This book is the twelfth of my father's books, written in 2020. To date, we have not been able to locate this book on our father's computer, so I have retyped his words.
As a side note, it is humbling to rewrite this book of his. I am not a fast typer, yet my father always typed with two fingers, and yet he would pour out diligently all that he heard from the Lord for the edification and growth of the Body of Christ.
My mother would say that he saw himself as a porcupine. He would say that he kept the people pricked in order that they would not get "comfortable" and stagnate. He would always speak the truth as he knew it, always with a humble spirit, yet he would not diminish his words for the comfort of some.
In the end of his days, he so wanted to be bold, as was John the Baptist. I believe he already was. I hope that this and all of his writings would be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.
This book is the twelfth of my father's books, written in 2020. To date, we have not been able to locate this book on our father's computer, so I have retyped his words.
As a side note, it is humbling to rewrite this book of his. I am not a fast typer, yet my father always typed with two fingers, and yet he would pour out diligently all that he heard from the Lord for the edification and growth of the Body of Christ.
My mother would say that he saw himself as a porcupine. He would say that he kept the people pricked in order that they would not get "comfortable" and stagnate. He would always speak the truth as he knew it, always with a humble spirit, yet he would not diminish his words for the comfort of some.
In the end of his days, he so wanted to be bold, as was John the Baptist. I believe he already was. I hope that this and all of his writings would be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.
Acknowledgements 
In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023
First of all we acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. Without His presence we could never write anything of value. He is the only true Author. We are deeply indebted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing us to experience and understand a small measure of His Truth, as written in the Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. NO man can understand the Word of God or the ways of God unless they are revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.
Next, I acknowledge my wonderful wife, Linda, for her many years of faithfulness to the Lord and to me. She has always encouraged and supported me to press on spiritually, particularly during the times of my discouragement. She also gave me her valuable comments for improvement of all of our books.
I also acknowledge my maternal grandmother, who, like Hannah, prayed earnestly for a son. She never had a natural son, but I was the first grandson.
All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places.
Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
First of all we acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. Without His presence we could never write anything of value. He is the only true Author. We are deeply indebted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing us to experience and understand a small measure of His Truth, as written in the Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. NO man can understand the Word of God or the ways of God unless they are revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.
Next, I acknowledge my wonderful wife, Linda, for her many years of faithfulness to the Lord and to me. She has always encouraged and supported me to press on spiritually, particularly during the times of my discouragement. She also gave me her valuable comments for improvement of all of our books.
I also acknowledge my maternal grandmother, who, like Hannah, prayed earnestly for a son. She never had a natural son, but I was the first grandson.
All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places.
Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
Next, I acknowledge my wonderful wife, Linda, for her many years of faithfulness to the Lord and to me. She has always encouraged and supported me to press on spiritually, particularly during the times of my discouragement. She also gave me her valuable comments for improvement of all of our books.
I also acknowledge my maternal grandmother, who, like Hannah, prayed earnestly for a son. She never had a natural son, but I was the first grandson.
All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places.
Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
Preface: The Purpose of This Book
The first and most important reason why I have written this book is because I believe the Lord said “Do it.” My motivation for writing this book is simply to try to help all of us to stir up our pure minds to fulfill our high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
A few years ago I emailed a word to a good brother on the West coast. He replied that “perhaps you have been called to cry aloud, and spare not” (Isaiah 58:1). He said that someone must do that because it is not being done from the pulpits in America.
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1
In 2004 I attended an “intercessor conference” in Hopkinsville, KY. Upon arrival, a middle-age, jolly, round-faced lady smiled at me and asked, “What is your ministry?” I replied, “I am just a messenger boy that the Lord has turned into a trumpet player.” She said, “Oh, did you bring your trumpet?” I tried to explain to her that the Lord has made me into a trumpet but she never understood. For 52+ years I have literally cried aloud, with much weeping for the Body of Christ. The words “spare not” mean “do not refrain or restrain from speaking the truth.” One of the very first few true prophets I have ever met has a phrase on his website: “Preach the truth. If it kills, let me die first.” That is the reason for this book.
It may be helpful for the reader to understand how and why the Lord has shaped me. I am 88, walking with the Lord 52+ years. I wish it had been longer. I do not have a title; I do not have a ministry. The ministry belongs to the Lord. People come and go but the ministry continues forever because it is His Ministry. The ministry that the Lord put me into is like that of Jeremiah and Ezra the scribe. The Lord has allowed me to write and publish 12 Christian books. I also have many more fresh words from the Lord on my computer that no man except me has ever seen. That does not make me special in any way. Whatever call of the Lord is upon us, the Lord desires to enlarge our tent. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
Immediately after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me, He emphasized two things to me … the sovereignty of God and the proper relationship between a believer and the mammon of unrighteousness. Although it is true the Lord delights to use his people to minister to others, I have found out some 52 years ago that the Lord can save people all by Himself; He can heal people all by Himself; He can deliver people all by Himself. He can also reveal the meaning of Scripture all by Himself. How do I know? because he did all of those things for me, sovereignly, in the first 6 months after He apprehended me. He continues to work within me sovereignly. That does not make me special in any way. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
I never made very much money in the 47 years that I worked in a “secular” job. But if I were to tell you all the ways that the Lord has prospered us financially or materially, you would say “that is totally impossible.” I found out through experience that no one can out-give God. But we do need to be careful that our motivation for giving is not based on any selfish attitude of getting back something for ourselves. That is unacceptable to the Lord. I have heard too many ministers tell folks to “sow a seed” so you will get much more back in return. That kind of plea for money is totally false; it is the ways of Balaam.
I know how Jesus felt when He overthrew the tables of the money changers because I came very, very close to doing the same thing about 20 years ago in a charismatic church near where we live. I know how Elijah felt when he said he was jealous for the Lord God of hosts. I know how Jeremiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah felt when they wept over Jerusalem and the chosen people of God. I know how Paul felt when he wept for the church at Ephesus. I can’t tell you how many times I was supposed to share a word and all I could do was stand up and weep for several minutes. The first time I experienced passing through the valley of Baca (Psalm 84:6) was in a large, Sunday gathering of several house churches in the Northern Virginia area around 1972. I could not believe the lack of maturity and lack of spiritual understanding that came forth in an “elders” meeting prior to the regular service. By the time the regular service started, I could not sing a song; I could not stand up; I could not read a verse in the Bible. I have no idea what anyone said or did during that meeting; all I did was to sit and weep the entire two hours. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
The greatest gift I have received is writing. Almost every time I sit down to write anything the Holy Spirit quickens to me something fresh and new … something I have never heard or read before. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord rained down fresh manna every day except on the Sabbath. I have believed for 50 years that there should be fresh manna to come forth in every gathering of believers. None of that makes me special in any way. That is part of what I call the normal Christian life.
My maternal grandmother was a real intercessor. She always prayed for all of her family members. She always wanted a son but she had three daughters and no sons. She was a lot like Hannah. I was her first grandson. After she went to be with the Lord I found one of her favorite bibles, in which she had written many words of wisdom. On the day I was born, she wrote in her bible, “Lord, make him Your minister.” About three years ago my first cousin sent me my grandmother’s diary from the year 1937. I never knew that diary existed. On my sixth birthday in 1937 she wrote in her diary, “Lord, make him Your messenger.”
On Sunday, June 13, 1976, the Lord woke me up about 3:30 a.m. and told me to get out of bed and go down to our living room and read the “restoration” books … Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah. At some point I read the following.
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo … Ezra 6:14
Note that it was the elders of the Jews who prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. If those in leadership positions prosper spiritually, with understanding and wisdom and in the revelation knowledge of Him, then all of the people will soon likewise prosper. When I read Verse 14, above, it was like a sledgehammer hit me. There was no one in our home awake but me. I sat alone on our sofa in our living room. There was no emotion, no audible voice. But I have often called that the most powerful word I have ever heard from the Lord. The Lord said to me, “If you want to see the body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place that I have called you.” At that point in time I had been a functioning elder in a New Testament house church for about 7 years. I had ‘done’ about everything you can think of in a charismatic church. So if anyone had lined up 1,000 believers, all of whom told me that I had not been functioning, I never would have believed it! But when the Lord spoke that word to me, I immediately received it as truth. Very quickly after I heard that word from the Lord I heard another word from Him: “I have given you the power to fulfill the ministry to which I have called you.”
Now for an amazing truth which the Holy Spirit quickened to me on September 28, 2017. Every believer is familiar with the general events recorded in the Book of Esther. Haman, who represents our adversary, had plotted to kill all of the Jews. But Mordecai, who speaks of the Holy Spirit, prompted Esther (the elect, or the bride of Christ) to intercede before the king Ahasuerus on behalf of all the Jews (the body of Christ). Esther’s original Jewish name was Hadassah, which means both "myrtle" and "bride." The Lord has always had a remnant; He has always had His Hadassah’s.
Ahasuerus, having divorced Vashti, chose Esther to be his wife (the bride of Christ). It was because of the intercession of Esther that Haman’s plot to kill all of the Jews was reversed. Instead, Haman and his ten sons were all hanged. As a result,
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Esther 9:17
That day became known as the Feast of Purim or the Feast of Lots (Esther 9:24). Three verses in Esther (Esther 3:13, 8:12, and 9:1) tell us that the Jewish month of Adar is the twelfth month of the Jewish sacred year. However, the month of Adar corresponds to the sixth month of the Jewish civil year. Our sixth month is June. It was the 13th day of the civil month Adar (our June) that the Lord spoke that sledgehammer word to me! What an amazing God we serve! The Lord could have quickened that word from Ezra 6:14 to me any day and time.
It is worth noting that the whole scenario contained in the Book of Esther is on the verge of being repeated in these last days. In a sense, the Book of Esther lays out the major events in the history of the Church. If you read this book carefully you should understand why that is true.
Any true minister must minister from his experience … from that which the Lord has made flesh within him. Other believers may argue with your doctrine or your understanding of Scripture. But no one can argue with your experience. As the Lord allowed me to write this book, I am fully aware of the reality of what Paul said,
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:18-19
I have never claimed that I understand perfectly what is written in the Bible. None of us do. But I have a responsibility … a mandate from the Lord, going back to June 13, 1976 (in reality before the foundation of the world), to share that which I have received from the Lord. That is why I have written this book. Paul said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). In the same manner, woe is me if I do not function in the place that the Lord has called me.
Another part of the motivation behind this book is related to Isaiah 53, which speaks only about the Lord Jesus Christ. However, from my personal experience, the Lord has allowed me to identify with a part of Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of His soul.” The Lord has fashioned me to travail in my soul that the purposed of God might be fulfilled in the Body of Christ. There is no way to explain or describe that travail; it must be experienced; it must be inwrought within by the power of the Holy Ghost. Certainly Moses, Elijah, Stephen, Paul, and many others experienced that travail. Any believer who sees the great need within the Christian community and identifies with the heart of Jesus must travail in his soul.
Back in the 1940’s in my hometown of High Point, N.C., I used to go to the Saturday morning movies for nine cents. Just prior to the main feature, there would always be previews of the coming attractions. That ordering has continued throughout the years in modern-day movie theaters as well as with Netflix and similar operations. Man has always been interested in "what is coming next in my life." Human nature wants to look into the future. That is why some people visit palm readers or diviners. That is why some people spend much time trying to determine what stocks will go up or down, so they can make more money. That aspect of human nature has carried over into the Church community throughout the many centuries. If you knew for an absolute certainty that Jesus would return to earth tomorrow and consummate all things in this earthly world, would you do anything differently? Your answer to that question may well affect your eternal destiny because no one knows if we will be on earth tomorrow. Shortly before Jesus was crucified,
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Matthew 24:1-4
Verse 1 describes the last time that Jesus was in the temple made by men’s hands. That Verse also reveals the lack of understanding and discernment on the part of the disciples at that point in time, even though they had walked with Jesus and been taught by Him for three years. Even worse, that Verse reveals the pride of man, even within His disciples. Has anything changed in today’s Christian community?
In the natural realm when Jesus walked the face of the earth the temple in Jerusalem was indeed a magnificent example of what man can do. But Jesus quickly dispelled their pride in what they had done. In effect, in Verse 2 Jesus said that everything that man builds in the religious arena will be thrown down. Then, perhaps somewhat to the consternation of the disciples, Jesus promptly left them and went to the Mount of Olives and sat down. The disciples, being quite perplexed, then came to Jesus privately and asked Him three questions: (1) When shall these things be (i.e., when is this beautiful temple going to be destroyed)? (2) What shall be the sign of Thy coming? (i.e., His second coming, because Jesus had already told them that He must die on the cross at Calvary) and (3) When shall the end of the world (or age) come? Of course Jesus never replied to any of those three questions with a specific answer. He simply told them about some signs to watch for. If man knew the answers to every question like those three, we would have little use for the Holy Spirit and little use for faith and trust in the Lord. We would simply continue having a good time, wait until the day before Jesus returns, and then repent.
About 15 years ago, at the recommendation of another Christian, I visited a ‘charismatic’ church nearby. (I do not use the phrase “Spirit-filled church” because very few churches, if any, exist where every "member" is Spirit-filled.) At least two hundred professing Christians were there. For the first 30 or 40 minutes they had a session of hip-hop songs or music with a contemporary beat, which was one of the five tangents that William Branham some 60 years ago saw coming to the Church and which would contribute to the apostasy. The people, for the most part, were smiling, clapping their hands, dancing, singing, and having a big time. Then the pastor strutted out on the stage. He said that the Lord had told him very recently that his church (the pastor’s church) would be power brokers in the Washington, D.C. area. May God have mercy on us all! If the Lord spoke that word to that man then he and I have different Lords. The pastor’s message that morning was “Get Out of the Boat,” referencing the time that Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water to Him. Well that pastor might as well have hung a big sign around his neck that said, “Look at Me!” His pride was so thick you could cut it with a knife. At least 3 or 4 times during his “sermon” he talked about what a good message he was preaching. He also emphasized many times how his church needed to “get out of the boat.” I doubt that he even knew what the boat is, much less how to get out of the boat. Of course, if he believes that, then he should get out of the boat first and demonstrate to “his” church how to walk on water. That pastor’s emphasis on money was also nauseating. I feel sorry for that pastor because one day the judgment of God will fall on him because he has nothing to say to the people. I also feel sorry for the people who attend that church … people who apparently do not know any better. They are trapped with no apparent way out. That brings up a good question … do you know what the boat is? And do you know why and how to get out of the boat?
Do you think that is an isolated event? Not at all! I have seen the same thing in other places too many times. But the question is, what can we do about it, if anything? Clearly we as individuals have to keep our own garments clean. Also clearly, we must do and say whatever the Lord tells us to do or say to those individuals whose eyes have been blinded by self.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18:4
What is “her” in the above verse? In order to come out of “her” we must be able to discern who “her” specifically is. That word exhorts us to come out of Babylon, the false, the worldly, economic, religious, political system. There is no country on earth that epitomizes Babylon more than the United States. Unfortunately, many of the worldly ways have been absorbed by the Church. Lord, give us a measure of discernment to distinguish the true from the false. (More on Babylon in Chapter 12)
There is a simple pattern for us believers in Christ to follow whenever we want to know anything concerning the Kingdom of God or whenever we sense that there might be more to this Christian walk than what we have experienced. The latter sense comes from conviction by the Holy Spirit, not by condemnation from the enemy.
