IN THE

PRESENCE OF

MY ENEMIES

By Michael Clark

Copyright 2005 © aWildernessVoice.com

Contents

Article 1

Greener Pastures

Article 2

Deep Calls unto Deep

Article 3

Michael's David

Article 4

He Has Torn Us

Article 5

On Suffering

Article 6

Wilderness: School of the Prophets

Article 7

The Anti-Christ Spirit

Article 8

Are We Settled on Our Lees?

Article 9

Defending Our Wineskins

Article 10

Feet of Iron and Clay

Article 11

The Law and the Church

Article 12

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Article 13

The Exodus and the House Church

Article 14

Abraham's Faithful Servant

Article 15

The Continuing Testimony of Jesus

Article 16

Who Shall Know His Truth?

Article 1: Greener Pastures

I never knew that picking up my cross and following Him could make one so dead! Over night I had become an off-scouring to both saint and sinner alike.

When I got saved, like many of you, it was all "He makes me to lie down in green pastures... He leads me beside still waters... He restores my (devastated) soul." I was on a spiritual honeymoon with Jesus that lasted for months in which He never left my side. It was wonderfully beyond description! I wanted everyone to know Jesus the way I did. As a result I was rejected by my old crowd as I enthusiastically shared my Jesus with them, but what the hey! I still had my best friend, Jesus and that was all that mattered!

Well, little did I know that the way ahead was not always going to be so pleasant. What seemed to be "greener pastures" did not last. Can you relate? With Psalm 23 in mind as a time line and a pattern for spiritual growth, what lie ahead? Let's consider what David saw when he was inspired to write this psalm.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. (Psalms 23:1-6, NKJV)

Now what was next in my spiritual walk? I had been experiencing Jesus as my Shepherd. He had been supplying all my worldly needs. In that first year I worked full time with a street ministry without pay and at the end we were not only not bankrupt, but we were totally debt free. Even our house and car were paid off. There were plenty of green pastures and still waters. He had restored my soul. I was born again! But what was this next part about? "He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake." What could that mean? What are paths of righteousness? What is His name's sake? There is a proverb that says, "A man make his plans, but God establishes his path." It would seem that we deal with a God that says, "It is my way or the highway!" I had all these great visions of who I was going to be as a member of the Body of Christ. Visions of Billy Graham, Art Katz, A. W. Tozer, etc. In short, I just KNEW that I had a HIGH calling. I was going to be elevated up before my fellow believers one day for after all didn't a man's gift and calling make room for him and bring him before great men, right? ALL for His name's sake, of course! Like the young Joseph with his dreams and coat of many colors, I was a bit hard to live with.

Well, I was soon to find out that His path of righteousness for His name's sake was not my chosen path for MY name's sake. What a steep learning curve I was about to embark on... STRAIGHT DOWN! "Pride comes before a faaaaaaaaaaaaall..."

David's psalm continues, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Valley? Shadow of DEATH? What is going on here, Lord? God I am dying! "Don't you care that I perish?" What a deep valley it was. I fell for what seemed forever. His shadow of death was cast over all that I was and ever hoped to be. All was lost. My prophetic ministry dried up over night. Our home church folded. The gifts of the Spirit went flat. My prayer life was as if I was encased in a block of brass. My friends turned on me, even dear brothers in Christ that I had walked with for years. Church meetings became a time of terrible pain while others rejoiced in the presence of the Lord and I sat there like a corpse, flat lined. Next I lost my job. We had gotten back in debt, and the local banker-wolf was at our door and we were looking at losing all our material blessings as well. In short, it was all going to hell in a hand basket and nothing I could do would turn things around again.

I never knew that picking up my cross and following Him could make one so dead! Over night I had become an off-scouring to both saint and sinner alike. He even isolated me from my own wife and kids for a season and sent me to a literal wilderness on a remote island in the Aleutian Chain of Alaska. There at one point I was so depressed that I was about to go catatonic. I whimpered a prayer, "Jesus, I know that you do not want to hear from me, but all I ask is that you keep my mind and body together until I can get off of this rock and back to my family." Well, that prayer He heard. That was the bottom of my "valley of the shadow of death." Let me tell you, when you are in the shadow of the Almighty it is a VERY DARK place and there is not a thing you can do to reverse it or make it go away. You are there for one reason--to die and have everything in you that will not submit to His Spirit die--it is to be so weaken that your will and soul nature only seek "His paths of righteousness," no matter what the cost.

I tried everything in the world to get out of that shadow. I confessed every sin that I could think of past, present and future! I went to everyone that I might have offended and asked their forgiveness. I tithed. I fasted. I cried out. You name it, I did it. But God was not going to let me up until I finally quit striving against my Maker and submitted to His valley, His cross, and hung there like a piece of butchered meat waiting passively to be carved up and put into the freezer.

So, dear saint, if you made it this far in my story, you are probably asking by now, "So where is the God that said that He will never leave us?" As Jesus hung there on that cross in Jerusalem, He cried out the same words that David did a thousand years earlier, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" I can look back now and see that He was probably closer then as I hung there on my cross than He ever had been before. It was just that He removed all tangible evidence of His presence and that was the hardest test of all. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a Living God.

Let's go back to our road map and time line, Psalm 23. "...I will fear no evil." After you have survived a period when it seems that God Himself has become your enemy (see Lamentations 2:1-9), you find that in his worst acts of terror, man can not hold a candle to the terror of God. You now fear God above all else.

David continues, "...For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Yes, the Lord's presence in a perceivable way does come back, but it is not the same. Where once His rod and staff of correction made you cringe from the pain, "for those whom He loves he rebukes and chastens, and scourges those who are His sons," now they are instruments of comfort because when they are applied to your back side you know that it is with His love.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies..." Oh boy! FOOD! At last I get to eat again! Maybe some meat will finally appear on these dry bones of mine once again. What? My dinner table is surrounded by my enemies? What happened to the green pastures and still waters? Oh, there is no going back. I see Lord, "thy will be done" in my life "as it is in heaven." Yes, I DID pray that before that awful tumble into that valley of yours. Hmmm. Well, what the hey! It is spiritual food just the same and that is what I have been begging for, pure and undefiled by religious men. It is your table. It is your alter from which we may eat the Passover Lamb.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13:10-13, NKJV)

Yes, Lord, we leave all of Christendom behind inside their camps (the holiness camp, the faith camps, the fighting fundies camp, etc.) and willingly come out to meet you bearing your reproach, for here you have set a table for those who gladly leave and forsake all to follow you even to the death of the cross. We are those who overcome. Death means nothing "for it is appointed once to die and we have already died." All that can be shaken has been shaken. We are that company that has crossed the bridge to what appeared to be "greener pastures." What were once green to our perception on the one side of that valley are now crimson red on this side. Your "flesh is meat indeed" and your "blood is drink indeed."

"You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over..." The Anointing! At last! But you mean it is not just for me? The anointing is for the Body? Wow! Make it so, Lord! David knew this anointing, didn't he, Lord? Anointing for the whole body.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to 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 garments. It is like the dew of Herman, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing--Life forevermore. (Psalms 133:1-3, NKJV)

But what is the order that this corporate anointing comes? It is found in that company who have taken up their cross and followed Him through the valley of the shadow of death. That company that feasts at the table set by Him in the presence of their enemies. Only there is there ONE heart, ONE mind, ONE spirit. It is all HIM, not of them. Unity! ONE in HIS Spirit, not their own. Oh the flow of precious oil! A river that flows out to bless others like the dew that falls upon the mountain tops, cascading down, filling the valleys, always going to the lowest places... to "the least of these HIS brethren," unto Him. This sacred oil does not seek out high places. It is humble like the One who has created it in His apothecary, always seeking the lowly in heart, the very hem of His garment, kissing His precious feet. For here He does "command a blessing..." Eternal life! Not pie in the sky by and by. NO! Here and now, eternal life. Life that was fore ordained by the Father from eternity past. "Life that is the life of men."

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." Yes! In HIS eternal living, both now and forever more! Not my goodness, or my mercy, for I am bankrupt, but HIS! Now I leave a wake of His goodness and His mercy behind me as I walk His paths of righteousness. No longer do I leave a path of death and destruction as I minister in my flesh. My life has become His life. His life has become my life... life that is the light of men. I now dwell in heavenly places in Christ Jesus... the Father's house. At last! I am home! No more wandering, no more sorrow and pain. No more rejection. NOW in this life, His life, His house. I have surely crossed that bridge over the troubled waters of the valley of the shadow of death. I have embraced the cross, my cross. Amen. So be it, Lord. Whatever the cost, it is worth it.

Article 2: Deep Calls unto Deep

I believe that Jesus is calling from within each of us in His Bride, encouraging one another to come into the midst of that life giving flow that is coming out of the throne room of God, His holy city.

As I commune with the saints in these final days of the "Church Age," I find an ever increasing longing and encouragement to go deeper into Jesus' being, until all signs of me are lost in that Great Love of the Ages. I keep contemplating the following verse.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me--a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalms 42:7,8, NKJV).

The following verses are from Ezekiel 47:1-12.

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. (Ezekiel 47:1, NKJV)

These spiritual torrents flow under the threshold, not over it. The pure refreshing waters of God are of a humble sort, seeking the lowest places, even in ministry to others. The temple of God, the Church, faces east because that is the direction from which He has promised to appear. His Bride is always looking for Him in expectation. The waters flow from the right side of the temple. His sheep are on the right side. The right hand is the position of power and blessing. We in unity with His mighty Spirit are the made part of this flow of life to a thirsty world.

Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.(John 4:14, NKJV).

And it shall be that every living thing that moves, whether the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. (Ezekiel 47:9)

"Every living thing... will live." Gone are the days of the walking dead. Even the living will receive new life in this flow of His great grace. The multitude of fish that will be healed, speaks of the revival and harvest of souls that is brought on by the witness of this refreshing life flow in His people. "And the Life was the Light of men!" Life first then light. Where there is no life, there is no light. The following verse form Isaiah speaks so well of the times we are in and His great work among the seven golden lampstands (see Revelation 1), the Church.

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy. (Isaiah 60:1-5, NKJV).

And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measure one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measure one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. (Ezekiel 47:4b)

Each new deep calls out for a greater deep within us. The deep in you calls out to welcome and stir up the deep in me, as the deep in me calls to the deep in you and others.

Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water on which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. (Ezekiel 47:5)

Jesus wants us to be brave and step out into His rushing torrent of the deeper revelation of His love to the point that we can no longer control our destiny, being swept off our feet by His great loving, "waters to swim in." The Lord is not happy to let us settle for the religious substitutes of knee deep devotion and shallow doctrines that will let us thirst again. Of Jesus the religious ones asked:

Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again..." (John 4:12,13, NKJV).

The waters of the last outpouring of the Spirit which have become stale and brackish can not quench the thirst which He places in us for the present pouring out of His Spirit. We must always seek more of Him, always going deeper searching the depths of His great heart. Fear not, you will not find the bottom and run out of experiencing Him in a greater love relationship day by day, for here is "A river that could not be crossed."

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33, NKJV).

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8, NKJV).

He said to me, "Son of Man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. (Ezekiel 47:5)

But He won't let us go on swimming and bathing in the river just for our own edification. He calls us back with our new found source of "Refreshing" so that we, too, can lead others out into the depths of His life giving flow.

When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. (Ezekiel 47:7)

Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for good, and their leaves for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:12)

When we come back from this swim in the depths of His flowing love, we find on the banks of the river, the tree of life. We are made part of this precious life giving flow by bearing fruit as we abide in Jesus, the True Vine, and His love, sap, flows through us. Our leaves, that is our hands are used by Him as an extension of His hand to reach out and heal. Yes, God still heals through our touching others as we walk in His love. I find He gives me more and more opportunities to reach out and touch others in His healing power as I walk in His love.

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:2, NKJV).

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14, NKJV).

Jesus said, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12, NKJV). This is the total of "doing His commandments." In loving one another with His great agape love we gain access to the tree of life, giving life and healing through His great compassion, and are thus made ready of live in His Great City forever with Him. We forsake the tree of the knowledge of good and evil wherein is division, and judgment and a joining of ourselves to the Accuser of the brethren.

Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed." (Ezekiel 47:8)

His waters flow ever downward to greater humility and brokenness. "Love seeks not her own way." It also "flows toward the eastern region," that mystical eastern way of seeing the spiritual as the ONLY thing of importance because it (He) is everything. That longing to be in a mystical love bond with your God, not just study about Him as they do in western cultures.

As churches and denominations embrace the ever present flow of His waters of life, they, can be healed no matter how dead and crusted with salt and cold they have become. But they have to leave all their traditions behind and seek only Him. In fact the colder they are the better, for hear in absolute poverty of spirit He commands a blessing. "I would that you were cold or hot..." (Revelation 3:15).

It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spearing their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds of the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many. (Ezekiel 47:10)

Now comes revival! When the Church is full of living water for those who thirst. The fishermen, evangelists and church planters, stand by the flow, they don't try to divert it into their own idea of where it should go. Oh, that more of God's workers had the wisdom to be still and stand by the Holy Spirit, waiting and praying to see the hand of the Lord move. Always acting in unity with Him in the harvest instead of trying to make it happen by shear, unbroken, soulish power.

But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. (Ezekiel 47:11)

The back washes and bogs of the river will never know His life. Those who are the closest to the flow, but refuse to enter in will only know death there. Dead traditionalism will not be given life. Didn't He say, "Behold, I make all things new?" "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are made new every morning."

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. (Psalms 46:4, NKJV).

We who follow the Lamb where ever He goes are those little streams that bless the Church and flow together into His mighty river. Denominational obstacles and controls will not be able to hold back this tide. Flow on, little streams, into that mighty River that ever calls you to go deeper.

Article 3: Michael's David

"Yes," Jesus was saying to me, "I did choose you just as you were, but not to leave you that way. As I carve away these pieces of deformed rock, you feel the pain and identify with them as being part of you. Can't you see that this is not the you that I created you to be? The world, the sins of your fathers, and your sin have deformed you from reflecting my image. Since you surrendered to me I have been cutting away at all those layers that have been hiding my image from being seen in you."

Several years ago, I heard a story of how the great Italian artist, Michelangelo, came to choose a piece of stone to carve his famous statue of David. I had forgotten all about it until one day the Lord reminded me about it. I had been struggling through a series of trials for some time and I finally cried out to God, "What is it with you? Why can't you ever stop trying to remake me? Didn't you accept me 'Just As I Am'?" His answer was in the following story.

It seems that Michelangelo was well known among the merchants of Italy in those days because he had a Papal commission to do his works of art for the Vatican. In short he had the big bucks behind him. The merchants were all over themselves trying to please him with their wares, but the artist was a hard one to impress. He had gone through all the stone shops of that part of Italy looking for a stone out of which to carve this now famous statue and had turned down all the finest pieces of marble that they had to offer.

He wasn't one to give up easily, so he decided to give it another try, but this time he requested to see the rejected pieces that had been pushed into anonymity in the backs of the stone shops. Soon he found what he was looking for. In the back of one of the shops under years of dust, shoved into a lonely corner was a stone that had an obvious flaw in it. This is the one that the great sculptor chose.

The stone merchant was beside himself, "You have seen hundreds of pieces of marble in all of these shops and all of them are of greater quality than this one. Why have you chosen such an inferior stone to carve your statue from?" His answer was simple, yet to the point, "I have chosen this one, because this one is the one with David in it!"

"Yes," Jesus was saying to me, "I did choose you just as you were, but not to leave you that way. As I carve away these pieces of deformed rock, you feel the pain and identify with them as being part of you. Can't you see that this is not the you that I created you to be? The world, the sins of your fathers, and your sin have deformed you from reflecting my image. Since you surrendered to me I have been cutting away at all those layers that have been hiding my image from being seen in you."

Later, I was telling a sister in the Lord about this new realization I had received. She listened attentively, smiled, and her comment I will never forget. She said. "Do you know what is most interesting about your story? There are five statues that Michelangelo carved that still have pieces of rock hanging on them, but enough is carved away that you can see that there was a person inside. Do you know what these works of his are called?" I told her I did not. "They are called The Captives!"

