In the wake of a conversation today I want to return to a couple of very big words: “Kingdom,” and “Church.”
The “Kingdom” of God is in The Spirit. It is not in the flesh. In fact The Kingdom of God is in the DNA of Jesus. It controls who we are and what we are to become. God is not counting on our flesh, God is counting on the DNA of His Son in us.
The word “church” has been so misunderstood and misrepresented it’s no wonder the world is in such confusion and the nations so offended. Our concern for the present here is not so much about the word “church,” but about Who is making the call.
We who name the name of Christ have no business calling ourselves anything. We are first and last, lovers in training. We need to focus on that/Him, and let the world call us what it will.
What the world needs to see is the first fruit of the Spirit – Love. This is what Jesus prayed and died for, and this is Who Jesus is in true believers by His Spirit. All the rest is talk.
By Jay Ferris, originally published Feb, 2011
Loving Like God 
Although written 13 years ago, Jay’s message is a first time read for me and confirms what the Spirit impressed on me the other day. Simply that man’s (fleshly) church exists to deny / quench (forbid) and therefore grieve (frustrate) the Holy Spirit. Where 1 Cor. 12:7 says that the gifts of the Spirit are manifestations of the Spirit, to say “tongues are forbidden” (1 Cor. 14:39b) is akin to saying “we do not permit the Spirit to manifest among us”.
Even those that allow the gifts (charisma) of the Holy Spirit, still attempt to subject the Holy Spirit to the control of men, which is not unlike trying to capture a cloud in a bottle.
No wonder the Word says “God does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48 and 17:24), and, “You do not need a man to teach you” (1 John 2:27) when the Holy Spirit abides in you. Also, that we are to leave the camps of men and join the Lord “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13).
From time to time I ponder the deeper spiritual meaning of Jesus words “not one stone shall be left atop another”, where elsewhere, He refers to us as “living stones”. Beyond the destruction of the stone temple in Jerusalem, is He also intent on tearing down the religious hierarchies of men?
And then there’s this:
“From time to time I ponder the deeper spiritual meaning of Jesus words “not one stone shall be left atop another”, where elsewhere, He refers to us as “living stones”. Beyond the destruction of the stone temple in Jerusalem, is He also intent on tearing down the religious hierarchies of men?”
Phew. This is a subject dear to my heart. And I know yours…i.e., what it means to “be the church” versus going to church. I’ve been thinking about the whole stone analogy lately too … got some rocks rolling around in my head about it, for sure! There’s so much that can be explored, but for the time being, thanks for putting your head up, and your neck out with this comment.
– Pamela