(1) We must see a need,
Unless we are hungry for natural food we will probably not eat. Unless we are thirsty we will probably not drink. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). That speaks of an intense level of hunger and thirst. My maternal grandmother had a lot of God-given wisdom. After she went to be with the Lord, I read all of the words of wisdom she had written in one of her Bibles. She wrote, “Lord, let me create hunger in their hearts, for until they hunger they cannot be fed.” This step is always the most difficult hurdle on the road to restoration, whether individually or corporately. The majority of the Christian community at all levels today sees no need. The attitude is: we are born again, perhaps baptized with the Holy Ghost, go to church every Sunday, sing some nice songs, put a few shekels in the offering plate, try to lead a morally good life, read our Bible, even pray sometimes. Our life is, for the most part, without persecution, tribulation, or suffering. Besides, we have to go to work five days a week; that takes nine hours a day. We have to sleep and eat, take care of many household chores, spend a number of hours weekly with our children. So that leaves very little time for anything else. Further we know we are saved and will go to heaven one day when we die, so what is the problem? All is well. I’m OK, you’re OK; why rock the boat? Does that sound a little like Cornelius in Acts 10 before the Lord sent an apostle (Peter) to him? Well, no, not exactly, because Cornelius had an open spirit and open mind to the word that Peter brought to him from the Lord.
Hopefully, the Lord will use this book to help create within a few Christians the awareness of the great need within the Christian community today, both individually and corporately. Once we are allowed to see our great need, then
(2) We must recognize that we, on our own effort, cannot fulfill that need.
Almost every professing Christian will agree with that statement doctrinally. But this is the second biggest hurdle on the road to restoration. After all, doesn’t the Scripture say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?” We Christians tend to leave out the phrase, “through Christ.” No man can pull himself up spiritually by his bootstraps. Paul describes this truth in Romans 7:18-25.
Two of the most descriptive words of man, even “Christian” man, are “cannot” and “nothing.” In Genesis, Chapter 11, all men tried to build a tower that would reach unto heaven. That was man’s attempt to reach God by their own efforts. Of course that attempt failed even though the natural, carnal motivation behind that endeavor seemed good and right. The Lord will never allow man’s efforts to bring about the will and purpose of God. Man, on his own efforts, can never reach God or know Him. Then we read of Ishmael and Isaac … the former was the result of a Godly man’s efforts to bring forth God’s will. We all know the result of that.
Without the Lord and the grace of God we can do nothing! We cannot even take our next breath except for Him. Jesus said,
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30
If Jesus said He could of His own self do nothing (and He said that), where does that leave us? The same is true of every believer.
We can have a B.A., a M.S., a Ph.D., a M.D., a J.D., a Doctor of Divinity from any seminary or any other kind of degree from any university but still know little of value to the Lord. What is the conclusion of the matter? All believers are totally dependent upon the Lord for everything. Sometimes we believers have to learn that the hard way. That is why Jesus said,
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4
A little child totally depends upon his or her parents. Likewise, all Christians must come to the place where we recognize that we are totally dependent upon the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for all things.
(3) We must recognize that only the Lord, not man, can help us and that by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Now it is true that the Lord delights to use His people from time to time, but our real Source for all things is the Lord Himself. Part of the song of Moses and the children of Israel was,
The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Exodus 15:2
A Psalm of David, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? Isaiah 22:6
(4) We must sincerely ask the Lord to work out within us that which He longs for, not for what you or I long for.
Any time that we ask anything which is in the will of the Lord, we will receive our request, but we sill may have to wait for the Lord’s timing. The Lord is not our servant, just waiting to do our bidding.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
Note carefully that “Ask, and ye shall receive” is conditional. We must ask in His name. That does NOT mean, “Lord, please give me a new car every year, in the name of Jesus,” i.e., we cannot just repeat some “magic” words to get what we want. We must ask that which we know is in the will of God. Otherwise the Lord may give us our request but send leanness into our soul. (Psalm 106:7-15).
(5) Then, both before and after we receive, we must thank the Lord and give Him all the glory. Luke 17:11-19 describes a time when Jesus healed ten lepers. In those days there was no natural cure for leprosy.
Luke 17:14-19, “14 And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Verse 14 describes a physical healing of the body. Verse 19 describes a spiritual healing. Today, most Christians look at the phenomenon of “healing” in the natural, physical realm. But which is greater in the eyes of the Lord? Our physical healing or our spiritual healing? I am certainly all in favor of physical healing, but I believe there is a higher way, a higher purpose. It is called physical health such that I do not need physical healing. In Exodus 15:26, the Lord said, “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD the God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that health thee.” I believe that verse is still true today.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
That verse says in everything give thanks. But brother, must I give thanks when I lose my job? Absolutely! Why? Because the Lord has something better for you (provided your heart is right before Him). But brother, you don’t know how they have persecuted me and spoken lies about me! No, but the Lord knows. And He will never give us more than we can bear without making a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Whenever we see a word repeated three times in the same verse, we best take notice, because that emphasizes the great importance of that word. It indicates a state of completion or absoluteness. For example, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8; “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord” in Jeremiah 22:29; “I will overturn, overturn, overturn” of Ezekiel 21:27; “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” of Jeremiah 7:4. I am not aware of any other such repetition, but there could be more. The only such repetition in both the Old and New Testaments is, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.” That is the only characteristic of God that is repeated three times in succession. His holiness is so far beyond human thought that a super-superlative has to be used to express it.
In Chapter 7 we want to apply those five basic principles as they relate to a common theme of preparation. Restoration follows step 5 of that five-step procedure. It is our responsibility to prepare the way of the Lord. Restoration is the Lord’s responsibility after we do what we are called to do. Both preparation and restoration are intimately related with the kingdom of God and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no restoration without preparation. But when we prepare the way of the Lord we are previewing the greatest Coming Attraction ever … the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first and most important reason why I have written this book is because I believe the Lord said “Do it.” My motivation for writing this book is simply to try to help all of us to stir up our pure minds to fulfill our high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
A few years ago I emailed a word to a good brother on the West coast. He replied that “perhaps you have been called to cry aloud, and spare not” (Isaiah 58:1). He said that someone must do that because it is not being done from the pulpits in America.
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1
In 2004 I attended an “intercessor conference” in Hopkinsville, KY. Upon arrival, a middle-age, jolly, round-faced lady smiled at me and asked, “What is your ministry?” I replied, “I am just a messenger boy that the Lord has turned into a trumpet player.” She said, “Oh, did you bring your trumpet?” I tried to explain to her that the Lord has made me into a trumpet but she never understood. For 52+ years I have literally cried aloud, with much weeping for the Body of Christ. The words “spare not” mean “do not refrain or restrain from speaking the truth.” One of the very first few true prophets I have ever met has a phrase on his website: “Preach the truth. If it kills, let me die first.” That is the reason for this book.
It may be helpful for the reader to understand how and why the Lord has shaped me. I am 88, walking with the Lord 52+ years. I wish it had been longer. I do not have a title; I do not have a ministry. The ministry belongs to the Lord. People come and go but the ministry continues forever because it is His Ministry. The ministry that the Lord put me into is like that of Jeremiah and Ezra the scribe. The Lord has allowed me to write and publish 12 Christian books. I also have many more fresh words from the Lord on my computer that no man except me has ever seen. That does not make me special in any way. Whatever call of the Lord is upon us, the Lord desires to enlarge our tent. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
Immediately after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me, He emphasized two things to me … the sovereignty of God and the proper relationship between a believer and the mammon of unrighteousness. Although it is true the Lord delights to use his people to minister to others, I have found out some 52 years ago that the Lord can save people all by Himself; He can heal people all by Himself; He can deliver people all by Himself. He can also reveal the meaning of Scripture all by Himself. How do I know? because he did all of those things for me, sovereignly, in the first 6 months after He apprehended me. He continues to work within me sovereignly. That does not make me special in any way. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
I never made very much money in the 47 years that I worked in a “secular” job. But if I were to tell you all the ways that the Lord has prospered us financially or materially, you would say “that is totally impossible.” I found out through experience that no one can out-give God. But we do need to be careful that our motivation for giving is not based on any selfish attitude of getting back something for ourselves. That is unacceptable to the Lord. I have heard too many ministers tell folks to “sow a seed” so you will get much more back in return. That kind of plea for money is totally false; it is the ways of Balaam.
I know how Jesus felt when He overthrew the tables of the money changers because I came very, very close to doing the same thing about 20 years ago in a charismatic church near where we live. I know how Elijah felt when he said he was jealous for the Lord God of hosts. I know how Jeremiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah felt when they wept over Jerusalem and the chosen people of God. I know how Paul felt when he wept for the church at Ephesus. I can’t tell you how many times I was supposed to share a word and all I could do was stand up and weep for several minutes. The first time I experienced passing through the valley of Baca (Psalm 84:6) was in a large, Sunday gathering of several house churches in the Northern Virginia area around 1972. I could not believe the lack of maturity and lack of spiritual understanding that came forth in an “elders” meeting prior to the regular service. By the time the regular service started, I could not sing a song; I could not stand up; I could not read a verse in the Bible. I have no idea what anyone said or did during that meeting; all I did was to sit and weep the entire two hours. That is what I call the normal Christian life.
The greatest gift I have received is writing. Almost every time I sit down to write anything the Holy Spirit quickens to me something fresh and new … something I have never heard or read before. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord rained down fresh manna every day except on the Sabbath. I have believed for 50 years that there should be fresh manna to come forth in every gathering of believers. None of that makes me special in any way. That is part of what I call the normal Christian life.
My maternal grandmother was a real intercessor. She always prayed for all of her family members. She always wanted a son but she had three daughters and no sons. She was a lot like Hannah. I was her first grandson. After she went to be with the Lord I found one of her favorite bibles, in which she had written many words of wisdom. On the day I was born, she wrote in her bible, “Lord, make him Your minister.” About three years ago my first cousin sent me my grandmother’s diary from the year 1937. I never knew that diary existed. On my sixth birthday in 1937 she wrote in her diary, “Lord, make him Your messenger.”
On Sunday, June 13, 1976, the Lord woke me up about 3:30 a.m. and told me to get out of bed and go down to our living room and read the “restoration” books … Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah. At some point I read the following.
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo … Ezra 6:14
Note that it was the elders of the Jews who prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. If those in leadership positions prosper spiritually, with understanding and wisdom and in the revelation knowledge of Him, then all of the people will soon likewise prosper. When I read Verse 14, above, it was like a sledgehammer hit me. There was no one in our home awake but me. I sat alone on our sofa in our living room. There was no emotion, no audible voice. But I have often called that the most powerful word I have ever heard from the Lord. The Lord said to me, “If you want to see the body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place that I have called you.” At that point in time I had been a functioning elder in a New Testament house church for about 7 years. I had ‘done’ about everything you can think of in a charismatic church. So if anyone had lined up 1,000 believers, all of whom told me that I had not been functioning, I never would have believed it! But when the Lord spoke that word to me, I immediately received it as truth. Very quickly after I heard that word from the Lord I heard another word from Him: “I have given you the power to fulfill the ministry to which I have called you.”
Now for an amazing truth which the Holy Spirit quickened to me on September 28, 2017. Every believer is familiar with the general events recorded in the Book of Esther. Haman, who represents our adversary, had plotted to kill all of the Jews. But Mordecai, who speaks of the Holy Spirit, prompted Esther (the elect, or the bride of Christ) to intercede before the king Ahasuerus on behalf of all the Jews (the body of Christ). Esther’s original Jewish name was Hadassah, which means both "myrtle" and "bride." The Lord has always had a remnant; He has always had His Hadassah’s.
Ahasuerus, having divorced Vashti, chose Esther to be his wife (the bride of Christ). It was because of the intercession of Esther that Haman’s plot to kill all of the Jews was reversed. Instead, Haman and his ten sons were all hanged. As a result,
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Esther 9:17
That day became known as the Feast of Purim or the Feast of Lots (Esther 9:24). Three verses in Esther (Esther 3:13, 8:12, and 9:1) tell us that the Jewish month of Adar is the twelfth month of the Jewish sacred year. However, the month of Adar corresponds to the sixth month of the Jewish civil year. Our sixth month is June. It was the 13th day of the civil month Adar (our June) that the Lord spoke that sledgehammer word to me! What an amazing God we serve! The Lord could have quickened that word from Ezra 6:14 to me any day and time.
It is worth noting that the whole scenario contained in the Book of Esther is on the verge of being repeated in these last days. In a sense, the Book of Esther lays out the major events in the history of the Church. If you read this book carefully you should understand why that is true.
Any true minister must minister from his experience … from that which the Lord has made flesh within him. Other believers may argue with your doctrine or your understanding of Scripture. But no one can argue with your experience. As the Lord allowed me to write this book, I am fully aware of the reality of what Paul said,
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:18-19
I have never claimed that I understand perfectly what is written in the Bible. None of us do. But I have a responsibility … a mandate from the Lord, going back to June 13, 1976 (in reality before the foundation of the world), to share that which I have received from the Lord. That is why I have written this book. Paul said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). In the same manner, woe is me if I do not function in the place that the Lord has called me.
Another part of the motivation behind this book is related to Isaiah 53, which speaks only about the Lord Jesus Christ. However, from my personal experience, the Lord has allowed me to identify with a part of Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of His soul.” The Lord has fashioned me to travail in my soul that the purposed of God might be fulfilled in the Body of Christ. There is no way to explain or describe that travail; it must be experienced; it must be inwrought within by the power of the Holy Ghost. Certainly Moses, Elijah, Stephen, Paul, and many others experienced that travail. Any believer who sees the great need within the Christian community and identifies with the heart of Jesus must travail in his soul.
Back in the 1940’s in my hometown of High Point, N.C., I used to go to the Saturday morning movies for nine cents. Just prior to the main feature, there would always be previews of the coming attractions. That ordering has continued throughout the years in modern-day movie theaters as well as with Netflix and similar operations. Man has always been interested in "what is coming next in my life." Human nature wants to look into the future. That is why some people visit palm readers or diviners. That is why some people spend much time trying to determine what stocks will go up or down, so they can make more money. That aspect of human nature has carried over into the Church community throughout the many centuries. If you knew for an absolute certainty that Jesus would return to earth tomorrow and consummate all things in this earthly world, would you do anything differently? Your answer to that question may well affect your eternal destiny because no one knows if we will be on earth tomorrow. Shortly before Jesus was crucified,
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Matthew 24:1-4
Verse 1 describes the last time that Jesus was in the temple made by men’s hands. That Verse also reveals the lack of understanding and discernment on the part of the disciples at that point in time, even though they had walked with Jesus and been taught by Him for three years. Even worse, that Verse reveals the pride of man, even within His disciples. Has anything changed in today’s Christian community?
In the natural realm when Jesus walked the face of the earth the temple in Jerusalem was indeed a magnificent example of what man can do. But Jesus quickly dispelled their pride in what they had done. In effect, in Verse 2 Jesus said that everything that man builds in the religious arena will be thrown down. Then, perhaps somewhat to the consternation of the disciples, Jesus promptly left them and went to the Mount of Olives and sat down. The disciples, being quite perplexed, then came to Jesus privately and asked Him three questions: (1) When shall these things be (i.e., when is this beautiful temple going to be destroyed)? (2) What shall be the sign of Thy coming? (i.e., His second coming, because Jesus had already told them that He must die on the cross at Calvary) and (3) When shall the end of the world (or age) come? Of course Jesus never replied to any of those three questions with a specific answer. He simply told them about some signs to watch for. If man knew the answers to every question like those three, we would have little use for the Holy Spirit and little use for faith and trust in the Lord. We would simply continue having a good time, wait until the day before Jesus returns, and then repent.
