This is a wonderful video of a brother in the Lord who has the burden of the Lord to encourage believers to gather in small meetings together under the Lordship and Headship of Jesus Christ. It does not matter your background, denomination, etc we need to gather with others who love the Lord and are full-hearted disciples:
Tag Archives: underground church
An Underground Church In North America?
“We are witnessing the beginning of the Underground Church in America – a church that will take lessons from the brethren who have survived in other countries where Faith has been and is still persecuted. If we in the West think we will escape what our brethren have suffered for centuries merely because we trust that ‘things like that can never happen in America,’ we are closing our eyes to reality. The persecution will come from our own households and from the churches themselves.” - Al Dager
“In america the bible believers will eventually need to go underground. The attack against the believers will come from the denominations.” – J. Vernon McGee
“We are training the possible leaders of the underground church right now.” – Chuck Missler
God is calling a remnant of believers right now to prepare for what is to come soon upon North America and world-wide. There is coming a persecution of Christians that will be strong and more intense world-wide. Many are not ready for this. God is awaking some believers to prepare for this and to practically start to meet as small gatherings and house Churches.
Larger assemblies, mega-churches and other larger denominations are not as well prepared for such pressures. There will be a need for many servant leaders to be raised up to lead, Shepherd and guide God’s people. This model is being followed in China and other places where there are many leaders in house Churches that God is using to train and disciple others in small groups.
God is also desiring a pure expression of His body in the earth in local groupings and persecution will start to bring this to fruition. If the Lord is speaking to you about these things now you must not be high-minded nor arrogant for it is purely God’s mercy that He is opening your eyes to these things. Also to be involved in leading groups of disciples who are all part of the Bride of Christ is something of a great blessing and God will defend such meetings against those who are seeking position, title and glory for themselves.
God is raising up these networks of believers and those who have ears to hear now start to prepare and gather in smaller groups of like-minded believers.
Having A Great Dependence On The Working Of The Holy Spirit
In the Western world there seems to be such a great reliance on what we can do with money, technology and business like experience and techniques. The Church has been inundated with such ideas that to consider to do something in the work of God apart from all of these trappings is laughed at by most. But sadly God’s work to build His kingdom will utilize some of these things but never depend on them.
We need to cater again a great dependence on the working of the Holy Spirit in our day. Sadly we think the Holy Spirit is here to entertain us in church with healing’s and miracles but this is a deception and an abuse of the role of the Spirit. God sends us the Holy Spirit so we can live godly in this world and so when we share and preach the Gospel at times the Lord will bear great miracles and signs to verify the message.
We have to believe also that by prayer and waiting on God by the Holy Spirit that His work will be accomplished much faster for it will be a work that He ordains and men do not rush into.
God prepares vessels for His work for many years and such is the way of the Lord. He has to empty brothers and sisters of themselves so that He can have them greatly rely and depend on His power.
Here is an excerpt on these wonderful truths from the Principles Book:
The underground church relies upon and even expects that when the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is declared there will be a verification at times with great signs and wonders. This dependence on the Holy Spirit to move, direct, guide and verify the Gospel is Biblical and needed in the Church. It was not unusual for healing’s to occur in every village that the pioneers of the house church movement went into when they were driven all across China because of persecution. It must be asked in our lives, how much do we rely and depend on the Holy Spirit truly on a daily basis?
God has given us the Holy Spirit not only as a comforter and guide but also as a life-changing power. Any work done in peoples’ lives, without the Holy Spirit is void of any life-changes. In Zechariah this truth is shown where it says: “So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”411 In the Western World we are denying the life-changing power of God and His Spirit: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”412
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness in Acts 1:8, but we must ask Him and we must surrender to Him. Let us suppose we were being threatened with jail and beatings in the Western world for proclaiming the Gospel. Would we do it? We hardly witness now.
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Footnotes:
410 Romans 15:19
411 Zechariah 4:6
412 2 Timothy 3:5
Large Buildings are not necessary for the work of the Kingdom of God
Large Buildings are not necessary but at times they can be useful. But for the majority of the underground Church in China they have very few large properties to utilize ever and most if not all buildings they use are privately owned small farm properties and homes. The leaders of some of the biggest networks of believers meet in a Barn with animals around them. Such shows also the humility of these believers not demanding their rights or expecting more than their Lord on earth had.
Also freed from the responsibility and distraction of having to take care of actual large buildings these believers are free to do the work of the ministry in smaller groups. We could learn much from these believers. May God raise up a movement of gathering of believers in North America that are not dependent on large buildings but rather put the emphasis on the saints as the building of God, the Church.
