Open Letter to the Church

by Brother Jeffrey Keith

Matthew 20:28 reveals the purpose of the people of the Kingdom. The object of the new testament writings is to reveal life. It is fortunate that we have so much error in the first century gentile churches or we would have much less information to work with to map out our positions towards life more abundant.

I want to return to the subject of what the first century churches were all about but first consider some of the background of why it appears confusing as to what we should actually be doing in and for the rest of the world.

Consider the case of Phillip in Acts 8; in verse 35 we see Phillip opening up the message of the Kingdom, from the only scripture that existed i.e.: the old testament, to the Ethiopian who had the charge of all Ethiopia's treasure, as he started for home after he had come to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. What we don't get expounded to us is a start to finish exposition that would allow us the same sort of background to help us lead someone to the culmination of understanding the Kingdom that Phillip was able to do for the Ethiopian. Verse 36 is exposition of the result of that culmination to the illumination of scripture that Phillip supplied the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian then took that knowledge back to Candace's court of the Ethiopians and we have the Jewish black church of Ethiopia following the ways of the Kingdom. But we have no more info about what they we doing directly. Why did the info lead to his baptism and what was included in all that exposition that must have taken place to get from Esaias the prophet to baptism?

The same sort of scenario exists for much of the new testament when addressing the new gentile churches. We are given a situation arising in a particular church which is then often addressed incompletely or inadequately, yet the new testament is the only place we can expect direction in any question of procedure in the church for the following reasons:

1; Gentile churches are the only ones being addressed in the new testament. Jews already know the ways of the Kingdom from the scriptures, example Phillip tutoring the Ethiopian. This statement may cause a check in the spirit because of church doctrine but look at the letters written and contained within the new testament.

2; With the exception of the Gospels, possibly the book of Hebrews and maybe Revelation, the letters are all letters of correction addressing issues and abuses in the gentile churches. The Hebrew or Jews do not have these problems.

Thankfully we have these pagan, gentile churches screwing up so bad or we, not having the Jewish background of Phillip or Saul and not having the message of the restored Kingdom directly given to us from the one appointed and appointing that Kingdom, would know little or nothing about the Kingdom. We would not to be able to understand the position of the present day church real time. With a lot of work though that message is available to us today.

I want to continue future posts along these lines as long as I am able. Some things are becoming much more clear to me these days. Please question everything that is unclear to you. I cannot speak authoritatively because I cannot deal with classical Greek which is the period of the new testament although koine Greek was the vernacular. I can work with the Hebrew text from its original but unless a man can use the original he cannot be taken authoritatively. The info I supply can be used to weigh against other data.

I get the chance to face death before some of you and in that I am able to synopsize my life somewhat like this; We spend time under authority, to learn from them, later on some authority is presumed and we spend time understanding the presumptions as they relate to Kingdom, all the while at the same time learning the nature of the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. It is going to be a pleasure for me to face what is ahead knowing that maybe I can encourage or help the rest of the church advance the Kingdom through what I've gleaned or learned.

To continue along the lines of what we can learn through the mistakes of the pagan gentile churches consider the Corinthian church. We would know very little about the work of the Spirit of Him without the corrections Paul addresses in his letters.

The old testament gives us a view of the many manifestations of His Spirit in the names of Yah and in examples such as Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

This particular event shows the same manifestation of His Spirit recorded on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, (old testament), and when they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, (new testament). Malachi 3:6 out of context but revealing Deuteronomy 6:4 for our admonition and stability in what is the nature of Yah.

There are many more examples to reveal His nature as consistent throughout the old and new testament and Paul is pointing out the manifestation of His Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

I point out the obscure or occluded to begin to point to the fact that we can manifest His Spirit and arrive at 1 Corinthians 12:7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal and is part and parcel to the Kingdom and its presentation.

At this point the question begs for why you, Jeffrey, are sitting in a wheelchair with adno carcinoma eating up your spine as you type the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The working of miracles is a manifestation of His Spirit and that is why we are working together. So that you may help me to correct the conundrums and paradox that I put before Him that keeps me from Him and together we can manifest His Spirit to the benefit of the body. Not to benefit me only in the area of healing but for the Kingdom, for the result of the governing of the body to profit all. Your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Understand yourself and the nature of Him, then understand where you function in the community. Manifestation then follows to confirm the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Paul is addressing spirituals in these letters. The word gifts is added and tangents or parallels the nature of Him working within and through the body. With verse five we begin to see the structure that allows Him to move within that body. 1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

So what are the functions? What are the different parts of the body? The manifestation is given to all but every circumstance demands a different emphasis dependant upon the given need. If I knew my place within, I would then be able to better discern the need of another and if I knew where that one fit the body I would better intuite his need or his ability to help me as well.