In Luke chapter four is the following story:

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:16-21, NKJV)

Many of us are still carrying around "baggage" from our youth and from the evils that the men of this world have done to us. This so-called baggage is not who we are in Christ. As a result of its presence we often get more rejection from mankind. But the worst rejection--and often the most confusing--is when we are rejected for who Christ is IN us, and this often happens in Churches. Don't be dismayed; it happened to Him as well.

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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. (1 Peter 2:2-5, NKJV)

Yes, Jesus loves you the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way. The way we see ourselves is more often not the way He sees us in the eye of eternity. His perfecting work in us will continue until the day He appears. He is so wonderful.

"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." (1Jo 3:2 NKJV)

I find this very wonderful and exciting. There is so much to look forward to in His kingdom. Don't look back, but fix your eye on that high calling that is yours in Christ.

Article 4: He Has Torn Us

A few years ago in '96, I visited Bobby Conners' church in Bullard, Texas, where a brother named Larry Randolf from California was the guest speaker. The Holy Spirit was really ringing my bell as Larry spoke. I don't remember all that he said, but I felt a strong spirit of repentance and contrition come over me. I kept saying, "Lord rend me, tear me, expose my heart." Then I heard Him say, "I have torn you, but now I am healing you." That was when I leaned over and asked a brother named Hollis Vaughn, "Where in the Bible does it say, 'He has torn us'?" He told me to look up Hosea 6:1.

Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt treacherously with Me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, And defiled with blood. As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they commit lewdness. (Hosea 6:1-9, NKJV).

I believe that the Lord was saying to me through these scriptures that before true revival can come to the Church, we must be torn and stricken and truly "rend our hearts not just our garments..." (Joel 2:13). Until we truly see just how wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked we really are, we won't ever rend our hearts, and we will not call out to Him to heal us. I believe the Lord has prepared and is preparing prophets to hew the Church. These men and women will be those who themselves have been carved out by God, and have rend their hearts, purging themselves of all the dross of self-righteousness, and self elevating pride. These will be those who weep for the lost state of the Church and identify with her shallowness and sin.

I also believe that this season, the third millennium since the birth of Christ, is the acceptable year of the Lord. Two-thousand years ago our Jesus was born to suffer and die. We know that a thousand years is as a day to the Lord (2 Peter 3:8). He says in verse two above, "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2, KJV). I believe we are in that third day. This is a type of the death and resurrection of Christ, but it is also the path of all who would follow Him.

Colossians 3:4 says, "When Christ [who is] our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." I believe that the fruit of this final revival is going to be a bride that the Bridegroom is worthy of. She will consist of those wise virgins who those who heed the warning in Revelation 3:18. "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." The Church for which Christ returns will be a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, but there must be a tearing and rending, gold tried in the fire, first. Jesus is not coming back for a bride that is a self-indulgent, spoiled brat.

Most of today's church in the west is enamored with the gold of this world instead of the gold of His righteousness which comes only by allowing Him to refine us in His fire. Many of her leaders are parading around in "the Kings new clothes" sewn from threads of pride and arrogance by a satanic tailor instead of the required wedding garment of a broken and contrite spirit. And because they say they see, they are truly blind (John 9:41).

I can't help but be reminded of Isaiah 4:1 when I look about Christendom today. "And in that day seven women (the church [Revelation 1:20]) shall take hold of one man [Jesus], saying, 'O We will eat our own food [wealth] and wear our own apparel [self-righteousness]; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach. [We will allow Him to be our Savior, but not our Lord]." He is calling out to us to intimately "know" [Hebrew yada] Him (Hosea 6:3 and 6). See also Matthew 1:25, Matthew 7:23, Luke 1:34, Luke 10:22, and Luke 16:15 (Greek - ginosko). Both of these words, yada and ginosko translated "know, knowledge or knew" in the scriptures imply not only a head knowledge but an intimate relationship with that which is known (See W.E. Vine's exposition on ginosko).

We hear about the Holy Spirit being poured out like the rain on all flesh, but it appears that there must first be a heart rending and an intimate knowing on the part of those who seek this rain. Those in the upper room before Pentecost had more than a Sunday meeting level of commitment. A cross-less Christianity will not prepare us for what God wants to manifest in His Church, which is His Son and nothing less! Jesus said:

"The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (Luke 9:22-25, NKJV).

It seems that all we have left of the former revival rains is the early morning fog that burns off with the heat of the day (Hosea 6:4). "Oh God, send us a true heart rending revival that prepares us for the blast of satanic heat that is coming upon us. Hew us once again with the words of your prophets, men and women of integrity, who will not be turned away from their mission by those who threaten to withhold official approval and financial support, men and women of integrity who's kingdom is not of this world. Send us those who speak your words and who look to you only for their approval and support."

In God's timing the evening is always before them morning. The darkness always comes before that Light that Shines from the east even to the west. Joel prophesied,

Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is their God?'" Then the lord will be zealous for his land, and pity his people. The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. (Joel 2:15-19, NKJV).

And I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the locust larvae, and the stripping locust, and the cutting locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt with you wonderfully ([literally "who has fashioned you"] by the hewing of the prophets, by plagues, by pestilence, and by invading armies) and My people shall never be ashamed. And you shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and that I [am] the LORD your God, and no one else; and My people shall never be ashamed. And it shall be AFTERWARDS, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. And also I will pour out My Spirit on the slaves and on the slave women in those days. (Joel 2:25-29 MKJV).

The word "afterwards" in verse 28 above has been the most overlooked word by modern revivalists. After what? Doesn't the context of both of these passages in Joel and Hosea support the fact that first we must be hewn and brought to a place where we see the sin sick state of today's church and our part in its decadence? God first calls out to us to fall on our faces in true repentance and torn hearts, and only then does He pours out the promise of His Spirit. Doesn't it also appear that this final outpouring is accompanied by great natural disasters and a promise that everything that can be shaken will be shaken? Is it not just a remnant that answer His call to true repentance? Joel continues:

And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:29-32, NKJV).

We cannot continue to read these verses about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our selective self-deluding way. If we do, it will cost us dearly because we will not prepare our hearts for the coming Bridegroom. We have been so many foolish virgins who have been singing our version of "The World Owes Me a Livin'," when we should be seeking from Him that precious oil for our inward lamps. The night that precedes the Bridegroom's appearance is coming upon us all. (Matthew 25:1-13).

I can't help but see today's western church when I read Jeremiah's words regarding the fallen state of Israel.

To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD. I am weary of holding it in. "I will pour it out on the children outside, And on the assembly of young men together; For even the husband shall be taken with the wife, The aged with him who is full of days. And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD.

Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet and the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, "Peace, peace!" When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.

Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'" (Jeremiah 6:9-17, NKJV).

Yes, I expect a glorious fulfillment of these precious promises in Hosea 6 and Joel 2 of a Holy Spirit revival in our day. This is the chosen hour, but first we must rend our hearts and call out to God to heal us and purify His bride in the furnace of affliction before the return of the Son.

Article 5: On Suffering

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing is happening to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:12, NJKV)

To write on this subject is sheer folly. First, it is not a message that comfort- driven Americans with all the money want to hear. Second, every time we dare to write on an unpopular subject that involves denying ourselves, Father requires us to walk it out shortly thereafter. But we can obey or we can chose the easy way out. The gospel of the kingdom of God is not the modern gospel of convenience that fills mega-churches with joyful followers. Are we willing to lay all at Jesus' feet and take up our crosses and follow Him, or are we going to be followers after another gospel, another Jesus, led by another spirit?

My wife, Dorothy, and I recently bought a DVD of the movie, "Shadowlands." It is a story played out by Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger about a period in the latter days of the life of the famous Christian author, C. S. Lewis. Funny how Hollywood can catch the essence of life from time to time, even more than the most gifted preacher ever hoped to.

"Isn't God supposed to be good? Isn't He supposed to love us? Does God want us to suffer? What if the answer to that question is, 'Yes'"? I suggest to you that it is because God loves us that He makes us the gift of suffering.

"I'm not sure that God wants us to be happy. I think He wants us to be able to love and be loved. He wants us to grow-up. We think our childish toys bring us all the happiness there is and our nursery is the whole wide world. But something must drive us out of the nursery to the world of others and that something is suffering.

"You see, we are like blocks of stone out of which the sculptor carves forms of men. The blows of His chisel, which hurt so much, are what makes us perfect."

With these words, spoken at a lecture by Lewis (known by his friends as Jack), the stage is set for a divine collision. Lewis, the great Christian wit and man of insight, has it all quite figured out. But into his well ordered life of Christian philosophy and academia as an Oxford professor, by whom you could set your watch, comes an American atheist divorcee named Joy Gresham. She becomes his undoing. She sees things as they really are in a way that none of his admirers nor any of those in their ivory towers could see, for hers has been a life filled with pain and suffering.

At one point, Lewis was laying out to her his theory of why there is suffering in this world that is governed by a loving God. To this she asks if he had ever really been hurt. He tells her how he was hurt when his mother died when he was nine years old adding, "The first time is always the worst." At this point, my wife Dorothy responded, "That's not true. The pain keeps growing."

Here we see the crux of the matter. This is where most of us are. We get hurt early on in our lives and we build a lifestyle about us that will never let it happen again. If we are successful, "The first time is the worst," because the first time is the only time. We set out take control of our lives and even the lives of those around us as we build our fortress of protection, refusing to be hurt again. We scheme, we posture, we coerce, we climb. Never mind that we wound and control dozens of people around us as we dig in and build our perimeter. I know; I am a Vietnam war veteran. I have been what is known as "trip-wire vet." My wife knows the pain of living with someone who has tried to be "safe" at all costs, swearing never to let people hurt him like that again. It is a life surrounded by trip-wires, booby traps and concertina wire fences. Woe to the person that dares to enter your space.

At one point Lewis takes Joy up to his little ivory tower classroom to show her around. Here a the dialogue occurs that is most revealing:

Joy: "So what do you do here, think great thoughts?"

Lewis: "Teach mostly."

Joy: "What do they do, sit at your feet and gaze up at you in awe?"

Lewis: "No, not at all."

Joy: "I bet they do."

Lewis: "We have some fine old battles in here, I can tell you that."

Joy: "Which you win! Must be quite a boost for you, being older and wiser than all of them, not to mention your readers."

Lewis: "What?"

Joy: "Your readers, not to mention that gang of friends of yours, all very well trained not to live out of bounds."

Lewis: "What are you talking about?"

Joy: "And of course there is Warnie (Lewis' live-in brother). Not much competition there."

Lewis: "That is nonsense. What about Christopher Riley [an atheist professor at the college]? He never let's me get away with anything. You know that."

Joy: "Except doubt and fear and pain and terror!"

Lewis: "Where did all that come from?"

Joy: "Look, I have only now just seen it. How you've arranged a life for yourself where no one can touch you. Everyone that is close to you is either younger than you or weaker than you or under your control."

Lewis: "Why are you getting at me? I thought we were friends?"

Joy: "I don't know that we are friends. Not the way you have friends, anyway. Sorry, Jack (She grabs her coat and heads for the door).

Lewis: "I don't understand!"

Joy: "No, I think you do. You just don't like it, nor do I."

Have you ever wondered why the Bible says that Jesus learned obedience by the things that He suffered? I mean, He is the Son of God, right? Perfect in every way. Why should the all-knowing Son of God have to learn anything? I think it is because the Author of our salvation had to be tempted in every way, just like us, and yet overcome.

Vulnerability goes hand in hand with unselfish love. You can not truly love without laying yourself open to suffering. Anyone who has raised a child knows that this is true. First you say to yourself, "I sure will be glad when he is potty trained." Then when you have passed that hurtle it is, "I sure will be glad when this two- year-old turns three." Then, "Man, I sure will be happy when he can entertain himself." "I sure will be glad when I can send him off to school." "I sure look forward to the day when he graduates and can get out there on his own and I can quit worrying and suffering." That is the biggest delusion of them all. The suffering and pain of having a child never ends. As they get older, the tendency for trouble ever increases, and their life struggles, failures, divorces, bankruptcies, etc. all become yours, one way or another.

So how do we deal with this pain? Well, some of us parents run out quickly to extinguish the fires. We bail them out and try to protect them from the consequences of their own foolishness. They sow the wind and we reap their whirlwind. We become living "saints," always doing the right thing by them--or are we?

Then there is the other tactic. When we were in Vietnam, men were dying all around us. At first you cared and mourned their loss, but after a while the pain was too much so you got callused and indifferent. After the third of forth time you told yourself, "It don't mean nothing." Some of us have learned to deal with pain by becoming hardened to it. We have walled off our hearts so that no one else's pain can reach us. This has been my poison of choice in the past. If you don't bother to really love, you can't get hurt.

Over the last few years of suffering much at the hands of my fellow saints in an effort to "have fellowship," I have become much like our brother C. S. Lewis. I dug in and studied those scriptures that had been hurled at me and used to justify their Christian indifference (now there is an oxymoron), to find out the antidote. How can I become immune to this kind of abuse and still be a "Christian"?

In another dialogue between Lewis and Joy Gresham we hear:

Lewis: "Personal experience isn't everything."

Joy: "I disagree. I think personal experience is everything."

Lewis: "So reading is a waste of time?"

Joy: "No, its not a waste of time, but reading is safe, isn't it? Books aren't about to hurt you."

Lewis: "Why should one want to be hurt?"

Joy: "That's when we learn."

Lewis: "Just because something hurts does not make it more true or more significant."

Joy: (seeing that his protective stance would not let him hear): "No, I guess not."

Lewis: "I am not saying that pain is purposeless or even neutral, but to find meaning in pain… There has to be something else. Pain is a tool. If you like…

Joy: "Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

Lewis: "You have read my book. You know me too well."

Survival at all cost. That is the nature of man, be he heathen or saint. We glibly say as we are called to give our Wednesday evening pop-up testimony, "I just want to follow Jesus." Have we ever really looked at where He went? When he was about to go to the cross, he told his overconfident disciples, "Where I go you can not follow." They were not only unable, but down inside no matter how sure they were, they, like many of us, flat-out unwilling to take up their cross and follow Him. A deeper work was still needed to walk as selflessly as the Master.

The cross is not some pretty gold symbol on a gold chain that adorns the lovely neck of some movie star or model. It is an instrument of suffering, self denial and death. It is also an instrument of unselfish love. Those who follow Jesus must deny that inward drive to preserve themselves and dare to love as God loves--at all costs. If you dare to take this path, you will find out early-on that many of the ones you love will do anything they can to keep from going the distance with you, including denying you, betraying you and totally forsaking you. You have the smell of death about you. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NKJV). Interesting how these two verses align; among those who are being saved--the aroma of death, but among those who are perishing--the aroma of life.

Are we sufficient for these things? Are we ready, like Jesus and Paul, not to let anyone dissuade us from going up to Jerusalem to die when our personal cross calls us onward? Are we willing to preach a gospel that will not only cost us our lives, but all our popularity with family and even with our fellow saints? If you think that the life of Jesus was a fluke, have you ever read about the lives of those who have gone before us, who walked by faith? Read Hebrews chapter eleven. THESE were the true faith teachers, and they paid for their faith with lives of suffering and rejection. No prosperity doctrine here. They risked all their creature comforts to follow the leading of the Father. These were persecuted, sawn in two, and lived in caves. This is the narrow way. These are true sons of God.

A few nights ago I got a phone call from our youngest son, Joseph. He was all broken up about the death of a long time friend who had just died without accepting Christ. Joe was blaming himself for this loss and for not preaching to his friend while he was still alive.

The following is an excerpt of a letter I wrote him after I hung up:

Dear Joe,

Thank you for your phone call tonight. It was such a privilege to have you call and share your dear heart with me, the one who did so much to crush it as I tried with a callused exterior to keep away any more pain.

If there is one word that seems to describe life it is "suffering." But why? Is suffering the end or the means? If it is the end, then life is full of futility and then we die, but if suffering is the means, then there must be hope.

