What are we about ??
This is not a church (Only Christ has a church) but a movement. A movement that calls like minded believers all over the world to come together around a set of ideas and principles - to grow to full maturity and power as heirs of Christ and sons of the Most High - worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth in Home-based churches all around the world.
This movement is birthed out of a recognition that many Christian church organizations today are focused on propping up an institution ( a church building or denomination ), and that is where the bulk of everyones time, financial support, and efforts is devoted. The larger the institution, the more scope for political battles, fights for prestige, misappropriation of finances, and a terrible Christian witness. There is a fear of of convicting the congregation with truth lest attendance impact tithes and offerings. Some churches have even given up preaching the Word of God book by book, verse by verse, in favor of self-help teachings, prosperity gospels etc. Lastly, there is little, if any, attention paid to The Holy Spirit, without whom we are unable to do anything!
The result? With all the resources of today's world at our disposal, these churches are bearing less fruit than the impoverished, martyred and persecuted early church! This should not be!
We feel that a strong church is one that:
- meets in each others homes to carefully and correctly study the Word of God,
- Actively encourages the ministry of the Holy Spirit and seeks to see His fruits and gifts in their lives,
- encourages members to bear each others burdens and get personally involved in each others lives in true fellowship,
- endeavors to grow and learn to build itself up through the grace that God provides - through resources made available through these pages and others - and not remain babes in the Word,
- stays small in number (less than fifty),
- avoids the acquisition and encumbrances of property - enabling believers to focus their resources on undertaking small and locally significant ministries in their immediate neighborhoods.
Our desire is to see independent Tabernacles (small home-based churches that espouse the distinctives expressed here) spring up all over the world! We hope that the members of these Tabernacles have a meaningful impact on the world through their Spirit empowered conduct in their homes and families, in their workplaces, and their communities.
Each individual Tabernacle should be united in their desire with others to :
- Bear witness of Christ's resurrection to all nations
- Disciple its members through the the sacraments of Baptism, the Lords Supper
- Feed its members through the Ministry of the teaching and preaching of the Word and sound doctrine
- Bear its members through the assembling together for study, worship, fellowship, breaking of bread
- Intercede for all through the means of Prayer
We can do this only through the power of the Holy Spirit! (John 15:5)
Therefore,the primary focus of a Tabernacle is to enable believers to discover and exercise the gifts the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon them, believing that the exercise of these gifts will result in the glorification of God. This site is dedicated to supporting that mission through providing educational resources and content to be used by the local home churches.
The gifts are enumerated below:
- Faith
- Prophecy/ Preaching (from "Prophetes - to tell forth") for Edification, Encouragement, Comfort - The Gospel!!
- Teaching - to divide and handle the Word of Truth correctly
- Giving
- Service/Helps
- Mercy/Compassion
- Wisdom
- Knowledge
- Healing
- Miracles
- Discernment of Spirits
- Tongues/Interpretation of Tongues
- Leading/Administration
- LOVE
Our hope is to enable believers all over the world ensure that they are known by Christ, have been sealed with the Spirit, are bearing forth the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) and now are looking to please their Master by exercising the gifts and talents with which He has entrusted them, because....
The Tabernacle of the Holy Spirit is You!!!