Five-Fold Today - The Seal of Apostleship: Planting Churches? - One Nature: The Old Man is Dead - Yom Kippur Word - Keepers of High Places--A Global Call - Cain's Faith? - Appearing In Glory - Victory - Concerning the American Presidential Election - Restoration - Global Sorrow - Fear not My Government - The Small and the Great - Burdens
The Seal of Apostleship - Planting Churches?
I have enjoyed the current interest and discussions continually being
brought up on the current apostolic movement. I feel that it is a healthy
and needed part of being wise and learning during the current transitional
stages we are going through. Certainly we are all interested in watching for
false ministries functioning in order to avoid problems and the associated
hurt to people. I believe what is most needed currently is a clear
understanding of what a true apostle is so that we can have a plumb-line to
measure any who are being titled as apostles. The best thing that we can do
to be discerning of the false apostolic movement, I would think, would be to
have a clear familiarity with the true apostolic. When federal agents are
being trained to look for counterfeit bills, I believe that most of their
training is spent in learning what the genuine money looks like.
I would think that we could all agree that the scripture is and will be our
standard for measuring what an apostle is and does. While a twenty first
century apostle will not be functioning in the same fashion as a first
century apostle did, they will still be after the same end that being -
laboring until Christ is formed in the Church. How that is accomplished in
this time and season will require the apostolic ministers of today to
manifest Christ to the Church through their lives and acts until the Church
is mature in Him.
One issue which I continually hear as proof of apostleship is that of church
planting. Basically every book that I've read on the subject states this as
the evidence and uses 1 Cor 9:1&2 as the proof text.
1 Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ
our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
I believe that understanding what the seal of true apostleship is will be a
key issue, and yet I do not find the belief that church planting is the seal
is strongly scriptural. Scripture should, of course be our basis of
understanding apostleship. I would like to submit that the seal of
apostleship is not planting a church, or churches at all, but that the seal
of apostleship that Paul was referring to is that of establishing churches,
which is significantly different.
Let me explain why I believe this. I think that we can safely say that the
first church in the book of Acts, the Jerusalem church, was planted by the
Lord Jesus Himself. He ascended on high, and left his church behind under
the care of the apostles who were responsible to lead and care for that
church and the new believers that were added. It was entrusted to them by
the Lord to raise up, equip and send out the saints in accordance with the
Lord's personal instructions. This process is not simply a planting process,
but an establishing process.
The second church which was planted was the church in Samaria. It is very
clear in Acts 8 that "Philip went down to Samaria". Philip was not an
apostle at all, but was an evangelist. And he evangelized the city, bringing
the good news, casting out demons, working miracles and baptizing in the
name of Jesus. In short, Philip clearly planted the work in Samaria. The
apostles were brought in to minister the Holy Spirit, and take care of other
issues and Philip went on to other things. Very evidently from the scripture
Philip planted the church and the apostles established the church.
Next we see the church in Antioch. This church also was Not planted by
apostles. It was planted by ordinary believers.
Acts 11:19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose
over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching
the word to no one but the Jews only.
The Antioch church was also within the pattern that we are seeing. The
church was planted, the apostles took note and showed a concern for the work
which was planted. In this case a prophet was sent from Jerusalem under the
authority of the apostles. His name was Barnabas. After assessing the needs
in the Antioch church he in turn went to Tarsus for Paul who was at this
time functioning primarily as a teacher. In the Antioch church the apostles
had no direct involvement in the planting, and only indirectly at first with
the establishing of the church. The church, in fact, under instructions of
the Holy Spirit, commissioned Barnabas and Paul as apostles and sent them
out from the church.
Now it is clear in scripture that the apostle Paul did go on to both plant
and establish numerous churches. But was the planting of churches an
apostolic sign for Paul, but not for Philip and others? One scripture which
seems to give credence to the "apostles plant" doctrine is 1 Cor 3:6
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
In this situation the apostle Paul was writing to the Church in Corinth
which he did plant along with others. But he also continued the relationship
to see that they were established in Christ. The church in Ephesus is
considered by nearly every bible and history scholar as Paul's greatest
achievement. Yet had he written the same line to the church in Ephesus it
would have to read - "Apollos planted, I watered, but God gave the
increase" . It was Apollos, not Paul who planted the work in Ephesus, yet it
was Paul who established the saints in Ephesus, not Apollos.
When Apollos came to Ephesus he was primarily functioning as an evangelistic
teacher (Acts 18:25,26). Yet he was able to leave behind a small group of
disciples for Paul to find, instruct and raise up. In short Apollos planted,
but Paul established the church (Acts 18:24-19:1ff).
There are other examples which I might refer to, but my purpose is not to
attempt to be exhaustive, simply to generate thought and discussion on the
subject of the seal of apostleship. However, there is one other example that
I think would be good to reference in order to see Paul's own words in
relation to yet another church which he was highly interested in influencing
as an apostle of Christ. That being the Church in Rome.
Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual
gift, (I.E. his apostleship, vs 1) so that you may be established;
The church in Rome, again as we have already seen, was not known to be
planted by apostles at all. Yet Paul had a deep burning desire as an apostle
of Christ to see that they as a church would be established. As we have seen
with the examples in Samaria, Antioch, Ephesus and Rome, it is not the proof
of apostleship at all to plant a church. In fact I would submit that any of
the five-fold ministers may plant a church, and in some cases simply
believers moved by the Holy Spirit will plant churches in Jesus name. If the
seal of apostleship is that of planting churches, than all biblical apostles
would need to have this seal, yet this is not the case. One major example to
the contrary is the Lord's brother, the apostle James. In current literature
James is often referred to as the pastor of the Jerusalem church, yet it is
never stated in scripture that he was a pastor, nor is it even implied. In
fact he is always referred to as an apostle. He was called by Paul a pillar
of the church (Gal 2:9) and he may have included James among the chiefest,
most eminent or super-apostles when he wrote to the Corinthian church (2 Cor
12:11). At any rate, it would be unlikely that the early church would have
considered James an apostle if he did not have the seal of apostleship upon
his ministry. If planting churches is the seal, than James would have been a
failure at best, a false apostle at worst. Yet James was known to have been
closely involved in the establishing of the church in Jerusalem and by
delegation perhaps others. This would then mean that James as an apostle
with the seal of an established church is also an example which we may use
today to distinguish a functioning apostolic ministry from one which might
be a functioning ministry, but perhaps not that of an apostle. I would
submit that the clarification of the what the true biblical standard for the
seal of apostleship is will help us keep from error, and hopefully release
the Lord's true apostolic anointing to a greater extent.
Blessings, Lloyd
Lloyd C. Phillips, Director
ONE NATURE - THE OLD MAN IS DEAD
One Nature At A Time
I Cor. 15:22 "For just as [because of union of nature] in Adam
all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature]
shall all in Christ be made alive." (Amplified)
There is a common misconception and erroneous mindset that has
been propagated within the Christian community. It is the notion
that we, as believers, have two natures within us, the new creation,
in Christ, and the old Man, in Adam. However, this concept and
error goes against even nature itself. If in fact we, as believers,
after being born again through the blood of Jesus, can have the
nature of Adam still residing within us, what then prevents us
from having the nature of Jesus within us, along with the nature
of Adam, prior to being born again. Prior to being born again
we have one nature, the nature of Adam. Upon being born again
we have one nature, the nature of Jesus. Of what effect is the
cross if the old nature continues to exist after partaking of
His divine nature (II Peter 1:4)?
This particular error comes into play as we try to reason through
and determine the cause of sinful actions that we might engage
in after becoming a new creation in Christ. However, a dual nature
is not the reason for such actions. It is an unrenewed soul (mind,
will and emotions), not a duality of natures (spirit), that is
the problem (Rom. 12:1-1)! We have only one nature at a time,
either the nature of THE Christ or the nature of ANTI-Christ
(Adam). When we are born, we are born into death, into Adam the
rebellious one. When we are born again, we are born into life,
into Jesus Christ the righteous one.
Doing good deeds, while dead in Adam, does not mean that we have
two natures, Adam the bad and Jesus the good. Prior to being
born again of the incorruptible seed, we are DEAD, regardless
of what "good deeds" we might perform. Doing good deeds, while
dead in sin - Adam - is a function of the soul (mind, will and
emotions) and has nothing to do with the fact that our spirit
man is still dead. Conversely, when we are alive in Christ, the
fact that "sinful deeds" are performed does not mean that Adam
continues to live and coexist with Christ. Acts of sin, once
we are born again, are against our nature (the divine nature
of Christ), just as good deeds are against the nature of Adam.
This is why performing good deeds, regardless of the wonderful
results or how much they "help" individuals, cannot facilitate
or appropriate good standing with God. Our nature must be changed,
from Adam the rebellious to Jesus the righteous.
We have one nature at a time, and that nature is either born
of Adam or born again of Jesus. It is our unrenewed mind, will
and emotions, the realm of the soul, that must be dealt with
and matured (Rom. 12:2). II Peter 1:4 says plainly that we have
been made partakers of His divine nature. The Amplified version
of I Cor. 15:22 makes it clear that union with the nature of
Adam is death and union with the nature of Jesus is life. We
are either dead or alive, in Adam or in Christ, partakers of
the depraved nature of Adam or partakers of the divine nature
of Jesus.
The Old Man Is Dead
Rom 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should
not serve sin." (KJV)
II Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if any person is (engrafted) in Christ,
the Messiah, he is (a new creature altogether,) a new creation;
the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away.