I, like so many in my family tree, have spent my life trying to fend off suffering by never allowing myself to be close enough to love or to know love. Suffering is made most acute when we are either attacked by or left by someone we love, and one form of leaving is death. It is the worst, for it is so final as far as this world is concerned. So we deal with suffering by never letting ourselves to be touched by love or loving others in return. When my father died, I never cried. Too much pain and disappointment was coming to an end. I had walled my heart off from letting him hurt me again.

Joe, I can see that I have often done this with you and the family. Learn from it. Be honest and vulnerable. Do not hide behind a joking exterior and subtle put- downs. Do not study the scriptures in order to have ammunition to keep those who might wound you away like I have, but rather love. Love until it hurts. Open your heart and let Jesus flow through to those around you. I hope you do not mind me preaching to myself here. I have kept you all, even your mom, so distant over the years.

Let the pain of the past and the present be turned into happiness as you reach out in love to those around you, especially your dear family.

I will love you always and seek to find ways of showing it more each day,

Your Dad

The movie ends with Joy's son Douglas and Lewis hugging and weeping together, getting in touch with the pain of loosing such a wonderfully honest person whom they both loved so much. Finally, they are shown taking a walk together like a father should with his son, in touch, vulnerable… in love.

In final dialogue of the "Shadowlands," Lewis is saying, "I suppose some people would say we love to know we are not alone. But why love if losing it hurts so much? I have no answers anymore, only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I have been given the choice: as a boy… and as a man. The boy chose safety. The man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal."

Article 6: Wilderness: School of the Prophets

You see when one is truly dead to self and alive to Him, there is no offense taken when your word is rejected and no pride generated when it is received. There is only one way that I know that God can work so great a death in an individual and that is through tribulation and wilderness.

Today we see many fledgling prophets trying to set the house of God in order, often creating disorder instead. I spent a couple of years in this category, standing in churches, "warning them" and being rejected. Rejection led to anger, and suppressed anger led to bitterness. Bitterness led to unforgiveness and pride. What started out as a gift given to a lowly believer, turned into the festering, stinking sore of pride. James wrote:

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (James 4:4-6, NKJV)

This is the story of how God dealt with me in His wilderness.

One day in 1980 I was praying and seeking the Lord for direction on what He wanted me to say in my church home meeting, He showed me a vision of myself standing on a pedestal in a white robe with all the people in my home group on their knees around the bottom of the pedestal giving glory to God. As each word of praise went upward to heaven and passed me by, I reached out and grabbed it and tucked it in my robe next to my heart. After seeing this I cried out, "Oh God! Is this what I am doing to you? If it is, then Lord kill it!" The gift in me was releasing praises to God, but in my immaturity and desire to be recognized as valid I had sought to be exalted above others and thereby invalidated the gift He had given me.

You see when one is truly dead to self and alive to Him, there is no offense taken when your word is rejected and no pride generated when it is received. There is only one way that I know that God can work so great a death in an individual and that is through tribulation and wilderness.

Shortly after I prayed that prayer of death, God started answering it. First He asked me, "Michael, if I cease to move by my Spirit in your meetings, will you try to fake it?" I said, "No Lord, you quit and I quit." The next day two of the key families in the group called me and told me that they were not coming to the meetings any more. I blessed them and told them that I thought the Lord was telling me that I was to shut it down. The following meeting I announced to the group that it was the last meeting that we would be coming to, but that they were free to continue without us. They had one more meeting and it died.

Next, the church that I was affiliated with was split by a prophetic holiness cult. As the leaders of this group called me in on the carpet and tried to rein me in and get me under their authority, I refused and came under attack and curses by them. My response was to say to them, "I have had all this fun with you Christians I can stand. I'm out of here! I'm heading for Midian on the back side of the desert. I'll see you in about 40 years!" The leader said a most curious thing, "Michael, it need not take that long."

After that meeting I was mad at the Church and mad at God. The next thing I knew His clear voice, which spoke to me so often, ceased to be heard. The scriptures that had so nourished me seemed dead and dried up. I could not find meaningful fellowship with any other Christians. My prayers seemed to fall off the edge of my lip and hit the floor. I felt so alone and betrayed.

Then the Sabean raiding parties started coming in (Job 1:15). I could not find work anywhere! I had three journeyman licenses in my billfold and was sure that I would always have a "meal ticket," but no way! I had been cut off from my supply. I was too proud to accept unemployment, and we (my family of six) were reduced to gleaning food from muddy farm fields and diving in supermarket dumpsters at night for food. Some days I was so depressed I just laid in bed, curled up in a fetal position.

About this time, my wife was near the end of her rope. She prayed one day, "God this school for prophets is very hard. Why do I have to audit all the classes?" The Lord spoke to her clearly, "You are not auditing the classes. You are a matriculated student." She saw me through my wilderness and now she is in her own wilderness, being purified by God.

Finally when we were just about to get a third month behind on our home mortgage and the banker was about to foreclose, I found work. It was humbling to accept a job opportunity through my Mormon uncle, but it was work. The job was an electrician position on Akutan Island in Alaska's Aleutian chain, a treeless, wind-swept volcanic rock on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Now I was in a literal wilderness as well as a spiritual one, and my family was not allowed to come.

I was cut off, dying inside, missing my family, but most of all missing my Lord. At one point in my tenure on that rock, sitting on my bunk in my depression I watched my consciousness get up out of my body and head for the door as if to say, "I can't stand to live with you anymore, I'm leaving." I cried out to Jesus to please hold me together long enough to get me back home to my family again. He did.

From that point on it was a very slow and gradual ramp up out of that terrible pit, but for the next ten years He kept drawing me to Him with invisible cords, but not enough that I could perceive it. I spent 14 years in all in that spiritual wilderness.

I had a significant encounter with Him in 1990 at a men's' retreat in Idaho. The pastor had another brother and myself stand in the midst of the men and explained to them that God had called us to the prophetic and that He had us in a time of wilderness, asking them to pray for us. The next day I confessed to the men and to God that I had been mad at God for letting Christians attack me and for taking away from me all things that were spiritual for all those years. I confessed that I had sinned by judging God and His church and asked for forgiveness. That started the "big thaw" in my spiritual winter. Things were finally coming back into perspective, "He is God, I'm a sinner," not the other way around.

In 1991 I had my first real Holy Ghost encounter with God in eleven years. I was at a Vineyard conference and His presence came down on me with such intensity that I could hardly breathe. I was back at the Motel between meetings, sitting on the floor in the laundry room between two washing machines reading the book of Jonah. All of a sudden He filled the room! The book of Jonah came alive! Every word was jumping off the page and straight into my heart.

There were more encounters with Him and more testings and trials at the hands of Christians after that, but I kept "short accounts" and had learned to forgive and keep seeking His face in each one. I had determined that I was tired of a diet of, as my friend called it, "roast pastor." I was not accepted with open arms back into church ministries for I still saw things from that prophetic prospective, but I didn't make it my duty to set all of them "right," either.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, "They are blind guides leading the blind. Leave them alone, they will fall into the ditch." Sometimes, the best cure for a disease is to let it run its course. When one is on his back in a ditch, it might just be the first time that he has ever looked up and become humbled enough to seek help! Saul the persecutor of the Church found this out. "All good gifts come DOWN from the Father of lights." God opposes the proud and lifts up the humble.

Well, I said all that to say this... You who are called to be prophets, study the scriptures and see the common thread of wilderness in the lives of God's prophets and invite His mighty humbling hand to prove your heart in His crucible of affliction, that He might truly use you as His purified instrument. Even after this period of wilderness, called by some "the dark night of the soul," I find that He continues to work His death in me as I continue to follow Him and speak His words. As Paul said, "So then death is working in us, but life in you." (2 Corinthians 4:12, NKJV)

The servant is not greater than the Master.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice [came] from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matt. 3:16 to 4:1)

Article 7: The Anti-Christ Spirit

Why does God hate it so when men exalt themselves over His sheep? Because it is modeled after the works of Satan! Multiple eldership is God's model for leadership in both the Old and New Testament. He seeks a multitude of godly councilors who speak His voice to lead his people in each gathering to Jesus.

As we approach the end of the age we are seeing Satan take ever bolder steps to be the "lord of all." He is trying to solidify his stranglehold on all of God's creation and the Church is not exempt.

Most Christians and their leaders are looking across the ocean to see a man called the Antichrist sit himself down on a throne in a new temple to be built in Jerusalem. I maintain that this has already happened in the true temple of God. The antichrist is right in our midst and many of us are totally blind to his presence. Paul the apostle warned the infant Church what to expect of Satan when he wrote,

...who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4, NKJV)

I have one question. Who according to the New Testament is the temple of God? Doesn't the Word say that the Church is God's temple?

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16, NKJV)

Could it be that the antichrist has already found his throne in some of our hearts? According to the apostle John, the antichrist is already setting up house right in the Church.

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:18-19, NKJV)

Just as Tobiah set up house in the temple store rooms in Nehemiah's day (see Neh. 13: 7-9) and thereby displaced the Levitical priesthood of its source of supply, so is this antichrist spirit stealing from God's holy priesthood, the Church, and displacing it today. As John said, "They went out from us... that none of them were of us." When we think of ourselves as being just a little bit better than the rest of the saints, we go out from them in spirit and set ourselves apart.

We need not to be looking for it to happen in Jerusalem. We need to be looking in our own congregations and in our hearts. Let me enlarge on this theme and maybe you, too, will see the antichrist at work in your fellowship.

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

In the Revelation, chapter two, Jesus is hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans and commending the church for doing the same. If Jesus hates something it must really be bad! It is interesting to read today's church commentaries on this subject. Boy, do they sashay around this one!

Names in the Bible are meaningful. When a man or woman of God had a name that didn't describe them as God saw them, God would change that person's name so that it matched how He saw them. For instance, Abram was changed to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon was changed to Peter and Saul to Paul.

For me, the easiest way to find out what that doctrine is when the Bible doesn't outwardly define it, is to simply break down the meaning of the name:

3531 Nikolaites {nik-ol-ah-ee'-tace}

from 3532;; n pr m

Nicolaitan = "destruction of people"

Or more explicitly:

3532 Nikolaos {nik-ol'-ah-os}

from 3534 and 2994;; n pr m

3534 nikos {nee'-kos}

from 3529; TDNT - 4:942,634; n n

1) victory

2) to utterly vanquish

and 2994 which is from:

2992 laos {lah-os'}

apparently a primary word; TDNT - 4:29,499; n m

1) a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language

2) of a great part of the population gathered together anywhere

We get the word "laity" from the Latin form of this word. By the way, according to my dictionary, the meaning of laity: "Those who are members of a church but are not ordained for religious work." So much for the members of Christ being a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9)!

I believe that the doctrine of clergy / laity separation is a doctrine of demons which has demobilized the Church and sapped its power. It is so good to see the saints exercising their priesthood through the internet with web sites and on talk lists, and in house gatherings, encouraging one another to do the work of the ministry. For so long we who are Christ's have been controlled and muzzled by he who has the pulpit.

In other words a Nicolaitan is one who "utterly vanquishes the people who gather together" or "utterly conquers the congregation." Many congregations in America and the "free world" are made up of a beaten down group of people. The one who rules over them is usually the one who can out-argue and intimidate everyone else in the group. And for every one of these conquering church leaders there is a following who desires to have a king over them and in so doing rejects the lordship of Jesus himself. The prophet Samuel wrote of this same situation in His day.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Samuel 8:4-7, NKJV)

Jeremiah wrote of this usurping of God's leading of the congregation in his day by false prophets and false priests.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power, and my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:31, NKJV)

"But what will YOU DO in the end?" If it was like this in Jeremiah's day, how much more true it is in this last hour of the "Church age."

Loving the Preeminence

There is another reference in the New Testament to this tendency which God hates among church leaders. John wrote in his third epistle:

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, wo loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. (3 John 1:9, NKJV)

The word "preeminence" is from the Greek word:

5383 philoproteuo {fil-op-rote-yoo'-o} from a compound of 5384 and 4413; to aspire to preeminence, TO DESIRE TO BE FIRST

This spirit of "me first" has a choke hold on most of the Church today and Jesus still hates it! Pastors are clamoring for control over the people and people are clamoring to gain power and preeminence through their ministries over one another. People are even clamoring for money and power under this false "prosperity doctrine."

When the disciples were vying for preeminence over each other at the last supper, Jesus addressed their sin by showing himself to be of an opposite spirit. He took the position of the lowest slave and washed their feet.

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." (Luke 22:24-27, NKJV)

The Greek word for the phrase "exercise lordship" in verse 25 is:

2961 kurieuo {ko-ree-yoo'-o} 1) to be lord of, to rule, have dominion over 2) of things and forces 2a) to exercise influence upon, TO HAVE POWER OVER

The word translated as "exercise authority" in this verse is:

1850 exousiazo {ex-oo-see-ad'-zo} 1) to have power or authority, use power 1a) to be master of any one, ercise authority over one 1b) to be master of the body 1b1) to have full and entire authority over the body

1b2) to hold the body subject to one's will 1c) to be brought under the power of anyone

When a person uses fleshly, soulish power "to have full and entire authority over the body," Jesus' Church, it is a sin against the Church and against Christ. Yet, this is a common attitude of many in the Church today! God hates it!

The Antichrist Spirit Has Its Roots in Satan Himself

Why does God hate it so when men exalt themselves over His sheep? Because it is modeled after the works of Satan! Multiple eldership is God's model for leadership in both the Old and New Testament. He seeks a multitude of godly councilors who speak His voice to lead his people in each gathering to Jesus. Even the Hebrew Kings, who were a leadership model not of God's doing, had multiple councilors that they listened to and confided in.

I would like you to consider this passage which shows Satan's mode of leadership. It is a real eye opener when used to see how the desire for preeminence operates in our Church gatherings.

Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all shall speak and say to you: "Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you."

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: "Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, WHO DID NOT OPEN THE HOUSE OF HIS PRISONERS?" (Isaiah 14:9-17)

In verse nine above, all of the kings of the earth are excited about Lucifer. He is the one who lords over the people as they do. And in verse ten these kings admit that Lucifer and they are alike! In verse twelve Lucifer is said to be the one who "weakened the nations." The Hebrew word for nations here is "gowy" and it is the counterpart to the Greek "lao" or the people. Lucifer uses preeminent leaders to weaken the people of God as well as the nations.

Is it any wonder that the early Church was admired, feared, and accused of "turning the world upside down" and that today's church is mocked and counted as irrelevant in our society? The early church had multiple godly men and women in each location ministering in the Spirit and multiple elders, but today's modern churches almost always have a tight fisted all controlling "pastor" who controls all ministry and rules over all. And by the way, there is no such thing as a "senior elder" in the Bible.

In verse 13 the phrase "the farthest sides of the north" refers to the utmost reaches of Zion, the true spiritual people of God, the city of God, the New Jerusalem (Ps 48:1,2). The heart of Lucifer is to rule over all of God's people, to "sit on the mount of the congregation," to rule over all of God's holy angels, and to be elevated to the position of God Himself. This is the spirit of antichrist.

Antichrist means not only against Christ, but in the place of Christ. Those who exalt themselves above God's people are operating in the antichrist spirit. Let's look at the meaning of antichrist:

500 antichristos {an-tee'-khris-tos} from 473 and 5547; TDNT - 9:493,1322; n m 1) the adversary of the Messiah

473 anti {an-tee'} 1) over against, opposite to, BEFORE 2) for, instead of, in place of (something)

5547 Christos {khris-tos'} Christ = "anointed" 1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God 2) anointed

Literally antichrist means "against Christ" or "instead of Christ" and "before Christ"... The Antichrist is the king of the "thieves and robbers!"

The Good Shepherd

Jesus warned that "thieves and robbers" would come in among His flock to kill and destroy them. In John 10 He describes himself the "Good Shepherd," who must contend with thieves and robbers in His flock.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

For centuries the church had no seminaries. Men and women who were called into the "five fold" ministries answered the call of Jesus and obeyed, leading others by His Spirit. Today if you "put the money down," you can "climb up some other way" (vs.1), and ply your trade as a thief and a robber and a false shepherd in the flock of God without entering through the Door of the sheep fold, Jesus. I am not saying that everyone who goes to seminary is a "thief and a robber." All I am saying is that you can call yourself, or be called by a man and never have a shepherd's call from Jesus on your life. Men who become ministers in the Church without God raising them up, do great damage to the flock of Christ by placing themselves before (in preeminence) Him.

