Study Guide

THE CHRISTIAN CULTURE

5,692 words, about 28 min read

God is exalting truth! This has been a constant and consistent theme throughout the ministry, and it is absolutely true. God is establishing the truth of the gospel in the earth. Though we have rehearsed this theme throughout the years, it is nevertheless true. One thing that the Lord Instructed Apostle Mary Banks to do is to stay home and raise up a demonstration of the truth. However, truth is Jesus Christ. There must therefore be a demonstration of the life of Christ to accompany the revelations from God.

God is establishing a ‘latter day early church’ or simply put, He is restoring the Body of Christ to a state of holiness. One day on a fast I was reading the book of Acts, really seeing the life of the early church. It came to a point that I was no longer reading. I was simply looking at the words on the page. There was a desperation in my heart. In a whisper I said to the Lord, “Father, they are so different from us. We just simply do not think or behave like they did. What is it going to take to bring us there? Whatever it is Lord, please do it!”

This was actually in the middle of a Bible Study at home. We continued in discipleship until the Lord was through and everyone left. I was walking into my room, and I began to watch one of my favorite tv shows. A new episode is released every Saturday night. I hadn’t watched it in a while and I was prepared to enjoy it. There was nothing offensive to the Holy Ghost about the show itself, but I noticed that I was suddenly burdened and troubled in my spirit. It was then that I noticed. All of the advertisements that were around the video I was watching were filled with suggestive and promiscuous images. It was then that I under- stood the burden the Lord was giving me. He then said to me, “This is the reason you have not come to the state of the early church, they had respect for the Holy Ghost and you don’t.” I instantly got up in fear – praying. It was then that God revealed to me His mind and intent for the Church. He made plain to me exactly what the devil’s tool has been to keep the latter-day church out of true holiness.

THE DEVIL’S AGENDA

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The agenda of the devil is to keep the church lusting and wanton for the things of the world. In fact, he has achieved his goal. He did it by making the things of this world accessible. It was by his design that everything of his world would constantly be in our face. When you consider these gadgets, devices, and application softwares, they have all made the world and sin so accessible that a Christian has to do more sifting than resting.

It was not God’s design for His sons, to be sifting through the things of the world, searching for acceptable entertainment. Rather, His instruction to us was to be separate and apart from the world all together. There are many Christians today who feel comfortable sitting in front of the television and watching R-rated movies. They watch these movies, proclaiming that their conscience is strong enough to bear them; however, is this the strength of the conscience or the searing of it? Moreover, God is not simply speaking to the movies we watch but also the ads that come between. The lack of respect He spoke about was our disposition where we can foresee something being an offense to the Holy Spirit, yet still force Him to partake in it. These are steps to reprobation. Listen to God describe those who refuse to retain God in their knowledge.

Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

When we continue to scroll on Facebook, knowing that there will be something offensive to the Holy Spirit we are actually refusing to retain God in our knowledge. When we allow ourselves to be entertained by another’s sin, God sees us even as He sees them.

THE MYSTERY OF THE EARLY CHURCH REVEALED

However, the gospel spoke to men that this God was now present in them! Moreover, He did not take from them their ability to offend Him. He was now one with them, and would be in direct contact with every thought, emotion, action, exhalation, and disposition. This created a respect and a fear in their hearts for the Holy Spirit. They did not want to do anything that would offend Him, lest it cost them their lives. Moreover, at the beginning of the Church, God confirmed this perception, when a couple lied to Peter, and God slew them on the spot.They collectively did not want to do anything to offend the Lord. …

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, It was the Lord’s instruction for them to be separate from the world. Their separation established a culture where sin was foreign. Their constant fellowship in the word and prayers, caused the world and its affairs to be strange. They were no longer familiar with the ways of the world, because they had established their own culture. This culture of the fear of the Lord, fellowship and prayer established the Church as another kingdom on the earth, with their own preferences and behaviors.

It is this culture that discipled the people into the image of Christ, so much so that when they would have to go out in evangelism, the thinking and ways of the world were strange to them. Sin was strange to them; because their culture had sheltered them from sin, and had raised them in the way they ought to go.

