We have had several people ask us lately what our vision is. In the beginning of 2020, the Lord gave this to our house church as we were looking for a clear vision. I still believe this is what the Lord is giving as a strategy for believers worldwide. It’s not meant to separate or distinguish from other denominations, or to discourage “the church in the building,” but to clearly state what we believe the Spirit is saying to the churches for the last days. We hope it is an encouragement to you!
1) To build a living church made of people,
2) To pursue and announce the kingdom of God, and
3) To wake and purify the Bride, preparing her for the return of Yeshua.
1. In seeking to build a church made of living stones, we intentionally ask God to solidify our understanding of “church.” We don’t just “go to” church; we are the church. Church is not a building, we are the building built on Yeshua Messiah, the Living Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22). Our own bodies (collectively and individually) are the places in which God’s Spirit lives and moves (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). We are the primary outlet for His ministry to others and to the entire world (1 Corinthians 12:27).
a. Because of the miraculous dispersion of the presence of God at the death of Yeshua when the veil of the Holy of Holies was torn in two, (Matthew 27:51) we reject the exaggerated importance of “church buildings.” When Yeshua was asked the question “where should we worship?” He answered: the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. (John 4:23-26).
b. We do not see a New Testament emphasis on building “church buildings,” and furthermore we acknowledge an Old Testament precedent for less extravagant places of worship (Isaiah 66:1-2). Global worship communities may meet together in homes, outdoors, or community spaces. In a church without “church buildings,” we would not need to pay for building maintenance, utilities, marketing, or production costs. This allows our money to be directly given in ministry—sending out evangelists, supporting local outreach, and providing for our own people in need (Acts 2:45).
c. If a church building already exists, we see no biblical model for building bigger church buildings when they are outgrown, which confuses the definition of “church growth.” The correct biblical response to an explosion of numeric growth is increasing faith, immediate discipleship, and dispersion (Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31, Acts 16:5). We should be urgently focused on sending out and strategic placement of believers in other places so that the gospel may be preached in all nations (peoples). (Mark 13:10)
d. We resist the desire attainment and establishment of salaried “church leadership” positions when possible to work locally, at least part-time, reserving consistent financial support for those serving in the full-time role of apostleship/missions where working locally may be restricted to (1 Cor. 9). We believe that this would serve several purposes.
- The shepherds and teachers, who are most passionately learning about God would be placed missionally in the local community to encounter unbelievers.
- Every person in the worship community would be tasked, trained and activated keep in step with the Holy Spirit, operate in the gifts the Holy Spirit gives, to study scripture and listen to the voice of God for themselves and the community (John 10:27-28), to participate jointly in corporate worship, to teach and disciple one another. In this way, those teaching and leading worship in the communities are doing so because they are compelled, not paid. (1 Corinthians 9:12-18). Like Paul, we readily lay down our rights to be paid by our flocks, for the sake of the gospel, and instead we claim as the priesthood of believers that God is our portion and our provider.
e. Even the smallest worship communities begin to see themselves as the place where God inhabits, where He dwells, where He moves (Psalm 46:5). Wherever two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of you. (Matthew 18:20) In small communities, spiritual gifts have room to operate, and everyone can contribute in their own unique way to the body of believers (1 Cor. 14:1).
f. The need to not seek a building space first, but a kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), makes us extremely versatile, mobile, visible, and quickly multiplying (Luke 13:20-21).
2) In seeking to pursue and announce the kingdom of God (Matthew 10:7, Matthew 28:19), we model what Yeshua did on earth. We reject every other authority and desire that would set itself up against the truth of the gospel of Yeshua Messiah (2 Cor. 10:5), returning to submission under His Kingship in repentance, rest, quietness, and trust (Isaiah 30:15). We seek the kingdom of God first, above every priority on earth (Matthew 6:33). This plays out in several ways:
a. While we are subject to governing authorities as long as they do not conflict with our obedience of God (Romans 13:1), our heart’s allegiance is not to governments, institutions, or denominations, but to God Himself who has established the reign and rule of His Son, Yeshua Messiah (Phil.3:20). As heirs to this promise of ruling and reigning with God (Rev.20:6), and as those under His authority (1 Cor. 15:22-26), we desire to see His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:13).
