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Dunamis Ekklesia
The historical need for dunamis ekklesia
When Jesus walked through Galilee, Samaria, Judea, and Jerusalem, He taught the multitudes and the disciples about what the Kingdom of God was and who it was made up of. He spoke from a point of reference with which the people had no ability to understand. Everything He said seemed to confuse them. The problem was, they were trying to understand Jesus’ teachings from their cultural reference point. They, the political and religious leaders, and their followers, had added to, and taken from, God’s Word in philosophy and in practice to such a great extent, even their “religious†society and culture was far from God. Jesus said of this society that claimed to be followers of God;
“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’†Matthew 15:7-9
And also of the religious/political leaders of this society; “They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.†Matthew 15:1
“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.†Matthew 21:43
Jesus’ point of reference for all His teaching was through God’s perspective, from God’s commands in God’s Word. Man had, for so long, been so far from God; it’s no wonder no one understood what Jesus was talking about… even to this day.
Jesus pointed out to His disciples that they would understand His teachings when they received The Holy Spirit;
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.†John 14:24-26
In these statements, Jesus was pointing out the need for His arrival and mankind’s need for redemption from sin and rebellion. He also made it clear that we need reconciliation with God and the establishment of a new society, or Fellowship with God. This Fellowship is made up of a people not of a single national origin or ethnicity, but of those from all nationalities and ethnicities who, from love, are obedient in Christ, to God. This new Fellowship of God would be empowered by God and led by God for God’s purposes. The people of this Fellowship are added to the Kingdom of God to walk in righteousness now and forever and would be called the “people of God†and the “children of God.â€
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:16-18
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-16
dunamis- greek, doon-amis; the power of God, force, strength, violence, mighty work. This is the origin of the word dynamite. From the root dunamai, to be able, or possible; can do.
Jesus said, “But you will receive power (duamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
And the apostle Peter wrote by the Holy Spirit “Seeing that His divine power (dunamis) has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.†2 Peter 1:3-4
ekklesia- greek, ek-klesia, from the root ek, out of and klesia, called or calling; literally and specifically, the called out. This is the word translated into English as “Church†in the New Testament. This is not a place you go, but a people who are!
Jesus said, “And I also say unto you that you are Peter (small stone), and upon this rock (group of stones) I will build my church (ekklesia); and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.†Matthew 16:18
The apostle Paul wrote at the direction of The Holy Spirit, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens (with God), but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.†Ephesians 2:19-22
And in reference to the sinfulness of the world culture; “I heard another voice from heaven, saying; ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.’†Revelation 18:4
dunamis ekklesia literally is,
The Powerful or Empowered Called Out Ones.
The Church of God is the people of God. The Church is never a place. You don’t go there or meet there, you see them there. The Church is a Fellowship of God’s chosen people who carry out the purposes of God, with the power of God, for the glory of God.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.†Galatians 2:20
The Church is not a people who identify with modern, present or future world culture, nor do they “interpret†Gods commands from their cultural perspective, but look only to God as their point of reference and relevance because we have been called out of futility.
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1Peter 1:17-19
The Church meets in homes, buildings, stadiums, coffee shops and forests; anyplace that God’s power and presence resides. Where does God’s power and presence reside? In the called out and obedient disciples of Jesus Christ!
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:14-16
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.†Hebrews 10:23-25
Does the Church have a structure? Yes! It has a structure, a structure of leadership, not of place or residence. Jesus made His Church people oriented not place oriented. When God was place oriented, it was one place, the temple, and that temple was in Jerusalem and we were separated from the presence and power of God to the outside of the temple. Praise God that is no longer true!
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.†Hebrews 4:16
“It was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: `HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord, `OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE? `WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’†Acts 7:47-50
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said that we would receive power (dunamis) to be his witnesses. This English word, “witness,†is martus in Greek.
martus- greek, mar-toos; Judicially a witness, by implication a martyr. martus is where our English word, “martyr,†has it’s origin.
In that passage Acts 1:8, Jesus was in essence saying that the people He called out of the world to be His disciples, the Church, who are separated from the world, would be given the dynamic power of God, to be the people of God, who place everything on the altar of God, for the purpose of serving and glorifying God. These are the dunamis ekklesia! This is the reason we consider ourselves, dunamis ekklesia. AMEN!
“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.†Colossians 3:1-4
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD , A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.†1Peter 2:1-10
Conclusion
Our music group chooses to be identified as dunamis ekklesia or the English stylized version, Electric Church. This is who we are and who we should be, to the glory of God! If you are a called out, separated, disciple and bond-slave of Jesus Christ, you too are members of The Electric Church!