ESTABLISHING THE CHRISTIAN CULTURE

Acts 2:42 - 47

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The verses above are the mystery of the early church revealed. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. The revelations given by the Apostles were now the doctrines that would govern their belief and understanding of God. Their lives were now based on these doctrines. Furthermore, they appreciated the government and order that God had installed in the Church. They respected Apostolic Order. They established a culture of continued fellowship in the word of God. They did not engage in idle conversations and sinful exchanges. Rather, their conversations were always seasoned with salt and in the fear of the Lord.

This is constant discipleship that matures the new creature. It allowed the saints to constantly be in the word of God. Jesus said He lived by every word from the Father - they were His meat. Therefore, the church too must eat daily the word of God. It is the preaching of the word to one another that establishes a fear of the Lord and a preference for righteousness. The absence of the things of the world, causes the people to be unfamiliar with its affairs, and more familiar with the things of the Kingdom. Even so we should increase our Bible Studies, and our friends should be holy saints who delight in the word of God. Increase our conversations about the word and re-establish the Christian culture in our lives.

If there was sin in that presentation, that sinful member would leaven the whole lump. So, instead of destroying the whole body, God prefers to destroy or remove that sinful member so that the body would be completely holy. This caused many to be sick and die. The communion is one of God’s methods of purging the church. This caused fear to enter the hearts of men. They then would ensure they were walking righteously in order to partake in the feast and in prayers. Among all these things, the first works of prayer was never neglected in this culture. Praying and fasting sensitizes you to the Holy Spirit.They make plain the will of God. They also afflict and humble the soul. Staying before the Lord in prayer also ensured that they were always in an environment in which the presence of God was comfortable, and could not only be in them but also rest upon them . . . and fear came upon every soul.

The immediate effects of the culture that existed in verse 42 was that a godly fear and reverence was produced in the hearts of the people. They revered the God in them and never desired to offend Him. ...and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. The miracles, healings and acts done by the Church was also as a result of their lifestyle/culture. They lived as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the result was that they could truly operate as heavenly beings.

Acts 2:44-45

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 2:46

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

The early church had a perception of oneness. They understood that they were all baptized into the same Spirit and were then one with each other. They understood that they were in and of one another. Therefore, they operated as one man - Jesus Christ. They became a manifestation of Christ on the earth.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. When we look at the great increase in membership in the early days of the church, one may wonder why it is that it has seemingly slowed down so much. Having a couple visitors attending our church on Sunday is now a great achievement while the first day of the Church in Acts saw an increase in the thousands! The truth is that God knew those whom he had chosen for salvation and He had no issue in drawing them to the truth and the true culture He desired.

But consider the culture that exists in the church now. Is it one that God desires His newborn babes to be birthed into? Is the environment conducive to growth? Will the culture that is present teach them of their true heritage, or will they grow up confused by the compromise they see around them? The Lord is the one that adds members to the church, according to His foreknowledge and election, because He trusted the Church to raise them in the fear of the Lord. But what of now? Is the church a place that He feels comfortable subjecting His children to? Or is He protecting His elect from the corruption and sin that exists in the culture of the church?

CONCLUSION

Everyone must be sinless. If we follow in the steps that the scripture outlines, we will finally come to the glory of the early Church. If the dispensation of the law was glorious, how much more the dispensation of the latter day Church, the latter rain of God? Saints, the glory of our Lord is upon us. Be encouraged, and return to your first love.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

Hebrews 10:24 - 25

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Proverbs 27:17

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

John 13:12 - 15

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Sons Training October 30, 2017

The Christian Culture Lesson 32

God is exalting truth! This has been a constant and consistent theme throughout the ministry; and it is absolutely true. God is establishing the truth of the gospel in the earth. Though we have rehearsed this theme throughout the years, it is nevertheless true. One thing that the Lord Instructed Apostle Mary Banks to do is to stay home and raise up a demonstration of the truth. However, truth is Jesus Christ. There must therefore then be a demonstration of the life of Christ to accompany the revelations from God. God is establishing a ‘latter day early church’ or simply put, He is restoring the Body of Christ to a state of holiness. One day on a fast I was reading the book of Acts, seeing the life of the early church. It came to a point that I was no longer reading. I was simply looking at the words on the page. There was a desperation in my heart. In a whisper I said to the Lord, “Father, they are so different from us. We just simply do not think or behave like they did. What is it going to take to bring us there? Whatever it is Lord, please do it!”

