City Church & Eldership

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

March 2, 2012


 *C. MATURITY - CITY CHURCH & ELDERSHIP - May 26, 2011*


 *1. MATTHEW 16:18 (16:13-20) THE CHURCH: BELONGS TO JESUS.*

f. 16:18 JESUS REVEALS THE FOUNDATION AND TRIUMPH OF HIS CHURCH

*And I also say unto you, that you are Peter,*

ka' 'G*O* DE soi LEg*o*, HOti su ei PEtros [4074],

*and upon this :rock I will build my :church*

kai ePI TAUt*e* t*e* PEtra [4073] oi-ko-doM*E*s*o* [3618] mou t*e*n
ek-kl*e*SIan
[1577]

*and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.*

kai PUlai [4439] HAdou [86] ou ka-tiSCHUsou-sin [2729] auT*E*S.


 g. 16:19 THE AUTHORITY JESUS DELEGATES TO PETER AND DISCIPLES

*I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and whatever you
shall bind on the earth*

D*O*s*o* soi tas KLEIdas [2807] t*e*s ba-siLEIas [932] t*o*n ou-raN*O*N;
kai ho eAN D*E*s*e*s [1210] ePI t*e*s g*e*s

*shall be bound in the heavens; and whatever you shall loose*

EStai de-deMEnon en tois ou-raNOIS; kai ho eAN LUs*e*s [3089]

*on the earth shall be loosed in the heavens.*

ePI t*e*s g*e*s EStai le-luMEnon en tois ou-raNOIS.


 Here we see the first of 114 references to the word “church”. Again, the
rules of pedagogy cause us to consider carefully the insights from this
first reference. The church was purchased by Christ by His blood. Therefore
*we belong* to Him! And the “counsels” of hell will *not* prevail against
Christ's Church! *Hallowed be your :name.*


 *2. MATTHEW 18:15-17 THE CHURCH: SOLVES INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS.*

4. 18:15-17 THREE STAGES IN RESTORING A BROTHER

a. 18:15 HOW TO GAIN A SINNER: SEEK TO WIN HIM ALONE

*And if your :brother sin, go,*

E-AN de ha-marT*E*s*e* ho a-delPHOS sou, HUpa-ge,

*reprove him between you and him alone:*

Eleg-xon auTON me-taXU sou kai auTOU MOnou:

*if he hear you, you have gained your :brother.*

eAN sou aKOUs*e*, eKERd*e*-sas [2770] ton a-delPHON sou.


 b. 18:16 *ONLY* BRING OTHERS IN IF FIRST STEP FAILS.

*But if he hear not, take with you one or two more,*

eAN de m*e* aKOUs*e*, paRAla-be [3880] meTA sou Eti HEna *e* DUo,

*that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word stand.*

HIna ePI STOma-tos DUo marTUron [3144] e triON staTHE pan 'REma [4487].


 c. 18:17 ONLY TAKE DRASTIC THIRD STEP IF FIRST TWO FAIL

*And if he refuse to hear them, tell the church: and if he refuse to hear
the church also,*

eAN de pa-raKOUs*e* [3878] auT*O*N, eiPON t*e* ek-kl*e*SIa: eAN de kai t*e*s
ek-kl*e*SIas pa-raKOUs*e*,

*let him be to you as the Gentile and the publican.*

ESt*o* soi H*O*Sper ho eth-niKOS [1482] kai ho teL*O*n*e*s [5057].


 This is the *second* reference to *church*. Here is a 4-fold manner in
which to solve interpersonal problems - and according to Jesus - this is
the *only* way for NT observant believers to solve such problems! *Your
:kingdom come.*


 *3. ACTS 13:1-3 THE CITY CHURCH: HAS AN ELDERSHIP IN ITS GATE.*

XV. 13:1-14:28 SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH EXTENSION

A. 13:1-3 THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MISSIONS

a. 13:1 PROPHETS AND TEACHERS AT ANTIOCH

*Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets*

*E*san de en An-ti-oCHEIa kaTA t*e*n OUsan ek-kl*e*SIan proPH*E*tai [4396]

*and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger,*

kai diDAska-loi [1320], ho te BarNAbas kai Su-me*O*N ho kaLOUme-nos NIger,

*and Lucius of Cyrene, *kai LOUki-os ho Ku-r*e*NAIos,

*and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.*

 Ma-na*E*N te H*e*R*O*dou tou teTRAar-chou SUNtro-phos, kai SAUlos.


