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COME OUT - THE EKKLESIA IS CALLING - ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER - HOLYSPIRIT10X.COM

Jesus promised that He would build His ekklesia (church). We know the ekklesia is not a buidling made of dead bricks. Jesus is building with living stones—real people like you and me. Jesus is building people on Himself. He is the cornerstone. And He is building on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus is into building people who can host the glory of God—individually and corporately. The ekklesia is a Kingdom family. Find out more characteristics of Jesus' ekklesia. It may differ much from what we normally understand as 'church.' But we are living in the last times when God is restoring the ekklesia to God's purpose.

Jesus promised that He would build His ekklesia (church).
We know the ekklesia is not a buidling made of dead bricks. Jesus is building with living stones—real people like you and me.
Jesus is building people on Himself. He is the cornerstone. And He is building on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
Jesus is into building people who can host the glory of God—individually and corporately.
The ekklesia is a Kingdom family.
Find out more characteristics of Jesus' ekklesia.
It may differ much from what we normally understand as 'church.'
But we are living in the last times when God is restoring the ekklesia to God's purpose.

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<strong><strong>COM</strong>E</strong> <strong>OUT</strong><br />

The Ekklesia<br />

Is Calling<br />

<strong>ALBERT</strong> EL<strong>IS</strong>HA <strong>OBERDORFER</strong>


2<br />

Who is it?


JESUS <strong>IS</strong> <strong>CALLING</strong>.<br />

JESUS is calling you to be part of His<br />

church.<br />

His ekklesia.<br />

The ‘called out.’<br />

This is what the word ‘ekklesia’ means.<br />

Jesus has called you into His kingdom.<br />

Your interests are now focused on the<br />

Kingdom of God.<br />

The Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />

His rule and reign.<br />

You are saying,<br />

“Let your kingdom come.”<br />

“Let your will be done in my life.”<br />

You are seeking an eternal Kingdom.<br />

So you are no longer merely occupied<br />

with the affairs of this life.<br />

3


Your life is consumed by one thing.<br />

How you can please your King.<br />

Jesus.<br />

How you can offer your life to Him as<br />

a pleasing sacrifice.<br />

You are saying to King Jesus, “Take<br />

my life and mold it as you please.”<br />

“I am living my life for you.”<br />

“I no longer belong to myself.”<br />

“I am yours.”<br />

“For your purposes and unto your<br />

glory.”<br />

“My Lord and my King.”<br />

If you are part of His ekklesia, Jesus<br />

has also called you into a fellowship.<br />

A Kingdom family.<br />

What then are the characteristics of<br />

Christ’s ekklesia, His Kingdom family?<br />

This is the subject of this book.<br />

4


My life belongs to Jesus.<br />

5


CONTENTS<br />

<strong><strong>COM</strong>E</strong> <strong>OUT</strong> ... 1<br />

JESUS <strong>IS</strong> <strong>CALLING</strong>. 3<br />

PART 1: CHARACTER<strong>IS</strong>TICS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

11<br />

1 JESUS <strong>IS</strong> <strong>THE</strong> BUILDER OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong>.<br />

12<br />

2 JESUS <strong>IS</strong> BUILDING <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> WITH<br />

LIVING STONES. 14<br />

3 JESUS HIMSELF <strong>IS</strong> <strong>THE</strong> CORNERSTONE OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong>. 16<br />

4 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> BUILD UPON <strong>THE</strong><br />

FOUNDATION OF <strong>THE</strong> APOSTLES AND<br />

PROPHETS. 18<br />

5 INCREASE IN <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong><strong>COM</strong>E</strong>S<br />

FROM GOD. * 20<br />

6 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> KINGDOM FOCUSED. 22<br />

7 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> A KINGDOM FAMILY.<br />

6


24<br />

8 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> LED BY <strong>THE</strong> HOLY<br />

SPIRIT. 26<br />

9 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> ARE<br />

SECURE IN <strong>THE</strong>IR IDENTITY. 28<br />

10 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> KNOW<br />

<strong>THE</strong> FA<strong>THE</strong>R’S LOVE. 30<br />

11 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> A D<strong>IS</strong>CIPLEMAKING<br />

MOVEMENT. 32<br />

12 <strong>THE</strong> SIGNS THAT JESUS MENTIONED<br />

IN MARK 16 FOLLOW <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong>. 36<br />

