Bible Teaching by Pastor Simon MacOnyango

12/2/16

Key to Answered Prayer

By Simon MacOnyango

Brethren throughout my struggles with my loss of hearing coupled with two surgeries and a severe financial struggle both in the family and ministry. Our entire tent making projects have dipped in the last one month and had to cancel a series of my speaking engagements. In the face of this I took a spiritual retreat to examine and re examine myself in the light of the scriptures to seek the Lord for his guidance! One of the questions that I asked myself was…Does God have ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’? Is it that sometimes He is healing people, and sometimes He isn’t? Is it that He favors some people, quite randomly, over others? At some point I said to myself…“I don’t know why God does not answer my prayer for my ear to heal.” One night the Lord said this to me, ‘Simon you are a prince of the Church, and you do not understand that?’

Dear ones in the light of the scriptures it reckoned with me that, God does NOT change. He does not favor one person over another. He is not arbitrary. He doesn’t sleep. He takes no vacations. He hears everything we speak, and everything we think. Literally, everything!

Why do we not understand great, deep, complex biblical studies like faith and salvation? Is it because we have reduced everything to clichés like ‘God is in control’ (a phrase that does not appear in any Bible I read) or ‘all things work together for good’? Such clichés without real understanding of the scriptures lead to hopelessness. Answered prayer for most of us believers is like a hunter who fires his gun into a wooded forest, hoping a dead rabbit will appear before his eyes. But that is not the will of God! Jesus said, I know You (the father) always hear Me. There was no ‘wild aim’ in His prayers!

Last week before my second surgery, I was out praying one night, and I had just had a life changing revelation of Him. I spoke out to Him in love what I had just learned about Him. He spoke in my spirit and said, “Simon, I am going to heal you, I have heard your prayer and those of the saints from day one, I am the Lord that healeth thee. I know all your fears, concerns and needs and I will take care of you my son!” He dissolved me into a puddle of tears right there…

Brethren, our God loves us unconditionally. He is ever ready to heal, to help, to teach, to counsel, and to guide us. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus gave an outline on how to pray. Practicing this outline while praying is important if one desires to receive answers to prayers. But there are some other essentials that must also be considered…I still go through excruciating pain and struggling to get words that people speak, BUT I am rest assured I am healed!

When it comes to answered prayer, the Word clearly declares God’s will, what God wants to do today, right now, immediately. God’s Word is immutable, meaning it cannot be changed, altered, canceled, or made irrelevant. God cannot change, and His word is immutable, which leads to the third factor, you and I, the ones in prayer.

“According to your faith let it be to you.” Matt 9:29 NKJV

One cannot expect an answer to prayer if one does not really have faith and believe in God. A striking example of this is found in Matthew 13:58. Jesus had gone back to visit His home. “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Regardless of disbelief, the lack of faith does not invalidate the faithfulness of God (Rom. 3:3), but God requires faith before He will answer prayer. What is faith? “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). The fact is: ” . . . Without faith it is impossible to please him: for him that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (v. 6). The Apostle James spoke of the need for faith. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (Jas. 1:5-6). Jesus Himself spoke of believing faith on many occasions. One example is found in Mark 11.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (vv. 22-24)

Another Scripture to consider is Philippians 4:6. It reads: “Be [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Does God hear the prayers of those who believe? Yes, indeed. “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:4-6). “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:1-2).

Here is the equation: x = y. Your faith equals your results. Look around you. Everything that has to do with you is the demonstration of your level of faith in that area. Your faith can vary according to the circumstances. Everyone has areas of sufficient faith, or even great faith, and areas of weak faith, or no faith.

For example, our neighbor across the fence is an electrician by training, he can rewire his house because of his training and building faith to be an electrician. He has great faith in that area. If I attempted to rewire our house here at my present level of faith, we would call the fire department because I would burn it down, if I didn’t get killed in the process. Never begrudge anyone their true accomplishments because those are things that they worked for and applied faith to, even if they didn’t realize it.

Ask According to God’s Will…

While it is absolutely necessary to believe and have faith in God, we must also ask according to His will. A prayer contrary to the will of God will not be answered. To receive answers to prayer we must understand what God will and will not do. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17). It would do little good to pray for something that is not God’s will.

Our love to you

Simon and Jane

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3/24/16

KINGDOM DRIVEN BUSINESS
(DOING BUSINESS THAT HONORS GOD)
Tuesday Business Meeting, (28th October 2015):
By Brother Simon and Jane MacOnyango
During September – October of 2015, I wrote and taught in our home churches a series entitled “Rethinking Business to Honor God”. There was (and still is) a widespread dissatisfaction with how current businesses are run – the greed, scandals, and selfishness associated especially with the so called “Christian businesses” from small scale to large business entities.
In light of all this, I asked the question, “How can Business be done differently? How would God want us to run business with small or big enterprises?” Over two months, Being a Business graduate myself, I prepared this article on the subject, interviewed many business owners and people in business, and wrote about the subject……..
A few of the house church pastors we are working with have requested I resend them these teachings and I feel like sharing it out with several of you again…please ignore it if you already have the notes……
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Main text: Luke 2:49.,,,”How is it that you sought me? Know you not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
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So, when it comes to using His time, talent and resources, Jesus yielded to one desire, one mission — doing “Father’s business.”
If we believe God has called us to start a business or tentmaking as we prefer to call it maybe God called us to himself after we are already business owners. Either way, we actually want to run a business in a way that honors God and will support His work and supply to our basic needs.
We need to be sure of our Calling…..We need to be sure now, from the start. We don’t start a business and then ask God to bless it. Ask God first if this is what He is calling you to do. Then ask again, and again. Seek the scripture, pray, fast, get others to pray and fast with you. This step is crucial to your success. Why?…..“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call an election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;” 2 Peter 1: 10
As part of duplicating our partial success here in Eldoret, Jane and I have been training home churches wherever we go on doing business God’s way and to launch several income generating activities whereby believers can pool their resources together to launch several strategic projects for income and to support their congregations. The first thing that we decided was that however small the profits may seem we will always Give to God first and for sure He has always blessed our obedience. Today nearly 60% of the proceeds from our tent making businesses go to support our outreaches. What do I mean by first fruits? Money. No one likes to talk about it, because money is overvalued in this world. But money is a tool that God can use to build His kingdom. God doesn’t ask us to give to His work because he needs it. God’s not broke. He’s not standing in heaven with His hand held out waiting for you to give so he can keep the lights on in heaven and the tap water flowing by paying bills. God commands us to give to Him so that we can keep our treasure where our heart is. If we say we treasure God more than anything, but keep all of our business money to ourselves, then we are telling God we really treasure our business more than we treasure Him.
Before Jane and I started out our window cleaning and embroidery business and eventually rabbit keeping as our tent making involvement, we had to seek the Lord. We wanted to be sure that this is the leading of the Lord. We realized that we needed to do something with our own hands that will bring honor to the Lord and supply to the needs of both the ministry and the family. The Lord promised that He will bless the work of our hands…
The next thing for us was for us to decide who will own the business. This is paramount and something that you will need to remind yourself of constantly. Either the business belongs to God or it belongs to you, but it can’t belong to both of you at the same time. The truth is that if God calls you to run a business, it’s because He wants to run the business through you. God can use your business as a tool in His hand. An instrument for Him to use to build His Kingdom and bring Honor and glory to himself. Is there a more noble reason for a business than God’s kingdom? Or a more perfect person to own it than God?
The other thing is that we expected a battle…..You can’t expect to decide to run a business God’s way and not expect a little flack from the devil. The devil hates you, he hates God, and is bent to kill, steal and destroy. Satan loses in the end game and he knows it. Satan is a sore loser. Satan may not be hanging around your business every day, but he certainly doesn’t want to see a business run to honor God and build His Kingdom. If you decide to do business God’s way, you can expect a battle. The day Jane and I went public with our faith and business, we had a huge setbacks; after a few months of good profits from our rabbits a mysterious disease struck and killed almost half of our litters and the remaining were declared unfit for human consumption that we thought we were going to lose out on this business. And that was all within our 13 months! I knew what was going on because I expected a battle. Our only weapon was prayer. This appeared weird from the secular business perspective. My advice is pray before you start your business, pray after you start it, pray every day before you open the doors, and pray for your employees, customers, vendors etc. Pray. God knows how much we need prayer, so He told us to never stop praying. You and the business will need this line of prayer more than you can imagine right now. Learn to pray. Learn to make prayer an ongoing mindset of open communication with an Almighty God. That is doing business God’s way.
If you’re a current or aspiring entrepreneur of faith who desires to do business supernaturally and advance the Kingdom of God through the marketplace, you’re in the right place!
Before we begin we must make the following resolutions:
1. Make this the day…you begin to move from financial crisis management to wealth management. Ask God about your first step.
2. The best way to watch the words coming out of your mouth…is by watching the words going into your mind. Eph 4:29 AMP
3. A married couple will never be one flesh…as long as they lie to each other about money. If you’re doing it…stop it…NOW!
4. Failure is not your destiny. Success is more than an option…it is your God-given opportunity.
5. God is not trying to get into your business…instead He wants you to get into His way of doing business.
6. Every time I do what the Word says I can do…I feel like a gold medal winner crossing the finish line with my arms lifted in praise.
7. If you want to show the Lord how much you love Him…then forgive those who have done you wrong. Colossians 3:13 NIV
8. God’s desire is to expand your territory…enlarge your borders…move you from where you are to a new level of success only available through Him.
9. Be careful how you act and react…your attitude is showing.
10. Never determine your future success based on your past performance. God doesn’t…so why should you? Isaiah 43:19
Here are a few of the Biblical truths about running a business God’s way:
• God created business for His glory, to create wealth for His earthly kingdom and enable stewardship and generativity in the process.
• God calls some to own businesses and create wealth for His kingdom. This calling is a calling to ministry identical to and on par with a call to pastoral ministry.
• A violation of God’s commandments in business will harm your business. Even if you turn a profit as a result.
• Success depends more on character than skill
• You cannot part-time your way into success.
• Your business is an entrustment from the Lord, to be used for His glory and the benefit of His kingdom.
The four cornerstones that Jane and I employed!
The first cornerstone is the utilization of the Bible as the learning tool for God’s principles to create, expand and maintain any business on this Earth. With the Bible, we acquire the natural power within us to develop the bright light God gives us into success, prosperity and love.
As God reveals in detail His principles to you, a traditional business plan must follow to maintain the business idea.
Remember, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” With this phrase, God empowers and allows you to comply with the forces of traditional business methods, using His principles to control the success of your destiny and the overall success of the Kingdom.
The second cornerstone recognizes and accepts that it is all about Him, and for Him not us, not me, not my ministry, not my church, not my organization BUT Him. This ministry is not ours but HIS!
To state it simply, our mundane ways of doing business do not work for us. During the application of the second cornerstone, you will be rewarded with power from God.
The ideas created by our ego and secular business plans that we make on our own will not lead us to the place of blessing, where we will have an abundant life in glory. God never intended for us to be able to “handle” life on our own, but designed it in such a way that we must depend on Him.
Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. (Proverbs 16:3-4 NKJV)
Doing business for Him is the most open yet hidden secret on the Earth of doing business God’s way. God’s blessings are a supernatural empowerment of His goodness and love for you. He wants to take you to another level of grace, love, abundance and success.
When we do any business for Him, He will outdo himself every time, as He is revealing the ideas, and giving us the tools, talents, abilities and resources needed to receive abundance from Heaven.
Our Creator is amazing. He wants us to live in the fullness of the blessing. He anointed our head with the holy oil and made our cup run over to bless others.
As you receive a direct connection with God, He will move us forward from barely making it in business to having more than enough. He will present and open doors in a supernatural way. He will position our names with the right people, in the right places and at the right time.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen….(Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV)
The power that works in us is our desire to connect with Him, do business for Him and with Him.
The third cornerstone recognizes that God does not play games.
He never wants to deal with false promises, sin or misplaced priorities. He knows you from the end to the beginning. God does not allow for negotiating. When we follow His ways, we live an abundant, successful and blessed life.
To apply this in practical business terms, look into your heart and recall the deeper business dream. Think of all we would expect to do upon opening a business. There are hundreds of logistic details that need to be decided on before the doors open.
It is always wise to get advice from the Creator of all, a God who has experience and fulfills promises. In this third cornerstone, you will have acquired power from your environment.
To complete the equation for success in business, the last cornerstone is your trust in Him.
Our trust requires us to believe in Him and follow Him. As we believe in His promises, we will be able to follow his business practices, and our soul will create a bond of trust.
Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.,,,,(Jeremiah 17:5-6 NKJV)
Sadly, as problems arise, more trust is placed in society’s systems and technologies rather than God, and that leads to disappointment and loss of finance, family, friends and even the business itself. Trust means to believe in and rely on, regardless of the situations that arise—business-wise or personally. We cannot say we believe in God, yet refuse to accept and embrace his principles that will bring change and reformation.
The Bible says, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” There is no limit to what God can and will do if you dare to believe in Him.
Give God your unconditional trust and faith to work with Him.
The three principles
As we focus on all the cornerstones of doing business God’s way, and bring them together, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 1:27.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
(1 Corinthians 1:27 NKJV)
This means the way God does things will sound totally foreign to all of us because His ways are opposite to our earthly approaches. Since most of us grew up and were trained in the worldly business system, His approach sounds different from what we have been taught and observed.
There are three basic principles of doing business God’s way.
The first principle is that no debt is needed to develop and run your business—if you use God’s way. When He reveals the dream of a business adventure to you, He will put the tools and resources in your hands to make it happen. No doubt about it.
When Jane and I thought out of a plan for Janitorial business, we shared this dream with our prayer partners to pray with us. Surprisingly God spoke to Mom Vivian of Ministries of Faith to share it with the IIPT prayer team. One of the team members volunteered to buy for us vacuum cleaners and an assortment of janitorial equipment. Now this was a blessing and a confirmation that the Lord wanted us into janitorial business…….The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall NOT borrow. (Deuteronomy 28:12 NKJV)
When we take a business loan without any personal guarantee, we are not operating in the blessing of God, according to Deuteronomy 28:12. In fact, there are no scriptures within the Bible in which God commands someone to take a loan based on His direction.
The second principle tells us we must not neglect family for business. God wants to impart on us a clear understanding of His authority and His plan for us. He chose to reveal Himself and the clear purpose of His will in our soul….Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself…(Ephesians 1:9, NKJV)
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.
(1 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV)
1 Timothy 3:1-4 applies directly to Christian entrepreneurs who want to do business God’s way, because we are overseers of God’s works in business on this Earth.
If God has given you the vision to start or expand a business, the business you start is His work, and you are the overseer, or as we call it in the business world, the Chief Executive Officer. If you neglect your family in time, space, and support, your life will not be successful.
The third and last principle in doing business God’s way is remembering not to labor to be rich in business….Then, how do we make it?….Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!…(Proverbs 23:4 NKJV)
How, as a new business owner, can you become successful without working hard? Well, let’s first look at the definition of working.
It is defined as the physical, mental and spiritual work causing us extreme fatigue and frustration.
What I want you to focus on is fatigue and frustration. When we are working according to this definition (and the usage of this word in the Proverbs 23:4), the production of that work comes at the price of fatigue and frustration. It makes us feel devastated, as if we’ll never see the light at the end of the tunnel.
While working in our new business to be successful, according to Proverbs 23:4, we are leaning on our free will and ego instead of on God’s wisdom…However, if we are connected with God, the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us will direct and guide us to focus and see success and prosperity with purpose.
As you trust God more and more each day to guide you in your business, declare boldly His word, meditate on His promises, listen to Him, expect natural and supernatural events in your life, and put Him first because your business should be done by His will.
In our prayers, we should be bold for God and confess with your mouth, soul and mind that we know with Him all things are possible. Tell Him every day you choose to stand solid in faith, that you trust Him, and you choose to receive every blessing He has for you.
Blessed be it! In the name of His son Jesus, you are asking, you are expecting, and thanking Him because you are receiving. Amen!

