WORD OF POWER MINISTRIES

Church - Meaning of the The Word ?

The Church is not what people know it for. It is not a building. Some build buildings with symbols. They must put a sign that the church MEETS here.

It is not a denomination nor an organization. The church is not a clergy so that when something goes wrong, they can blame the clergy.

How the English word church came into the Bible.?
The word “church” is not an English word. It originated from Greek, to Latin and German, and finally English.

German = KIRIKA
Greek = KURIAKE
Old English = CIRICE
Today’s Eng = Church

The English Bible uses “church” to translate the New Testament Greek word "ekklesia", which has a totally different meaning to what we now understand the word “church” as.

Yeshua uses the word ‘church’ in two instances:

The word "church" from the Greek word "ekklesia", is mentioned by Yeshua only twice in the Gospels, both times in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matt 16:18 - And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Matt 18:17 - And if he refuses to hear them, tellitto the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

However, He spoke about the Kingdom of God more than 130 times in the four Gospels, and it appears more than 50 times in the Book of Matthew alone.

Yeshua’s heart and focus was His Kingdom.

Yet, the whole world of Christians has made the Title “Church” as their center.

The whole world knows the word “Church,” no matter what denomination or religion he or she belongs to. Mostly, the word “Church” is known to all, no matter what dialect or language people speak.

Even the unlearned know the word “Church” very well. On the other hand, if you say, “I belong to the Kingdom, let alone the phrase “called-out ones,” the listeners become perplexed.

So, what is the meaning of the word “church?”

The word “church” translated from the original Greek word in the New Testament is “ekklesia” meaning “called-out assembly”. While Ecclesia is the Latinized English spelling of the same word; both terms referring to the same concept: called-out ones.

Now that we understand the word “church” is “ekklesia/ecclesia” We will henceforth use the word Ecclesia to describe the word “church” that is commonly used.

Ecclesia is not a building like most people point out to a building and say, “this is my Church”.

Ecclesia is not a building that anyone can enter in and sit and leave.

No! It is a body of people called out for a purpose.

Elohim never called out buildings but people, out of darkness into His marvelous light.

As we read in 1 Pet 2:9 – “But youarea chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Did you know about this? Are you in the light or darkness? Vast majority of people in darkness, not knowing the truth and thinking that by sitting in a building that they call ‘church’ that they are alright. These people don’t know the word ‘Christian’ and think they are saved.

The next question is “Called out from Where?”

As we have learnt already the word ‘church’ in the original text means Ecclesia – called-out ones. So, you need to know where you are called out from?

They are the chosen people who are called out of darkness into the light. Darkness is satan’s kingdom. Those who are translated from satan’s kingdom into His Kingdom is in the light, because Elohim is light, His Son is light and so is His people.

Yeshua final prayer to the Father is for His disciples – not to have them removed from the world but to keep them from the evil one (the ruler of this world).

We can read in John 17:6, Yeshua is talking to His Father and praying to Him these words, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

Paul was given a mission from Yeshua after he met Him on the Damascus Street and was commanded by Yeshua in Acts 26: 18 – to open their eyes,in orderto turnthemfrom darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to Elohim, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Ultimately, we, the body of Yeshua is chosen and called out from darkness into His light and from the power of satan to Elohim for a purpose.

What does Yeshua mean by saying, “I will build My Church,” in Matt 16:18

As we have studied already, Yeshua used the word “church” only twice, citing Matt 16:18 and Matt 18: 17.

In Matt 16:18, Peter proclaimed Yeshua as the Messiah by revelation. He was just a fisherman. This revelation was given to him by the Father, not by any human being; from the Father Elohim directly to Peter in his heart. These who get the revelation directly from the Father are His sheep. No Pope or Cardinal or any important rich person can give any revelation from the Kingdom of Elohim. But, on basis of this Scripture a blatant lie has been told that Peter was the first Pope to legitimize what came out and is coming out of Rome.

After Peter’s confession of Yeshua as the Christ (Messiah); THE ANOINTED ONE, Yeshua proceeds by looking at Peter in his eyes and declares that this revelation is the ROCK, that He will build His called-out ones on this TRUTH, promising them that no matter what demons of hell are loose; it cannot prevail the chosen people.

Peter was a Jewish fisherman whose original name was Simon and Yeshua renamed him Cephas meaning “A stone”

In conclusion, a church is not a building, but a people called out from darkness into His Kingdom. They are the ones who have received the revelation of Yeshua from the Father. They are built by Yeshua and through Yeshua being the Chief Shepherd, this family of Elohim’s children worship and do the works of the Kingdom together for which they were called to do.