JESUS CHURCH WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT S NOT By David Drew As a premise to what is being expressed here, it s important we make a few things clear. The basis of what we are sharing is this: Change is on the way dramatic change. Jesus Church is people. People destined to usher in God s final Kingdom purposes in the earth. (Read Revelation 12) What we are NOT discussing here as Jesus Church are the estimated 40,000* denominations and independent organizations called churches, plus the estimated 200,000* Christian ministries all with their individual names and branding in the world today. Nothing has changed since Jesus shed His blood on the Cross. It s still a new and living way that renders old and outdated ways obsolete and powerless to bring God s eternal purposes to pass. Our great High Priest is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the only Way to glorious change. Hebrews 10:19-21 This is not to say that the old in our era, has not served a significant purpose. What we are saying though is that the old is finished with. It is no longer relevant, and it will NOT be used by God to bring His final Kingdom purposes to pass. This will be a hard message for many, particularly those who have faithfully served in the existing systems for a long time. However, those of you reading this that come into this category are not disqualified from being a part of the new thing God is doing. Isaiah 43:19 As you will see below, the qualifications for being part of Jesus Glorious Church are not impossible or out of reach, provided you are willing the lay down your life, deny yourself, and follow Jesus without equivocation. By the way, this is not a call to be a part of some new exciting Christian fad. It s a call for God s sons and daughters, and the Satan overcomers, to come and join with Jesus and brothers and sisters, and fulfil their God ordained purpose of completing the work started by Jesus. He is calling us now. 1. WHAT JESUS CHURCH IS
Jesus Church is people. A glorious company without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. It s a perfect fit, for a perfect King. That He might present to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 Jesus Church (people) has been hidden in God s heart since before time. These people are so powerful; the gates of hell are unable to withstand them. And to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Ephesians 3:9-10 and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades are shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 Jesus Church is His Body. It s His flesh and bones. He and His Church are ONE Body. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church." Ephesians 5:30-32 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 So that they all may be one just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You sent me. John 17:21 Jesus Church has His name on it because it is His Church. His name is the name above every name. He is the Almighty! There can be no other name on His people. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty, Revelation 1:8 I will build My Church Matthew 16:18 Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those
under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 Jesus people are destined to become a beautiful Bride for Jesus, and they will have made themselves ready. Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Jesus people are the woman clothed with the sun (Son) who gives birth to a man-child and overcomers. These offspring of Jesus and His Bride, finally overcome Satan, causing him to be cast out of heaven, and a whole new dimension of God s Kingdom and Christ s power is activated in the earth. Now a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. And she bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And the child was caught up to God and to His throne. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:1, 5, 9-11 Jesus Church will become a glorious, holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, having the glory of God. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Revelation 21:9-11 Jesus people are precious because they are a purchased possession bought with a great price. They belong to God and they are where He lives. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify
God in your body and in your spirit, which are God s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Jesus' people are made up of all those who have surrendered everything to Him, making Him the Lord and Master of their life. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 Jesus' people consist of those who are in Christ and He is in them. Christ shines out of them. They bear Christ. They have been truly born again. Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. John 3: 5-6 Jesus' people are a kingdom of priests. All members are priests. It's the priesthood of all believers, not just a few trained clergy. There is no division. He has given gifts to all for the edifying of the Body. It's a royal priesthood. "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;" 1 Peter 2:9 Read also: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:16; Revelation 1:6; Ephesians 5:30-33 Jesus' Church (people) is entered, and built by, a "new and living way," compared to man's efforts to build His Church which is often attempted using natural human wisdom. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Hebrews 10:20 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'" 1 Corinthians 18-19 Jesus people will rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years (on the earth), and then forever.
You have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 And there shall be no night there; they need no lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5 Practical Issues of Jesus Church on Earth: Jesus people are located throughout the earth. They meet as members of the Body of Christ. Some meet in homes, some meet in parks, some meet in auditoriums and on occasions, the whole Church in an area meet in a large gathering. There is no state, national or international headquarters for Jesus Church on earth. Our headquarters are in heaven. Jesus people take up special offerings from time to time to meet the financial needs of saints at home or abroad, just as they did in the early Church. Jesus people meet the needs of the saints in the midst, by providing what is needed such as a car, or fridge, or washing machine, or accommodation. Jesus people appoint Elders who are prepared, and set apart by Apostles (Ephesians 4; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5). Elders are placed in every locality of city to oversee and shepherd the flock. Apostles are appointed and called by God and have a national and international fathering ministry. They are not the supreme leaders. Jesus is the Supreme Leader. They follow Christ wherever He goes. Jesus people meeting can be 2 or 3 gathered, or 2,000, 3,000 or more. When they gather in Jesus name, He promises to show up. He is the centre of every gathering. We let Him lead and speak. The Holy Spirit moves amongst us to nurture and build up. People are healed because the Lord is present in every gathering, whether it be large or small. We expect Him to minister whenever we gather. When referring to a gathering we should say, The Body of Christ is meeting at Bill and Shirley Jones place at 7.30 Wednesday night. Larger gatherings can be organised the same way by saying, The Body of Christ will be meeting at a certain football stadium at 2.30pm Sunday afternoon. When we gather in large or small groups we come
