FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHURCH
July 1, 2010
by Jennifer Rosenburg – Dallas, TX, USA Age: 27
Blessings to the Body of Christ. I am writing this to you all as a gift from my heart. I cannot think of anything more important to bless someone with than the Word of God, the Perfect Life-giving Word that can transform you from the inside out. I believe there is Eternal Life in his Word. I want to start with why I believe that and move onto the proper foundation that the Lord Jesus Christ has established for the giving and receiving of the word.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
How did He create? Through his Word.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He is the word. What is His name?
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
He is revealing Himself from the beginning of his Word til the end. And that means He is revealing you as well.
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
So God was in the beginning, the Word, and all creation… And through the Word which created all, He is recreating us. He is the head and we are the body. And He is revealing himself and us through the revelation of his Word… He is revealing the mystery of God to us. Notice that what he is revealing has been hidden in him since the beginning.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
So the church was dead, and now is being awakened, a new beginning, by His Word, which was hidden in Him.
Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
So now in just a few scriptures, if you take the time to read them and ask the Spirit to quicken your heart, you will see that since the beginning God has had things or a word hidden in Him, which He wants to reveal to us, and that word is Jesus Christ. He is hidden all through the Word, He is the Word, and He is unveiling Himself to us, He is the mystery being revealed. Now how important is it to us Body of Christ to understand these mysteries and find who is teaching them????? It is very important.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
So now I hope these above scriptures have obtained a proper foundation so that I can build upon it with these next passages I plan to write to you. My heart is to show you that the Lord does have a proper foundation in which He builds the church upon, and I pray all will come into alignment with what the Word of God says that foundation is.
I pray all can put away all carnal views of man, and when you see a person moving in the revelation of the mystery of God, despite your view on these people as merely human, you will say to yourself, though they may be still human (carnal), there is something spiritual, the Spirit of God, Life, speaking through them. Choose not to dwell on what you interpret as wrong in moral character according to your perception, but choose to come into submission to the Will and Word of the Lord, the proper foundation, and realize that you may obtain Life through Christ Jesus by doing so.
A lot of people have a hard time submitting to authority. Even if a man is speaking the hidden wisdom of God. Usually this rebellion of authority has nothing to do with the man itself, but stems back to issues and rebellion with ones own natural parents or authority. But when it comes to our salvation, it is time to put away child things, and move forward and come into alignment with the authority God himself put over us to lead us into life. I personally believe God uses eldership just to reveal rebellion in us, for if their was no authority put over us, how would we even know we had rebellion in us. Even as a mother I am put in a place to teach my children. They see all sides of me. They see me upset, mad, happy, worshipping, praying, preaching, crying out, living and dying. They see the good, the bad and the ugly. But no matter what they see, and whether they agree, like it or not, they are my children, they still have to listen to me, and I still know whats best for them.
I first want to point out a few things that the Apostles did when they opened their epistles written to the Body of Christ.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you, the nations; since I am the apostle of the nations, I glorify my ministry;
1Co 1:1 Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1Co 9:2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in miracles and in wonders, and by works of power.
Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
1Ti 2:7 To this I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie), a teacher of the nations, in faith and truth.
Here you see in these scriptures that not only did Paul start his letters proclaiming his title, he also said where it came from, the Lord, not man! He stated that only through that did he wrought miracles, and he states that he speaks to nations. He clearly made it known to the people at the beginning of his epistles the position he held, who gave it to him, and the power that came with it for miracles.
Was Paul bragging by doing this? Not so. Did he do this for a reason, yes he did. his messages following his opening statements are all apostolic messages.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, having been unvoiced during eternal times;
He calls it “his gospel”, the revelation Jesus showed him was an apostolic revelation, from the Apostle Jesus Christ himself.
Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, called to be partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus,
So we see Jesus is an Apostle, so their must be an apostolic message to the body. Meaning it has to come out of apostolic men and women. Could this be the foundation the Lord builds his church upon?
Psa 118:22 The Stone which the builders refused has become the Head of the corner.
Mat 21:42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, “The stone which the builders rejected, this One has become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”
Act 4:11 This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner.
1Pe 2:6 Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed.”
God is putting this stone in you.
Eph 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord;
Eph 2:22 in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.
Lets see this one more time:
Eph 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
So the Lord is clearly showing us that the church is built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets. Not evangelists, pastors and teachers! He said apostles and prophets. And this speaks of Jesus Christ himself. The scripture even says Jesus was an apostle and a prophet. So the messages He is sending to build his church, should be coming through apostles and prophets.
