Restoration of the Church

“They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (1Sam. 8:7).

Even though this happened in the days of Samuel, there is a principle here that applies to believers today.  Of course, we do not want to be guilty of rejecting the Lord as our King, but unless we understand this principle, we may be doing just that.  From the time of Joshua to Samuel, the Israelites were governed through judges.  This relationship with the Lord as their King required a walk of faith and obedience.  If they turned to other gods, the help of the Lord was withdrawn.  When the prophet Samuel was old, the nation was concerned that they would fall back to the failures of the past.  Rather than rely on faith for national security, they decided to ask for a king like the nations around them.  We are doing the same thing if we allow our churches to rely on human structures instead of the Holy Spirit.  God’s method for building the Church is still: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” (Zech. 4:6).

The church was founded by the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  Everything was new to the disciples, so they relied entirely on the Holy Spirit.  As the church grew, leaders were set apart by the Spirit to minister to the Lord and to the people.  After the apostles passed away, and the reliance of the church on the Spirit decreased, the role of the leaders changed.  By the time of the Dark Ages, they had accepted a religious system instead of “men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” (Acts 6:3).  During the Reformation, the process of restoring the church to its original design began.  This is a process that will continue until the Lord returns and the Bride becomes “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” (Eph. 5:27). 

In the nineties, my wife and I pioneered a church in Saskatchewan.  As the manifestation of the Spirit increased among us, and our numbers grew, we began to establish a cell group structure.  This is when a major conflict occurred.  Some of the new leaders were teaching against speaking in tongues in the services.  More specifically, they had issues with our practice of praying in tongues during worship.  As we prayed about this, it became clear what the real issue was.

My wife was the worship leader.  As a prophetic intercessor, it was normal for her to lead the congregation in prayer when a breakthrough was needed for worship.  We still had much to learn about flowing in the Spirit, but we would not learn it by quenching the Spirit.  To help discern the spirit behind this conflict, the Lord gave us this verse: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!” (Matt. 23:37).  Jerusalem was the centre of the religious system.  The Lord revealed to us that a key aim of the religious spirit is to kill the prophets.  This revelation set us free.  We took authority over the religious spirit and continued to allow freedom in the operation of spiritual gifts.

One of the roles of the prophets is to see and hear the plans of the Lord.  For the church to move into all that God has for her, she has need of the prophets.  She also has need of the other leaders. Together they must shepherd the flock into new pastures.

As I ponder what the Lord is doing today, I find myself returning to the vision of the Body of Christ that was given to Tommy Hicks in 1961.  I wrote about this vision in my two articles on “End-Time Vision”.  In this vision, the church is represented as a great giant lying on the earth with his head at the South Pole and his feet at the North Pole.  A great outpouring of the Spirit of God occurred after the giant stood up with hands lifted, reaching into the heavens.  We read in the account of the vision,

“Slowly this great giant began to rise and as it did, his head and hands went into the clouds.  As he rose to his feet he seemed to have cleansed himself from the debris and filth that was upon him, and he began to raise his hands into the heavens as though praising the Lord, and as he raised his hands, they went even unto the clouds.”

Hearing the testimonies of the encounters the prophet/seers are having with God, the angels, and the cloud of witnesses, I am reminded that when the giant got up, his head reached into the clouds.  The head represents authority; the clouds represent the heavenly realms.  One of the results of these spiritual encounters is a restoration of spiritual authority.  These prophets are declaring on the earth what they are hearing the Lord speak to them in the heavens.  They are participating in a form of intercession that is greater than what was seen in previous decades.  Although there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9), the increase of these experiences is new for us today.

The reason why leaders pull back from the prophetic is because they want order in the church.  God is a God of order, but He does not bring that order by domination.  He offers freedom in love, and judges (disciplines) what is evil.  We cannot plow new fields without some unwelcome challenges.  “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of the ox.” (Prov. 14:4).  Rather than resisting the prophetic, we should “test all things” and “hold fast to what is good” (1Thess. 5:21).  I always try to hear what the Lord is “saying”, not what the prophet “thinks about” what He is saying. 

As we put our faith in the Lord and His prophets, we will prosper (2Chron. 20:20).  This increase in prophetic experiences will bring an increase in power for the whole Body of Christ.  These experiences are not limited to a few prophets or seers, but we are all invited to experience these manifestations of the grace and glory of God.  “And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17).

The Main Thing

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13,14)

I have never forgotten the instruction the Lord gave me concerning setting goals for our lives.  As a young believer, I was seeking the Lord for an understanding of His purpose for my life.  I wanted a vision to work towards. He led me to this passage, and I understood that it was to be the goal for my life.  It was not about a career or a ministry, which is what I was inquiring about; it was about the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Based on the context of the passage, I understood that this was referring to the resurrection of our bodies, but it was also more than that.  “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:10,11).

