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The
Led and Fed
Paradigm
Important: The views expressed in the following segment do not refer to any specific church or ministry. Nor are they meant to accuse, defame or cause undue hurt to ministry leadership.
What follows is a simple observation. It is hoped that the discussion of such may provoke meaningful introspection and plant seed which would contribute to meaningful change and increased Kingdom growth within the Church.
A Bold Statement:
For years a significant portion of the Church has held to a certain paradigm of corporate gathering and worship. “Led and Fed” is a reference to a communal paradigm where people arrive to be fed by capable leaders and led by gifted others. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, our purpose here is to consider a paradigm that we believe has fallen somewhat short of the Church’s calling. We believe that His calling is one of producing disciples who have a notable affect upon society as the salt and light the Lord has called His people to. It would be unfair to attribute the underlying reasons for the downward spiral of society the Word explains is inevitable upon the Church. Still, an honest look at the Church’s underwhelming effect upon at least slowing societal degradation points to the veracity of what is stated above. We simply can, should, and we believe eventually will, do better as the revival of repentance awakens the Church for the great Harvest ahead.
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The Key of Returning to Our “First Works”
It is no small thing that in His admonishment of the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:5) that Jesus does NOT tell the Ephesian brethren to return to the “first love” they lost for Him. He tells them instead to return to the “first works”. We are about to unpack this important principle.
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The word "I" has not been used within this website until now, Yet, as Matthias Ministries founder it is an important part of my own personal testimony to assume the responsibility of ownership with what is said here. That testimony began with seeking and waiting upon the Lord in prayer and study for over two years for an answer to a question that burned within. I needed to know what Jesus meant in regard to the "FIRST WORKS" that He called His loveless church back to in Revelation 2:5. I've come to understand that His call to return continues to ring for many across thousands of years to this very day. Returning to our "first works" is still the remedy for lack of growth in love for Him. For a deeper teaching about this consider watching the short 5th video episode of "An Honest Truth" by clicking "Video and MP3". Nevertheless, there are at least two crucial first works. The first work is the difficult and often elusive one of "honesty". No soul had ever accepted Jesus Christ without first coming to the honest assessment of their sin before crying out to their Savior. In that early season of being awakened out of death and receiving ears that begin to hear truth and eyes finally able to comprehend His glorious Kingdom how many are silent? Not one! Yet, the plural nature of "first works" goes beyond the first work of honesty and includes the second joyful work of "testimony". This work, that springs up out of a heart of loving gratitude in our first meeting Him, is our focus and of great importance to what is said here.
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Our aim in this section is to make the case that there is a crucial role the Church is designed to play within the expression of the corporate gathering and worship of God’s people in regard to testimony. By design, church is the safe and ideal place for His people to learn, understand and comprehend our great calling to testimony. We must effectively learn and move toward this. Without such it is unlikely we will see an increase of the Church’s effectiveness and willingness to yield life giving testimony within our dying society.
Given how far our society has fallen from the Christian values that once defined us, consider the following sentence closely. There is a significant difference in the dynamic role of testimony within the first century Church and that of the large modern- day Church of today. Testimony was a critical part of the early Church who “had all things in common”. They actually grew in the "spirit of prophecy" that Revelation 19:10 calls "the testimony of Jesus" as believers of their day were fed to lions. In contrast testimony had waned in the comfort and safety that allows a led and fed dynamic to flourish.
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Our call to be salt and light is inextricably linked to testimony. Yet, we believe a lack of understanding and focus upon the importance of testimony, in and through the Body of Christ, is at the root of a weakness within today's Church. That weakness is seen though our ineffectiveness to touch society's increasing plunge into Godless darkness. The truth is testimony, while usually among the “first works” of new believers, often diminishes over time as believers grow comfortable within the Led and Fed paradigm of many local churches.
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A people who merely believe will never affect their society and their world for the Kingdom of God as do disciples who understand the importance of their testimonies in Christ and are ready and able to yield them to others.