How blessed are we that the Lord sent an Apostle/Prophet into our midst… Michael Petro! Like Paul, one who builds upon Jesus, the mystery, and the unveiling of Him (the revelation of Him).
Should we turn from this and go back into a dead religious system built on the wrong foundation that has no life to give us, or should we follow this narrow path, that only few find, that leads to life.
Heb 13:7 Remember those leading you, who have spoken to you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct:
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.
Heb 13:9 Do not be carried about with different and strange doctrines, for it is good for the heart to be established with grace, not with foods, in which those who have walked in them were not helped.
2Ki 6:19 And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.
2Ki 6:20 And it happened when they came into Samaria, Elisha said, Jehovah, open the eyes of these men so that they may see. And Jehovah opened their eyes, and they saw. And behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly, and not after the teaching which he received from us.
2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us. For we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you,
2Th 3:8 neither did we eat any man’s bread freely, but we worked with labor and travail night and day, so that we might not be heavy on any of you
2Th 3:9 (not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example to you, to imitate us).
I want you to notice in the above scriptures Paul talks about that they did not behave disorderly and that’s why you should follow them, the Apostles.
Lets take a look at the revelation on order, because this will show you whom you should follow and whom you should not. Lets let the word interpret itself in these next passages I am writing below. But let me first throw this out there, that Paul states that anyone who does not come into the order he preaches about, should have no company with the Saints that are moving in that order.
2Th 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word by this letter, mark that one and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
This reminds me of when Cain, a brother, received a mark. Yet you are not to have company with them, yet this is for the greater good, for their salvation, so that they may not stay in their disorder, but that they may see the error of their ways, see the fruit in your life that is not manifesting in their own, and come and turn back to the way, the narrow way, in which God ordained to bring them into the Glory.
Lets just talk about this order first shall we.. this is the way which the apostles speak, bringing you into order.
The word for “word” in the Hebrew is Strongs number H1697. Here it the definition from the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible:
Strongs #H1697: AHLB#: 2093 (N)
Order/Word: An arrangement or placement of something creating order. [from: rd - order]
Speak: A careful arrangement of words or commands. [freq. 1488] (vf: Paal, Niphal, Hiphil, Hitpael, Pual, Piel) |kjv: speak, say, talk, promise, tell, commune, pronounce, utter, command| {str: 1696}
Word: An arrangement of words.
Thing: As something that is arranged. In Hebrew thought words contain substance just as physical objects do.
I would like to highlight that this Word speaks of ORDER…
So God wants to put his Word, or Order into you. That could be why Paul was so adamant about saying that anyone who was in disorder should have no company with the saints. For to eat of order (Gods Word), and disorder (mans word), would be mixing the seed. Babylon means a mixture. God does not want us partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (a mixed tree). He has so graciously placed a tree of LIFE in the center of the garden (us) for us to eat from. The Spirit, the seed, makes that tree grow and produce fruit so we can feed others the fruit of our lips and give them life.
Your lips will either bring someone into order, or disorder… and God commands this:
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Ecc 12:9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Isa 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
Luk 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
1Co 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Let this order, or word, produce Christ in us. So we may be partakers of the first fruits of many brethren, which is Jesus.
Now please lets take this concept of Order back to Genesis and see how we can have a “genesis again” (regeneration) by it.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
So we already know that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God. And it created all things (including us) by His word, and by His word He is recreating us into a new creation, one that looks like the bride groom, an equally yoked bride. Only by a perfect word can a perfect bride be created. But what is interesting here is that God divided the light from the darkness. It brought me back to when Paul said have no company with those in disorder. I will explain this more. I just want to go to something John said first.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
We see that the Light was a spiritual light in Genesis since it was created before the sun moon and stars were created. This Light, was the Word, was Jesus. And when we are born of this light, we are children of light.
We are born by a seed, the seed is the word Jesus said, so this Word which was received should bring us into the light, to be partakers of the light.
What does light mean, because according to the above scriptures it has to have something to do with Jesus and the Word.
Keep in mind the word for “word” in Hebrew meant order. And Paul speaks of us coming into Order, by the Word and he himself makes that comparison.
I am showing you one part of the definition for light, Strongs number H216, from the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible.
Strongs #216: AHLB#: 1020-J (N)
Order/Box: Boxes are used to store items and keep them in order. Light is also necessary for order.
It speaks of order. Also a box. I am not surprised. In the Azusa street revivals in the 1950s the preacher would put a box over his head, and when he did this the glory would be revealed, when he stopped doing this, the glory left.
