The One True Holy Universal Apostolic Church
This teaching will perhaps be the most controversial. It was mind blowing and heart renting for me. Nevertheless, I believe it was from the Lord. He has confirmed the message numerous times now. Doctrines and theologies may be correct, but they are far from complete. God wants us to hear the whole gospel.
He has been telling us through numerous prophecies that His true church has liturgical, evangelical, and pentecostal elements that should flow into one understanding. In fact, these very terms are inadequate and incomplete in themselves for truly describing God's church. Yet many sincere believers today want to know which one of these churches or doctrines represents the truth. I have, in fact, observed a mad scramble by many clergy to find out the answer as you may have as well. Jesus said that in the last days "people will run here and there in search of the kingdom of God."
We might ask then: What is holy? Jesus,when He returns, is looking for a church "without spot or wrinkle." Is He talking about how people dress? Is He so narrowly defining sin that it just has to do with smoking and drinking? Is He not looking for perfection in the heart? Yes, He expects us to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect." We cannot produce such perfection, to be sure. But Jesus can. Will we let Him? He is the author and finisher of our faith. The Apostle Paul tells us to "work out our faith with fear and trembling because God is at work in you."
What about the universal church? The church should not be divided. This is true. Who is going to bring unity? Some man-made institution? Is is going to be produced with the lowest common denominator of belief? Jesus will bring this unity about. If we do not yet see it then we know that the church is not yet perfected and neither are we. But some belong to Paul and some belong to Apollos.
What then is "apostolic?" Is it guaranteed by the right person laying hands on us? Someone who can trace his spiritual linage back to St. Peter? Peter was a little pebble. Jesus is the rock. Apostolic teaching is important. The passing on of the teachings of Jesus. The laying on of hands and receiving the Holy Spirit is important. We need God's anointing for witnessing the Gospel. But it had better be real. An institution cannot guarantee it. It could not do so in Jesus day and it cannot do so today. Institutions do not receive God's truths very well. They have their own agenda. The church continually needs to be reformed, and that includes the so-called reformed churches as well. We need devout spirit-filled mentors who have been appointed and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas were appointed by the Holy Spirit and not appointed by Peter. Sorry. It was Paul who later corrected Peter over what the true church was about.
Do the "reformed" churches have it all together? If so, why are they so disobedient? Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Communion. He commanded that it be done often. Why is the commandment being ignored? The preacher wants to set himself or herself up as the sole authority. Make way for my lengthy sermon. Whatever happened to "submit yourselves one to another as unto the Lord?" Jesus said He was in the sacrament of Holy Communion and that if we did not "eat His body and drink His blood would have no life in us." Correct?
Pentecost was given to bring the church together. We have used our understanding of the in-filling of the Holy Spirit to separate the Church. Is not the Holy Spirit the Spirit of unity? The church of Corinth is still rearing its ugly head. Your experience does not match my experience. What kind of attitude is this? Most immature and unholy! What will we say when Jesus tells us to depart from Him and that He never knew us? No amount of bragging on what we did for Him in the Spirit is going to sway Him if do not rightly divide the word of truth.
To be sure, we do need authority, we do need structure. But are we looking to the right source? God is our source. His Word is our source. Prayer is our source. The leading of the Spirit is our source. Meeting together on a regular basis for prayer and fellowship and teaching is vitally important. Confessing our sins to one another is required. Holy Communion is not optional. Being refilled with the Holy Spirit by tarrying in the presence of God is absolutely necessary.
What about our church doctrine? Does it line up with scripture — the whole of scripture? Are we attempting to substitute a doctrine for holy living? No amount of doctrine will cover up our sin. We will always need the blood of Jesus. We will always need confession. We will always need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we wish the status quo so that we might maintain our positions of authority just like the pharisees. Right? But how does this compare to the one glorious church without spot or wrinkle? Jesus is looking for that church — the real one. Let us pray that He finds it.