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3/23/16

The Importance of Interactive Church Meetings
By Brother Simon and Jane MacOnyango
Kahoya Belivers Fellowship (A Ministry of Kenya Center For House Church Network, Inc.)
Our Journey in Implementing Participatory Meetings
When the Lord impressed on my heart to revive our home church ministry Kenya Center For House Church Network as part of our reorganization our meetings were fairly typical of most other churches. After thirty to forty minutes of worship, I would give the announcements, preach my sermon, and pronounce the closing benediction. We experienced little if any real interaction and mutual body ministry during our meetings. The whole church and indeed the ministry looked to me as its source of edification and life. When God began opening my eyes to the importance of participatory church meetings in the house church context, my first reaction was one of fear. I was terrified at what might happen if I truly opened up the meetings for all of God’s people to minister. I feared our meetings would turn into chaos if I gave all an opportunity to speak. I wrestled with these principles for some time until the strength of conviction overcame my fears.
In the year 2005, when we began toying with the idea of implementing the principle of interactive Church Meetings, our first step was to open up our own home for “house church” meetings. Jane and I did this with the intention of making this a model home church that will duplicate its success (if there was going to be any) in other places that God was going to open for us ministry opportunities…These “house churches” later down the years are functioning as full-fledged churches for believers where each could learn to interact, pray, encourage, exhort, and minister to one another. Almost everyone was enthused about these home meetings, although at first we were a bit unsure how to function in them.
After a few months, as we became more comfortable with these informal home church meetings, we began introducing more participation into our Sunday gatherings. I informed the congregation especially our own children who were our first church that anyone could participate by reading Scripture, praying or starting a song that was on their heart….I would start the Sunday school by encouraging our children to share with the congregation any dream that they feel the Lord was speaking to them something……I put our little pulpit made from a broken desk in the middle of our living room so that I could be closer to the people, thereby encouraging mutual interaction. We rearranged the chairs into concentric semi-circles (of course with the permission of the host)….Jane and I had no problem with this in our living room so that we could look into one another’s faces when speaking, instead of the back of someone’s head.
We gave time to the brethren desiring to share what God had been doing in their lives or to encourage us by declaring what God had been teaching them from His Word while Jane and I would take a back seat. Sometimes these sessions included exhortations, admonitions, teachings, or the sharing of blessings or burdens. One day one lady revealed that she had family problems that required prayers of the whole church. This allowed the whole church the opportunity to tangibly express their love and commitment by gathering around her, laying hands on her, and praying. These changes felt a bit awkward at first…amazingly even to me. We had no previous model to guide us, and thus, felt a bit uncomfortable with them. Before long, however, many began contributing some very edifying insights and exhortations.
Furthermore we began opening up our meetings directly after my sermons for questions, comments, and insights from others. I was very hesitant about this new move at first, fearing that all doctrinal purity might be lost NOT to mention someone challenging my authority etc….if everyone was permitted to comment from the Scriptures or my teachings. On the contrary, this new new aspect of our meetings proved enriching. Talk of trusting the Lord into the unknown by obeying a scriptural command….Often someone would bring an insight that I had missed in my sermon preparation that would open up the text in an important way I had never envisioned before. At other times, people shared insights as to how they could personally apply the text under consideration and you know what?? Man….that blessed me! On still other occasions, someone would ask a question that many others had on their mind, but would not have voiced due to fear. Instead of producing doctrinal confusion, I found that the questions and comments enabled me to allay confusion by addressing the real issues which were perplexing our upcoming house church. On those rare occasions when someone stated something unbiblical or not doctrinal with no scriptural backing, I was able to gently refocus the church by bringing them back to Scripture. Instead of producing chaos, I discovered that it fostered spiritual maturity, intimacy, and love for the brethren. In fact, by adding the time of questions and comments, the church was easily able to concentrate on the Word of God for well over an hour. Often this segment proved to be the most invigorating and helpful of the entire meeting. Whereas our previous meetings lasted about ninety minutes, the new participatory meetings usually took a minimum of two hours to complete. The consensus of the church, though, was that the quality of the meetings was well worth the additional time spent together. The new meetings began to spawn additional interaction among the people.
I cannot overstate the importance of creating an atmosphere of freedom for body participation in the meetings of the church. When church members do nothing but sit, listen, and take notes week after week, they tend to stagnate spiritually….those notes become meaningless as they don’t build up the church. Spiritual growth requires us to flex our spiritual muscles and apply the truths we learn. What good is it for our people to learn that God wants them to use their spiritual gifts, exhort one another, bear each other’s burdens, and rejoice with those who rejoice if we make no provision for them to do that when the church meets?
Having been involved in participatory church meetings now for almost 12 years. I know that I would find the traditional model stifling and unsatisfying. God has proven over and over that as we step out in obedience to apply the patterns we see in His Word, His blessings are sure to follow.
In 1 Corinthians 12 we find an abundance of teaching about the ministry of all believers. For example, in verses 4-6 Paul states that there are varieties of gifts, ministries and effects. Furthermore, he states in verse 6 that “God works all things in all persons.” In verse 7 He informs us, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Again in verse 11 we read, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” In verse 14 Paul emphatically states that “the body is not one member, but many.” (The way most of our churches meet, one would suggest that the passage reads, “the body is not many members, but ONE!”)
Furthermore, in verses 15-25 the apostle goes on to explain that every person has a vital function within the church. All members are needed; none is unimportant……in our fellowship here in Eldoret it doesn’t matter if he/she is a third grader or a 60 year old believer. In light of this biblical teaching, how can we justify the idea that when we assemble, only the pastor may use his gifts while the rest of the body remains passive?
I have taught the priesthood of the believer for years now….There is one main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers. It is as follows: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ … But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:5-9
it is clear from 1 Peter 2:5,9 that God has chosen Christians “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5-9 speaks of two aspects of the priesthood of the believer…..
The first is that believers are privileged. To be chosen by God to be a priest was a privilege. All believers have been chosen by God: a “chosen generation…His own special people” (verse 9). In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, there were places where only the priests could go. Into the Holy of Holies, behind a thick veil, only the High Priest could go, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made a sin offering on behalf of all of the people. But as mentioned above, because of Jesus’ death upon the cross of Calvary, all believers now have direct access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). What a privilege to be able to access the very throne of God directly, not through any earthly priest. When Christ returns and the New Jerusalem comes to earth (Revelation 21), believers will see God face-to-face and will serve Him there (Revelation 22:3-4) Again, what a privilege especially for us who were once “not a people” … “without hope” … destined for destruction because of our sin.
The second aspect of the believer’s priesthood is that we are chosen for a purpose: to offer up spiritual sacrifices (see Hebrews 13:15-16 for example), and to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Thus, by both life (1 Peter 2:5; Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10) and by word (1 Peter 2:9; 3:15), our purpose is to serve God. As the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), so God has called us to serve Him from our hearts by first of all offering our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).
In most congregations today believrs sit passively as the audience while the pastor performs as the main actor. When the congregation is permitted to participate in the meeting, they are restricted to singing, readings, putting money into the offering plate, and taking notes during the sermon. The ‘ordained’ clergy are expected to perform all ministry. Meanwhile the rest of the people attend services without ever contributing any true spiritual ministry to the body of believers.
I believe the New Testament describes the body of Christ as meeting in a manner in which every believer has the potential of contributing to the building up of the congregation in some significant way.
In order for us to grasp the flavor of New Testament church meetings, we must first understand the nature of Jewish synagogue meetings, because they provide the necessary historical context. The apostles of Christ who planted the earliest Christian churches were Jews who had participated in synagogue meetings all their lives. No doubt, these meetings influenced the way early Christians gathered.
Synagogue worship allowed great freedom and participation. As there was no proper priesthood outside of Jerusalem, any Jew of age might get up to read the lessons, offer prayer, and address the congregation. Indeed, we find Jesus constantly teaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath, (Lu.4:18-30; Mt.4:23; 13:54-58; Mk.1:21; Jn.18:20) even though he was neither a Levitical priest nor the ruler of a synagogue. Moreover, those who spoke in the synagogue meetings were not “pre-screened” as to what they were going to say, for Paul, directly upon his conversion, preached in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God to a group of hostile Jews (Acts 9:20).
Furthermore, Paul used the synagogue as his strategic starting point when evangelizing new cities because of this freedom to participate. On the Sabbath, he would enter a synagogue, and when opportunities for teaching and exhortation were given, would preach Jesus as the Christ. It was in the synagogue that Paul spoke in such a way that many of the residents of Iconium believed (Acts 14:1), that the Bereans received the word with great eagerness (Acts 17:10-12), and where he reasoned every Sabbath day in Corinth, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4). The format of synagogue worship was so free that even strangers were permitted to bring a word of exhortation (Acts 13:14-41). Synagogue worship encouraged open participation. It is no accident that the meetings of the early Christians followed suit.
K. A. Giles in his book Patterns of Ministry Among the First Christians writes about the relationship between the synagogue and early house church meetings:
In the larger and more institutionalised synagogues we know that the main function of the ruler of the synagogue was to preside over services and to encourage the participation of those present. This is likely to have been the way the first leaders of house-churches functioned. The early Christians avoided the title used by Jews (ruler of the synagogue) and chose instead the neutral, but equally appropriate term episkopos [overseer]; yet they continued to hold that the chief duty of those who presided over assemblies was to facilitate widespread participation and not do everything themselves. If so, then it could be that in the new house-churches, where the Holy Ghost gave new life and dynamism, such persons found it was more their lot to limit participation than to encourage it!
Spiritual Gifts in Church Meetings….The biblical purpose for which the church gathers is to edify one another. So, exactly how should we accomplish this? In most churches, the pastor bears almost the entire responsibility for edifying the saints (you speak of burn out???), because he is the one who speaks most (or even exclusively) when the church assembles. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 (the lengthiest section in the New Testament detailing principles underlying early church meetings) says a great deal about the ministry of believers, but says nothing about the ministry of only one man when the church meets!
In 1 Corinthians 14 the same truth emerges….remember they are meeting in Gaius Justus’ house, a Roman convert to Judaism and then Christianity. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue is mentioned as joining them along with many Jewish converts, and Corinth is a Greek city with many Greek converts. All 3 cultures are meeting together under one roof as Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians. Also remember that historically, Jewish women in the synagogues were seated to the side behind a lattice work, and not allowed to participate at all. (Acts 18: 1-8)
“What then, brethren, is the right course? When you meet together each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information (revelation), an utterance in a tongue or an interpretation of it (gifts of the Spirit), But let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.” v26