13 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> PREACHES <strong>THE</strong> KINGDOM<br />

OF GOD AND <strong>THE</strong> NAME OF JESUS CHR<strong>IS</strong>T<br />

38<br />

14 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> REACHES <strong>OUT</strong>. 40<br />

15 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> ALSO MEETS IN HOUSES.<br />

42<br />

16 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUSES ON<br />

MULTIPLICATION. 44<br />

17 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> CHAMPIONS GRACE. 46<br />

7


18 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUS<br />

ON SERVING IN LOVE IN <strong>THE</strong> ABILITY THAT<br />

<strong>THE</strong> HOLY SPIRIT SUPPLIES 48<br />

19 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUESES ON MIN<strong>IS</strong>TERING<br />

TO <strong>THE</strong> LORD FIRST. 50<br />

20 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUSES ON HOSTING <strong>THE</strong><br />

PRESENCE OF GOD. 52<br />

21 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUSES ON INTIMACY<br />

WITH GOD. 54<br />

22 <strong>THE</strong> EXPRESSIONS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> ARE<br />

ORGANIC. 56<br />

20 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> FOCUSES ON DOING WHAT<br />

GOD <strong>IS</strong> BLESSING. 58<br />

23 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

PRACTICE A CULTURE OF HONOR. 60<br />

O<strong>THE</strong>R BOOKS BY <strong>ALBERT</strong> EL<strong>IS</strong>HA 94<br />

8


9


10


PART 1:<br />

CHARACTER<strong>IS</strong>TICS OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

11


1 JESUS <strong>IS</strong> <strong>THE</strong><br />

BUILDER OF <strong>THE</strong><br />

<strong>EKKLESIA</strong>.<br />

WHO <strong>IS</strong> the builder of the ekklesia?<br />

It’s Jesus.<br />

Jesus said,<br />

[Matthew 16:18]<br />

“I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH<br />

[<strong>EKKLESIA</strong>], and the gates of Hades<br />

shall not prevail against it.”<br />

So the ekklesia is built by no man.<br />

Christ is the one who builds it.<br />

And it belongs to Him.<br />

It’s His ekklesia.<br />

12


13


2 JESUS <strong>IS</strong> BUILDING<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> WITH<br />

LIVING STONES.<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> is not a building<br />

made with dead bricks.<br />

Christ is building His ekklesia with<br />

living stones.<br />

With real people—like you and me.<br />

Peter said,<br />

[1 Peter 2:5]<br />

... you also, AS LIVING STONES,<br />

ARE BEING BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL<br />

HOUSE, a holy priesthood, to offer<br />

up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to<br />

God through Jesus Christ.<br />

14


This is not an ekklesia.<br />

This can be an ekklesia.<br />

15


3 JESUS HIMSELF <strong>IS</strong><br />

<strong>THE</strong> CORNERSTONE OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong>.<br />

CHR<strong>IS</strong>T is the cornerstone of the<br />

ekklesia.<br />

16


He is the rock.<br />

And on Himself, He is building His<br />

church.<br />

[Matthew 16:18]<br />

13 When Jesus came into the region<br />

of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His<br />

disciples, saying, “Who do men say<br />

that I, the Son of Man, am?”<br />

14 So they said, “Some say John<br />

the Baptist, some Elijah, and others<br />

Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”<br />

“15 He said to them, “But who do<br />

you say that I am?”<br />

16 Simon Peter answered and said,<br />

“YOU ARE <strong>THE</strong> CHR<strong>IS</strong>T, <strong>THE</strong> SON<br />

OF <strong>THE</strong> LIVING GOD.”<br />

17 Jesus answered and said to him,<br />

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,<br />

for flesh and blood has not revealed<br />

this to you, but My Father who is in<br />

heaven.<br />

18 And I also say to you that you are<br />

Peter, and ON TH<strong>IS</strong> ROCK I WILL<br />

BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates<br />

of Hades shall not prevail against it.<br />

17


18<br />

4 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong><br />

BUILD UPON <strong>THE</strong><br />

FOUNDATION OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> APOSTLES AND<br />

PROPHETS.