About 15 years ago, at the recommendation of another Christian, I visited a ‘charismatic’ church nearby. (I do not use the phrase “Spirit-filled church” because very few churches, if any, exist where every "member" is Spirit-filled.) At least two hundred professing Christians were there. For the first 30 or 40 minutes they had a session of hip-hop songs or music with a contemporary beat, which was one of the five tangents that William Branham some 60 years ago saw coming to the Church and which would contribute to the apostasy. The people, for the most part, were smiling, clapping their hands, dancing, singing, and having a big time. Then the pastor strutted out on the stage. He said that the Lord had told him very recently that his church (the pastor’s church) would be power brokers in the Washington, D.C. area. May God have mercy on us all! If the Lord spoke that word to that man then he and I have different Lords. The pastor’s message that morning was “Get Out of the Boat,” referencing the time that Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water to Him. Well that pastor might as well have hung a big sign around his neck that said, “Look at Me!” His pride was so thick you could cut it with a knife. At least 3 or 4 times during his “sermon” he talked about what a good message he was preaching. He also emphasized many times how his church needed to “get out of the boat.” I doubt that he even knew what the boat is, much less how to get out of the boat. Of course, if he believes that, then he should get out of the boat first and demonstrate to “his” church how to walk on water. That pastor’s emphasis on money was also nauseating. I feel sorry for that pastor because one day the judgment of God will fall on him because he has nothing to say to the people. I also feel sorry for the people who attend that church … people who apparently do not know any better. They are trapped with no apparent way out. That brings up a good question … do you know what the boat is? And do you know why and how to get out of the boat?
Do you think that is an isolated event? Not at all! I have seen the same thing in other places too many times. But the question is, what can we do about it, if anything? Clearly we as individuals have to keep our own garments clean. Also clearly, we must do and say whatever the Lord tells us to do or say to those individuals whose eyes have been blinded by self.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18:4
What is “her” in the above verse? In order to come out of “her” we must be able to discern who “her” specifically is. That word exhorts us to come out of Babylon, the false, the worldly, economic, religious, political system. There is no country on earth that epitomizes Babylon more than the United States. Unfortunately, many of the worldly ways have been absorbed by the Church. Lord, give us a measure of discernment to distinguish the true from the false. (More on Babylon in Chapter 12)
There is a simple pattern for us believers in Christ to follow whenever we want to know anything concerning the Kingdom of God or whenever we sense that there might be more to this Christian walk than what we have experienced. The latter sense comes from conviction by the Holy Spirit, not by condemnation from the enemy.
(1) We must see a need,
Unless we are hungry for natural food we will probably not eat. Unless we are thirsty we will probably not drink. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). That speaks of an intense level of hunger and thirst. My maternal grandmother had a lot of God-given wisdom. After she went to be with the Lord, I read all of the words of wisdom she had written in one of her Bibles. She wrote, “Lord, let me create hunger in their hearts, for until they hunger they cannot be fed.” This step is always the most difficult hurdle on the road to restoration, whether individually or corporately. The majority of the Christian community at all levels today sees no need. The attitude is: we are born again, perhaps baptized with the Holy Ghost, go to church every Sunday, sing some nice songs, put a few shekels in the offering plate, try to lead a morally good life, read our Bible, even pray sometimes. Our life is, for the most part, without persecution, tribulation, or suffering. Besides, we have to go to work five days a week; that takes nine hours a day. We have to sleep and eat, take care of many household chores, spend a number of hours weekly with our children. So that leaves very little time for anything else. Further we know we are saved and will go to heaven one day when we die, so what is the problem? All is well. I’m OK, you’re OK; why rock the boat? Does that sound a little like Cornelius in Acts 10 before the Lord sent an apostle (Peter) to him? Well, no, not exactly, because Cornelius had an open spirit and open mind to the word that Peter brought to him from the Lord.
Hopefully, the Lord will use this book to help create within a few Christians the awareness of the great need within the Christian community today, both individually and corporately. Once we are allowed to see our great need, then
(2) We must recognize that we, on our own effort, cannot fulfill that need.
Almost every professing Christian will agree with that statement doctrinally. But this is the second biggest hurdle on the road to restoration. After all, doesn’t the Scripture say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?” We Christians tend to leave out the phrase, “through Christ.” No man can pull himself up spiritually by his bootstraps. Paul describes this truth in Romans 7:18-25.
Two of the most descriptive words of man, even “Christian” man, are “cannot” and “nothing.” In Genesis, Chapter 11, all men tried to build a tower that would reach unto heaven. That was man’s attempt to reach God by their own efforts. Of course that attempt failed even though the natural, carnal motivation behind that endeavor seemed good and right. The Lord will never allow man’s efforts to bring about the will and purpose of God. Man, on his own efforts, can never reach God or know Him. Then we read of Ishmael and Isaac … the former was the result of a Godly man’s efforts to bring forth God’s will. We all know the result of that.
Without the Lord and the grace of God we can do nothing! We cannot even take our next breath except for Him. Jesus said,
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30
If Jesus said He could of His own self do nothing (and He said that), where does that leave us? The same is true of every believer.
We can have a B.A., a M.S., a Ph.D., a M.D., a J.D., a Doctor of Divinity from any seminary or any other kind of degree from any university but still know little of value to the Lord. What is the conclusion of the matter? All believers are totally dependent upon the Lord for everything. Sometimes we believers have to learn that the hard way. That is why Jesus said,
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4
A little child totally depends upon his or her parents. Likewise, all Christians must come to the place where we recognize that we are totally dependent upon the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for all things.
(3) We must recognize that only the Lord, not man, can help us and that by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Now it is true that the Lord delights to use His people from time to time, but our real Source for all things is the Lord Himself. Part of the song of Moses and the children of Israel was,
The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Exodus 15:2
A Psalm of David, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? Isaiah 22:6
(4) We must sincerely ask the Lord to work out within us that which He longs for, not for what you or I long for.
Any time that we ask anything which is in the will of the Lord, we will receive our request, but we sill may have to wait for the Lord’s timing. The Lord is not our servant, just waiting to do our bidding.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
Note carefully that “Ask, and ye shall receive” is conditional. We must ask in His name. That does NOT mean, “Lord, please give me a new car every year, in the name of Jesus,” i.e., we cannot just repeat some “magic” words to get what we want. We must ask that which we know is in the will of God. Otherwise the Lord may give us our request but send leanness into our soul. (Psalm 106:7-15).
(5) Then, both before and after we receive, we must thank the Lord and give Him all the glory. Luke 17:11-19 describes a time when Jesus healed ten lepers. In those days there was no natural cure for leprosy.
Luke 17:14-19, “14 And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Verse 14 describes a physical healing of the body. Verse 19 describes a spiritual healing. Today, most Christians look at the phenomenon of “healing” in the natural, physical realm. But which is greater in the eyes of the Lord? Our physical healing or our spiritual healing? I am certainly all in favor of physical healing, but I believe there is a higher way, a higher purpose. It is called physical health such that I do not need physical healing. In Exodus 15:26, the Lord said, “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD the God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that health thee.” I believe that verse is still true today.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
That verse says in everything give thanks. But brother, must I give thanks when I lose my job? Absolutely! Why? Because the Lord has something better for you (provided your heart is right before Him). But brother, you don’t know how they have persecuted me and spoken lies about me! No, but the Lord knows. And He will never give us more than we can bear without making a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Whenever we see a word repeated three times in the same verse, we best take notice, because that emphasizes the great importance of that word. It indicates a state of completion or absoluteness. For example, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8; “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord” in Jeremiah 22:29; “I will overturn, overturn, overturn” of Ezekiel 21:27; “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” of Jeremiah 7:4. I am not aware of any other such repetition, but there could be more. The only such repetition in both the Old and New Testaments is, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.” That is the only characteristic of God that is repeated three times in succession. His holiness is so far beyond human thought that a super-superlative has to be used to express it.
In Chapter 7 we want to apply those five basic principles as they relate to a common theme of preparation. Restoration follows step 5 of that five-step procedure. It is our responsibility to prepare the way of the Lord. Restoration is the Lord’s responsibility after we do what we are called to do. Both preparation and restoration are intimately related with the kingdom of God and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no restoration without preparation. But when we prepare the way of the Lord we are previewing the greatest Coming Attraction ever … the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Isaiah 54:1-3
There never has been a time such as today when there was more of what is called Christian “work” … so much planning, organization, advertising, and expenditure of time and energy. Likewise, I doubt if there ever has been as little real spiritual effectiveness. How much of our work proceeds directly by revelation and initiation from the Holy Spirit? Much may look like success and impress us with a sense of accomplishment, but when the fire has done its work the real fruit may be very small. In reality, the flesh profits nothing, even though it may seem to get great results.
Is this a time when we should read more Scripture? Is this a time when we should just love everybody? Is this a time when we should double the number of our retreats, conferences, conventions, and revivals? Is this a time when we should have more meetings? Is this a time when we should give more money to the poor? Is this a time when we should knock on more doors to find and “save” the lost? Is this a time when we should hand out more tracts? Is this a time when we should travel to more foreign countries to spread our limited version and understanding of the gospel? Is this a time when we should pray more that the Lord will bring revival? Is this a time when the shepherds feed the flocks? Is this a time of feasting or a time of fasting? As it was in the time of Eli, so is it today. For the priests have become fat, taking and partaking of the offerings of the flock. The shepherds eat the fat and clothe themselves with the wool. Therefore the flock has been scattered and individual believers have become meat to all the beasts of the field.
Where are the men of God who preach the true gospel? Where are the men of God who preach only Christ, and Him crucified, and Him resurrected, and Him glorified? Where are the men of God who call into line that which is out of line? Where are the men of God who have no hidden agenda, no programs to promote, no organization or structure to build and support, no coffers to fill? Where are the men of God who are the priests who minister to the house? Do we serve men in the name of the Lord or do we serve the Lord? The difference is stated clearly in Ezekiel, Chapter 44.
Know ye not that this is a time of building, of preparation? This is not a time for building church structures out of brick and stone and wood, but a time when the Lord is building His Church without the sound of a hammer. Once more the Lord says with finality, this is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord!
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 1 Kings 6:7
Where are those who labor and travail in intercession that the purposes of God might come forth? For as soon as Zion travails, she shall bring forth her children. Where are those who weep between the porch and the altar? Where are those who understand that all believers are called to identify with Christ in His intercession for the Body?
Where are those who spend time with the Lord, who spend time before His word that they may eat it and devour it, that they may speak His word forth in a time of trouble? for surely we are living in a time of increasing trouble on the earth. Where are the men of God who seek His will? who hear His voice? who know His ways? Where are the sons of Issachar who have understanding of the times and know what Israel ought to do? Where are the Enochs who walk with God?
Where are the men of God that will speak forth, for the Lord does call upon you now to stand in the gap. Where are the men of God who will stand forth and proclaim the word of God among His people? That the word of God might be published and proclaimed throughout all the earth? Know, oh chosen ones of God, that the Lord has given you the power and the strength of His might, that He is with you, that your stand before Him is honored in His presence, and that He is faithful unto His word. Hearken unto the calling that the Lord has given unto you. Know for a certainty that He has given you the power to fulfill that ministry to which you have been called. Refrain from holding back. Do not look at their faces. Refrain from desiring to seek the pride of self. Let His name be proclaimed from your lips, for the Lord will inhabit your words. Prepare the way of the Lord. He will move as you speak His words so that the Lord may create in this place that which He is bringing about. So speak forth, O man of God, speak forth in the name of the Lord … that the men of the earth and the professing Christians may repent and return unto the Lord. This is a time to cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show the Lord’s people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.
Know that perilous times are upon us, but the Lord is our Provision in times of trouble. Remember Elijah, who shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest the Lord come and smite the earth with a curse.
Isn’t it staggering when you think that one sermon on the day of Pentecost resulted in 3000 new believers and a similar message shortly thereafter resulted in 5000 new believers? Compare that with the modern day church world where every Sunday more than 50,000 sermons are preached in America and almost no one is saved. And it doesn’t even faze us. If John the Baptist had preached the same message that ministers preach today, he never would have been beheaded. If Paul had preached the same message that ministers preach today, he never would have been beheaded. If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would not have been crucified. When Jesus preached and taught on earth, the Scripture says in about twelve places that the people were all amazed. The same is true with the early apostles in the Book of Acts. Today in our churches instead of the people being amazed, everybody simply wants to be amused! A number of years ago one Christian woman told me that she liked to listen to prophet “so-and-so” (name withheld) because “he always makes me laugh.”
A few years ago, in a gathering of many Spirit-filled believers, someone stated that this is not a time for business as usual. There were several hefty “amens” from those present. We charismatics learn the “correct” language very quickly! Charismatics have also learned to say that “it’s not about us but about Him.” That is certainly very, very true, but then we go right back and do our own thing … whatever we have been doing.
Many years ago I asked the elders in a New Testament house church if I could come and share with them what I had received about “church government.” They agreed. After I shared what I had received, one of the elders said, “That was the best teaching I have ever heard on church government. Now let’s get back to what we were doing.” Do we go to a church meeting, like the Athenians (Acts 17:21), just to hear or tell some new word? Do we go to a church meeting just to hear what the pastor says? Or just to have our emotions stirred up by the nice music and songs? Do we go to a church meeting because that is what a “good” Christian should do?
The Church world in America is too comfortable and wants to keep it that way. But Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Before proceeding, consider an abiding principle. What men call “negative” must precede the positive. Jeremiah 1:10 and Nehemiah 4:10 validate that truth. Natural man likes to hear only the positive parts. That is why all mega churches are so popular. But no one can build the foundation of a house on rubbish.
Let me hasten to add … I believe every true Christian loves the Lord to the degree they know how. I have never questioned the motivation of any professing Christian. I have questioned the understanding of many. Part of the lack of understanding is because they have never heard the basics of the true gospel. Unless the Holy Spirit reveals His meaning and significance to both the reader and the writer, then all the words in the world simply amount to a collection of information. Therefore we pray that the Holy Spirit will quicken to any and every reader that which He desires to impart. More importantly, may the Spirit of God make His Word to become flesh within each of us as we cooperate with Him. Hopefully what we share may help someone to receive a higher vision of what the Lord is looking for in this perilous hour … “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Isaiah 54:1-3
There never has been a time such as today when there was more of what is called Christian “work” … so much planning, organization, advertising, and expenditure of time and energy. Likewise, I doubt if there ever has been as little real spiritual effectiveness. How much of our work proceeds directly by revelation and initiation from the Holy Spirit? Much may look like success and impress us with a sense of accomplishment, but when the fire has done its work the real fruit may be very small. In reality, the flesh profits nothing, even though it may seem to get great results.
Is this a time when we should read more Scripture? Is this a time when we should just love everybody? Is this a time when we should double the number of our retreats, conferences, conventions, and revivals? Is this a time when we should have more meetings? Is this a time when we should give more money to the poor? Is this a time when we should knock on more doors to find and “save” the lost? Is this a time when we should hand out more tracts? Is this a time when we should travel to more foreign countries to spread our limited version and understanding of the gospel? Is this a time when we should pray more that the Lord will bring revival? Is this a time when the shepherds feed the flocks? Is this a time of feasting or a time of fasting? As it was in the time of Eli, so is it today. For the priests have become fat, taking and partaking of the offerings of the flock. The shepherds eat the fat and clothe themselves with the wool. Therefore the flock has been scattered and individual believers have become meat to all the beasts of the field.
Where are the men of God who preach the true gospel? Where are the men of God who preach only Christ, and Him crucified, and Him resurrected, and Him glorified? Where are the men of God who call into line that which is out of line? Where are the men of God who have no hidden agenda, no programs to promote, no organization or structure to build and support, no coffers to fill? Where are the men of God who are the priests who minister to the house? Do we serve men in the name of the Lord or do we serve the Lord? The difference is stated clearly in Ezekiel, Chapter 44.
Know ye not that this is a time of building, of preparation? This is not a time for building church structures out of brick and stone and wood, but a time when the Lord is building His Church without the sound of a hammer. Once more the Lord says with finality, this is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord!
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 1 Kings 6:7
Where are those who labor and travail in intercession that the purposes of God might come forth? For as soon as Zion travails, she shall bring forth her children. Where are those who weep between the porch and the altar? Where are those who understand that all believers are called to identify with Christ in His intercession for the Body?
