Faith Without Works Cannot Be Called Faith: Faith Must Work—Warring Titans; The Failure of Yakov Part II (April 27, 2014) You cannot find one prophet in the bible that was not political. Behind entities in the natural are spiritual principalities. Hence, government is the highest realm/form of spiritual warfare directly below the heavens. Natural government sets laws that affect all including Christians. Ex: Jim Crow Laws superseded the law of the word and blacks were subjugated to unfair and unequal treatment though this was unscriptural. The Civil Rights movement was led by spiritual men and women whose lives and efforts influenced the political realm—their influence is what gave a great deal of people freedom. As long as church people stay in church they don’t affect anybody. It’s when you come out and live that you affect someone. Review: Jewish saints built the New Testament Church. Apostle Yakov (anglicized as James) became the head of the Christian body in its infancy. The center of the Christian Church was the temple until 66 AD-the Jewish Revolt, which was followed by the destruction of the temple by Titus in 70 AD. The Jewish Revolt in 66 AD was about Jewish culture. So, the question lingers how would Jews have received Christ unless he had embraced his/their culture. And now, the Christian Church seeks to strip him of that historical and scriptural truth. Apostles Peter and Paul had the same vision and revelation. Note Acts 9 (Paul’s conversion) and Acts 10 (Peter’s transformation), but in Galatians 2 Paul rebuked Peter because he didn’t associate/fellowship with the Gentiles, especially during communion. Peter kept a Jewish tradition not to sit with the Gentiles (during communion) when discussing the covenant but he had been commanded to make the body of Christ one. Apostle Paul directly challenged that cultural norm, specifically since it went against the mandate to make Jews and Gentiles one—joint heirs through Christ Yahshua. Note: Full study notes on this topic can be found in part 1 of this word: Warring Titans of the Faith. In Acts 22, Apostle Paul is making his defense. Recall Apostle Yakov’s plan laid out in Acts 21:21-29. From scripture we learn that everywhere Apostle Paul went, figuratively speaking, he overturned tables. He frequently sparked an uprising or tumult in his wake. It’s time for us to cast off the norms perceived by the Christian Body, which are not rooted in scripture. Manhood today is viewed as militant. Too many pastors today demand of other men in the church to obey blindly and to betray independent, free will thinking. The body of Christ is being taken advantage of (molested) by a spirit that is not of Christ. Christ was not a gentleman. Historically, the term was used to describe an almost covert politeness in order to kill your enemies unawares. We’ve defined Christianity from the perspective of being a gentleman and “politeness.” The only time when Christ turned the other cheek is when he was being crucified. Otherwise, he had a mission and purpose to carry out. Christ was a revolutionary. The hardest truth to perceive or understand is the truth that is before you. If your faith is not influencing the people around you—or politics then your faith is dead. For example, EliYah was directed to go to the king and tell him it wasn’t going to rain for 3 years. Your faith works when it makes a better livelihood for you, your family, and your community: your future. Yakov (James) 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Ean me : if, unless, whoever Echo: to have, hold (in the hand or in the sense of wearing), possess in the mind Ergon: business, employment, enterprise, industry Even though Yakov was known as the Just he didn’t rescue Apostle Paul when he came to him. That’s why Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy, “All have forsaken me…” It was the destruction of the Jewish Temple that enabled the nascent Christian faith to grow. While the Temple stood there were disputes in the body of Christ between Jewish and Gentile believers. Yakov’s only insight into the faith of Christianity was as a Jew. But Yakov pacified the crowd, seeking to win the Jewish majority. Rather, Apostle Paul stood firm in his convictions and taught unity across cultures. If you minister to people’s feelings and emotions and not the Holy Spirit, you will fail; you become enslaved to the soulish realm when you were called higher into that which is higher, which is spiritual. Scriptures: Yakov 2:2 Acts 13:1- 11 v42-52 Acts 14:1, 19-20 Study words: Leitourgeo: to serve the state at one’s own cause, to assume an office administered at one’s own expense Aphorizo: to mark off from others by boundaries Your ministry marks off a boundary. Ergon (work) is what the Holy Spirit sets you apart to do. You receive your work through faith. Through fasting and prayer you’ve heard from the Holy Spirit. Faith comes by hearing so you can walk in your ministry. The Apostles knew that Apostle Paul would be killed but none went to rescue him. The Church may not always agree but when you’re right, Christ is always on your side. You are the deciding factor in your life, meaning there’s no other option but for your faith to work. When you wear your faith, communities will be changed. True faith brings conviction. Conviction brings action. Action makes something happen. Acts 15:1-5 Galatians 2:1-3 Christians will not always agree but we are commanded to always wear our faith. When you wear your faith you put your faith to work and then others will know your calling and purpose. #Bishop
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 05:43:59 +0000
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