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed in the Lord’s answer.  It seemed too simple.  Why was taking part in the resurrection going to take some pressing towards?  I thought since having accepted Jesus, getting caught up with Christ at His coming was just the completion of what I had already obtained.  Obviously, Paul did not think it was a guaranteed thing, since he said “if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.”  And, as I have come to understand, messages from God often have deeper meanings than first appearance.    

What does taking part in the resurrection mean?  “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6).  This is what the Bride of Christ is called to.  “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2).  Who is the Bride of Christ?  The letters to the churches in the book of Revelation tell us that she is a company of overcomers.  “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.  I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.  And I will write on him My new name.” (Rev. 3:12).  She will not be hurt by the second death, which means that she will take part in the first resurrection. (Rev. 2:11). Those who overcome (i.e. the Bride) will rule with Christ (Rev. 2:26,27). 

You will notice from these verses that they are all promises that we have believed belong to the Church, the Body of Christ.  Is the Church the Bride of Christ?  It is obvious from the verses we have just read that she comes from the body of believers on the earth.  The letters in Revelation were written to seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 1:20).  Now, we must ask a very difficult question.  If the Bride of Christ is the company of overcomers from the churches on the earth, will the remainder of believers, who are not overcomers, be part of the Church in heaven?  To phrase it another way, will they take part in the first resurrection?  These are important questions if we are to understand Paul’s pressing on to “attain to the resurrection of the dead”.

We know that those who take part in the first resurrection will be priests of God and will reign with Christ a thousand years.  Those who will reign with Christ are the overcomers.  Who are the priests of Christ?  The apostle Peter tells us that believers are “being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Pe. 2:5).  The Lord has made them “kings and priests to His God and Father” (Rev. 1:6).  As His royal priesthood, we understand, then, that the Church will take part in the first resurrection.  If the Church and the Bride are not the same, then their roles as priests and rulers will be different, but they will all be the Body of Christ. 

I personally have a problem with this interpretation because it appears to contradict this scripture: “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:30-32).  Also, believing that even the complacent believers will attain to the first resurrection gives them a false hope.  We must endure with Christ if we are to reign with Him (2Tim. 2:11).  Just because we have been added to the church on earth does not mean that we cannot be removed. (See Rev. 2:5 and Rom. 11:17-22). 

I realize that this is a difficult view to accept because we tend to associate salvation with being in the Church.  I believe it is possible to be saved from eternal punishment and not be part of the Church.  After the thousand-year reign of Christ, there will be some on the new earth who will be saved but they will not be the Bride of Christ.  “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it.  Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).  And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.  But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Rev. 21:24-27).  Having said that, I also believe that it is possible to lose one’s salvation.

Therefore, my goal is not just to be saved from eternal punishment, but to be as close to Jesus as I can.  My hope is to attain to the first resurrection, to be in the company of overcomers which is the Bride of Christ.  “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.  Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” (Phil. 3:15,16).

The Restoration of All Things

“That He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.” (Acts 3:20,21).

It is very important for us to understand what the Holy Spirit was declaring through Peter in the verses above.  If “heaven must receive (Jesus) until the restoration of all things”, then He will not return until certain events have come to pass.  To gain a proper understanding of this statement, we must keep it in context, otherwise, “all things” can suggest many different things. I recently heard one teacher quote this passage as saying, “the restoration of all things created”.  Adding the word “created” to this Scripture opens it up to all types of interpretations, some of which can be quite destructive.  If we keep the verse in context, we see that the Lord was not talking about “all things created”, but “all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of the holy prophets”.  God indeed will make all things new (Rev. 21:5), but not until what is evil has been removed. Not all things “created” will be restored to their original state; some things are reserved for destruction.  Fallen angels and evil doers will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented night and day forever (Rev. 20:10-15). 

Jesus mentioned the restoration of all things while speaking of John the Baptist.  “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.  But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished.” (Matt. 17:11,12).  This was a reference to the words of Malachi concerning the coming of the spirit of Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5).  In speaking to the father of John the Baptist (Lu. 1:17), the angel linked this prophecy to Isaiah’s prophecy of a voice in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord.  Isaiah was prophesying the restoration of Israel.  “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isa. 40:1-3). Although John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah, there is still a coming of Elijah in the last days.  In the same way that John came to “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Lu. 1:16), the last days ministry of the spirit of Elijah is to complete the restoration of the Church and of Israel. 

The Church has an important role in the restoration of Israel, but it must first be restored to the life and power of the New Testament church.  Then it must go further and do the “greater works” that Jesus talked about (Jn. 14:12).  The Jews missed their day of visitation when Jesus first came to the earth, and they will not receive Him in these last days unless God does something different.  The days we are entering are very different than what the world has seen to date.  The events of the last days will have a great deal to do with the restoration of all things.  It will be a time of great darkness, but it will also be a time for the Church to reflect the glory of God.  Rather than looking to escape the time of the end, we should be seeking to understand what the Lord is doing, and work with Him to accomplish it. 

