What (Who) Is the Real Church?

What (Who) Is the REAL Church?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The Church Is Not a Building, It's You!!!

Not many Christians think of themselves this way, but do you realize that you actually don't belong to you anymore?

You've actually been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.

God has bought you out of slavery, transformed you, anointed you, and positioned you in the Kingdom of God.

You do not belong to yourself. You belong to God.

When you start doing things your own way, that becomes rebellion against God.

You must learn to come out of agreement with that and understand that it is your reasonable service to "present yourself as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

The reason the Bible says it's your "reasonable service" is because God has done everything for you. He's done everything.

All you have to do is believe and then through faith, be obedient.

That's all you have to do, and that's a choice.

You need to come out of agreement with the old things holding you back.

For example, one thing that stops many people from operating in the gifts of the Spirit is fear.

You must come out of agreement with fear, compromise, complacency, and tolerance.

The Church is not a building.

Many Churches have fallen over a cliff because they were not being led by the Spirit and have placed the head under their arm, so to speak.

They are a body without a head.

You cannot put Christ under your arm.

You can't have programs and man-made traditions.

God will not be a part of that.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. The foundation of the Church is built upon the apostles and prophets.

The doctrine of the apostles was given by the Holy Spirit for edification and reproof so that the Church could walk in sound doctrine.

Nowhere in scripture does it tell us that the Church is a building.

Erase all pictures in your mind of Churches being buildings. They are not buildings.

If you asked most people what image do they picture when you say the word "church", the first thing that most people would think about is a building with a steeple.

How many people, if you asked them what a church was, would picture believers sitting in someone's house, breaking bread, and sharing in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in Christ.

The Church has gotten off of the solid rock.

Churchianity has gotten off the rock and is suspended over the abyss.

Satan Has Created A False Mindset About Church

A true picture of Church is a meeting of believers. In many ways, this is what the Keys Ministry Zoom room is like.

When we meet together we are sitting at the Lord's table and having fellowship.

We actually look at one another rather than at the back of each other's heads. We are looking at each other as if we are seated around a table.

That's what the early Church was all about: relationship.

First and foremost, it was about having a relationship with Christ Jesus, and secondly with each other.

It is about having intimacy not about being merely a spectator, or acting in showmanship.

The goal is to live as a family, in love as the Bride of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Each and every person is so important.

Don't ever believe that you are not a very important part of Christ's body.

This is part of your identity.

If you have identity issues, then you need to understand that you've been lied to by the enemy.

You are a very important part of Christ's body.

Even if you are a toe, you are still one of the most important body parts. God looks at the toe as being just as important as the eye or the ear.

The Bible says the last shall be first and the first shall be last. God loves destroying the wisdom of the wise, bringing it to nothing, and showing that he has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Some were forsaking assembling themselves together.

It's important for us to look for opportunities to come together, like getting involved with a ministry where you're helping people, coming together in a prayer group in your home, or fellowship in another way.

That is so important because that is the true Church.

Hebrews 13:17-18 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

The Lord's body has overseers. Overseers are servants. Anyone who is an overseer is a servant, and are there to watch over the body and to basically feed it.

That's why the scripture stated that the foundation of the Church is built on apostles and prophets.

Apostles and prophets specifically are involved with the administration of the Church as far as it relates to feeding the Church through the Spirit.

The prophet and apostle, both, are very critical roles when it comes to directing the Church's affairs. That is not to undermine in anyway the roles of evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

They have an important role as well. But, it is the doctrine of the apostles that is for the administration of the Church.

Whoever is called as an apostle or prophet is actually called to be a servant. They are not to Lord it over the body in any way.

It is not about control. But rather it is about demonstrating the love of Christ because that is what Christ did.

He did not come to be served. He humbled himself and came down to serve. If Christ did that, than how much more should we, who are chosen as overseers, also hold the office as being servants.

The Lord Added to the Church...Not A Building!

Church is not about constructing buildings with mortar, rocks, and stones.

Christ is building a living thing. The Church is living and active.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Remember, the foundation of the Church is upon the apostles and the prophets. The prophets hear the Spirit of God, what the Spirit is saying to the Church. They receive the bread, break it, and hand it out to the members of the body. It is a spiritual thing and is very powerful once you understand it.

Acts 2:43-47 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

This daily meeting in the temple occurred before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. They went to the temple to preach the Gospel and to bring the Jews into the faith and graft them into the vine. The temple was a place of Jewish worship and activities.

Then after all this, they went and met in people's houses.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

When it says the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved, it is talking about the body of believers, the people.

Buildings do not get saved.

Do not get mind controlled by Satan and believe the buildings with the steeple and cross on top, or any other such institution is the Church.

The Church is the body of Christ, the believers in Christ Jesus, of which you are a part.

How do you qualify by actually being a part of God's body?

It's not by going to some religious institution every Sunday. It is purely by faith and by believing.

You become obedient to the Word and worship Jesus in truth and Spirit.

Satan Has Created a False Mindset About the Church

The Church is a great mystery that has been revealed.

Satan didn't have any idea what God's plans were for the Church. Even the angels didn't know what was going on. God revealed his master plan, the Church in his timing. Had Satan known God's plans in advance, then he never would have crucified Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that He would build His Church and that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

So, you are that Church that God has built up to prevail against Satan's Kingdom.

1 Timothy 3:14-15a These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you read "the house of God"?

Likely it was a little building on the prairie with a steeple and a cross, perhaps with a couple of people standing outside of it.

1 Timothy 3:15b which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

This house of God is people. It is not about a building.

It is not about stones and mortar. It is a spiritual building built with spiritual stones, one of which you are.