In verse 1 Paul urges the entire church earnestly to desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of prophecy, because one who prophesies edifies the whole church (vs.5). In verse 26 he describes the church meeting as one in which each one has a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue or interpretation. At the very least, this passage indicates that when the early church assembled, every believer had the opportunity to contribute to the edification of the whole body. Some bible scholars believe that in this verse Paul is rebuking the participatory manner in which the Corinthians held their church meetings. On the contrary, Paul does not command the Corinthians to stop meeting in a participatory/ interactive manner rather, in verses 27-31 he gives guidelines for meetings which, though they establish order, still require participation by many!
Paul’s only corrective in verse 26, is his statement, “Let all things be done for edification.” In other words, whenever anyone in the church contributes, he must do so with the intent that what he contributes will edify the rest. In verse 27 Paul allows two or three persons to bring a message in tongues, as long as these messages are interpreted. In verse 29 he informs the church that they should “let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment or weigh whatever is taugt.”
In verse 31 Paul teaches, “for you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.”
In view of this, and the fact that Paul has been emphasizing the superiority of prophecy over tongues in church meetings all the way through the chapter, and that he does not repeat “at the most” after “let two or three prophets speak,” as he does in the case of tongues (vs. 27), Paul’s reference to two or three prophets speaking should probably be understood as two or three at a minimum. His teaching in 1 Corinthians 14 describes a church meeting in which all have the opportunity of participating, either through a song, a teaching, or some other spiritual gift. This practice may seem impossible in light of the fact that many churches today have anywhere from 200 to 10,000 members that is why we emphasize the breakdown of fellowships into smaller home churches. Truly, in a church of that size, it would be impossible to provide an opportunity in which all could participate. We must remember, however, that the early church met almost exclusively in homes (Rom.16:5; Col.4:15). In that setting, where the number of believers could not easily exceed forty or fifty people, the Apostle Paul’s remarks are much more intelligible.
The spirit of a church meeting as pictured in 1 Corinthians 14…..There is no more interesting section in the whole letter than this, for it sheds light on what an early church service was like. There was obviously great freedom and an informality about it. . . it must remain true that if a man has a message to give his fellow men no ecclesiastical rules and regulations should be able to stop him giving it. It is a mistake to think that only the professional ministry can ever bring God’s truth to men. There was obviously flexibility about the order of service in the early Church. Everything was informal enough to allow any man who felt that he had a message to give to give it. It may well be that we set far too much store on dignity and order nowadays, and have become the slaves of orders of service. The really notable thing about an early Church service must have been that almost everyone came feeling that he had both the privilege and the obligation of contributing something to it. A man did not come with the sole intention of being a passive listener; he came not only to receive but to give.
Sometimes in a home meeting a person will feel like they have something REALLY important from the Lord that MUST be shared. This scripture says that is not the case. If there is no opportunity, if the timing is not right, even if they are being moved in the gifts of the Spirit, they do not have to share it. They have not sinned if there is no opportunity to share it, they are to speak to the Lord and use the opportunity as a matter for prayer.
“So let two or three prophets speak, those inspired to preach or teach, while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.” v29
In a home meeting it must be understood that while we may share rules of politeness as a guest in someone’s home if the opportunity is there; what is said will be judged, possibly with negative results. Often a person wants to talk and expects everyone to say yea and amen, but that may not be the case.
The principle Paul mentions here means a person does not have to allow someone to pray for them, speak a prophetic word over them, nor must they automatically accept anything said as from the Lord. And of course, whatever someone says may be accepted completely as well. His point is that no one may dominate, nor should anyone who speaks expect what they say to be accepted automatically – the relationships should be strong enough that what a person says may be challenged without developing into an argument.
“But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.” v30
Here again is a reference to politeness and not having to share something you have from the Lord if there is no opportunity. Grace and deferring to another in love is greater than having to share that revelation, having to share that tongue & interpretation/prophecy, greater than you being moved by the Spirit. If another also feels they have something from the Lord to share, Paul says defer to the first and you be silent.
“For in this way you can give testimony, prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged.” v31
His point: Politeness and courtesy, walking in love, leads to the whole group being the home church being built up.
We are always in control. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and never presses someone to the point they must absolutely share what they have. Paul says you are still in control, thus if there is no opportunity to share, or if someone else has a word, wait your turn or even keep silent, speaking to yourself and the Lord (in prayer).
The apostle Peter echoes the sentiments of Paul as well. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Pet.4:10-11). Notice that Peter emphasizes that each believer has gifts, and that he is to employ them, or put them to work. Furthermore, these gifts are comprised of two basic kinds – speaking and serving gifts. Although believers can and should serve one another throughout the week in all kinds of situations, a natural place for believers to put speaking and serving gifts to work is in the meetings of the church.
Mutual Exhortation in Church Meetings….Not only is the body responsible to edify one another through the exercise of spiritual gifts when they gather, they are also to edify one another through mutual exhortation and encouragement.
In Hebrews 10:23-25, the Scriptures declare, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Notice that this text describes the saints as assembling together. But exactly what are the saints supposed to do when they assemble together? The text does not leave us in doubt; the whole body is to stimulate one another to love and good deeds and encourage one another. Furthermore, no mention is made of the pastor performing this stimulating and encouraging ministry. Rather, Scripture says, let us stimulate and encourage. The author of Hebrews is urging the whole body to take up these duties. Often these verses are used to rebuke church members who miss an occasional meeting. However the intent of the passage is to warn belivers of “forsaking” (a strong word which means to desert once and for all) the gatherings of the saints and returning to the Old Covenant law, priesthood, and sacrifices. The text clearly links mutual exhortation and encouragement with the assembling of the saints. The author of Hebrews goes on to explain why it is so important for the church to exhort and encourage one another when they assemble. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries” (Heb.10:26-27). Though mutual exhortation is a biblical means of perseverance, it is one which the church has neglected far too long. Mutual encouragement and exhortation then, according to God’s Word, should occupy a central place in the activities of a home church. Surely, when one man (the pastor) performs all the exhorting and encouraging, the clear pattern of New Testament church meetings is violated.
Not only do we see participatory church meetings emphasized by the stress laid upon each believer to utilize his spiritual gift, and exhort one another when the church gathers, but we also find it in the more numerous commands of the New Testament. Scripture enjoins believers to:
Love one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Rom.13:8; 1Thess.3:12; 1Thess.4:9; 2Thess.1:3; 1Pet.1:22; 1Pet.4:8; 1John 3:11; 1John 3:23; 1John 4:7,11,12; 2John 1:5)
Be devoted to one another (Rom.12:10)
Give preference to one another (Rom.12:10)
Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom.12:16; 15:5)
Not judge one another (Rom.14:13)
Pursue the things which make for the building up of one another (Rom.14:19)
Pursue the things which make for peace with one another (Rom.14:19)
Accept one another (Rom.15:7)
Admonish one another (Rom.15:14; Col.3:16)
Greet one another (Rom.16:16; 1Cor.16:20; 2Cor.13:12; 1Pet.5:14)
Wait for one another (1Cor.11:33)
Have the same care for one another (1Cor.12:25)
Serve one another (Gal.5:13)
Not challenge one another (Gal.5:26)
Not envy one another (Gal.5:26)
Show forbearance to one another (Eph.4:2)
Be kind to one another (Eph.4:32)
Forgive one other (Eph.4:32; Col.3:13)
Speak to one another (Eph.5:19)
Be subject to one another (Eph.5:21)
Regard one another as more important than yourself (Phil.2:3)
Not lie to one another (Col.3:9)
Bear with one another (Col.3:13
Teach one another (Col.3:16)
Comfort one another (1Thess.4:18)
Encourage one another (1Thess.5:11; Heb.3:13; Heb.10:25)
Build up one another (1Thess.5:11)
Live in peace with one another (1Thess.5:13)
Seek after that which is good for one another (1Thess.5:15)
Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb.10:24)
Not speak against one another (James 4:11)
Not complain against one another (James 5:9)
Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
Be hospitable to one another (1Pet.4:9)
Employ your spiritual gift in serving one another (1Pet.4:10)
Clothe yourself with humility toward one another (1Pet.5:5)
Have fellowship with one another (1John 1:7)
If the people of God assemble week after week, month after month, year in and year out, as silent spectators in clergy-dominated meetings, it is unlikely that they will consistently obey these commands.
Joint Sharing in Church Meetings ….The New Testament Scriptures affirm that joint sharing should form another important activity in our church meetings. In 1 Peter 3:8, all are exhorted to be sympathetic toward one another. The Greek word translated “sympathetic” literally means “suffering or feeling the like with one another.” (The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, Hendrickson) It should come as no surprise, then, that Paul commands believers to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom.12:15). Furthermore, he notes, “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1Cor.12:26).
Brethren we must open up our meetings so that people can share their burdens, or rejoice together in God’s blessings. In many of our churches, if a brother or a sister comes to a meeting with a wonderful blessing from God he wants to share, he must canvas around in order to communicate it to five or six others before they go home. Similarly if someone’s heart is breaking with sorrow, there is no place in the meeting for them to unburden their hearts and receive the prayer and ministry of the body. Why not open our meetings so that the whole church can rejoice with us in our blessings, and minister to us in our sufferings? In this way, all may be encouraged by the joyful, and minister to the sufferer.
Historical Decline of Church Meetings……As we have seen, New Testament church meetings abounded with openness and mutual participation. In this respect, they were very different from our one-man performances today. How have our churches drifted? What happened to cause the church to go from open participation to passive spectating? Like any new movement, the church began to gradually become more and more institutionalized shortly after its inception. In the second century, because of a fear of heresy from within and persecution from without, the authority of the bishoph rose dramatically in the church. (Each local church was previously shepherded by a plurality of gifted servants called elders – Acts 20:28; 1 Pet.5:1-4). At the same time, these bishops began to retain an increased amount of the ministry which had previously belonged to the whole body. Slowly but surely, clergy-dominated meetings replaced the exciting and invigorating participatory meetings of the New Testament church.
The final blow came early in the fourth century, when Emperor Constantine in 313 issued the Edict of Milan which granted Christians freedom from persecution by making Christianity a legal religion of the State. After Constantine professed the Christian faith, he not only legalized Christianity, but paved the way for it to become Rome’s favored religion. During the years that followed, Constantine ordered many large church buildings built at public expense, began paying salaries to the bishops and presbyters of most congregations, and promoted many Christians to positions of prominence and prosperity. The small and simple church meetings held in homes gave way to large and complex meetings in state-funded “sanctuaries.” Prominent orators preaching long and eloquent sermons took the place of ordinary believers sharing their heart-felt exhortations. Body participation gave way to professional eloquence; spontaneity to rigid structure. Eventually, the only way ordinary church members could participate in church meetings was to sing or chant in unison together.
Conclusion…It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to return to its New Testament roots.

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3/11/16

Slaying the “Spirit” of Jealousy in the Body of Christ
By Simon and Jane MacOnyango
…endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 NKJV
Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another… Acts 15:36-39 NKJV
Jealousy in the ministry is a struggle for almost every servant of God, me included. There will be no freedom from this disease until we see the glorious glow of the person Jesus Christ and recognize the poverty and meanness of the best of our achievements: What are some symptoms of jealousy in the ministry?
To other leaders. . .

We are increasingly pointing out errors and defects of other leaders and their ministries.
We like to hear negative comments about another leader or his ministry.
We do not like to hear positive comments about another leader or his ministry.
We see some servants as people with whom we compete for measuring the quality of our ministry (rather than seeing them as friends and fellow servants who have the same struggles we do).
We do not pray for the progress of fellow servants and their ministries.
We have a secret desire that another leader not have much success in his ministry.
To ourselves. . .