Where are those who spend time with the Lord, who spend time before His word that they may eat it and devour it, that they may speak His word forth in a time of trouble? for surely we are living in a time of increasing trouble on the earth. Where are the men of God who seek His will? who hear His voice? who know His ways? Where are the sons of Issachar who have understanding of the times and know what Israel ought to do? Where are the Enochs who walk with God?
Where are the men of God that will speak forth, for the Lord does call upon you now to stand in the gap. Where are the men of God who will stand forth and proclaim the word of God among His people? That the word of God might be published and proclaimed throughout all the earth? Know, oh chosen ones of God, that the Lord has given you the power and the strength of His might, that He is with you, that your stand before Him is honored in His presence, and that He is faithful unto His word. Hearken unto the calling that the Lord has given unto you. Know for a certainty that He has given you the power to fulfill that ministry to which you have been called. Refrain from holding back. Do not look at their faces. Refrain from desiring to seek the pride of self. Let His name be proclaimed from your lips, for the Lord will inhabit your words. Prepare the way of the Lord. He will move as you speak His words so that the Lord may create in this place that which He is bringing about. So speak forth, O man of God, speak forth in the name of the Lord … that the men of the earth and the professing Christians may repent and return unto the Lord. This is a time to cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show the Lord’s people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.
Know that perilous times are upon us, but the Lord is our Provision in times of trouble. Remember Elijah, who shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest the Lord come and smite the earth with a curse.
Isn’t it staggering when you think that one sermon on the day of Pentecost resulted in 3000 new believers and a similar message shortly thereafter resulted in 5000 new believers? Compare that with the modern day church world where every Sunday more than 50,000 sermons are preached in America and almost no one is saved. And it doesn’t even faze us. If John the Baptist had preached the same message that ministers preach today, he never would have been beheaded. If Paul had preached the same message that ministers preach today, he never would have been beheaded. If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would not have been crucified. When Jesus preached and taught on earth, the Scripture says in about twelve places that the people were all amazed. The same is true with the early apostles in the Book of Acts. Today in our churches instead of the people being amazed, everybody simply wants to be amused! A number of years ago one Christian woman told me that she liked to listen to prophet “so-and-so” (name withheld) because “he always makes me laugh.”
A few years ago, in a gathering of many Spirit-filled believers, someone stated that this is not a time for business as usual. There were several hefty “amens” from those present. We charismatics learn the “correct” language very quickly! Charismatics have also learned to say that “it’s not about us but about Him.” That is certainly very, very true, but then we go right back and do our own thing … whatever we have been doing.
Many years ago I asked the elders in a New Testament house church if I could come and share with them what I had received about “church government.” They agreed. After I shared what I had received, one of the elders said, “That was the best teaching I have ever heard on church government. Now let’s get back to what we were doing.” Do we go to a church meeting, like the Athenians (Acts 17:21), just to hear or tell some new word? Do we go to a church meeting just to hear what the pastor says? Or just to have our emotions stirred up by the nice music and songs? Do we go to a church meeting because that is what a “good” Christian should do?
The Church world in America is too comfortable and wants to keep it that way. But Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Before proceeding, consider an abiding principle. What men call “negative” must precede the positive. Jeremiah 1:10 and Nehemiah 4:10 validate that truth. Natural man likes to hear only the positive parts. That is why all mega churches are so popular. But no one can build the foundation of a house on rubbish.
Let me hasten to add … I believe every true Christian loves the Lord to the degree they know how. I have never questioned the motivation of any professing Christian. I have questioned the understanding of many. Part of the lack of understanding is because they have never heard the basics of the true gospel. Unless the Holy Spirit reveals His meaning and significance to both the reader and the writer, then all the words in the world simply amount to a collection of information. Therefore we pray that the Holy Spirit will quicken to any and every reader that which He desires to impart. More importantly, may the Spirit of God make His Word to become flesh within each of us as we cooperate with Him. Hopefully what we share may help someone to receive a higher vision of what the Lord is looking for in this perilous hour … “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Chapter 1: The Lame Man
The first, specific miracle effected through the early apostles is recorded in Acts, Chapter 3.
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 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 of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people was him walking and praising God.
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and mazement at that which had happened unto him. Acts 3:1-10
Most likely, when many believers read those verses the reaction is, “That is wonderful! Peter and John healed a lame man! Great!” And that is the end of those verses, as if only an historical event had occurred. However the above verses are loaded with spiritual truth for us today. Further, the Lord almost always has something greater in mind than a physical healing. Which is greater? A physical healing for a physical body that will one day be discarded anyway OR a spiritual healing so that one day we will obtain a new body which will never be corrupted?
Because those verses record the first specific miracle after the day of Pentecost, we should ask, “Why is this specific miracle recorded here?” Why not another miracle, such as opening the eyes of the blind? Or raising someone from the dead? What is special about Peter and John healing an un-named lame man? Why did the Holy Ghost choose to record it at this particular place in Scripture?
What follow in Acts 3 is Peter’s second message to the people, the first being on the day of Pentecost. The immediate result was that about five thousand men believed the truth about Jesus as spoken be Peter (Acts 4:4). Therefore, because Peter and John healed one lame man of this natural inability to walk, five thousand men (males) were healed spiritually. And through the spiritual healing of those 5,000 males, all of their families were also saved. Talk about evangelism! Peter and John did not have to “beat the bushes” to make new converts! The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved! And all because Peter and John were obedient to the leading of the Holy Ghost with respect to one lame man! Do you think that same prescription might work for us today?
In Acts, Chapter 3, through Acts, Chapter 8, Peter and John are always mentioned (seven times) as being together. In every case, Peter is the spokesman of the two. No mention is made in Acts that John ever said anything. Did you ever stop to consider why? It was because Peter was a mouth and John was a heart. Do you think that John ever became jealous because Peter was always the speaker? But then in the remaining 20 chapters of Acts, we never see Peter and John mentioned together. That is not to say that they never saw each other again; it simply is not recorded in Scripture. Why? Because after Acts 8 it was Peter and the Lord; and it was John and the Lord. Now let us consider Acts, Chapter 3.
Verse 1: Note that Peter and John, and all of the people, were still enmeshed to a degree with the Judaic customs, such as going to the temple three times a day to pray. They would later learn that men ought to pray always, in every place, rather than just in those places and times designated by tradition.
Verse 2: The lame man evidently could not walk at all because others had to carry him. There could be no better place to ask for alms than at the doorway to the temple. Whenever men assemble together in a religious structure, they are undoubtedly in the most generous, giving mood ever. It makes men feel “good” to go to “church” and to put a few coins in the offering plate. Further, why was the lame man at the gate Beautiful, rather than some other gate? Undoubtedly because there was more traffic at that particular gate than at any other gate. The pride of man wants to be seen at the finest of the fine … and that was the gate Beautiful. So the lame man could not walk, but he was not ignorant! He knew that he had a better chance of receiving alms at that specific gate just before the mandatory times of prayer. He apparently had accepted his fate of never being able to walk, but he determined to make the most of it. Jesus said the “the children of this world are in their generation wiser [or more shrewd] than the children of light” (Luke 16:8).
Verse 3: The lame man saw Peter and John about to enter the temple. He obviously was attracted to Peter and John, perhaps more than anyone else who had already entered the temple. Why? because he undoubtedly perceived that there was something “different” about them in that they had been with Jesus. So the man asked for an alms from them.
Verse 4-5: Peter told the lame man to look intently at him and John. Peter obviously was moved by the Holy Ghost to pay attention to this lame man, who clearly thought Peter was going to give him something of material value. Why did Peter want the lame man to look at them? There is a saying that the eyes are the window of the soul. We can tell much by looking at a man’s eyes. Did Peter want to discern whether the lame man really desired to be healed? Or was he just looking for money?
Verse 6: Then Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (We will come back to the word “give.”) Peter and John knew that they had already been endued with power from on high. They had seen the manifestation of that power on the day of Pentecost and they simply believed the words that Jesus had spoken unto them. They also knew it was the will of God for that lame man to be healed. How did they know that? because they heard the voice of the Lord and they acted by faith. Note that Peter never prayed and said, Lord please heal this poor man. He simply spoke the living word of God to the man. So he spoke the word of healing with all boldness and confidence, trusting and having faith in the Lord’s word to them. They acted upon that faith when they told the lame man to rise up and walk! Also, Peter and John never conferred with each other as to whether or not they should speak a word of healing to the man. Further, Peter never had any doubts that the man would be restored to wholeness, for he knew His Lord and knew the ways of the Lord. He also knew his calling or ministry in the body of Christ. More importantly, Peter knew, by the Spirit, that what the lame man needed was not just some money to get him through to the next day.
Many years ago, a very good friend of mine, with whom I worked for more than 20 years, and who was a genuine believer, told me that he and his wife had gone to a meeting in Fairfax, Virginia, to hear, live, a very famous “faith-prosperity” preacher … a man who was nearing the top rungs of the professional, charismatic teachers in the world. I will not mention the name of the teacher, but I will call him Sam (not his real name). My good friend said that Sam had publicly told everyone, “When Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, Peter was actually a very rich man; he simply had left all of his money at home.” I have heard many ridiculous statements form believers, but few as ridiculous as that! Peter had been an ignorant fisherman, but he had left all to follow Jesus. Further he did not even have enough money to pay the tribute tax. At the command of Jesus, Peter got the required money from the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:27). Note also that Peter never asked John if he had any money to give to the lame man. Peter probably knew that John had no money either.
I once read an apparently true story of an event in the life of Thomas Aquinas, a well-known Catholic theologian and writer who lived in the 13th century. One day, Thomas went in to see the Pope, Pope Innocent II, and found him counting a large sum of money. The Pope said, “See Thomas, the church can no longer say, silver and gold have I none.” Thomas Aquinas responded, sadly, “No, but neither can it say rise up and walk.”
The Church in our day has likewise traded materialism, position, power, prestige, traditions of men, natural reasoning, etc., for the power of God in operation. BUT … God is not asleep. He has reserved to Himself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. The Lord is in the process of exposing all of the professional preachers. And one day very soon, the Lord will unveil the overcomers He has been preparing! The false always emerges before the true, but the true always emerges! We must never settle for our Ishmael; we must wait patiently for our Isaac!
Verse 7: Peter not only spoke the rhema word of faith to heal the lame man, he put faith into action. “Faith, if it hath not works is dead” (James 2:17). Likewise, revelation without application is dead! If this word does not produce application in your life, then the revelation is of no value. Note that the lame man was immediately healed. Peter, in Verse 12, told the people that the man was not healed because of Peter and John’s own power or holiness. Peter told the people in Verse 17 how the man was healed.
And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness [of wholeness] in the presence of you all. Acts 3:17
Verse 8: The lame man also responded by faith. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword! So the man who had been healed had been looking for a temporary “fix” just to get him through until the next day. But he received something far greater! That is the way our awesome God works! We ask Him for one thing and He gives us two! He not only could walk and leap but now could enter into the temple. By law, any animal that was lame or had any blemish could not be sacrificed (Deuteronomy 15:21). Further, any man who had any blemish like the lame or blind, could not approach God to offer the bread of his God (Leviticus 21:17-18). So the lame man could not even enter into the temple. That was why he was laid outside the gate. But now his blemish was gone! The Lord, through the word of God spoken by Peter and John, had made the lame man whole! He received much more than a physical healing. He undoubtedly was one of the 5,000 who were born again that day.
Verses 9-11: It never entered Peter’s mind, “but Lord, there are so many people around; what if the man does not walk? I will just make a fool of myself.” No, Peter knew for a certainty that it was the Lord’s will for the lame man to be healed. He knew by the Spirit of God. This miracle was similar to the time in John 9 when Jesus healed the man who was born blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2-3).
Did we forget that Peter and John and all of the people had gone up to the temple at the hour of prayer? What happened to the prayer time? It never came off as scheduled! That was probably another reason why the priests and the Sadducees were so mad at Peter and John (Acts 4:1-2). Peter and John, after healing the lame man and preaching to the multitude, had interrupted the traditions of the religious elite of the day! That will always get you into trouble!
A good question for that time and for our time today is: Why do we think it strange that the power of God can and does perform miracles by and through the mighty name of Jesus? There are some believers today who say that miracles no longer exist … that they stopped when the last apostle died. What a tragedy! For them, it is true that there are no longer miracles because they have confessed that with their mouth.
Let us return to Acts 3:6, and the word “give.” Peter said, “such as I have, give I thee.” This account in Acts 3 points out perhaps the biggest difference between the ways of man and the ways of God. The ways of man are always self-centered or to receive, but the ways of God are always to give.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
7 And as ye go, preaching, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
Those two verses bring up two interesting points. To whom are we exhorted to preach? They that are whole need not a physician. Note the order … first preach the kingdom of heaven, then heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Why? to authenticate the message of the kingdom of God. The early church, after the day of Pentecost, had no need within themselves for the healings and miracles of Verse 8. No one in that early church needed healing or deliverance. Why? because they were all so caught up in the realm of the Spirit that their whole focus was on glorifying the Lord. Today the Church applies those two verse to professing Christians. That implies that the Church today is not caught up in the realm of the Spirit.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
However, let us be very careful! Far too many charismatics today twist and distort that last verse as motivation for believers to contribute to “my” ministry. That verse applies ONLY if I give with no thought of any return for myself. The Lord is interested in our heart, not in the mechanics or quantity of money we may give or receive. In addition, what price tag do you place on being born again, which is free, but which cost the blood of Jesus? How much is your health and family worth? Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not looking for us to give Him some number of dollars. He wants us!
After John the Baptist was put into prison, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus,
3 And said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. Matthew 11:3-6
Jesus quotes Isaiah 35 to answer John. In other words, Jesus said, “You know what the prophet Isaiah prophesied. That is all the proof you need.”
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters breakout, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:3-6
However, there is another very important aspect of “rise up and walk.” We could legitimately say, “stand [up] and walk.” Many years ago I read a book by Watchman Nee titled, “Sit, Walk, Stand.” Although I am sure that is a very good book, today I could not tell you one thing that is in that book. However, may I suggest to you that God’s order is “stand, walk, sit.” We must stand before we walk. From Deuteronomy 10:8, “the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to stand before the LORD to minister unto Him unto this day.” And we do not (or should not) sit down until all of our walking is finished. That is what Jesus did. After He had finished His work on earth, after His resurrection and ascension, He sat down at the right hand of the Father.
But now let us return to Acts 3, when Peter and John healed the lame man. Why is healing a lame man the first recorded miracle by the apostles? Why not raising someone from the dead or some other miracle? Because the lame man is prophetic of the lameness of professing Christians who are not able to walk with God. The greatest significance for us is that a spiritually lame man cannot walk! And therefore he cannot walk with God. He cannot walk in grace. One of the God-given functions of an apostle is to heal the spiritually lame men of today so that they can indeed walk with God and fulfill their high calling on earth. Lord, raise up those true apostles of our time who will heal our spiritual lameness and prepare us to walk with God! This does not equate to more good teaching. It equates to those overcomers who will speak the word of God with authority and power.
In 1983 my wife and I had the “best” vacation we have ever had. After my business trip to Sweden, we toured all of Scandinavia. The trip was definitely ordained by the Lord. One of the many things that struck us was the unusual number of lame men we saw. Unfortunately, there are far too many spiritually “lame” believers today. They are lame because of many factors … many pastors have no word of life for them; they are bound up in traditions of men, mixture, materialism, ways of the world, even idolatry (you may be surprised), etc., and have no way out because they have no one to speak the truth to them.
Many believers say that apostles were only for that time period in the early Church. Another reason is because of the lack of true apostles. There are many who claim that title, but it is only positional authority. Starting a church or two does not make one an apostle. Traveling to several churches to teach or preach does not make one an apostle (like Peter, John, Paul, etc.). Only God makes an apostle. The Church today cannot say “rise up and walk” because of the lack of true apostles. I do not refer to physical healing. And of course, a major factor is king “self,” who too often usurps the rights of our true King. The time will come soon when the lame man (the church) will leap as an hart! But it will not be a walking and leaping based upon emotions. In truth there is a great lack of true apostles today. Why? the greatest reason is the sovereignty of God. We will explain that statement in Chapter 11.
