TENT OF DAVID FELLOWSHIP CORE VALUES
The Tent of David Fellowship is a society of believers devoted to the pursuit of the knowledge of God and the setting forth of His Son to Israel & the nations. There is no greater ministry than that of seeking the face of God, growing in a vital, loving union with Him, and setting forth His Son through real life and proclamation. In that life-long pilgrimage, these are the primary values that we carry:
1. The Life of Prayer & Fasting
We are in a preparation day, an hour when the Lord is calling us to get ready for His coming, to become voices in the wilderness, to see to the strengthening and enlargement of the inner-man. The life of prayer and fasting is of utmost cruciality in this preparation. Hear Edward “Praying” Payson on this:
“…the most eminent saints of ancient and later times have devoted frequent seasons to private fasting and prayer; and the practice may, therefore, be ranked among the essential means of rapid and extensive growth in grace. It were well for individuals, it were well for the church, if the practice should revive, and become common. So far from weakening the charities of life, or diminishing the amount of active, social duties, it would greatly enhance them. We should witness a more vigorous and determined piety, a more diffusive and efficient benevolence.” (From his memoir)
We want to see the tide of prayer and fasting rise, for nothing will more widely open the heavens over our generation than for the saints, in their weakness, to turn to the Lord and cry out for His Kingdom. For the increased revelation of Christ to the Church, for the salvation of Israel and the nations, for revival and awakening, for the Light of revelation to shine more brightly on the Scriptures, in contention for His power to be demonstrated in the earth, and ultimately for the return of Christ Himself, let us give ourselves to fasting and prayer both individually and as a believing society.
2. Revival
Duncan Campbell described revival as ‘a community saturated with God,’ and Edwin Orr defined it as ‘a movement of the Holy Spirit bringing about a revival of New Testament Christianity in the church of Christ and its related community.’ (excerpt from Brian H. Edwards’ “Revival: A People Saturated with God)
In that light, we are a community of saints carrying a jealousy in prayer and holy desire for the inbreaking of God’s Spirit for the purification and enlivening of the Church, the increasing revelation of Christ, the revivification of true worship, the recovery of God-anointed proclamation and witness, and the hallowing of God’s name in the cities of the earth. While laboring faithfully in the seemingly small things, we also pray, dream, hope, and believe for societal transformations akin to what we see in the Book of Acts and in the historical revivals and awakenings in Church History. O, that God would be glorified and made known in the cities of the earth!
3. Life Together
The local Church is a community of saints, a family of weak men and women who have received redemption and strength from the Living God. If our experience of church is impersonal, relationally defunct, distant and religious, we are not functioning in the way the Lord has intended. We are not experiencing life together.
Life together is of utmost import for the reality of Christ to be experienced in the lives of the saints. There must be a place and context in which we experience Christ through the saints; a place where we learn to love each other supernaturally, where we learn to forgive those who wrong us or sell us short, where we learn family, where we get over our hyper-spiritual performances and stand on the grounds of reality- the grounds where we recognize our humanity and draw from the Lord’s grace together.
Fasting is a holy occupation when coupled with prayer, but the sharing of a meal together with the saints is just as holy.
We need a context and heart that enables us to give ourselves to the saints relationally, to speak the truth to one another in love, to encourage one another, to confront sin when necessary, to confess our faults and receive prayer, to relax our minds and hearts, settle down and “be humans” together.
All of these purposes call the Church to a kind of life together that invites the reality of Christ. We need each other desperately on this pilgrimage, and the more we learn to serve each other in the Lord, the more God will be glorified in our midst. As in Acts 13, true servant-leaders are formed and sent out of a communal reality, where the Spirit of God is moving.
As one of our friends used to say, “Community is what keeps true prophets from becoming false.”
4. Theology
Theology is not merely a profession for the intellectual Christian scholar. It is a world into which every believer has been invited. Theology, by simple definition, is “the study of God.”
One of our core values is a passion for the recovery of the pursuit of God through the prayerful study of the Scriptures. Many believers are suffering from a “chronic sense of inferiority,” and are afraid to open the Scriptures. They feel too inconsistent or ignorant. Others have lost almost all desire for the Word, and see it as nothing more than a book that is too deep for them to get into. We are asking the Lord to unleash a fresh grace upon the Church for the opening up of the Scriptures; that a fervent passion for God and for His purposes would rest on the Church, and that the people of God would come into a newfound desire for pursuing the intimate knowledge of God in the Scriptures. The greatest need of the hour is for the true knowledge of God to be given to the Church. We do not know Him as He is, because we haven’t dwelt in the source waters- the Old and New Testaments.