 b. 13:2 WORSHIP AND FASTING RELEASES THE HOLY SPIRIT

*And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,*

lei-tourGOUNt*o*n [3008] de auT*O*N t*o* KuRI*o*, kai n*e*-steuONt*o*n
[3522],

*the Holy :Spirit said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul*

EIpen to PNEUma to HAgi-on, A-phoRIsa-te [873] d*e* moi ton BarNAban kai
SAUlon

*for the work unto which I have called them.*

eis to ERgon ho proSKEkl*e*-mai [4341] auTOUS.


 c. 13:3 MISSIONARY COMMISSIONING

*Then, having fasted *TOte, n*e*STEUsan-tes

*and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.*

 kai pro-seuXAme-noi [4336] kai e-piTHENtes tas CHEIras auTOIS, aPElu-san.


  Each City Church in NT times had its Eldership in the Gate of its city,
just as did Bethlehem in the OT. The 5-fold Eldership of prophets and
teachers waited on God - had the Word of the Spirit - fasted - and
*obeyed*the Word of the Spirit.
*Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.*


 *4. ACTS 15:22-26 (15:1-35) THE CHURCH & ELDERSHIP: JOINT DECISION.*

2. 15:22-29 SCRIPTURAL ACTION FOLLOWING A DECISION

a. 15:22-26 DELEGATES SENT WITH THIS CONCLUSION

*Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church,*

TOte Edo-xe tois a-poSTOlois kai tois pres-buTErois, sun HOl*e* t*e* ek-kl*e
*SIa,

*to choose men out from them,*

e-kle-xaMEnous ANdras ex auT*O*N,

*and send them to Antioch with :Paul and Barnabas: *

PEMpsai eis An-tiOchei-an sun t*o* PAUl*o* kai BarNAba:

*Judas :called Barsabbas, and Silas,*

IOUdan ton kaLOUme-non Bar-sabBAN, kai SIlan,

*chief men among the brethren: 23 and they wrote by their hand, *

ANdras h*e*-gouMEnous {2233] en tois a-delPHOIS: GRApsan-tes [1125] diA
cheiROS auT*O*N,

*The apostles and the elder brethren to the brethren*

Hoi aPOsto-loi kai hoi presBUte-roi a-delPHOI tois

*who are of the nations in :Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:*

kaTA t*e*n An-tiOchei-an kai SuRIan kai Ki-liKIan a-delPHOIS tois ex ethN*O*N,
CHAIrein:

*24 Forasmuch as we have heard that certain from among us*

E-peiD*E* *e*KOUsa-men HOti tiNES ex h*e*M*O*N

*have troubled you with words, subverting your :souls;*

eTAra-xan [5015] huMAS LOgois, e-na-skeuAzon-tes [384] tas psuCHAS huM*O*N;

*to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good to us, having come to
one accord,*

hois ou di-e-steiLAme-tha [1291]; Edo-xen h*e*MIN, ge-noMEnois
ho-mo-thu-maDON [3661],

*to choose out men *e-kle-xaMEnois ANdras

*and send them unto you with our :beloved Barnabas and Paul,*

PEMpsai pros huMAS sun tois a-ga-p*e*TOIS h*e*M*O*N BarNAba kai PAUl*o*,

*26 men that have hazarded their :lives*

anTHR*O*pois pa-ra-de-d*o*KOsi [3860] tas psuCHAS auT*O*N

*for the name of our :Lord Jesus Christ.*

huPER tou oNOma-tos tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N I*e*SOU ChrisTOU.


  Probably no greater controversy arose in the early church but that caused
by the “Judaizers”. The Book of Galatians was written by the Spirit through
Paul to address this problem. How satisfactory was the 4-fold solution
here! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.*


 *5. RUTH 4:1 (4:1-21) THE OT CITY ELDERSHIP. “Now Boaz went up to the gate,
and sat down there; and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came
by; unto whom he said, Ho, you! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned
aside, and sat down” (ASV '01). *The cities of Israel from ancient times
had an Eldership in the Gate of their cities, with many synagogues within.
How important was their decision here. Boaz took precedence over the nearer
kinsman. David and David's Greater Son Jesus - came from this decision! *And
forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.*


 *6. REVELATION 2:7 (2:1-7) SEVEN CHURCHES: SPOKEN TO BY THE SPIRIT.*

*e. 2:7a **Who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.*

Ho Ech*o*n ous, a-kouSAt*o* [191] ti to PNEUma [4151] LEgei tais ek-kl*e*
SIais.


 f. 2:7b PROMISE TO OVERCOMERS – PARTAKERS OF THE TREE OF LIFE

*To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat of the tree of :life,*

T*o* niK*O*Nti [3528], D*O*s*o* auT*O* phaGEIN ek tou XUlou [3586] t*e*s z*o
*-*E*S [2222],

*which is in the Paradise of :God.*

ho es-tin en t*o* pa-raDEIs*o* [3857] tou TheOU.


