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CITY CHURCH // an Apostolic Community
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News & Updates:

Announcements -

Our gathering on Sunday, February 25th was really a wonderful time. We had a great group in attendance - both in person and by Zoom. As always, it was great to be together. In the gathering Michael gave a message entitled, "The Weapon of an Unoffendable Heart." That message is posted in the upper right corner of this page. We urge everyone to listen to this very important and timely message. Also, feel free to share the message with those that you are walking with.


Also, please put Sunday, March 17th in your calendar. We will host a Household Gathering that day beginning at 10AM CST. As always, this gathering will be hosted both in person and also on Zoom. We hope you can be in this gathering with us. Additionally, please put Sunday, March 24th in your calendar for the next Zoom with Sam Soleyn. That meeting will begin at 11AM CST. We hope to see you on Zoom.

This is a busy time for us, and we are sure it is for you too. Both Melinda and I are working on resource creation projects. I am currently working on a large writing project. That is going very well. My plan is to have a new book published by the summer of this year. It is an exciting time.

Until we see you next time please know that we love you very much. :)

Michael & Melinda

New Message -

You will see on the center of this page a new message entitled, "I Don't Know How." This message addresses what I have often found to be a misperception and misunderstanding of one of the most quoted verses in the New Testament. In this message, I share my personal encounter with the broader truth of the Scripture that the message is taken from. I urge you to read this message and also listen to it's companion audio recording which is listed in the upper right side of this home page.

I also encourage you to periodically check this site for new messages. As the Lord is leading us along with the bread of revelation, it is my intention to continue to speak and write the things that I am hearing from the Lord. Part of the "re-engage" word that I heard last year involves writing and speaking messages that are current and relevant. "Profitable" (upper right on this page) and "Patmos" are both messages that are well suited for this time. And there are others soon to come. So, check back as you can.

Resources -

A recent quote from Sunday, May 7, 2023 Zoom meeting. Sam Soleyn said, "the problem with submitting to your own soverignty is that you can never move beyond yourself." If you are not on the email notification list for Sam's Zoom meetings, please email us and we will add you to the list. Email us by clicking this link: infoat@citychurchla.com.

Blessings to you,

Michael


SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 4/2/17
by Michael Barrett

THE ISSUE OF SOURCE
on 3/5/17
by Norman Moreau and Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

AMBASSADORIAL REPRESENTATION
on 2/5/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

ROYAL BIRTHRIGHT OR A BOWL OF STEW
on 1/1/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

BUILDING GOD'S WAY (Spanish)
on 12/4/16
by Javier Lopez

THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
on 11/6/16
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

DESTINED TO FAIL (Pt. 1)
on 9/1/16
by Michael Barrett


THE CRITICAL KEY OF SPIRITUAL HEARING
on 7/31/16
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

LOVE - IF AND IS
on 6/5/16
by Michael Barrett

A TIME & A SEASON

on 5/1/16
by Michael Barrett

CRITICISM, A CRITICAL SPIRIT, OFFENSE & GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
on 4/3/16
by Michael Barrett

ENTERING AND EXITING
on 3/6/16
by Michael Barrett

THE WEAPON OF QUIETNESS
on 2/7/16
by Michael Barrett

IMMEDIATELY
on 1/3/16
by Michael Barrett

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
on 5/3/15
by Dan Crawford

THE DUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
on 4/5/15
by Michael Barrett

RESURRECTION AND THE TELEIOS MAN
on 10/5/14
by Michael Barrett

A CITY WITHOUT WALLS
on 8/10/14
by Michael Barrett

A CULTURE OF ONENESS
on 7/13/14
by Michael Barrett

EMPOWERED AND ENABLED
on 4/6/14
by Michael Barrett

WHAT'S IN A NAME
on 2/02/14
by Michael Barrett


2013 - 2014
on 1/05/14
by Michael Barrett

A YEAR IN REVIEW
on 12/08/13
by Michael Barrett

CHRIST FORMED
IN YOU

on 11/03/13
by Michael Barrett

WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU IN THIS SEASON and WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION
on 10/06/13
by Michael Barrett

The Individual And Corporate Temple

by Michael Barrett

Let's take up the subject of the Temple of God for a few minutes.  There has undoubtedly been much teaching over the years regarding the Temple of God.  It is not my aim here to look at the various "temples" of God described in the scriptures. 

