Summer 1996
The Church
Seeley D. Kinne

"For where two or three are gathered together in My
Name, there am I in the midst of them" Matt 18:20

Being "gathered" is more than our being together, it is a melding together in the Spirit. It is in this atmosphere that Jesus is in the midst.

When Jesus is in midst, He is the Director and Controller of such a body of believers. Whether this expression of His Body is large or small in numbers, there is His Church in manifest operation.

The word "Church" is a universally used word for various types of religious assemblies. It is derived from the word "Ecclesia," meaning the "summoned or called out." This word, "Ecclesia," is a more accurate description of the makeup and function of His Body, the called out ones.

The beginning of operation and activity in the Ecclesia is worship, praise, adoration, and worship. For where praise and worship carry the attention beyond self and surroundings, to Jesus Christ, there the state of rapport obtains and lifts into felt presence Divine, bringing one into the heavenlies with Christ.

This state, in its varying degrees, is known as "being in the Spirit," in which His presence is revealed. Wherever such order may be given by the Spirit, it will result in the maturing of the Body, each member coming into a greater sense of placement and purpose. In this atmosphere the Body is transformed, while it beholds as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord.

While thus seated in the heavenlies, a chorus may burst forth. The Spirit may then engage the people in prayer, and every heart may seem to melt and flow out to God. An altar call may come forth by the Spirit in audible words, or by an inward movement that draws all present to seek God. A deeper unfolding of the Word will result, which becomes "spirit and life" to all present.

After experiencing such hallowed scenes, any love of the world with its earthly attachments and tendencies will melt away, and one will feel that Heaven is the only place for him. This is in harmony with a great Divine purpose of the Ecclesia, the perfecting of the saints.

A full and moving Ecclesia, with the original luster and power obtained in the early Church would be a wonder on the earth in these days. But this function is being restored, and more, in these last days.

The government of such a Body was chosen out from among spiritually mature men, who were set in by Divine wisdom, and moved upon by the Holy Spirit. Everything was done by direction of the Lord in the Spirit.

In this early Ecclesia, there were beginners and sometimes carnal babes, who attempted to walk as men, but they were exhorted to wait until moved upon by the Lord. There was a clear distinction made between those who were carnal and careless, and the diligent who walked after the Spirit and sought to grow up into Christ.

It was in this Spirit conducted Ecclesia that real substantial growth and progress was made. Earnest effort was made that every babe should "grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even the Christ" (Eph. 4:15). However, proper growth in the power of the Spirit is all too little understood, and all too much neglected.

An Ecclesia that functioned in the Spirit was a nursery for the young, being fed with the milk of the Word; and a school with strong meat for the mature. It was a temple set apart for the spiritual sacrifices of worship, praise, and adoration - where the weak could be strengthened, the strong could do exploits, and the tempted be succored.

In the early Ecclesia, it was very important that everyone kept in a growing condition. If one was sufficiently developed in the Spirit, there were ministry positions to be filled. Those who pressed forward in the Spirit found opportunity. Diligence received proper reward. Selfishness was frowned upon, but the right emulation in the Spirit was encouraged.

The Ecclesia is to be a Divine workshop, where Jesus comes into His Temple as a refiner of gold and silver; refining His saints. It is a set-apart place for the called-out ones, where the work of preparation of vessels of honor, for higher service in the great House of God, are fitted.

The Lord has set His hand to restore the Ecclesia to its original power and glory. These are days of great opportunity for those who are able to come into harmony with this process of restoration and the building up of the Ecclesia.

This is that "great wonder in the heavenly realm - a woman clothed with the sun." (Rev.12:1).