<TITLE>02. Par 9-15</TITLE>L-9 And now, tonight we're going to approach the subject that I promised this morning, the Lord willing, to talk on tonight, and it's going to be, more or less, teaching, because of voice. I want to speak tonight on: "Five Definite Identifications Of The True Church Of The Living God," five definite vindications of the true Church, or identifications, rather, of the true church,

L-10 Now, before we approach this great and mighty subject, I'm going to ask for a word of prayer. I'm going to ask our pastor, Brother Neville, if he'll come up and offer prayer over the Word of God while we turn, all of us to St. Matthew the 16th chapter, the 18th verse to begin with. St. Matthew 16 and 18, while Brother Neville is making his way for the prayer of consolation.
[Brother Neville prays--Ed.] Truly, Lord. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Grant it, Lord. Do, Lord. Grant it, Lord. Yes, Lord. Yes. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. O God. Yes, Lord. Amen.
Has that got all the volume it'll take...?... It's all on. Is this the mike, the right mike? Both of them. Can you hear me all right? Back in the back, can you hear me? All right, fine.

L-12 I wish to read now out of the Book of Matthew, 16th chapter, and the 18th verse; I'll begin with the 17th verse.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:... flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
I say... unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I'll build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
May God add His blessings to His Word.

L-13 The word "church," on each one of these subjects that I have chosen tonight to try to speak to you on, one of it is, "What Is The Church? Who Set It Up? What Is Its Message? How Do We Become A Member Of It? and Can We Get To Heaven Without Being A Member Of It?" Now, each one of those texts could last for hours, combing back and forth, but I wish to just hit a few fundamental points to show what the real church is. And now, I want you to have your Bibles.

L-14 Now, the first place, the word "church," itself, means "the called-out." Now, Israel was not the church of God as long as they were in Egypt; they were the people of God. And then when God called them out of Egypt, they become the church of God, because they were the called-out. Now, that still remains the same today. The word "church" means "the called-out ones," those that have been called out, separated, made different.

L-15 Now, in the Old Testament the known church was called the Kingdom of God, God's Kingdom. Now, I'm taking this from chronology of the Bible. The Old Testament, the church was called the Kingdom of God. In other words, God is a King, and the church is His domain: God's Kingdom, Old Testament.
In the New Testament It's called "the Messianic empire." Oh, I like that: Messianic. In other wise, "the Messiah's empire," where the Messiah rules and reigns. No denominational barriers or nothing, the Messiah rules in His empire. Isn't that wonderful thinking? Messianic empire. Therefore, the church is not an organization; the church is not a gathering of people. The church is the people of God that's been called out of the world to serve in another Kingdom.


<A HREF="P3">Next Page</A>