One of our friends heard from the Lord some years back that in the final season of Church history leading up to Jesus’ return, there would be a “teaching revival.” We are in serious need of foundational Teachers, servants who have been fitted and prepared to set forth the nature and purpose of God with clarity, grace, and wisdom. They cannot be raised up without a revived value for the Scriptures. We believe that a passion for the pursuit of God through the study of the Scriptures will be one of the greatest hallmarks of the Church in these last days.
The centrality of Christ, the Person of God, the issue of Israel, the mysteries of God, the nature and anatomy of the Church, and eschatology are all realities we need to be peering into with a prayerful spirit. What a joy to delve more deeply into the heart and purpose of God through the Scriptures. The intimate knowledge of God is freely given to the ones who would receive the Holy Spirit, and go deep in the Old and New Testaments.
No wonder Karl Barth declared, “In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.”
5. Missions
Like every fellowship, we are called to be a sending community. We have been marked by the Lord with a great commission, and have been called to set forth the Son of God in real life and proclamation. We long to see the Son glorified in the nations of the earth. We have a mandate to bring the Gospel to both Jew and “Greek,” and we are called to be mindful of the lost in prayer and open in obedience to the proclamation of the cross.
We are called to carry, in prayer and intercession, in generous giving, and in Spirit-guided witness, a burden and ministry for the salvation of those who are in the grips of darkness.
TENT OF DAVID FELLOWSHIP DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
THE BIBLE
We believe in the total inspiration of the Scriptures, both the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the New Testament. We receive them as the final authority of the revelation of God, for the formation of all theology, and the giving of all instruction and counsel for life in the Lord. (Matt. 5.18; John 10.35; 2 Tim. 3.16-17; Heb. 4.12; 2 Pet. 2.19-21)
GOD
We believe that the God of the Scriptures is the one true God. He is Father, King, Judge, Servant, Lord, Savior, Bridegroom, and Master.
He exists transcendentally in three persons- Father, Son and Spirit of Holiness- and these, being one God, are equal in deity, power and glory.
Though the word “Trinity” is not used in the Scriptures, we see Trinitarian statements in numerous Biblical passages. Still, it is not a doctrine merely to be apprehended through logic or intellectual strain. Instead, it is a beautiful mystery that is only accessible to those who have faith. Hear Tozer on this, “The doctrine of the Trinity is truth for the heart. The spirit of man alone can enter through the veil and penetrate into that Holy of Holies. ‘Let me seek You in longing,’ pleaded Anselm, ‘let me long for You in seeking; let me find You in love, and love You in finding.’ Love and faith are at home in the mystery of the Godhead. Let reason kneel in reverence outside.” (A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy)
The Triune God created the heavens and the earth, sustains them providentially, and oversees them sovereignly until the day of consummation when all things are summed up manifestly in Christ. (Psalm 104, 110, & 139; Matt. 3.16, 10.29-31 and 28.19; Jn. 17; Acts 17.24-18; 2 Cor. 13.14; Eph. 1.9-12 and 4.4-6; Col. 1.16-17; Heb. 1.1-3; Rev. 1.4-6)
DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man, in his natural state, is utterly depraved, Godless, and inherently wicked. There is nothing righteous in him, and an impenetrable veil hangs between him and God. Only by turning to the Lord can it be removed. Without repentance and faith in Christ the eternal judgment of the Lord is upon him.
(Genesis 1-3; Psm. 51.5; Is. 53.5; Rom. 3.9-18; Gal. 3.22; Eph. 2.1-3, 12)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully Man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a penal, substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By His blood shed at the Cross, He obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints forever. (Matt. 1.18-25; Jn. 1.1-18; Rom. 8.34; 1 Cor. 15.1-28; 2 Cor. 5.21; Gal. 3.10-14; Eph. 17; Phil. 2.6-11; Col. 1.15-23; Heb. 7.25, 9.13-15 and 10.19; 1 Pet. 2.21-25; 1 Jn. 2.1-2)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation from sin and judgment is experienced only through the reception of God’s mercy in the Gospel of Jesus. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. His shed blood is the only means for our justification and transformation. No ordinance, ritual, work or any other activity on the part of man is required or accepted in order to be saved from sin and judgment. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ. (Jn. 1.12-13, 6.37-44 and 10.25-30; Acts 4.12 and 16.30-31; Rom. 3-4, 8.1-17, 31-39 and 10.8-10; Eph. 2.8-10; Phil. 2.12-13; Tit. 3.3-7; 1 Jn. 1.7, 9)
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Spirit of Holiness, in whom we are also sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and graciously equips the believer for godly living and service. Subsequent to conversion, the Spirit fills, empowers and anoints believers for ministry and witness.