Here is an excerpt from the soon to be published free Principles Book:
“No structures, except the living structure of the body of Christ are necessary in the underground Chinese church. The entire movement almost does not own buildings but rather they make use of fields, caves451 and namely homes. What is most important to them is the people of God. Such was the burden of Paul the Apostle as he saw the people as the Church and the crown of his reward.452 This was also the burden of the early church which acknowledged the priesthood of all believers453 where every part of the body has a job or function. They did not believe in leadership that controls the body of Christ but rather serves and equips it.454
This does not undermine the great usefulness of a building or structure where it can be used for a gathering of people, who are the Church. Some church leaders of the underground house Church networks in China meet in a barn with animals walking around as they pray and receive instructions from the Lord for millions of believers. So meeting in a barn or even an old church building that is not being used is nothing wrong in itself. Though the Church in China is not as free as other nations to meet in various types of buildings still the Church is growing and abounding in the work of the Lord. May we never see the building as the “Church” but only the people as God’s true set apart Church unto Jesus Christ.”
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Footnotes:
451 Hebrews 11:38
452 1 Thessalonians 2:19
453 1 Peter 2:5-9
454 1 Peter 5:2-4
Having a deep hunger for God’s words as the underground church in China
When we have a great reverence for God we will have a great reverence for His words. When we have a great love for God we will have a great love for His Scriptures. If eternity and the truth and person of Jesus Christ means more than temporal life then we should be men and women who esteem the Scriptures beyond our daily life essentials or even food.
Here is an excerpt from the Gospel Fellowships Principles Book that will be freely released soon:
“We take for granted the often dozen Bibles or more each Christian family owns in the North America or other countries. We read Bible translations until we get bored with one and move onto another. We buy Bibles even for the style and look and other vain reasons. Yet the majority of our Bibles are not worn, marked, and memorized as the valuable possessions they actually are.
Bibles in the underground Church in China are scarce at times, and it is common that fellowships have handwritten copies of verses and epistles similar to the early Church days. The Chinese love their Bibles greatly and treat them as the most cherished item in the world that they own or have. Some of the current servant leaders in the Church would travel a day to just to be able to borrow and read a Bible and then travel back to their home. Most preaching especially in the earlier days of the movement was from memory, verses they memorized. How much do we love God’s Word? Do you spend hours with your Bible reading over and over its truths? May God wake us from our spiritual slumber to see the true eternal value of the Word of God.
The underground Church in China has such a reverence for the Lord and His Words and they see themselves in the proper light of God’s holiness. Here is a short Chinese hymn419 reflecting their humble hearts realizing they are sinners in need of a Savior: “Lord, how great you are! You didn’t abandon us. We are dust. We are no better than worms and moth, but you took pity on us. You cared for us, and chose us.” Such words show how we should come to God’s Word daily to receive life, instruction and truth.”
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Footnotes:
419 Canaan Hymn Book
As we agree and are humbled as dust before our Lord and loving Father we will grow in a love for His word. We must now begin to learn to esteem the Scriptures as an even illegal book in our possession and treat it as such.
North Korean Underground Church Concept of Theology and Obedience
There is a reality to the underground churches around the world that believers in Western and other free countries do not have. We can easily go to a assembly meeting to just hear truths and think it was a nice messages or good worship. This concept is not in other meetings of God’s people in closed countries where when they hear Scriptures it is for their obedience to follow in those ways. To hear a message just for the sake of a good message is foreign to these precious believers.
To these precious believers Jesus Christ is never a concept or idea but a living person to be obeyed and listened to. When they gather as Church they gather to Jesus Christ Himself, His present person and not to hear sermons about Him.
James 1:22 gives us this similar exhortation: ”But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
The following is an excerpt from the soon to be released Principles from Underground Churches book:
“The Bible to North Koreans is a roadmap for living; It is a roadmap for their life and it should be for our life. It dictates to them what they do. We should let the Word dictate to us what we do. To just listen to a sermon and scripture and then to say “That was a nice message” is foreign to these believers. They desire to obey everything they hear.
The problem for us in the West, is that we think “right” doctrine will be the solution to have “life” but that is not the case. Of course if we have the Holy Spirit we will be led into all truth. But to seek after perfect theology doctrine in every area is not what the New Testament commands of us. But rather it exhorts us to be in communion with Jesus Christ and to follow and obey His commands. Jesus Christ did not tell us to be theologians, He told us to be followers of Him who embodied His truths and life, and then prove our faith by doing.
When we start reading the Bible based on our human wisdom we deny the faith and accuracy of scripture. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit men have been making up entire systems of beliefs with theological words that are used blasphemously and do not represent the truth nor the heart of God. We are then misled to believe such humanistic doctrines carry “life”.
Life is not in a theological system nor interpretation; The life is in the Holy Spirit, in obedience to God and then carried out by doing to prove our faith in the word of God.”
