module 5-design of the messianic community

design

of the messianic covenant community

… you people are God’s temple and … God’s Spirit lives in you… God’s temple is holy and you yourselves are that temple

1 Corinthians 3. 16-17

a temple of the Holy Spirit

in a mysterious way the people of God have been called to become a living body fitted together into a structure, a literal temple, which God indwells by the Spirit of the Messiah

a dwelling place that ultimately reflects and reveals his innate goodness and glory to all nations, tribes, languages and peoples who do not know him

© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

curriculum—part one

the high call of God to his messianic covenant

community

destiny…vocationdesign…dynamic…



design

1. to formulate a plan for2. to have as a goal or purpose3. a detailed plan for construction4. a purposeful arrangement of parts

edifiedbuilt according to plan, pattern; edifice

establishedbuilt with appropriate standards quality


messianic design

1. pattern…2. commission …3. structure …



pattern…


…a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven; this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’

Hebrews 8.5; Exodus 26.30

reign of God

world, olam hazeh • earth• population of earth• this (evil) age• present (rebellious) system

kingdom, reign of God• God’s rule, through Messiah• advancing within world• eventually whole world

under Messiah’s kingdom rule


world

kingdom of God

minds blinded to the light

if indeed our Good News is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of being lost;

they do not come to trust because the god of this age has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good News about the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God…

it is the God who once said, ‘let light shine out of darkness,’ who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Jesus

— 2 Corinthians 4:3-6


world

subject to dominion of darkness• people blinded to light of Messiah’s glory

— 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Act 26:18

system rebelling against God’s moral order

• in grip of Evil One— 1 John 5.19

people are lost, without hope• subject to God’s wrath

— Ephesians 2.2

will finally be fully redeemed by kingdom

— 1 Corinthians 15.24-28


dominion of darkness

spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms

• invisibly governing present dark, evil world order • destructive, wicked, rebellious against God• dominion, not kingdom: dominating with

deceptive power, not godly authority• formidable opposition to God’s purposes

— Colossians 1.13; Ephesians 6:10-18

defeated by Messiah’s death• must be recognised, resisted, overcome by faith• will suffer eternal defeat

— Colossians 2.15; Romans 16.20; Rev 20.10


messianic kingdom of God

primary expression : messianic community

• kingdom rule of Messiah, not ‘another world’• redeemed community heralding new order• first fruits of new creation, heralding new age• advancing within world

— Colossians 1.5-23

rulers, authorities, institutions, organisations

• instituted by God, essentially neutral• Christians called to obey• redeemed, reconciled through repentance

— Romans 13.1-10


messianic community

in the world, but not of itI made your name known to the people you gave me out of the world… I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world…

— John 17

separated, delivered from itdeliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father

— Galatians 1:4separate yourselves… let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit and strive to be completely holy

— 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1


… must overcome world

neither conformed to, nor polluted by it

— Romans 12.2; 2 Peter 2:20

not loving the world… or the things of the world; if someone loves

the world, then love for the Father is not in him,

because all the things of the world – the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes and the pretensions of life – are not from the Father but from the world

— 1 John 2:15-17; James 4.4

victoriously overcoming by faith— 1 John 5.4-5


kingdom characteristics

essential, but hard, to enter— Luke 9.57-62; Mark 10.15, 23-25

healing, deliverance from evil powers— Matthew 12:28; Luke 10.9

grows imperceptibly, to become significant

— Mark 4.26-32hidden from wise, revealed to children

— Luke 10.21; Mark 10.15not a matter of words, but power

— 1 Corinthians 4.20exposes world darkness

— John 3.17-21


kingdom growth

spiritual victory in heavenly realmI am sending you to open their eyes; so that

they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God and

thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place amongst those who have been separated for holiness