The Lord was showing us through even that parable, that he wants to put his light, his word in our head, our box.
The Hebrew letters for this word light are aleph (ox head) and resh (mans head). Ox is not only symbolic of God, but of the apostle.
Deu 25:4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward.
The Ox, the Apostles, are sowing in you Spiritual things. What are they sowing in you? The mind of Christ. The Light, the Seed, the Word, Jesus. God wants to fill your box with light, with revelation, and make you partakers of the Light, children of the light, sons of Light.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
When God said in Genesis the earth (you) was without form and void, that word “void” speaks of an empty box that needs to be filled. It is Strongs number H922 and here is definition from Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible:
Strongs #922: AHLB#: 1028-J (r)
Need/Box: An empty space needing to be filled.
and the word for “form” H8414 means confusion and waste:
Strongs #8414: AHLB#: 1488-J (r)
Ignore: To consider something of no value, a waste. [freq. 1] (vf: Hiphil) |kjv: limited| {str: 8428}
Astonish: A feeling of waste. [freq. 1] |kjv: astony| {str: 8429}
Waste: A barren place. Also vanity as a state of waste. [freq. 20] |kjv: vain, vanity, confusion, without, wilderness, nought, nothing, empty, waste| {str: 8414}
1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Why is God not the author of confusion. Because He does not want you to have an empty box or earth without form and void. He wants to put His seed word, His light in you.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
God is an Author, you are the epistle He is writing His signature in. His word, His light, is His name, and it is the name He is writing in you.
God does this through Apostles and Prophets. They speak light, revelation. Anything built on any other foundation is not God. It is confusion, mixture, Babylon. It’s a divided house that cannot stand.
So with this all said, I pray everyone can honour the Prophet the Lord has sent into our midst to bring us into order, light, revelation. The Prophet sent to present us to the Lord as a perfect Bride.
Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
2Co 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Apostles present the Bride to Jesus. Anything else would be them preaching another Jesus. Lets get the confusion out of the Body of Christ. Let a Bride rise up that will reveal the Glory of her husband Christ Jesus to the nations of the world.
Lets get Light in our box.
Now I just want to clarify all that I am saying with some more scriptures, line upon line and precept upon precept. I’d like us to take a look at the word “secret” which is the Hebrew word “sod”. I choose to look at this word, because Paul preached the secrets-mysteries, and that is the foundation he built the church upon, and the same one we should be building churches upon today. I will also include the scriptures to show that as well if you continue to read below with wisdom and understanding.
Job 15:8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
The word “secret” here is Strongs number H5475:
BDB Definition:
1) council, counsel, assembly
1a) council (of familiar conversation)
1a1) divan, circle (of familiar friends)
1a2) assembly, company
1b) counsel
1b1) counsel (itself)
1b2) secret counsel
1b3) familiar converse, intimacy (with God)
This is the same definition God uses for mystery in the New Testament in the following scriptures.
1Co 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Luk 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
So we can clearly see if was a gift given to Paul to preach the mysteries, a level of understanding that comes by great intimacy with God, as you can see in the definition of sod (see 1b3). What I really like about the definition of sod/mystery, is that in the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible it speaks of a “field” and also “a foundation”. Jesus said the seed is the word, so it makes sense that He is sowing it in a field. Also that the foundation of the church is built on this concept. Jesus sowing His seed word into us. The light causing the darkness to flee, making us children of the Light.
Here is the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible definition for secret:
Strongs #5475: AHLB#: 1326-J (N)
Level/Field: A level piece of ground for planting crops or setting up tents or structures. (eng: sod)
Stocks: A level beam for holding the feet prisoners. [freq. 2] |kjv: stocks| {str: 5465}
Foundation: A level place. [freq. 1] |kjv: foundation| {str: 4527}
You can go to that strongs number yourself to obtain the full definition.
So now we can clearly see why Jesus was talking and connecting his preaching of mysteries to foundations in the following verses.
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Exo 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psa 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The Rock, the Lord, He is our salvation, He is the Light, He is the Word, He is the mystery being revealed by the Holy Apostles and Prophets, He is the Chief Cornerstone the church is to be built upon.
Do not build on a false foundation, and if you have, pray for a prophet like Jerimiah to come and tear down and rebuild.
Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
I thank God for an Apostle/Prophet sent by God to raise me up as a symbolic son of the light, and a Bride to the Lord Jesus Christ.
With love to the body, blessings and Amen.