This was actually in the middle of a Bible Study at home. We continued in discipleship until the Lord was through and everyone left. I was walking into my room, and I began to watch one of my favorite tv shows. A new episode is released every Saturday night. I hadn’t watched it in a while and I was prepared to enjoy it. There was nothing offensive to the Holy Ghost about the show itself, but I noticed that I suddenly was burdened and troubled in my spirit. It was then that I noticed, all the advertisements that were around the video I was watching was filled with suggestive and promiscuous images. It was then that I understood the burden the Lord was giving me. He then said to me “This is the reason you have not come to the state of the early church, they had respect for the Holy Ghost and you don’t.” I instantly got up in fear – praying. It was then that God revealed to me His mind and intent for the Church. He made plain to me exactly what the devil’s tool has been to keep the latter-day church out of true holiness.

THE DEVIL’S AGENDA

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The agenda of the devil is to keep the church lusting and wanton for the things of the world. In fact, he has achieved this feat. He did it by making the things of this world accessible. It was by his design that everything of his world would constantly be in our face. When you consider these gadgets, devices, and application software; they have all made the world and sin so accessible that a Christian has to do more sifting than resting. It was not God’s design for His sons, to be sifting through the things of the world, searching for acceptable entertainment. Rather, His instruction to us was to be separate and apart from the world all together. There are many Christians today who feel comfortable sitting in front of the television and watching R-rated movies. They watch these movies, proclaiming that their conscience is strong enough to bear them; however, is this the strength of the conscience or the searing of it? Moreover, God is not simply speaking to the movies we watch but also the ads that come between. The lack of respect He spoke about was our disposition where we can foresee something being an offense to the Holy Spirit, yet still force Him to partake in it. These are steps to reprobation. Listen to God describe those who refuse to retain God in their knowledge.

Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. When we continue to scroll on Facebook knowing that there will be something offensive to the Holy Spirit we are actually refusing to retain God in our knowledge. When we allow ourselves to be entertained by another’s sin, God sees us even as He sees them.

THE MYSTERY OF THE EARLY CHURCH REVEALED

The early church lived by some things that the present day church rarely considers. The Church started in Israel; the only country in the world that knew God. They knew of His works and His power. They witnessed God slay their fathers in the wilderness. They witnessed a man die simply for touching the Holy Ark of the Covenant. They saw the earth open up and swallow men alive. They knew that though God was merciful, He was also a terror. However, the gospel spoken to them was that this God was now present in them! Moreover, He did not take from them their ability to offend Him. He was now one with them, and would be in direct contact with every thought, emotion, action, exhalation, and disposition.

This created a respect and a fear in their hearts for the Holy Spirit. They did not want to do anything that would offend Him, lest it cost them their lives. Moreover, at the beginning of the Church, God confirmed this perception, when a couple lied to Peter, and God slew them on the spot.They collectively did not want to do anything to offend the Lord. … Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, It was the Lord’s instruction for them to be separate from the world. Their separation established a culture where sin was foreign. Their constant fellowship in the word and prayers, caused the world and its affairs to be strange. They were no longer familiar with the ways of the world, because they had established their own culture. This culture of the fear of the Lord, fellowship and prayer established the Church as another kingdom on the earth, with their own preferences and behaviors. It is this culture that discipled the people into the image of Christ, so much so that when they would have to go out in evangelism, the thinking and ways of the world were strange to them. Sin was strange to them; because their culture had sheltered them from sin, and had raised them in the way they ought to go.