Observing the fruits of the ministry of others, we feel inferior or useless, “Lord, why did not you use me as you use the other servant……. “What does he or she have that I do not have?”
We live under the shadow of an unhealthy introspection constantly questioning our ministry and our calling capabilities.
Even the smallest comment or constructive criticism discourages us deeply because we are not sure of ourselves.
Our unity in Christ is based around the reality that every born again one has the full measure of the Spirit of Christ in them. Building unity on anything else is fleshy and doomed to fail. Christianity historically has tried to build unity around doctrine (even to the point of fighting wars over it ) which is impossible. Doctrinal presentations serve us well when they lead us to glorify God and understand the centrality of Jesus Christ, but they are not the basis for unity. Why?
When we are born again, we instantly enter a place where Christ is the Master Teacher. His lessons, purposed towards growing up the new one into the fullness of Christ, start at the new birth and are not completed until the ages to come, far beyond the physical life of the born again one. Each lesson is tailored individually, as only with a perfect understanding of the student can tailor a lesson. Each lesson imparts a measure of the wisdom of God as each one is able to receive. This results in the reality of each born again one having a unique journey to the fullness of Christ.
Jane my wife of twenty four years and I do not agree on everything we understand. If our marriage was based on conformity of understanding we would have divorced long time ago. The reason there is so many ‘divorces’ of believers from church bodies is that we have tried to promote conformity of understanding of doctrine, rather than keeping of the unity of the Spirit.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit means this – if we are a born again, regardless of what they believe, I will love them, sacrifice for them. Love, which comes from the Spirit of God is the essential element in endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Jealousy is a form of hatred built on insecurity over the success of another. Jealousy hates another’s success because the afflicted one is insecure/fearful about their own ability to succeed. Rivalry is a form of hatred based on the desire to dominate which is rooted in an insecurity/fear about ones own position and standing. Jealousy and rivalry attack leaders in the body of Christ to render the Body ineffective.
In one case I know of, two church leaders here in Eldoret, where if one had a crusade, the other had to have a crusade. If one had a parade through town, so the other has to parade his might too. Their people would tear down the others posters and post their own on top of the other. BUT when they would meet in public, they would greet each with supposedly “a holy kiss”. But in their hearts was rivalry and jealousy!
II. The Sin of Ministerial Jealously
The battle against jealousy in the ministry begins with a greater understanding of why it is a sin that dishonors God.
A. Ministerial jealousy reveals that we love ourselves more than God….It reveals that we are thinking only of the success of our “territory” and not the overall advancement of the kingdom of God. We understand that the failure of any minister or ministry is a defeat for the body of Christ, which saddens the heart of God.
Consider the testimony of John the Baptist in the face of the comment that “everyone is going to Jesus.” John said:
(1) a servant of God can only receive what God sends,
(2) I am not the Christ,
(3) I am sent to serve Christ,
(4) the wife (the church) belongs to Christ,
(5) I am the friend of Christ, husband,
(6) therefore, I rejoice greatly in the voice of Christ, and
(7) Christ is to grow and I have to shrink (John 3:27 – 30)…..Can we say what John the Baptist said?
B. Ministerial jealousy reveals that we love ourselves more than we love our brother….We want success for ourselves but we do not want success for our fellow servant in Christ. Is this love of self the example of love that Christ expects of us that “ye love one another as I have loved you.”
C. Ministerial jealousy reveals that we do not love ourselves correctly….Ministerial jealously is undeniable proof that we do not accept ourselves as God accepts us and we do not accept the ministry God has given us in his sovereign goodness (Psalm 16:5-6).
When we let ministerial jealousy consume us, we are declaring: “Heavenly Father, you have not been good to me. You have not given me the success I need to be happy.”
Ministerial jealousy often drives us to create or improve our “image” as a leader. We strive to be a recognized and admired leader. However, such efforts tend to hinder or destroy the true work that God wants to do in us and through us. Among other consequences, the effort to create, improve or protect our image:….Creates conflicts with others: We see others as competitors in the great “ministry beauty contest.” Christian community is ceasing to be a source of strength and fellowship in the ministry…Fills our souls with falsehood: We fall into the trap of believing that satanic personal glory is the ultimate goal of life. Our hearts are full of hypocrisy in having to hide the true motives of our self-centeredness…..Drowns the grace we need: The pride that permeates ministerial jealousy comes between us and the grace of God which is the only real hope “to be exalted by God” according to the clear teaching of Scripture (1 Peter 5:6, James. 4:10).

III. How to give death to the dragon of ministerial jealousy
A. Recognize that jealousy in the ministry is a struggle for every servant of God….”Let’s face it. We’ve all been jealous of someone else in the ministry. Jealousy is as old as dirt. We must acknowledge jealousy “as sin” just as adultery, homosexual acts, or theft, are sins. Remember the first murder was motivated by jealousy.
B. Recognize the seriousness of ministerial jealousy as an offense against God, against his kingdom, against our fellow servants and against ourselves.
C. Cultivate the habit of praying for our fellow servants and their families, and for the success of their ministries.
D. Cultivate the habit of speaking well of fellow servants and sincerely appreciate their good qualities and achievements in ministry.
E. Find practical ways to serve fellow servants with real joy in our house churches we do footwashing service every first week of every month.
F. Confess the sin of jealousy in the ministry as often as necessary, and allow the Holy Spirit to make changes in the depths of our being.
G. Use the discouragement that comes in ministerial jealousy to seek God’s deep love and affirm our identity as a servant of Him.
H. Cultivate a mindset of “abundance” and not “scarcity”….The leader who is at the highest risk is the one who refuses or fails to recognize the temptation of jealousy in the ministry and the destructive power of it.

Questions and Reflections
1. How do I feel in my heart when I hear comments or news about the ministerial successes of another brother? If I cannot rejoice about it, why?
2. Think about the effect of ministerial jealousy on the overall advancement of the kingdom of Christ.
3. Ask yourself if you can take the place God has assigned you as the perfect token of his love for you?
4. Read Psalm 131 twice, reading it to God as your own prayer. How do you feel doing this exercise? What did you learn from it?
Ps 131….My heart is not proud, O Lord , my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
5. Meditate on James 3:16-17.
James 3:16-17 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

How do you war against jealousy and rivalry? You come against it in an opposite spirit. First, you become secure in who you are in Christ and your ability to succeed. Get trained and taught so you are prepared to succeed. Training is perpetual throughout your life. Stop training, and you might as well just prepare for your funeral, because you are sliding toward it.
Secondly, love your enemy/rival/competitor. Learn to rejoice in their success. Remember that emotions follow decisions, not the other way around. I decide to do the will of God before I ‘feel’ like doing it. For instance, I never ‘feel’ like fasting, but the fruit of true fasting is that I humble myself before God, which positions me for His favor. So…I fast!
Decide to love your enemy/rival/competitor. Pray for them to be blessed. Speak well of them continually. Learn to genuinely rejoice in their successes, and come long side them in mercy at other times. When your heart is at peace whenever you think about your enemy/rival/competitor, you have broken the power of rivalry and jealousy.
You may need deliverance from the spirits of rivalry and jealousy. I know I needed deliverance from pride and jealousy! They were generational curses on our family. I had to war against them until I got peace over them. Even now, I must stay on guard against them.
But if your goal is to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, then every effort to glorify God is worth the struggle. And hear this, dear one, the fruit will be there, in your own life and ministry, and the advancement of the kingdom of God!
May the Lord richly bless you today!
Simon and Jane

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The Importance of Interactive Church Meetings

By Brother Simon and Jane MacOnyango

Kahoya Belivers Fellowship (A Ministry of Kenya Center For House Church Network, Inc.)

Sunday 8^th March 2015

Our Journey in Implementing Participatory Meetings

When the Lord impressed on my heart to revive our home church ministry Kenya Center For House Church Network as part of our reorganization our meetings were fairly typical of most other churches. After thirty to forty minutes of worship, I would give the announcements, preach my sermon, and pronounce the closing benediction. We experienced little if any real interaction and mutual body ministry during our meetings. The whole church and indeed the ministry looked to me as its source of edification and life. When God began opening my eyes to the importance of participatory church meetings in the house church context, my first reaction was one of fear. I was terrified at what might happen if I truly opened up the meetings for all of God’s people to minister. I feared our meetings would turn into chaos if I gave all an opportunity to speak. I wrestled with these principles for some time until the strength of conviction overcame my fears.

In the year 2005, when we began toying with the idea of implementing the principle of interactive Church Meetings, our first step was to open up our own home for “house church” meetings. Jane and I did this with the intention of making this a model home church that will duplicate its success (if there was going to be any) in other places that God was going to open for us ministry opportunities…These “house churches” later down the years are functioning as full-fledged churches for believers where each could learn to interact, pray, encourage, exhort, and minister to one another. Almost everyone was enthused about these home meetings, although at first we were a bit unsure how to function in them.

After a few months, as we became more comfortable with these informal home church meetings, we began introducing more participation into our Sunday gatherings. I informed the congregation especially our own children who were our first church that anyone could participate by reading Scripture, praying or starting a song that was on their heart….I would start the Sunday school by encouraging our children to share with the congregation any dream that they feel the Lord was speaking to them something……I put our little pulpit made from a broken desk in the middle of our living room so that I could be closer to the people, thereby encouraging mutual interaction. We rearranged the chairs into concentric semi-circles (of course with the permission of the host)….Jane and I had no problem with this in our living room so that we could look into one another’s faces when speaking, instead of the back of someone’s head.

We gave time to the brethren desiring to share what God had been doing in their lives or to encourage us by declaring what God had been teaching them from His Word while Jane and I would take a back seat. Sometimes these sessions included exhortations, admonitions, teachings, or the sharing of blessings or burdens. One day one lady revealed that she had family problems that required prayers of the whole church. This allowed the whole church the opportunity to tangibly express their love and commitment by gathering around her, laying hands on her, and praying. These changes felt a bit awkward at first…amazingly even to me. We had no previous model to guide us, and thus, felt a bit uncomfortable with them. Before long, however, many began contributing some very edifying insights and exhortations.

Furthermore we began opening up our meetings directly after my sermons for questions, comments, and insights from others. I was very hesitant about this new move at first, fearing that all doctrinal purity might be lost NOT to mention someone challenging my authority etc….if everyone was permitted to comment from the Scriptures or my teachings. On the contrary, this new new aspect of our meetings proved enriching. Talk of trusting the Lord into the unknown by obeying a scriptural command….Often someone would bring an insight that I had missed in my sermon preparation that would open up the text in an important way I had never envisioned before. At other times, people shared insights as to how they could personally apply the text under consideration and you know what?? Man….that blessed me! On still other occasions, someone would ask a question that many others had on their mind, but would not have voiced due to fear. Instead of producing doctrinal confusion, I found that the questions and comments enabled me to allay confusion by addressing the real issues which were perplexing our upcoming house church. On those rare occasions when someone stated something unbiblical or not doctrinal with no scriptural backing, I was able to gently refocus the church by bringing them back to Scripture. Instead of producing chaos, I discovered that it fostered spiritual maturity, intimacy, and love for the brethren. In fact, by adding the time of questions and comments, the church was easily able to concentrate on the Word of God for well over an hour. Often this segment proved to be the most invigorating and helpful of the entire meeting. Whereas our previous meetings lasted about ninety minutes, the new participatory meetings usually took a minimum of two hours to complete. The consensus of the church, though, was that the quality of the meetings was well worth the additional time spent together. The new meetings began to spawn additional interaction among the people.

I cannot overstate the importance of creating an atmosphere of freedom for body participation in the meetings of the church. When church members do nothing but sit, listen, and take notes week after week, they tend to stagnate spiritually….those notes become meaningless as they don’t build up the church. Spiritual growth requires us to flex our spiritual muscles and apply the truths we learn. What good is it for our people to learn that God wants them to use their spiritual gifts, exhort one another, bear each other’s burdens, and rejoice with those who rejoice if we make no provision for them to do that when the church meets?

Having been involved in participatory church meetings now for almost 12 years. I know that I would find the traditional model stifling and unsatisfying. God has proven over and over that as we step out in obedience to apply the patterns we see in His Word, His blessings are sure to follow.

In 1 Corinthians 12 we find an abundance of teaching about the ministry of all believers. For example, in verses 4-6 Paul states that there are varieties of gifts, ministries and effects. Furthermore, he states in verse 6 that “God works all things in all persons.” In verse 7 He informs us, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Again in verse 11 we read, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” In verse 14 Paul emphatically states that “the body is not one member, but many.” (The way most of our churches meet, one would suggest that the passage reads, “the body is not many members, but ONE!”)

Furthermore, in verses 15-25 the apostle goes on to explain that every person has a vital function within the church. All members are needed; none is unimportant……in our fellowship here in Eldoret it doesn’t matter if he/she is a third grader or a 60 year old believer. In light of this biblical teaching, how can we justify the idea that when we assemble, only the pastor may use his gifts while the rest of the body remains passive?

I have taught the priesthood of the believer for years now….There is one main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers. It is as follows: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ … But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:5-9

it is clear from 1 Peter 2:5,9 that God has chosen Christians “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5-9 speaks of two aspects of the priesthood of the believer…..

The first is that believers are privileged. To be chosen by God to be a priest was a privilege. All believers have been chosen by God: a “chosen generation…His own special people” (verse 9). In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, there were places where only the priests could go. Into the Holy of Holies, behind a thick veil, only the High Priest could go, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made a sin offering on behalf of all of the people. But as mentioned above, because of Jesus’ death upon the cross of Calvary, all believers now have direct access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). What a privilege to be able to access the very throne of God directly, not through any earthly priest. When Christ returns and the New Jerusalem comes to earth (Revelation 21), believers will see God face-to-face and will serve Him there (Revelation 22:3-4) Again, what a privilege especially for us who were once “not a people” … “without hope” … destined for destruction because of our sin.
The second aspect of the believer’s priesthood is that we are chosen for a purpose: to offer up spiritual sacrifices (see Hebrews 13:15-16 for example), and to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Thus, by both life (1 Peter 2:5; Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10) and by word (1 Peter 2:9; 3:15), our purpose is to serve God. As the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), so God has called us to serve Him from our hearts by first of all offering our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).

