BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN (2)

In our first blog in this new series we saw that in Old Testament God progressively revealed truth to His people and this continued on into the New Testament.

IS THERE A PATTERN FOR BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?  I believe there is.

You will remember the story in Matt. 16 where Jesus asked “Who do people think Jesus is?” and then the question “Who do you say that I am”, Peter’s response “You are the Christ”. Jesus immediately replied, on this confession “I will build my Church” and I will give you the keys (pattern) to unlock the Kingdom of God to the world.

WHAT ARE THESE KEYS?  I can find no teaching in the Gospels from Jesus regarding them, I am so glad we read in John 21 that if everything Jesus said and did were recorded there would not be enough to record everything.

I  HAVE NO DOUBT THE APOSTLES KNEW WHAT THE KEYS (PATTERN) WERE.

If ever there was a time the early church needed the pattern it was when persecution broke out on Acts chapter 4. Peter and John were released from custody and immediately went to the other believers and gave them a report, In verses 24-31 we see a set of keys (pattern).

I will list them here and we will develop them over the next few weeks.

v.24 Unity (one accord)

v.24 Prayer

v.25-26 The Word of God

v.29 The Preaching of the Word (with boldness)

v.30 Signs and wonders

v.30 The Authority of the Name of Jesus

v.31 Being continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

Here are SEVEN  clear keys that make up the basic pattern for building our lives and building the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament God chose various dwelling places.

The Garden of Eden

The Tabernacle

The Temple,

In the New Testament He dwells:

In the Believer

In the Church (His Body)

There are many other Principles we will add to this list so that we BUILD

Our personal lives

The Church

ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORD OF GOD