— Acts 26:18

godly work on eartha life of good actions already prepared by

God for us to do… with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows…

— Ephesians 2.10 & 4.16


five-fold ministry pattern


messianic community

workers

body members

leadership

he gave some people as emissaries, some as

prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good

News and some as shepherds and teachers;

their task is to equip God’s people for the

work of service that builds the body of the

Messiah, until we all arrive at the unity implied

by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full

manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection

works of service

leadership given by the Messiah • apostles, prophets• evangelists• pastors, teachers

to equip God’s people for works of service

• equipping body members to become workers

• works of service build the body of Messiah• producing unity within covenant community• leading to full manhood, perfect maturity


progression in service

all to work, each to serve• bringing kingdom rule into our families,

workplaces, communities…• business, education, health, government• good works provides testimony to the Lord

works of service = acts of worship— Romans 12.1-3

all to progress in our calling— 2 Peter 1.10

messianic community leadership not for all

— James 3.1; 1 Corinthians 7.17-24


progression in spiritual maturity

progression of spiritual maturity

• “children”• “young people”• “fathers”

— 1 John 2:12-14

spiritual fathers• not only religious leadership• family, community• business, education, health• government leadership


leaders

workers

members

fathers

youth

children

spiritual maturity and warfare

members / “children”• require milk of word• hard to lead / teach• fail to ‘keep oil in lamp’; bury talents

workers / “young people”• committed, hard working• leadable, teachable, available• follow other’s vision

leaders / “fathers”• pursuing God-given dreams• messianic–anointed–leadership


fathers

youth

children

path of spiritual maturity


“children”

“members”• self aware• religiously aware

satanic opposition to• freedom of the Spirit in relationship with

God• discipleship

overcome by• repentance, faith, trust• water baptism• messianic community membership• submitting to community discipleship


“young people”

“workers”• evil aware• warfare aware

satanic opposition to• lifestyle of service• messianic character

overcome by• baptism of Holy Spirit• dedication to serving purpose of God• submission to discipleship of spiritually

gifted, mature leadership


“fathers”

“leaders”• God aware• destiny aware

satanic opposition to• divinely inspired dreams and visions• establishment and extension of kingdom

overcome by• baptism of fire—testing of faith• prophetic revelation and intercession• discovering personal ministry-calling,

gifting• building messianic community, discipleship


baptism and warfare

religiouslife

spiritualwarfare

dreams, visionsleadership

discipleship


water baptism

spirit baptism

fire baptism

spiritual maturity and gifts

members / “children”• religious expression, service• worship, fellowship, financial giving• occasional prayer

workers / “young people”• serving, spiritual gifts, evangelism• showing mercy, sacrificial giving, • devotional prayer, spiritual warfare

leaders / “fathers”• pursuing, expressing dreams, visions• leadership, teaching, discipleship• sacrificial lifestyle, intercession

discipleship

dreams, visionsleadership

spiritualwarfare

religiouslife


messianic design

pattern …commission …structure …

of the messianic community


commission …


…a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven; this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’


a worldwide community…

Jesus’ prayer, of John 17, confirms that he clearly envisaged a growing community that trusted and followed him, accepting his kingdom rule

in fact, throughout his teaching he gave a whole series of remez (Hebrew: “hints”) that he intended the message and revelation of God which he was bringing, to reach out into all the world

in the final days of his ministry and following his resurrection he taught and commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and to make that community a reality…


commission

1. put into commissioninto a state of being in good working

order

2. charge with a taskgrant authority to undertake certain

functions

3. equip for servicemake ready for action


Christ’s five-fold commission

pray reach disciple teach send

go and make people from all nations into disciples, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…

teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you

— Matthew 28:19-20


commissioned to pray

the harvest is rich, but the workers are few

pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather in his harvest

— Matthew 9:38


commissioned to reconcile

as you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation

whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned

— Mark 16:15-18


commissioned to disciple

go and make people from all nations into disciples

immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you

— Matthew 28:19-20


commissioned to teach

he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Scriptures, telling them

the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; in his name repentance, leading to forgiveness of sins, is to be proclaimed to people from all nations…

you are witnesses of these things…— Luke 24:44-49


commissioned to send

shalom aleikhem! – peace be upon you

just as the Father sent me, I myself am

sending you— John 20:21


commissioned to ends of the earth

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you;

