Biblical Church Protocol:
One of the key core doctrines traditionally referred to as dogma, is church protocols.
There's a huge portion of Christendom that believes in Cessationism: A theology is that believes that miraculous spiritual gifts—such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and direct physical healing—ceased with the end of the apostolic age and the completion of the New Testament. Here at REDEMPTIONCORPS INTERNATIONAL we do not embrace any doctrine that is founded on fragmented scriptures. They're simply too many New Testament scriptures that direct us and guide us in what we now refer to as a spirit filled or spirit lead church or Holy Ghost meetings. To embrace the doctrine of Cessationism, one would have to redact a huge chunk of the New Testament and ignore the Head of The Church to believe this. And since Jesus himself said, the scriptures cannot be broken we will do no such a thing. With the help of the Holy Spirit, to rightly divide the word of God without breaking scripture, keeping in it's proper context, definition, and dispensation.
The Apostle Paul speaks very specifically to the Corinthians on how to have Church and a meeting that is set apart as a Holy Ghost meeting. In times past during the Charismatic renewal, as well as in Pentecostal circles these core biblical principles either have been not taught, or they were set aside inappropriately. Once again, we are REDEMPTIONCORPS INTERNATIONAL endeavor to be pleasing to the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible gives clear direction concerning our relationships with our seniors, our peers, and our juniors. If Church leadership does not train the Lord's flock, these foundational fundamental protocols will leave the Body of Christ, vulnerable to the spirit of the world which endeavors to rewrite God's order of things.
Lesson Number One:
The word of God is first and final authority. And to the degree that we step out from under its authority is the exact degree the devil has spiritual legal right to create chaos.
ALL CHURCH AUTHORITY MUST BE BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD. No individual is the final authority in the Body of Christ. All church ABBA's (fathers) can only lead, guide and feed based on the Word of God in its proper dispensation. No one can lead another in the Body of Christ outside of the word of God - - This is where there authority stops and the junior in the relationship can seek protection through another Church.
There are no gurus in the Body of Christ with absolute authority. This is a sure sign of a misapplied ministry at best, or a false teacher at worst. These individuals should NOT be feared, followed, or financed. We do not want to share in other people's the sins of. - - 1 Timothy 5:22. There's only one way for us to know when there is a False Prophets and or False Teacher. It's simply by knowing the Word of God, rightly dividing it in its proper dispensation, as well as wrapping it around the character of Jesus and His holy love.
True Abba-leader's in the Body of Christ, do not bully, intimidate, or subjugate people through charismatic manipulation. They entreat, they encourage, they exhort with the Word of God - - nothing more, nothing less. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself has commanded us not to lead and assert authority like the Gentiles:
But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.- - Matthew 20:25.
This is another sure sign that you were in a misapplied Church/Ministry or under a False Teacher or a False Prophet.
Lesson Number Two:
There is Biblical Authority in the New Testament but it is not like the Old Testament - - We only have one Ruler. If the New Covenant believer understood the Word of God they would not waste time with those who merge the two Covenants for their convience. The role and Authority of the Fivefold Office (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher) is different from the role of those Old Covenant Offices. They were rulers not Abba-leaders as described in the New Testment Greek.
In the Old Testament they were, in fact, rulers -- This is not applicable in the New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, only three categories of individuals had the Holy Spirit, the Prophet, the High Priest, the Judge, and then later on the King. No one else in the Old Testament dispensation had the Holy Spirit. They may have had Blessings of the Lord, they may have had Angels assisting them because of the Blessing but they did not have the Holy Spirit like we do today. This is just one of the paradigm shifts from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
None of the Old Testament saints could become Born Again until the Death, Burial and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, Old Testament Saints became born again when Jesus was resurrected. Up until then the Old Testament righteous person could not go to heaven. They when to Sheol (hell). Yes we said that! But it's not like one would think. Hell has not yet been thrown into the Lake of Fire. pre-the Death, Burial, and Resurrection righteous people went to Abraham's Bossom - - Luke 16:22. Abraham's bosom was, a paradise section of Sheol for the spiritually dead. When Jesus said to the thief that was being crucified with Him:
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” - - Luke 23:43. To study this biblical reality READ LUKE 16:19
This is what Jesus was referring to. No one could go to heaven at that point and specifically since Jesus was becoming SIN FOR US neither could He.
The Fivefold Office (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher)
It is Paramount that we understand this paradigm shift from Old Covenant principles and to the New Covenant bylaws. There's only one ruler in the Body of Christ and His name not Pastor, it is the Lord Jesus Christ. However, He has given gifts on two men, and these gifts are the for the equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry and for the maturing of believers into the image of Jesus Christ.
Lesson Number Three:
The Role of New Testament Prophecy.
Since the foundation of the first generation Christianity, the role of the apostle is different ,as well as, the Prophet. Just like constructing a building, the foundation has been laid. There's no more need for foundational apostles, and profits. This is a sure sign of at best, a misapplied ministry; at worst, false brothers, False Teachers, False Prophet.
HALLMARKS OF MISAPPLIED MINISTRY
All Hallmark signs of a misapplied ministry (or worse) is the Word of God is not first and final authority. Scripture is marginalized and only fragments of scripture are used out of context, dispensation and even established defintions of the original language. The leadership becomes your personal ruler and guru and the only one who can hear from God. Your own discernment is marginalized to the elder's, so-called divine wisdom. There is a line that is crossed into the subordinates time, talent, treasure. And if the subordinate is not living up to the so-called biblical standards of these prophet/teacher/guru types there is fear, shame, and shunning, by the leadership. None of this belongs in the New Testament Church. And has nothing to do with Biblical Church Protocols.