The Greek word translated "before" in verse eight of John ten is "pro". It can mean "before" chronologically or "before" positionally (See Acts 5:23). I was told once in a Sunday school class that Jesus is saying, here in John ten, that every Old Testament person whether good king or bad, every false prophet or true, all the patriarchs of Israel, Moses, Noah, Enoch and all of the righteous ones were thieves and robber because they were ministering before Jesus came. What rubbish!

In this verse the word "ever" was added by the translators and the word "came" is "come" in the original. It more correctly should read, "All who come before me are thieves and robbers." When a minister uses his gift to place himself in preeminence over the people, instead of connecting the people directly to Jesus, he is stealing attention to himself and away from Jesus and puts himself before Christ. Just like the satanic model, he has become a thief and a robber. As Paul told Timothy, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5, NKJV)

This displacing of Jesus can happen to a church leader unwittingly. As one brother who was a pastor recently wrote:

"I have seen so many well meaning pastors, elders and counselors who are so eager to tell, or give, people the answers to their questions and problems. Even when they are doing a very good job, giving Godly counsel, the result can be making the person dependent on them for help, instead of Jesus. It is harder, but necessary, to train the person to "look to Jesus". Of course, a pastor humble enough to do that, probably wouldn't gather much of a following."

Yes, he wouldn't "gather much of a following" to himself, but might be very instrumental in gathering a following to Jesus. I have always liked a story that Watchman Nee of China told about one of his new converts and the man's wife:

"Late one summer I stayed at a hill resort in the home of a mechanic and his wife, both of whom it was my joy to lead to a simple faith in the Savior. When the time came for me to return to Shanghai, I left with them a Bible.

"During the winter the man was in the habit of taking alcohol with his meals, sometimes to excess. Soon, with the return of the cold weather, the wine reappeared on the table, and, as had now become his custom, he bowed his head to give thanks for the meal. But today no words would come! After one or two vain attempts he turned to his wife. "What is wrong?" he asked. "Why can not we pray today?" The wife took the Bible, but turned the pages in vain, seeking light on the subject. They could find no explanation, and I was far away. "Just drink your wine," she said; but no, he knew he must give thanks, and could not. "Take it away," he exclaimed at length; and then together they asked a blessing on the meal.

"When eventually the man was able to visit Shanghai he told me the story. Using and expression familiar in Chinese: "Brother Nee," he said, "Resident Boss wouldn't let me have that drink!" "Very good," I replied. "You always listen to Resident Boss!"

(Nee, Watchman. "A Table in the Wilderness." Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,1978. pp February 29 [a daily devotional]).

If we are truly born from above, we have the "Resident Boss" living inside us and we do not need the religious legal system to keep us in check. He draws us to do what is right with cords of love, not with a straight jacket of legalism. The apostle John wrote, "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth (I John 2:20)."

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27, NKJV).

Back in John chapter 10, Jesus goes on to warn us of the difference between His leadership and that of the hireling.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (John 10:9-15, NKJV)

With today's money driven ministries in the church, "If you wanna play, you gotta pay!" "Buy my tapes!" "Buy my books." Many of these ministries will not tend to or feed the sheep unless you pay them a salary. More and more charges are being levied at the door for "special meetings" and conferences. Many of these ministries must have money up front or they won't perform. If their salary is decreased or, God forbid [I jest!], taken away, they are gone off to greener pastures. When the wolf is at the door, the hireling scatters!

When the wolf is at the door of a sheep in today's Americanized churches, too bad! You can hardly pry a nickel out of their hands to help out a poor sheep in his financial need! It is far different in this day when the money goes into the leaders pocket and pockets of the bankers who hold the paper on the church building, instead of being laid at their feet and made easily accessible for all who are in need (See Acts 4:34,35). But that is another subject.

One other thing, in verse nine above. Notice that Jesus not only lets them come into the sheep fold, but they are free to come in and go out to find pasture. I have heard church leaders warn that if you go to anywhere other than their church, you will not be safe! A sheep fold is not where sheep eat. It is a barren protected defensive type of place where they sleep at night. The good shepherd does not exercise control over them, but lets them "come in and go out" to find pasture, and only Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Well, I have much more I could write on where it's not. But I would rather encourage the Body of Christ to seek to edify one another through the working in their lives of the Holy Spirit. And if you must lead, lead the flock to Jesus with an open hand and do not take any glory to yourself that would draw their attention away from the One who paid the price to be their Shepherd. As Jesus warned,

When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, "Give place to this man," and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, "Friend, go up higher." Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11, NKJV)

Like the Greek seekers told the disciple, "Sir, we would see Jesus!" (John 12:21). May we all seek Him and accept no other substitutes.

Article 8: Are We Settled on Our Lees?

Often we would rather "hear" a tradition that emerges from the last outpouring, stay in that container from that point on, and just settle in on our lees. We hear the wrong thing. We should be hearing the Spirit of Jesus. We, like Moab, refuse to be poured from vessel to vessel. We refuse to go into the captivity and trials that come with the new vessel. As a result, we will never be purified for the Master's table.

Recently we were asked about the wine making process and the verse in Jeremiah that refers to wine being poured from one container to another. God in His word had a controversy with Moab because it had "settled on (its) lees."

Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. (Jeremiah 48:11-12, KJV)

Grape juice that is not preserved will readily ferment. This is caused by yeast. Different areas of the world have different forms of yeast that are peculiar to that area. These different types of yeast can give a taste to the wine that is not due entirely to the type of grape used. Sometimes this is desirable. The yeast and the wine are named for the wine growing areas such as Burgundy or Bordeaux in France where they are found.

There is another form of yeast common worldwide that is not desirable to the wine maker. It is called the mother of vinegar. If this yeast gets in the wine, you will end up with wine vinegar.

Yeast, therefore, is a type of the acting of the trials of God on the crushed grapes our hearts. The same trial can make one Christian bitter and the other a fine wine that is to be set before the King. We decide the outcome in our hearts by the way we react to the testing of God sent to refine us for His purposes. A winemaker must constantly be on guard against the mother of vinegar, and take precautions so it doesn't get in the grape juice as the good yeast is added.

In modern wine making they use something called a trap that allows the wine to breath as the yeast is working. This trap contains a liquid poison in it that the air and CO2 must pass through. This kills the foreign yeast and prevents the wine from turning into vinegar. The fruit as well as the bottles must be sterilized to avoid this problem.

In the days of the Bible, they did not have this technology, so they used a fresh animal skin (Note: The requirement for the shedding of blood is even found here.) to put the curing grape juice in and sealed it. The elasticity of the new skin allowed it to expand and contract as the fermentation process went on inside, sealing the wine away from the possible contaminants in the atmosphere. This skin could only be used for this purpose once, and then it had to be discarded because it lost its elasticity. So you now see why Jesus warned us against trying to pour His new wine into the previously used container that He once honored.

As wine yeast eats the grape sugar and it secretes CO2 and ethyl alcohol, turning the grape juice into wine. If the yeast dies before all the sugar is consumed it will be a sweet wine, if not it will be a "dry" wine. If the wine is bottled before the process is complete, it will be a carbonated or sparkling wine with the CO2 captured in the liquid.

There is an undesirable byproduct caused both by the sediment that is in the grape juice that the yeast could not eat and the dead yeast bodies. This sediment is called dregs or lees. The alcohol secreted by the yeast eventually kills the yeast as the alcohol becomes too concentrated for the yeast to survive. These dead yeast bodies settle to the bottom with the other sediment. The wine maker must then pour the new wine off of the lees without stirring them up from the bottom. They either siphon or pour the wine into clean sterilized bottles. This has to be done a number of times to capture all the lees and make sure none are left in the wine. Cheap wines often have lees in the bottom of the bottles.

It is important to get rid of the lees because they will make the one who drinks them very sick. The wine will also be clouded and opaque. Dregs are not to be allowed in fine wines. God is very particular about His wine. He is always pouring off His people from one container to another to purify them and make them transparent and pure. We often get quite settled in and are content to have a few dead lees in our containers rather than be disturbed by the purification process that God knows we need to be ready for the wedding feast of the Lamb.

There is a story in the Gospels where God shows up with Elijah and Moses giving honor to Jesus. I find that our reaction to the Spirit's visitations is like that of Peter who said, "Lord it is good that we are here. Let us build three tabernacles..." In other words, "Let us just settle down and soak up the blessing. We have arrived, why go any further?" God always has the same reply, "This is my Beloved Son, hear HIM!" When we make a religion of Moses (law) and Elijah (prophesy), we cannot hear what he Son has to say to the Church TODAY. When we cling to the old workings of God, refusing to flow with the current move of God, we displease Him. God never nullifies the previous move of the Spirit and revelation given to the Church, but rather He adds to it. He purifies the wine as He pours it into its new container.

I am familiar with what is called the House Church Movement. In fact, I prefer meeting in a home with a group of spiritually hungry saints as a family over meeting in a large, impersonal, institutional building as do some. But, there are some who tend to be focused on the book of Acts and the way the early Church met in homes. There is a mindset that if we just meet in homes and do what the early Church did in Acts, we will capture the power and the life that they once had. I say, that this thinking is just as faulty as for today's Pentecostal Churches to focus on the Azusa Street outpouring, or the Methodists to focus on the Wesleyan Revival and make a denomination out of these. God is still saying the same thing, "Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit IS saying to the Churches." "The IS My Beloved Son...Hear Him."

We need to ask God to break us loose from our old wineskins and pour us out into His vessels of honor, making us ready for the Son. The Church, like Moab, has settled on it lees.

Often we would rather "hear" a tradition that emerges from the last outpouring, stay in that container from that point on, and just settle in on our lees. We hear the wrong thing. We should be hearing the Spirit of Jesus. We, like Moab, refuse to be poured from vessel to vessel. We refuse to go into the captivity and trials that come with the new vessel. As a result, we will never be purified for the Master's table. We, like Moab, are at ease from our youth, refusing to grow up. We sit in our churches from Sunday to Sunday, never changing, never learning the deeper truths of the way of the cross, never going beyond the need for milk. The taste and smell of dead yeast remains in us.

God is an iconoclast. He pulls down our icons. He would rather we were fluid, willing to leave our old bottles at His command, but now we are forcing Him to "break our bottles and empty our vessels." The day of judgment has come to the Church.

The prophet Micah wrote:

Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2, NKJV)

Oh saints of God, forsake that "old wineskin" way of thinking and allow the Spirit of God to speak into your hearts His heart's desire for you. May we leave our "nations," our denomi-NATION-al thinking, and go UP to the mountain of God, the house of the Lord, and let HIM teach us of HIS ways that we might walk in HIS paths. May we hear the voice of the Lord coming down out of the New Jerusalem saying, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM!"

Article 9: Defending Our Wineskins

To some, it is more important to keep the traditions of men than obey the Holy Spirit as He directs the Church today both directly into our hearts and through His prophets. ...These who hold to their traditions will not see any rejuvenating from the Lord until they "let go and let God."

Thank you for your responses to my teaching, "Are We Settling on Our Lees?"

As some of you suspected, there is no scriptural basis for reusing old wineskins. One brother tried to use the parable of the good Samaritan where the Samaritan poured in oil and wine into the man's wounds to heal him, to say that an old wineskin can be made reusable by doing the same.

There is a big difference in the intent of these two parables. In Matthew chapter nine and Mark two where it speaks about the new wine and old wineskins, Jesus was responding to those who clung to following John the Baptist and to the followers of the Pharisees. He referred to their devotion to these teachings as "old wine skins." As I said in my article, God doesn't rejuvenate the old systems of men, He makes all things new.

Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:9, NKJV). (See also Isaiah 43:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Revelation 21:5)

Men cling to their traditions and in so doing make void and of no effect the commandments of God: what the Spirit IS saying to the Church currently. This they do to their own downfall.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus is answering a legalistic Jew who asked Him, "Who is my neighbor?" to Jesus' statement "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus was here referring to a poor soul in need, the one fallen by the wayside who was being passed by the self-righteous Jews who didn't want to defile themselves with the blood of the man who had been beaten up (Of course, their traditions told them to avoid human blood).

In the first instance (wineskins), Jesus is dealing with the fixed and inflexible institutions of men. In the second (the good Samaritan) He is dealing with the hearts of men and our need to show mercy to our fellow man.

Answer me this. If an old wineskin can be refurbished and made elastic and used again for new wine, doesn't that make Jesus a liar? I think that some of us are so bound to our traditions that we will make our institutions "true" at all cost even if we have to make God a liar (See Rom. 3:3-4). Also if the wineskin can be reused as some suggest, then how do you un-shrink a piece of old cloth so that you can patch it with a new piece? I am sorry, but it is this kind of thinking that Jesus was talking about when he warned the Pharisees, "[You are] making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." (Mark 7:13, NKJV).

To some, it is more important to keep the traditions of men than obey the Holy Spirit as He directs the Church today both directly into our hearts and through His prophets. These are they of whom Jesus spoke in chapter 23 of Matthew. (Comments in brackets added by me.)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous.

[You make an institution out of ministries of the Spirit sent unto you.]

and say, `If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'

[You are blind to your own self-righteousness as you cling to your traditions.]

Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' [guilt]. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: [some] of them you will kill and crucify, and [some] of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."

[Can you see that it is THIS generation that is being judged as it rejects the leading of the Spirit today? God is still sending prophets to speak to the Church and guess what the result will be?]

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.

[These "hallowed institutions" of men that were built over the bones of the prophets of the past will be destroyed and left in desolation.]

For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, `Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the LORD!'" (Matt. 23:29-39)

Those who hold to their traditions will not see any rejuvenating from the Lord until they "let go and let God." They will not see Him again, until they say, "BLESSED IS HE, THE PROPHET WHO COMES IN THE NAME AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WITH GOD'S WORD FOR THIS HOUR!"

Those who are like the wind and follow the Spirit wherever He blows WILL see Him, again and again.

Blessings on you as you seek HIM!

Article 10: Feet of Iron and Clay

For some time we have been hearing the Lord speak to us about the significance of Daniel 2:35 regarding the times we live in. We feel that we are in the final days of the kingdom symbolized by the mixture of clay and iron. We also feel that the Lord is showing us another mixture spoken of in Revelation chapters 17 and 18 that is symbolic of that same political alliance which is about to be taken down.

In this passage in Daniel two, as most of you know, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a dream that he knew was very significant. He also was suspicious of all the "wise" men of Babylon and their ability to interpret the dream. So he sent out a decree that the person who would come to him and first tell him his dream and then interpret it would receive a great reward, while the wise men who could not do so would be killed. Daniel and at least three other Hebrew captives were some of the wise men whose necks were on the line. Daniel prayed and God told him the dream and the interpretation which he then gave to the king, saving not only his own life but the lives of all the wise men of Babylon. Here is what the Lord showed him, a prophesy that is applicable down to this very day.

You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:31-35, NKJV).

This is the interpretation given by Daniel.

This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all--you are this head of gold. But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. (Daniel 2:36-45, NKJV).

Most Bible scholars agree that the head of gold was the Babylonian empire of Daniel's day and that the chest and arms of silver were the Medo-Persian Empire that followed. Then came the belly and thighs of bronze, the Greek empire of Alexander the Great and his generals who took over after his death. After that came the legs of iron, the world rule of Rome. Now notice that the feet are made of iron and clay. This is a weak joining of two very dissimilar materials that are not as strong as the iron legs. In fact, for iron to have strength it must be purified in the fires of a foundry. It can be made stronger by adding alloys of other metals, but clay is never used in these alloys. Clay has nothing in common with metal. Although the strength of the iron was found in the feet, because the clay was also present in the mixture, the feet were the weak point in the image.

So we see, then, that the image becomes weaker and worth less as it goes downward from the head until it is completely worthless. Clay by itself has a value for use in pottery, as iron does for tools, but mixed together they are of no value. Yet this mixture depicts the final kingdom of man. We think that the Lord has shown us what this kingdom is.

It is interesting that in the building of the sacrificial altar and the temple in the Old Testament, iron tools were forbidden.