God is doing a new thing.  “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it will spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.” (Isa. 43:19,20).  The Lord will use the Church to provide drink to returning Jews.  The river of God flows out of believers.  Since Jesus is the Way, and we are in Him, we also are the highway in the wilderness.  The redeemed among the Gentiles are meant to help the Jews return to Zion.   “Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem…” (Isa. 66:20).  The Church is to help direct the Jews to the Lord by the preaching of the gospel with signs following.    

There is an order to the restoration of all things.  First the Gentiles, then the Jews, then the resurrection.  Paul tells us in Romans that “blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved…” (Rom. 11:25,26).  “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:15).  Jesus is in heaven, bringing all things under His feet.  He is making one new man of both Gentiles and Jews (Eph. 2:14-16).  But “the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called but few chosen.” (Matt. 20:16).  God’s plans will be completed; what remains to be seen is who will be a part of them. 

As we enter the end times, we can expect things to change in the spiritual realm as well as in the natural realm.  The Church will walk in greater authority.  God will do things through the Church that we have never seen before.  The sad thing is that some will not accept the new move of God because it will not fit their expectations.  Even more concerning to them, it will threaten the religious systems they have come accustomed to.  These religious traditions offer a false sense of security.  Without repentance there is no forgiveness, and without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).

The message for today is still the same as when Peter preached his sermon on the restoration of all things.  “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19).

Communion of the Holy Spirit

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen.” (2Cor. 13:14)

The three persons of the Godhead are united in purpose, but they have different personalities and functions.  In our pursuit of God, it is important to know and relate to each Person of the Trinity.  One of the ways to do this is in prayer and worship.

In my last article (Streams in the Desert) I shared about my experience in releasing the River of Life by faith.  As I continue to listen to the messages of the forerunners, I am finding that my method of cooperating with the Holy Spirit is expanding.  I am engaging with my imagination in new ways.  When I release the River by faith, I begin to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.  As I meditate on being “in” the Holy Spirit, the sense of His presence grows.  I appreciate the communion of the Holy Spirit, but that is not my goal.  My desire is to worship the Father and the Son, and I do that while consciously abiding in the Spirit because “no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1Cor. 12:3). 

I see myself “in” the Holy Spirit, and I also see myself “in” Christ.  We know that Jesus is both man and God.  As members of His Body, we are “in Him” offering our worship to the Father.  “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Pe. 2:5).  On the earth Jesus worshiped and prayed to the Father.  In heaven, He continues His role as Christ: “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25).  As born-again believers we are new creations, and it is important that we identify with this new reality.  We are not independent, but individually members of His Body. (Rom. 12:5).  My meditation then, is to see myself as part of Christ, offering worship and prayer to the Father.

To worship the Son, I like to see myself as a “living stone” in the temple of God.  The temple is alive because it is a spiritual house made up of royal priests, who are anointed by the Holy Spirit to “offer up spiritual sacrifices”.  Viewing myself as part of the temple is also a corporate image.  Sometimes I like to worship the Son by seeing Him as the Lamb of God as He appears in the book of Revelations.  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:12). 

I am not afraid to pursue God with my imagination.  It is one of the ways to commune with the Holy Spirit.  As I do this, I am not trying to create an image, I am trying to engage with the Spirit using the Word of God.  We are exhorted in Scripture to meditate on His Word.  In Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2, the word “meditate” is translated from the Hebrew word “hagah” which means “to mutter” and “to ponder” (Strong’s #1897).  In Psalm 119, the word “meditate” is used a few times and is translated from the Hebrew word “siyach” which means “to ponder” and “to converse with oneself, or utter” (Strong’s #7878).  Our “pondering” on the Word should not simply be an activity of the mind, but of our spirit by faith.  As we ponder, we should speak out in prayer (silently or out loud) the images the Word we are meditating upon.

Jesus taught us that the Word is a seed which must be planted in the soil of our hearts.  When a seed is planted, it needs moisture and heat to germinate.  Two symbols used for the Holy Spirit are water and fire.  Through meditation, the Holy Spirit gives us understanding, which prevents the enemy from snatching the Word from us (Matt. 13:19).  With understanding we can keep the Word, until it bears fruit in us (Matt. 13:23).  The principle of meditation applies largely to believing the promises of God, but it also applies to our fellowship with God.  God is spirit so we relate to Him with our spirit.  Our natural life (soul and body) benefits from this fellowship if we allow the Holy Spirit to influence our soul through our spirit. 

Meditating on the Word of God allows the Holy Spirt to fulfill His role as our Teacher (Jn. 14:26) and Guide (Jn. 16:23).  He leads us to inspired teachings, which He witnesses to in our inner man.  When the Apostle John said that we have no need of anyone to teach us (1Jn. 2:27), he was not diminishing the value of anointed ministers.  These are gifts to the Church (Eph. 4:11).  He was emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in our instruction.  When we hear anointed teachings, we are “hearing” the Word.  To make the teaching our own, we need to put it into practice.  Between “hearing” and “doing” we must gain greater understanding from the Holy Spirit through study and meditation.