The Lord is looking for those who will walk with Him! No matter where we are in our walk with Him, there is always much more. We must cry out to the Lord and say, “Help, Lord! Increase my hunger and thirst for You!”
Moreover, the word of God spoken with power does not even need to fall upon the natural ears of man. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11
Where are the hidden 7,000 that we know nothing about? When will they be unveiled? Only the Father knows. But the time is short.
The first, specific miracle effected through the early apostles is recorded in Acts, Chapter 3.
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 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 of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people was him walking and praising God.
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and mazement at that which had happened unto him. Acts 3:1-10
Most likely, when many believers read those verses the reaction is, “That is wonderful! Peter and John healed a lame man! Great!” And that is the end of those verses, as if only an historical event had occurred. However the above verses are loaded with spiritual truth for us today. Further, the Lord almost always has something greater in mind than a physical healing. Which is greater? A physical healing for a physical body that will one day be discarded anyway OR a spiritual healing so that one day we will obtain a new body which will never be corrupted?
Because those verses record the first specific miracle after the day of Pentecost, we should ask, “Why is this specific miracle recorded here?” Why not another miracle, such as opening the eyes of the blind? Or raising someone from the dead? What is special about Peter and John healing an un-named lame man? Why did the Holy Ghost choose to record it at this particular place in Scripture?
What follow in Acts 3 is Peter’s second message to the people, the first being on the day of Pentecost. The immediate result was that about five thousand men believed the truth about Jesus as spoken be Peter (Acts 4:4). Therefore, because Peter and John healed one lame man of this natural inability to walk, five thousand men (males) were healed spiritually. And through the spiritual healing of those 5,000 males, all of their families were also saved. Talk about evangelism! Peter and John did not have to “beat the bushes” to make new converts! The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved! And all because Peter and John were obedient to the leading of the Holy Ghost with respect to one lame man! Do you think that same prescription might work for us today?
In Acts, Chapter 3, through Acts, Chapter 8, Peter and John are always mentioned (seven times) as being together. In every case, Peter is the spokesman of the two. No mention is made in Acts that John ever said anything. Did you ever stop to consider why? It was because Peter was a mouth and John was a heart. Do you think that John ever became jealous because Peter was always the speaker? But then in the remaining 20 chapters of Acts, we never see Peter and John mentioned together. That is not to say that they never saw each other again; it simply is not recorded in Scripture. Why? Because after Acts 8 it was Peter and the Lord; and it was John and the Lord. Now let us consider Acts, Chapter 3.
Verse 1: Note that Peter and John, and all of the people, were still enmeshed to a degree with the Judaic customs, such as going to the temple three times a day to pray. They would later learn that men ought to pray always, in every place, rather than just in those places and times designated by tradition.
Verse 2: The lame man evidently could not walk at all because others had to carry him. There could be no better place to ask for alms than at the doorway to the temple. Whenever men assemble together in a religious structure, they are undoubtedly in the most generous, giving mood ever. It makes men feel “good” to go to “church” and to put a few coins in the offering plate. Further, why was the lame man at the gate Beautiful, rather than some other gate? Undoubtedly because there was more traffic at that particular gate than at any other gate. The pride of man wants to be seen at the finest of the fine … and that was the gate Beautiful. So the lame man could not walk, but he was not ignorant! He knew that he had a better chance of receiving alms at that specific gate just before the mandatory times of prayer. He apparently had accepted his fate of never being able to walk, but he determined to make the most of it. Jesus said the “the children of this world are in their generation wiser [or more shrewd] than the children of light” (Luke 16:8).
Verse 3: The lame man saw Peter and John about to enter the temple. He obviously was attracted to Peter and John, perhaps more than anyone else who had already entered the temple. Why? because he undoubtedly perceived that there was something “different” about them in that they had been with Jesus. So the man asked for an alms from them.
Verse 4-5: Peter told the lame man to look intently at him and John. Peter obviously was moved by the Holy Ghost to pay attention to this lame man, who clearly thought Peter was going to give him something of material value. Why did Peter want the lame man to look at them? There is a saying that the eyes are the window of the soul. We can tell much by looking at a man’s eyes. Did Peter want to discern whether the lame man really desired to be healed? Or was he just looking for money?
Verse 6: Then Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (We will come back to the word “give.”) Peter and John knew that they had already been endued with power from on high. They had seen the manifestation of that power on the day of Pentecost and they simply believed the words that Jesus had spoken unto them. They also knew it was the will of God for that lame man to be healed. How did they know that? because they heard the voice of the Lord and they acted by faith. Note that Peter never prayed and said, Lord please heal this poor man. He simply spoke the living word of God to the man. So he spoke the word of healing with all boldness and confidence, trusting and having faith in the Lord’s word to them. They acted upon that faith when they told the lame man to rise up and walk! Also, Peter and John never conferred with each other as to whether or not they should speak a word of healing to the man. Further, Peter never had any doubts that the man would be restored to wholeness, for he knew His Lord and knew the ways of the Lord. He also knew his calling or ministry in the body of Christ. More importantly, Peter knew, by the Spirit, that what the lame man needed was not just some money to get him through to the next day.
Many years ago, a very good friend of mine, with whom I worked for more than 20 years, and who was a genuine believer, told me that he and his wife had gone to a meeting in Fairfax, Virginia, to hear, live, a very famous “faith-prosperity” preacher … a man who was nearing the top rungs of the professional, charismatic teachers in the world. I will not mention the name of the teacher, but I will call him Sam (not his real name). My good friend said that Sam had publicly told everyone, “When Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, Peter was actually a very rich man; he simply had left all of his money at home.” I have heard many ridiculous statements form believers, but few as ridiculous as that! Peter had been an ignorant fisherman, but he had left all to follow Jesus. Further he did not even have enough money to pay the tribute tax. At the command of Jesus, Peter got the required money from the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:27). Note also that Peter never asked John if he had any money to give to the lame man. Peter probably knew that John had no money either.
I once read an apparently true story of an event in the life of Thomas Aquinas, a well-known Catholic theologian and writer who lived in the 13th century. One day, Thomas went in to see the Pope, Pope Innocent II, and found him counting a large sum of money. The Pope said, “See Thomas, the church can no longer say, silver and gold have I none.” Thomas Aquinas responded, sadly, “No, but neither can it say rise up and walk.”
The Church in our day has likewise traded materialism, position, power, prestige, traditions of men, natural reasoning, etc., for the power of God in operation. BUT … God is not asleep. He has reserved to Himself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. The Lord is in the process of exposing all of the professional preachers. And one day very soon, the Lord will unveil the overcomers He has been preparing! The false always emerges before the true, but the true always emerges! We must never settle for our Ishmael; we must wait patiently for our Isaac!
Verse 7: Peter not only spoke the rhema word of faith to heal the lame man, he put faith into action. “Faith, if it hath not works is dead” (James 2:17). Likewise, revelation without application is dead! If this word does not produce application in your life, then the revelation is of no value. Note that the lame man was immediately healed. Peter, in Verse 12, told the people that the man was not healed because of Peter and John’s own power or holiness. Peter told the people in Verse 17 how the man was healed.
And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness [of wholeness] in the presence of you all. Acts 3:17
Verse 8: The lame man also responded by faith. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword! So the man who had been healed had been looking for a temporary “fix” just to get him through until the next day. But he received something far greater! That is the way our awesome God works! We ask Him for one thing and He gives us two! He not only could walk and leap but now could enter into the temple. By law, any animal that was lame or had any blemish could not be sacrificed (Deuteronomy 15:21). Further, any man who had any blemish like the lame or blind, could not approach God to offer the bread of his God (Leviticus 21:17-18). So the lame man could not even enter into the temple. That was why he was laid outside the gate. But now his blemish was gone! The Lord, through the word of God spoken by Peter and John, had made the lame man whole! He received much more than a physical healing. He undoubtedly was one of the 5,000 who were born again that day.
Verses 9-11: It never entered Peter’s mind, “but Lord, there are so many people around; what if the man does not walk? I will just make a fool of myself.” No, Peter knew for a certainty that it was the Lord’s will for the lame man to be healed. He knew by the Spirit of God. This miracle was similar to the time in John 9 when Jesus healed the man who was born blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2-3).
Did we forget that Peter and John and all of the people had gone up to the temple at the hour of prayer? What happened to the prayer time? It never came off as scheduled! That was probably another reason why the priests and the Sadducees were so mad at Peter and John (Acts 4:1-2). Peter and John, after healing the lame man and preaching to the multitude, had interrupted the traditions of the religious elite of the day! That will always get you into trouble!
A good question for that time and for our time today is: Why do we think it strange that the power of God can and does perform miracles by and through the mighty name of Jesus? There are some believers today who say that miracles no longer exist … that they stopped when the last apostle died. What a tragedy! For them, it is true that there are no longer miracles because they have confessed that with their mouth.
Let us return to Acts 3:6, and the word “give.” Peter said, “such as I have, give I thee.” This account in Acts 3 points out perhaps the biggest difference between the ways of man and the ways of God. The ways of man are always self-centered or to receive, but the ways of God are always to give.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
7 And as ye go, preaching, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
Those two verses bring up two interesting points. To whom are we exhorted to preach? They that are whole need not a physician. Note the order … first preach the kingdom of heaven, then heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Why? to authenticate the message of the kingdom of God. The early church, after the day of Pentecost, had no need within themselves for the healings and miracles of Verse 8. No one in that early church needed healing or deliverance. Why? because they were all so caught up in the realm of the Spirit that their whole focus was on glorifying the Lord. Today the Church applies those two verse to professing Christians. That implies that the Church today is not caught up in the realm of the Spirit.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
However, let us be very careful! Far too many charismatics today twist and distort that last verse as motivation for believers to contribute to “my” ministry. That verse applies ONLY if I give with no thought of any return for myself. The Lord is interested in our heart, not in the mechanics or quantity of money we may give or receive. In addition, what price tag do you place on being born again, which is free, but which cost the blood of Jesus? How much is your health and family worth? Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not looking for us to give Him some number of dollars. He wants us!
After John the Baptist was put into prison, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus,
3 And said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. Matthew 11:3-6
Jesus quotes Isaiah 35 to answer John. In other words, Jesus said, “You know what the prophet Isaiah prophesied. That is all the proof you need.”
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters breakout, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:3-6
However, there is another very important aspect of “rise up and walk.” We could legitimately say, “stand [up] and walk.” Many years ago I read a book by Watchman Nee titled, “Sit, Walk, Stand.” Although I am sure that is a very good book, today I could not tell you one thing that is in that book. However, may I suggest to you that God’s order is “stand, walk, sit.” We must stand before we walk. From Deuteronomy 10:8, “the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to stand before the LORD to minister unto Him unto this day.” And we do not (or should not) sit down until all of our walking is finished. That is what Jesus did. After He had finished His work on earth, after His resurrection and ascension, He sat down at the right hand of the Father.
But now let us return to Acts 3, when Peter and John healed the lame man. Why is healing a lame man the first recorded miracle by the apostles? Why not raising someone from the dead or some other miracle? Because the lame man is prophetic of the lameness of professing Christians who are not able to walk with God. The greatest significance for us is that a spiritually lame man cannot walk! And therefore he cannot walk with God. He cannot walk in grace. One of the God-given functions of an apostle is to heal the spiritually lame men of today so that they can indeed walk with God and fulfill their high calling on earth. Lord, raise up those true apostles of our time who will heal our spiritual lameness and prepare us to walk with God! This does not equate to more good teaching. It equates to those overcomers who will speak the word of God with authority and power.
In 1983 my wife and I had the “best” vacation we have ever had. After my business trip to Sweden, we toured all of Scandinavia. The trip was definitely ordained by the Lord. One of the many things that struck us was the unusual number of lame men we saw. Unfortunately, there are far too many spiritually “lame” believers today. They are lame because of many factors … many pastors have no word of life for them; they are bound up in traditions of men, mixture, materialism, ways of the world, even idolatry (you may be surprised), etc., and have no way out because they have no one to speak the truth to them.
Many believers say that apostles were only for that time period in the early Church. Another reason is because of the lack of true apostles. There are many who claim that title, but it is only positional authority. Starting a church or two does not make one an apostle. Traveling to several churches to teach or preach does not make one an apostle (like Peter, John, Paul, etc.). Only God makes an apostle. The Church today cannot say “rise up and walk” because of the lack of true apostles. I do not refer to physical healing. And of course, a major factor is king “self,” who too often usurps the rights of our true King. The time will come soon when the lame man (the church) will leap as an hart! But it will not be a walking and leaping based upon emotions. In truth there is a great lack of true apostles today. Why? the greatest reason is the sovereignty of God. We will explain that statement in Chapter 11.
The Lord is looking for those who will walk with Him! No matter where we are in our walk with Him, there is always much more. We must cry out to the Lord and say, “Help, Lord! Increase my hunger and thirst for You!”
Moreover, the word of God spoken with power does not even need to fall upon the natural ears of man. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11
Where are the hidden 7,000 that we know nothing about? When will they be unveiled? Only the Father knows. But the time is short.
Chapter 2: Humanism
In this Chapter we start to relate why the visible Church today is a lame man. (Note: The essence of a few parts of this Chapter were quickened from a message preached fifty-some years ago by a man named Reidhead. The title of his message was “Ten Shekels and a Shirt.”) The history of man, and even Christian man (or God’s chosen people), repeats itself. Our future is written in Israel’s history. We are making the same mistakes that Israel of old made and we are receiving the same results. Why is this true? because of at least two reasons: First, because of human nature or humanism … ego, King Self, the great pretender. Human nature has never changed and never will change. Second, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever and God is no respecter of persons. When did humanism begin? with Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible, as well as the history of God’s chosen people, reflects the devastating effects that humanism has had on the body of Christ. The Book of Judges describes a recurring cycle. Israel starts off in an acceptable relationship with the Lord. Then the next generation falls into apostasy, idolatry, and mixture. Next the Lord sends a captor nation and Israel suffers much persecution, suffering, and bondage. Israel finally cries out to the Lord and then the Lord sends a deliverer in the form of a judge. Israel repents and returns to the Lord. But the next generation repeats the same cycle.
Let us fast forward to the 19th century. The Lord raised up a man named Charles Finney in America. From 1825-1835, a period of 10 years (“ten” speaks of testing, trail), the Lord used Finney in a marvelous way to preach His word and to help many souls to be saved. That great outpouring of the grace and mercy of God undoubtedly stirred up the enemy to try to counter-attack God’s chosen people. Around 1850 Charles Darwin set forth his theory of evolution, which was adopted quickly by many philosophers. John Dewey said that no absolute standards exist and each individual was to determine his own destiny by acts of his will. The intelligentsia said that the Bible had been discounted and disproved, and that Jesus Christ was either a myth or just a man.
Despite all of the attacks on the Bible and on true Christianity, too many folks were still making their living off religion (in the form of paid clergy), so somehow they needed to justify their existence and their jobs. So around 1850, organized religion split into two camps … the liberals and the evangelicals. (Sometime later a third group, called “moderates” appeared, somewhat of a compromise between the liberals and the evangelicals.) The liberals said we know from statistics and even from the Bible that we humans are going to live on earth about 70 years. They had no answers as to what happens to us when we die. Therefore they emphasized that we need to get all of the happiness on earth we can before we die. They asked people to join them, come to their church every Sunday, sing some soothing songs, perhaps even read a few pleasant Bible verses, and maybe read some nice poems. Give us your 10 shekels every Sunday and we will help to make your life on earth as comfortable as possible. Humanism, pure and simple.