PAUL himself was an apostle.<br />

He says to the ekklesia in Ephesus,<br />

[Ephesians 2:16:18]<br />

18 For through Him we both have<br />

access by one Spirit to the Father.<br />

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer<br />

strangers and foreigners, but fellow<br />

citizens with the saints and members<br />

of the household of God,<br />

20 HAVING BEEN BUILT ON <strong>THE</strong><br />

FOUNDATION OF <strong>THE</strong> APOSTLES<br />

AND PROPHETS, Jesus Christ<br />

Himself being the chief cornerstone,<br />

21 in whom the whole building,<br />

being joined together, grows into a<br />

holy temple in the Lord,<br />

22 in whom you also are being built<br />

together for a dwelling place of God<br />

in the Spirit.<br />

Why apostles and prophets?<br />

Because they provide God-given<br />

wisdom and prophetic insight.<br />

19


5 INCREASE IN <strong>THE</strong><br />

<strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong><strong>COM</strong>E</strong>S<br />

FROM GOD.<br />

20<br />

JESUS is building His ekklesia.<br />

But He doesn’t do it alone.<br />

He chooses to build it with and through<br />

us.<br />

In other words, He calls us to co-labor<br />

with Him.<br />

And when an increase happens, we<br />

understand that it is because of God. It<br />

is not because of us.<br />

We are only servants. Paul, the apostle,<br />

understood this well. He says,<br />

[1 Corinthians 3:7]<br />

“... Neither he who plants is anything,<br />

nor he who waters, but GOD GIVES<br />

<strong>THE</strong> INCREASE.


21


6 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong><br />

KINGDOM FOCUSED.<br />

IF WE ARE part of Jesus’ ekklesia,<br />

we are Kingdom-focused.<br />

Our interest is in the affairs of the<br />

Kingdom.<br />

Not our kingdom.<br />

But Christ’s.<br />

We seek His Kingdom first.<br />

And all other things that we need for<br />

living shall be added unto us.<br />

This is what Jesus promised.<br />

[Matthew 6:33]<br />

“SEEK FIRST <strong>THE</strong> KINGDOM OF<br />

GOD AND H<strong>IS</strong> RIGHTEOUSNESS,<br />

AND ALL <strong>THE</strong>SE THINGS SHALL<br />

BE ADDED TO YOU.”<br />

22


23


7 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> A<br />

KINGDOM FAMILY.<br />

AS MEMBERS of the ekklesia, we<br />

are part of a family.<br />

A Kingdom family.<br />

Through Christ, we have been adopted<br />

into God’s family. We have become<br />

children of God. God is our Father.<br />

Paul says in Romans 8,<br />

[Romans 8:14-17]<br />

14 For as many as are led by the<br />

Spirit of God, these are sons of God.<br />

15 For you did not receive the spirit<br />

of bondage again to fear, but you<br />

received the Spirit of adoption by<br />

whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”<br />

16 The Spirit Himself bears<br />

witness with our spirit that we are<br />

CHILDREN OF GOD,<br />

24


17 and if children, then heirs--heirs<br />

of God and joint heirs with Christ, if<br />

indeed we suffer with Him, that we<br />

may also be glorified together.<br />

In Ephesians 2, Paul also says,<br />

[Ephesians 2:14-15]<br />

14 ... I bow my knees to the Father<br />

of our Lord Jesus Christ,<br />

15 from whom the whole FAMILY in<br />

heaven and earth is named ...<br />

This means that the Kingdom of God<br />

is a family.<br />

Once we have received the Holy<br />

Spirit, we are members of the family<br />

of God. A Kingdom family.<br />

25


8 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong> LED<br />

BY <strong>THE</strong> HOLY SPIRIT.<br />

<strong>THE</strong> HEAD OF the ekklesia is the<br />

Holy Spirit.<br />

He leads us.<br />

As we grow up spiritually, we become<br />

more and more able to follow the Holy<br />

Spirit’s leading.<br />

[Romans 8:14-17]<br />

For as many as are LED BY <strong>THE</strong><br />

SPIRIT OF GOD, these are sons<br />

[‘hios’] of God.<br />

A mature son (a ‘hios’) is someone<br />

who is able to follow the leading of the<br />

Holy Spirit.<br />

So fully mature sons are fully lead by<br />

the Holy Spirit.<br />

This, of course, is a process.<br />

26


So the ekklesia recognizes the<br />

headship of the Holy Spirit.<br />

She is learning to obey the voice and<br />

the leading of the Holy Spirit.<br />

27


9 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF <strong>THE</strong><br />