Behold, the fresh and new has come! (Amplified)
II Corinthians 5:17 points out that we have been engrafted in
Christ, therefore, we are new creations. The old man has passed
away. If the old man has passed away and is crucified, why after
being born again, do we succumb to things that are against the
nature of Christ? The answer is an unrenewed soul, which must
be and will be renewed by His Word and His Word alone.
Rom. 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God." (KJV)
The old saying, "Old habits die hard", seems to fit. Old habits,
old memories, old thought patterns, old actions and reactions
learned while dead in Adam, continue to plague the realm of our
mind, will and emotions even after being born again. However,
Romans 12:2 trumpets that fact that we are to be transformed
by the renewing of our mind. This is why II Corinthians 10:4-5
plainly declares that we MUST cast down imaginations and every
high thing that tries to usurp the rightful authority of God
in the realm of our soul.
The Greek word translated renewing, in Romans 12:2, is anakainosis
(Strong's Concordance 342) and means "to change for the better,
renovation". Anakainosis comes from the root word anakainoo (Strong's
Concordance 341) which means "to grow up". God's desire is for
us to have our mind, will and emotions (soul) renewed, renovated
and matured by His Word, in order that we might grow up in Him!
The old man is dead and we have one nature- His nature. Our mind
is being renewed as we pull down imaginations and barriers in
the realm of the soul. We are growing up in Him in order to be
His house, reflecting His nature in the earth! The only nature
that His house has is His nature!
KEN AND PAM DURDEN
Yom Kippur Word
Priscilla Van Sutphin
My sheep are scattered on the high mountains, but I will raise up for them
deliverers, and shepherds who will tend them like I would. I will no longer
wink at greed and avarice in My leaders. I will no longer allow them to
pretend that everything is OK. When I do what I am going to do, many will
falsely assume it is the enemy, when over and over I have warned the church
to repent, and to seek My face that I could heal them, so I could uncover
their
nakedness, so they would not suffer shame. I will arise with healing in My
wings.
I AM that I AM. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.
Arise and thresh daughter of Zion, it is time to move out into the streets and
proclaim your love for ME. Come My Bride and dance with Me, Listen to the
Sounds of angels wings, and trumpets blowing, the sound of the drums.
War in the heavens, come dance with Me on the streets of the cities, come and
spend your love for me with abandonment. He who is ashamed is not worthy of
Me. Dance as David danced. Sing as David sang. I will come down in these
times and make a show of My love to you in front of all to see.
Is anything too hard for me? Raise your voices in prayer and see if I will
not make good on all the promises I have made to you. LOOK, for your
Husbandman draws near to His bride. I am coming soon.
Now I will arise! Now will I make Myself known. Now will I shake all that
can be shaken. My fire will burn against all that has tried to destroy My
vineyards and the slain of the Lord will be many.
Isaiah 2 : 5-8, NKJV
Thus will I change the order of things. In a moment they will lose
everything unless they obey my leadings. The humble will I exalt and raise
up. The haughty will be brought low. A new order will be established in My
true church.
Prophesy son of man, prophesy the restoration of all things, prophesy to
the four winds, that My order be established in the church of MY making.
Prophesy that the knowledge of the Lord will fill the whole earth as the
water covers the sea.
This feast of trumpets, a new trumpet will blow in the land and the days
of restoration of all things will begin, what the canker worm has eaten
will be restored. What the swarming locust has destroyed will be restored.
My will WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven through the mouths of my
apostles and prophets. I will separate the chaff from the wheat so do not
look to judge one another, leave judgement to the JUDGE of heaven and earth.
Minister to the hands that hang low, and the feeble knees.
I AM NOT a GOD of DESTRUCTION, but a God of RESTORATION!
Hold on dear ones, for the best is yet to come. Cry out in the night watches,
For Your Redeemer draws nigh!
http://www.upstreamcalifornia.org
Keepers of High Places--A Global Call
In a series of visions, I have seen people emerging from
the clouds that cover this earth, I have seen them
running across the clouds, moving into the jetstream of
God's purposes.
I have heard the drum beat, calling us into His purpose
now as His end-time army.
Now, something further is beginning to emerge.
Last night as I read what the Lord had shown to one of
His prophets, I saw men and women of God, clothed in
white garments, walking on the high places and STANDING
there.
Each one walked slowly and steadfastly, and each was
totally equipped to STAND because they were clothed in
white garments, purchased to clothe their spiritual
nakedness; they had been willing to approach the fire and
receive what the Lord has promised to those who will do
so.
They had walked into the white-hot heart of the furnace,
into the heart of God, where all that is not of Him had
been consumed.
They were quiet, unassuming, and totally unafraid!
I saw a new breed of such that has not been seen on the
earth before -- those covered now with the Lord's
authority and righteousness, who will be a significant
threat to the enemy and his plans.
These people are now walking towards their positions.
They know who they are in the Lord and the authority He
has placed upon their lives. Even as I saw it, He was
telling me that they are the "Keepers of the High
Places."