. . .as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool." And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. (Joshua 8:31, NKJV).

And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7, NKJV).

It seems that God does not have a high opinion of iron when it comes to the work of His kingdom. So what does the Bible have to say about clay?

Sons of Clay

About fifty years before the time of Daniel, in Jerusalem Isaiah prophesied.

Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD, have created it. Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, `What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to his father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to the woman, 'What have you brought forth?'"

Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me." (Isaiah 45:8-11, NKJV).

Here, God speaking through Isaiah is using a potter working with clay as an example of the Lord's work of shaping sons of God for Himself. Paul wrote of God's divine working to bring forth His sons.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30, NKJV).

Isaiah continues this theme.

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. Do not be furious, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look--we all are Your people! (Isaiah 64:6-9, NKJV).

Again Paul writes:

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen (clay) vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:5-7, NKJV).

See also Jeremiah 18:2-6 and Lamentations 4:1-2.

It is God in His sovereignty who shapes us. We are not formed by a harsh iron tool that forces its will upon us but by the gentle hands of the Master Potter as He forms vessels ready for His table.

It is also interesting that before clay is useful as pottery, it must be fired to a very high temperature after it is formed. The three Hebrew children were fired in a Babylonian "kiln," as told in Daniel.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?"

They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

"Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:19-25, NKJV).

The firings of God are not pleasant, but they are necessary to bring us forth in the image of His Son. Consider these verses in regards to the purifying work of God with His sons in the fire.

The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. (Psalms 12:6, NKJV).

If Jesus then is the Word of God, could it be that God's sons are the purified "words" of God? The prophet Malachi was onto this when he wrote:

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 launderer's 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. (Malachi 3:2-3, NKJV).

A Strange Mixture

Now, back to the image with the feet of iron and clay. Here we see that this mixture symbolizes the final worldwide kingdom of man. If the clay symbolizes God's people and the iron legs of the image symbolizes the Roman Empire, then what is this mixture of the Roman Empire and the people of God? I believe it is what started out as the head of the image, mystery Babylon.

The first record of man in collective rebellion against God was at the tower of Babel, located at the sight of ancient Babylon and the modern Iraq. The final record of the collective rebellion of man against God is found in Revelation chapters 17 to 19. Here it is symbolized by a woman, a harlot, called Babylon the Great or Mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots, who rides on a great beast with many heads. Here are the harlot's attributes:

1. She sits in dominion over multitudes of people: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."

2. She seduces the rulers of the earth and intoxicates the people of the earth with the wine of her fornication: "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

3. She lives in opulence: " The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup"

4. She is the mother of harlots and abominations: "And on her forehead a name [was] written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

5. In her cup is the blood of the saints of God: "I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus."

6. She sits on a beast with seven heads which are seven mountains: "Here [is] the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." (It is said that the city of Rome sits on seven hills.)

7. The beast on which she rides makes war on Jesus and the saints of God. "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those [who are] with Him [are] called, chosen, and faithful."

8. The scarlet woman's days are numbered, "And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen."

9. And she is filled with demons before her final fall: "...and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!'"

10. She is known for her wealth, luxurious living and merchandizing: "the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

11. And God's people are found inside of her! "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

So dear saints, you see there is a mixture in this image seen by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and that mixture is of Roman imperial authority with its corruption and the Church of Jesus Christ, the ekklesia of God.

With just a cursory study of Church history and a look around you, you will see that each of these eleven attributes mentioned above are alive and well in the visible Church as we know it. The Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire in 312 AD, forcing the clay and iron together. He then set about to change the Church from Jesus' bride into a woman who willingly sleeps with every despot who rules the nations of the world. The last kingdom of iron and clay is the apostate Church born in Rome, not Jerusalem. If you want further proof, compare the Church written about in the Book of Acts with the visible Church of today.

Least you think that all religious corruption is found only in the ROMAN Catholic Church, this Great whore is also called "the mother of harlots." If she is the mother it should be obvious who her children are. As "Protestants," we know about the abuses of the Catholic Church through the crusades and inquisitions that killed thousands of Jews, Muslims and saints of God. But are you aware just how many murders and thefts are a direct result of the acts and writings of the "hallowed" Martin Luther and John Calvin? If you want an eye opener read Luther's "The Jews and their Lies," in which he draws the blueprint for the holocaust followed by Hitler four hundred years later. John Calvin oversaw the murder of Michael Servitus, a supposed heretic who was burned at the stake. Calvin was also behind the death of his own daughter-in-law and step son. He was responsible for the burning alive of fourteen so called "witches." This was his justification, "When the Catholics are so harsh and violent in their defense of their superstitions, are not Christ's magistrates shamed to do less in defense of the truth"? We are talking about the founders of modern Protestantism here! Like mother, like daughter.

No doubt these men started out with all sincerity to serve the Lord, but as they found power in their alliances with the governments of men, they were seduced by that power to carry out their will by force. There is no such thing as a "holy war." When clay mixes with iron all manner of perversion and atrocity is the result.

Many more saints were imprisoned and killed by the Church of England as heretics. The religious persecution of would be reformers by the state churches in Europe was so bad that many believers escaped to the shores of the new world and formed the original settlements in what is now the US and Canada.

Whenever religious men make league with the governments of men they lose sight of the eternal kingdom of God and fall into the hands of the Prince of this world, who gladly gives these men his kingdoms for a price. Satan even tried this ploy on Jesus!

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:8-9, NKJV).

The City that Has Foundations vs. the Cities of Men

It was our Savior who said it so well at His trial, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

Of the father of faith, faithful Abraham, the writer of Hebrews testified:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God . . .These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:8-13, NKJV).

Those who walk by faith, just as Abraham did, seek not a city made with brick and slime here among the kingdoms of men, but they seek a "city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." As long as they see it as a city "afar off," a kingdom that comes "without observation," they are on the right track. God never had a plan in which mere man would be the founder or foundation of His eternal city and government. He has only One foundation on which His city is to be built, that stone not cut with the hands of men, His son, Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote so vividly.

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NKJV).

Dear saints, we believe the Day that will declare men's works in the fires of God is upon us. We believe that God's Foundation Stone, Jesus Christ, is about to collide with everything that has been founded on men from the foundations of the world whether it is called "Christian" or otherwise.

There is a plague coming upon this counterfeit bride which rides the back of the Beast. Not only will the Beast system of the governments of men turn on her, but that Perfect Stone which falls upon the feet of the image will destroy her and the Beast governments of the world along with their "new world order."

Jesus prophesied of the Chief Cornerstone falling destroying the kingdoms of men in a parable when He said,

Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.'But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!"

Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." (Luke 20:9-18, NKJV).

It is amazing when you compare Jesus' words with Daniel 2:35.

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35, NKJV).

Again Isaiah spoke of these things when he wrote:

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem (the bride [see Revelation 21:2]), Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves." (See Revelation 18:7). Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. (Isaiah 28:14-16, NKJV).

Peter took up this passage when he wrote to the Church:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light [enlightening]. (1 Peter 2:4-9, NKJV).

The Enlightenment

Just before the angel of the Lord calls out to His people to come out of the whore (Rev. 18:4), another angel descends to the earth from heaven.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (Revelation 18:1, KJV).

The word translated lightened in this verse is the Greek word photizo {fo-tid'-zo}. It means: to give light, to shine, to enlighten, light up, illumine, to bring to light, render evident, to cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all, to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge, to instruct, to inform, teach, to give understanding to.

As you can see, this is no ordinary 60-watt bulb that burns out fifteen minutes after you bring it home from the supermarket. This angel of God is sent to prepare the way, illuminate and enlighten the minds of the saints of God so they can be ready to heed the call to come out of this false bride, the Great Whore, unto the Son.

We are greatly encouraged by the amount of mail we get from saints who are already coming out of man-made institutional church systems. They all speak of the marvelous freedom they are finding in Christ now that they are free of these man made kingdoms. Often the ones set free are pastors!

All is not lost, dear saints. Just as God did not call the Children of Israel out of Egypt to make a kingdom in the wilderness, but to go all the way into the promised land as, neither is He going to leave His people who come out of "her" standing in barren wilderness (see Rev. 17:3). Jesus gets the final word.

Yes, dear saints of God, the end of the image in Daniel 2 is also the demise of the counterfeit bride, that mixture of Rome that has controlled Christ's Church. It is the end of the kingdoms of the world and the rebellion of man against God (see 1 Samuel 8:6&7), and the beginning of the reign of Jesus with His saints. "And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

The apostle John was speaking of this when he wrote:

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:15-18, NKJV).

Don't be afraid. All the virgins have ample time to buy oil for themselves. Not all will, but those who receive the love of the Truth will be saved. Those who have a vested interest in the lie, refusing to let go of it, will be cursed (see 2 Thessalonians 2). It is up to each of us to trim our lamps, cutting away the old burnt wick that inhibits the light in each of us. It is in this enlightenment that we go forth to meet Him in this darkest hour.

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. (1 John 3:2, NKJV).

Rejoice!

Article 11: The Law and the Church

Any time that you get into a discussion about the Old Testament law, as a Christian you must first answer one question and one question only, "Did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets of not?" Or let me put it this way, "Was His sacrifice for us perfect or not?" Let's let the Son of God tell us the answer. Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17, NKJV).

The Greek word kataluo {kat-al-oo'-o} in this verse was translated destroy. It means to dissolve, disunite, to destroy, demolish, metaphorically: to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success, bring to naught, to subvert, or overthrow.

The word fulfill was translated from pleroo {play-ro'-o}. It means to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to render full, i.e. to complete, to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting, full measure, fill to the brim, to make complete in every particular, to render perfect, to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out (some undertaking), of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, or accomplish. Jesus said that His life and sacrifice on the cross fulfilled, fully completed, and accomplished the demands of the law and the prophets. That is why he could say with His dying breath,"It is finished."

Paul writing to the Romans said,

Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or [is He] the God of the Jews only? [Is He] not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since [there is] one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law (through faith). (Romans 3:27-31).

Don't you see it, saints? Through faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you fulfill the whole law! "For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4). Jesus made an end to all the righteous demands of the law through His perfect sacrifice. Break off that enchantment of keeping the law that has held you captive!

Again in the book of Romans Paul said,

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4, NKJV).

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4,5).

This word redeem is exagorazo {ex-ag-or-ad'-zo}. According to James Strong, the writer of the famous analytical concordance, exagorazo means "to redeem by payment of a price, to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off, metaphorically of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of his vicarious death."

The Apostle Paul wrote in chapter two of the letter to the Galatians,

I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"

He continued in chapter three saying:

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "the man who does these things will live by them.". . .So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, [laity or clergy], male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [bracketed phrases added]

The Showdown at Jerusalem

The early church fathers never taught tithing or many of the rules either written or implied in our churches today. They believed in the power of a changed life with its new heart to lead the believer into all righteousness. And they also believed that God would supply their every need from His riches in glory.

Paul had to confront certain Jewish members of the church for trying to get the Gentile believers to start keeping the law. He finally had a show-down with them in Jerusalem and the outcome of it was the following decree. "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well" (Acts 15: 28-29).

Wouldn't this have been an excellent time to lay down the law about New Testament tithing? If this was a legal decree coming down from the rulers of today's Churches and denominations, it would be at the top of the list!

These are the four Gentile Church Commandments that the apostles agreed on:

I. Thou shalt not eat meat offered to idols.

II. Thou shalt not eat blood.

III. Thou shalt not eat meat from things strangled.

IV. Thou shalt not fornicate.

I can handle that, can't you? All four are good for your physical and spiritual health.

Many of us after coming to Jesus were made aware of certain things that would be expected of us by the clergy (and other do-gooders) now that we were "free" in Jesus. Your list of do's and don'ts might have been similar to this:

1.) As a Christian you must give 10% of your gross income to the local church.

2.) You must not smoke or chew (or go out with girls that do).

3.) You must pray and read your Bible every day.

4.) You must not do drugs or drink alcohol.

5.) You must be baptized.

6.) You must go to our church every Sunday, morning and evening, and Wednesday nights would be good too.

7.) You must submit to the covering of our pastor.

8.) You must get your hair cut.

9.) You must not date unsaved men or women.

10.) You must be careful of the movies you watch.

11.) You must not dance.

12.) You must not see your friends at the tavern any more.

13.) Keep your knees together!

Et infinauseum!

Now, aren't you feeling free already?

Jesus came to set men free of the burden of sin and the law. He rose up in the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (Luke 4:18,19)

God has sent Jesus to break EVERY yoke and relieve EVERY burden, especially the ones placed on the shoulders of the believer by men who should know better. Isaiah also prophesied:

Is not this the kind of fasting that I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:6,7)

The Law of the Spirit

Don't people have faith in the ability of the Holy Spirit to lead, teach, and keep His people in the power of a changed life and to convict them of sin where necessary? To listen to the teachers in the Church today, you would not think so. Jesus promised to send us help in our walk with God.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26) [Also read I John 2:20 and 27]

When we, as well meaning Christians, set out to help the Holy Spirit by giving our young charges in the Lord a set of rules to keep them on the straight and narrow, we often cause more damage than good. I remember what a thrill it was to hear a young Christian tell me how depressing it was for him to try a marijuana cigarette again after he got saved. "I felt the peace leaving me and it was really a downer," he said. He had found out for himself how the Spirit could lead him into walking in truth.

Paul warned the foolish Galatian church, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

In a daily devotional titled A Table in the Wilderness composed of teaching by Watchman Nee, I read the following story that illustrates the point:

February 29

I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. ( Ezekiel 36:27)

Late one summer I stayed at a hill resort in the home of a mechanic and his wife, both of whom it was my joy to lead to a simple faith in the Savior. When the time came for me to return to Shanghai, I left with them a Bible.

During the winter the man was in the habit of taking alcohol with his meals, sometimes to excess. Soon, with the return of the cold weather, the wine reappeared on the table, and, as had now become his custom, he bowed his head to give thanks for the meal. But today no words would come! After one or two vain attempts he turned to his wife. "What is wrong?" he asked. "Why can not we pray today?" The wife took the Bible, but turned the pages in vain, seeking light on the subject. They could find no explanation, and I was far away. "Just drink your wine," she said; but no, he knew he must give thanks, and could not. "Take it away," he exclaimed at length; and then together they asked a blessing on the meal.

When eventually the man was able to visit Shanghai he told me the story. Using and expression familiar in Chinese: "Brother Nee," he said,"Resident Boss wouldn’t let me have that drink!" "Very good," I replied. "You always listen to Resident Boss!"

If we are truly born from above, we have a "resident boss" living inside us and we do not need the religious legal system to keep us in check. He draws us to do what is right with cords of love, not a straight jacket of legalism. "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth" (I John 2:20).

Remember Paul's words saints, "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-- not of the letter (of the law) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6).

The Law of the Tithe

I have always found it interesting how certain church teachers have selected certain portions of the Jewish law to carry over into this new and living covenant of faith in Jesus Christ, then force the Gentile church to follow these Jewish laws and customs which our so called "leaders" pick and choose for their own convenience and well being and for the survival of their man made institutions.

The doctrine of tithing is such an example. It is clearly an old covenant law:

You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry [the tithe, or] if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, then you shall exchange [it] for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. (Deuteronomy 14:22-29).

When a man forces this law on the people to insure for himself a steady income or salary, he puts himself and his church under a curse, not a blessing. He also ceases to live by faith. Paul is teaching here that you can't pick and choose when it comes to the law. As we saw from Galatians chapter three, if you follow the smallest portion of it you must keep "everything written in the Book of the Law" perfectly.

In Galatians chapter five Paul continues this theme.

Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. . .For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

When you try to build a strong argument for legalistic tithing from the New Testament, you are really hard pressed to find any scriptural backing. It is interesting that a practice so heavily taught today in churches is barely mentioned by the New Covenant writers.

They only mentioned the practice of tithing in four places:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23, NIV).

Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. (Luke 11:42, NIV).

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14, NIV).

Just think how great he (Melchizedek) was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he (Melchizedek) collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. (Hebrews 7:4-10).