May we by the Lord’s grace and command walk in these ways.
Being Led Of The Spirit Just Like The Underground Church In North Korea
There is a great need for believers in the West to learn to be led of the Spirit truly and trust in God for the impossible as we desire to be His body and grow in His kingdom work. The kingdom of God works not like the kingdom of men. The Church is not to operate like the world or the world’s businesses.
May we learn these lessons from these dear brothers and sisters in North Korea that suffer so much, though many if not most believers are secret believers in families in North Korea there are some groups of believers that meet in rural areas and evangelists who usually their ministry does not last more than 6 months when they are caught and executed or tortured and put in labor death camps.
This is an excerpt from the upcoming Principles for the Gathering of believers free ebook and book soon to be released:
“We need to change our lives to meet more as the body of Christ, to gain a deeper understanding and reverence for the Word of God, to repent of worldliness, to repent of seeking pleasures and wealth and to repent of our idolization of Christian leaders. We must learn to “walk in the Spirit” as not to fulfill the lusts of our flesh and to trust God afresh to be a part of His growing Church.
An underground Church leader in North Korea explained how the Lord is preserving His movement. He said: “People ask me, ‘How are Christians surviving in North Korea?’ They have a secret. They survive through God’s intervention, protection and miracles. They are starving much physically but they cannot live without reading God’s Word, praying and praising God. That’s the secret to their survival!” This is how the North Korean Church survives: They trust a God of the impossible!
How needful it is for us today to not trust in the arm of the flesh or the plans of men but in God who does what is not humanly possible. May we agree with the underground believers that say: “We truly believe in a God of miracles. Amen!”
“Christ’s holy suffering for sinful people wrought a holy people for Christ-like suffering.”506 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”507 “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”508
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Footnotes:
506 Derek Melton
507 Philippians 1:29
508 Philippians 2:17-18
Powerful lessons learnt from the Underground Church in China (video)
This is a powerful video by E.A. Johnston shared at the SermonIndex Conference in the First Baptist Church in Lilburn. He shares many powerful thoughts on the “The House Church Movement in China” this is well worth the time to hear the history of the wonderful move of God there and also to learn vital principles we will need in the coming days as believers in the West.
The House Church Movement in China by E.A. Johnston watch below:
“This event is a watershed moment.” for believers in the West and America.
Principles Book To Be Released…
The Reason for the book?
This volume has been developed out of a burden to see vital gatherings of God’s people (the body of Christ) established in these end times. The time of pressure and persecution that is coming world-wide (Matthew 24:9) will be such that it will demand the unity of the true body of Christ.
Some specific goals for this book being written?
1.) To assist true Bible believing churches1 to develop House Bible studies 2for personal growth and for inviting neighbors, to make disciples;
2.) To encourage true believers to leave churches that no longer teach the whole Word of God, to then join a true Bible believing church or to establish a House church to make disciples.
3.) To provide a manual of Biblical principles for House churches and Home Bible Study meetings.
4.) To unify believers who have been separated by denominational issues, within a House church or House Bible study, under the headship of Christ.
A New Movement of the body of Christ?
God is desiring to bring great glory to His Son and doing this through the body of Christ (gatherings of true believers) on the earth. The Scriptures clearly declare that the “Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” (Matthew 24:14). This preaching and spreading of the gospel will be done not by the ingenuity of men but by the working of the Spirit of God. God is raising many servant leaders to lead His Church in these end times. Yet they will not be men of renown or of prestige. God is raising up many obscure godly servants who share the spirit of the True Shepherd to call for the gathering of His body as the end of the age approaches.
When will the book be released and in what formats?
The volume will be released God willing in a few months. Currently we are finishing the actual writing of the book and God willing some editors are going to help edit the volume for content, theology and grammar. The book will be available in as many formats as possible to facilitate it being read. We are going to offer it freely as an online book, free pdf downloads, free mobi and other ebook formats. We will list the book also as cheaply as possible in other online ebook stores. The book will be available also for print on demand soft cover. And depending if any brothers are able to facilitate a print run we will have the book in hard cover format also. You can preview the Table of Contents of the book here: Principles For The Gathering Of Believers
How much will the book cost and profit?
The editors Brother Greg and Brother Edgar will make ZERO off any book sales. We do not want to make any profit from the sales of this book but simply want the book to get into as many hands as the Lord would allow and desire. Thus we are offering it in every format possible. When the book is offered in print format either hardcover or paperback it will be offered exactly as COST price that it took to produce the volume nothing more.
How to know when the book will exactly be released?
The best way to be alerted towards the book release is to stay tuned to this blog. Also to follow us on facebook and twitter. We will be updating those social media sites with the news when the book is available.