The Command to Testify
And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify
that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead.
Acts 10:42
Peter clearly understood the two commands the Lord gave in Acts 10:42. Those commands were to preach and testify. The word used for “preach” here means to “proclaim that which must be listened to and obeyed”, and speaks directly to His Word. Those with a grasp of God’s Word are able to move in this power. Yet, it is the substance and meaning of the second word “testify” that intrigues. The word testify speaks to giving personal testimony which compels others to receive as fact that which is preached as truth. Testimony not only validates the preached truth through the evidence of personal experience, it is often the first truth that others hear. Often it is the “walking epistle” that first introduces the lost to their Savior.
Throughout New Testament writings it is clear that the personal testimony of God’s truths has played a vital role in building the Church. The famous quote “we are the only Bible some will ever read” was as true yesterday as it is today. Acts 10:42 is only one of many places in Scripture which highlights the truth that it is testimony that drives God’s Word deepest in the hearts of those struggling to hear. Additionally, the “people” mentioned in Acts 10:42 who benefit from the teaching and testimony commanded are not specified. They can and should be understood as “whosoever” believers and non-believers alike. It is one of many reasons why we must understand that God’s use of our testimony is crucial to both the world and the Church.
Our testimonies are God given. Selah…dwell upon that reality for a minute. They are gifts we are greatly privileged to receive. It really is a little wonder that our testimonies on Christ are indispensable in teaching, affirming and exhorting others. They are also that which the Holy Spirit uses to edify and bring correction to brethren. Moreover, testimony is absolutely crucial to our effectiveness in answering His call to the Great Commission. Nevertheless, there is a lack of personal testimony of Jesus within the Body of Christ that is undeniable. This is a weakness that can and must be strengthened.
Where the Led and Fed Paradigm Lacks
At this point we should agree upon the importance of our testimony in regard to both the Harvest and the Church. Even so, many believers hold a shallow view of testimony that is limited to their Salvation experience. Salvation testimonies are common to every believer and are the easiest form of testimony to understand. Yet, to further press the point of how little testimony is regarded in many churches, ask yourself the following question. How much of an understanding do you have of the Salvation testimonies of those you sit beside every week in Church?
How can we expect to see true confidence and a genuine willingness within brethren to yield testimonies in a cold society if such is a relative rarity in the warmth and safety of our communal worship gatherings? Please take a moment to consider that last question, for it is right here where the Led and Fed Paradigm comes up short and misses the mark.
Getting Beyond Three Common Requirements
Because we’ve repeated the term “Led and Fed paradigm”, let’s take just a moment to more closely define it. Although not limited to the following, local churches who operate in a led and fed paradigm generally hold three reasonable expectations in regard to their church family. Those expectations are:
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A professed love for God and for the brethren that enables one to worship in communally in one accord.
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Faithfulness to attend regular church services in agreement with set in leadership and the vision of that ministry.
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Faithfulness to contribute financially to the work of the church.
These are three essential and wonderful attributes that define a majority in many churches. It is also very understandable why any ministry would, and should, hold such as reasonable. Yet, these are only the beginning of what it actually takes to strengthen a Body that will produce Kingdom building disciples.
If the three examples above define the majority in a church, or are perceived as adequate for the Christian, we fall short and begin to foster a “spectator sport”. A Body that is equipped and willing to testify will tend to reverse this deficiency.
The Word declares that “the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophesy” (Revelation 19:10) because the Holy Spirit desires to breathe life upon and through those who yield such testimony. Failure to place even the slightest demand upon the anointing for such within brethren leaves the modern Church a producer, not of disciples, but of converts seeking only to be led and fed.
Placing A Demand Upon the Anointing
You may wonder what does “placing a demand upon the anointing” mean? It is a phrase that sounds presumptuous or even disrespectful to some. Yet, this charismatic phrase points to agreeing with, and honoring, what God already desires to empower and accomplish through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Placing a demand actually means to agree and expect what God desires and thereby honors Him by acknowledging His purpose in us and others. It is the reality of waiting upon God in expectant faith.