In most congregations today believrs sit passively as the audience while the pastor performs as the main actor. When the congregation is permitted to participate in the meeting, they are restricted to singing, readings, putting money into the offering plate, and taking notes during the sermon. The ‘ordained’ clergy are expected to perform all ministry. Meanwhile the rest of the people attend services without ever contributing any true spiritual ministry to the body of believers.

I believe the New Testament describes the body of Christ as meeting in a manner in which every believer has the potential of contributing to the building up of the congregation in some significant way.
In order for us to grasp the flavor of New Testament church meetings, we must first understand the nature of Jewish synagogue meetings, because they provide the necessary historical context. The apostles of Christ who planted the earliest Christian churches were Jews who had participated in synagogue meetings all their lives. No doubt, these meetings influenced the way early Christians gathered.

Synagogue worship allowed great freedom and participation. As there was no proper priesthood outside of Jerusalem, any Jew of age might get up to read the lessons, offer prayer, and address the congregation. Indeed, we find Jesus constantly teaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath, (Lu.4:18-30; Mt.4:23; 13:54-58; Mk.1:21; Jn.18:20) even though he was neither a Levitical priest nor the ruler of a synagogue. Moreover, those who spoke in the synagogue meetings were not “pre-screened” as to what they were going to say, for Paul, directly upon his conversion, preached in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God to a group of hostile Jews (Acts 9:20).

Furthermore, Paul used the synagogue as his strategic starting point when evangelizing new cities because of this freedom to participate. On the Sabbath, he would enter a synagogue, and when opportunities for teaching and exhortation were given, would preach Jesus as the Christ. It was in the synagogue that Paul spoke in such a way that many of the residents of Iconium believed (Acts 14:1), that the Bereans received the word with great eagerness (Acts 17:10-12), and where he reasoned every Sabbath day in Corinth, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4). The format of synagogue worship was so free that even strangers were permitted to bring a word of exhortation (Acts 13:14-41). Synagogue worship encouraged open participation. It is no accident that the meetings of the early Christians followed suit.

1. A. Giles in his book Patterns of Ministry Among the First Christians writes about the relationship between the synagogue and early house church meetings:

In the larger and more institutionalised synagogues we know that the main function of the ruler of the synagogue was to preside over services and to encourage the participation of those present. This is likely to have been the way the first leaders of house-churches functioned. The early Christians avoided the title used by Jews (ruler of the synagogue) and chose instead the neutral, but equally appropriate term episkopos [overseer]; yet they continued to hold that the chief duty of those who presided over assemblies was to facilitate widespread participation and not do everything themselves. If so, then it could be that in the new house-churches, where the Holy Ghost gave new life and dynamism, such persons found it was more their lot to limit participation than to encourage it!

Spiritual Gifts in Church Meetings….The biblical purpose for which the church gathers is to edify one another. So, exactly how should we accomplish this? In most churches, the pastor bears almost the entire responsibility for edifying the saints (you speak of burn out???), because he is the one who speaks most (or even exclusively) when the church assembles. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 (the lengthiest section in the New Testament detailing principles underlying early church meetings) says a great deal about the ministry of believers, but says nothing about the ministry of only one man when the church meets!

In 1 Corinthians 14 the same truth emerges….remember they are meeting in Gaius Justus’ house, a Roman convert to Judaism and then Christianity. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue is mentioned as joining them along with many Jewish converts, and Corinth is a Greek city with many Greek converts. All 3 cultures are meeting together under one roof as Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians. Also remember that historically, Jewish women in the synagogues were seated to the side behind a lattice work, and not allowed to participate at all. (Acts 18: 1-8)

“What then, brethren, is the right course? When you meet together each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information (revelation), an utterance in a tongue or an interpretation of it (gifts of the Spirit), But let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.” v26

In verse 1 Paul urges the entire church earnestly to desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of prophecy, because one who prophesies edifies the whole church (vs.5). In verse 26 he describes the church meeting as one in which each one has a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue or interpretation. At the very least, this passage indicates that when the early church assembled, every believer had the opportunity to contribute to the edification of the whole body. Some bible scholars believe that in this verse Paul is rebuking the participatory manner in which the Corinthians held their church meetings. On the contrary, Paul does not command the Corinthians to stop meeting in a participatory/ interactive manner rather, in verses 27-31 he gives guidelines for meetings which, though they establish order, still require participation by many!

Paul’s only corrective in verse 26, is his statement, “Let all things be done for edification.” In other words, whenever anyone in the church contributes, he must do so with the intent that what he contributes will edify the rest. In verse 27 Paul allows two or three persons to bring a message in tongues, as long as these messages are interpreted. In verse 29 he informs the church that they should “let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment or weigh whatever is taugt.”

In verse 31 Paul teaches, “for you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.”

In view of this, and the fact that Paul has been emphasizing the superiority of prophecy over tongues in church meetings all the way through the chapter, and that he does not repeat “at the most” after “let two or three prophets speak,” as he does in the case of tongues (vs. 27), Paul’s reference to two or three prophets speaking should probably be understood as two or three at a minimum. His teaching in 1 Corinthians 14 describes a church meeting in which all have the opportunity of participating, either through a song, a teaching, or some other spiritual gift. This practice may seem impossible in light of the fact that many churches today have anywhere from 200 to 10,000 members that is why we emphasize the breakdown of fellowships into smaller home churches. Truly, in a church of that size, it would be impossible to provide an opportunity in which all could participate. We must remember, however, that the early church met almost exclusively in homes (Rom.16:5; Col.4:15). In that setting, where the number of believers could not easily exceed forty or fifty people, the Apostle Paul’s remarks are much more intelligible.

The spirit of a church meeting as pictured in 1 Corinthians 14…..There is no more interesting section in the whole letter than this, for it sheds light on what an early church service was like. There was obviously great freedom and an informality about it. . . it must remain true that if a man has a message to give his fellow men no ecclesiastical rules and regulations should be able to stop him giving it. It is a mistake to think that only the professional ministry can ever bring God’s truth to men. There was obviously flexibility about the order of service in the early Church. Everything was informal enough to allow any man who felt that he had a message to give to give it. It may well be that we set far too much store on dignity and order nowadays, and have become the slaves of orders of service. The really notable thing about an early Church service must have been that almost everyone came feeling that he had both the privilege and the obligation of contributing something to it. A man did not come with the sole intention of being a passive listener; he came not only to receive but to give.

Sometimes in a home meeting a person will feel like they have something REALLY important from the Lord that MUST be shared. This scripture says that is not the case. If there is no opportunity, if the timing is not right, even if they are being moved in the gifts of the Spirit, they do not have to share it. They have not sinned if there is no opportunity to share it, they are to speak to the Lord and use the opportunity as a matter for prayer.

“So let two or three prophets speak, those inspired to preach or teach, while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.” v29

In a home meeting it must be understood that while we may share rules of politeness as a guest in someone’s home if the opportunity is there; what is said will be judged, possibly with negative results. Often a person wants to talk and expects everyone to say yea and amen, but that may not be the case.

The principle Paul mentions here means a person does not have to allow someone to pray for them, speak a prophetic word over them, nor must they automatically accept anything said as from the Lord. And of course, whatever someone says may be accepted completely as well. His point is that no one may dominate, nor should anyone who speaks expect what they say to be accepted automatically – the relationships should be strong enough that what a person says may be challenged without developing into an argument.

“But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.” v30

Here again is a reference to politeness and not having to share something you have from the Lord if there is no opportunity. Grace and deferring to another in love is greater than having to share that revelation, having to share that tongue & interpretation/prophecy, greater than you being moved by the Spirit. If another also feels they have something from the Lord to share, Paul says defer to the first and you be silent.

“For in this way you can give testimony, prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged.” v31

His point: Politeness and courtesy, walking in love, leads to the whole group being the home church being built up.

We are always in control. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and never presses someone to the point they must absolutely share what they have. Paul says you are still in control, thus if there is no opportunity to share, or if someone else has a word, wait your turn or even keep silent, speaking to yourself and the Lord (in prayer).

The apostle Peter echoes the sentiments of Paul as well. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Pet.4:10-11). Notice that Peter emphasizes that each believer has gifts, and that he is to employ them, or put them to work. Furthermore, these gifts are comprised of two basic kinds – speaking and serving gifts. Although believers can and should serve one another throughout the week in all kinds of situations, a natural place for believers to put speaking and serving gifts to work is in the meetings of the church.
Mutual Exhortation in Church Meetings….Not only is the body responsible to edify one another through the exercise of spiritual gifts when they gather, they are also to edify one another through mutual exhortation and encouragement.

In Hebrews 10:23-25, the Scriptures declare, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Notice that this text describes the saints as assembling together. But exactly what are the saints supposed to do when they assemble together? The text does not leave us in doubt; the whole body is to stimulate one another to love and good deeds and encourage one another. Furthermore, no mention is made of the pastor performing this stimulating and encouraging ministry. Rather, Scripture says, let us stimulate and encourage. The author of Hebrews is urging the whole body to take up these duties. Often these verses are used to rebuke church members who miss an occasional meeting. However the intent of the passage is to warn belivers of “forsaking” (a strong word which means to desert once and for all) the gatherings of the saints and returning to the Old Covenant law, priesthood, and sacrifices. The text clearly links mutual exhortation and encouragement with the assembling of the saints. The author of Hebrews goes on to explain why it is so important for the church to exhort and encourage one another when they assemble. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries” (Heb.10:26-27). Though mutual exhortation is a biblical means of perseverance, it is one which the church has neglected far too long. Mutual encouragement and exhortation then, according to God’s Word, should occupy a central place in the activities of a home church. Surely, when one man (the pastor) performs all the exhorting and encouraging, the clear pattern of New Testament church meetings is violated.
Not only do we see participatory church meetings emphasized by the stress laid upon each believer to utilize his spiritual gift, and exhort one another when the church gathers, but we also find it in the more numerous commands of the New Testament. Scripture enjoins believers to:

Love one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Rom.13:8; 1Thess.3:12; 1Thess.4:9; 2Thess.1:3; 1Pet.1:22; 1Pet.4:8; 1John 3:11; 1John 3:23; 1John 4:7,11,12; 2John 1:5)

Be devoted to one another (Rom.12:10)

Give preference to one another (Rom.12:10)

Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom.12:16; 15:5)

Not judge one another (Rom.14:13)

Pursue the things which make for the building up of one another (Rom.14:19)

Pursue the things which make for peace with one another (Rom.14:19)

Accept one another (Rom.15:7)

Admonish one another (Rom.15:14; Col.3:16)

Greet one another (Rom.16:16; 1Cor.16:20; 2Cor.13:12; 1Pet.5:14)

Wait for one another (1Cor.11:33)

Have the same care for one another (1Cor.12:25)

Serve one another (Gal.5:13)

Not challenge one another (Gal.5:26)

Not envy one another (Gal.5:26)

Show forbearance to one another (Eph.4:2)

Be kind to one another (Eph.4:32)

Forgive one other (Eph.4:32; Col.3:13)

Speak to one another (Eph.5:19)

Be subject to one another (Eph.5:21)

Regard one another as more important than yourself (Phil.2:3)

Not lie to one another (Col.3:9)

Bear with one another (Col.3:13

Teach one another (Col.3:16)

Comfort one another (1Thess.4:18)

Encourage one another (1Thess.5:11; Heb.3:13; Heb.10:25)

Build up one another (1Thess.5:11)

Live in peace with one another (1Thess.5:13)

Seek after that which is good for one another (1Thess.5:15)

Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb.10:24)

Not speak against one another (James 4:11)

Not complain against one another (James 5:9)

Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)

Be hospitable to one another (1Pet.4:9)

Employ your spiritual gift in serving one another (1Pet.4:10)

Clothe yourself with humility toward one another (1Pet.5:5)

Have fellowship with one another (1John 1:7)

If the people of God assemble week after week, month after month, year in and year out, as silent spectators in clergy-dominated meetings, it is unlikely that they will consistently obey these commands.
Joint Sharing in Church Meetings ….The New Testament Scriptures affirm that joint sharing should form another important activity in our church meetings. In 1 Peter 3:8, all are exhorted to be sympathetic toward one another. The Greek word translated “sympathetic” literally means “suffering or feeling the like with one another.” (The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, Hendrickson) It should come as no surprise, then, that Paul commands believers to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom.12:15). Furthermore, he notes, “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1Cor.12:26).