In the first two passages, Jesus is chastising the self-righteous Pharisees for tithing, while at same time leaving what matters most undone like justice, love (mercy), and faithfulness. He seems to be saying that they should not have left justice, mercy and love undone in favor of their tithing. Jesus is blasting the Pharisee who stood before God boasting of his regular tithing on the one hand, while He commended the hated tax collector for approaching the altar in humility and getting the forgiveness that he asked for. Wouldn't this have been an excellent chance for Jesus to make it clear how important it is for His church to tithe? Instead, He stresses the importance of showing mercy, doing justice, and walking humbly before God (Micah 6:8).

In the Hebrews passage the author is showing us that Jesus was not of the Levitical priesthood, but of a higher order of authority by comparing him to the mysterious prince and priest of Salem (now called Jerusalem), Melchizedek. Abraham gave Him ten percent of his spoils of war after rescuing his nephew, Lot, from some heathen kings. Here once again Jesus in the form of Melchizedek fulfilled the law of the tithe with the help of Abraham, the man of faith.

For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope (Jesus) did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (Hebrews 7:17-19, KJV).

It amazes me that throughout the entire New Testament, neither Jesus nor the Apostles stressed how important that it is that the Gentiles should tithe to their Churches, yet, today it is one of the most repeated teachings coming from our pulpits. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "The lady doth protest to much, methinks."

Look at the contrast of Paul's heart concerning taking from the Church.

I will not be burdensome to you for I seek not what is yours, but you, for the children ought not save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will gladly spend and be spent for you.(2 Corinthians 12:14,15).

Now you are probably saying, "If this is so, how are we going to support all our buildings and pastoral staffs?" The New Testament church didn't see this as a problem. Those who were doing the work of ministry were walking by faith. These men and women trusted God to meet their needs and often worked to support themselves and others. These believers practiced giving to the poor and the needy (See Acts 2:44-45, 4:32; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17-18), and were encouraged to support the ministries feeding them (see 1 Corinthians. 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18). They often gave their whole fortunes, not just ten percent, because of the overwhelming love of God for the lost, the needy and His ministers. But there were no salaries and no buildings to support, just hearts that supplied the needs of all in need out of love.

Temple Worship

Does the New Testament command us to build buildings in which to worship or even give us such an example? Search the book for yourself. It's not there! Jesus made it pretty clear that day to a Samaritan woman who asked Him where she should worship.

The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem (the temple) is the place where one ought to worship."

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem (the temple), worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:19-24, NKJV).

Steven seems to have summed it all up with his last words before the Jewish religious leaders killed him:

But Solomon built Him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: "Heaven [is] My throne, And earth [is] My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what [is] the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?"

[You] stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers [did], so [do] you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept [it]. (Acts 7:47-53).

No wonder they stoned Steven to death. He showed the Jewish rulers that God had done away with their whole power base and had established a new order leaving them out in the cold with their legalistic self-righteousness.

There were no salaries or buildings to support in the early church. That all came much later with the decline of the church. The first church building that needed to be supported didn't come until around 225 AD. (according to archeologists), after the apostolic visionaries were dead and gone, but it didn't really become vogue until the advent of Constantinian Christianity in about 325 AD. It is not clear when legalistic tithing was reinstated, but it probably came in around 600 AD. with the rise in power of the Catholic church with its priesthood and cathedrals. I'm sorry folks, but salaried staff and church buildings are a hang over from the Dark Ages.

The Spirit is showing us the importance of gathering in homes for support and ministry in small groups so every person has a chance to minister to the rest and give testimony of what God is doing in his life. There is nothing wrong with God's people having larger gatherings in commercial buildings for the purpose of worship and praise to Jesus. This is often very edifying. There are large meeting halls and parks in almost every city and town that can be used or rented for this purpose.

Something is dreadfully wrong with the leadership of the Church when we give God's precious resources to a rich banking system in exorbitant interest payments so we can have a place to worship! Just think how many more of God's people could be supported in the work of the gospel with the money that is now given to this Beast system. This wasteful symbiosis sounds to me like the Whore who rides the Beast in Revelation 17 and 18, and not the Bride of Christ.

If God moves people to give for the purpose of putting up a humble meeting hall, fine. Let it be built without the waste of usury (which God condemns in the Old Testament). Even in the old covenant the tithe was never used for buildings. The temple was built from gifts and offerings. The tithe was for widows, orphans, the homeless and destitute, and the support of the priesthood (Deuteronomy 14:27-29). The spirit of this law was evident in the Book of Acts when all gave from their abundance and no one was lacking. I believe the time is coming when we will be forced to meet in homes because of persecution and oppressive taxation on the church.

The Storehouse

Consider this. You have heard it taught that we are supposed to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" ( Malachi 3:10)? Well, where was this Old Testament "storehouse" to where the tithe was to be brought? In Nehemiah 10:38 it says that the storehouse for the tithe was the house of God. Great! So the Church is being taught that its members are supposed to take 10 percent of their income and put it in the collection plate on Sunday, right? The only problem with this line of thinking is, where is the temple of God according to the New Covenant?

It was this very argument that got Steven put to death by the Jewish leaders. He hit them right where it hurt. . .in the pocket book!

However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: "Heaven [is] My throne, And earth [is] My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what [is] the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?" (Acts 7:48-50)

If the temple of God isn't made with the hands of men, then where is His house? The answer is in Ephesians 2:19-22.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Yes! That's right. We are the temple of God!

You say, "Well, if that is true, are we supposed to give the tithe to ourselves?" Yes and no. Our giving is supposed to go where it is needed the most in the body of Christ. James said it this way, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27). This is exactly what Steven was doing before he was killed by the religious system of his day. He was looking after the needs of the widows as one of the Church's servants (Greek diakaneo).

The early church "tithed" this way:

There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:34-35).

The offering was laid at the apostles' feet. These leaders didn't pick it up and take it to the bank to keep it out of the reach of the congregation! It was there to be redistributed to whoever was in need. Consider verse six below.

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (Acts 3:1-6, NKJV).

When it came to mammon, these two guys were broke, but when it came to the riches of Christ, they were wealthy!

When It came to the needs of our brothers and sisters, James put it this way:

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ’Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:15-16).

Most of us in today's Church put the responsibility for the care of the needy on the government or the Church "benevolence fund," which is usually very meager, and we in reality do nothing about our brother or sister's needs. The Jewish leaders had the same sin. Jesus said in Mark 7:10-13,

Moses said, "Honor (provide for in their old age) your father and your mother," and, "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death." But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: "Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban" [ that is, a gift devoted to God], then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

We are the temple, and the love of Jesus will show you where you should give your support. I would venture a guess that it won't be to give it to a big time banker (God hates usury, i.e. taking interest on a loan) to pay the mortgage on some building with His or some man's name on it.

Yes, the New Testament does say that a laborer is worthy of his hire, and that we are not to muzzle the ox that grinds out the corn. We do have an obligation to support a brother or sister who is giving all their time to the work of the ministry, so they can be free to continue their work without having to support themselves. But when the modern church spells laborer it is spelled P-A-S-T-O-R. Paul wrote,

Let the elders (older ones [plural, not the pastor only!]) who rule (guide and give aid) well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. (1Timothy. 5:17 ).

I believe that all the elders who serve the Church well should be counted worthy of double honor--the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the teachers, instead of to a single cast like class called "pastor." Still even in the support of these, the giving is going to the storehouse members of the body of Christ.

I wonder how many more men with God's call on their life would be out their doing the work if all of those precious resources were not being squandered on buildings, their furnishings, and the salary of a man at the top of each local church whose income rivals that of many of the worlds CEOs? OOPS! There's another one of those holy cows!

The New testament Priesthood

In Christ God has set in order a new priesthood with Jesus as its high priest.

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12, NIV).

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also [was faithful] in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things [is] God. And Moses indeed [was] faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken [afterward], but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:1-6).

In the New Testament Church there is no such thing as this cast system that we call clergy and laity. What we have today is a hangover from the church that Emperor Constantine designed after Rome's pagan priesthood in about 311 AD. Out of it came the Catholic Church. What the New Testament does say is that we are all priests unto God. Peter wrote,

Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 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... But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:4,5,9,10).

When someone calls you, laity, lay leader, lay person, etc., doesn't it make you feel like one of the unwashed masses or a second class citizen in the kingdom of God? Well, this is not the way Jesus sees you. The scriptures have said this all along:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:9-11, NIV).

That's right, all of Jesus is in all of us! The fullness of Jesus' priesthood has been made available in all of us! It takes all of us to manifest the fullness of Christ, not just one or two in each Church body (See 1 Corinthians. 12:12-30). It is an affront to Him that His saints would be made to feel that they are nothing but serfs whose job is to support the priest cast that rules over them.

Don't forget that we all have equal access to our High Priest.

For [there is] one God and one Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5,6).

I believe we are in the "Second Reformation." God is restoring the priesthood and responsibility of ministry back into the hands of all believers in Christ. We are hearing the Spirit tell us that there is no such thing as a clergy/laity division in God's New Testament church.

Plurality of Leadership

Today, all over the established Church, we have a tendency to have a "senior pastor" who resembles a CEO more than one who actually pastors Jesus' sheep. But it wasn't always that way.

In the early Church each area church had a multiplicity of eldership with no man who was the chief elder or pastor (elders are to "shepherd the flock," see I Peter 5:1-4). Christ Himself is the Chief Shepherd watching over us all. Paul established a multiple leadership called elders (older saints) over each church that he founded and they jointly shepherded the people. Notice in each of the following verses elders is always plural:

Acts 11:30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 15:2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

Acts 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

Acts 15:6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

Acts 15:22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, [namely], Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

Acts 15:23 They wrote this [letter] by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Note here that it says that all of the elders in the Ephesian church were to shepherd the flock, not just one pastor or senior elder. Continuing with the "elders" verses:

Acts 21:18 On the following [day] Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (servants)...

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you...

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed...

1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to [your] elders. 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."

Revelation 4:4 Around the throne [were] twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.

In these last two verses even God believes in a multiplicity of eldership in His heavenly leadership! Now lets see where this word elder is used in a singular form in the epistles:

Titus 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed...

2 John 1:1 The elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth.

3 John 1:1 The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth...

Nowhere in the New Testament does it mention that a single elder is in charge or single-handedly making the decisions over a local church. Even in Jerusalem where the Pharisees with their legalistic minds had infiltrated the Church, decisions were made in multiplicity (See Acts chapter 15).

I believe the best example of godly leadership in practice in a local church is portrayed in Acts chapter thirteen:

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent [them] away. (Acts 13:1-3).

These elders who were made up of prophets and teachers were giving themselves to fasting and ministering to the Lord and the Holy Spirit spoke through them. Their was no argument, no contention, no debate. God was able to freely speak his governing will to them and they did it! There was a whole different scene in Jerusalem two chapters later.

Open Handed Leadership

So with all of this in mind, what attitude should we have toward God's people as His priests?

Jesus said, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. . .but you shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger..." (Luke 22:25,26). When the disciples were arguing over who would be greatest in the kingdom, He sat a little child down in their midst and said, "Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-3).

Today in the church this concept of Godly leadership from a position of childlike-ness and weakness has almost been lost. Instead, there is a two-fold dynamic which restricts the spiritual growth of the church. One aspect of this is the "Give us a King" mentality (see 1 Samuel chapter 8), and the other, men who "love the preeminence" (3 John 9), taking control of the church. These both restrict the life of the church in the Holy Spirit and sever it from God's blessing.

The Israelites in the wilderness rebelled against God and said, "Let us make us a captain and let us return into Egypt." (Numbers 14:4). When we want to make a man our leader, we are telling God we want to go back to Egypt. The "one-man band" style of leadership is not God's way, nor do godly men desire it.

Moses cried out to God that leading the children of Israel in the wilderness was too big a burden. He asked for help. God agreed to take the anointing on Moses and put it on seventy other elders, who had proven themselves, so they could also lead. When the anointing fell on them, they all prophesied continuously, even two who were not present at the time but elsewhere in the camp. Joshua wanted to forbid Eldad and Medad from prophesying because they were off "doing their own thing." Moses exemplified God's heart when he said to Joshua, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them" (Numbers 11:29).

Godly leadership is never threatened when God leads others to minister in the gifts God has given them. In Mark 9 the disciples found someone who wasn't of their number casting out demons in the name of Jesus. They forbade him to do this, but when they reported the incident to Jesus, He surprised them by replying, "Forbid him not...for he that is not against us is on our part."

The disciples of John the Baptist were threatened when they realized that Jesus, whom John had baptized, was now baptizing more disciples than John. The prophet's reply is recorded in John 3:26-30: "A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven... He must increase, but I must decrease."

Paul's letters repeatedly encourage members of Christ's body to edify one another. Some of the most notable passages are found in I Corinthians. "Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are a variety of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.... But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Paul also said, "...When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26). Other related passages are Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 7:7, Ephesians 4:7 -13, I Thessalonians 5:20, and I Corinthians 14:39.

Can't you see that God's leaders are never threatened by another man's ministry or calling? To the contrary, they encourage others to go on in their callings and are servants to the one called. Where is this kind of leader today? My experience is that they are few and far between.

Give Us a King so We can be Like the World System

In I Samuel chapter 8, the people rebelled against God, who they could not see, and asked Samuel to given them a king. "We will have a king over us," they said, "that we might be like all the nations and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." The Lord instructed Samuel to do as they wished, for they had rejected God that He should no longer rule over them. When we take a man, whether he be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or a teacher, and put him in a position to rule over us, we reject God's rule and we get what we deserve.

I believe this type of leadership that lords over God's people is the root of the division in the Church today. Paul chastised the Corinthian church when he said, "For you, being so wise, bear with the foolish [leaders] gladly. For you bear with anyone if he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts himself, if he hits you in the face. To my shame, I must say that we have been weak by comparison." (2 Corinthians 11:19-21).

Jesus said to the Church at Pergamum, "...you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore or else... I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth" (Revelation 2:15,16). The word Nicolaitan in the Greek is from two words, Nikos and Laodikeus, and it literally means victorious over the people. The false doctrine of clergy ruling over the laity like a conquering monarch goes back to the first century of the church and God hates it (See Revelation 2:6,15).

Here in America we tend to choose the beautiful and the powerful as our leaders. Saul was tall, dark, and handsome. He really stood out in a crowd (See 1 Samuel 9:12). God chose him to save the Israelites from the Philistines. He was definitely king material, but God also warned them that this "king business" was not what it at first appears.

He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." (1 Samuel 8:11-18, NIV).

Jeremiah lamented about his people in his day:

An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:30,31, NKJV).

God was warning Israel that a man can't handle power righteously. As Sir J. E. E. Dahlberg observed, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Years later, God repented of choosing Saul as king and chose another, this time a man after this own heart. David was a lowly herder of sheep, but Saul herded asses (See 1 Samuel 9:3). David was just a boy when God chose him (You must come as a child). When Samuel was looking over his brothers in Jesse's house, he was about to choose another tall, dark, and handsome type, Eliab, when God warned him not to. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance, or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him [Eliab]; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart'" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Samuel asked Jesse if these were all his sons. "Oh yeah," Jesse seems to reply, "there is David. He’s out with the sheep because I knew there was no way God could want the runt of the litter." Everyone was surprised when Samuel chose David because of his heart. David could have been that kid that left standing there alone after both captains of a sandlot baseball game had chosen their teams. Do you want to choose elder material for your body? Choose from the world’s rejects. God does. Jesus did not chose a single religious leader to be his disciple. Do you remember the story of Gideon? Our God chooses the weak things of this world to confound the mighty (See 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Christ came to set men free of the tyranny of sin and sinful men who would bind burdens and put them on men’s shoulders but do nothing to carry those burdens themselves (See Matthew 23). Don't be foolish and allow yourself to be deceived. If the church you attend is based on this give us a king model, ask God to lead you to Godly leadership, elders (mature, older saints) who are about the business of building up the saints to fulfill their callings.