Those who ask for “bread” will not receive a “stone.” Immersion in the Spirit is absolutely necessary for the increase of Christ in our lives, the release of spiritual gifts and holy demonstrations of power, and the attaining of true understanding and light in the Scriptures. To abide in righteousness, peace and joy and overcome in present and future days of trial, the activity of God’s Spirit in the life of the believer is of utter necessity. Immersion in the Spirit is a tangible experience of the Living God Himself, evidenced by an increased awareness of the Lord, an infusion of holy power from on high, and the activity of various spiritual gifts. (Matt. 3.11; Jn. 1.12-13, 3.1-15; Acts 4.29-30; Rom. 8.9 and 12.3-8; 1 Cor. 12.12-13; 2 Cor. 1.21-22; Gal. 3.1-5; Eph. 1.13-14 and 5.18)
WATER BAPTISM & THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the two ordinances of the Church which are commanded by Christ are Baptism, by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and the Lord’s Supper, a memorial of the death, resurrection and second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is a statement of newfound faith in the Gospel, and should be carried out before the saints as a testimony of grace to earthly and heavenly witnesses.
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is to be shared alongside other saints in a context of relatedness and unity (confession if required). It is a remembrance of the Person and work of Christ, and a statement of His authority and Kingship through a corporate entity- the Church. (Matt. 29.19-20; Acts 8.38; Rom. 6.1-4; 1 Pet. 3.21; Lk. 22.13-20; 1 Cor. 11.23-26)
GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that God has called the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations, being mindful of the need for setting forth the Gospel to Jews as well as Gentiles. It is the calling of the individual as well as the Christian community to set forth the Son of God to Israel and the nations through various means of God-inspired witness. When this Gospel of the Kingdom has been proclaimed to all nations, the way will have been prepared for His glorious return. (Is. 58.6-12 and 61.1; Matt. 5-7, 24.14, 28.18-20; Lk. 4.18 and 21.1-4; Gal. 2.10; 1 Tim. 6.8)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ at the end of the age when He will return to the Earth personally and visibly to consummate His Kingdom. We also believe in and are praying for a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious Church that will experience unprecedented unity, purity and power in the Holy Spirit.
This return will constitute permanent and inviolable salvation for the remnant of Israel, the resurrection of the righteous, the transformation of our bodies, the judgments of God released upon ungodly governments and “them that know not God,” and the glorious inauguration of the Millennial Reign of Christ. We believe the Church will be present during the climactic time of tribulation which precedes the return of Christ, and that Her role of last days' witness is the primary catalyst of Israel's salvation. (Ps. 2.7-9, 22.27-28; Jn. 17.20-26; Rom. 11.25-32; 1 Cor. 15.20-28, 50-58; Eph. 4.11-16; Phil. 3.20-21; 1 Thess. 4.13-5.11; 2 Thess. 1.3-12; Rev. 7.9-14)
DEATH
We believe that when the Christian dies they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great triune God. We also believe that when the unbeliever dies they are consigned to Hell, there to await the day of judgment when they shall be punished with eternal, conscious and tormented separation from the presence of God in the lake of fire. (Matt. 25.46; Lk. 16.19-31; Jn. 5.25-29; 1 Cor. 15.35-58; 2 Cor. 5.1-10; Phil. 1.19-26 and 3.20-21; 2 Thess. 1. 5-10; Rev. 20.11-15 and 21.1-22.15)
ISRAEL'S RESTORATION
We believe that in conjunction with the return of Jesus, the people of Israel will turn to God and be saved (Matt. 23.39; Rom. 11.15). The Church is not spiritual Israel; it will enjoy the promises given to Abraham along with natural Israel, not in place of it. The Church and Israel remain distinct, but believing Jews and believing Gentiles are united as one people of God through the redemption that is in Messiah Jesus, the Son of God. With this in mind, the Church should love Israel as it loves itself, should pray for Israel, should minister with the understanding that their Savior is Israel’s Messiah, and should pursue the salvation of Israel.