  All city churches should be listening to the voice of the Spirit. Pastor
Bob Birch of Canada thoroughly understood this. *Overcomers* in each city
church emerge as individuals who hear (which implies obedience) the Word of
the Spirit. *And bring us not into temptation.*


 *7. 1 CORINTIANS 16:19 (16:19-24) THE CHURCH: CAN ALSO LOCALLY BE IN A
HOME.*

B. 16:19-24 CLOSING GREETINGS

1. 16:19-20 SALUTATIONS AND GREETINGS

*a. 16:19a The churches of :Asia salute you.*

AsPAzon-tai [782] huMAS hai ek-kl*e*SIai t*e*s A-SIas.


 *b. 16:19b Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church
in their house.*

asPAze-tai huMAS en KuRI*o* polLA A-KUlas kai PRISka, sun t*e* kat' OIkon
auT*O*N ek-kl*e*SIa.


  There are 14 local churches mentioned in the NT. Aquila and Priscilla led
3 of these in 3 city churches. The elder of each local church formed the
plural city church Eldership as seen in Acts 15. *But deliver us from the
evil one!*


 *NOTE**: *The City Church with its Eldership in the Gate - is *the Pedestal
* holding up God's Word: His Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT.
In the 1967 Vision I saw the City Churches with their Eldership as being
God's Pedestal to *support* His Word: *specifically* this Interlinear
product! We are not to be under any false illusions on this. It is God's
purpose that this unique Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen - hold
pre-eminence over all other NT texts and translations. The Numeric
Phenomenon marks it as being unique. It is *not* in the Aramaic text. It is
not in the Hebrew translation of the NT. God for His own purposes and
according to *His own* counsel, has determined to set it in this particular
product. God's Numerics - not the Anglicans Westcott and Hort - established
this text.


 There is much confusion in this area, with many divergent theories and
opinions. God is the final adjudicator! And we have His verdict through *His
* Numeric phenomenon.


 Back to the Church - God's Pedestal for His Word! It comes from the Greek
word ek-kl*e*SIa, which appears 114 times in the NT. Once in Acts 7 it
refers to *Israel* in the Wilderness; 3 times it refers to the secular city
of Ephesus (Acts 19:21-41); 14 times it refers to a church in the home such
as in 1 Corinthians 16:19; 15 times for the Universal Church: Jew and
Gentile in the One New Man for all time; but - *81 times* concerning the
City Church! Revelation 2 and 3 contain 14 of these 81 references to the
City Church.


 It is important that we have *God's* perspective on these teachings. It
matters little to us who is right or wrong - it only matters that *our God's
* perspective is allowed to be predominant. Let God say what *He* wants to
say - and let the Bible mean what *it* wants to mean. All of this will come
out in the wash upon the return of Christ Jesus - our Lord of lords and
King of kings.


 Roland Allen from England, missionary to China and Africa, author of
“Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?” and “The Spontaneous Expansion of
the Church” - had these two books placed in my hands in 1949 by Harry Conn
of Chicago, when I was attending Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.
These two books and the exhortation of Mr. Conn started me in the direction
that has led me to the above. Jim Watt


 *SPECIAL**: “I Have Never Forgotten You” - *Oscar winner Nicole Kedman
narrates this fascinating Tribeca Film Festival selection for documentarian
Richard Trank, who relays the remarkable story of architect turned Nazi
hunter *Simon Wiesenthal*. After losing nearly 90 family members in the
Holocaust and surviving a German deathcamp, Wiesenthal volunteered to help
the American War Crimes Unit track down war criminals on the lam, and went
on to find more that 1,000 of them. - *1 hr. 45 min. 2006*


 My wife Marie and I received the above from Netflix, and found it one of
the most outstanding documentaries on the Holocaust of all we have ever
viewed. In it Frederick Forsyth tells how he worked with Wiesenthal in
producing “The Odessa File”. Also, Anthony Hopkins recounts the outstanding
part Wiesenthal played in the production of Steven Spielberg's “Schindler's
List.” Added also is Wiesenthal's key part in the production of “The Boys
from Brazil”. It is a pity that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran could
not immerse himself in the truth of this - rather than the lies he walks
in. J & M



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