God is releasing a heart-longing for a return to ekklesia (early Christianity before it was organized into an institution). When ekklesia was replaced by institution, Christians began focusing on following procedures more than on obeying the risen Jesus. It costs very little to be churchy, but it costs everything to follow Christ.
When Jesus called His first disciples, He said, “Follow Me.” Today, He still calls His disciples to follow Him. Do you? Too many Christians are listening to talks about the fountain, instead of daily drinking Jesus’ living water.
Ekklesia is so simple, yet incredibly profound. It’s two or more people coming together to listen to and obey the living Jesus. I love Spirit-led order, when each person present, prompted from within, obeys the risen Jesus. Let Christ synchronize your heart with His will. Let Him break through the clouds that darken your heart.
If Jesus is the Head and Christians are part of His body, let’s all directly listen to and obey Him. Jesus came to rescue us from rules and regulations by calling and empowering us to receive and follow His presence living within us.
We experience the eternal internally (not externally) by learning to hear and obey Christ speaking inside us. All Christians are meant to be mentees of the risen Jesus.
Some people want Christianity when it’s convenient and an escape clause when it’s not. Accept no substitutes for the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be disciples of Christ, not disciples of a religion, culture, or a nation.
The most effective Christian leaders train people to surrender to, to follow, and to obey the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Are you being led to follow the living Jesus?