Each one of us is like a spiritual stone, all bound together with the mortar of the Holy Spirit and God's love.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

It was a great mystery that God created His Church. It was a divine plan. God knew it before the foundation of the earth. It is an awesome thing to be a part of.

The Church Is a Living Creation By God

Matthew 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.

This is probably one of the most misinterpreted scriptures in the Bible, particularly within the Catholic Church who conveniently (whether they actually believe it or not) interpret this to mean that Peter is the foundation on which the Church is built.

Jesus was actually pointing out that it was Peter's revelation that Christ would build His Church upon.

That is Christ!

The Church is not built by man. Peter's grave is not lying at the foundation of God's Church.

It is Christ that holds and knits us together as a temple of God, coming together as a holy temple.

The Church is mobile. It can go anywhere.

Buildings on the other hand, cannot go anywhere very easily, unless you pull them up by the foundation and move them to another place.

The Church can manifest itself anywhere. It can even manifest itself in our zoom room.   

We have Church without walls.

That is what Jesus did. He preached outside while sitting on a rock. That is how he drew people to himself: through the Word of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Isn't that awesome?

If you have any identity issues then you must understand that you have been adopted into the family of Christ, and into his body.

You are now an heir. You have inherited the Kingdom.

You've got a new identity and are a new creation in Christ.

Ephesians 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

How awesome is this when you truly understand it?

You can be sitting at home with another believer and there you will have the Church.

The Church Is a Revealed Mystery

Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of this building.

It is a spiritual building made up of real people.

1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Lord is so gracious with all of us.

1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Christ was rejected by His own people, the Jews but was chosen by God.

You are also chosen. You are also precious.

Anyone who is suffering from self-hatred, or feelings of unworthiness or rejection, then meditate on the meaning of this verse. This is a healing scripture for rejection.

You are precious and chosen by God.

You Are God's Building: His Church

Now, can you understand how that mindset of the little house on the prairie with the steeple and little cross perched on top is being stripped away?

What you see now is the people.

That Church building image should be fading away as you come out of the deception of believing that the Church is a physical building.

You are one of the bricks that make up the spiritual house.

You are a living stone.

Wherever you go, you take Church.

Even when you are on your own, you are a holy temple.

You take Church where you go.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

The building was not praying for Peter! It was the people that were praying for him.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

The Word cannot explain it more clearly than that. You are God's building.

The concept of the Church as a physical building falls like a pack of cards when held up to the light of this scripture.

That's the construct that Satan has used to deceive people into worshiping, rather than understanding the truth of the Church as being made up of believers coming together all as a temple and spiritual house of God.

1 Corinthians 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.

Peter is not talking about physical buildings here, he is talking about believers!

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This is why the Spirit must lead the Church. If you have programs, then what sort of foundation are you really building on?

You're building on the traditions of men and not according to the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

All the physical buildings on the prairie will go up in flames.

Your salvation is not in a physical building, nor in going to that building on Sundays.

Your salvation is through Jesus Christ, and by worshiping Him in truth and Spirit wherever you are.

You could even be in your own home, just as long as you are being led by the Spirit and coming together as a body.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

So, that's good news! People will get saved, even those people who are ignorant about certain things. God's grace is going to cover them. It's God that judges, not us. God judges those who are His.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

God will warn you if you are defiling His temple and doing naughty things to it.

You are His temple.

One of those big areas of defilement is in the area of sexual sin.

Sexual sin is one of the worst sins that you can commit because it defiles the temple of God.

God comes down very hard on sexual immorality because it is joining yourself bodily to a harlot and ultimately to Satan.

God can have no part of that. God is not joined to Belial and has no fellowship with Belial.

You must be joined to Christ.

You are a temple going out into the world amongst wolves, but God will guide, lead, and protect you.

You Are Part of the Body of Christ

You are a very important member of Christ's body.

You are precious and you have been chosen.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

My goodness. Isn't that amazing?

Get that physical image of a Church building out of your head!

Church is not a building.

You are Christ's Church and part of His body.

How awesome is it that Christ fills everyone in His body all in all.

We are one in Christ. We are part of the God head and seated with Him in Heavenly places.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

This is exactly what I've been explaining. We are the Lord's Church.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

All of us are held together by Christ.

Colossians 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.

There is only one person who is preeminent in the Church and that is Jesus.

It is not man.

Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Praise God for the blood of Jesus and the Cross!

So many Christians get away from the simplicity that is in the Message of the Cross.

All of our benefits of salvation as well as our inheritance comes through the Message of the

Cross and the blood of His Cross.

We are bought by the blood of Jesus.

We are redeemed, sanctified, cleansed, and set free by His precious blood.

Then, we are filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

We are His Church and His body!

Jesus is the head.

God is a consuming fire and knits us together by His Spirit.

Did you know that when you have fellowship there is awesome sanctification and cleansing?

The Holy Spirit cleanses you when you have fellowship.

That is all part of being in Christ's body and the Church...not visiting a physical building.

We all need to erase the false picture of Church created by the enemy and replace it with a true picture of Christ's Church.

We are all members of His body, coming together in the fire of the Holy Spirit, worshiping Him in truth and Spirit, as one body where there is no division, but only love.

When we come together, we come meet as family, the family of God, where we can be intimate with and look at each other, caring for one another, and loving one another.

That is how Jesus Christ set up His Church.

He set up the Church for us all to be cared for, to be loved, and for all of our needs to be met when we come together.

This is especially true when we come together in home churches.

In that setting you become more intimate with others and familiar with their needs. Then, you are able to actually help people.

In large mega Churches, it is incredibly difficult to create intimate relationships. It can be difficult to make connections and build friendships in large Churches.

It is much easier to connect in a home Church environment. It is also much more edifying when you can help others and fulfill the Law of Christ, in love.