THE TRIPLET EKKLESIA
THE DIVINE TRIPLET
THE TEMPLE OF THE DIVINE TRIPLET
“God the Father in Yeshua, and Yeshua in us, that we may be made perfect, so that the world may know Him.” When this symbiosis occurs, we become awesome triplets of the Lord (John 17:21-23; 1 Cor. 3:16).
THE INTERCESSORY TRIPLET
Moses, Hur and Aaron proved a most powerful intercessory team on the mountain. As they prayed, Joshua defeated the Amalekites on the battlefield. This is an excellent model of prayer combined with action. Triplets can change situations (Exod. 17:11-13; 1 Tim. 2:1-4, 8).
TRIPLETS CAN WITHSTAND ANY PERSECUTION
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego together defied the most powerful monarch on earth. They refused to worship an idol and passed the fire test, resulting in the conversion of the monarch. He decreed that all kingdoms should honor the God of the Jews. Anyone defying that decree, would end up having his house turned into a dung hill.
Their willingness to suffer extreme persecution, rather than compromise with idolatry, led to the transformation of the entire heathen nations. Throughout the history of the church, millions of believers had to suffer torture, brutality and the wrath of institutionalized churches as well as hostile governments, but they loved not their lives unto death. The blood of martyrs is the seed on which the Ekklesia grows (Dan. 3:12-30; Rev. 12:11).
TRIPLETS CONSTITUTE AN AUTHENTIC EKKLESIA
Just like the Roman Ekklesia (Acts 19:37) had delegated power and authority of the Roman Government, even where two or three Romans gathered, similarly the Ekklesia of Yeshua has delegated power and authority over all the power of the enemy, even where two or three “congregate” in His name (Matt. 18:18-20; Luke 10:19).
Every Ekklesia must always remember that it is a heavenly outpost, planted here on earth to execute His Kingdom Laws, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await the return of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20) Triplet does not mean exactly three but indicates the smallest unit, just like a seed has all the potential to become a fruit-bearing tree and multiply. The triplet Ekklesia is a seed Ekklesia. More people do not mean a more power. A small Ekklesia has all the power because Yeshua, the owner of heaven and earth, is in her midst and therefore she is an authentic Ekklesia. This mini Ekklesia has all the authority to bind the “strongman”, expel demons, heal the sick, disciple the nations, baptize and break bread. They can handle money, marry the young and bury the dead, etc. They can also send missionaries (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:42; 5:6, 10; 13:3; 1Cor. 11:24-26).
THREE IN ONE EKKLESIA IS SMALL BUT STRONG
A threefold cord cannot be easily broken, nor can the gates of Hades prevail against as it is built on apostolic and prophetic foundations with Yeshua as the chief cornerstone. Triplets do not send missionaries because they are all missionaries (Eccl.4:12; Amos 3:3; Eph. 2:19,20).
THE TRIDENT
The ‘trishul’ or a triple fork, is the preferred weapon of the Hindu god Shiva. The trident (shelosh qilleshon) was used by the Israeli army (1 Sam. 13:21). It was also used by the priests to tackle huge sacrificial animals on the altar (Exod. 27:3). The Name of Yeshua, the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of God make the most powerful three-pronged weapon of mass destruction, capable of destroying any stronghold of the devil. The full force of this weapon is available to little Ekklesias, indeed to every believer (Rev.12:11; Heb. 4:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).
TWO IS DYNAMIC DUO
Yeshua promised, “If two of you agree as touching anything, then My Father in heaven will do it.” In a small Ekklesia, it is easy to be of one accord. Without unity in the church, God cannot function. The little Ekklesia can achieve much, simply because they will agree on anything that glorifies God and He will honor it. Paul and Barnabas were friends until they added Mark. Their sharp contention resulted in their separation however the work of the Lord did not suffer as they went their separate ways (Matt.18:18-20; John 14:1214; Acts 16:36-40).
YESHUA SENDS SEVENTY EKKLESIA PLANTERS
Jews had a strange custom of offering 70 bulls for the redemption of the Gentiles during Sukkot (Numbers 29:12-34). It is said that soon after this Yeshua sent out 70 disciples. He gave them exact instructions that would result in multiplication of disciples (Luke 10:1- 9). Peter, James and John, a triplet, were with Him at His transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion. On both occasions, our heroes slept soundly. (Mark.14:33-41; Luke.9:27-32; Phil.1:18).
TRIPLET EKKLESIAS ARE MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT
A triplet Ekklesia is not a prayer cell or a Bible study class or even a Fellowship. She is the whole Bride. She is not merely a part of the Body, unable to survive or reproduce herself. Even so, triplets are not loose cannons doing their own thing. They are interdependent, part of the network of larger regional Ekklesia. A team of fivefold ministry gifted elders connects them by constantly mending the net, which keeps them primed for fishing and protects them from heresies by sharing the whole counsel of God (Eph. 4:11-12; Acts 20:27-32; Matt. 4:21).
PAUL’S TRIPLETS
Paul went on his first missionary journey with Barnabas and John Mark to Cyprus and Galatia. On his second journey he went with Silas and Timothy to Galatia and Greece. Timothy and Titus accompanied Paul to Asia Minor and Ephesus on the third trip. In every region, Paul, mentored local leaders like Silas of Jerusalem, Sopater of Berea, Secundus and Aristarchus of Thessalonica, Gaius of Derby, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia, Aquila and Priscilla of Rome and many others. He often sent them in groups of two or three as Yeshua taught and find a man of peace. This is still the best model for discipling the nations (1 Cor.4:15; Luke10:1; Acts 19:22; 20:4).