Brethren we must open up our meetings so that people can share their burdens, or rejoice together in God’s blessings. In many of our churches, if a brother or a sister comes to a meeting with a wonderful blessing from God he wants to share, he must canvas around in order to communicate it to five or six others before they go home. Similarly if someone’s heart is breaking with sorrow, there is no place in the meeting for them to unburden their hearts and receive the prayer and ministry of the body. Why not open our meetings so that the whole church can rejoice with us in our blessings, and minister to us in our sufferings? In this way, all may be encouraged by the joyful, and minister to the sufferer.
Historical Decline of Church Meetings……As we have seen, New Testament church meetings abounded with openness and mutual participation. In this respect, they were very different from our one-man performances today. How have our churches drifted? What happened to cause the church to go from open participation to passive spectating? Like any new movement, the church began to gradually become more and more institutionalized shortly after its inception. In the second century, because of a fear of heresy from within and persecution from without, the authority of the bishoph rose dramatically in the church. (Each local church was previously shepherded by a plurality of gifted servants called elders – Acts 20:28; 1 Pet.5:1-4). At the same time, these bishops began to retain an increased amount of the ministry which had previously belonged to the whole body. Slowly but surely, clergy-dominated meetings replaced the exciting and invigorating participatory meetings of the New Testament church.

The final blow came early in the fourth century, when Emperor Constantine in 313 issued the Edict of Milan which granted Christians freedom from persecution by making Christianity a legal religion of the State. After Constantine professed the Christian faith, he not only legalized Christianity, but paved the way for it to become Rome’s favored religion. During the years that followed, Constantine ordered many large church buildings built at public expense, began paying salaries to the bishops and presbyters of most congregations, and promoted many Christians to positions of prominence and prosperity. The small and simple church meetings held in homes gave way to large and complex meetings in state-funded “sanctuaries.” Prominent orators preaching long and eloquent sermons took the place of ordinary believers sharing their heart-felt exhortations. Body participation gave way to professional eloquence; spontaneity to rigid structure. Eventually, the only way ordinary church members could participate in church meetings was to sing or chant in unison together.

Conclusion…It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to return to its New Testament roots.

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No Greater Faith than Love

By Brother Simon MacOnyango

Kahoya Believers Fellowship (a Ministry of Kenya Center For House Church Network)

Bible Teaching: Sunday 22^nd February 2015

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Many marriages and families are faltering because two people who don’t love themselves are trying to love each other. But you can’t really love your mate if we don’t even love ourselves.

See this:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 1:1–3)

Everything Jesus purchased for us at Calvary can be obtained by faith. This includes salvation, healing, the fullness of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and all the powers of darkness.

We’ve been examining the “big three” characteristics in this passage and seen the crucial importance of both faith and hope for Christian living. But why did Paul state that love is greater than these? The context of this verse makes it clear that without love we are nothing. As faith without works is dead (James 2:26), so “Christianity” without love is dead:

In the next few verses, Paul described what true love is. Love is not defined according human standards but by God, who is love. When someone is transformed by God’s love, then he or she will reflect this love to others.  God’s Word commands, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8).

Jesus taught that all of the Old Testament commandments can be summed up in love—first love for God, and then love for mankind (Matthew 22:34–40; Romans 13:8–10). Love is the essence of Christianity, and as we read in 1 Corinthians 13:8, love never fails. Actually, the Greek word is ekpiptei, which means to fall away or perish. This is another reason why love is greater—it never ends!

All of these things come to us by faith. But it must be faith that works by love (Gal. 5:6).

If we are to live in line with God’s Word, we must not only be faith children of a faithful God, but we must also be love children of a loving God. Too many of us believers do not have any knowledge about walking in love. We need to understand all facets of it. The love of God needs to spring out of us so much that when we walk some place people see Christ radiating through us and the same people will know we are living in love!

The Kingdom of God has been damaged by believers who have heard the faith and other biblical messages once and ran off with it without knowing how to use what they had heard or received. Before long, they came crashing down and didn’t understand why…..We can make all the confessions we want to. We can quote the Bible day and night. We can fast and pray, and we still won’t get anything if we are not walking in the love of God….The Word says faith works by love. But if we’re not walking in love, our faith won’t work!

We will often find certain areas where as believers we are not really walking in love—and these areas are keeping our faith from operating at full capacity. I have learned that if I am to maintain any kind of faith walk, I must put down my carnal nature. The secret is letting the love of God work within my spirit.

When we get so busy unselfishly helping others get blessings that we forget about ourselves, we will find honor, success, and promotion for ourselves….my late dad used to tell me…the secret of lifting yourself up is lifting others first……..this is something I never imagined at the onset of my ministry until the Lord revealed it to me…..

The Word of God also instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). We cannot really love others until we love ourselves. We should know who and what we are in Christ and what we have because of Him. If we know these things, we will realize that we are kings who sit in heavenly places with Christ. That will give us a good self-image!

When we make it a point to walk in love, we’ll find that the God-kind of love spills over into every aspect of our lives. Not only will we reap spiritual benefits; we will reap natural benefits that we never thought possible……Therefore, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Take some time to compare your life with 1 Corinthians 13.

It’s easy to talk like a Christian, but do we love like Christ? As members of the body of Christ we have our needs filled by miracles and through the service and hard work of others. Likewise when opportunity arises we are required to intervene to help others in the body of Christ. Our first response should be to beseech God for His help for the individuals involved. It doesn’t matter to me whether he serves within our ministry organization or NOT as long as the need is genuine and it bring Glory to God when and if I intervene!

Second, we should ask God for the understanding of how best to use our resources, talents and gifts to benefit the situation.

Galatians 6:10 states, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” We are therefore obligated to provide tangible goods and services if the need should arise.

The apostle Paul taught that we must exhibit brotherly love through serving other brethren. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; distributing to the necessity [needs] of saints; given to hospitality” Rom. 12:10, 13…. As believers, we are admonished to distribute, give or supply the essentials deficient in the lives of brethren. These needs include food, clothing, shelter or employment, but NOT luxury.

In addition, spiritual support to a member could include counsel (“Iron sharpens iron,” Prov. 27:17, encouragement, fellowship and friendship.

Proverbs 29:7 states, “The righteous considers the cause of the poor: but the wicked regards not to know it.”……

We must fill a genuine need (NOT wants) when adversity strikes a fellow believer.

Our mindset in helping the poor must be one of mercy and compassion, recognizing that God has bestowed mercy and compassion on each of us during our calling and conversion process.

Christ offered this instruction regarding invitations:

“When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also bid [invite] you again, and a recompense be made you. But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed [crippled], the lame, the blind: And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense [repay] you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” Luke 14:12-14. Identify a need and step in quietly to perform it!

Analyzing the Need:

If we are to benefit individuals, from Christ’s perspective, we need to properly analyze their needs.

We should ask:.

How did this need develop?

Through an unexpected accident or through lack of planning?

Is the need real or imagined?

Is the need more of a want than a genuine emergency?

Is the person requesting help from a faithful member of of Christ’s body?

Does the person just want “money” instead of tangible goods—groceries or a suit?

We need to ask ourselves how Christ would supply that same need without hindering the spiritual growth of the person involved.

In analyzing a need, we must realize that certain individuals should not be helped.

While we should be available to provide for genuine needs, we should avoid helping individuals if our help would prevent them from overcoming a character flaw or bad habit. Being circumspect is essential in benefiting the needy.

Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (II Thes. 3:10-14).

I pray that this teaching will be a blessing both to me and you!

In Jesus

Brother Simon MacOnyango

Request: Pray for Kenya Center For House Church Network, as Jane and I and our missions Board launch out to teach in several conferences and house church seminars lined up for us starting next week. Pray that the Lord will open up funds…we believe Prayer is the principle support of any given ministry. The voice of intercessors is a very important to us. No church or ministry can exist, develop and bring fruit without a prayer support. Any ministry or a project takes its start in prayer, is born in prayer, grows and progresses only through the means of prayer.

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The Sin of Ingratitude

Main text: 1 Thess 5:18….Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Minister: Brother Simon MacOnyango Kahoya Believers Fellowship, Eldoret 

(Kenya Center For House Church Network) 

18^th January 2015

If you ask most BELEIVERS if they are ungrateful, they will probably reply, “Of course not!” However, this attitude is so rooted in many lives of believers today that most of us cannot openly admit—or even realize—that we are ungrateful.

Sadly, I’ve come across too many brethren whom some in our prayer team sent gifts to and they never even cared to send a thank you note…sadly too I have come across churches and ministries  where donors aren’t thanked at all and then wonder why they struggle to put out needs to the members of the body of Christ!….

Recently we had a bible drive for several needy brethren in our home churches. The Lord laid it in my heart to send out an appeal and several brethren responded to this distress call with compassion. I know of a couple of brethren who received the bibles and never even cared to let us know that they did….I confronted them on phone and asked them this question, ‘brother or sister so and so…do you think you would give a second time to a brother or a sister or an organization that didn’t appreciate your first gift?..the answers I received was a BIG no! … My counsel to several brethren I had this experience with was:…. Stop thinking of your donors as ATM machines or those who gave because they have abundance and really focus on them as conduits of God’s blessings. Think about what they do to you. They simply did not give the money for bibles because they had abundant or because you deserved one ..…they sacrificed for the sake of another member of the body. Donors are so much more than simply donors; they are chosen vessels of God’s provision.

It takes God for another part of the body to minister to the needs of another part. The following verses come to my mind:

1st Corinthians 12:26, 27….And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it…..

Eph 4: 16…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

In wrestling with my own feelings about ungrateful people in my own life and ministry, I’ve been reminded of God’s loving approach. Christ said, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:35). 

We realized that when we give a gift to someone, we should expect nothing in return. When we use our time and energy and resources to help someone, we should not do so with the expectation of receiving anything in return, including a simple “thank you.”…when my wife and I embraced this…..we no longer take offenses on ungrateful brethren or people…

Webster’s Dictionary defines “Ingratitude” as: “Forgetfulness of, or poor return for, kindness received.”

 It can also be defined as not appreciating or valuing what you have, or have been given. Unexpressedgratitude is also ingratitude!

Each and every one of us has once a time dealt with ungrateful person/people. And it’s not just the average person who has experienced ingratitude. I tend to think that ministry is the place we will meet the most ungrateful people and sad to say that the majority of them are ministers of the Gospel….for close to 13 years Jane and I have been involved with several home churches. We found from experience that home churches are what God designed to be our ministry. At one point we almost brought down our whole ministry in to ruins when we deviated and got involved with the ‘supposed called brothers and sisters in the Lord’ that were already functional under different visions and goals in their own ministries when we brought them into our fold…. Jane and I and a section of the brethren who stuck with us clearly understood why Paul said, ‘My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else’….Romans 15:20..

My wife and I thought that we did our best to take in some of these ministries who were struggling to come up, some trying to have a covering or some legal recognition which our ministry already had. We expected a lot of accolades and thank you from most of them….for we strongly believed we  had taken the mandate seriously to offer training, workshops and seminars designed to activate the Saints into their God-given gifts, callings and destiny…those who hurt us most are those we trust most; that’s why it hurts most….the following verses come to my mind…Zechariah 13:6… “And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends….

Jesus too encountered this…..

Ten lepers, who begged for mercy from the Messiah to heal them. “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13). They said the right things; and just so, when we first came to Christ, we said the right things, i.e., “God be merciful to me a sinner” (18:13). Even though the Omniscient Son of God knew that we would later backslide, He forgave us, just as He cleansed the lepers. “And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed” (17:14). But, the part of the story that shows us that even the Son of God expects to be thanked for His mercy and grace, is where one of the cleansed lepers, a Samaritan, returned to glorify and thank the LORD Jesus. “15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan” (17:15-16). “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thessalonians 5:18). “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23). Jesus immediately exclaimed, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (17:17).

But how can you tell if you are ungrateful? Are there things that identify ingratitude? And if so, what can you do about it?

After 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians, the Israelites, through God’s miraculous intervention, were released from bondage. As they left Egypt, God allowed them to collect riches, cattle, food, gold, jewels and supplies. God performed many miracles as they traveled through the wilderness. He selected them as His people, promising to take them to a land “filled with milk and honey.”….Notice God’s plain words to the Israelites: “And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey” Ex. 3:8….But this was not enough for them!…Upon approaching the Promised Land, the Israelites were instructed by God to send spies to survey the land. It was located between other nations that were enemies of Israel. ..

After forty days of spying the land, they returned. And presented to Moses, Aaron and the congregation of Israel the fruit from the land, saying, “We came unto the land whether you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey…Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great”  Num. 13:27

God called the Israelites an “evil congregation” for their sinful ingratitude. To God, an ungrateful attitude is sin—evil—which provokes Him to anger! Although God did not strike Israel with pestilence at that time or disinherit them, He did cause them to wander in the wilderness for 40 additional years, until those that demonstrated this attitude died! Their murmurings and unthankful attitude condemned them from ever seeing the Promised Land!

Ingratitude-an ugly trait? Especially when it is directed against someone who has made sacrifices for us and done many good things for us. Our ingratitude can hurt such people deeply. What sorrow there is in Jesus’ words when only one of the ten lepers that were healed came back to thank Him. “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17: 18).

 

Ingratitude is a serious sin. The Holy Scriptures say that it is one of the characteristics of the antichristian spirit of the last times (2 Tim. 3: 2). It will be judged severely by God. Therefore, we have to overcome all the ingratitude in our hearts if we are to belong to Jesus in eternity. We have to see what an ugly trait it is. We must be resolute and not tolerate it any longer, because it hurts the Father’s heart so deeply and provokes His wrath against us.