There are other ways that the Holy Spirit helps us.  He is active in the transformation of our soul by helping us to be free from the world (Rom. 8:12-14).  “And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (Jn. 16:8).  As we walk with the Holy Spirit in this area, we develop the fruit of the Spirit. 

He also helps us to minister to others.  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” (1Cor. 12:7).  These gifts of the Spirit are not independent of Him.  We must work in partnership with Him because He “works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1Cor. 12:11).

Other symbols, like oil or prophetic mantles, can be meditated upon as we fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  This is one way to “stir up the gift” that is in us (2Tim. 1:6).  There are many more symbols in Scripture which can be used in communion with the Holy Spirit to help us to know and to serve God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Streams in the Desert

“For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” (Isa. 35:6b)

One of the things I try to do in meetings is release the river of God.  On one occasion, while attending a large gathering in Edmonton, I became focussed on praying for a greater release of the anointing as we worshiped.  After a time, the burden lifted, and I sensed that I should just listen.  A hush came over the gathering as the youngest member of the worship team began to play spontaneously on her violin.  It was heavenly.  My prayers and those of others had been a part in this release of the Spirit.

As I was pondering this topic for an article, I remembered the words “streams in the desert”.  The Lord uses the symbol of water in Isaiah’s prophecy to explain how we can have a part in extending the Kingdom of God.  To better understand this, we should put the verse in context.  Isaiah prophesied that there would be a highway in the wilderness leading the redeemed of the Lord to Zion, which is the New Jerusalem, the holy city of God (Isa. 35:10).  Those who walk this path of holiness are being made into the Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2).  Christ is the builder of this spiritual house (Heb. 3:6), and we can all have a part in His work.  If we allow Him to build through us, we will have a lasting reward (1Cor. 3:14). 

What then are these streams in the desert?  They are the operation of the Spirit through believers along the wilderness highway.  There are multiple streams, each originating from the throne of God (Ezek. 47:1).  Since the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, and the throne of God is in His Kingdom, we can expect this river to flow from within us.  It is as Jesus told His disciples, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (Jn. 7:38).  We release this river of life whenever we speak as inspired by God or serve with the ability that God provides (1Pe. 4:11). 

It is interesting to note that the river of life increases in breadth and depth as it moves away from the temple (Ezek. 47:3-5).  The increase occurs because different streams are joined.  The combining of streams is different than drinking from a stream.   When we drink from a stream, we are refreshed.  Someone’s gift is bearing fruit in us.  There is nothing wrong with that since we need to drink to bear fruit.  When we join our stream with another, however, we begin to flow together.  Combining streams increases the fruitfulness of each stream.  This may be the unity that the Bible speaks about: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garment.” (Ps. 133:1,2).  Unity releases the anointing and results in a blessing from the Lord.  It is also a requirement for the maturing of the Body of Christ. (Eph. 4:13). 

True unity is in the Spirit.  It is a unity of purpose, not of conformity.  By faith we choose to unite in prayer and worship.  We can release the river by declaration, or by consciously looking to the Holy Spirit as we pray.  Along the banks of the river are “all kinds of trees used for food” (Ezek. 47:12).  Each stream may bear a different fruit, each depending on each one’s calling or gifting, but all contribute to a greater corporate anointing. 

Besides corporate prayer and worship, we can also join streams for ministry.  As someone is ministering by the Spirit, we can agree in faith for God to move through them.  There is an increase of the manifestation of God as the minister consciously steps into the flow of the river.  When we pray like this in a meeting, there is also an increase in angelic activity.  If we are called upon to help at the altar, we can also flow under the minister’s anointing.  I like to think of it as submitting to the anointing that resides with the angels.  Participating in ministry this way can cause a greater anointing to abide on us, even after the meeting.

The methods described thus far relate to giving out, as should be our goal, but we cannot give unless we receive.  There are changes coming to the Church, and God is revealing these things to the forerunners.  These are prophets that have gone ahead and encountered God in heavenly visions.  It is important that we receive their messages, not only with our minds, but with our spirits.  As we drink from their streams, we will be refreshed, but we need to go deeper.  We need to become part of what God is doing.  We must come into agreement (Amos 3:3).  This does not mean that we should forsake all that the Lord has taught us to date, but we must be willing to change.  We must forsake any religious traditions that deny the power of God, and we must wage war with the prophecies we have previously received (1Tim. 1:19).  The same principles that produce mature character in us will produce mature understanding.  “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14).  We need to discern what the Lord is saying, and we must be doers of the word (Jas. 1:22).

The river of life flowing through us will increase as we release it by faith, and as we join our stream to other streams.  There may be turbulence when two streams are joined, but if we keep our eyes on the Lord, we will “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…” (Eph. 4:15).

