"Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuary." Psalm 77:13

There are many different ideas about church--what it is, how it should be, what the Early Church was like, the revived, reformed, etc. etc.

First of all, we know that the Church is people, God's Body of believers, who find evidence of the reality and fruit of His Words and Spirit active and alive in their lives.

Abraham starts the first group of believers. Pretty much before that, it was just a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation, with the children choosing to decide if they would be believers or not. When we read their Biblical history, we can pretty much tell who had faith and who departed.

But with the birth of Isaac along with believing servants, and then with the birth of Jacob, the tribe began to increase, particularly with the fountain of Jacob's 12 sons. And it is there where we find that faith is no longer just an individual thing, but a group thing.

From Abraham's multiplied seed, we find Moses leading the children of Israel out of a land of bondage, into a country they begin to call their own. Just prior to that, the first Tabernacle is erected and the priesthood is ordered, ordained and established.

Now faith has become a government, and it interacts and intermingles with social and political law. Traditions begin, and many of these are very helpful, but some become corrupt. As Jesus says, it is a matter of the heart.

The nation had judges, but wanted a king, and now they are as the other nations until war so devastates them, that they are scattered to the four corners of the earth. But in the meantime, a Messiah comes on the scene, unlike any other, and this "Yeshua" most Americans call Jesus, works with 12 men and establishes what is known today as the Church.

After Yeshua's resurrection from the dead and public ascension into Heaven, they first they met in small groups and traveled around. Then as they grew and scattered, they met from house to house and miracles continued, as they had during the visit of this great Messiah. And He promises that He will come again!

So believers multiply and increase and the need for government arises again. As Christendom steadily sows itself into the nations of the world, suddenly we see the Jewish people with a desire to reclaim their homeland, the land promised to them in their Book!

Their land is secured, and though hard to hold onto, they hold onto to their Biblical promise. Suddenly we see both the Church at large struggling for order, as well as this tiny nation which has the attention of the world. This was promised in the Book!

As varied as the world wide church has become, there are basic things that tie believers world wide. The Gospel of Christ, or the Good News of Jesus, is that all men might be redeemed from the hell pit they find themselves in with no hope for a future to an opportunity to become part of the major Plan of God for mankind.

The Good News is that the sin issue has been dealt with. God found a sacrifice in His only begotten Son who paid the price of sin on a Cross as atonement for man's turning away from God. With the acceptance of this comes an impartation of His Holy Spirit, something that comes to stay, lead, nurture and guide into the more acceptable, honorable and proper ways of God.

Again, as Jesus said, it is a matter of the heart.

We again find ourselves seeking for a government, even though this impartation comes individually and not upon a group as a group, but is made up of those who individually have received of this great impartation.

He tried to tell us, "The government is in your heart!" but people still seek for order in the group. So Jesus gives the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor and teacher (Ephesians 4:11-16); and these gifts of ministers minister to the Church locally and yet also worldwide.

Which brings us to "What should the local church be all about?" I can only offer my view of this, and the Anointing will carry this where He wants it to go.

The gift of salvation comes to the individual and then the inner gifts within the individuals must manifest for the larger good of the Body. If that discovery is not sought out and acted upon, then people become non-productive at best, and counter-productive at the worst. Misapplied knowledge can be deadly.

If there is no vision, the people do not know where they are going. And without a vision, the people perish. They just go around and around in circles which is a form insanity.

This chart is only a beginning explanation. There are some who can explain aspects of this much better than myself. Yet I would like to propose a few questions.

When people go to a church, what are they looking for? Most sincere seekers are looking for a relationship with God, which can be found through Jesus. The message must be brought that this is a place where God and people can meet in consummating, productive relationship.

Then people look for education, but also they look for a place where they can pray, jointly yet also in moments of personal intimacy with the Master and Savior. Then they also look to the local church as a place to receive ministry and healing, one on one touch and contact and interaction for purposes of benefitting lifestyles. If life is not enhanced, then it becomes stale or diminishes and dies.

He said, "My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations..."

Again, religion and traditions can help or hurt, even to the point of souls living or dying. As was said, the beginning of the government begins with the individual. This brings forth the power of the spiritual gifts and productivity that causes the Kingdom of God to increase and grow and assimilate fully into His Eternal Plan.

I bless you as you fulfill your part.