intent to build the church (ekklesia) was therefore very deliberate. There are things that He wanted us to zoom in to understand who we are and what is our role in the earth.

There are therefore various definition platforms that can be used to describe the nature and function of church. Let me outline some of these as we may never be able to cover everything in these articles. For the purpose of these articles, we may emphasise and highlight those definition platforms that have not been highlighted in the church before or those that are important within the context of the season church finds itself currently.

The term “definition platform” means that which can be used to define the nature, identity, mandate and the function of church. Some definition platforms are listed before but not in their order of importance:

Definition Platforms of Church:

1) The first definition platform is the very meaning of the word church or “ekklesia”. What I mean here is that if Jesus says, ‘I will build my ekklesia’ then the point of departure in understanding this thing called Jesus begins with looking at the meaning of the word church.

2) The second definition platform will be the Early Church as seen particularly in the Book of Acts and generally in the New Testament Books. The more we study the Early Church the more we will understand how we need to exist and function as church today. The principle of the first-things demands that we look at the Early Church. That is, the Early Church is the first-fruit for us, and so even though it represents church in its seed-form or formative phase, it also represents church in its pure form, undefiled by the accumulation of tradition and erroneous positions the church has evolved into over the years.

3) The third definition platform will be the Nation of Israel, “the church in the wilderness”. We will look at this definition platform today. Why do we have to use Israel? We have to use Israel because they are defined as the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). What happened to them was for our example (1 Cor 10:6&11).

4) The fourth definition platform we can look at is the whole issue of being a Temple. We are the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16, 1 Cor 6:19, 1 Pet 2:4-5). What does the issue of being a temple communicate to us:

· The temple is a place of spiritual activity and therefore communicates the fact that church is a spiritual entity engaged in spiritual life, process and development.

· It communicates the idea of ministering to God (we are His priesthood).

· The building of the temple of Solomon (in the Old Testament) further communicates issues of (a) taking stones from the Quarry: being removed from the world and sin; (b) shaping the stones: processes of personal transformation and the formation of the nature of Christ in us; (c) placement of the stones at the temple site, which represents: the issue of being integrated into the Community of Christ, the issue of Functionality, and the issue of Corporate Representation of Christ before the nations of the world.

5) The fifth definition platform is the issue of being “a City”. We are defined in the scriptures as a Holy City (Heb 12:22, Rev 21&22, Ps 48:1-2). The concept of the city communicates the ff.

· City represents a Civilisation.

· City represents a System of Life.

· City represents Citizenship.

6) The sixth definition platform is the issue of being “the Bride of Christ” (Rev 21:2, 2 Cor 11:2, Eph 5:27).

· The Bride represents positions of purity.

· The Bride represents unquestionable commitment to Christ (His Nature, Word and Purpose).

· The Bride represents readiness for eternal union or covenant with Christ. That is, it defines the state the church must enter into in order to receive Christ eventually.

7) The seventh definition platform is the issue of Son-ship (Rom 8:17-19, Heb 2:10, Ps 2:6-9, Rev 12:5). The Son represents:

· Relational Proximity to the Father.

· Submission and Obedience.

· Maturity and Perfection.

· Accessing our Inheritance (i.e. prophetic promises).

· Functionality and Competence.

· Greater Kingdom Responsibility.

· Ruler-ship and Advance of the Kingdom into the Nations.

· Correct Representation of God before the nations.

· Stepping into the Realm of Immortality.

8) The eighth definition platform we can look at to extract the meaning of church is “Adam, the pattern of the one to come” (Rom 5:14, Gen 1:26-28, 1 Cor 15:45-49). Principles around the formation of Adam provide more details on how God wants the church to exist in the earth.

· Adam represents Son-ship.

· Adam represents the fullness of Christ.

· Adam represents ruler-ship over nations (we have defined in the previous articles the meaning of ruler-ship in the Kingdom of God).

· Adam represents Kingdom Citizenship.

· Adam represents the reality of the Kingdom of God impacting and shaping all areas of human life.

· Adam represents Immortality.

9) The ninth definition platform we can consider is The Human Body. There are a number of scriptures where we are defined as the Body of Christ (Col 1:18, 1 Cor 12:12-27).

· The Body represents Mutual Existence & Relationship.

· The Body represents interconnectedness.

· The Body represents Corporate Functionality.

· The Body represents Integration and Unity.

· The Body represents a fully-formed Nature and Character of Christ in the church.

10) The tenth definition platform we can use is that of “nationhood”. We are a holy nation (1 Pet 2:9) capable of bringing transformation to other nations of the world (Isa 2:1-4).