<strong>EKKLESIA</strong> ARE SECURE<br />

IN <strong>THE</strong>IR IDENTITY.<br />

[Mark 81:11-12]<br />

“You are My beloved Son, in whom I<br />

am well pleased.”<br />

IN GOD’S kingdom, we know who<br />

we are.<br />

We are children of the most high God.<br />

He calls us ‘beloved.’<br />

He calls us His very own.<br />

He looks at us with eyes of love.<br />

Before we ever do anything, we are<br />

secure in Him.<br />

We know who we are.<br />

28


Like Jesus.<br />

Before Jesus ever performed any<br />

miracles, the Father affirmed His<br />

identity.<br />

This is the starting point and constant<br />

reference point of our walk with God.<br />

29


10 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> KNOW<br />

<strong>THE</strong> FA<strong>THE</strong>R’S LOVE.<br />

TO FUNCTION well in God’s<br />

kingdom, we need to know, experience,<br />

and live in the Father’s love.<br />

Just like Jesus who knew, experienced<br />

and constantly lived in the Father’s<br />

love.<br />

At Jesus’ baptism, the Father openly<br />

declared His love for Jesus, saying<br />

[Mark 81:11-12]<br />

“You are My beloved Son, in whom I<br />

am well pleased.”<br />

30<br />

Jesus continually declared this truth<br />

in the following statements.<br />

[John 3:35]<br />

The Father loves the Son, and has<br />

given all things into His hands.


And,<br />

[John 5:20]<br />

For the Father loves the Son, and<br />

shows Him all things that He<br />

Himself does ...<br />

John, the apostle of love, also referred<br />

to this foundational truth that God, the<br />

Father loves us dearly.<br />

[1 John 3:1]<br />

Behold what manner of love the<br />

Father has bestowed on us, that we<br />

should be called children of God.<br />

We need to live in this truth daily and<br />

keep ourselves in the Father’s love.<br />

31


11 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> <strong>IS</strong><br />

