Ekklesia (Spiritual Government)
Spiritual Government is the Lord’s ekklesia on earth! You may be asking, what does that mean? Well let’s delve into what the word ekklesia actually meant in history, in the Bible as well as in today’s battle of good versus evil.
Ekklesia is a Greek word meaning the called out assembly.
ek (G1537) - out
kaleo (G2564) - calling
The Greeks and Romans knew this to be a governmental word, not a religious word. They were the ruling council, the ones who decided what would and wouldn’t be allowed in that area. Today, we know this to be our local (city/township or county) government.
Ekklesia is a Greek word meaning the called out assembly.
ek (G1537) - out
kaleo (G2564) - calling
The Greeks and Romans knew this to be a governmental word, not a religious word. They were the ruling council, the ones who decided what would and wouldn’t be allowed in that area. Today, we know this to be our local (city/township or county) government.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church (ekklesia), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”” Matthew 16:17-19
Dean Briggs in his book, Ekklesia Rising, states that in this above passage “church is the wrong concept because it literally is the wrong word. It’s not a poor translation, but a a mistranslation of the original language. While such a suggestion is no doubt controversial, please bear with me and I’ll prove it in time. Furthermore, if true, it is critical that we admit our error. Why? Because we want to discern Jesus’s actual mission, not some historically entrenched mistranslation, however dear it has become to our hearts. What if the church can’t actually do what Jesus said we were supposed to do? What if it takes an ekklesia?” Think on that.
In Matthew 16:19, Jesus described that He was giving the keys of the kingdom of heaven to His ekklesia, to bind and to loose according His will in heaven and on earth. And, that the gates of hades would not prevail against us. What are the gates? Gates are entry and exit pathways. Gates allow or prevent things from coming in or leaving. Please read more about Kingdom Gatekeeping Strategy. We have a mighty responsibility!
How different would our lives, communities and governments look if we, as the Lord’s ekklesia, understood our true identity and our mission? When two or three are gathered together in His name, we can write the bylaws according to His will for our township, city or county, being kingdom lawgivers. Hallelujah! Think on that.
In the scripture versus below, Jesus is describing to Peter what He has called His followers to be, His ekklesia, His called out assembly and ruling council on this earth against the gates of hades. The word ekklesia was unfortunately replaced with the word church (an English word that means building), thus our identity that He has given us has been hidden….until now!
In Matthew 16:19, Jesus described that He was giving the keys of the kingdom of heaven to His ekklesia, to bind and to loose according His will in heaven and on earth. And, that the gates of hades would not prevail against us. What are the gates? Gates are entry and exit pathways. Gates allow or prevent things from coming in or leaving. Please read more about Kingdom Gatekeeping Strategy. We have a mighty responsibility!
How different would our lives, communities and governments look if we, as the Lord’s ekklesia, understood our true identity and our mission? When two or three are gathered together in His name, we can write the bylaws according to His will for our township, city or county, being kingdom lawgivers. Hallelujah! Think on that.
In the scripture versus below, Jesus is describing to Peter what He has called His followers to be, His ekklesia, His called out assembly and ruling council on this earth against the gates of hades. The word ekklesia was unfortunately replaced with the word church (an English word that means building), thus our identity that He has given us has been hidden….until now!
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20
So how does the ekklesia of the Lord function as a community of believers? The book of Acts gives us a good picture of the lives of believers. They had corporate gatherings such as the Upper room, Solomon’s porch or Tyrannus Hall but most of the time they met in each other’s homes, broke bread, had fellowship and prayer. It was all centered around relationship with the Lord and with each other, everyone taking part in the gathering.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church (ekklesia) daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.“
Acts 20:20
The purpose of the ekklesia is to bring about transformation in all aspects of our lives and in our community, declaring the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven through prayer!
In “Ekklesia Rising”, Dean Briggs proposes ten aspects for a new mindset charter regarding ekklesia and how it should function. He refers to these as the “Ten Commandments of Ekklesia”. Though they really aren’t commandments, they can be helpful to those who step into their true identity as the Lord’s ekklesia and begin governing in prayer.
1. Corporate
2. Covenantal
3. Clean
4. Christ-centered
5. Contextual
6. Compassionate
7. Consecrated
8. Controlled by Spirit
9. Clear purpose
10. Contending spirit
The world is waiting and groaning!
In “Ekklesia Rising”, Dean Briggs proposes ten aspects for a new mindset charter regarding ekklesia and how it should function. He refers to these as the “Ten Commandments of Ekklesia”. Though they really aren’t commandments, they can be helpful to those who step into their true identity as the Lord’s ekklesia and begin governing in prayer.
1. Corporate
2. Covenantal
3. Clean
4. Christ-centered
5. Contextual
6. Compassionate
7. Consecrated
8. Controlled by Spirit
9. Clear purpose
10. Contending spirit
The world is waiting and groaning!
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” Romans 8:19
May the ekklesia of the Lord arise and take their place!
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” Isaiah 60:1-2
To learn more about ekklesia and home or community congregations please see these references below For ways to implement our ekklesia assignments in community, please visit Ekklesia In Action.
Also, please consider watching the short introductory videos on Omega Kingdom Ministy. You just might find yourself wanting to take bootcamp & even advanced classes. Lastly, please consider reading Dean Briggs book, “Ekklesia Rising: The Authority of Christ in Communities of Contending Prayer’. You can order here. |
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