ROMAN EKKLESIAS WERE TRIPLET EKKLESIAS
The 16th chapter of Romans is full of the names of leaders. Many greetings go to the names of two or three households. Rome was obviously full of these little congregations. Many women were facilitators of these congregations.
THE GENTILE EKKLESIA SENDS THE FIRST MISSIONARY TRIPLET
The Gentile Ekklesia of Antioch was the first one to send a missionary triplet, Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark. They planted only a few congregations, impregnated them with Kingdom DNA, which spread around the Mediterranean Sea of the three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe. He planted the first European Ekklesia at Lydia’s house in Philippi in less than one week and at Thessalonica in less than three weeks. Modern church, seeped in unbelief, would find it inconceivable. One might think that he went against the grain of his own teaching, “Do not lay hands upon anyone hostility” (1Tim. 5:22), yet because of the dynamism of those young Ekklesias, they rapidly spread all over. Paul, the greatest missionary of all times, did not start a “mission,” instead, he planted “missionary Ekklesias” impregnated with Kingdom DNA that multiplied spontaneously (Acts 13:1-3, 13; 19:9-10).
THE TRIPLET EKKLESIA CAN MULTIPLY DAILY
It takes up to twenty years for a female elephant to reach reproductive maturity, and she breeds only one baby elephant every five years. Whereas rabbits breed every two months and can multiply a 100 a year. A little apostolic Ekklesia of three baptized families can multiply both in quality and quantity daily. The house holds of Jerusalem “added to their numbers daily” and the regional Ekklesia “grew in grace and in numbers daily” (Acts 2:46-47; 16:5).
The mass movement in Jerusalem took place, not only because the leaders were proactive, but also because every proactive believer started a house Ekklesia in his own home. This resulted in the saturation of this city. We now have many resources including rapid transportation, fast communication, and printed literature, etc. that Peter and Paul did not have; therefore, we should reproduce disciples like the rabbits instead of dreaming about planting barren elephantine churches.
THE TRIPLET EKKLESIA IS A “GO” EKKLESIA
The little Ekklesia can focus on the most important function of the Ekklesia, to “go make disciples.” She does not waste her time, money and resources on buildings, ceremonies, dignitaries, structures, committees or raising funds for staff and projects. The Ekklesia does not wait for people to come, instead she goes out with the gospel as well as a cup of cold water for the lost and the least of this world. She knows the Truth (Yeshua). He has made her free to “go” anywhere, any day, anytime, to share their faith with the lost. (Matt. 28:19; 10:42; John 8:32, 36; Luke 13:32-33; 2 Tim. 2:2).
THE TRIPLET EKKLESIA IS A WITNESSING EKKLESIA
Yeshua commanded his disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). He has given the most powerful tool for this to happen, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established” (2 Cor. 13:1). Peter was neither a scholar nor an orator, but he was a great witness. He spoke short, simple, and direct messages about the death and resurrection of Yeshua, and often the Holy Spirit fell on the people, even before the poor fellow finished his sermon (Acts 10:34- 48). The triplet Ekklesia is the best model for world evangelization.
THE PRACTICE OF “ONE-ANOTHER”
The little Ekklesia is designed to practice “love one another,” “pray for one another,” “exhort one another,” “confess to each other,” “admonish each other,” “greet each other with a holy kiss” and all the other fifty “one another’s” in the Scriptures. The Scripture instructs us to rebuke publicly those who are sinning (1 Tim 5:20). Paul rebuked Peter publicly when he refused to eat with the heathen at Antioch (Gal. 2:11-13). Mutual accountability or confessing our sins is embarrassing and impossible in a large group (Jas. 5:16). Sharing our material blessings with others is simpler because we know each other’s need. Serving “one another” brings amazing unity, which makes the Ekklesia of “one accord”. She then becomes a most effective tool for the Holy Spirit to do great exploits. (John 13:34-35; Heb. 10:24-25; Rom. 15:14).
THE PARTICIPATORY EKKLESIA
The Ekklesia must remain open and transparent. Everyone, including women and children, must be considered integral part of the Ekklesia with an opportunity to share psalms, teachings, revelations, dreams, visions, testimonies, and prophecies. Children must be encouraged to ask questions (Deut. 6:20). In flexible small group dynamics, people interact, resulting in rapid maturing of the disciples. They can confidently go and make disciples. There is no comparison between the abundant sweet fruits of a highly interactive small group and the bitter herbs of a large, passive group (1 Cor. 14:3; 26-31; Acts 2:42).
GEMS:
- Yeshua says to the little Ekklesia, “Well done, you have been faithful in a little, have authority over ten cities. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s desire to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32; 19:17).
- The true Ekklesia survived throughout the centuries, not in the sky piercing cathedrals, but in the homes of the believers who paid with their blood to become martyrs.
- Yeshua said, “Wherever the dynamic-duo gather, she is an authentic Bride because the Groom is present. When power-twins agree on anything on earth, My Father in heaven will do it”. (Matt. 18:18-20)
- Yeshua said, “Do not fear ‘little flock’ for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
- The oikos or extended family had a mission to disciple Households, being the primary nuclear valid biblical Ekklesia.
- Throughout the ages the Ekklesia grew through one-on-one engagement in the privacy of homes rather than 99 making a joyful noise in the church. (Luke 15:7,10)
- Minimizing size and maximizing disciples making disciples is the key to acceleration.
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher.
Comments
Post a Comment