As prayer and intercession matures now, it is undergoing
massive change, and those who hold to the old ways will
miss this new authority which is not coming forth with
many words or clever ways -- these are the ones who have
"become prayer" and walk clothed in the garments of
Christ, with His Spirit and His Character within them.
Their very presence will be terrifying to the enemy.
"Why now?" I asked the Lord.
This morning I read in the prayer, prayed in synagogues
on the Sabbath Eve, from the Song of Songs and it reads:
I adjure you, O nations who are destined to ascend to
Jerusalem, when you see my Beloved on the future Day of
Judgement, won't you tell Him that I bore all travails
for love of Him?
In the NIV 5:8 Song of Songs reads:
O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you - if you find my
lover, what will you tell him? Tell Him I am faint with
love.
In this great call that is now going out across the
nations of the earth, as men and women are being called
to something no longer local but GLOBAL, and are coming
to STAND on the high places, could it be that the Lord is
speaking to us of our true function, to stand as the
ingrafted branches, and put the Lover of our Souls in
remembrance of the one He has pursued with such great
love that she faints with need of Him now, and has borne
her travails for love of Him? There would be no better
time than now to proclaim it from the high places, and to
STAND with our faces towards the Lord our God, holding
firm to HIS revelation and HIS promises.
jaygee@ihug.co.nz
Cain's Faith?
Deborah Voetberg
"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain..." Hebrews 11:4
Lately the Lord has opened my eyes to the relationships
of Cain and Abel to the Lord. In Hebrews 11 we find the
men and women of faith mentioned. None of them perfect,
but called of God the heirs of the righteousness
according to their faith. ( Hebrews 11:7 )
Somewhere in my years of walking with the Lord and
sitting under many teachers of the word, I formed the
opinion that Cain's sacrifice in Gen. 4:1-8 was not
respected because it came from the ground that was
cursed. Made sense, but not true. After the fall of
man, the whole earth and every living thing in it came
under the curse brought forth through sin. Yes, the
ground was cursed, but so was the flock of Abel.
Abel tended sheep; Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Yes the sheep represented the shedding of blood and the
shadow of future sacrifices; But Cain did not tend sheep.
He was a farmer, not a shepherd. What else was Cain to
offer, but the fruit of his labor?
Hebrews 11:4 holds the key. Where was the faith of
Cain? By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice.
No faith is mentioned with the sacrifice of Cain. The
rejection of Cain's offering had nothing to do with what
was offered, but had everything to do with relationship
and the motive of his heart. This should bring freedom
to those of you looking for an acceptable sacrifice or
offering to bring to the Lord. Hebrews 10:5-9 clearly
states that sacrifice and offerings God does not desire
or have pleasure in, but a body He prepares for us to do
His will, just as He prepared a body for His Son to do
His will. In all that we do, we must act out of
relationship and obedience flowing through the love in
our heart for our Lord, our Beloved. We bring Him
pleasure through our faith that grows and unfolds out of
a relationship with Him.
Abel had a relationship with the Lord. And in that
relationship God had revealed to Abel what to bring to
Him as an offering. With boldness, confidence and by
faith, Abel offered to God his sacrifice. On the other
hand Cain's relationship with God was not built on faith
but on Cain's strength and ability.
The evidence is found in Gen. 4:5-7. " But He did not
respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry,
and his countenance fell." In the Hebrew translation it
says 'God did not look' at Cain's offering. No
acknowledgement! God's answer to Cain is in verses 6 &
7." So the Lord said to Cain, " Why are you angry? And
why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will
you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies
at the door. And its desire is for you, BUT you should
rule over it."
Cain brought what he thought would be a good offering,
an offering according to his opinion, not out of
relationship with God built on faith. He knew that he
did not do well and was brought under conviction. Sin
laid at the door, God wanted the murder and pride in
Cain's heart recognized and repented of, so that faith
could come in and overcome evil.
A New Testament example is the Lord's response to Peter
and his upcoming sifting. Luke 22:31 & 32." Simon,
Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift
you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your FAITH
should not fail; and when you have returned to me,
strengthen your brethren."
God had found pride & murder in Cain's heart. God
challenged his motive. " If you do well, will you not be
accepted?" Cain had available to him the faith to rule
over the murder and pride. But we know he choose to let
evil rule him. There was no FAITH to sustain him.
God is not interested in what you bring to Him in
offerings and sacrifices, but in the motive of your
heart. It's the rich and their gifts vs. the widow and
her two mites. The Lord is allowing our hearts to be
sifted to reveal what He cannot look at. His heart is to
receive all that we offer and bring to Him.
Find freedom and liberty in the fact that whatever you
bring to the altar, whether great or small, it's the
motive behind the offering mixed with faith that draws
the look and acceptance of our Lord.
Isaiah 66:1 & 2 "Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is My
throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the
house that you will build Me? And where is the place of
My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all
those things exist," says the Lord. " But on this one
will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and who trembles at My word."