The evangelicals disagreed with the liberals. A few men started their crusade on earth believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. They believed in heaven and hell. They said the Bible is the written word of God (although what most Christians mean is they believe their interpretation of the Bible is the Word of God). They believed that if we accept and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior then we will be saved and go to heaven one day. All is well and good so far. They also said we need to “go out and get them saved.” Of course Jesus never told us to go out and get them saved. He said to go and preach the gospel and make disciples after He, the Lord, saves them. They carried their message to Africa and many other foreign countries starting about 1852. Certainly a few good men preached that message. But what happened to the next generation? They agreed with the message preached by their fathers but many of them never had the experience of being born from above. Their agreement was with a doctrine, not a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So to some degree the evangelical message degenerated to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior so you can go to heaven. Humanism, pure and simple.
Oh, but the best was still to come. Fast forward to the 20th century, with the Welsh revival, Azusa Street, and the so-called latter rain breakout in 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. Not long afterwards the false faith and prosperity message crept in … just name it and claim it, blab it and grab it, confess it and possess it. Sow your seed and just look at all you will get back. They said, “Come meet with us every Sunday, give us your ten shekels regularly so we can spread this good news, and we promise you the best of all possible worlds not only on earth but also in heaven. Humanism, pure and simple.
For the majority of professing Christians today, everything has been reduced to a “me-centered” Christianity. Why? Humanism, pure and simple. Of course we should be changing every day. There is a vast difference between humanism and true Christianity, which says that everything is for the glory of God. “Whatsoever we do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). There is also a vast difference between true Christianity and Christianity mixed with humanism, no matter how slight that mixture may be. Rat poison is 99% pure wheat. It is the other 1% that gets you. We should never try to mix the things of the Lord with the things of the world. Such a mixture will never be accepted by the Lord.
But now we need to get personal. It is not sufficient to talk about “those Christians over there or those Christians back then.” What about you and me? Why do we love the Lord? because of what He has done for us? because of what we get from Him in the way of benefits? because the alternative will produce bad results for us? because He has heard the voice of our supplication? Or do we love Him simply because He is Lord and He is worthy to be worshipped and adored? A repentant heart says, “Lord Jesus, I’m going to obey you, and love you as long as I live, simply because You are worthy to be loved and obeyed!” A number of years ago I received an email from a man who said, “It is more important for God to be glorified than for me to be saved.” Do you agree or not? Moses and Paul made essentially the same statement.
Until we walk in the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost, we have to serve in what we have … human nature and human strength, but God will get no glory out of that! The only reason for us to embrace the cross and press through until we know that I am crucified with Christ is not based on what we’re going to get out of it but what He will get out of us for the glory of God. However, the only possible way Jesus Christ will get glory out of a life that HE has redeemed with HIS precious blood is when HE can fill that life with HIS presence and live HIS life through it. Unfortunately, too many professing Christians are trying to know the fullness of God so they can use God. It is time to come and cast ourselves at the nail-pierced feet of the Son of God and tell Him we’re going to obey Him, and love Him, and serve Him as long as we live simply because HE is worthy!
In this Chapter we start to relate why the visible Church today is a lame man. (Note: The essence of a few parts of this Chapter were quickened from a message preached fifty-some years ago by a man named Reidhead. The title of his message was “Ten Shekels and a Shirt.”) The history of man, and even Christian man (or God’s chosen people), repeats itself. Our future is written in Israel’s history. We are making the same mistakes that Israel of old made and we are receiving the same results. Why is this true? because of at least two reasons: First, because of human nature or humanism … ego, King Self, the great pretender. Human nature has never changed and never will change. Second, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever and God is no respecter of persons. When did humanism begin? with Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible, as well as the history of God’s chosen people, reflects the devastating effects that humanism has had on the body of Christ. The Book of Judges describes a recurring cycle. Israel starts off in an acceptable relationship with the Lord. Then the next generation falls into apostasy, idolatry, and mixture. Next the Lord sends a captor nation and Israel suffers much persecution, suffering, and bondage. Israel finally cries out to the Lord and then the Lord sends a deliverer in the form of a judge. Israel repents and returns to the Lord. But the next generation repeats the same cycle.
Let us fast forward to the 19th century. The Lord raised up a man named Charles Finney in America. From 1825-1835, a period of 10 years (“ten” speaks of testing, trail), the Lord used Finney in a marvelous way to preach His word and to help many souls to be saved. That great outpouring of the grace and mercy of God undoubtedly stirred up the enemy to try to counter-attack God’s chosen people. Around 1850 Charles Darwin set forth his theory of evolution, which was adopted quickly by many philosophers. John Dewey said that no absolute standards exist and each individual was to determine his own destiny by acts of his will. The intelligentsia said that the Bible had been discounted and disproved, and that Jesus Christ was either a myth or just a man.
Despite all of the attacks on the Bible and on true Christianity, too many folks were still making their living off religion (in the form of paid clergy), so somehow they needed to justify their existence and their jobs. So around 1850, organized religion split into two camps … the liberals and the evangelicals. (Sometime later a third group, called “moderates” appeared, somewhat of a compromise between the liberals and the evangelicals.) The liberals said we know from statistics and even from the Bible that we humans are going to live on earth about 70 years. They had no answers as to what happens to us when we die. Therefore they emphasized that we need to get all of the happiness on earth we can before we die. They asked people to join them, come to their church every Sunday, sing some soothing songs, perhaps even read a few pleasant Bible verses, and maybe read some nice poems. Give us your 10 shekels every Sunday and we will help to make your life on earth as comfortable as possible. Humanism, pure and simple.
The evangelicals disagreed with the liberals. A few men started their crusade on earth believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. They believed in heaven and hell. They said the Bible is the written word of God (although what most Christians mean is they believe their interpretation of the Bible is the Word of God). They believed that if we accept and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior then we will be saved and go to heaven one day. All is well and good so far. They also said we need to “go out and get them saved.” Of course Jesus never told us to go out and get them saved. He said to go and preach the gospel and make disciples after He, the Lord, saves them. They carried their message to Africa and many other foreign countries starting about 1852. Certainly a few good men preached that message. But what happened to the next generation? They agreed with the message preached by their fathers but many of them never had the experience of being born from above. Their agreement was with a doctrine, not a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So to some degree the evangelical message degenerated to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior so you can go to heaven. Humanism, pure and simple.
Oh, but the best was still to come. Fast forward to the 20th century, with the Welsh revival, Azusa Street, and the so-called latter rain breakout in 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. Not long afterwards the false faith and prosperity message crept in … just name it and claim it, blab it and grab it, confess it and possess it. Sow your seed and just look at all you will get back. They said, “Come meet with us every Sunday, give us your ten shekels regularly so we can spread this good news, and we promise you the best of all possible worlds not only on earth but also in heaven. Humanism, pure and simple.
For the majority of professing Christians today, everything has been reduced to a “me-centered” Christianity. Why? Humanism, pure and simple. Of course we should be changing every day. There is a vast difference between humanism and true Christianity, which says that everything is for the glory of God. “Whatsoever we do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). There is also a vast difference between true Christianity and Christianity mixed with humanism, no matter how slight that mixture may be. Rat poison is 99% pure wheat. It is the other 1% that gets you. We should never try to mix the things of the Lord with the things of the world. Such a mixture will never be accepted by the Lord.
But now we need to get personal. It is not sufficient to talk about “those Christians over there or those Christians back then.” What about you and me? Why do we love the Lord? because of what He has done for us? because of what we get from Him in the way of benefits? because the alternative will produce bad results for us? because He has heard the voice of our supplication? Or do we love Him simply because He is Lord and He is worthy to be worshipped and adored? A repentant heart says, “Lord Jesus, I’m going to obey you, and love you as long as I live, simply because You are worthy to be loved and obeyed!” A number of years ago I received an email from a man who said, “It is more important for God to be glorified than for me to be saved.” Do you agree or not? Moses and Paul made essentially the same statement.
Until we walk in the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost, we have to serve in what we have … human nature and human strength, but God will get no glory out of that! The only reason for us to embrace the cross and press through until we know that I am crucified with Christ is not based on what we’re going to get out of it but what He will get out of us for the glory of God. However, the only possible way Jesus Christ will get glory out of a life that HE has redeemed with HIS precious blood is when HE can fill that life with HIS presence and live HIS life through it. Unfortunately, too many professing Christians are trying to know the fullness of God so they can use God. It is time to come and cast ourselves at the nail-pierced feet of the Son of God and tell Him we’re going to obey Him, and love Him, and serve Him as long as we live simply because HE is worthy!
Chapter 3: A Mixed Multitude
There is another part of mixture within the Christian community. It is called a mixed multitude. Throughout history, the chosen people of God have allowed a mixed multitude to co-exist with them. What do we mean by a mixed multitude? Those who have become enamored with Christianity but who never have been born again. There is nothing about the natural man … the first Adam … that is acceptable to God. Mixture is a house divided against itself. Such a house will fall at the moment it says peace and safety (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
The word “evil” appears for the first time in Genesis 2:17, where evil is part of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and embraces every gradation of sin and tragedy peculiar to mankind. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a mixture and is not of the Lord’s planting. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil (Matthew 13:25). It is the root cause of the fall of man through disobedience. Our Father will not allow mixture in His kingdom. That tree was (and is) to be known and understood by discernment and not by partaking of it. The evil in that tree embraces adversity, affliction, sorrow, wretchedness and death.
Of course within every local church we also always find believers at various stages of maturity. That brings out the need for small “home groups” where younger believers can receive more personal attention and learn how to “flap their wings” in the gifts and ministries given to them … all under the guidance and shepherding of local elders. Jesus said, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” But that is part of the normal Christian life.
One of the first examples of a mixed multitude is with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them form Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. Genesis 11:31-32
After Abram undoubtedly told Terah, his father, that the Lord had told him to leave his country and his kindred and go to a land that the Lord would show him, Terah undoubtedly said, “I am going with you and we will also take your nephew Lot with us.” After they came to Haran, 600 miles from Ur, Terah died (the sovereignty of God). Later, after Abram and Lot entered the Promised Land, Abram had to separate himself from Lot. Why? On the surface it was for two reasons: because of the greed of prosperity on the part of Lot and because of the strife between the herdmen of Lot and the herdmen of Abram.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:6-9
But the real, spiritual reason why Abraham and Lot had to separate was because the Lord never called Terah and the Lord never called Lot. They just went. Isaiah 51:2 says that the Lord called Abraham alone. Note that the spiritual man, Abraham, had to initiate the separation.
Another example of a mixed multitude was in the time of the Exodus from Egypt.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. Exodus 12:37-38
The Lord promised He had given the land to the Israelites, but they still had to go up and possess their inheritance. When the Israelites basically said that was too hard a task, they acted in unbelief and did not drive out the Canaanites; instead, from Judges 1:28, they put the Canaanites to tribute (extracted a tax from the Canaanites in the form of forced labor … the equivalent of money!) Worse still, they intermarried with the Canaanites, absorbed some of their worldly ways, and created a mixed multitude. Therefore the Lord said,
2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?
3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. Judges 2:2-3
Undoubtedly the mixed multitude contributed greatly to the backsliding which caused the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years. It is very important with whom we have close fellowship.
There was also a mixed multitude at the Church at Corinth and the Church at Ephesus after Paul left. The same condition existed in our New Testament house church back in the 1970’s. One Saturday afternoon at a gathering of about 25 men in our house church, including all the elders, a prophecy came forth through a young man (who I will call Sam) who without any doubt had a prophetic call on his life. When he spoke, I listened. The prophecy was somewhat veiled and apparently I was the only other man who understood what he said. Even the elder who many in our church considered to be the “most spiritual” man in the church did not understand. So he said, “Sam, what did you mean by that prophesy?” The essence of Sam’s answer was, “It is not possible for all the men in this room to dwell together in one accord because of the great difference in perception of the holiness of God.” Although I recognized the truth of that prophesy, it never occurred to me at that time why that was true then and why it is still true today. But the answer is very clear … because of humanism and a mixed multitude. Paul said,
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Galatians 2:3-5
How can false brethren be brought in unawares? Very easily. It comes through misguided attempts to “go out and get them saved.” That is the byword of evangelicals. Of course, as we stated earlier, Jesus never told us to go out and get them saved. He said to go and make disciples after He, the Lord, saves them. But the great majority of pastors at every level of maturity advertise, “Come join us. All are welcome.” Also, Christian men and women, because of a lack of understanding and a lack of discernment, talk to their neighbors and let it be known, by word and/or deed that they are Christians. So they ask their neighbor if they would like to visit “their” church. When the neighbor accepts and hears some nice, soothing words about all of the many blessings that Christians receive, how much God loves them, and that they will one day go to heaven, the neighbor might say, “I like that scenario! What do I have to do to partake of all of that?” Then someone says, “Just repeat this simple, little sinner’s prayer after me.” So the neighbor repeats some words and says a few “Uh-Huhs” at the appropriate places. Then someone smiles, pats the neighbor on the back, and says, “Praise God, brother; now you are saved! Now come be a part of our church.” Then the whole congregation smiles and claps. But the neighbor was never born again. Leonard Ravenhill, a noted 20th century revivalist, preacher, and author, once said, “The sinner’s prayer has sent more people to hell than all the taverns in America.”
Now some may say, but brother that can’t happen in our church and it surely does not apply to me. I certainly hope that is true, but human nature is human nature. Do you believe your local church is more spiritual than the church at Ephesus after Paul taught them for three years? Do you believe there is no mixed multitude in your local church?
Another mixed multitude is recorded in the time of Nehemiah.
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Nehemiah 13:3
A good question is, “How did they know who constituted the mixed multitude? Scripture does not tell us. I assume they asked the Lord what to do. That is always the best solution to any problem. I have to believe there is a mixed multitude in every local church where there is any kind of anointing.
Now if you can accept the fact of a mixed multitude in every local church, what can be done about it? In Nehemiah’s time, they separated the mixed multitude from the true Israelites. In today’s church, how would you know who to separate? And even if you knew the specific folks who constitute the mixed multitude in your local church, how would you go about it? Or would you even try to go about it? May I suggest the best way? Ask the Lord. An approach on our part that may help is simply to be like Paul and declare all the counsel of God. The only problem with that is who is capable and willing to declare all the counsel of God? Many times, declaring the true counsel of God, which included preaching the work of the cross within the believer, will separate the sheep from the goats. Leonard Ravenhill, a well-known 20th century revivalist, once said, “We’re so far removed from God’s way of doing things … we think a man is a good man if he can draw a crowd these days. Do you know what Finney did? Finney preached sometimes, and the whole congregation got up and walked out on him. That’s a good meeting!” (end quote). Now why was that a good meeting? Because it forced professing Christians to decide whether they wanted to go on with the Lord or continue to walk in their own ways.
The same condition exists in the visible church today. We have mixed the things of the Lord with the things of the world. Worse still, for the most part we are not even aware of the mixed multitude we have allowed in our midst. There is no such thing as Judeo-Christianity. That expression has been manufactured by the carnal minds of men and represents a mixture which plays no part in the plans and purposes of God. The early church, in Acts 15, faced the same problem.
The Lord told Abraham, “I am your shield and your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of HIS suffering! What is that reward? You and me and every believer who has voluntarily and willingly come to the place where everything of our human nature has been consumed by the fire of God and replaced by Christ in you, the hope of glory. For our God is a consuming fire.
There is another part of mixture within the Christian community. It is called a mixed multitude. Throughout history, the chosen people of God have allowed a mixed multitude to co-exist with them. What do we mean by a mixed multitude? Those who have become enamored with Christianity but who never have been born again. There is nothing about the natural man … the first Adam … that is acceptable to God. Mixture is a house divided against itself. Such a house will fall at the moment it says peace and safety
(1 Thessalonians 5:3).
