The People of God
In every generation, from creation to the end of this
world as we know it, there is a “remnant” of the people which is called to the
place and the commission I am speaking about in this series (see previous post). Since Pentecost, this people has been known
as “the Ecclesia” — God’s called-out ones.
The early people of God (Israel Israel 2:24 , echoing Isaiah 52 and Ezekiel 36:22,
puts it bluntly: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you.”
However, through prophetic ministry, He always had the ‘few’ (sometimes a whole
army: Ezekiel 37; sometimes thousands: 1 Kings 19:18) who walked in holiness before
Him.
“I say then, God
has not rejected His people, has He? May
it never be! For I too am an Israelite,
a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He
foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
‘Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS,
THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY
LIFE.’ But what is the divine response
to him? ‘I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE
TO BAAL.’ In the same way then, there
has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the
basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Romans 11:1-6.
Up to this time, the people of God were Jews. However, the New Covenant which God set up at
Pentecost now included Gentiles. The
people of God would now include all races (which was God’s plan in the
beginning). This was designed to make
the Jews jealous so they would repent.
Thus the picture would be complete.
(Refer Romans 9 to 11.)
There is however a major hiccup! The “new” people of God have, like Israel
Against this darkness, stands the truth of Ephesians
5:25-27 that Jesus intends to “make [the Ecclesia] holy, cleansing her by
the washing with water through the word (rhema), and to present her to himself
as a radiant ecclesia, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy
and blameless.”
This process is what comes between the darkness and
sadness of the present and the light and life of the picture painted for us in
Revelation of the glorious bride for the Groom. This is where the ‘Church’
stands today. And this is precisely the
place and the time for five-fold ministry, and especially apostolic and prophetic
ministry, which will do for the people of God today what we see pictured in
Ezekiel 37 in the valley of dry bones — raise up a mighty army.
So these are positive things we can say:
ü God has clearly stated His ultimate goal in the world:
ü God has clearly stated His ultimate goal in the world:
“To
unite all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even
Christ”. AND “to
destroy the work of the evil one”.
ü In order to achieve that, in His wisdom, He has some clear intentions revealed for our education in scripture:
ü In order to achieve that, in His wisdom, He has some clear intentions revealed for our education in scripture:
“To
make [the Ecclesia] holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the
word (rhema), and to present her to himself as a radiant ecclesia, without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
To have for
Himself “a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
To have in this time “...true worshippers
who will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth”.
ü
The commission He has given to the Ecclesia
is to co-operate with Him in achieving these things by discipling the nations
and teaching the good news of the kingdom of God.
Having made these positive statements, we can now make this negative one: The people of God is not a ‘soft-shoe brigade’ trying to make the most of a bad situation without upsetting too many people.
Be back soon - Kevin.
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