How can we overcome our ingratitude? Here too we must first recognize the root. Just like many other sins, its root lies in pride. The proud take it for granted that people will give them things. Consciously or unconsciously they think they have a right to receive gifts. Their eyes are blind towards all the good things that the heavenly Father gives them. In their pride they think, even when they are not consciously aware of it, that they have the right to enough, or more than enough, nourishment, clothing and everything else they need for body and soul in this life. But if they do not have sufficient goods of this life, all of a sudden they remember God and accuse Him for not giving them what they need. Their attitude towards God is like that of a person who has a lawful claim upon someone else. The ungrateful do not see that it is grace, pure grace, when God gives them what they need. So we have to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to forgive us for our pride, which kept us from thanking Him. And we have to ask for a deeper repentance over our proud ingratitude.

Then we have to take the next step by beginning to record all the good things we receive, either every day or every week. That means not only realizing this in our hearts, but bringing the Father a song or prayer of thanksgiving. It also helps when we have a special “thanksgiving booklet” in which we write down everything we receive. Then at the end of the day, or at the end of the week, either alone or with our family, we can give thanks to God. In this way our hearts practise seeing what good things we have received, from other people as well as God.

Remembering the goodness of God and the kindness of men is the first step to gratitude. Along this road we will come to realize more and more deeply that God is a Father full of love who rejoices in doing us good (Jer. 32: 41). Overwhelmed by this love, our hearts will be filled more and more with gratitude and joy. For grateful people also have good reason to rejoice over God’s proofs of love, while ungrateful people are dissatisfied and upset. That is a typical symptom of pride. But the more the Lord shows us our wretchedness and sinfulness the more our hearts will rejoice when the Father in heaven, in spite of all our sins, still gives us good gifts, and people also give us presents. More and more will we learn to give thanks for even His difficult leadings, because we have come to know that His heart of love is behind them. This heart is revealed to the grateful. “Give thanks in all circumstances”, says Scripture, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5: 18).

God wants to turn us into grateful people! God calls into existence things-including our gratitude-that do not exist. He will form in us new creations, grateful hearts that will also be humble, joyful and loving. The grateful are always loving. They want to repay those who have done good things for them and made them happy. What a divine radiance lies upon the grateful; the radiance of the kingdom of heaven, for above we will give thanks to God and adore Him without end for all the good that He has done for us. But we will only be there if we have learned how to give thanks.

May the Lord bless you in the days to come

Brother Simon

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The Marriage Covenant

By Simon and Jane MacOnyango

Speaker: Minister Jane MacOnyango

 Simon and Jane MacOnyango: Seminars for the Wives of the Pastors and Leaders….
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:11:16 at Nakwana, Western Kenya

Main Text:

Matthew 19:6…..So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Malachi 2:14-16…..But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Whenever we invoke the name of Jesus, we tap the power of God’s oath.” That is why God gave saints the power to bind evil and release or loose righteousness in this world…..Another Hebrew term is “to put oneself under a curse” in order to receive God’s blessing. We are therefore placing ourselves under a curse, to be damned if we don’t keep our part of the oath….

The Hebrew word for “oath” is “shevah,” meaning “to seven oneself” (In Gen 21:27 31, Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech using seven ewe lambs, and they called the place “Beersheva,” which means, “the place of the oath” or “the well of the sevens.”) ..seven is God’s number of completion….

If you don’t have an oath, you don’t have a covenant……Another Hebrew word for oath is “I raise my hand” (See Deut 32:40ff). When we raise our hands in worship, for example, we are swearing an oath. We lift up God’s name when we invoke God’s name in an oath.

Making an oath is to call upon the power of God to bind Satan and evil. It is a mystery of drawing down the presence of God, of engaging God for help and power so that we can do whatever it is we are pledging to do.

Another Hebrew term is “to put oneself under a curse” in order to receive God’s blessing. We are therefore placing ourselves under a curse, to be damned if we don’t keep our part of the oath.

When we ask for God’s blessing and submit ourselves to His curse by oath, God comes down and empowers us to do what we would otherwise not be capable of doing.

Only in Christianity does God bind Himself to man by swearing an oath. God put Himself under a curse if He didn’t keep the terms of the covenant to Abraham and his seed. Since we did not keep our part of the covenant, God became man and became a curse for us in order to make us His covenant family.

We affirm the biblical ideal of marriage being a life-long covenant between a man and a woman.

God originally never intended any marriage to break up. His heart is broken and grieved when people divorce each other. Divorce is contrary to the original design of the Creator. It cannot be broken without serious and damaging consequences. When couples go their separate ways, they never fully recover what they put into their marriage. They leave part of themselves with their partner and they take part of their partner with them….. They are experiencing the death of a relationship that God originally designed to last for the life of the individuals involved.

Genesis. 2:24 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read” he (Jesus) replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one, Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Marriage was God’s idea……. He knows exactly what our marriages need in order for them to thrive.  His ultimate goal for marriage is for husbands and wives to have oneness expressed in a relationship bound together by a Holy Covenant.

For many of us, we understand marriage to be a “contract,” which can be easily broken.  When we made our vows to our spouse at our wedding and said, “until death do us part,” what we really meant was, “… until I feel like giving up and getting out.”

In contrast, God’s design for marriage was for it to be a holy covenant. For what reason? Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. (Malachi 2:14)

A covenant is an agreement and a vow one person makes with another. And not just any agreement… this is a solemn vow before God. We need to realize that the consequences of breaking a covenant we made before God are very serious and sobering (Proverbs 6:20-29). Once we understand this, then we realize that leaving the marriage is not an easy option for us.

When you make a vow to God do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)

The interesting thing is that when we accept that divorce is not an option (in the majority of cases) and we know there is nowhere to go… our view of marriage completely changes. Knowing we can’t get out is the key to our marriages being transformed. Why? Because it’s then that we really commit to working on our marriages ….

PS: If you’ve had thoughts of breaking your marriage covenant, I’d like encourage you NOT TO. Tell God you’re sorry and then, in your heart of hearts, just recommit. Don’t worry about what your spouse does or doesn’t do. Second, I encourage you to pray for your marriage. God longs to help you! He is for you, not against you.

In our ministry, we recognize that:
• Nothing is more important than someone’s relationship with God.
• No one has more potential to influence a child’s relationship with God than a parent.
• No one has more potential to influence the parent than the church.

WE PRAY PEACE AND GOD’S BLESSING ON EACH MARRIAGE REPRSNTED IN THIS SEMINAR

In His Peace

Simon and Jane

 

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Training Children in The Home Church Setting
Today’s Message—Primary Principles for Parents…Scripture—Deuteronomy 4:9-14

Venue: Nakhwana Discipleship Center – 15^th December 2014

                 Simon and Jane Mac Onyango

Key Truth—God must be all important to parents before God can be all important to their children.
Deuteronomy 4 gives 5 primary principles for parents that must be all important in their lives.
The basics of biblical parenting involve more than simply raising a child. Parents are directly responsible to God for more than providing food, shelter, and protection. When we adopt God’s standards as our own, we produce quality character that is different from a child’s natural inclinations. Proverbs 22:6 emphasizes the significance of biblical parenting: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” As parents turn to the Bible for instruction they are able to open up channels in their children’s lives so that God’s grace can flow in.
What are the basics of biblical parenting, and what hinders that flow? As parents we shape our children’s attitudes, actions, and associations. When we are inconsistent in delivering godly instruction and wisdom to our children, we practice ineffective parenting. When we place unreasonable demands by abusing our authority, we practice ineffective parenting. When we make anything more important than our children, we take another step away from love, and a step away from effective biblical parenting.

What are the basics of biblical parenting and authority? Parents must understand that parental authority is never manipulating children with a few choice phrases or standard punishments. It is impossible to force children to behave appropriately. We may see brief periods of responsibility and obedience, but when children reach adulthood, they often reject authority; their godly character is as yet undeveloped. It’s been said that “character is who you are when no one else is around.” Children generally know that their parents are wiser than they are. They also know there are times when they need guidance and authority. The proper application of parental authority will help children to appreciate and benefit from their parents’ wisdom and experience. In the Bible, Eli spoke to his sons about their bad behavior. He eveninstructed them in how they should serve God. Yet God rejected Eli’s house because Eli failed to restrain or exercise authority over his sons.
What are the basics of biblical parenting and setting priorities?

 

The Word of God Must be Primary

“He declared to you his covenant” (v.13)
“the 10 commandments” (v.13)
“the Lord directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws” (v.14)
In the Bible we learn who God is.

In the Bible we learn what sin is.

In the Bible we learn who made marriage and the home.

 

The Home Must be Primary. That is why we advocate the church in the home

“teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v.9)
Marriage is between a man and a woman for the purpose of producing and raising children. (Genesis 1:17-28; 2:21-25)……Children in the home are a heritage, reward, and blessing. (Psalm 127)

The foundation of a strong home is made from a strong marriage. The most powerful influence on children is their parent. Children learn from us either consciously or unconsciously. They even watch how we preach and teach in our home church and see if we live by them!

I can’t just tell my children about church; I need to show them, let them experience it. But how? By being the church to them. By inviting them to take part in our meetings in our home. By treating our family as their first church. We emphasize this to our home church pastors! I mean “first” in two ways: first as in earliest, meaning our family is the earliest church they’ll know; and first as in primary, meaning our family is the most important church they’ll know.

 

The Gospel Must be Primary

“He declared to you His covenant the Ten Commandments” (v.13)
The Law of God reveals our depravity.

The grace of God provides forgiveness of sin and salvation.

The Holy Spirit and the Word of God provides what is necessary to help us live godly lives.

The best place to learn the Gospel is from parents who have accepted and live by the Gospel.

 

The Goal of Parents Must be Primary

“teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v.9)

The goal of parents is to lead your children to become worshippers of God and committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Our families are the first and the primary church before we venture out into any missions ad outreaches…….

The goal of parents is not for their children to get the best grades, be great athletes, have a great career and make a lot of money, to be absolutely well behaved, or to simply repeat the “Sinners Prayer.”

 

The Personal Relationship of a Parent to God Must be Primary

“only be careful, and watch yourselves closely” (v.9)
The place to begin good parenting is with parents themselves and not with their children.

Parents should not succumb to the temptation to live their lives exclusively and preeminently for their children.

Marriage is a covenant for life and a marriage comes before children are born and extends after children leave home.

Salvation is an eternal covenant and takes precedent even over the marriage covenant.

The goal of parents is to lead their children away from dependency on them and to full dependency upon God.

Reasons Your Family Is Your First Church

Testing ground for ministry gifts
God has given ministry gifts to every believer. Like flowers, these gifts bloom if given the right environment. For example, if your daughter is concerned about people in need, she might have a gift of mercy. As a family, you can serve in a soup kitchen, expose her to needy people, and see if the mercy gift develops. How exciting and safe to discover and mature your ministry gifts together! Shouldn’t church be a testing ground for ministry gifts? Our two sons Meshack and Greg aged 20 and 15 respectively are preachers and these gifts were developed in the church in our home!

 

 

Demonstration of real-life faith
When your family is your first church, you’ll live your faith every day, out-loud, in front of your children. When you’re struggling and you pray as a family, your kids will learn the power of prayer. When the beauty of the sunset overwhelms you and you praise God, your kids will learn about worship. When they see you reading your Bible, they’ll pick up on the importance of the Word. Most of all, they’ll learn that faith is something they take with them everywhere, anytime.

 Understanding of authority
God instituted authority in order to pass down blessing from a “greater” to a “lesser.” We first learn about authority in our families. The trend in parenting is to emphasize independence over obedience (2). But parents can go against the flow by providing true authority, leading to lifelong blessing. Shouldn’t church teach authority?

Representation of God
Parents represent God to their children. We often picture God according to our mother or father. If the example is right, we embrace the image. If it is wrong, we reform the image. Parents who are cognizant that they represent God will hopefully act to form a healthy image. Shouldn’t church represent the right image of God?

Obedience to God
Simply put, God commands parents to direct their children in the ways of God: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut. 6.6-7). Shouldn’t church obey God?

 Care for the spirit
As a parent, you take care of your child’s physical needs: you feed him, clothe him, give him shelter, bandage his wounds, etc. You put a lot into taking care of his body. Well, when he dies, he’ll leave his body behind. It’s his spirit that will remain. Shouldn’t the church care for the spirit?

 Intimacy as a family
When you make your family your first church, you’ll grow in intimacy as a family. Now this is quality family time!

 

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The Role of the Christian Wife

By Minister Jane Auma MacOnyango….

Women’s Seminar 14^th December 2014..Nakhwana Discipleship Center

A husband and wife serving together in the ministry can bring much excitement, joy and satisfaction; but serving together in pastoral ministry can also bring frustration, stress, and heartache.

Observations from discussions with several Pastors’ spouses:

1. Majority of pastors’ wives feel pressured to do things, and be something that they feel they were really not.
2. The majority of pastors’ wives said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.
3. Majority of pastors wives do not regularly pray with their spouses

From Sister Jane MacOnyango:, “over the years, I’ve learned three things about being a pastor’s wife. First, I learned to be content no matter what the situation. Second, I learned that adversity is not always a sign that it’s time to pack up and move or leave my husband alone in ministry. Third, I learned to love all of God’s people, and the importance of mentoring another woman.”