Serving With Your Gift

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe. 4:10)

When we think of gifts, we often think of talents.  There is a difference between natural talents and the gift of grace that Peter is referring to.  Even as we all have received natural talents, we also, as believers, have received a gift of grace.  This gift is spiritual in nature because it allows us to administer God’s grace to others.  As different members of the Body of Christ, we release this grace in various ways, but it is always God’s help to someone in their time of need (Heb. 4:16).  To be effective in our ministry, it is more important that we learn how to serve with our gift than it is to know what our gifting is.  Our gift will become apparent as we allow Christ to live through us.

There are three types of gifts of grace.  These are all mentioned in 1Corinthians Chapter 12.  First, there are the charismatic gifts which the Spirit distributes to each one as He wills (1Cor. 12:4,11).  Then there are ministry gifts which Christ gives to equip His Church (1Cor. 12:5; Eph.4:11).  Lastly, there are “diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1Cor. 12:6).  These activities (or functions) are listed in Romans as prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and showing mercy (Rom. 12:6-8).  In the verse above, Peter is referring to our function gift.  Although there are only seven function gifts listed, we can function in all of these, but our individual gift will be a combination of any of these. 

Our function gift influences how we operate in the gifts of the Spirit and the type of ministry gift we may be called to.   Since it is foundational to how we serve the Lord, we must apply ourselves diligently to its proper use.  Let me state again that the way to operate in our gift is not to first discover what it is, lest we resort to striving in the flesh.  “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith” (Rom. 12:6).  What Paul is saying concerning the foundational gift of prophesy applies to all the gifts.  We have access to grace by faith (Rom. 5:2).  We also have access to grace through humility.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Jas. 4:6).  This is the reason why Paul begins the discussion of function gifts with the exhortation to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).  As we learn to live crucified to this world and alive to God through Christ, we express God’s grace in the form He has determined for us (Gal. 2:20).  We must draw from the anointing that He has given us (1Jn. 2:27).  “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.” (1Pe. 4:11).

How we think affects how we walk.  No longer seeing ourselves from a human perspective, but from God’s perspective, will help us to walk in humility and faith.  “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Cor. 5:16,17).  As living stones, we are being built into a spiritual house (1Pe. 2:5), a holy City.  “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones…” (Rev. 21:18,19).  We are precious stones, designed to reflect God’s glory (Rev. 21:11).  I like how John describes this reality which is not yet visible to the world: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1Jn. 3:2,3). 

Experiencing the anointing in our lives is not all that is required to fulfill our calling.  After Saul was anointed to be king, he became a new man and began to prophesy with the prophets (1Sam. 10:6).  His heart, however, was not right and he became rebellious.  We are responsible to be pure vessels, “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Tim. 2:21).  Our natural talents and personalities are the vessel containing the grace that we serve to others.  We express God through our natural life.  To be prepared for the Master’s use includes purity of heart, availability, and preparedness.  Besides maintaining a strong devotional life, we can also develop our natural talents.  For example, the teacher should develop and practice good study habits (2Tim. 2:15).  The vessel is not the gift, but it delivers the gift.

Here is a confession to help you serve with the special gift God has given you.  To be successful, Joshua was exhorted to meditate day and night on the Word of God (Josh. 1:8).  This word “meditate” means to ponder and to mutter (speak to yourself).  Please take the time to prayerfully ponder and confess this meditation.

With Christ, I am crucified to this world.  I am no longer my own but have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.  The life I now live, I live by faith “in” Christ.  I am a new creation, a member of His spiritual body, which is His temple.  I renounce selfishness and choose to serve others in love.  Through grace by faith, I abide in the anointing He has given me.  As a precious living stone in His Holy City, I reflect His glory with the spiritual ability He has given me.  I yield myself to God as a living sacrifice so that Christ may live though me and manifest the Father’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.  Amen.

Be Strong and Courageous

 “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9)

It is quite normal for us to experience fear, but we must not be controlled by it.  We are approaching the end of the Church Age; this is a time to be strong and courageous.  The Lord’s message to one of the churches in Asia Minor was: “Do not fear any of the things which you are about to suffer.” (Rev. 2:10).  We would all like to think that we can be like the church in Philadelphia, which would be kept from “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth” (Rev. 3:10).  We forget, however, that the reason they would be kept from tribulation is because they had already been faithfully persevering.  “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Rev. 3:8).  It is good to trust God to keep us from some of the suffering that is coming upon the earth, but it is a false sense of peace to assume that we will be kept from all of it.  To suffer for Christ is not a punishment, it is the pathway to glory. “This is a faithful saying: ‘For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.’” (2Tim. 2:11,12).  The believers in Philadelphia persevered because they had “a little strength”.  We also can overcome if we receive strength from God.

The words quoted at the start of this article were spoken to Joshua as he prepared to lead the nation of Israel into the promised land.  It was not the first time the Lord had spoken these words to Joshua.  They were first spoken to him through Moses; and not only to him, but to the entire nation of Israel (Deut. 31:1-6).  We are all commanded to be strong and courageous, regardless of our position in the army of the Lord. 