A D<strong>IS</strong>CIPLE-MAKING<br />

MOVEMENT.<br />

Jesus told us to go and make<br />

disciples of all nations.<br />

MAKING disciples is a process.<br />

It is not something that happens<br />

overnight.<br />

There is a relationship involved.<br />

When we are part of the ekklesia,<br />

we have a relationship with other<br />

members of the ekklesia.<br />

So discipleship doesn’t happen in a<br />

vacuum.<br />

It happens in the context of a real<br />

relationship.<br />

32


This is God’s way of training us.<br />

That is why Peter also says to the<br />

ekklesia<br />

[1 Peter 5:1-5]<br />

1 The elders who are among you I<br />

exhort ..<br />

2 Shepherd the flock of God which<br />

is among you, serving as overseers,<br />

not by compulsion but willingly, not<br />

for dishonest gain but eagerly;<br />

3 Not as being lords over those<br />

entrusted to you, but being<br />

examples to the flock. ...<br />

5 Likewise you younger people,<br />

submit yourselves to your elders.<br />

Yes, all of you be submissive to<br />

one another, and be clothed with<br />

humility, for “God resists the proud,<br />

but gives grace to the humble.”<br />

Paul puts it like this,<br />

[1 Thessalonians 1:7-9]<br />

7 ... we were gentle among you,<br />

just as a nursing mother cherishes<br />

33


own children.<br />

8 So, affectionately longing for you,<br />

we were well pleased to impart to<br />

you not only the gospel of God, but<br />

also our own lives, because you had<br />

become dear to us.<br />

9 For you remember, brethren, our<br />

labor and toil; for laboring night and<br />

day, that we might not be a burden<br />

to any of you, we preached to you<br />

the gospel of God.<br />

A real relationship involves sharing<br />

lives.<br />

Doing lives together.<br />

As it was then, so it is today.<br />

34


35


12 <strong>THE</strong> SIGNS THAT<br />

JESUS MENTIONED<br />

IN MARK 16 FOLLOW<br />

<strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong>.<br />

[Mark 16:17-18]<br />

17 And these signs will follow those<br />

who believe: in My name they will<br />

cst out demons; they will speak with<br />

new tongues;<br />

18 ... they will lay hands on the sick,<br />

and they will recover.<br />

IN MARK 16, Jesus told us how to<br />

go and preach the good news of the<br />

Kingdom of God with signs following.<br />

These signs confirm that Jesus is<br />

working with us.<br />

36


37


13 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

PREACHES <strong>THE</strong><br />

KINGDOM OF GOD AND<br />

<strong>THE</strong> NAME OF JESUS<br />

CHR<strong>IS</strong>T<br />

38<br />

JESUS said,<br />

[Matthew 24:14]<br />

“AND TH<strong>IS</strong> GOSPEL OF <strong>THE</strong><br />

KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED<br />

IN ALL <strong>THE</strong> WORLD AS A WITNESS<br />

TO ALL <strong>THE</strong> NATIONS, and then<br />

the end will come.”<br />

We are called to preach the Kingdom<br />

of God.<br />

The basilea, the rule and reign of God.<br />

This is what we see the disciples doing<br />

in the book of Acts.


Phillip, for example.<br />

[Acts 8:12]<br />

But when they believed Philip AS<br />

HE PREACHED <strong>THE</strong> THINGS<br />

CONCERNING <strong>THE</strong> KINGDOM OF<br />

GOD AND <strong>THE</strong> NAME OF JESUS<br />

CHR<strong>IS</strong>T, both men and women were<br />

baptized.<br />

Jesus’ mandate has not changed.<br />

We are not preaching ourselves but the<br />

Kingdom of God.<br />

39


14 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

REACHES <strong>OUT</strong>.<br />

“Go into all the word ...”<br />

JESUS’ commissioned us to go<br />

and share the good news of God’s<br />

kingdom with others.<br />

So, we are reaching out.<br />

This can look differently in different<br />

places.<br />

But in the life of Jesus and in the<br />

disciples’ lives, we always find signs<br />

of wisdom, power, and love.<br />

Their ways to reach out were marked<br />

by these three characteristics.<br />

This includes miracles.<br />

40


They are profound expressions of<br />

God’s love.<br />

One single miracle can speak louder<br />

than 1000 sermons.<br />

41


15 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

ALSO MEETS IN<br />

HOUSES.<br />

42<br />

WE CAN see this clearly from<br />

Paul’s letters to the ekklesias that he<br />

established.<br />

Many times he sends greetings to the<br />

ekklesias in the houses.<br />

[Romans 16:3, 5]<br />

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquilla ...<br />

5 Likewise GREET <strong>THE</strong> CHURCH<br />

THAT <strong>IS</strong> IN <strong>THE</strong>IR HOUSE.<br />

[Romans 16:23]<br />

Gaius, my host and the HOST OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> WHOLE CHURCH, greets you.<br />

