The Church Without Walls International
of Tulsa
A World Wide House Church Network
"See what I see: People running to and fro to this meeting and that, looking for the spectacular, thinking that is supernatural. But they miss the supernatural work in their midst, even in their heart. For the process of discipleship is supernatural." - Jesus to John in a February, 2001 visitation
Not that we would have dominion over your faith, but rather are helpers of your joy, for by your own faith you stand (II Cor 1:24)
We believe the practice of home based churches as depicted in the book of Acts and Paul's letters is normal Christianity.
These churches revolve around friends, neighbors, and co-workers meeting regularly for the purpose of growing in Christ and letting the Lord's will be done in their midst.
What is the difference between a cell group and a house church?
I left you hanging last week didn't I? Truly I ran out of space, so let us pick it up where we left off. I was working backwards from the return of Jesus, backing up from that point, going through some of the things the book of Revelation says are coming on the earth. Those include the Battle of Armageddon involving 5 kings of the east, before that a double meteor/comet hit that sends up a dust/vapor cloud that blocks 1/3 of the sun/moonlight resulting in the poisoning of 1/3 of waters, 1/3 of vegetation dies, and causes disease and famine world-wide. (Revelation 8:6-13; 9:1-11)
Isn't that fun boys and girls? I cover these things in more detail in my series Disasters of the Revelation, so let us move on, as the period The Revelation talks about is years in the future. read more...
If you are like me, by now you've received several emails from various ministers containing 'prophetic' words for 2012. Here are a few I've received via email for 2012:
There will be…transitions in kingdom leadership, the sound of evangelism must be amplified, supernatural provision will be released, persecution will increase in the US, nuclear arms race will continue to escalate, martyrdom will continue to escalate, countries will continue to yield to immigrants to keep their sovereignty, baptism with the Holy Spirit will continue to be relegated to the back room.
These may or may not be 'prophetic', for as I see the above, there isn't a single one that isn't already known by natural means. They are conclusions drawn from headlines, statistics, or common sense and slapped with a 'prophetic word for 2012′ label. read more...
The Wonder of Jesus
I've been sharing from Isaiah 9:6 about the Son given and the child born, Christ Jesus; Christ being a reference to His eternal existence and Jesus being a reference to His humanity.
The wonder of Jesus is that He gave up the glory He had with the Father 'before the world was,' and more than gave up, He completely changed His relationship with the Father forever, as we'll see later. (John 17:5)
Being Found
These last couple of weeks as we've taken apart Philippians 2:5-8 the phrase 'and being found fashioned as a man', stands out. read more...
Last week I shared the awe-inspiring truths of how Christ left heaven to become conceived in Mary's womb, being named Jesus as per the angel Gabriel's instructions. Christ is the Son given, Jesus is the baby born - to us!
Let us examine the words of Philippians 2:7-8 a little closer: "...but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross."
The Greek word used for 'made Himself of no reputation' is 'ekenosen', literally, "He emptied (Himself)." read more...
To me, the most amazing thing about the story of Jesus is the way He came out of eternity to become one of His creations. While it is good and right to celebrate His birth, my thoughts go back to a point about 9 months before that event in Bethlehem, to a teenage Jewish girl in a village called Nazareth, and our Lord in a place called heaven.
You see, when Isaiah observed "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given", he was making note of our Lord's pre-existence. The Son first had to be given from heaven in order that He could become the child born. The term 'Christ', Anointed One, refers to His deity, that He is the Son given. Christ was conceived in Mary and given the name 'Jesus', which refers to His humanity. (Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:31) read more...
Lots of Little Temples - What Does it Mean?
I've been talking about the reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory. What does it mean that God moved out of a temple building and into human beings, and what should our actions be as a result?
Let us build upon the foundation we all know. First, man is created in God's image & likeness. Second, each person is a unique, free-willed being. Third, there is no one exactly like you in the whole world, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be. We know this because we stand 1 to 1 before the Lord to give account of our lives. There is no body double we can pass blame to - we are unique, individual, free willed, accountable. read more...
In #1 of this series (2 weeks ago, before my Thanksgiving message) I shared how the writers of the New Testament were consumed with the reality that Christ lives in people, making us walking, talking, temples of God, each of us a priest to God. (I Cor 3:16, 6:19, Col 1:27)
The temple building has therefore been rendered obsolete. The reason for church in the home goes far beyond that God invented the first home and met with Adam & Eve there, or that on the other end of the scale Jesus prepared a place for us in our Father's house where we'll spend eternity, or that He's always been focused on the home in between Adam and future heaven throughout the Bible. read more...
The United States sets aside the last Thursday of each November as a day of Thanksgiving to God for all He has given. However, as the years have passed, the original giving of thanks to God has been replaced with a general 'I'm thankful for all I have' in the media and popular culture.
I know this message goes to thousands of others outside the USA, but allow me this liberty as what I am sharing goes way beyond a holiday message, for I'd like to share the true meaning of the word 'thanksgiving.
In I Corinthians 11:24, Paul says of the Lord at the Last Supper: "And when He had given thanks, He broke the bread saying this is my body, broken for you..." read more...
The NT writers were consumed with the amazing reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27) Christ lives in our spirit man, so He is as close as the intentions of our hearts, as close as our most fleeting thought - not out in some Nebula in space where we have to fight through demons to get his ear.
The truth of Christ in us reveals praying for an open portal or open heaven, or going to the 3rd heaven, or fighting to take the kingdom of heaven, as obsolete Old Testament thinking. We have Christ in us. We have the kingdom of heaven, we have been given all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) read more...
