<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">May 27, 2011</p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><b>C.
MATURITY - CITY CHURCH & ELDERSHIP - May 26, 2011</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><b>1.
MATTHEW 16:18 (16:13-20) THE CHURCH: BELONGS TO JESUS. “And I
also say unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this :rock I will
build my :church and <i>the</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (NNT). </span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">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 </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">we
belong</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to Him! And the “counsels” of hell will </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">not</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
prevail against Christ's Church! </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">2.
MATTHEW 18:15-17 THE CHURCH: SOLVES INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS. “And
if your :brother sin, go, reprove him between you and him alone: if
he hear you, you have gained your :brother. </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">16</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
But if he hear not, take with you one or two more, that at </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
mouth of two witnesses or three every word stand. </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">17</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
And if he refuse to hear them, tell the church: and if he refuse to
hear the church also, let him be to you as the Gentile and the
publican.” </span></span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">This
is the </span></span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">second</span></u></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
reference to </span></span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">church</span></u></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.
Here is a 4-fold manner in which to solve interpersonal problems -
and according to Jesus - this is the </span></span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">only</span></u></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
way for NT observant believers to solve such problems! </span></span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">3.
ACTS 13:1-3 THE CITY CHURCH: HAS AN ELDERSHIP IN ITS GATE. “Now
in the church that was at Antioch were prophets and teachers, both
:Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen
foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">2</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy :Spirit
said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I
have called them. </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">3</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Then, having fasted and prayed and laid the</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">ir</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
hands on them, they sent </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">them</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
away.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">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
</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">obeyed</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
the Word of the Spirit. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">4.
ACTS 15:22 (15:1-35) THE CHURCH & ELDERSHIP: JOINT DECISION.
“Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole
</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u>church</u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
to choose men out from them, </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">and</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
send </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">them</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
to Antioch with :Paul and Barnabas; Judas :called Barsabbas, and
Silas, chief men among the brethren.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">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! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Our
:daily :bread give us this day.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5.
RUTH 4:1 (4:1-21) THE OT CITY ELDERSHIP. “Now Boaz went up to
the </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u>gate</u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
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). </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">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! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6.
REVELATION 2:7 (2:1-7) SEVEN CHURCHES: SPOKEN TO BY THE SPIRIT.
“Who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat of the tree of
:life, which is in the Paradise of :God. </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">All
city churches should be listening to the voice of the Spirit. Pastor
Bob Birch of Canada thoroughly understood this. </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">Overcomers</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
in each city church emerge as individuals who hear (which implies
obedience) the Word of the Spirit. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">7.
1 CORINTIANS 16:19 (16:19-24) THE CHURCH: CAN ALSO LOCALLY BE IN A
HOME. “The </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u>churches</u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
of :Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Lord, with the </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u>church</u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
in their house.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">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. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">But
deliver us from the evil one!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<u><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">NOTE</font></b></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>:
</b></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">The
City Church with its Eldership in the Gate - is </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">the
Pedestal</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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 </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">support</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
His Word: </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">specifically</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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
</span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">not</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
in the Aramaic text. It is not in the Hebrew translation of the NT.
God for His own purposes and according to </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">His
own</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
counsel, has determined to set it in this particular product. God's
Numerics - not the Anglicans Westcott and Hort - established this
text.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">There
is much confusion in this area, with many divergent theories and
opinions. God is the final adjudicator! And we have His verdict
through </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">His</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
Numeric phenomenon.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Back
to the Church - God's Pedestal for His Word! It comes from the Greek
word ek-kl</span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">e</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">SIa,
which appears 114 times in the NT. Once in Acts 7 it refers to </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">Israel</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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 - </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">81
times</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
concerning the City Church! Revelation 2 and 3 contain 14 of these 81
references to the City Church.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">It
is important that we have </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">God's</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
perspective on these teachings. It matters little to us who is right
or wrong - it only matters that </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">our
God's</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
perspective is allowed to be predominant. Let God say what </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">He</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
wants to say - and let the Bible mean what </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">it</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">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</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><b>SPECIAL</b></u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>:
“I Have Never Forgotten You” - </b></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">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 </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration: none;">Simon
Wiesenthal</span></b><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.
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. - </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration: none;">1
hr. 45 min. 2006</span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">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</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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