As I said, we will not be able to go through all these definition platforms. It however is very important to understand these as a believer because they define who you are. So if you have not studied them before, go back to your Bible and look at these for yourself to see how God defines you. This produces correct understanding, existence and functionality. Some of these definition platforms will be highlighted in certain seasons based on the prophetic emphases of the Lord. For example, the church that will eventually meet the Lord - like Paul says, not all of us will die (1 Cor 15:51) meaning that there is a generation that will bring about the coming of the Lord – this church is defined among other things as:

• The Bride.
• The Son.
• The City.

Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation talks about us as “a City prepared as a Bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. (Rev 21:2). So in one verse two definers are used, one is “city” and the other one is “bride”. It says that the city is “beautifully dressed”. The issue of clothing in the scriptures represents character. For example, Gal 3:26-29 says that we have clothed ourselves with Christ. So “the bride beautifully dressed” means that this church has stepped into realms of perfected life in the character of Christ (Eph 4:13).

So these descriptors (Bride, Son and City) are basically metaphors (symbols or positions) that communicate to us the kind of life positions we have to step into in order to be a true Last Days, End time church capable of receiving Jesus Christ. So therefore, if our ultimate position should be that of a Bride, we need to start now working on issues of purity, commitment to Christ’s nature, word and purpose etc. If our ultimate position is Son-ship, then we need to start now walking in areas of relational proximity to God (the Father of our spirits) and to one another, spiritual maturity in character etc. These descriptors (Bride, Son and City) are not “spiritual titles” we earn simply because we are Christians. These are revelational positions that must produce certain qualities and mentalities in our lives. It makes no sense to call ourselves “the Bride of Christ” if we are not stepping into positions of purity and perfection. It makes no sense to call ourselves “the Son of God” if we are not stepping into areas of relational proximity, spiritual maturity in our characters and capacity to advance the kingdom of God into the nations of the world. It makes no sense to call ourselves “the City of God” if we are not mobilising ourselves as a Civilisation in the midst of the nations.

Israel, the Pattern Church

Acts 7:38

38 He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us (NIV).

Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us (NKJV)

Acts 7:38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness… (KJV).

In Acts 7, Stephen is making his one last speech before a hostile religious system that is about to stone him to death. He looks into history and puts things into perspective with the hope of illuminating an ignorant group of religious leaders. In the midst of doing this, Stephen reveals that Israel was actually a church. This is a powerful statement that allows us to go back and look at how God formed the nation of Israel and what are the components that defined this nation. A correct understanding of these things helps us understand who we are as church. Consider the following scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:11

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. NIV

What this scripture says is that we can not throw away the Old Testament as it carries things God wants us to learn from. There are patterns and examples in Israel that speak into how we must live today as church. Some people suggest that the Old Testament is no longer important. This is Biblically untrue. Many of believers inside churches are not encouraged to read the Old Testament and as a result, do not have a full mature understanding of the Mind of God for the church today.

Israel, the Pattern Church: What can we learn from Israel?

1) Israel was not defined primarily by religious gatherings but by their nationhood and citizenship in the midst of the nations.

Ephesians 2:12

12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. NIV

Defining the word “citizenship”: this word is “politeia” in Greek and it means the ff: “citizenship; commonwealth; a community; freedom; to behave or act as a free citizen; the relationship of a free citizen to the state”. This word is related to other words: a) “Polites”: a townsman, a citizen; an inhabitant of a city; one who has the right of citizenship. B) “Politeuo”: to live as a free citizen; to live as a good citizen; to conduct oneself according to the laws and customs of the state.

God built Israel as a System of Citizenship in the world.

The English word that is related to the word “politeia” is the word “polity”.

Polity: a form of government or organisation of a state, church, society; constitution; a politically organised society; state, city; the management of public or civil affairs; political organisation (Collins Dictionary).

So basically the word “citizenship” can be defined as: a just system of human existence able to regulate the flow of life through set principles and values.

We have citizenship through Christ:

Philippians 3:20

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, NIV

We are in fact defined as a nation:

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. NIV

Nation (ethnos in Greek): a people belonging and living together; a people group. Some key definers of a nation based on this definition:

· Co-existence or Mutual Existence.

· Shared life.

· Shared identity and

· A Shared Value System.

Although we are a nation, we are however not a Geo-Political Nation with its own physical land and boundaries. We are a nation in the midst of nations.