We do, however, clearly find in the Old Testament a physical temple.  Whether that temple was found in the form of a tabernacle, or a temporary structure, or an actual temple, which was more permanent.  Whether we were to look at the tabernacle of Moses, the tabernacle of David or the temple of Solomon, there is obviously much beautiful and helpful revelation associated with any of these structures.

Again, it is not my aim to have us go in the direction of reviewing the passages that describe those structures.  What I do, however, want to pursue in this article is the truth that is contained in the symbolism drawn from all of the Old Testament temples or tabernacles.  Each and every example found in the Old Testament, as important as they all are, are all shadows or figures of the real!  They each pre-figure the reality of a new temple coming in the new covenant. 

The Individual Temple

Now, that's our jumping off place.  With that, I want to discuss the reality of two New Testament temples.  The first temple we will examine is what we might call "the individual temple." 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

As a believer, your body has become a New Testament temple.  Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  In other words, you have become, as a born again believer, a residence for the Holy Spirit.  Take the time to review the following scripture passages. 

      John 16:7--Jesus going away, Holy Spirit coming

      John 20:22--Receive the Holy Spirit

      John 14:17--Holy Spirit will be in you

      Romans 8:9-11--Holy Spirit dwells in you

      2 Corinthians 1:22--sealed with the Holy Spirit, in your heart

As these passages clearly indicate, when a person is born again, or receives Christ in a saving way, the Holy Spirit comes into that person.  The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the spirit of that individual.  Thus, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is fulfilled.  This person becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit.  The physical temple, or house, of the Holy Spirit has become a person.  The temple of God is no longer a temple built with hands (Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24).

If you are born again, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit!!  This is a very basic truth that every believer needs to understand.  Christ in you, the hope of Glory!  (Colossians 1:27).  This is the person of the Holy Spirit, coming into the believer!  This is the "individual temple" of God in the new covenant.  As a believer, you are the individual new covenant temple of God.  What a reality! 

The Corporate Temple

Now, the second New Testament temple we need to consider is not an individual temple, but rather a corporate temple.  It is the corporate temple of the Body of Christ. 

Ephesians 2:19-22  "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

It is important to note several key aspects of the truth of this passage.  These are: 1) verse 20 says that we are being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and that Jesus is the chief corner stone of the building.  2) verse 21 says that this building is being framed and fitted together and is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.  3) verse 22 says that these individual parts are being built together and are becoming a "habitation of God through the Spirit." 

Already we can see a contrast, or difference between the individual temple and the corporate temple.  This individual temple reality is experienced by everyone who has received Christ (in the person of the Holy Spirit) into his or her heart and life.  For this person, this reality already exists.  In other words, the individual temple is something that the believer "already is."  However, the corporate temple reality is altogether different.  Firstly, you cannot experience this reality alone!  This reality may only be experienced as the Holy Spirit fits, frames and builds you together with other members of the Body of Christ into a Holy Temple.

We can see from the reading of the two passages above that the "two temples" are experienced differently.  The individual temple is experienced alone, whereas the corporate temple may only be experienced with other members of Christ's Body.  With this thought in mind, let's now consider exactly what this corporate temple is growing to be.

A Habitation Of God Through The Spirit

Can you see the picture in this statement?  A habitation of God!  A place where the Sovereign God dwells!!  Not a place of visitation, but a place of habitation!  You see, as the individual members of the Body of Christ come together, that is, are built together by the Holy Spirit, we become the place where God Himself will live.  Now I realize that the argument here could be, "I am already the temple of the Holy Spirit", and I couldn't agree more.  Every believer has the presence of God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwelling on the inside.  There is, however, another "kind" of God dwelling in people, which is altogether different than the individual kind. 