expecting to hear from Jesus. He is our Head. We hear from Jesus every time a member of the Body exercises their God given gift. In Jesus Church we see that every believer as a priest. It s not just an elite, hierarchical few who lead and minister. All gifts come from God. People are not raised up because of natural training or abilities. We honour Christ in each other and give freedom for each one to operate in their gifting. As we honour Christ in each other, so Christ is magnified, not men. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 The 5-fold ministry operates in their respective gifts given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Body. The effect being that the Body comes into the perfection of Christ when these five gifts are free to operate. This is the ONLY way the Body can be perfected and matured. And it will ONLY take place when we gather in our respective localities as Jesus people with each member free to operate in their God-ordained gifts. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 This is what the Lord said to me concerning the above. We will be found at every meeting whether they are one on one, or thousands. Expect Us to be there as much as you expect the others to turn up. We will be there in Our people. Ideally, the 5 fold ministry should be in place in every locality. If they are not, we pray them in, as they are the way to perfection (maturity), the fullness of Christ. Jesus people are the people in the Way, the same as the people in the early Church were. It is God s Way and our Way together. We are one Body together in the Way, operating under the influence and the direction of the Holy Spirit. 2. WHAT JESUS CHURCH IS NOT
Note: What I m sharing here are impressions given to me by the Lord. They are by no means complete or orderly. They are a draft of what we are seeing right now. He will lead us all further as we look to Him. And there may be others who can present it in a more orderly fashion. I hope so. If you don t immediately agree with what is presented here that s O.K. Try not to get angry or offended. Pray, and ask the Lord what He thinks. Here we go: Jesus people are not another denomination or independent church system like the 40,000* that are estimated to be in the world today. Jesus people are not man centred apart from THE man, the man Christ Jesus. He is the centre of it all. Jesus people will not to be built using man's natural abilities, such as person s training, education, qualifications, status, experience, eloquence, or leadership skills. They are of no value in the Kingdom of God, if not surrendered at the Cross. More often than not, if not fully surrendered, they ultimately have a detrimental, tearing down, and separating effect, as history has shown. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (Emphasis mine) Jesus people or Jesus Church is not another denominational name or independent church/ministry name. Jesus Church is made up of Jesus and bornagain, fully surrendered, sons and daughters. If He is not Lord of all in individual lives then He is not Lord at all. People disqualify themselves from being a part of the Body of Christ if they are not fully committed and are therefore not born again. Jesus people of Jesus' Church is not a registered "trading" name, incorporated body, or non-profit organization, and it must never be so. It is not an organization but rather a living organism. Any person or organization who has registered the name Jesus Church, or "Jesus People" or Jesus Glorious Church, should de-register it immediately. HE IS NOT A BRAND NAME. He is God, the creator of everything! Jesus Church needs no bank accounts to be opened in His name.
Jesus people (Church) requires no registered legal Constitution. Our Constitution is the Bible, and our direction comes from the Holy Spirit, just as it did in the early Church. To be a part of Jesus Church, all ties with Christian incorporated bodies should be severed. They will become more and more are a part of the Babylonian system that the coming anti-christ will associate himself with, and will control. The signs of the Babylonian system are already at work in the Christian churches and ministries. The spirit of the Tower of Babel Builders is upon many as they work feverishly to make a name for themselves and compete with all the other churches and ministries. They are no different to the secular corporate world all fighting for their share of the market. And they said, Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves Genesis 11:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive her plagues. For her sins have reached heaven, and God remembered her iniquities for strong is the Lord God who judges her. Revelation 18:4-5; 8b Quote: Bureaucratization is nothing new for the Church. The hierarchy of the medieval Church was a rationally organized administrative system modelled on the Roman Empire. The most obvious recent example of our success in spreading bureaucratic structures is the denomination. Watch their day-to-day operation, the hierarchical chains of authority, their external dealings, and what do you see the Body of Christ, or a pale ecclesiastical version of a multi-national corporation? The Gravedigger File, Os Guinness, p 153 Jesus Church is not an employer of wage or salary earners. It does not employ people such as the current denominational and independent ministries do. There should be no ministers or administrators being paid a salary. Jesus Church does not own any real estate or have a bank account. It s Jesus' Church, His Body. His people are collectively not a legal government entity. (The above does not rule out the possible need for offerings to be taken for the support of full time 5-fold ministers. The point we are making is that we must never turn Jesus Church into another registered corporate body. This is what has spawned 40,000 denominations and 200,000 ministries all with their own brand name on them. It s the natural (carnal) desire of men to want to make a name for themselves. To put it bluntly it is pseudo, false, and something the Lord will never use for His Kingdom purposes without there being complete repentance and a laying down.
This is all for now. I know it may sound radical, frightening, and challenging. It is however biblical, and it s what God wants and intends to have I believe. So, the sooner those who are moved by the Holy Spirit respond, the better. It is better to start small, leaning on Jesus and the Holy Spirit than to not start at all, or, to continue perpetuating old wineskins thinking we are doing some good. The new wine is ready to be poured out, but we must act now, By forming Jesus gatherings in our respective localities. There are many questions raging, but let s each listen carefully to what the Lord is saying and what has been raised here. At least have a willing heart to respond to what He says. Gather with others of like mind and discuss and pray about what has been presented. Be prepared to move as the Holy Spirit moves. I believe Jesus is ready to build His last day's Church. Are you ready and willing to be a part of it? It s the time of the end of the Church Age and the beginning of the Kingdom Age. We are in a dispensational changeover period. Let s get ready to move, and cross over. Joshua s call is ours today. Who is on the Lord s side? I want to be on the Lord s side, what about you? David Drew Email: David@JesusVision.faith Website: www.jesusvision.faith P.S. Read Isaiah 44. The Lord just gave it to me before finalizing this article. P.P.S. David Orton's "A Statement Concerning The City-Wide Church" is an excellent resource to get hold of on this subject. You can access it on the left side of the home page of the website above. *An Internet search will show research groups who estimate that there are 40,000 Christian denominations and independent churches, plus 200,000 Christian ministries.