One thing I have found with the Lord is that He speaks and continues to speak.  We do not always recognize His voice at first, but when we do, we can exercise our faith to receive the grace that comes with it.  Jesus said that the words He speaks are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63).  With the command comes the grace to obey it.  When God created the heavens and the earth, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:2).  God the Father spoke through His Son, and the Spirit carried out the words.  We must receive God’s spoken words in the same manner.  “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (Jas. 1:21).  The Word is alive (Heb. 4:12).  When it is planted in our hearts by faith, it will grow and bear fruit.  The condition of the soil of our hearts is also important.  “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Lu. 8:15).  Religious pride will direct us to attempt obedience by human effort, but humility recognizes that without Christ we can do nothing.

We are told of an occasion in David’s life when everything seemed to be going wrong. (See 1Samuel, Chapter 30).  The town which he and his army used as a home base had been attacked by the Amalekites and their families had been taken prisoners.  “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of the people was grieved, every man for his sons and daughters.  But David strengthened himself in the Lord His God.” (1Sam. 30:6).  The Hebrew word used for “strengthened” in this verse is the same word used in Joshua Chapter one.  Some translations use the word “encouraged” but “strengthened” is more accurate.  He strengthened himself by turning his eyes onto the Lord, then he inquired of the Lord about pursuing the enemy.  It was not enough for him to place his faith on some general promises of blessing; he needed to know the mind of the Lord for the situation.  David used the priestly ephod to inquire of the Lord, but today we have the inner witness of the Spirit to guide us. (1Jn. 2:20,27).  When we face a crisis, we should, in like manner, turn our eyes to the Lord as we meditate on His goodness and His promises.  The Spirit will impress on our hearts what God’s will is in the situation.  Then, through faith in His Word and patient endurance, we will obtain what has been promised. (Heb. 6:12). 

The trials we face are never pleasant, but if we walk humbly through them in faith, God will use them for our good (Rom. 8:28).  The Lord is always looking for people whose hearts are loyal to Him so He can work on their behalf (2Chron. 16:9).  The spoils David received from defeating the Amalekites that day were enough to send presents to the elders of Judah.  Shortly after that, he was received by Judah as their king. 

Jehoshaphat is another king of Judah who trusted in the Lord and experienced a great victory.  We read in the chronicles of the kings that “the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.” (2Chron. 20:1).  When hearing the report, Jehoshaphat was not as strong as required, but he knew where to find strength.  “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2Chron. 20:3).  While seeking the Lord in prayer, the Word of the Lord came through a prophet, giving them the needed instructions for the battle.  The result of believing and obeying the Word of the Lord was a great victory.

The return of the Lord is at hand; gird up your mind for the battle ahead (Eph. 6:13).  “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2Tim. 2:1,3).

The Lord’s Search – Part 2

 “My eyes have searched to and fro over the earth to find a people who will worship Me and return to My ways.  The fullness of time is coming, and judgment is about to be poured out upon the earth.  Great groaning and deep distress will be heard, for I have shown you that I require judgment.  My standard of righteousness has been declared since the beginning of time, and all men are without excuse.  My heart longs to extend mercy, but justice cries out in the streets.” (The Secret Place, Dale Fife, p. 195).

As I meditated on the prophetic word which I wrote about in my last article, I was reminded of the vision God gave Dr. Dale Fife about the restoration of the Church in the last days.  It is described in his book, The Secret Place.  The quote above is like the Lord’s Search described in Ezekiel chapter twenty-two, verse 30: “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”  As I stated in my last article, the “man” that the Lord is searching for is not an individual intercessor, but a unified Church fulfilling her purpose as a house of prayer for all nations (Isa. 56:7).  The Church of today is divided; this is not what the Lord desires. 

As a young man, after coming to the knowledge of salvation, I was deeply disturbed by the divided state of the Church.  What I saw was not at all the Church from the Book of Acts, which moved in power and unity.  I understood that a large reason for their success was the ministry of the apostles. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42).  It became my earnest prayer that God would restore to the Church the ministry of the apostles and prophets as described in Ephesians chapter four.  During this season, I remember being with a group of believers in prayer when someone, who was not aware of my burden, prophesied that God would once again restore the ministry of the apostles and prophets.  I rejoiced in hope that God would restore the Church.