So from 1 Corinthians 12:4 we are introduced to, (5486 charisma), gifts and verse 5-6 to, (1248 diakonia), administrations (that break it down that we may know how to benefit and serve the body). And in verse 6,(1755 energema), or the action and power of His spirit that is revealed in manifestation, (5321 phanerosis), of His spirit of verse 7.

Now you must know somewhat of the whole of the nature of Him to be able to glean from the letters of Paul and reveal our nature to serve. To reveal the, (5486 charisma), gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:4, go to Romans 12:6 and see the seven motivations that are (5486 charisma), gifts. Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling and mercy.

Go to 1 Corinthians 12:28 to see, (1248 diakonia), and the serving functions that serve community. Apostiles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, governments, divers tongues/interpretations, pastor/evangelist. So 11 possibly 10 when you put the two or more witnesses together and find their original beginning in the old testament.

Then we must return to 1 Corinthians 12:7 to find the manifestation, (5321 phanerosis), of His power, (1755 energema). Wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, healings, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.

So what we find is that Paul was revealing spiritual things, the moving and action of the body, and all the motivations that allow the body to serve one another. Not knowing the nature of Him and therefore our nature hindered us causing us to dismiss 1 Corinthians 12 for anything more than phenomena that happens rarely or on special occasions instead of real time all the time, Him in us the hope of glory. Which in turn gives us no clue to what we should be to the body. Hopefully this, clear as mud study, will eventually lead to something that will help someone to better understand the nature of Him and therefore their place in the body.

As a side issue; Making a name for ourselves ... Genesis 11:4 ... let us make us a name ... There is a pattern to decrease to allow the source of life to increase. John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. John understood, as least in the Kingdom, Luke 7:28 Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

The decrease exists in the nature of who man is. Named by His nature, in Him image, discerning both good and evil. He then works through the body thus: Luke 22:26 ... he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

This is the government that is upon His shoulders. It exists real time and is evident in His Kingdom. Mark 16:20 ... Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

There is another government based on Luke 22:26 The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. It also has signs that follow it and the nature of the name that defines it. It can be defined as good and evil. It is of an opposing nature to life. Both the good that exists within that government and the bad within stem from the tree of knowledge of good and evil not from the tree of life from which the Kingdom source of Life exists.

Man was 'breathed' Life and became a thing alive. He took knowledge, couldn't handle it, and became other than the nature of Life. He was atoned, (made one with the Source of Life), with blood temporarily (yet existing eternally - paradoxical - for the nature of law is forever) through Law. Temporarily atoning every year until one again took on the nature of the Source.

1 Corinthians 15:45 ... the last adam was made a quickening spirit ... The nature of the Source is in the naming of adam but life is distributed through the decrease to unity with that Source. The last adam became the doorway to that decrease and within the Kingdom lies the government to operate in liberty and therefore in unity with the Source of Life.

We don't have the excuse of not knowing His nature; Exodus 3:15 ... this is my name for ever ... The first adam made in the exact image and likeness knew the name of Life. The last adam restored that name for all who will. The early fathers did not have the ability to discern both good in evil in the the tree of knowledge, and overcome, to form a government of liberty where each man did what was right in his own eyes. The early fathers had to be taught the nature of the Source until the last adam took up that nature and delivered Life to men. Exodus 6:3 ... And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them ... Life appeared to the fathers as creator and creation, Elohim (God Almighty translated Adonoi in AV), but revealed that part of His nature as covenant maker to Abraham. Genesis 15:18 ... the LORD made a covenant with Abram ... The source of Life is revealed in all the many aspects that we anthromorphize into the word God. Then instead of us rising to the nature of Life, we will not discern both the good and evil, we make a name for ourselves and die.

The Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey, (Lord -Jehovah), contains the nature of I am in covenant within the Kingdom. We make that Kingdom available to all who will by keeping the door and brushing the path. Yes their is other government available, take it if you will, but liberty exists in my decrease. The source increases through the government of the Kingdom and the study of 1 Corinthians 12 will help us see those that have the ability to steer towards that Kingdom government discerning both good and evil but choosing the Source and producing life.

