IN THE BEGINNING

Welcome to heaven’s embassy: a local Christian church.  Herein neither personal nor corporate conduct is in accordance with that of earth, but of heaven, for those who gather here, though we all dwell in the earth, are yet at once strangers and pilgrims upon it, for we are the called and

chosen of the King and Creator of all things.  We are His heirs: His children; His sons.  We, who all at one time were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, are now found and founded in Christ Jesus.  We who sometimes were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  We are the Ecclesia, the called out ones, the Church of Jesus Christ.  We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in these heavenly places.  Christ is seated here at the right hand of God far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.  And God has raised us up together, and made us to sit together in Christ Jesus here in the heavenlies.  Here we preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and deeply desire to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known, through the instrumentality of the church, to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  As we gather we also put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the cunning devices of the devil.  For here we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in these very same heavenlies.  Now to be successful in our purpose for gathering we must not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  Therefore, we behave ourselves as Lambs when we can, as Lions when we must.  In doing so we will maintain in this place, our embassy, an atmosphere that is life - sustaining to the new creature, that all who come near will know that God’s will is done in here as it is in heaven.  This is the beginning point of our gathering.  Now as we stand and praise our King together, He will reveal the rest.

Pastor Bobby Norton

Written 7/10/05