Re: What is the boundary of the Local Church?
The mindset of everyone in the NJ is to be a servant, not to be a lord. They have a new heart. Hence the wall is able to exclude all who make a lie, are abominable and unclean.
Matt 23:11 “the greatest among you will be your servant”
In the world the “greatest” are those who have servants. This flips the worldly dynamic. Wealth is measured in dollars which are then used to give you and your family every advantage. This process is what those of us without money call “corruption”, “bribery”, “influence”, etc.
Matt 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Combine this verse in Matt 18 with the verse in Matt 23 and it gives a new perspective on what the Lord is saying. You can be the child of a billionaire, or of a king, or a ruler. But, if you are two years old you have to listen to the nanny, to the cook, to the butler, to the doorman, to everyone you see. Once that child gets to the age of 10 they will start bossing the “servants” around. So to “humble yourself as a little child” as a 2 year old, indicates that you listen and submit to every single person you see regardless of their status or wealth.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
This is the “purpose of man”. Our purpose is not to live a life of luxury. Our purpose is to serve others. This changes everything. If a person is complaining they are now similar to a sensor in a car going off telling you there is a problem. Instead of castigating them, you listen to them and respond.
Mark 9:35And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.
It is this effort to “become first” that can be problematic. Think about cheating scandals and doping scandals. This is a result of people who “would be first”. Cheating is one way to win a race, but how do you “cheat” at being a “servant of all”? Balaam fashioned lies and traps to help Balak to be “Lord of all”, there was no need for any of that if Balak had wanted to be “servant of all”. This goal puts the liars and cheats and abominable ones out of business.
Luke 22:25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth.
Once again, this is the “purpose of man”. At the end of this age we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ to be judged for the things we have done during this age. If you chose “lordship over others” that will factor into your judgement.
John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
We can know if you are truly a servant of the Lord because you will be where the Lord is. To our impression the Lord’s presence will be with you. But from your perspective you are simply following the Lord who you serve.
1Peter 1:12 “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven.
If someone is confused they will confuse “serving themselves” with “serving the Lord”. These are the ones who will claim they did many works of power in the Lord’s name and He will tell them to depart because He never knew them. Today in the world people use their money, power and influence to serve themselves. In the NJ everyone is serving others, hence money, power and influence are used to serve others. We don't call that corruption, we call that charity.
Matt 20:27-28 And whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
If you are truly serving the Lord it will be “just like the Son of Man”. Your service will be “a ransom for many”. In the world people pay bribes to advance their agenda, in the NJ they pay ransoms to save others.
It is as though the wall separates out those who serve themselves from those who serve others.
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They shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God
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