ESTABLISHING THE CHRISTIAN CULTURE

Acts 2:42 - 47

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The verses above are the mystery of the early church revealed. They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship... The revelations given by the Apostles were now the doctrines that would govern their belief and understanding of God. Their lives were now based on these doctrines. Furthermore, they appreciated the government and order that God had installed in the Church. They respected Apostolic Order. They established a culture of continued fellowship in the word of God. They did not engage in idle conversations and sinful exchanges. Rather, their conversations were always seasoned with salt and in the fear of the Lord. This is constant discipleship that matures the new creature. It allowed the saints to constantly be in the word of God. Jesus said He lived by every word from the Father - they were His meat. Therefore, the church too must eat daily the word of God. It is the preaching of the word to one another that establishes a fear of the Lord and a preference for righteousness. The absence of the things of the world, causes the people to be unfamiliar with its affairs, and more familiar with the things of the Kingdom. Even so we should increase our Bible Studies, and our friends should be holy saints who delight in the word of God. Increase our conversations about the word and re-establish the Christian culture in our lives.

This Includes vulnerability and confession of our faults so that the body can disciple and restore each other to health. .. and in breaking of bread Jesus instructed us to come together often and partake in the communion. Though the communion is a remembrance of Christ’s death, it is also an offering to God. Even as a priest presented animal sacrifices to God in the law, even so the leader of the communion presents a spotless people to God. The bread of the communion is indicative of our bodies which belong to God. The wine is indicative of the blood of Jesus, which every soul has drunk of. The communion is a presentation to the Father of a spotless people. If there was sin in that presentation, that sinful member would leaven the whole lump. So, instead of destroying the whole body, God prefers to destroy or remove that sinful member so that the body would be completely holy. This caused many to be sick and die. The communion is one of God’s methods of purging the church. This caused fear to enter the hearts of men. They then would ensure they were walking righteously in order to partake in the feast and in prayers. Among all these things, the first works of prayer was never neglected in this culture. Praying and fasting sensitizes you to the Holy Spirit.

They make plain the will of God. They also afflict and humble the soul. Staying before the Lord in prayer also ensured that they were always in an environment in which the presence of God was comfortable, and could not only be in them but also rest upon them. ...And fear came upon every soul The immediate effects of the culture that existed in verse 42 was that a godly fear and reverence was produced in the hearts of the people. They revered the God in them and never desired to offend Him. ...and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. The miracles, healings and acts done by the Church was also as a result of their lifestyle/culture. They lived as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the result was that they could truly operate as heavenly beings. ...And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, The early church had a perception of oneness. They understood that they were all baptized into the same Spirit and were then one with each other. They understood that they were in and of one another. Therefore they operated as one man - Jesus Christ. They became a manifestation of Christ on the earth.

The fullness of His stature. As one, they were able to share all their possessions, to fellowship with each other, to be on one accord and in singleness of heart. They were the praise of God, His heart’s desire. ...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. When we look at the great increase in membership in the early days of the church, one may wonder why it is that it has seemingly slowed down so much. Having a couple visitors attending our church on Sunday is now a . great achievement while the first day of the Church in Acts saw an increase in the thousands! The truth is that God knew those whom he had chosen for salvation and He had no issue in drawing them to the truth and the true culture He desired. But consider the culture that exists in the church now. Is it one that God desires His newborn babes to birthed into? Is the environment conducive to growth? Will the culture that is present teach them of their true heritage, or will they grow up confused by the compromise they see around them? The Lord is the one that adds members to the church, according to His foreknowledge and election, because He trusted the Church to raise them in the fear of the Lord. But what of now? Is the church a place that He feels comfortable subjecting His children to? Or is He protecting His elect from the corruption and sin that exists in the culture of the church?

CONCLUSION

The lack of persecution in this hemisphere has caused the church to grow apathetic. They disregard the things of the Spirit. They subject the Holy Ghost to things that offend Him. When the Christian culture is missing, you will notice that the church is disjointed, carnal, lacking zeal, weary, and lacking reverence. However, when the culture is operating, manifested sons of God are produced. Now is the time for the truth to be demonstrated. The fullness of the stature of the man Jesus Christ must be seen in us. Everyone must be sinless. If we follow in the steps that the scripture outlines, we will come finally come to the glory of the early Church. If the dispensation of the law was glorious how much more the dispensation of the latter day Church, the latter rain of God? Saints, the glory of our Lord is upon us. Be encouraged, and return to your first love. With Love Kareem and Daniel.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

Hebrews 10:24 - 25

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Proverbs 27:17

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

John 13:12 - 15

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.