[1 Corinthians 16:19]<br />

The churches of Asia greet you.<br />

Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily


in the Lord, WITH <strong>THE</strong> CHURCH<br />

THAT <strong>IS</strong> IN <strong>THE</strong>IR HOUSE.<br />

[Colossians 4:15]<br />

Greet the brethren who are in<br />

Laodicea, and Nymphas and <strong>THE</strong><br />

CHURCH THAT <strong>IS</strong> IN H<strong>IS</strong> HOUSE.<br />

[Philemon 2 ]<br />

To the beloved Apphia, Archipus our<br />

fellow solider, and to <strong>THE</strong> CHURCH<br />

IN YOUR HOUSE ...<br />

43


16 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUSES ON<br />

MULTIPLICATION.<br />

JESUS taught much about the power<br />

of a seed.<br />

That’s because growth in nature<br />

happens through multiplication, not<br />

addition.<br />

One seed, if it can reproduce, will<br />

multiply greatly.<br />

Manifold.<br />

The ekklesia, therefore, should focus<br />

on methods of discipleship that nurture<br />

multiplication.<br />

44


45


17 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

CHAMPIONS GRACE.<br />

The ekklesia needs safeguarding<br />

from legalism.<br />

PAUL WAS called to be an apostle.<br />

We owe him much. Mainly because<br />

we can benefit so much from his<br />

writings.<br />

Paul did so much to safeguard us<br />

from the traps of legalism: The<br />

Galatian syndrome.<br />

But not just the Galatians were<br />

in danger of falling into that trap.<br />

So were the Corinthians. And the<br />

Philippians. And the Colossians.<br />

Legalism is a common tool of the<br />

devil.<br />

46


He will try to use it to stifle the growth<br />

and spiritual progress of an ekklesia.<br />

He will make believers who are<br />

already in Christ focus on the law—<br />

which is a “ministry of death.” (2<br />

Corinthians 3:7) Paul also called it<br />

a “ministry of condemnation.” (2<br />

Corinthians 3:9)<br />

The key is this.<br />

For the devil to bring death into your<br />

life, he has to first get you to take<br />

your eyes off Jesus.<br />

He has to get you to condemn yourself.<br />

So that he can then devour you.<br />

But in the ekklesia, we are focusing<br />

on the Kingdom of God. That is our<br />

plumbline.<br />

That’s like riding a horse that is called<br />

‘the grace of God.’<br />

The devil will try to make believers<br />

fall of that horse by either making<br />

them slip into either (1) legalism, (2)<br />

or licentiousness.<br />

47


18 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS<br />

OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUS ON SERVING<br />

IN LOVE IN <strong>THE</strong><br />

ABILITY THAT<br />

<strong>THE</strong> HOLY SPIRIT<br />

SUPPLIES.<br />

Grace supplies the ability.<br />

48<br />

WE CAN only give something to<br />

others if we have first received it<br />

from God.<br />

Then we can minister to others with<br />

the ability that God supplies.<br />

This then will bring glory to God.