Great Grace!
Deborah Voetberg Women Of Influence www.judges5.com
judges_5@msn.com
APPEARING IN GLORY
By Mike Danforth
Luke 9:29 And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered,
and His robe became white and glistening. Luke 9:30 And behold,
two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, Luke 9:31
who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was
about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:32 But Peter and
those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully
awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
Through prayer and worship the appearance of the church is being
altered. There is a fashion in the church today that is not
really God at all. But as the church enters into prayer and
worship, her wardrobe is beginning to change. Her style is
changing. Even now the apparel of ministry is taking on a new
look. As Jesus was turned inside out, even his outward apparel
was affected. The word, "fashion" refers to form, figure and
shape. So let me say this, the church, is taking on a new form.
That is why we call it reformation. She is developing a new
figure that is much more attractive than the old one. The world
can not and will not, be able to help notice just how beautiful
she really is. Through prayer and worship she is coming into
perfect shape. And let me say, the greatest indicator of an
apostolic leadership, are those who have given themselves to
knowing God through prayer and fasting.
The alteration of Jesus' appearance revealed that He not only
had glory, but that he was in glory. The word, "alter" means,
to come to be or to generate. Jesus went from a place of them
seeing Him generate glory, to glory generating Him.
The word, "generate" implies the ability to produce. Everywhere
Jesus went He was producing life, and He was known as a life
giver. But now for the first time he was being seen as someone
not just having the power of life, but being as the very essence
of life itself. As we pray and worship God we are generated
by a desire and passion to draw even closer to God and the
results are, a desirous and passionate generation. Our legacy
will be, that we went from just having life, to becoming life.
Prayer and worship regenerate the cells in our spiritual makeup
that were once broken down, unable to produce the life flow,
necessary to sustain right relationship with Jesus Christ.
It was a powerful thing when the glory of God became flesh
and dwelt among us, but it was even more powerful when He went
from being known as having resurrection power, to becoming the
resurrected one.
The altered state of Jesus revealed his true origin of existence.
It's the difference of seeing the glory in a man, verses the
man in glory. When the glory of God is in us we see the Kingdom
of God wrapped up in humanity, but when we are in the glory
we see humanity wrapped up in the Kingdom of God. The real
color in this picture, is revealed through position. To be
in glory, among many things, implies a position of total rest.
In other words, to be in glory, is to say, we're entering
into the rest of God.
Jesus had always been in glory, but His glorious state had not
been fully realized. The church has been producing many things,
most of which we could probably do without. However, we are
about to be turned inside out and the kingdom of God will be
realized on earth, just as it is in heaven, like no other time
in history.
Jesus said, "the Kingdom of God is within you," (Luke 17:21)
Paul said, "through great tribulation we enter into the Kingdom
of God." (Acts 14:22) So how can both be true? It's the difference
of having the glory of God's Kingdom in us, versus us, entering
into the Kingdom of God, thus taking on the actual attributes
of His Kingdom.
Paul said, "we have the mind of Christ," (1Cor. 2:16) but transformation
does not take place until we give up our way of thinking, for the mind of
Christ. That is why Paul said, "we are transformed by the renewing of our
minds. "(Romans 12:2) Therefore transformation, is the process, of taking
on the characteristics of the most dominate force that is working on the
inside of us.
Into one form or another, you and I are changing; the important
question is, into who or what? What is the most driving force
in your life? Make sure the dreams and goals in your life are
all about some One, and not some thing.
It wasn't until Peter, John and James were fully awake that
they saw Jesus in all His glory. Like a Snow White, the church
is coming out of a deep sleep. She is being awakened by the
kiss of life. She is about to see Him in all His glory, and
when she does, she will love Him, just as she is loved.
Ps 17:15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I
shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. How will we
know when we are fully awake? Because we will see Him as He
is, and we will be like Him.
Mike Danforth
Victory
Joyce Derrick
Threatened are mine with fear of failures of the pass. Afraid to go on
because they feel they have failed Me. BUT I say, NO, you have not
failed Me. The timing was not right and you were ill prepared. But
yea, I say look to Me and lay those thoughts of failure at My feet. I
am calling you out now to proceed in My power, with My authority. Do
not hold back because of the past. Yea, children the Kingdom is yours,
now. I am leading you into greater works. Don't stay in the stands or
on the sideline when you hear the call. Follow My voice all the way to
Me and victory. For in Me is life/victory. You must be victorious for
others so they may hear the gospel of My Son, Jesus. The enemy is the
deceiver and he whisper in your ears, "you are a failure, you have
failed God and have no purpose. You might as well quit". Have you
heard that whisper? Yea, tell that devil to get ye behind me satan.