The government of the church appointed unto Yeshua, (Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;) has its titular headship and organization within the community. Each family head of house (continued from firstborn on) constituting the structure for the body to supply the community. This information is expounded by Paul in his letters to the Gentile churches of the new testament. The info is, (providing correction of abuses not dogma), brief. We are removed from much of the information to successfully evaluate own individual position, motivation or function in the body. We are hindered for the same reasons that the Gentile churches were. The Gentile churches were being corrected and informed by Paul, (of and with the whole of the info or in person, as function became apparent or need arose only), to just anticipate damage. The organization of each ,community, as far as structure ritually by individual body member function, needs an in depth study into resources contemporary with and outside the bible proper because the letters of correction are given to align abuses back into true structure in the perfect law of liberty, Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth...

The whole of the info is contained again in the nature of who He is and who we are in His exact image and likeness. That exact image and likeness is rarely manifested except in the working together in unity. John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Mat 16:18 ... I will build my church ... What did happen that the Kingdom was not manifest as individual priests and community in the times of the temple before Yeshua came and what, if anything changed with Yeshua bringing the message of unity of Spirit and body? It can be seen that He worked within, dwelt within and filled people throughout old and new testament, (Num.11:24, 27:18, Job 33:4), ... so He is working throughout the ages to what?

A community is autonomous and no one dictates doctrine so what is the original baseline or starting point for reference? Of course the answer begins in knowing the nature of Him and therefore our nature (being in His image). The answer, if you will, is fulfilled in a functioning body but started or starts where to move towards Luke 3:6?

Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. This is a continuation of the culmination of what was began by those who knew His nature working through His people. (Exo 14:13 ... Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day 2Ch 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you

. ... All, infers those in that same image in unity as priests. (1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him)

Yet there is no obvious, recognizable organism manifesting and functioning in the same pattern mentioned in 1Co 12:1 during the temple period and the periods that we have info for. You see a priesthood ministering but the people are few and far between. Prophets, judges and deliverers appear such as Samsom, Deborah, Elisha et all but the community at large must use the priesthood to initiate atonement. That was not the plan nor the pattern we find existing in the Kingdom manifest today.

Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation ... is 1 Pet 2:9 a royal priesthood,an holy nation. So the pattern is there from old and a priest is one who draws near to Him but Exodus 20 gets in the way of the fulfillment then and in the body today as well as through ignorance of spirituals (1 Cor 12).

Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

So the tabernacle was instituted with the Levites as priests through the intercession of Moses on behalf of a fearful people. But Exo 25:8 ... And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. ... reveals the Kingdom purpose of 1 Pet 2:9. Exo 25:8 has a physical temple structure connotation because of sanctuary (H4720 miqdash) but it is the word dwell (that I may dwell H7931 shakan) that reveals 1 Pet 2:9.

Sanctuary (H4720 miqdash) denotes a physical structure and the word dwell (that I may dwell H7931 shakan) indicates inhabit. Such as the glory or shekinah that dwells between the wings of the mercy seat in the tabernacle inhabiting the temple. But that is not what Exo 25:8 says in the Hebrew. It says (Ve assuli mikdash ve shekante betoken) And make me a tabernacle and I will have my dwelling place in them ... Now everything in the sanctuary will point to Him, the anti-type for the type.

So where is the concept of indwelling put forth in the Kingdom appointed? We see the Jews not understanding this concept of unity and indwelling in John 2:18 ... Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? :19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ...

Joh 2:15 uses the Greek word for temple (G2411 hieron) but Jesus uses the Greek word (G3485 naos) meaning the temple of his body (verse :21). 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple (G3485 naos) of the Holy Ghost ... The body is the sanctuary of Spirit. 2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple (G3485 naos) of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people ... He said that in Ex 25:8 but indwelling is crucial to understand who I am, my gift, function in the body, the duty of the church, etc. in order to bestow His love and inheritance as part of royal priesthood. I have certain capibilities to offer up spiritual sacrifices and have certain charisma, (spiritual gifts), so that I may offer these sacrifices.

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Other articles:

Higher Biblical Criticism by Brother Jeffrey
Seeds of the Kingdom by Brother Jeffrey
Gnosticism by Brother Jeffrey