We believe that the “mystery of Israel” should be contended for in the Church, and that the lack of revelation in this mystery has caused the Church, individual believers, and ministries to see themselves as the center of God’s Kingdom as opposed to privileged participants. This has removed believers from the consciousness of mercy, and from the larger Kingdom perspective of that which the Lord has spoken through the prophets pertaining to the demonstration of His wisdom and glory through the people Israel. The mystery of Israel reminds us that we have not earned a right standing with the Lord, but that He has given Himself mercifully to us. We, as the Church, are precious in His sight, but we are not the summation of the Kingdom. The glory belongs to Him, His Kingdom on the earth will revolve around Jerusalem (not our personal ministry endeavors), and we are wonderfully fortunate as Gentiles to have been grafted in to His glorious intentions for priesthood and witness.
We also believe that the Scriptures are clear regarding the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Dan. 12; Jer. 30.7; Zech. 13; Amos 9; Matt. 24), a time yet future of unprecedented trial for Jews worldwide. The Church has a holy eschatological calling to be a kind of “Corrie Ten Boom-type witness” to the lost sheep of the House of Israel during the final tribulational time when Israel will be despised by the nations who are under the influence of demonic powers. Many nations will be handled like puppets by the powers of darkness, who possess a vitriolic hatred for the covenant the Lord has with Israel.
While it is difficult to consider (especially after Israel’s already horrific accumulated experience of Anti-Semitism), we believe this is a necessary sifting (Am. 9) out of which will emerge the remnant of Israel who will look upon the Pierced One, receive the Spirit of grace and supplication, and be saved in the end. The Church has a mandate to be a presence of identification and mercy to Jews in a time of great distress, even if it costs them their lives. We need to pray for Israel’s salvation, for increased understanding from the Scriptures regarding these realities, and for a Church to be formed in the earth that will not cower when inconveniences and threats arise, but be prepared to set forth the Lord in the midst of apocalyptic challenges. By our mercy they will obtain mercy. (Jer. 30; Daniel 12; Zech. 13-14; Matt. 24; Rom. 9-11)
CONFESSION
We believe it is crucial for all saints to have a context of fellowship in which to confess their sins and faults, to be supported and challenged by fellow believers in areas of family, doctrine and morality, and to receive prayers that healing and restoration may come from the Lord. (James 5.15-16; 1 Jn. 1.5-10)
SEPARATION FROM WORLDLINESS
We believe that all saints should live, as the early disciples did, a life separated from the world and unto Christ and to set standards of conduct that exalt our Lord and his Church. A life of holiness and obedience to God is not optional, but is commanded by Jesus and the apostles as a requirement for those who will enter the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 7.21; 16.27; Rom. 12.1-3; 2 Cor. 6.17; Gal. 6.14; Eph. 5.11; Col. 3.17; Rev. 20.12; Heb. 12.14)
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
We believe that the Scriptures clearly set forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal life for the saved. (Matt. 25.34, 41, 46; Lk. 19.19-31; Jn. 14.1-3; Rev. 20.11-15)
DIVINE HEALING
We believe that God uses doctors, medicines, and other material means for healing, but that divine healing is also provided in the atonement and may be appropriated by the laying on of hands by elders or by believers, by the prayers of any believer gifted for healing the sick, or by a direct act of receiving this provision by faith. This kind of faith and expectation should be the normal experience of the Church. (Is. 53.5; Mk. 11.23, 16.18; 1 Cor. 12.9; Jas. 5.14-16)
THE FOUNDATION OF APOSTLES & PROPHETS
We believe that the foundation of the New Testament Church is the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the cornerstone. The Church must be founded upon the revelation of God as He has been set forth through the prophets and apostles of the Scriptures. Any deviation from the revelation of God’s nature and purposes as found in the Scriptures is to be rejected as false.
There is no church unless Jesus Christ holds it together, and neither is the church properly founded unless genuine, God-given apostles and prophets are in their rightful places according to the will of Jesus, the Head. For this reason, the Church must pray for the raising up of truly formed and genuinely called servants to function in these foundational roles. (Eph. 2.20-22; 4.11)
THE FORMATION OF SERVANT/LEADERS
We believe that leadership in the Church should emerge as the gifts of God become evident, that these leadership gifts include, but are not limited to elders and overseers, and that all leaders in the Body of Christ are given to serve the Body, not to be served, and to facilitate the will of God, not their own will, being realized among the saints under their care. (Acts 13.1-4; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 1; 1 Tim. 3, 5.22)
SATAN
We believe that Satan, originally the great and good angel Lucifer, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil and unrest on Earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Is. 14.10-17; Ez. 28.11-19; Matt. 12.25-29 and 25.41; Jn. 12.31 and 16.11; Eph. 6.10-20; Col. 2.15; 2 Pet. 2.4; Jd. 6; Rev. 12.7-9 and 20.10)