Peter puts it this way,<br />

[1 Peter 4:10-11]<br />

10 As EACH ONE HAS RECEIVED<br />

A GIFT, MIN<strong>IS</strong>TER IT TO ONE<br />

ANO<strong>THE</strong>R, AS GOOD STEWARDS<br />

OF <strong>THE</strong> MANIFOLD GRACE OF<br />

GOD.<br />

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak<br />

as the oracles of God. IF ANYONE<br />

MIN<strong>IS</strong>TERS, LET HIM DO IT<br />

WAS WITH <strong>THE</strong> ABILITY WHICH<br />

GOD SUPPLIES, that in all things<br />

God may be glorified through Jesus<br />

Christ, to whom belong the glory<br />

and the dominion forever and ever.<br />

Amen.<br />

Paul also talks about this.<br />

[Romans 12:6-7]<br />

6 Having then gifts differing<br />

according to the grace that is given<br />

to us, let us use them: if prophecy,<br />

let us prophesy in proportion to our<br />

faith;<br />

7 Or ministry, let us use it in our<br />

ministering; he who teaches, in<br />

teaching ...<br />

49


This is the secret of effective ministry.<br />

Receive from God first.<br />

Then minister to others what you have<br />

received.<br />

In God’s ability.<br />

And then glorify God for His amazing<br />

grace.<br />

50


51


19 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUSES ON<br />

MIN<strong>IS</strong>TERING TO <strong>THE</strong><br />

FA<strong>THE</strong>R FIRST.<br />

Father desires our worship.<br />

WE HAVE something to give to God<br />

that brings pleasure to Him.<br />

Jesus said that the Father is seeking<br />

true worshippers;<br />

[John 4:23]<br />

such who worship Him<br />

in Spirit and in truth.<br />

[John 4:23]<br />

52


So before all else, we ought to learn<br />

how to minister to God first before we<br />

are trying to minister to men.<br />

By giving Him the worship that He<br />

deserves.<br />

When we focus on ministering to the<br />

Lord first, everything else falls into<br />

place.<br />

53


20 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUSES ON HOSTING<br />

<strong>THE</strong> PRESENCE OF<br />

GOD.<br />

When we learn to walk in the Spirit,<br />

we learn to host the presence of God.<br />

<strong>THE</strong> KINGDOM of God and the Holy<br />

Spirit’s operations cannot be controlled<br />

or manipulated by the plan of man.<br />

God moves as He wills, not as man<br />

wills.<br />

Believers often plead with God.<br />

They ask God to get involved in what<br />

they are doing.<br />

But we should not do that.<br />

54


Instead, we should ask God how we<br />

can get involved in what He is doing.<br />

In other words, don’t ask God to bless<br />

what you are doing.<br />

Instead, learn to do what He is blessing.<br />

55


21 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUSES ON<br />

INTIMACY WITH GOD.<br />

Fruitfulness in the Kingdom<br />

of God comes from intimacy.<br />

BEFORE all things, as members of<br />

the ekklesia, we need to learn how to<br />

cultivate intimacy with God.<br />

In our personal life.<br />

And also when we fellowship with<br />

other members of the ekklesia.<br />

This is the one thing that we need to<br />

learn.<br />

All else that is of value in the Kingdom<br />

of God flows from that.<br />

56


57


22 <strong>THE</strong><br />

EXPRESSIONS OF<br />

<strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong> ARE<br />

ORGANIC.<br />

The ekklesia expresses the<br />

manifest wisdom of God.<br />

GOD’S wisdom is manifold.<br />

It has manifold expressions.<br />

If we read Paul’s letters carefully,<br />

we will find very few instructions<br />

on how to structure a fellowship of<br />

the ekklesia.<br />

In essence, life flows organically.<br />

So it is with the expressions of the<br />

ekklesia in this world.<br />

58


They are by nature organic and are<br />

not subject to the programs of man.<br />

Mature members of the ekklesia<br />

will have learned to flow with these<br />

organic expressions and give the<br />

Holy Spirit room to display the<br />

manifold wisdom of God.<br />

Not one size fits all.<br />

This is also true in the ekklesia.<br />

For example, Paul advises how to go<br />

about fellowshipping.<br />

[1 Corinthians 14:26]<br />

How is it then brethren? Whenever<br />

you come together, each of you<br />

has a psalm, has a teaching, has<br />

a tongue, has a revelation, has an<br />

interpretation. Let all things be done<br />

for edification.<br />

This means in a meeting of the<br />

ekklesia, everyone is involved.<br />

The members can minister to each<br />

other their individual gifts in the<br />

ability that God supplies.<br />

59


20 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

FOCUSES ON DOING<br />

WHAT GOD <strong>IS</strong><br />

BLESSING.<br />

<strong>THE</strong> KINGDOM of God and the Holy<br />

Spirit’s operations cannot be controlled<br />

or manipulated by the plan of man.<br />

God moves as He wills, not as man<br />

wills.<br />

Believers often plead with God.<br />

They ask God to get involved in what<br />

they are doing.<br />

But we should not do that.<br />

Instead, we should ask God how we<br />

can get involved in what He is doing.<br />

60<br />

In other words, we don’t ask God to


less what we are doing.<br />

Instead, we learn to do what He is<br />

blessing.<br />

61


23 <strong>THE</strong> MEMBERS<br />

OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>EKKLESIA</strong><br />

PRACTICE A CULTURE<br />

OF HONOR.<br />

Honor is what love looks like.<br />

GOD’S kingdom is established on a<br />

foundation of honor.<br />

God does not violate honor.<br />

Even when Jesus disagreed with<br />

people, he did so honorably.<br />

Look at the example of how Jesus<br />

dealt with the people of Gadarene who<br />

rejected him.<br />

Jesus had just cast out a legion of<br />

unclean spirits from a severely demonpossessed<br />

man.<br />

62


Yet, the people of Gadara reject Jesus.<br />

What does Jesus do?<br />

He just leaves.<br />

He does not argue.<br />

He does not explain.<br />

He leaves the door of the relationship<br />

open.<br />

For love to flow, people need to learn<br />

how to honor one another.<br />

So, if we are part of the ekklesia, we<br />

need to learn how to practice, create<br />

and sustain a culture of honor.<br />

63


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70


SAY IT!<br />

Speak the Word<br />

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Speak the Word<br />

to Yourself <strong>ALBERT</strong> EL<strong>IS</strong>HA — <strong>OBERDORFER</strong> It<br />

Is Powerful<br />

SAY IT<br />

<strong>ALBERT</strong> EL<strong>IS</strong>HA <strong>OBERDORFER</strong><br />

71


Come Out: The Ekklesia is Calling.<br />

Copyright 2021 © Albert L. Oberdorfer<br />

All rights reserved. No part of this publication<br />

may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,<br />

or transmitted, in any form or by any means,<br />

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or<br />

otherwise, without the author’s written permission.<br />

PICTURE CREDITS<br />

Unless otherwise stated, all images are courtesy<br />

of Pexels.com and Pixabay.com. Any inadvertent<br />

omissions can be rectified in future editions.<br />

ENDNOTES<br />

1. This is another topic that I have covered in detail<br />

in the book ‘A Flame for Every Head:<br />

Receive Holy Spirit Today — as in the Book of<br />

Acts.’<br />

72


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