Ownership

I am grateful that You are over all and through all and in all! (Ephesians 4:6)

For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church ἐκκλησίᾳ and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: It is perplexing that the word “ἐκκλησίᾳ” is translated church when the word “church” is derived from a different Greek word.

I discovered the English word “church” is derived from the Greek “κυριακός” meaning “of the Lord” and “κύριος” meaning “one who exercises absolute ownership”. The Greek ἐκκλησίᾳ, on the other hand means “called-out ones”.

Abba: The sense of these definitions must be understood in light of My nature and the voluntary character of My relationship (or lack thereof) with My children. Surely you see that if the relationship is between us is whole – all that I Am meaning for it to be – then these Greek words would be synonymous. If My people who are called by My name voluntary placed themselves under My lordship, asking Me what is best and doing it wholeheartedly, what difference would there be between “called-out ones” and “of the Lord”? What if I was the Heart of their heart? What if they knew they are the apple of My eye?

However, these relational definitions are not what come to the mind of most who contemplate “church”. The true definition does not describe an edifice. True, Jesus is described as the Cornerstone, but mere brick, mortar, and glass are purely physical. I Am Spirit. You cannot properly relate to Me except by the Holy Spirit, as I Am desiring earnestly to enable you (John 4:24). The exercises that comprise most “worship services” can be written on paper for people to follow along. These are programs. They are not Spirit. A few manage to find Me anyway. These have the gift of managing to become still in the Spirit amid and in spite the din of the program (Psalm 46:10).

The Cornerstone is the Perfect Reference to the spiritual house that I Am building.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ἐκκλησίᾳ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:15-18

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are Welcome! I love you!