Tell him who you are! You are God's chosen, covered in the blood. You
have been redeemed! Set free. You are NOT a failure, you are Mine,
forever. Father.
cooljoyce@webtv.net
CONCERNING THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and
by My outstretched arm, and have given
it unto whom it seemed meet unto Me." Jeremiah 27:5
"...seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most
High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will." Daniel 4:25b
"John answered and said, 'A man can receive nothing, except it be
given him from heaven.'" John 3:27
I watch and observe how the Body of Christ becomes exercised from
time to time over events and happenings occurring within the kingdoms and governments of the
earth. We are in such a time now as
the American presidential elections are about to take place. I believe I am moved to speak to
this situation and use it as an
opportunity to bring the Church back to Christ.
To begin with, God is neither Republican nor Democrat. When I hear
people talking about praying for "God's man" to be elected it strikes me that God only has One
Man, and that is the Man Jesus
Christ, Whom He has appointed the Heir of all things, including the kingdoms of this earth
(Psalms 2, Hebrews 1). God does not and
never has had "His man" in the White House, but has always established His Man in a place of
far greater power and authority, seated
at His own right hand in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 1).
The reality is that the Kingdom of His Dear Son is ever increasing and
enlarging (Isaiah 9:6,7). Every earthly institution and government
will one day be swallowed up into this kingdom that Christ may fill all in all.
The Lord desires all men to be saved and to come to the full-knowledge
(epignosis) of TRUTH, that is, to see and know the Son as the Preeminent One and give Him the
honor and glory due His Name. This
means of course that any nation which fails to do so will be smashed as a clay pot.
Christ as All in All: this is the divine END to which God is moving.
He is orchestrating events on earth to bring about this all- encompassing, all-consuming WILL
of Christ as Lord, bringing the
individual heart, then the Church, then the nations, then all of creation into subjection to
His Dear Son. In some cases this will
mean a building up and establishing of things invisible and unseen, and in some cases this will
mean the destruction and removal of
things which appear and are seen.
What is clear from Scripture is that God rules in the affairs of
men. He sets one up and brings another down. He used a heathen king,
Nebuchadnezzar, to accomplish His End for Israel. Nebuchadnezzar was
forcibly reminded that it is the Most High God Who rules, and gives
earthly kingdoms to whomever He wills.
Some rulers are given to build up, and some rulers are given to tear
down. Josiah is an example of a godly king who was raised up to tear down. Pharaoh is an
example of an ungodly king who was raised
up in order to bring judgment upon the land of Egypt. We may judge one man to be more suited
than the other, but such judgment is
rarely made with the Lord's End in mind. As citizens of a heavenly realm, we must pray God's
Kingdom and God's Will to be done in
earth as it is done in heaven.
Prayer may or may not turn an election in the direction we would like
it to go, but it cannot but turn it in the way the Lord wills for it to go. We should vote,
but we should leave the result to God,
for it is impossible for a man to receive anything (including a Presidential election) except
it be given him from heaven.
The Presidential election, while very important, is minuscule compared to what God is doing in
Christ, for THAT Kingdom is being
established and will never pass away, while our government and the nations of this earth will
one day pass away into nothingness and
be eclipsed by the glory and majesty of the Son of God. The question is, is the United States
furthering and advancing God's
Thought and Desire in Christ, or is it hindering the realization and actual fulfillment of
Christ as all in all? For that matter,
which country or nation or government on earth can be described as winding down operations and
making preparations for ceding all
power and
authority to the Son? I search in vain for any earthly government
who is ready to "kiss the Son, lest He be angry (Psalms 2)."
The only people group I observe making any progress towards God's Aim
in Christ is the Church, a nation which has been called out from the
rest of the nations to stand apart, and even here in this Holy Nation there is much to be
desired. Christ is not yet given the
preeminence that He is entitled to, even among the people who bear His Name. Even so, God's
focus and aim is CHRIST AS ALL IN ALL,
and because the Church is the firstfruits of the Kingdom of God's Christ, the real action and
movement today is not centered around
the White House, but around God's House - this Church that Jesus is building as a habitation
for Himself. The ones who sit in the
White House come and go, but the One Who sits on the Throne in the heavenlies is established
forever. This Kingdom is in the world,
but not of the
world.
But just see how many people are consumed with the world, current
events, the rise and fall of nations and governments, and the political intrigues and
controversies which accompany such things as
presidential elections.
Be warned: do not take your eyes off of Christ and allow yourself to
be abosorbed with politics. If our desire is as fervent for God's Man, Christ, to come forth
in the earth as it is for God's "man"
to be elected into the White House, then we will see the Kingdom and the Will being
accomplished and performed on earth as it is in
heaven, in spite of the kingdoms and wills of men which are here today and gone tomorrow. Are
there any who have set their
affection on things above, not on things of the earth (Colossians 3)? Are there any who have
aligned themselves with God's ultimate
Aim and Purpose in Christ? Of the increase of THAT government there shall be no end, and we
are either in that FLOW or we are
fighting that flow. HE - Christ - MUST increase, and we, the Church, the whole of creation -
must decrease and make way for Him.