you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,

indeed to the ends of the earth— Acts 1:8


commission launches a movement

pray

reach

disciple

teach

senda movement equips and sendsan organisation controls and holdsbe fruitful, multiply, fill the earthswarm on earthonly a movement can impact a nation or a region like 10/40 window


swarming on the earth

how bees grow, swarmhive reaches certain sizebegin equipping new ‘leadership’ to take over existing hivemaximum sizeswarm around queenleave hivelocate new homecycle of growth begins again


organisational growth


movement growth


only a movement…

can change a nation or a region like 10/40 window

or East, West, North, South Africa!

organisations control and holdmovements equip and send

“… swarming over the earth”


commissioning a movement

the Holy Spirit takes hold of a person who imparts a vision

which launches a movementcore of which is the messianic commission

pray reach

disciple teach

send


design

pattern …commission …structure …

of the messianic community


structure …


…a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven;this is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘see to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’


messianic community structure

messianic covenant community has a unique calling and task;

to carry out and bring task to completion, provided with unique spiritual structure

Ephesians 4: ministry gifts with clear distinctions, strengths, weaknesses; an inter-dependence in relationship with each other and

ideally suited to being fruitful, multiplying, swarming!


structure

God’s ordained structure for messianic covenant community / body of Christ

reflects God’s global prioritiesbuilt according to kingdom pattern founded upon messianic covenantaccommodates, supports messianic, apostolic commission


essence of messianic community

spirit truth

community

messiah


allegiance

truthpower

messianic community structure

pastoral, evangelisticcommunity

propheticteaching agency

apostolicmission movement


discipling into allegiance

equipping with truthcommissioning with power

intercessory prayer

messianic community structures

pastoral, evangelistic community• discipling community• reflects allegiance to Messiah

prophetic teaching agency• teaching, encouraging, correcting,

rebuking• reflects truth, God’s prophetic word

apostolic missionary movement• reproducing community, teaching, mission• reflects Spirit’s dynamic power

intercessory prayer ministry• heart of community, ministry, mission• reflects Messiah’s priestly, intercession


pastoral, evangelistic community

pastoral community, fellowship and care

• commonly called church, congregation etc• modality—open membership• generally denominational

discipleship• congregational life, corporate worship• small groups, prayer, relationships• developing allegiance, faithfulness, holiness

sending / supplying workers • teaching and training agencies• apostolic missionary teams


evangelism

proclaiming / demonstrating Good News

• preaching, publishing, sharing, persuading• signs, wonders, healing, deliverance from evil• calling people to holiness, allegiance to Messiah• calling people into messianic, covenant community

mobilising community evangelistically• utilising tools, resources, methods of evangelism• clarifying gospel message

balance lifestyle & outreach; words & actions

• workplace evangelism• presence evangelism – St Francis of Assisi ‘preach by

all means possible and if necessary, use words’!!


prophetic, teaching agency

bible school, theological college, university

• sodality—selective membership• (ideally) inter-denominational

teaching / educating / equipping• theological framework, prophetic impetus• for pastoral, evangelistic service• for apostolic / missionary work

mission mobilisation• part of wider apostolic, missionary

movement• strategic development, research, statistics• mobilisation resources


apostolic missionary agency

team, organisation, movement, order• sodality—selective membership• interdenominational

cross-cultural mission• highly focused, targeted• plants pastoral communities, teaching agency• laying messianic foundation, ‘master builders’

team building• intercessory heart• flexible, mobile lifestyle• sacrificial demands


prayer and intercession ministry

‘engine room of the church’• at heart of community• behind every move of God; rarely

recognised• must transcend denominational barriers

clear sense of purpose essential• beware of conflict• seek cooperation with leadership of

other messianic agencies ‘house of prayer for all nations’

• uniting around a vision for world mission • or national evangelism / transformation


dynamic


next seminar

module 5-design of the messianic community

Documents

god john clements

gods temple

people of god

image of god

gods wrathephesians

light shine

knowledge of gods glory

gods spirit lives