The word “evil” appears for the first time in Genesis 2:17, where evil is part of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and embraces every gradation of sin and tragedy peculiar to mankind. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a mixture and is not of the Lord’s planting. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil (Matthew 13:25). It is the root cause of the fall of man through disobedience. Our Father will not allow mixture in His kingdom. That tree was (and is) to be known and understood by discernment and not by partaking of it. The evil in that tree embraces adversity, affliction, sorrow, wretchedness and death.
Of course within every local church we also always find believers at various stages of maturity. That brings out the need for small “home groups” where younger believers can receive more personal attention and learn how to “flap their wings” in the gifts and ministries given to them … all under the guidance and shepherding of local elders. Jesus said, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” But that is part of the normal Christian life.
One of the first examples of a mixed multitude is with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
After Abram undoubtedly told Terah, his father, that the Lord had told him to leave his country and his kindred and go to a land that the Lord would show him, Terah undoubtedly said, “I am going with you and we will also take your nephew Lot with us.” After they came to Haran, 600 miles from Ur, Terah died (the sovereignty of God). Later, after Abram and Lot entered the Promised Land, Abram had to separate himself from Lot. Why? On the surface it was for two reasons: because of the greed of prosperity on the part of Lot and because of the strife between the herdmen of Lot and the herdmen of Abram.
But the real, spiritual reason why Abraham and Lot had to separate was because the Lord never called Terah and the Lord never called Lot. They just went. Isaiah 51:2 says that the Lord called Abraham alone. Note that the spiritual man, Abraham, had to initiate the separation.
Another example of a mixed multitude was in the time of the Exodus from Egypt.
The Lord promised He had given the land to the Israelites, but they still had to go up and possess their inheritance. When the Israelites basically said that was too hard a task, they acted in unbelief and did not drive out the Canaanites; instead, from Judges 1:28, they put the Canaanites to tribute (extracted a tax from the Canaanites in the form of forced labor … the equivalent of money!) Worse still, they intermarried with the Canaanites, absorbed some of their worldly ways, and created a mixed multitude. Therefore the Lord said,
Undoubtedly the mixed multitude contributed greatly to the backsliding which caused the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years. It is very important with whom we have close fellowship.
There was also a mixed multitude at the Church at Corinth and the Church at Ephesus after Paul left. The same condition existed in our New Testament house church back in the 1970’s. One Saturday afternoon at a gathering of about 25 men in our house church, including all the elders, a prophecy came forth through a young man (who I will call Sam) who without any doubt had a prophetic call on his life. When he spoke, I listened. The prophecy was somewhat veiled and apparently I was the only other man who understood what he said. Even the elder who many in our church considered to be the “most spiritual” man in the church did not understand. So he said, “Sam, what did you mean by that prophesy?” The essence of Sam’s answer was, “It is not possible for all the men in this room to dwell together in one accord because of the great difference in perception of the holiness of God.” Although I recognized the truth of that prophesy, it never occurred to me at that time why that was true then and why it is still true today. But the answer is very clear … because of humanism and a mixed multitude. Paul said,
How can false brethren be brought in unawares? Very easily. It comes through misguided attempts to “go out and get them saved.” That is the byword of evangelicals. Of course, as we stated earlier, Jesus never told us to go out and get them saved. He said to go and make disciples after He, the Lord, saves them. But the great majority of pastors at every level of maturity advertise, “Come join us. All are welcome.” Also, Christian men and women, because of a lack of understanding and a lack of discernment, talk to their neighbors and let it be known, by word and/or deed that they are Christians. So they ask their neighbor if they would like to visit “their” church. When the neighbor accepts and hears some nice, soothing words about all of the many blessings that Christians receive, how much God loves them, and that they will one day go to heaven, the neighbor might say, “I like that scenario! What do I have to do to partake of all of that?” Then someone says, “Just repeat this simple, little sinner’s prayer after me.” So the neighbor repeats some words and says a few “Uh-Huhs” at the appropriate places. Then someone smiles, pats the neighbor on the back, and says, “Praise God, brother; now you are saved! Now come be a part of our church.” Then the whole congregation smiles and claps. But the neighbor was never born again. Leonard Ravenhill, a noted 20th century revivalist, preacher, and author, once said, “The sinner’s prayer has sent more people to hell than all the taverns in America.”
Now some may say, but brother that can’t happen in our church and it surely does not apply to me. I certainly hope that is true, but human nature is human nature. Do you believe your local church is more spiritual than the church at Ephesus after Paul taught them for three years? Do you believe there is no mixed multitude in your local church?
Another mixed multitude is recorded in the time of Nehemiah.
A good question is, “How did they know who constituted the mixed multitude? Scripture does not tell us. I assume they asked the Lord what to do. That is always the best solution to any problem. I have to believe there is a mixed multitude in every local church where there is any kind of anointing.
Now if you can accept the fact of a mixed multitude in every local church, what can be done about it? In Nehemiah’s time, they separated the mixed multitude from the true Israelites. In today’s church, how would you know who to separate? And even if you knew the specific folks who constitute the mixed multitude in your local church, how would you go about it? Or would you even try to go about it? May I suggest the best way? Ask the Lord. An approach on our part that may help is simply to be like Paul and declare all the counsel of God. The only problem with that is who is capable and willing to declare all the counsel of God? Many times, declaring the true counsel of God, which included preaching the work of the cross within the believer, will separate the sheep from the goats. Leonard Ravenhill, a well-known 20th century revivalist, once said, “We’re so far removed from God’s way of doing things … we think a man is a good man if he can draw a crowd these days. Do you know what Finney did? Finney preached sometimes, and the whole congregation got up and walked out on him. That’s a good meeting!” (end quote). Now why was that a good meeting? Because it forced professing Christians to decide whether they wanted to go on with the Lord or continue to walk in their own ways.
The same condition exists in the visible church today. We have mixed the things of the Lord with the things of the world. Worse still, for the most part we are not even aware of the mixed multitude we have allowed in our midst. There is no such thing as Judeo-Christianity. That expression has been manufactured by the carnal minds of men and represents a mixture which plays no part in the plans and purposes of God. The early church, in Acts 15, faced the same problem.
The Lord told Abraham, “I am your shield and your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of HIS suffering! What is that reward? You and me and every believer who has voluntarily and willingly come to the place where everything of our human nature has been consumed by the fire of God and replaced by Christ in you, the hope of glory. For our God is a consuming fire.
The word “evil” appears for the first time in Genesis 2:17, where evil is part of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and embraces every gradation of sin and tragedy peculiar to mankind. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a mixture and is not of the Lord’s planting. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil (Matthew 13:25). It is the root cause of the fall of man through disobedience. Our Father will not allow mixture in His kingdom. That tree was (and is) to be known and understood by discernment and not by partaking of it. The evil in that tree embraces adversity, affliction, sorrow, wretchedness and death.
Of course within every local church we also always find believers at various stages of maturity. That brings out the need for small “home groups” where younger believers can receive more personal attention and learn how to “flap their wings” in the gifts and ministries given to them … all under the guidance and shepherding of local elders. Jesus said, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” But that is part of the normal Christian life.
One of the first examples of a mixed multitude is with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them form Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. Genesis 11:31-32
After Abram undoubtedly told Terah, his father, that the Lord had told him to leave his country and his kindred and go to a land that the Lord would show him, Terah undoubtedly said, “I am going with you and we will also take your nephew Lot with us.” After they came to Haran, 600 miles from Ur, Terah died (the sovereignty of God). Later, after Abram and Lot entered the Promised Land, Abram had to separate himself from Lot. Why? On the surface it was for two reasons: because of the greed of prosperity on the part of Lot and because of the strife between the herdmen of Lot and the herdmen of Abram.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:6-9
But the real, spiritual reason why Abraham and Lot had to separate was because the Lord never called Terah and the Lord never called Lot. They just went. Isaiah 51:2 says that the Lord called Abraham alone. Note that the spiritual man, Abraham, had to initiate the separation.
Another example of a mixed multitude was in the time of the Exodus from Egypt.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. Exodus 12:37-38
The Lord promised He had given the land to the Israelites, but they still had to go up and possess their inheritance. When the Israelites basically said that was too hard a task, they acted in unbelief and did not drive out the Canaanites; instead, from Judges 1:28, they put the Canaanites to tribute (extracted a tax from the Canaanites in the form of forced labor … the equivalent of money!) Worse still, they intermarried with the Canaanites, absorbed some of their worldly ways, and created a mixed multitude. Therefore the Lord said,
2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?
3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. Judges 2:2-3
Undoubtedly the mixed multitude contributed greatly to the backsliding which caused the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years. It is very important with whom we have close fellowship.
There was also a mixed multitude at the Church at Corinth and the Church at Ephesus after Paul left. The same condition existed in our New Testament house church back in the 1970’s. One Saturday afternoon at a gathering of about 25 men in our house church, including all the elders, a prophecy came forth through a young man (who I will call Sam) who without any doubt had a prophetic call on his life. When he spoke, I listened. The prophecy was somewhat veiled and apparently I was the only other man who understood what he said. Even the elder who many in our church considered to be the “most spiritual” man in the church did not understand. So he said, “Sam, what did you mean by that prophesy?” The essence of Sam’s answer was, “It is not possible for all the men in this room to dwell together in one accord because of the great difference in perception of the holiness of God.” Although I recognized the truth of that prophesy, it never occurred to me at that time why that was true then and why it is still true today. But the answer is very clear … because of humanism and a mixed multitude. Paul said,
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Galatians 2:3-5
How can false brethren be brought in unawares? Very easily. It comes through misguided attempts to “go out and get them saved.” That is the byword of evangelicals. Of course, as we stated earlier, Jesus never told us to go out and get them saved. He said to go and make disciples after He, the Lord, saves them. But the great majority of pastors at every level of maturity advertise, “Come join us. All are welcome.” Also, Christian men and women, because of a lack of understanding and a lack of discernment, talk to their neighbors and let it be known, by word and/or deed that they are Christians. So they ask their neighbor if they would like to visit “their” church. When the neighbor accepts and hears some nice, soothing words about all of the many blessings that Christians receive, how much God loves them, and that they will one day go to heaven, the neighbor might say, “I like that scenario! What do I have to do to partake of all of that?” Then someone says, “Just repeat this simple, little sinner’s prayer after me.” So the neighbor repeats some words and says a few “Uh-Huhs” at the appropriate places. Then someone smiles, pats the neighbor on the back, and says, “Praise God, brother; now you are saved! Now come be a part of our church.” Then the whole congregation smiles and claps. But the neighbor was never born again. Leonard Ravenhill, a noted 20th century revivalist, preacher, and author, once said, “The sinner’s prayer has sent more people to hell than all the taverns in America.”
Now some may say, but brother that can’t happen in our church and it surely does not apply to me. I certainly hope that is true, but human nature is human nature. Do you believe your local church is more spiritual than the church at Ephesus after Paul taught them for three years? Do you believe there is no mixed multitude in your local church?
Another mixed multitude is recorded in the time of Nehemiah.
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Nehemiah 13:3
A good question is, “How did they know who constituted the mixed multitude? Scripture does not tell us. I assume they asked the Lord what to do. That is always the best solution to any problem. I have to believe there is a mixed multitude in every local church where there is any kind of anointing.
Now if you can accept the fact of a mixed multitude in every local church, what can be done about it? In Nehemiah’s time, they separated the mixed multitude from the true Israelites. In today’s church, how would you know who to separate? And even if you knew the specific folks who constitute the mixed multitude in your local church, how would you go about it? Or would you even try to go about it? May I suggest the best way? Ask the Lord. An approach on our part that may help is simply to be like Paul and declare all the counsel of God. The only problem with that is who is capable and willing to declare all the counsel of God? Many times, declaring the true counsel of God, which included preaching the work of the cross within the believer, will separate the sheep from the goats. Leonard Ravenhill, a well-known 20th century revivalist, once said, “We’re so far removed from God’s way of doing things … we think a man is a good man if he can draw a crowd these days. Do you know what Finney did? Finney preached sometimes, and the whole congregation got up and walked out on him. That’s a good meeting!” (end quote). Now why was that a good meeting? Because it forced professing Christians to decide whether they wanted to go on with the Lord or continue to walk in their own ways.
The same condition exists in the visible church today. We have mixed the things of the Lord with the things of the world. Worse still, for the most part we are not even aware of the mixed multitude we have allowed in our midst. There is no such thing as Judeo-Christianity. That expression has been manufactured by the carnal minds of men and represents a mixture which plays no part in the plans and purposes of God. The early church, in Acts 15, faced the same problem.
The Lord told Abraham, “I am your shield and your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of HIS suffering! What is that reward? You and me and every believer who has voluntarily and willingly come to the place where everything of our human nature has been consumed by the fire of God and replaced by Christ in you, the hope of glory. For our God is a consuming fire.
Chapter 4: Potential Snares and Hinderances to Maturity
Let us consider some of the major snares and hinderances to maturity or to the unity of the faith within the body of Christ. This is NOT to say that the following are the ONLY hinderances to maturity in Christ. Far from it! But the following are some of the largest. They have both an individual and a corporate application, particularly in the charismatic community today. These hinderances are very much interrelated. It is the little foxes that spoil the vines (Song of Solomon 2:15).
One potential snare is to hear a word from the Lord correctly, but interpret that word in the natural realm rather than its spiritual counterpart. A good example of that is the tendency to interpret “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” at the natural level. But there is no peace to natural Jerusalem. The peace of God is found only in Christ. God loves the Palestinian just as much as He loves the Jew. “God so loved the world …”
About 12 years ago I heard a well-known evangelical minister say that when he gets to heaven he is going to wear a literal crown on his head and a literal robe. I believe he is going to be in for a big surprise! Then we can hear a word from the Lord correctly, interpret it correctly, but miss the timing of the Lord as to when that word should be implemented. Of course a key element on our part is the state of our heart. Do we really want only the will of the Lord or is that just another doctrine for us to affirm?
But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
1 John 2:27
Christian man is FOREVER trying to pull down that which is spiritual and holy to the natural level. Why? So that man can try to understand the ways of the Lord with his own natural, carnal mind. That, by definition, is called idolatry. The book of 1 Corinthians is a letter of correction to the Church at Corinth. Paul tells them that they are carnal, babies in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). Paul also says,
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Evangelicals, as a generality, emphasize a literal interpretation of the Bible. But there are hundreds and hundreds of verses in the Bible that cannot (or at least should not) be interpreted in the natural realm. For example here are a few: a cup that is not a cup; a sea which is not a sea; a woman who is not a woman; a smoking furnace that is not a smoking furnace; a burning lamp that is not a burning lamp; seven stars which are not stars; Babylon that is not a geographical area called Babylon; Armageddon that is not a geographical area in the Middle East; the Morning Star which is not a star; a Lamb that is not a lamb; a lion that is not a lion; Jerusalem which is not the city of Jerusalem in the Middle East; Zion which is not Mt. Zion; a wilderness of barrenness which is a place of sustenance; a loaf of bread that is not a loaf of bread.
Another hinderance … Christian man is forever searching the scripture to find the pattern for this and the pattern for that … how to do this … how to do that … and then crystalizing their doctrine into a hard and fast set of rules and dogma, all set into concrete and then written down in pen and ink for all to see. Sounds like Judaism or legalism.
Many years ago a good brother with a lot of maturity wrote a book titled, “The Pattern.” In that book he described the pattern for church government, which included apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, elders, deacons and their function and operation within the Church. That is well and good except there is no such thing as a static pattern for Church government. It must be dynamic where the government of God forever moves away from man to the Lord’s shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). The only pattern is the Lord Himself.