This is a spiritual catharsis, a letting go of the earthly and natural in order to embrace the
heavenly and the spiritual. Our
energies, our efforts, and
particularly our intercessions, ought to be directed towards that End.
---------------------------------
©2000 Chip Brogden. Permission hereby granted for non-commercial
(free) distribution provided this notice appears.
---------------------------------
"The heart has eyes which the brain knows nothing of."
- Charles H. Perkhurst
Surbrook.org - http://www.surbrook.org
Restoration
Debbie Cossu
WHEN YOU WILL REST, I WILL TAKE ACTION.
Scripture
Vision:
Now that He had arrived, He would do His part and accomplish the work
necessary to restore this building not just to its original status,
but go beyond restoration and refurbish it
completely....
The Word of The Lord:
You have fallen down in the past due to sin and rebellion, but now remain
on your face in repentance and humility. I have refined and purged and
made you pure. You have ceased from your own efforts, and beckoned Me in
this hour to come and accomplish what you could not. Do not be downcast,
do not be discouraged, do not allow doubt to have any place. I am here
to perform signs and wonders in the land, through you! My kingdom is an
everlasting Kingdom which knows no end, and yields to no bounds. All
generations alive will be a part of what I am about. I break out of the
patterns and molds you have tried to hold Me in for so long. I will not
be contained in your mind set any longer. I am a great God, might and
just and true. I will arouse Myself to do My work, that which can only
be accomplished by My hand will be done that no man may take the glory.
I am not bound by time or distance or circumstance. All things are at My
disposal, but I have waited until you were ready to get back up. To get
up and stand and show forth My kingdom and power and glory unto the ends
of the earth. The knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the
earth--through the church now restored and refurbished. The later glory
of this house shall be greater than the former, for I, the Lord reside in
your midst.
You have rested.
debbcossu@juno.com
Global Sorrow
Marsha Burns
This is the beginning of global sorrow
as prophesied from ancient times. For, I tell you that the
earth will be shaken with mighty force. The grief and
sadness and pain will continue to increase until My cup of
wrath is empty. To those of you who see the suffering of
neighboring nations and through your pride and
indifference find satisfaction in their distress, repent
of this evil or you will be partakers of their suffering.
You, My people, must cleanse yourselves of all filthiness
and draw near to Me. It is vital that you hear My voice
and are sensitive to My leading, for I will lead you to
places of refuge and safety. Seek Me with all of your
heart.
Faith Tabernacle
Fear not - My Government
David Howe
Fear not my people for I AM at work - Yes fear not - Be of good cheer for your redemption draws near says the Lord.
For it says in My Word that when you hear of wars - Rumors of wars - Storms and pestilence on every front with the hearts of men failing
because of fear - Then look up for your redemption draws near - Yes my coming is so very very close - For it is now only 3 minutes to midnight.
Yes fear not my people and work while you still can - Work and snatch as many as you can from the coming burning - For soon my righteous
sword will sweep over this world in Judgment
For when the clock strikes midnight then no man will be able to work for the night would have come.
Fear not my church for I AM making you right before me - For the Government will be upon my shoulders says the Lord.
For I gave some to be apostles - Some prophets - Some to be teachers - Some to work as Pastors and some to be Evangelists for the building up
of my body unto maturity until I come to take you unto myself.
So I would say to you - Do not copy the world in its ways - For if you do you will suffer loss and your works be burned in the coming fire.
Follow my Government - Not your own - Inquire of My Word for I will show you what is right in my sight - Consider what I taught my first
apostles when I appeared to them in the days of old Taught them to be servants - Taught them not to lord it over each other - Taught them to
be the least - To prefer others above themselves.
For only he who has a truly humble heart will stand in the days ahead.
For in the coming days at the end of this age only that which is truly built upon My Word - Built upon the foundation of my apostles and
prophets with Christ as the chief corner stone will stand in the days to come - For if the government is not built on the rock - Then like the
house on the sand it will be washed away in the storm - For only the house which is built upon the rock will stand says the Lord.
Fear not my people fear not that which you see happening around you - For as it was in the days of Noah - So shall it be on the last day before
I come says the Lord.
Yes work while you can before the end comes for the end so close - Work and save as many as who will listen to you from the burning - For I
AM now mounting My White Horse ready to lead the armies of heaven forth into the final battle of the ages says the Lord.
Dave Howe
The Small and the Great
A.W. Tozer
...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with
humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
--1 Peter 5:5
Some time ago we heard a short address by a young preacher during
which he quoted the following, "If you are too big for a little
place, you are too little for a big place."
It is an odd rule of the kingdom of God that when we try to get big,
we always get smaller by the moment. God is jealous of His glory and
will not allow anyone to share it with Him. The effort to appear
great will bring the displeasure of God upon us and effectively
prevent us from achieving the greatness after which we pant.