Esther 3:8

8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. NIV

That is, the nation of God should be a people scattered across the nations of the world but living according to the same value system (which is Christ) and having a common ideological framework. This definition seeks to go beyond the “church gathering” into realms of kingdom citizenship. This, in turn, requires a new church leadership whose ability is not to simply build a church organisation and a church gathering but a value system based on the principles of Christ.

The nation of Israel (the pattern church) was also to be recognised as a nation with a mandate to impact other nations, see Deut 4:

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? NIV

In the same way, we are also a nation (1 Pet 2:9) with a mandate to impact other nations:

Isaiah 2:1-3

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days

the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established

as chief among the mountains;

it will be raised above the hills,

and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths."

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the LORD from Jerusalem NIV.

The Issue of Citizenship:

The word says, “our citizenship is in heaven”, what does this mean?

· To understand this, we can look at some scriptures that use the same phrase:

Matthew 6:20

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. NIV

· I have not heard of anybody who has been to heaven to store some physical material-financial treasures. We do not interpret this scripture in that way. Jesus here is shifting our internal focus and posture from that which is earthly or worldly to that which is heavenly.

· Jesus is talking about the need to detach ourselves from this world and align ourselves with heavenly priorities and values. In the same way, heavenly citizenship means that our values, culture and ideology are not defined by the world system but by God Himself.

Let’s consider some scriptures concerning heaven:

Isaiah 66:1

1 This is what the LORD says:

"Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

Where is the house you will build for me?

Where will my resting place be? NIV

Isaiah 63:15

15 Look down from heaven and see

from your lofty throne, holy and glorious.

Where are your zeal and your might?

Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. NIV

Psalms 2:4

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them. NIV

Psalms 14:2 (also see Ps 53:2)

2 The LORD looks down from heaven

on the sons of men

to see if there are any who understand,

any who seek God. NIV

Psalms 18:13

13 The LORD thundered from heaven;

the voice of the Most High resounded. NIV

Psalms 33:13

13 From heaven the LORD looks down

and sees all mankind; NIV

Psalms 57:3

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me;

Selah

God sends his love and his faithfulness. NIV

Psalms 76:8

8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,

and the land feared and was quiet — NIV

Psalms 102:19

19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,

from heaven he viewed the earth, NIV

Psalms 103:19

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all. NIV

Psalms 115:3

3 Our God is in heaven;

he does whatever pleases him. NIV

Psalms 123:1

1 A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to you,

to you whose throne is in heaven. NIV

Matthew 6:10

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven. NIV

· Heaven is a real place that exists in a higher spiritual dimension of life than life here on earth.

· Heaven is not geographically up but it is spiritual up. If heaven was geographically up then it would be possible to get there through some technological means.

· Heaven represents the following for us:

-It is our home.

-It is a place from which God rules; therefore a place from which human life is defined.

-Elevated life.

-Perfection.

-We are told in Matt 6:10 that in heaven there is the doing of the will of God, which means there is conscious real life in heaven. E.g. Jesus was resurrected with a heavenly body. This was a physical but immortal body. Hence Jesus could eat after his resurrection.

Our Citizenship…

· Israel was not defined primarily by religious gatherings but by their nationhood and citizenship in the midst of the nations.

Ephesians 2:12

12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. NIV

Israel was not defined primarily by a meeting but by their citizenship (laws that they had to uphold). That is, they were defined by their value system, culture, customs etc. They were built in such a way that they could exist outside of the meeting. How many churches would still exist even if they did not have a religious gathering on Sunday? How many believers would still be connected to their churches even if there were no meetings to go to on Sunday? As a citizen of South Africa, you are not defined by attending some gathering but by a sense of shared life and values that express themselves in the form of the Constitution. In the same way, within the church, the thing that glues us together should be this sense of shared life which we then express in a meeting. Even though gatherings are important, there however should be life beyond them. We are a community, a nation a people with citizenship in this world.

Platforms of Citizenship: a gathering on Sunday does not mean that we have citizenship; here are the platforms of citizenship:

· Shared Doctrine.

· Shared Principles and values that define life for us.

· Shared Cultural positions.

· Ideological framework that governs the way we see life and the way we interact with the world systems.

Philippians 3:20

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, NIV

So basically the word “citizenship” can be defined as: a just system of human existence able to regulate the flow of life through set principles and values.

What Paul is saying here is that our State of Existence in this world is defined from a higher dimension of life called heaven. God is the one who defines our values, culture, customs, ideology etc. God does this through the mechanism of revelation of His word.

If we are to produce citizenship, then we need to take the revelation of God’s nature and use it as a basis of formulating a system of life in this world. The word of God produces life and not a religious order!