b. Believing that we can neither serve “both God and man” (Gal. 1:10) nor “God and money” (Matt. 6:24), we resist the offer to build any kingdom that is not His.
c. Our primary job is to announce the good news of kingdom (Matthew 3:2). Everywhere we go our feet are fit with the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15), not as the world gives, but as Yeshua gives (John 14:27). We are ministers of that peace to the world (Matt.5:9).
d. We must be investing the spiritual and material gifts He gives us to grow the kingdom (Matt 25:14-30).
e. Leaders must lead by seeking the face, presence, and leadership of God (Psalm 27:8-9; Exodus 33:11-23; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18; John 14:7), and following Yeshua, walking as He walked, keeping in step with His Spirit of Truth (Galatians 5:25; John 17:14-19, Eph.6:17).
f. We lay down our lives for our friends and for Yeshua. (1 John 3:16)
g. We seek to understand and invest in what He values: the good news of the Gospel going out to the world through
- Preaching His Salvation/Healing/Deliverance from bondage through Yeshua Messiah alone (Psalm 3:8, Acts 10:38, Mark 16:17-18) locked safely into covenant by the Holy Spirit, and making disciples by baptizing them (by water and Spirit) and training them to obey all that Yeshua commanded (Matthew 28:19).
- Spiritual unity with God—saying what our Father says and doing what He is doing (John 12:49-50, John 5:19).
- Unity with all who believe in Yeshua Messiah as the only way to God (John 14:6),
- Love for our neighbors, (whoever we are around at anytime) (Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:25-37)
- Worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4) from every nation tribe and tongue (Rev.7:10)
- Mercy and Compassion (Eph.4:32)
- Peace and Rest in Him (John 14:27, Romans 14:19, Isaiah 30:15)
- One thing necessary: learning from Him–sitting at His feet and listening to Him (Luke 10:38-42, John 12:27-32)
- Love-Driven Obedience (John 14:15)
- Righteousness and Justice (Psalm 89:14, Revelation 19:8)
3) In seeking to wake and beautify the Bride of Yeshua Messiah (Revelation 3:2, Revelation 19:7), we understand that, as one new man, Jewish and Gentile, we are “the church” covenanted in betrothal to Yeshua Messiah (Hosea 2:19; Eph.1:13), declared legally righteous by His blood (Rom. 3:21-28, 4:18-25), and sealed by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to guide us in truth to bring to completion what Yeshua had to teach us (John 16:12-13), what the will of the Father is, to keep us unified in God’s will (Eph 2:14-18), to equip one another for global ministry (Acts 2), to convey the love of God (Romans 5:5), to give spiritual gifts to the people (1 Corinthians), and to keep us until Yeshua Messiah is formed in us (Titus 3:5). The implications of this will change the world.
a. We are loved and pursued individually and intimately by Yeshua (Matthew 18:12).
b. He paid the bride price for us (Gal.3:13-15).
c. He has given us the ring/seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; Ephesians 4:30).
d. He is preparing a place for us and He is coming to take us there (John 14:3).
e. We must be ready and sober-minded (1 Peter 1:13). We must not fall asleep but be watchful, vigilant, and discerning of the times, prepared for persecution (Matthew 25:5, Luke 12:56), clothing ourselves in righteous acts (Revelation 19:8). We must keep shining light in darkness by pursuing of God’s presence where we receive the oil of joy and anointing of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 25:8-9).
f. We train our hearts, minds, and bodies to love at all costs, from the heart. (Matthew 22: 36-40). We maintain bridal purity for Him by trusting the work of the cross, but also living a lifestyle of repentance, being filled by the Spirit (Acts 2:38), and worship (John 4:24), washing ourselves and others in the scriptures, especially in our own families (Eph.5:25-26). We remain faithful to love and care for our spouses (Matthew 19:6), parents (1 Timothy 5:8), and children (Ephesians 6:4), our neighbors (Romans 13:8-10), and those who consider themselves our enemies (Ephesians 6:12). We love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44).
g. We train for covenantal perseverance and endurance. We are not of those who shrink back (Hebrews 10:39), but we will endure and will rule and reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12).
h. Until then we remember our First Love (Rev. 2:4-5), who gave Himself up for us not scorning the cross or its shame (Heb. 12:2), so that we will not deny Yeshua, but overcome the powers and principalities of Satan, the accuser, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