Remember God’s way is to give. "Give and it shall be given unto you....For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return" (Luke 6:38). If you are employing a tight fisted style of leadership over Jesus' sheep, don't be surprised if you are losing them. Jesus is drawing His flock to Himself and out of the hands of abusive and possessive shepherds. Read and pray over Ezekiel chapter 34. Jesus said that when the steward forgot that he, too, was a servant and began abusing his fellow servants he lost his stewardship and was cast out into the place that was appointed for the hypocrites. But to those who he finds giving His household meat in due season [His word that He is speaking to the Church today], "He will make him ruler over all His goods" (Matthew 24:45-51). Remember it was prophesied about Jesus that "a bruised reed He would not break and a smoking flax he would not quench" (Isaiah 42:3). Strengthen that which remains.

Back in the beginning of this section I quoted Jesus in Luke 22:25 and 26. The New American Standard puts it this way: "And He said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called "Benefactors." But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.'"

This phrase exercise lordship or lord it over is from the Greek word kurieuo {ko-ree-yoo'-o}. It means to have dominion over, exercise lordship over, or be Lord of. Jesus said this is not the godly way to lead His sheep but it is the way of worldly leadership. He is the only one who has the right to lead in this manner and even He leads in humility and not with heavy hand (See John 10 and Psalms 23).

So What is Left?

Not much if you are looking for an earthly kingdom to be what men call "the Church." Jesus told us not to expect a visible kingdom:

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21, NKJV).

God's leaders are not even to desire to be high profile, but humble and simple men like the Master.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29, NKJV).

In Christ's true Church there are no men ruling for Him, no legalistic tithing to support them, no clergy - laity division, no garish buildings that need constant support, and oh yes, no seminaries either, but one body in which all are priests. We are called to just be family and love one another with the same example that Jesus and the early Church gave us. If we give any honor at all it is to be to the "least of these, My (His) brethren" and not to those who are highly visible and endowed (see James 2:1-7).

Oh you foolish Christians, are you better than Jesus? Can you complete for God what Jesus has already made complete? Who has bewitched you? Paul pleaded with the church at Galatia:

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed [it was] in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, [does He do it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:1-5).

I am sure that some of you who practice heavy handed control and teach God’s people to keep the law are boiling against me and this teaching by now, but consider this...if we who believe this way are in error, we are in good company.

Stephen’s accusers said, "They also set up false witnesses who said, 'This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place (the temple) and the law'" (Acts 6:13).

Of Paul they said, "This [fellow] persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." (Acts 18:13). And "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all [men] everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." (Acts 21:28).

And even Jesus came under this same attack, "Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, 'This [fellow] said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days."'" (Matthew 26:59-61).

Yes, the law is holy and the temple is holy! But the whole law is summed up in the phrase, "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole mind, and your whole strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." As for the temple, we the Church are God's temple, not some heavily mortgaged pile of bricks, mortar and wood that sucks the life blood out of the ecclesia of God.

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not [one] stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matthew 24:1,2).

Would you be one to "rule" the Bride of Christ? Not me, brother! The days of these kind of so-called "ministers" are coming to an end.

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24, NKJV).

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:2-4, NKJV).

This is the city of God, the Bride of Christ, that should fill our hearts and vision. This is the Body of Jesus of which all who believe are members. Rejoice and be free in Christ's precious name, dear saints of God.

Article 12: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

I would like to share with you some thoughts I have had on one of Jesus' parables. He told a parable about the harvest at the end time. We know it as "the parable of the wheat and the tares."

This is what He said.

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'

The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'"

But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30, NKJV).

The phrase, "while men slept," got my attention. The founding apostles and fathers of the Church were on watch for the "ravenous wolves" to spring up in the new Church as it was forming (See Matt. 7:15 & Col. 2:8). But as history bares out, Satan had the apostles all killed off early on, except John who was exiled to a remote island. In this sense, these men "slept" (See Matt. 9:24). They being removed by the enemy, made room for Satan to come in and sow the tares whose teachings are still mixed in with the true doctrines of the early apostles to this day. "But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared." The seeds of the false were planted early on.

I did a study years ago on tares. In America they are called "wild oats." In the wheat country of the northwest, where I grew up, they are called the Bearded Darnel. The Darnel in itself is not poisonous. It could be eaten and cause one no harm. The problem is that it plays host to a fungus called the Ergot Smut fungus, which is deadly to both men and beast.

This is the problem with those who are hypocrites that find safe haven in God's field. A little leavening will spoil the whole lump. But in God's wisdom He forbids his servants from uprooting them before the harvest, least the wheat be ruined in the process.

The way the farmer deals with the wild oats, is to run them through a thrasher that first removes the chaff from the wheat and at the same time runs it over a sieve which allows the smaller Darnel to fall through and be cast off with the chaff. The deadly fungus goes away with it. Thus you see the need of trials in our lives to remove the chaff and to cast off the poisonous influences of the enemy.

Once the wheat is collected, it is ready to be ground into a fine powder that we know as flour. Losing its own identity and taking on that of the Lord's for it is then we become one with Bread of Life.

Jesus prayed:

. . .that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. (John 17:21-22, NKJV).

Make us so, Lord. Blessings to you all, in Christ.

Article 13: The Exodus and the House Church

In the early days of the Church in the first century there was explosive growth. Under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit and humble, broken men and women, the Church grew and multiplied until its impact upon the Roman empire was felt right into the very houses of its emperors and leaders. Of these humble believers who poured out their blood as if it was an honor in the service of their savior it was once said, "these are they who turn the world upside down." (Acts 17:6). For three hundred years these humble saints met together as families in their humble homes.

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7, NKJV).

I was born into the kingdom during a move of the Holy Spirit that was sweeping the nation of America in the early ‘70s. This phenomenon was known as the Jesus Revolution and it seemed to spring up almost over night everywhere, finally spreading to Europe and parts of Asia. It was an exciting time to be a Christian as we saw "signs follow those who believed." It was like reliving the book of Acts itself. Thousands of young people came to Christ, demons were cast out, and people were healed of serious drug addictions and diseases as we laid hands on them and prayed.

Almost overnight, "Christian houses" started popping up and they all seemed to be given Bible names. In Spokane we had the house of Abraham (where single brothers lived), the house of Sarah (for the single girls), the house of David (where our band lived), and the house of Manna (where we gathered for meals and Bible study).

We found these believers' houses and Christian coffee houses everywhere we went across the country and in Europe by 1974. It was "just Jesus," doing it all, not any organization or by any pamphlet, but the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Everywhere the Church was meeting and eating together in homes. And the meetings were alive and dynamic with everyone able to contribute and be part of the family. Imagine our excitement as we discovered while feeding on the Bible that this was how the early church got started and met, too! (see Acts chapters 1-6).

In the following years Christian home meetings started becoming more and more popular. Institutional Churches, wanting to share in this dynamic life that we were experiencing, started opening up their own "coffee houses," sponsoring house church meetings, and sending their people out on the streets to "witness."

The only trouble was that often their "coffee houses" were in the church basement, their home meetings were a mini-Sunday service dominated by the pastor, and their people on the streets were there without the youthful zeal that we knew as we shared our new found love for Jesus with the lost. What the Holy Spirit sovereignly did among America's once drug-sick youth culture could not be cloned by dead traditional Churches. As time went on, many of the "Jesus People" either joined these institutions or created ones of their own, and soon the light went out. By 1976 the Jesus Movement had lost almost all signs of life. The new wine of the Holy Spirit had turned into vinegar in the old wine skins. As Don McClain sang in his popular song "Bye, Bye, American Pie" it seemed that we had seen "the day the music died."

Imitation and Acceptability

Satan had once again had drawn a trick called "Imitation and Acceptability" from his bag. This was the very thing that derailed the early Church when Constantine took control of it, and as the emperor, patterned his version of Christianity after the Old Testament Temple worship.

This temple system of worship which was popular among the pagans in the third and forth centuries of the Roman Empire, had a centralized government that taxed the believers, built great temples, and even built a Holy City or two, i.e., the Vatican and Constantinople. Down through the ages the system of "taxation" and building has remained intact. Even after two great "reformations" that swept the world, bringing the importance of the Bible and salvation by faith, worship and the importance of the Holy Spirit to the believer, we are still "hiding under a bushel" as we worship and preach. Our task masters still require the tithe and more that they might build these great cities, universities, temples and ministries "for the glory of God" while they name them after themselves, "Joe Shmoe University," "Jumping Jack Flash ministries," Lutheran this and Wesleyan that. Like that line from Paint Your Wagon, "They civilize left, they civilize right, until nothing is left and nothing is right!"

Exodus Stage Left! First a Prepared Messenger

Some of us have despaired at all of this "organization begging for life," but I believe that God has his plan as well and it is found in Exodus.

And he [Pharaoh] said to his people, "Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; "come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land." Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.

And the Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously: and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and all kinds of labor in the field, and all their labor which they rigorously imposed on them. (Exodus 1:9-14, NASB).

As it was in the days of Israel's captivity, the Church seems to be held captivated by the building of "supply cities" so the people can "bring their tithes and offerings into the store house." Our focus is no longer on that "city who's builder and maker is God," made of living stones, but rather a city that brings glory to men made of bricks and mortar.

Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went our to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And he went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, "Why are you striking your companion?"

But he said, "Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and said, "Surely the matter has become known." When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. (Exodus 2:11-15, NASB).

Like Moses, many of us tried to remain in and change this task oriented Church system and we grieved for the people who we saw being abused and spoke out about it, even attacking the "task masters" with our words. Some of us didn't even have to speak out; we were just different and they knew that we were not one of them. Either way we eventually had to flee for our lives. We were disillusioned with the way we were treated and the vanity of what was being created by these Church leaders as they demanded "more bricks, more bricks! Get your own straw!" What made it worse, many of the oppressed sided with them against us!

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, "Why have you come back so soon today?" So they said, "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds; and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock." And he said to his daughters, "Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat." And Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." (Exodus 2:16-22, NASB).

Seven daughters, seven Churches! Even in his forty years of wilderness, Moses longed to protect the "Church" and its flocks from the evil shepherds. But he was still a stranger in a strange place for all of those years. This was a common occurrence among God's men and women of faith spoken of in the Old Testament.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13, NKJV).

Moses was dying inside. He was separated from his family, rejected by his country, and a condemned man surviving among a strange people. God was using this forty years in Midian to kill any vestiges of the arm of the flesh left in him that would try to do God's work for Him. That took time.

Many of us who find ourselves "outside the camp" with Jesus in his suffering and rejection (Hebrews chapter 13), have found a camaraderie and place of God's provision at a "table in the wilderness" with a few of God's people. We at first licked our wounds and traded war stories of excess and abuse in the institutional church, but even that got old and wasn't enough. We had to go deeper in our search, even to the back side of the wilderness all alone, not being satisfied until we reached the mountain of God.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." (Exodus 3:1-5, NKJV).

Back in Egypt Moses "got burned!" He was burned by Pharaoh and he got burned by his own people who rejected him and his help. Now he wondered how a bush could be so engulfed by fire and not be consumed. Hundreds of years later in Babylon, three Hebrew children would enter their own "burning bush" and would find fellowship there with "one who was like the Son of God," and they would come out of it without the slightest smell of smoke hanging onto them or their garments.

When your old nature and its defenses have been dealt with in the wilderness of God, you are ready to go up to the mountain of God, turn aside from your old ways once and for all, unto Him and Him alone in the midst of the fire. From then on no man can burn you, for the fire is now within you. The One who now shines forth from you is that "One who is like the Son of God."

Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. (Jeremiah 20:9, NKJV).

Have you ever wondered why God required Moses to remove his sandals? Weren't his feet dirty, sweaty and smelly from the hot desert sun? Why would God want such defilement in contact with His holy ground? I believe that Jesus had already washed Moses feet, and God wanted those lovely feet of his in contact with and in fellowship with His holy ground.

Jesus said to a protesting Peter when he bowed before him to wash his feet, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean..." (John 13:10, NASB).

Moses was about to go back down that mountain with good news from God for His people and bad news for Pharaoh and his taskmasters. This time, God deemed Moses ready, and when our time has come, because of His work in our hearts, we too will no longer smell of the smoke of being burned. Then and only then, with hearts filled with His love, can we go back to His people and be used as God's extended arm to set the people free, while we proclaim, "Our God Reigns!" Who knows, maybe He will even give us signs to perform before them that they might believe as He did with Moses and the Apostles of the early Church.

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7, NKJV).

Then, a Prepared People!

How does God prepare a people to leave Egypt? Forty years earlier, they were not ready to leave. Why now? Was the change that came upon Moses enough? I don't think so. God had to turn their hearts away from Egypt if He was to get them to leave, and He did so through tribulation.

Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. (Exodus 2:23, NKJV).

And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows." (Exodus 3:7, NKJV).

In today's institutional Church false shepherds, false teachers, false prophets and false apostles are ever increasing and with their delusive teachings they more and more are gaining power over God's people. With each new level of power that is granted to them comes greater abuse and a greater lust for more power and money.

Jesus warned His Church, "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24, NKJV).

Many of those who were pastors in the last decade are now claiming to be prophets. Many who claimed to be prophets in the last decade are now claiming to be apostles. There is an ever greater ascendancy and lust for power. Can't you see that this is the antichrist spirit [ the Greek word for "antichrist" means to take Christ's place]? What's next? Will these so called apostles in a few short years claim to be Jesus himself? What a far cry from the progression of titles that Paul claimed to himself, i.e., "chief of sinners," "the least of all the saints," "unworthy to be called a believer."

We have gone full circle and become that same self centered Church that Jeremiah prophesied against in His day. We have no fear either of offending God or of abusing His people.

But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest." Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you. For among my people are found wicked men; they lie in wait as one who sets snares; they set a trap; they catch men.

As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have becomes great and gown rich. They have grown fat; they are sleek; yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; they do not plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless; yet they prosper, and right of the needy they do not defend. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the LORD. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’

"An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" (Jeremiah 5:23-31, NKJV).

How shall we know these taskmasters from the real Moses-type of leaders? They can turn the water into blood, too. They can cast down their rods and turn them into serpents as well. The answer is in these two questions. "Which ones lead you into God's rest as you follow them, and which ones increase your burdens?" "Which ones lead with humility as Jesus did. and which ones are brash, boisterous and draw the attention of the sheep to themselves?"

Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? get back to your labor." And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!" So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words." (Exodus 5:4-9, NKJV). [See also Matthew chapter. 23].

Jesus said: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30, NKJV).

And of Him it was prophesied:

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2, NKJV)

"Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise his voice, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail not be discouraged, till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law."

Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house." I am the LORD, that is My name; And my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:1-9, NKJV)

What a contrast between our Lord and the false teachers, prophets, and apostles if you have eyes to see and know His voice. Yes, The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" What will His Church do in these end times? How much will it take to awaken her?

"And I said: "Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; who strip the skin from my people, and the flesh from their bones; Who also eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin from them, break their bones, and chop them in pieces like meat for the pot, like flesh in the caldron..." This says the Lord concerning the prophets who make my people stray; who chant "Peace" while they chew with their teeth, but who prepare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths: "Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them. So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God.

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity, Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity: her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, 'Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.' Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the temple like the bare hills of the forest. (Micah 3:1-12, NKJV).

Yes, Jesus will come for His bride and they shall be a separated people who know His voice when He calls and "another they will not hear." He has promised to break every yoke of the task master. They are coming out from among them and refusing to touch that unclean thing called flesh and pride. We are being made ready for a second Exodus where we shall cry with His mighty voice, "Let my people Go!"

God's people must first tire of the known security of a diet of leeks, onions and melon sermons, special events, and programs found in the bondage of Egypt and step out into the wilderness with Jesus in the lead where the only diet promised is manna [The people of Israel called it "What is it?" for they knew not what it was]. They must long for that food of faith, the food of angels that is unknown to the carnal Christian, which comes down to each one who seeks it. They must come to that place where Moses was when he grew to abhor the fattening food of Pharaohs house, but rather chose to suffer with the people of God.

Suffering is surely coming to the Church in America and God will have His true apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers tried, humble and ready to lead a holy people out to meet their bridegroom. Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus in us.

Article 14: Abraham's Faithful Servant

This story has a beautiful lesson for the Church today. The redeemed of the Lord will have a servant's heart and those who serve the Bride of Christ do so without wanting anything for themselves. Their whole joy of serving is to see the Son gain His spotless bride and that they dwell together for eternity.