Many today are talking about the "manifest presence of God."  That is, that the presence of the Sovereign Lord should come forth in power from His people.  May I suggest to you that this level of expression of the presence of God will not come through an individual, but rather through the "built" Body of Christ!  The manifestation of the presence of the Lord belongs to the corporate temple!  We, together, are that corporate temple.  As we yield unselfishly to the inward work of the Holy Spirit, He will build us together into this holy house where God will dwell and from which He will manifest Himself in power to the earth! 

Coming Together Or Being Together?

The scripture says in Hebrews 10:25 that we are not to forsake to assemble together, and that we are to give more attention to doing so as we see the nearing of the Lord's return.  Think about the word assemble.  If you were to buy a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, would it be "together?"  The answer to that question depends on your definition of together.  All of the pieces are together, in fact, in the box.  But is the puzzle together?  In this word picture, you can see the experience that we are having at times as members of the Lord's Body.  It's not enough to merely be together.  We must allow a deep work of the Holy Spirit, in order that we genuinely come together with our hearts before God.

Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit in power.  In Acts 1:14, the scripture says that they were not only together in one place, but they were in "one accord."  This word means that they were "unanimous."  They all had the same mind, purpose and disposition toward the word of the Lord.  As a result of their togetherness and unity, the Holy Spirit came and willingly filled them all.  The result of their being filled was an outflow that affected the entire country.

1 Corinthians 14:26 says, when we all "come together" every believer will have a contribution to the whole.  I want to pose here two possibilities.  They are: 1) that you can come together and still not be together, and 2) that there is an experience of unity that is possible which actually creates an atmosphere that is inviting to the Holy Spirit. 

An example of this idea is found in Acts, chapter 13.  We see in this passage that there were a number of disciples in the church at Antioch.  Additionally, there were at least five of those believers who had come together.  The "kind" of coming together here is particularly noteworthy.  It is apparent that the coming together of these believers was pleasing to the Lord in such a way, that it elicited a response from the Holy Spirit.  We should also mention that there was plenty of ground for these particular believers to be divided, and not in unity.  A cursory look at Acts 13:1 gives us an immediate sense of some of the issues that could have kept these brethren divided.  Diversity of gifting, culture, and ethnicity could have easily divided these believers.  They, however, had sufficiently worked through these potential elements of division to the point of unity.  It was in this atmosphere of unity that the Holy Spirit responded to these brethren. 

Union And Unity

We have an opportunity to experience unity each time we come together as the Body of Christ.  Our commonality is Christ!  Our union with Him, is also our union with one another.  We were "quickened together with Him."  We were all reconciled to God in the person and work of the Son of God.  You didn't get quickened without me.  I didn't get quickened without you.  We both came into the family of God by the new and living way.  This is our union with Him and with one another.

Ephesians 4:3 says that we are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  You can't keep something that isn't available, but you can keep something that is available.  The unity of the Spirit is the unity that already exists in Christ.  We are the Body of Christ.  We all believe that Jesus will get His John 17 prayer answered.  We will experientially be one!  We have the real opportunity as the Lord's Body to come together in a genuine unity and be built together.  We don't have to be fragmented, separated and divided.  We are the Body of Christ!! 

A Holy Temple In The Lord

We must yield to the work of the Holy Spirit if we are to experience the building together of His Temple.  Beautiful Body of Christ, come together!  Yield to the higher purpose of the Godhead for the Bride.  We have an opportunity to see the greatest manifestation of the power of God than any other generation has ever seen.  Can you hear an invitation to be a real part of this incredible last days outpouring and manifestation of the presence of the Sovereign Lord?  Answer the call!  Yield to the work!!  Together, we will become this Holy Temple and the habitation of God in the earth.

