We are aware of a growing Spirit-led movement of believers meeting in homes. It’s global. We see this happening on three fronts and felt to share it with you. On one front, this movement is massive in oppressed countries like Iran and Algeria, (Charisma, September 2019, page 12). There is clearly a worldwide awakening.
I’ve heard of one Christian ministry in Iran that gets 700 requests a day for information. The hunger to know Yahshua (Jesus), our Messiah, is burning in the hearts of those disillusioned with the religious and political systems of the fallen man. This fire for truth is fanned in-home assemblies.
Another front is the “Messianic/Hebrew Roots” home-groups movement that is predominantly in the United States and Israel. The Jews are coming to see Yahshua as their true Messiah. Christians, on the other hand, are beginning to see and appreciate their Hebrew Roots, which reveal so much truth in the Word.
The Jews are finding religious Judaism to be lacking the main point. The Christians are distancing themselves from the empty, erroneous, misleading, religious traditions and doctrines of church systems. Each of the two groups is finding key elements in the other.
The clean, new baby is emerging as the bathwater is tossed out. These “Messianic Jews” and “Hebrew Roots Believers” are typically meeting in homes. It is one aspect of the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, where the rods of Judah and Joseph come together to become one new rod. It is a restoration of when Israel was one nation. It is a restoration of when the Jewish Apostles met in homes since the murder of Stephen to share about Yahshua.
There is an annual seven-day conference where both these Messianic Jews and Hebrew Roots Believers find common ground. It is the Messianic Jewish Alliance. This year they hosted many speakers from both sides, including Messianic Jew, David Brody, a famous journalist and guest on major news media. He also wrote the recent book, “The Faith of Donald Trump,” which I’m enjoying immensely. It was fascinating to hear some of the CD-messages of the speakers of this gathering about what Yahovah is doing in Israel, the U.S.A., and globally.
Yet, an additional front of home assemblies is exploding in growth, especially in the United States. It is all connected to discovering the mistranslation of “ekklesia” as “church.” The word “church” was purposely used for the Greek word “ekklesia” because the ruling church leaders did not like the meaning of “ekklesia.” That is a blatant mistranslation, though we’ve been taught otherwise.
These two words have radically different meanings. Perhaps I’ll do a study on that in our “Mistranslations and Myths” section of our website soon. As we study the definitions of the two words, we see that “church” points to buildings, institutions, and religious hierarchies.
“Ekklesia,” however, points to a ruling council. His Life manifests in people who take charge and bring effective change, salt, and light, to rule in justice and righteousness. This change transforms culture, society, governments, and nations.
This ekklesia home congregations movement can be traced to Russell Wagner being stirred by the Spirit. Russ has spent many years starting home groups and encouraging others to do the same. For those people wanting to be part of a home congregation, Russ encourages them to read four books by different authors on “Ekklesia.”
He has not written any of them and makes no money from their sales. I enjoyed reading the first two books and look forward to reading the next one. He also has offered 12 free video sessions online. These books and videos are insightful resources for the home congregation movement.
To learn more, we go to his website, Omega Kingdom Ministry, which leads us to his training and resources page. Who is Russ Wagner? He is not a 501(c)3. Formerly a pastor, he is currently a friend with both Michael Ortega of Strike Force of Prayer and his close companion, Mark Taylor of Sord Rescue.
Mark is well known for his prophecies regarding current events in the U.S.A. and globally, especially for his 2011 word that Donald Trump would be elected President. We also have all of Mark’s posted prophecies on our website. Here we see a convergence of Light, a hub of the global phone prayer movement, the prophetic movement, and the home congregation movement.
These three men do not seek attention or control. Their services are all free. Rather, like Peter, James, and John, they embrace the role of servants with a vision to follow His Spirit to build His Kingdom out of love for Yahshua.
Our small part is to present Biblical teaching that focuses on seeing the “big picture.” We do this for free through our website. In providing the “big picture” of Bible Concepts and what God is doing, we link major sectors of truth: Word, Spirit, prayer, prophecy, politics, current events, Hebrew Roots, home-congregations, and more.
This collectively points to Yahshua’s Life taking hold and manifesting within a people. Here faith flows into action and the fruitfulness of His Kingdom comes forth. All of creation begins to change and begins to be set free. It is a transition of the Ages we are witnessing. It is exciting to be aware of what’s going on and to know our parts in being engaged in God’s Plan of victorious restoration.
The various home assemblies have many things in common, but what really stands out is that they are not under one leader. No one church ministry can take the credit. In fact, these home congregations are almost entirely outside of the church system as we’ve known it. There are no salaries, “church” buildings to support, programs, ministries, or denominations in control.
There are no 501(c)3 government entanglements. It is all truly led by Yahshua’s Spirit. Often, they even meet in different homes in the same town or other towns from week to week.
There are no official pastors, evangelists, teachers, prophets, or apostles. Instead, the people operate in those roles variously as the Spirit leads. The head of the home, of course, sets the standard for that home. Meals are often shared, and they tend to be all-day events, or nearly so because no one wants to leave these fountains of life.
The home congregations that we’ve attended have been vibrant and alive with lots of participation by nearly all. People travel long distances to attend, not wanting to miss the numerous things shared by His Spirit working through the many believers. It really is like the early church in the book of Acts. Each one has something to add as they all participate.
So, what does this home congregations movement mean? It is a transition from the church systems of man to the dynamic networking of His called-out ones through home groups by His Spirit. It is part of the separation of tares from the wheat, the great awakening of the end of the age, and the final harvest. These three fronts of home congregations are really just variations of a bigger picture of God waking up His Bride.
God is also using other means to connect His people as we grow up into maturity in Yahshua (Jesus). “Growing up” involves “leaving behind.” It is all part of His purging the tares from the wheat.
Other ways where His Light and His Truth converge include phone prayer meetings, patriotism, political conservatism, the prophetic movement, and even Trump Rallies. For more on His Plan, see “Bible Lesson 0.”
Eric J. Ellis