 In the eighties we began to hear about the restoration of the prophets and in the nineties, the apostles.  Even if some who call themselves apostles or prophets are false, we must still recognize that God is appointing those that are true.  The restoration of these ministries is crucial for the Church to “come to the unity of the faith and of knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

In the past, when ministers carried the anointing of apostles, they were confined to their denomination or movement.  In the last days, it will be different.  God hates the divisions that men have allowed in His Church, and He will not stand for it much longer.  We must not justify these divisions by calling them “tribes”.   The time is near for His return.  He is returning for a “glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27).  In the prophetic vision, Dr. Fife was shown a disturbing picture of the Church in its divided state, then he heard the Lord say, “No more!  Enough!  I can’t take any more.  I can’t behold any more of this in My church.  I have drawn the line.  Here is where it ends” (The Secret Place, p. 174).  Then Dr. Fife saw a company of apostles and prophets approaching from a distance.  The Lord again spoke, “I have released the apostles of My right hand and the prophets of My left hand to the work for which I have called them.  In the days to come, the things that have divided My body will be rooted up and torn down.  My Spirit will demolish all that separates and all that seeks to honor one above another, for all are made by My design, and all must be honored.  This is the word of the Lord.  It shall be done.  The structures that are man-made will be shaken and will fall.  My true bride, My holy bride, will come forth in all her glory.” (The Secret Place, p. 180).  God says, “It shall be done!”.  The choice is ours to hear the voice of the Spirit and obey.

The question remains, then, can judgment be averted if the Church takes her place as a house of prayer for all nations?  Scripture is clear that the world will grow more evil in the last days.  Judgment will come to this earth, but it can be averted in areas where God’s people repent and pray.  God will be merciful to those who humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face, and turn from their sins (2Chron. 7:14).  Dr. Fife goes on to write, “As Jesus spoke, I observed, through the glass floor, places on the earth where smoke was rising up from the land.  These clouds of smoke appeared to be a special kind of signal or message; they billowed forth like a great cry rising up from the inhabitants.  This smoke did not signify destruction or judgment.  Instead, these were the cities and places where repentance and intercession had been offered on behalf of the land.  Some of these cities were actually glowing in the night darkness because the prayers of the saints were continuously being offered up to the Lord.” (The Secret Place, p. 196). 

The unity that God desires is achievable.  It is spiritual in nature.  It exists in God, and we can experience it if we abide in Him.  If that was not so, Jesus would not have prayed for it (Jn. 17:20,21).  We can endeavour “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).  As we do this, we will “come to the unity of the faith and of knowledge of the Son of God”.  We are a family and God expects us to love one another. 

“Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and he will turn the hearts of fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5,6)

The Lord’s Search

 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezek. 22:30)

Recently, a prophet of God shared a vision where the Lord was walking over the continent of Africa, looking for a man who would intercede to avert judgment, but He found none.  Then the vision was repeated for the United States of America.  The prophet was perplexed by this vision because he personally knew of genuine intercessors in these nations.  When he asked the Lord why He could not find at least one intercessor, he was told that the Lord does not look at things the way man does.  Our first impression of what this means is that the Lord looks at the heart rather than outward appearance.  In this article, I want to suggest another interpretation.

I was troubled by the words of the prophet, not only because he prophesied about coming judgment, but because it seemed as if even our prayers would not help.  If the Lord does not recognize the prayers of the intercessors, then what hope is there for us?  How can judgment be averted if our prayers have no effect?  As I pondered this, the Lord began to show me what He is looking for.  This was encouraging because I could see that our prayers indeed have power with God (Jas. 5:16), but we must see things the way He does.

As the verse above says, He is looking for “a man”.  In the natural this would be a faithful believer, but from a spiritual perspective, this is a body of believers, the Church.  Believers are individually responsible to God for the quality of their works, but they are interdependent when it comes to function.  We are all members of one Body and God expects us to function as one.  We have a combined purpose to be the temple of God, a house of prayer for all nations (Isa. 56:7; Matt. 21:13).  He is not just looking for intercessors, He is looking for a unified Church fulling its function as a house of prayer.   The early Church was a praying people, and their corporate prayer was as one voice.  “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord… And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.  Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul…” (Acts 4:24, 31,32).

The Lord is looking for prayer and unity, but that is not all, He is also looking for holiness.  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1Pe. 2:9,15,16).  We see this in the Lord’s search for a man “who would make a wall, and stand in the gap”.  We understand that intercession is represented by standing in the gap, but what does it mean to “make a wall”?  The walls of the city are for protection.  The opening in a wall is the location where the enemy will attack.  As the wall is rebuilt, someone must stand watch.  In a spiritual sense, the wall represents the ways of the people.  We find this expressed by the prophet Isaiah: “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” (Isai. 58:12).  Intercession is required, but so is repentance, which must be followed by obedience.  I have written more about this in my article entitled “Repairers of the Breach”.  Even as I write this, I notice how we think differently than God.  We see those who work to repair the wall as “Repairers” (plural), but the Lord sees them a one.  He calls them “the Repairer” and “the Restorer”.

Why is one intercessor not enough?  Why do we need a body of repairers and watchers?  Firstly, the one who rebuilds is working, while another is watching.  Secondly, when a wall is broken down, there is more than one opening so the work of building and watching must be carried out simultaneously in many locations.   Furthermore, it must be carried out in unity so that if the enemy attacks while the work is progressing, the alarm can be sounded, and all can gather where the enemy is attacking.  We have a good example of this in the book of Nehemiah when the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.