RECENT MESSAGE

THE WEAPON OF AN UNOFFENDABLE HEART
on 2/25/24
by Michael Barrett

A PROPHETIC WORD FOR 2024
on 1/21/24
by Michael Barrett

I DON'T KNOW HOW
on 11/5/23
by Michael Barrett

TRANSFORMATION & MATURING SERIES -
JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023

REPENTING, RENEWING & MATURING
on 9/24/23
by Michael Barrett

THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD
on 8/27/23
by Michael Barrett

PREDESTINATION, TRANSFORMATION & TRANSFIGURATION
on 7/23/23
by Michael Barrett

SUFFERING AND REIGNING
on 6/25-23
by Michael Barrett

SENDING AND RECEIVING
on 5/28/23
by Michael Barrett

THE IMPERATIVE OF UNDERSTANDING
on 4/26/2023
by Michael Barrett

PROPHETIC STEPS FOR 2023
on 3/26/2023 - Zoom @ Varghese Household
by Michael Barrett

PHILEMON -PROFITABLE FOR YOU & FOR ME
on 2/4/2023
by Michael Barrett

PROPHETIC MINISTRY - SOAKING IN THE ANOINTING
by Michael Barrett

SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 7/21/2022
by Michael Barrett

THE EMOTIONS OF THE SOUL IN THE NEW SEASON
on 7/4/2022
by Michael Barrett

VOWS & OATHS - A REFUGE OF LIES
on 9/6/2020
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
on 6/14/20
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENSE
on 3/1/20
by Michael Barrett

SAM SOLEYN MESSAGE
on 1/5/20
by Sam Soleyn

THE SPIRIT OF EVANGELISM
on 11/17/19
by Dan Fox

THE VOICE OF ONE
on 11/3/19
by Michael Barrett (with open sharing)

THE RELATIONSHIP OF SON TO FAITH
on 10/6/19
by Michael Barrett

ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
on 9/1/19
by Michael Barrett

FROM MOURNING TO DANCING
on 8/4/19
by Michael Barrett

WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG
on 7/7/19
by Michael Barrett


THE GENESIS FACE
on 6/2/19
by Michael Barrett

CREATION'S EXPECTATION AND GOD'S PROVISION
on 5/5/19
by Michael Barrett

SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 4/7/19
by Michael Barrett

JESUS - YOUR KINSMAN REDEEMER
on 3/3/19
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

INHERITANCE - DOCTRINE & EXPERIENCE
on 2/3/19
by Michael Barrett

AN ANSWER FOR YOUR MIND
on 1/6/19
by Michael Barrett

A SON, A HOUSE, A NATION
on 12/2/18
by Michael Barrett

A SEASON OF AWAKENING
on 11/4/18
by Michael Barrett

BROKENNESS, HUMILITY AND PRIDE
on 10/7/18
by Michael Barrett

PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING
on 9/2/18
by Michael Barrett

DAN FOX: A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
MICHAEL BARRETT: PROPHETIC WORD
on 8/5/18

THE EYES, WHICH EYES AND SEEING AS GOD SEES
on 7/1/18
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

THE OIL OF GLADNESS
on 6/3/18
by Michael Barrett

THE HOUSE AND THE PRIESTHOOD
on 2/4/18
by Michael Barrett

EYES ALL AROUND
on 1/7/18
by Michael Barrett
   (click here for companion notes)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD - A KINGDOM OF ORDER
on 12/3/17
by Michael Barrett

APPROACHING THE GOD OF GLORY
on 11/5/17
by Dan Fox

CROSS OVER AND OCCUPY
on 8/6/17
by Michael Barrett

ANNOUNCING A CHANGE OF SEASON
on 7/2/17
by Michael Barrett

PERSPECTIVE - GAINING GOD'S VIEW (includes discussion)
on 6/4/17
by Michael Barrett


ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER
on 5/7/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

*other messages may be found on the "Media Resources" tab at the center top of this page

    City Church
    132 Scopena Circle
    Bossier City, LA 71112

    email: City Church