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Some wonder how anyone can “assume” to know what God wants to do? Yet, we understand His nature, character and desire through His Word. We clearly understand His desire for us to be salt and light in a darkening world and Revelation 19:10 tells us that our “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”. In this particular context, “placing a demand upon the anointing” simply points to God’s desire to move through people with willing hearts who have learned and become able to lift up Jesus through honest Spirit inspired testimony. A ministry focus that helps His people seek and find such a heart, and that works to strengthen and encourage those that already do, finds itself in agreement with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And, a healthy Church is one that is instrumental in making sure that we don’t drift from the primary work of our testimony in Christ. This should remain a constant priority.
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The Blessing of Sensitive and Obedient Leadership
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It is no small thing that Jesus addressed the head of each of the churches admonished in Revelation 2 and 3. Sensitivity and obedience to the Holy Spirit in leadership goes a long way in raising disciples out of the ranks of converts. Church leadership that learns to move in wisdom and allocate time and place for testimony in the communal and worship gathering will accomplish at least four absolutely vital things:
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First, they give place for the Lord to be honored through the testimony of His Bride, who is called to learn, and increase, in her expression of love for Him.
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Second, they begin to enable and strengthen the ability and desire of God’s people to move beyond anxiety, fear and insecurity to honor Him through their yielded testimony.
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Third, they begin to allow the effective nature of yielded testimony to teach, encourage and sharpen each present in the assembly as only testimony can.
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Fourth, they begin to strengthen and equip brethren’s understanding, desire and confidence in regard to testimony. This opens a wider door to the blessing of brethren increasingly yielding their testimonies BEYOND the walls of the Church.
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The Led and Fed Paradigm Accomplishes Much…But There is More
None of what has been mentioned to this point is meant to diminish the Church that Jesus loves and is perfecting. The Led and Fed church paradigm accomplishes much in obedience to His call to the Great Commission. From ministry of the Word, intercessory prayer, and the worship of obedience within food pantries, to ministries that target people in every situation, the work of the Church touches countless lives for Christ.
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Still, what has been clearly described within the “Led and Fed” portion of this website can be, and needs to be, a starting place for some. Teaching about what makes testimony desirable and effectively communicable must find its way into the life of today’s Church. Making place for and encouraging regular testimony can become the beginning of a great move “into the pews” for His great purpose through His people outside of the walls of the church.
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Matthias Ministries calls this a “beginning”. After desiring, considering and studying the implementation of TESTIMONY within the corporate worship gathering for several years, we realize that we have only scratched the tip of an iceberg. This website is only a beginning itself. As we learn and grow, we hope for the Lord to bring increase in depth to what we teach, convey and model to all who have been given an ear to hear and a heart to desire.
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A Final Word
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As we come to the close of this segment please remember that there are many additional resources throughout this website, and more will come in the future.
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We thank God for the local church where the true Gospel is proclaimed TO His people regularly. Nevertheless, the Gospel proclaimed TO His people is in no way the same as when Jesus is proclaimed THROUGH His people. The TO is for the explicit purpose of THROUGH. As the Church begins to more fully embrace the ministry of the Holy Spirit through testimony, we will see a greater raising up of disciples. Surely, it is disciples who are the Harvest workers Jesus commands us to pray for. Again, it can't be overstated that the testimony of Christ, which is true prophecy according to Revelation 19:10, is a goal most worthy of time, resource and pursuit.
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If you have an ear to hear what has been shared here, visit “The Sound of Heaven” portion of the Matthias Ministries website. There you will find a deeper look into the 'how and why" of the Testimony of Christ, as well as its centrality to God’s purpose both now and in the days ahead.
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Finally, please re-read the first few sentences labeled “Important”
posted at the beginning of our consideration of this “Led and Fed” section
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