When judgment is declared on a nation, it is because of its sins.  Believers are the salt that can preserve a nation from moral decay.  But what if those believers become involved in the same sins rather than being intercessors and righteous messengers of truth?  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matt. 5:13).  Judgment will not be averted if the Church is backslidden.  There remains only one hope: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” (2Chron. 7:14). 

When Nehemiah heard about the conditions of Jerusalem and the people who had returned from captivity, he began to fast and pray in faith and repentance (Neh. 1:1-11).  His prayer was for God’s favor so they could rebuild the walls of the city and be delivered from their enemies.  The way they carried out the work is a good example of restoration.  First, he assessed the condition of the walls, then he motivated and directed the people in the work of rebuilding the walls.  Throughout the work, their enemies looked for ways to stop them, but Nehemiah set half of them to watch with their weapons in hand while the others worked with their weapons at their sides.  When necessary, they would stop the work and all stand in the gap with their weapons in hand.  (Neh. 4:12-16).

We are at a critical time in the history of our world.  Multitudes are in the valley of decision before the return of the Lord (Joel 3:14). 

“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  (Isa. 1:18-20)

Are You Ready for the Last Days Outpouring?

 “‘Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.  And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.  Behold He is coming’, says the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1)

Are you ready for the coming of the Lord “to” His temple?  As we read the book of Malachi, we realize that the Lord is talking about coming “to” His people, before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5).  The coming of the Lord “to” His temple is a great outpouring of the Spirit of God.  You can read more about this outpouring in my “End-time Vision” articles on this website.  We often pray for a great end-time revival, but are we ready for it?  When God’s presence is manifested, great miracles occur but also judgment.  We only need to read the account of the first great outpouring to understand this (Acts 5:1-16).

Being ready for this last day event is so important that God is sending His messenger to prepare the way.  We must recognize the messenger and receive his message to be ready for the Lord’s coming.  This promise in Malachi is both for the nation of Israel and for the Church.  In speaking to the Church, the messenger is a group of ministers with the same end-time message.  In speaking to Israel, he could be one of the two witnesses of Revelations Chapter 11.  We know from the Gospels that John the Baptist was this messenger, but Jesus also said that Elijah will come again (Matt. 17:10-13).  The end-time message is similar that of John the Baptist, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt. 3:2).  The Church needs to hear this message because repentance is one of the conditions for revival: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2Chron. 7:14).  Let us look more closely at the promise of His coming.

“But who can endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears?  For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap.  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in the former years.” (Mal. 3:2-4).

When the prophet asks, “who can endure the day of His coming?”, he is referring to the “fiery trials” which will come to test us (1Pe. 4:12).  By asking, “who can stand when He appears?” he is implying that some will not need this purifying work because they will already have clean hands and pure hearts (Ps. 24:3,4).  If the Lord must come as a refiner, it is because there are many who believe in Christ as Saviour but do not have clean hands and pure hearts.  They do not pursue holiness.  Instead, they accept their immaturity and trust in God’s mercy to forgive them for their sins.  They do not have a reverent fear of God.  They wrongly believe that God’s mercy means there are no consequences for their sins.  When David sinned with Bathsheba, he was forgiven for his sin, but he did not escape punishment. 

In the manifested presence of God, sin cannot exist without judgment.  Paul explained this in his instructions concerning the Lord’s supper (1Cor. 11:27-32).  We must be quick to repent for any known sins, trusting in the Lord’s sacrifice for forgiveness.  When it comes to judgment, however, there is a difference between willful sins and unintentional sins.  In the Old Testament, if the congregation sinned unintentionally, the priest could make atonement for them through the sin offering.  On the other hand, those who sinned intentionally would fall into judgment.  (Num. 15:22-31).  In the New Testament, willful sin is also punished.  “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries…For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord.  And again ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” (Heb. 10:26,27,30).  “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1Pe. 4:17). 

The coming of the Lord to His temple will bring to completion the times of the Gentiles and result in the salvation of the nation of Israel as explained by Paul in Romans Chapter 11.  In the Old Testament, the sons of Levi were the priests and the Levites.  They were the tribe given to the Lord to offer sacrifices on behalf of the nation.  Unless they were themselves devoted to the Lord, the sacrifices would not be acceptable to the Lord.  The Church today is a royal priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices to God (Heb. 13:15,16).  The sons of Levi represent the Church; Judah and Jerusalem represent the nation of Israel.  The Church must fulfill its purpose before the remaining nation of Israel can be saved.  This will happen because God’s plans will be accomplished.  The question remains, where will we be individually concerning the will of God?

Having clean hands and a pure heart does not come without effort.  “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;” (2Pe. 3:14).  In the days of Elijah, the Lord found seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1Ki. 19:18).  Will you be one of the faithful ones who will rejoice and stand at His coming?