From Bishop Simon: “Twenty years down the line as a pastor’s wife, Jane was finally in a position to help young women starting out in pastoral ministry with their preacher husbands. What she did with that opportunity began with questions 1-3 above that ended up celebrating the unique calling of teaching and mentoring young pastors’ wives that has resulted in me helping Jane assemble this seminar:

1. Creation of woman
2. Genesis 1:27,…… Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…….
3. 1 John 4:8…But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
4. Genesis 2: 18-22… The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
5. 1 Corinthians 11: 8-9….For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.…
6. Proverbs 12:4….. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones
7. Submission of Christian wife
8. Ephesians 5:21 – 24, 33…. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

III.                A wife is to minister to her husband’s spirit, soul and body

Spirit :

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8….. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away
2. Ephesians 5:23;… For the husband is the head of the wifeas Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
3. Ephesians 1:17-19;… I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength
4. Col 1:9-11;…For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
5. Ephesians 6:19;….. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
6. Col 3:8-10, 12-17;…. But now you must rid yourselvesof all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him
7. Matthew 5:6; … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
8. Proverbs 15:3…. The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Soul…..Communication

1. Build ego – God given to take initiative, assume leadership, be provider and be protector.

Body – 1 Corinthians 7: 4- 5…… For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

 

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Performance versus True worship

By Simon and Jane   

Wednesday 10^th December 2014…Bible Study

My father regularly read Psalm 96:9 in our evening services: “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (KJV). Yet, even though I heard the word worship in conversation, testimonies, songs, and Scripture, I didn’t completely understand what it meant.

We FELLOWSHIP to worship God, and that’s done by giving, not getting. We go to offer something to Him, not to receive from Him. Granted, if we offer to Him the praise due His name, we will receive at His hand. There is blessing in giving, for the Lord is quoted as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35b). So, worship is giving to God, not getting….. Pure and love are not two words that we often put together. Maybe it’s because most of the love we experience is anything but pure. As flawed people, we rarely love without somewhat tainted motives. We all have probably “loved” someone because we wanted something from them, and I’m sure we’ve all been “loved” because someone only wanted something out of or from us.

What is worship? Worship is “honor paid to a superior being.” It means “to give homage, honor, reverence, respect, adoration, praise, or glory to a superior being.”

True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed.

The apostle Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1-2: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.”…..This passage contains all the elements of true worship. First, there is the motivation to worship: “the mercies of God.” God’s mercies are everything He has given us that we don’t deserve: eternal love, eternal grace, the Holy Spirit, everlasting peace, eternal joy, saving faith, comfort, strength, wisdom, hope, patience, kindness, honor, glory, righteousness, security, eternal life, forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, freedom, intercession and much more. The knowledge and understanding of these incredible gifts motivate us to pour forth praise and thanksgiving—in other words, worship!
Also in the passage is a description of the manner of our worship: “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice.” Presenting our bodies means giving to God all of ourselves. The reference to our bodies here means all our human faculties, all of our humanness—our hearts, minds, hands, thoughts, attitudes—are to be presented to God. In other words, we are to give up control of these things and turn them over to Him, just as a literal sacrifice was given totally to God on the altar. But how? Again, the passage is clear: “by the renewing of your mind.” We renew our minds daily by cleansing them of the world’s “wisdom” and replacing it with true wisdom that comes from God. We worship Him with our renewed and cleansed minds, not with our emotions. Emotions are wonderful things, but unless they are shaped by a mind saturated in Truth, they can be destructive, out-of-control forces. Where the mind goes, the will follows, and so do the emotions. First Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have “the mind of Christ,” not the emotions of Christ.

Do you worship when you go to fellowship? Is that what’s in your mind? Do you prepare your heart for worship?

Essentially, then, worship is giving – giving honor and respect to God. That is why we, as Christians, gather together on Sunday. we gather to give honor to God. To give back to HIM!

Let me illustrate this idea of worship.

1. The fragrance of the Tabernacle’s incense

Exodus 30:34-38 provides a graphic illustration of worship. God gave many instructions regarding how worship was to be carried out in the Tabernacle.  Many of the instructions had great symbolic value and were used as teaching tools. One of these visual aids, described inExodus 30:34-38, gives us a wonderful insight into the area of worship:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, tempered together, pure and holy [i.e., unique, separate, and untouched by any other elements]: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.”

Now this perfume, which was actually a sweet-smelling incense, was to be used only in the Tabernacle. Why? Because it was to be holy. Verse 37 continues, “And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell     thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.” Now, did you know there was a perfume recipe in the Bible? It was probably the most lovely `fragrance imaginable, but God said that it could cost them their lives if they made if for themselves.

2. The fragrance of Mary’s ointment

As the fragrance of the incense in the Tabernacle rose to the nostrils of God, it signified worship. In John12:1-3, another fragrant gift is offered in worship. However, this time it was offered to the living God in human form the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made    him a supper, and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly [probably a year’s wages], and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” Mary used that which was her glory, her hair (cf. 1Cor.11:15), to wash the dusty dirty feet of Jesus. And she didn’t use water; she used a costly, fragrant ointment. That’s the essence of worship. It’s self-humiliating and profuse in its giving.

Mary and Martha were different. Martha was always serving, and Mary was always sitting at the feet of Jesus. In fact, Jesus had previously said that Mary chose to do what was better than all of Martha’s serving (cf. Luke 10:   38-42). But when Judas saw what Mary did with the ointment, he said, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” (v.5). Verse 6 tells us that Judas didn’t really care about the poor, he just wanted the money for himself. So Jesus said to him, “Let her alone…For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always” (vv. 7a, 8). In other words, it’s better to worship than to give welfare. What we give God is infinitely more important!

I Ask myself the following questions: “Do I worship God? Is worship a priority for me? Do I faithfully and regularly go to fellowship with a deep heart of commitment to worship God? Am I so consumed with a hungering desire to worship God that I hurry myself into the assembly of His people for the expression of worship?” Well, God seeks acceptable, true, spiritual worship, and if we’re going give it to Him, we must understand what it is.

May we worship HIM is Spirit and Truth when we come before His throne

Brother Simon

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The Believer and Christian Social Activism:

3rd December, 2014

By Brother Simon MacOnyango

For many years I have been an ardent advocate that Christians should remain totally uninvolved in politics or civic activities and causes…..for the simple reason that…….as believers we are waiting on the millennial Kingdom…. this one-thousand year millennial reign of the Savior over the earth will be the fulfillment and the climax of all redemptive promise and the realization of the hope of all the saints of all the ages. Because at that particular time, God will bring salvation and righteousness and peace to the very center of the universe. It is at that time that Jesus Christ will reign fully as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all creation. This thousand-year Kingdom will be the end of human history, the end of the present universe as we know it. And after the thousand- year Kingdom is completed, is over, everything as we know it now in the created order will be completely destroyed because it has all been tainted by sin!

I almost had reservations to all so called pastors and church leaders who would take the government of Kenya or their own political class head on matters that were touched on governance….at the onset of our meetings and interactions I had several questions and reservations about one of my greatest friend Pastor Scott Lively and several other Christian friends who persuaded me otherwise……Later over the years as the Lord dealt with me in my own ministry and watching several things that the government in Kenya was leaning towards to that I felt was demeaning to my faith I came to realize that such pious apathy toward government and politics would reveal a lack of appreciation for the many appropriate legal remedies believers in democracies have in participating in matters of governance. However I still believe the believer’s political involvement should never displace the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel.

The Church is called to “reconstruct” society according to the pattern of biblical law….societal injustices are to be corrected and reformed. The call of the believer to be “in the world,” transforming it and seeking to make it a more just society cannot be ignored.  Serious problem results, however, when Christian social activism becomes too closely identified with advancing certain partisan political agendas.

It is clear that the believer has a legitimate role to play in serving as a moral voice in the work of the business world. For such a voice to be effective, it is essential that the believer be accurately informed as to the facts associated with specific concerns, and remain theologically orthodox and balanced in its presentation. If the appropriate role of the concerned believer is co-opted by secular political ideology and activism, it is not possible for the believer’s witness to have the kind of impact it would otherwise have. The loss of direction that such a co-optation represents does harm not just to the organizations assailed by this radical activism, but also to the voice of the faith community as a witness to the truth in our society.  This is a type of activism that is centered in, and which advocates, the meaning of the kingdom of God for society, rather than the restricted benefits of one political agenda over another.

Thus, spirituality is to touch and inform all of life, not just personal morality. Because God is working to restore “all things” the Church must also be working to restore every human institution, including the fine arts, the media, education, politics, journalism, law, and more.

In an increasingly secularized world it should surprise no one that the values, standards, and the very laws of God are regularly violated. Many things that are “legal” are nevertheless unbiblical — even sinful. All believers would agree that God’s laws are higher than man’s, and there are times when we must break the laws of man in order to obey God.

In Daniel 3:4-6, 12-30 we read of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, thus they were thrown into the fiery furnace as a consequence. God obviously approved of their act of civil disobedience as demonstrated in His miraculous deliverance on their behalf. Their refusal to do so has been an example of God-honoring courage ever since.

 The issue that believers must address is our response to the legalized sins of society, and the demands of a secular government which often contradict Scripture.

As Christians we need to stand up when we believe that our faith is at stake!

Lord bless you!

Brother Simon MacOnyango

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Why Home Church?

By Bro Simon MacOnyango

30^th November, 2014

 

Jane and I and our Children and a couple of families in the church in our living room
For close to 13 years Jane and I have been involved with several home churches as at October 14th 2014 numbering about 17. We found from experience that home churches is what God designed us to be our ministry. at one point we almost brought down our whole ministry in to ruins when we deviated and got involved with the ‘Institutional Churches’ that were already functional under different visions and goals when we supposedly brought them into our fold…we clearly understood why Paul said, ‘My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else’….Romans 15:20..
Home Church provides a simple and wonderful form of worship. The churches in the New Testament were home churches. Throughout the centuries, many people have met in homes…..A study of the Acts of the Apostles and the epistles of the New Testament, especially the epistles of Paul, confront us with the church in the home. Four times “the church in the home” is specifically mentioned. For instance, the apostles wrote letters to churches and to individuals and sent greetings to or from the church in So-and-So’s house. In Romans 16:5 we read, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house” (the house of Aquila and Priscilla). In I Cor. 16:19 we read “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
And from scriptures like this we gather the idea that the church in the home of Priscilla and Aquila was a firmly established church of that time. Again, in Col. 4:15 we read: “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.” And then in Philemon verse 2 we hear Paul addressing himself to Philemon and the church in his house.
Luke and Acts
The Gospel of Luke opens with a scene in the temple of Jerusalem (Luke 1:5-23) and it ends with a scene in that same temple (Luke 24:53).
The Book of Acts begins in a house in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4, 13) and ends in a house in Rome (Acts 28:30).
Romans 16:5

“Please give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in the province of Asia.” ~ New Living Translation
Romans 16:23

“Gaius says hello to you. I am his guest, and the church meets here in his home. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does Quartus, a Christian brother.” ~ New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 16:19

“The churches here in the province of Asia greet you heartily in the Lord, along with Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.” ~ New Living Translation
Colossians 4:15

“Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house.” ~ New Living Translation
Philemon 1:1-3

“This letter is from Paul, … I am also writing to the church that meets in your house. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” ~ New Living Translation
A short history lesson…..It is worth noting that Paul, whose background would have given him every reason to build public places of worship, chooses instead to leave, as his legacy of missionary work, a network of house churches throughout the Roman Empire

There are millions of people having church in homes today, but you rarely hear of them because they are not advertised or high profile. There are many reasons to have church in homes. Here are a few of the primary reasons:
1. Home church is Biblical.
2. The essence of Christianity is easily accomplished in simple and uncomplicated settings.
3. Group participation with all people functioning should be the primary dynamic of any church meeting (1 Cor. Chapter 14), This is the backbone of the home church setting.
4. Connecting with others and developing meaningful relationships is easily accomplished in a home church atmosphere.
5. “Being the church” and sharing life together in community with others, instead of just attending a meeting, is the desire and purpose of most people who home church.
The challenge to people who want to participate in home church is to be able to “undo” what they’ve been taught church is really all about. Prayer, worship, reading scripture, outreach, encouraging one another, and sharing life together in real and meaningful ways are all part of the home church experience.
Kenya Center For House Church Network has been given a God-given mandate to equip and prepare the Saints for the work of the ministry in all realms of life. For over the years, Kenya Center For House Church Network has taken this mandate seriously and offered training, workshops and seminars designed to activate the Saints into their God-given gifts, callings and destiny. Churches in the New Testament era were indeed small assemblies that met in homes (Acts 2:46; 20:20). So the practice is certainly biblically allowable.

We DO NOT do home church home churches in an effort to counter “the institutional church” …. We only believe home is the most important and most effective place to teach, learn, and apply gospel principles.

May the Lord of peace shine mightily upon each one of you!
In His Grace
Brother Simon and Minister Jane MacOnyango