Humility pleases God wherever it is found, and the humble person will
have God for his or her friend and helper always. Only the humble are
completely sane, for they are the only ones who see clearly their own
size and limitations. Egotists see things out of focus. To themselves
they are large and God is correspondingly small, and that is a kind
of moral insanity. This World: Playground or Battleground?, 34.
"Lord, help me never to be too big for a little place. In humility
let me serve and revel in You as my 'friend and helper always.'
Amen."
_______________________________________________________________
Burdens
Loleen Denney
While in prayer I "saw" a person with their arms full of burdens, more
than they could possibly carry. They were very laden down with all
manner of things, trying to walk and function in this state. They being
exhausted decided to turn and cast everything over on the Lord. As they
did, this mountain of burden turned into a speck as a grain of sand as
it landed at the Lord's feet. The person's "mountain of burden" in
comparison to what the Lord carries is as nothing.
Then I "heard": My burdens are light. Why do you insist on carrying
on your shoulders the weight of the world? Cast your cares on Me, I
will give you rest. My people you weary yourselves carrying things I
never asked you to carry. Do you think you are helping or relieving
Me? Trust Me, the tiny burdens you carry make NO difference in the
load I carry. My job is to be your burden bearer not you being Mine.
I have promised to carry your cares, so how about trying to give them
to Me.
mdenney@wyoming.com
October 11, 2000
by Lloyd Phillips......
2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are
the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had
come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and
turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
The Fellow Laborer's International Network (FLInt Net)
flintnet@flintnet.org
http://www.flintnet.org
(Excerpt from the book by Ken Durden, "The House of His Glory")
By Ken Durden
Bridal Affections Ministry and
High Calling Fellowship Church
bridal@imagin.net
I AM the Sovereign Lord, the Creator of all things and I will do
In LOVE what is necessary to restore My church. Do not balk at
My judgements for when judgement is in the earth, the people will
learn wisdom. All the earth will KNOW that I AM LORD!
O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
For You have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are
filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they
are pleased with the children of foreigners.
Their land is also full of silver and gold, and there is no end to their
treasures; their land is also full of horses, and there is no end to their
chariots .
Their land is full of IDOLS ; they worship the work of their own hands,
That which their own fingers have made.
Still my heart cannot linger at the cries of my loved ones, who need to know
Me. Those who know my character will understand. I have commissioned you as
a nation to GO! Not to sit and grow fat on the word. And because you have neglected
this commission in every way, I will give it to the young and they
will be my showbread, and those who have been faithful will be blessed
beyond their imagination. Those whose hearts have yearned to go, will
now receive what they need to fulfill their hearts' desires because I put
that desire in their hearts.
The arrogance of the wicked will be brought low. You will overcome by the
blood of the Lamb, and the word of your testimony. Listen ! Listen for the
still small voice, multitudes in the Valley of Decision. How will they know
Without a preacher? I will raise up the voices of those crying in the
wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!" They will speak only what
I have ordained, and it will be followed with My signs and wonders.
elihoenai999@aol.com
By Judith Grobelny
MTIsound@cs.com
Mountain Top Ministries International Prayer Center
http://www.mtmprayercenter.com
---An exhortation from Chip Brogden
Stir Up The Gift - http://www.surbrook.org/gifts
Bridge Builders - http://www.surbrook.org/bridgebuilders
USCI - http://www.surbrook.org/usci
Daniel 11:34; Daniel 4:3
"Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge, and
make them pure.... For how great are His signs, and how mighty are His
wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from
generation to generation!"
There was a grand old building, in fact it was an old church. As I
approached it was clear to see it was very old. In fact the closer I got
it was almost decrepit looking. The windows were broken. The roof had
holes in it. The walls were falling in and the foundation had shifted
and was cracked. The grounds around this building was overgrown and
unkept. There was even a police line, you know that yellow ribbon thing
they put around the scene of a murder so no one can cross over into the
death occurred...The Lord looked at me and took my hand to go across the
line and into the "house" as He called it. He saw the questioning and
hesitant look in my eyes, and asked me if I thought it was possible to
repair all the damage just seen just from the outside. I have learned
that He needs no information what so ever, so I asked Him if that was His
plan. He smiled a big smile, and said of course! That was why He had
come. I know by now that the church could not repair itself. Not only
was it unable to "move" to be able to do so, it was not the role she had
been assigned. All this building could do to contribute to the
restoration process was be there.
I am taking action.
All the world will know that I am The Lord.
http://ft111.com
ft111@uswest.net
Wellspring Prophetic Ministries England.
davehowe@fdn.co.uk
Read "Insight for Leaders" online at:
http://www.litmin.org/tozer.php3Five-Fold Today Archives
The Lord has given us the grace to reconcile the children to their Fathers
As One Body
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