There is a great story of a man who was Abraham's servant who Abraham sent back to his homeland to get a bride for his son, Isaac. Abraham gives this man ten camel loads of wealth to purchase a bride for Abraham's son, the "bride's price." He is trusted by Abraham. The man is just a servant and has no wealth of his own! Yet, off he goes for hundreds of miles with a king's ransom and no supervision to pick out a wife for Isaac. When he gets there he falls down on his face and cries out to God that he might do right in his choosing the right woman for his master's son. He puts forth a test and Rebekah, the wife to be, passes the it in flying colors. The servant gives all the wealth to Rebekah and her father and takes her back to Isaac, Abraham's son, with never the slightest thing to gain from the journey, other than the knowledge that God had given his master's son a chosen bride. In that only did he rejoice!!! Here is the text:

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. "Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' --let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."

So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, (Genesis 24:10-22, NKJV).

Oh, saints, what a lesson this servant provides us of what God is looking for in those who serve in the Body of Christ, today. He is looking for those who will bring forth a Bride for Jesus to marry, one that is without spots or bruises. For this purpose He also seeks servants who will not take the Bride's price and spend it on themselves. Those who will not take the Bride out into the desert and sully her for their own pleasures. Those who will not try to set up their own kingdom with the Father's wealth, but are good stewards of all that is given into their hands and see to it that it all goes toward the bringing forth of the Bride for the Son's good pleasure and not for their own. For these servants who share the Father's heart, this is reward enough.

Notice the test which this servant of Abraham placed before Rebekah. She must volunteer to water ten camels, and all the servants of Abraham that came to the well that day.

The wells in the Middle East in at that time, many of which still exist to this day, were hand dug and they excavated a spiral staircase in their walls that allowed the dirt to be hauled out as well as the water when it was completed. Many of these were over 100 feet deep.

Now figure that a thirsty camel could drink at least ten gallons and that the men also drank a minimum of three gallons after their trek across the desert. The water jars that the women carried held about three gallons and would have weighed about thirty pounds (the same as about four gallons of milk) when they were full. So the total volume of water that this dear woman with a servant's heart carried out of that well that day was about 103 gallons. 103/3 = about 34 trips into that well carrying out thirty pounds each trip. Do you get the picture here? This was no small test.

It was also interesting that the servant gave Rebekah a nose ring that was a half shekel of gold (and you body piercing types thought you had a new fad!). This also was the price to be paid to the priests for the redemption of a man (Ex. 30:11-13).

So, you see, this story has a beautiful lesson for the Church today. The redeemed of the Lord will have a servant's heart and those who serve the Bride of Christ do so without wanting anything for themselves. Their whole joy of serving is to see the Son gain His spotless bride and that they dwell together for eternity.

Article 15: The Continuing Testimony of Jesus

In every generation, "every age to come," the Lord takes a man or even many men and gives them a heavenly vision of " the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." That man or men see something that the visionaries of the age before were not able to fully comprehend by the enlightenment that God gave them.

A few years ago I was at a Vineyard Church conference in Canada. The sister in charge of the "ministry team" in the Church took my wife and me aside and spoke prophetically over me. I don't remember much about it other than one phrase. She said, "You will boldly go where no man has gone before."

A few years ago I was at a Vineyard Church conference in Canada. The sister in charge of the "ministry team" in the Church took my wife and me aside and spoke prophetically over me. I don't remember much about it other than one phrase. She said, "You will boldly go where no man has gone before."

Most of us recognize this phrase from the opening monologue of the old TV series, "Star Trek." I chuckled when she said it and told her that during the Vietnam war I was stationed off the coast of North Vietnam on the USS Enterprise, the aircraft carrier the spaceship in that popular TV series was named after.

In a way this phrase reminds me of a quote from Alexander Pope, "Fools rush in where angles fear to tread." Captain James Kirk and his crew were always getting into impossible situations with aliens "in ages to come" and somehow by his good fortune and great wits would find a way out of trouble, learning something more about the far reaches of the universe in the process.

Paul the apostle wrote to the Ephesian Church and told them of a precious promise.

. . .even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5-7, NKJV).

The verse from Ephesians quoted above reminds me of another "treky" of old, one of God's bold ones and HIS "crew." His name was Joshua. Moses had just been taken away to die and be buried by the Lord. Before he died he was allowed to see the Promised Land with his own eyes "from afar off," but he was forbidden to enter. On the other hand Joshua, one of the two remaining people who originally came out of Egypt, was taken by the Lord to the boundary of the new land, the river Jordan. There the Lord commanded him to speak these words to the new generation of Israel that was about to cross:

When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. (Joshua 3:3-4, NKJV).

I believe that in every generation, "every age to come," the Lord takes a man or even many men and gives them a heavenly vision of " the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." That man or men see something that the visionaries of the age before were not able to fully comprehend by the enlightenment that God gave them. In the Old Testament these men were often called "seers" or "prophets." They saw something of the riches of God that others were not seeing and explained to the people what God wanted all of His people to see.

Have you ever noticed the place in the book of the Revelation that Jesus repeats himself seven times? Seven times! I can't think of any other place in the Bible where He does this. And what point is Jesus driving home by this repetition? "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." He is saying let ANY man that has a spiritual ear hear. Hear what? Hear "what the Spirit says," not what the Spirit DID say or even WILL say, but IS SAYING to the Churches! In showing John "things which must shortly take place," Jesus seems to be saying the church is becoming deaf to His Spirit.

Some time ago, a brother and I spent a day with a dear old saint who had seen many things over the years in his "heavenly vision" and enlightened many of the saints of God along the way by sharing what he saw. As we visited with this dear brother we shared some of the things the Lord had been showing us, the next generation, and there was a resistance in this old saint. What we shared, though similar, was not the exact same vision that the Lord had shown him. Even though it dovetailed into where he left off, he could not see it. Like Moses, he could only get a glimpse of the land a far off, but was not able to "cross the river" with us.

This is really tragic, because it does not have to be this way. So often the wineskin can only stretch so far and if it is taken any further it will burst risking the loss of its old wine. Because of this Jesus said, "You can not put new wine in an old wineskin." Men of an earlier "outpouring" often prove these words of Jesus to be so true, "And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, `The old is better.'" (Luke 5:39, NKJV). It is so hard to let yourself be poured out like wine, when the vintage of that last move of God was so good and you have so much invested in what the Lord revealed to you during that time.

In the passage about the crossing of the Jordan quoted above, notice that the priests and the ark had to go into the river ahead of the people. They lead the way, but they only went half way across the river and stopped. The people were to look upon the ark as they crossed and actually went into the promised land ahead of the priests.

I see two things in this. One, there are always visionaries that God sends out ahead of His people to prepare the way. They take the risks so that others can follow them into God's new kingdom revelation. These visionaries have often been rejected in the process. What would have happened if the waters did not part when these priest carrying that gold covered ark stepped into the river? At the least they would have looked pretty foolish and at the worst, they might have drowned, becoming bogged down in the mud and torrents of the flood.

These forerunners are the "breakers" that make the breach in the walls of tradition that hold others back from following God. As the Lord told the people, "You have not been this way before."

I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of so many people. The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the LORD at their head. (Micah 2:12-13, NKJV).

The second thing I see here is this. In the Book of Revelation, John sees the ark of the covenant IN HEAVEN (Rev. 11:19)! God is still sending forth the ark of His covenant in a spiritual sense to enlighten each generation and make a way for them to go further than any man has gone before. As Paul said, "We NOW dwell in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We all get to see the ark! We all get to be enlightened daily by the presence of His Spirit in our lives as we dwell in heavenly places.

Take the work of the apostle Paul. He was given a clear vision of the priesthood of the believer and the common access of all saints to the wisdom and throne of God. He understood this better than any other apostle and, as a result, he takes the believer by the hand and walks with them into the heavenly vision.

No longer is the Holy Place an exclusive local open to only a few chosen priests. When Jesus died on the cross it is recorded that the curtain over the entrance of the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom, making it accessible to all. Now the mercy seat of the ark is available freely to all. As Peter wrote so vividly,

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10, NKJV).

God did not speak through the apostles 2000 years ago and then become mute when they died as some teach. John wrote, "The spirit of prophesy IS the testimony of Jesus Christ." Jesus is not sitting up there in heaven, passively watching us stumble along in the dark, while He kicks back on the veranda and drinks mint juleps. Jesus is still active via the Holy Spirit, guiding us along the way, testifying to us and speaking to us as a shepherd to his sheep. Sometimes He forewarns us of pitfalls in the path ahead and sometimes He just shares with us the glories of His Father's house. As he promised:

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13, NKJV).

Wow! I find that exciting! We, each of us, need not be held captive by the philosophies and traditions of men, but are free to listen to the voice of God and follow the Good Shepherd wherever He shall lead us. He stil leads His sheep!

thMost assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:1-5, NKJV).

Have you ever gotten a thought as you were praying or reading the scriptures or even while you were watching a movie or washing dishes, that you had not heard from the pulpit or read in a Christian book? All of a sudden you "see" something of a kingdom nature in a whole new light. THAT is Jesus speaking to you. As Paul wrote, "yet I show you a more excellent way."

So often what happens next is that you go to "church" and share this exciting discovery with your fellow believers and you get all these "cock eyed" looks. You feel like you are in a room full of bug-eyed flounders, so you go home embarrassed. You feel like YOU are the crazy one, so you swear to yourself that you will NEVER do THAT again! You might even get a call later from the "pastor" telling you, "You were really off on that one!" Why this reaction? Most often it is because the Church is blinded by the philosophies and traditions of men and so it makes void and of no affect the rhema word of God which Jesus continues to speak to His sheep.

Brothers and sisters, don't let these professional Church leaders and their adherents "silence the lambs." Keep listening and if you can't find a true friend in Christ in whom you can confide or like many do these days, a "talk list" on the internet in which you can share these "pearls" that the Lord is giving you, then at least write them in a daily journal or diary and go back and read them from time to time, encouraging your heart as you see just how far the Lord has taken you on since you first heard His voice began to write what you heard.

Remember, we are in those "ages to come" that Paul wrote to the Ephesians about. "(God has) made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." As Jesus said,

"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:15-16, NKJV).

May God richly bless each one of you as you seek His face.

Article 16: Who Shall Know His Truth?

So often we go to the scriptures to find a truth that will support our argument or conviction. This blinds us to the real truth that abounds in God's word. Our thoughts are so loud that we cannot hear the Master's voice as He tries to teach us what is true.

Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from [the] wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and [the one] to whom the Son wills to reveal [Him]." (Luke 10:21-22)

It seems that not everyone who seeks the truth will find it and that it is hidden from some. It became evident to me recently that in order to find the truth, you must not have a vested interest in what the outcome will be when you find that truth. If we do have a vested interest in what we currently believe, or we stand to lose a "perk" by believing a truth that is contrary to where we now stand, chances are we will not be receptive to the truth even if we hear it spoken by a friend.

For instance, for years I wanted to get into a ministry position that would pay my way, so that I could "devote myself to the ministry full time." Have you ever heard that line of reasoning? Because of this I could not hear the voice of the Lord when he warned me that if you receive money from men, you owe those men and they own you. You cannot speak the whole truth to your supporters because of your "vested interest" in maintaining your position. It was only after I came to a place where I didn't care if I ever got a dime from the ministry that I could HEAR His warning and speak His truth to others.

Madam Jeanne Guyon, a saint of the 1600's, wrote:

"This divine wisdom is unknown, even to those who pass in the world for persons of extraordinary illumination and knowledge. To whom then is she known, and who can tell us any tidings concerning her? Destruction and death assure us, that they have heard with their ears of her fame and renown. It is, then in dying to all things, and in being truly lost to them, passing forward into God, and existing only in Him, that we attain to some knowledge of the true wisdom. Oh, how little are her ways known, and her dealings with her most chosen servants. Scarce do we discover anything thereof, but surprised at the dissimilitude betwixt the truth we thus discover and our former ideas of it, we cry out with St. Paul, 'Oh, the depth of the knowledge and wisdom of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.'"

So often we go to the scriptures to find a truth that will support our argument or conviction. This blinds us to the real truth that abounds in God's word. Our thoughts are so loud that we cannot hear the Master's voice as He tries to teach us what is true. This, I believe, is what Jesus means when He says, "you must become as a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven."

I once asked my five year old daughter if she believed in Jesus. Her answer stopped me in my tracks. She said, "Sure, Daddy, doesn't everybody?" Unlike the worldly wise and certain religious leaders, children have no stake in what the truth of God should be. They just believe with their childlike simplicity.

You see, the religious and political leaders of two thousand years ago had a stake in what the truth was. As a result when the very personage of Truth was among them, they could not recognize Him.

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." (John 11:47-48, NKJV)

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. (John 19:12-13, NKJV)

The religious leaders were losing their popularity to Jesus and plotted how to kill him. Pilate feared being accused of being an enemy of Caesar for protecting Jesus and condemned Him to death. As the epitome of truth stood before him, and he was so blind he asked, "What is truth?"

The Jewish religious leaders and Pilate had a "vested interest" in the truth, their lives and their positions. Can you now see the wisdom in Jesus' seemingly fanatical statement, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26-27)? The personal cross strips you of all your agendas so that you can be conformed to the truth.

Jesus put it even more clearly when He said, "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (John 5:43-44, NKJV) As long as we desire honor from men we will not believe the truth, especially if that truth causes us to lose our popularity.

Truth is a state of being. It conforms you and brings you into alignment with its principle, just as a lie conforms you to a twisted principle. To find the truth you must not have a stake in what the truth is, but a willingness to be conformed by its marvelous light. Paul found the Truth on the road to Damascus, and because of the sincerity of his heart he was changed forever, leaving his religious position and fame behind. The Lord still seeks those who are willing to forsake all and yield to the conforming power of His truth. As Jesus confessed of Himself, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." (John 7:16-18, NKJV)

Oh saints, how we limit God with our preconceived ideas of just what His conforming truth is, that truth that can so change us that there is no unrighteousness left in us. So many of us still seek our own glory. If you are still receiving honor and praise on this earth, you are an enemy of God even if you are in Church leadership. Paul spoke of this heavenly glory that takes you downward as the world sees it and even in the eyes of many Christians when he said, "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." (1 Corinthians 4:11-13, NKJV)

Poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, working to support themselves with their hands, defamed? Are these signs of those who we often identify as successful ministers? The answer is all too obvious. The next time you are looking for a man of truth from whom to learn, you might check him against this list first.

In her book, "This Side of Innocence," Taylor Caldwell wrote, "Truth-tellers and those who perceive the truth are usually unfortunate."

One of my favorite authors of the old school, Soren Kierkegaard put it this way, "The larger the crowd, the more probable that that which it praises is folly, and the more improbable that it is truth; and the most improbable of all that it is any eternal truth." (from "Purity of Heart")

Paul warned us of how important it is to not only seek the truth, but to "love the truth." If you love someone you will always put them first, ahead of your own desires. How much more this should be true of our relationship with the truth.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12, NKJV)

Notice how Paul uses the definite article, "the," in the above quotation. He refers to "the truth" and "the lie." The one is the way of life and the other is the way of death. Chose life.

Remember, dear saints, you cannot have a personal stake in what God's truth is for you. You must let go of all your worldly moorings, hopes and dreams and let the river of truth take you wherever He directs. Only in this way will you be conformed to the image of Christ. Keep seeking, keep asking, keep knocking and don't settle on your lees following the example of Moab.

Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. (Jeremiah 48:11, KJV)

The End

Table of Contents

Contents

Article 1: Greener Pastures

Article 2: Deep Calls unto Deep

Article 3: Michael's David

Article 4: He Has Torn Us

Article 5: On Suffering

Article 6: Wilderness: School of the Prophets

Article 7: The Anti-Christ Spirit

Article 8: Are We Settled on Our Lees?

Article 9: Defending Our Wineskins

Article 10: Feet of Iron and Clay

Article 11: The Law and the Church

Article 12: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Article 13: The Exodus and the House Church

Article 14: Abraham's Faithful Servant

Article 15: The Continuing Testimony of Jesus

Article 16: Who Shall Know His Truth?