Another hinderance among the members of the body of Christ lies in the area of human communication. The most difficult aspect in charismatic circles today is communication. Communication requires both a transmitter and a receiver. Even if the transmitter is perfect (the Holy Spirit), without a receiver tuned to the same frequency, no communication is possible. Lord, give us ears to hear! The church cannot thrive or survive on yesterday’s manna. This area is much more difficult than communication between those who do not know the Lord. Why? Because those who do not know the Lord have no access to things of the Spirit. Therefore they have far fewer areas to argue about. This is a day when every (Christian) man does that which is right in his own sight. The same written and/or spoken word is interpreted in many different ways by different believers because of the first two hinderances. We like to hear only that which agrees with our own understanding of this walk.
Christians, i.e., genuine born again believers, also are prone to the following three errors: (1) I know that; (2) I am; and (3) I. The Holy Spirit quickened to me those three errors very early in the morning about the middle of August, 2012. It should also become rather clear that all of those three errors have a common thread, namely, a pre-occupation with self in all of its various forms.
We Christians have a great need to readjust our thinking along certain lines. It is far easier to get into a rut than it is to get out of that rut. Man’s self-centerdness and his acceptance of what others say, without searching the Scriptures and without asking the Holy Spirit to shed His light on God’s will and His word, has gotten us into a rut in our thinking.
When we look somewhat objectively at the Christian world today, we discover that the average believer is beset with a salvation complex. We tend to view everything in the Bible from the viewpoint of personal salvation. Our thinking and actions lead us primarily to desire to be saved and go to a better world when we physically die. As a result we seem more interested in getting ready to die than in getting ready to live.
Now in no way do we minimize personal salvation, but we need to set it in its right order in the overall plan of God. However important man’s initial salvation may be, it is only a part … indeed a very early part in the total plan which God purposed for man from before the foundation of the world. We are so nearsighted in spiritual things that we are prone to take the part as though it were the whole. John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and the early apostles all preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In reality, the kingdom of God is the subject of the entire Bible, from Genesis through Revelation. Personal salvation is just the first step toward the kingdom of God. We will not belabor the fact that being born again, in itself, does not automatically put us into the kingdom of God.
If we understand these errors, then, and perhaps only then, can we understand the whole plan of God, not simply the first small step. Paul said to the Church at Colosse (and to us),
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10
First, why would Paul pray such a prayer for them (and us) if they were all walking in that knowledge? If I have a new Mercedes car in my garage, why would I pray, “Lord please give me a new Merceded car”? Next, why should we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual (not natural) understanding? so that we might walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing.
Another error is “I know that.” This subtle, almost insidious error is probably the most common among charismatic believers. We have read all of the books, been to all of the “conferences,” listened to all of the tapes and DVDs, and have been submerged with more teaching than Carter has liver pills. Some of the teachings have been good, some of it not so good. Then we throw into the mix the reasoning of our natural minds. If we ever hear some “new” or fresh teaching, our carnal mind pulls it down to the level which we already believed. The truth is,
Because the carnal mind is anmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2
The Church at Corinth had been exposed to the best teaching available through Paul and others. They were born-again, baptized with the Holy Spirit, and had the gifts of the Spirit in operation. Yet Paul called them “carnal.” At least nine times in the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul says “Do ye not know that …?” As it was in the church at Corinth, so it is today.
Another potential snare is “I am …” Many times I have heard someone say, “I am such and such in the body of Christ,” giving themselves a title. To my knowledge, Peter and Paul are the only men in the New Testament who called themselves an Apostle. But both of them said that in all humility of heart. Human nature likes titles. Titles may inflate the ego and make us feel important. But any true gift or ministry should be recognized by other Christians without having to name it. The hand does not have to know that it is called a hand in order to function as a hand. The truth is, there is only one “I AM.” That is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
Much of modern, lukewarm Christendom is so lacking in commitment it can best be characterized by the “Laodicean church,” a type of the arrogant body of believers in the end-times who confidently proclaim “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). What an astonishing statement! It indicates a dangerous level of self-deception. Christ reveals their true condition is the exact opposite: “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Another error is “I …” Here we need to be careful. Scripture records that Jesus used the phrase “I” many times. So did Paul. It is not the use of “I” that is, in itself, an error. Rather, it is what is in the heart when “I” is used. We should never call attention to our self. There is absolutely nothing about natural man that is acceptable to God.
The world idolizes self-confidence, self-assertiveness, and independence. But there is no room in the life of a true believer for self-anything.
For we are the circumcision, which worshop God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3
Wahtever ministry we have, we received from God. Whatever gift we have, we received from God. Christian men have been trying for centuries to help to build the Church. But only the Lord can build His Church.
Let us consider some of the major snares and hinderances to maturity or to the unity of the faith within the body of Christ. This is NOT to say that the following are the ONLY hinderances to maturity in Christ. Far from it! But the following are some of the largest. They have both an individual and a corporate application, particularly in the charismatic community today. These hinderances are very much interrelated. It is the little foxes that spoil the vines (Song of Solomon 2:15).
One potential snare is to hear a word from the Lord correctly, but interpret that word in the natural realm rather than its spiritual counterpart. A good example of that is the tendency to interpret “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” at the natural level. But there is no peace to natural Jerusalem. The peace of God is found only in Christ. God loves the Palestinian just as much as He loves the Jew. “God so loved the world …”
About 12 years ago I heard a well-known evangelical minister say that when he gets to heaven he is going to wear a literal crown on his head and a literal robe. I believe he is going to be in for a big surprise! Then we can hear a word from the Lord correctly, interpret it correctly, but miss the timing of the Lord as to when that word should be implemented. Of course a key element on our part is the state of our heart. Do we really want only the will of the Lord or is that just another doctrine for us to affirm?
But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
1 John 2:27
Christian man is FOREVER trying to pull down that which is spiritual and holy to the natural level. Why? So that man can try to understand the ways of the Lord with his own natural, carnal mind. That, by definition, is called idolatry. The book of 1 Corinthians is a letter of correction to the Church at Corinth. Paul tells them that they are carnal, babies in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). Paul also says,
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Evangelicals, as a generality, emphasize a literal interpretation of the Bible. But there are hundreds and hundreds of verses in the Bible that cannot (or at least should not) be interpreted in the natural realm. For example here are a few: a cup that is not a cup; a sea which is not a sea; a woman who is not a woman; a smoking furnace that is not a smoking furnace; a burning lamp that is not a burning lamp; seven stars which are not stars; Babylon that is not a geographical area called Babylon; Armageddon that is not a geographical area in the Middle East; the Morning Star which is not a star; a Lamb that is not a lamb; a lion that is not a lion; Jerusalem which is not the city of Jerusalem in the Middle East; Zion which is not Mt. Zion; a wilderness of barrenness which is a place of sustenance; a loaf of bread that is not a loaf of bread.
Another hinderance … Christian man is forever searching the scripture to find the pattern for this and the pattern for that … how to do this … how to do that … and then crystalizing their doctrine into a hard and fast set of rules and dogma, all set into concrete and then written down in pen and ink for all to see. Sounds like Judaism or legalism.
Many years ago a good brother with a lot of maturity wrote a book titled, “The Pattern.” In that book he described the pattern for church government, which included apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, elders, deacons and their function and operation within the Church. That is well and good except there is no such thing as a static pattern for Church government. It must be dynamic where the government of God forever moves away from man to the Lord’s shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). The only pattern is the Lord Himself.
Another hinderance among the members of the body of Christ lies in the area of human communication. The most difficult aspect in charismatic circles today is communication. Communication requires both a transmitter and a receiver. Even if the transmitter is perfect (the Holy Spirit), without a receiver tuned to the same frequency, no communication is possible. Lord, give us ears to hear! The church cannot thrive or survive on yesterday’s manna. This area is much more difficult than communication between those who do not know the Lord. Why? Because those who do not know the Lord have no access to things of the Spirit. Therefore they have far fewer areas to argue about. This is a day when every (Christian) man does that which is right in his own sight. The same written and/or spoken word is interpreted in many different ways by different believers because of the first two hinderances. We like to hear only that which agrees with our own understanding of this walk.
Christians, i.e., genuine born again believers, also are prone to the following three errors: (1) I know that; (2) I am; and (3) I. The Holy Spirit quickened to me those three errors very early in the morning about the middle of August, 2012. It should also become rather clear that all of those three errors have a common thread, namely, a pre-occupation with self in all of its various forms.
We Christians have a great need to readjust our thinking along certain lines. It is far easier to get into a rut than it is to get out of that rut. Man’s self-centerdness and his acceptance of what others say, without searching the Scriptures and without asking the Holy Spirit to shed His light on God’s will and His word, has gotten us into a rut in our thinking.
When we look somewhat objectively at the Christian world today, we discover that the average believer is beset with a salvation complex. We tend to view everything in the Bible from the viewpoint of personal salvation. Our thinking and actions lead us primarily to desire to be saved and go to a better world when we physically die. As a result we seem more interested in getting ready to die than in getting ready to live.
Now in no way do we minimize personal salvation, but we need to set it in its right order in the overall plan of God. However important man’s initial salvation may be, it is only a part … indeed a very early part in the total plan which God purposed for man from before the foundation of the world. We are so nearsighted in spiritual things that we are prone to take the part as though it were the whole. John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and the early apostles all preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In reality, the kingdom of God is the subject of the entire Bible, from Genesis through Revelation. Personal salvation is just the first step toward the kingdom of God. We will not belabor the fact that being born again, in itself, does not automatically put us into the kingdom of God.
If we understand these errors, then, and perhaps only then, can we understand the whole plan of God, not simply the first small step. Paul said to the Church at Colosse (and to us),
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10
First, why would Paul pray such a prayer for them (and us) if they were all walking in that knowledge? If I have a new Mercedes car in my garage, why would I pray, “Lord please give me a new Merceded car”? Next, why should we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual (not natural) understanding? so that we might walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing.
Another error is “I know that.” This subtle, almost insidious error is probably the most common among charismatic believers. We have read all of the books, been to all of the “conferences,” listened to all of the tapes and DVDs, and have been submerged with more teaching than Carter has liver pills. Some of the teachings have been good, some of it not so good. Then we throw into the mix the reasoning of our natural minds. If we ever hear some “new” or fresh teaching, our carnal mind pulls it down to the level which we already believed. The truth is,
Because the carnal mind is anmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2
The Church at Corinth had been exposed to the best teaching available through Paul and others. They were born-again, baptized with the Holy Spirit, and had the gifts of the Spirit in operation. Yet Paul called them “carnal.” At least nine times in the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul says “Do ye not know that …?” As it was in the church at Corinth, so it is today.
Another potential snare is “I am …” Many times I have heard someone say, “I am such and such in the body of Christ,” giving themselves a title. To my knowledge, Peter and Paul are the only men in the New Testament who called themselves an Apostle. But both of them said that in all humility of heart. Human nature likes titles. Titles may inflate the ego and make us feel important. But any true gift or ministry should be recognized by other Christians without having to name it. The hand does not have to know that it is called a hand in order to function as a hand. The truth is, there is only one “I AM.” That is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
Much of modern, lukewarm Christendom is so lacking in commitment it can best be characterized by the “Laodicean church,” a type of the arrogant body of believers in the end-times who confidently proclaim “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). What an astonishing statement! It indicates a dangerous level of self-deception. Christ reveals their true condition is the exact opposite: “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Another error is “I …” Here we need to be careful. Scripture records that Jesus used the phrase “I” many times. So did Paul. It is not the use of “I” that is, in itself, an error. Rather, it is what is in the heart when “I” is used. We should never call attention to our self. There is absolutely nothing about natural man that is acceptable to God.
The world idolizes self-confidence, self-assertiveness, and independence. But there is no room in the life of a true believer for self-anything.
For we are the circumcision, which worshop God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3
Wahtever ministry we have, we received from God. Whatever gift we have, we received from God. Christian men have been trying for centuries to help to build the Church. But only the Lord can build His Church.
Chapter 5: What Shall This Man Do?
The human nature of man is to “do.” Men are always looking for the answer to, “What shall I do?” Even Saul of Tarsus, when he was first apprehended by the Lord, asked that same question.
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all the things which are appointed for thee to do. Acts 22:10
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:30
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luke 18:18
God’s people have usually been concerned with what we must “do” only when circumstances seem difficult, critical, or urgent. Because the Church in America today sees nothing critical or urgent, we are very lukewarm concerning what we must do. For the most part, the Church still enjoys apparent prosperity and blessings, so why rock the boat? Some say that we need to move on in the Spirit and that this is no time for business as usual; nevertheless, the actions of the church, particularly by the leaders of the church, make it clear that business as usual is just fine. Let us keep everybody happy, keep the money coming in, preach feel-good messages, just love everybody, all is well, etc.
In today’s Christian community, everybody and his brother now talks about “what is wrong” within the Church. Many point out the apathy, the lukewarm attitude within the Church and exhort us to get on fire for the Lord. Very admirable, but is that all we need? Some also point out the many divisions within the Church, even within a specific local church. Both of those two points are certainly true, but is there a fundamental flaw in our Church community that goes deeper than those two lacks? If so, what is it? More importantly, what can you and I do about it? It does not take much discernment to see “what is wrong.” However, it takes nothing less than the wisdom of the Lord to be like the sons of Issachar, to know what spiritual Israel must do in this hour. The fact is that we can do absolutely nothing (of any value) outside of Christ. Jesus said,
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
The truth also is, “I can do all things through [in] Christ Which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
We believers need to recognize that we are living in the last days. Paul, Peter, and John all said in their days that they were living in the last days. How much more true is that fact in the times in which we live? Therefore, the important question is, “What shall this man do?” (John 21:21).
What would you say is the greatest need at all levels in the Church community today? Please think about that for a while … Our greatest need is to receive a revelation that we have a great need! Let me repeat that. Our greatest need is to receive a revelation that we have a great need! Sadly the Christian community is seeped in apathy, a lukewarm attitude, indifference, a lack of passion, passivity, and a lack of concern. There has been no substantive “move of God” in America for 70 years now. For the most part we have enjoyed peace and prosperity (in the natural realm) for the past 70 years. Unfortunately, because of the peaceful, prosperous time that we have enjoyed, far too many of God’s chosen people have been lulled to sleep by the enemy. But let us try to be more specific … a need for what?
Some say that all we need to “do” is to love everybody. Sounds good, but what does that mean and how do we walk in that? Forty-some years ago, a good brother who has ministered to a multitude of churches shared a rather surprising observation with me. He said that from his personal experience every time a church started talking a lot about “love” it was a sure sign that church was about to split up.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and will all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
28 And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. Luke 10:25-28
In those days, a lawyer was not the same as an attorney at law in our day. A lawyer was a teacher of the Mosaic law. So that certain lawyer knew the correct answer to Jesus’ question in verse 26, but it was only a doctrinal understanding; it was not a word made flesh. Further, it is not possible to love our neighbor or to love “everybody” unless we first love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Does that say anything to us Christians today?
Others say that we just need more good teaching. No one is opposed to more good teaching, but that has not got the job done in the past. I believe it is a mistake for any minister to believe that all he has to do to bring about maturity in other Christian believers is simply to teach the truth. That is no doubt necessary but certainly not sufficient. If that were true then the charismatic community would have been mature many years ago. We have been saturated with words, some good and some not so good. Paul taught day and night in Ephesus for 3 years. He also labored with tears and intercession on their behalf (Ephesians 1:17-18 and Acts 20:29-31). That adds up to at least 2000 teaching sessions from the greatest teacher who ever lived, except for Jesus of course. Although the saints at Ephesus had received all the counsel of God through Paul and an abundance of revelation concerning the Word of God, they had not yet received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Lord, which only the Lord, not Paul, could give. It is one thing to know the written word of God; it is quite another thing to know the Author of the Word of God. Paul himself, after 30 years of ministry, prayed, “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). Therefore the greatest need in the charismatic community today is not more training seminars and conferences.
What happened to the church at Ephesus after Paul left? Exactly what Paul had warned them about … they left their first love. The Church at Ephesus did not lose their first love, so they did go to heaven after leaving this earth. But unless they repented they forfeited the opportunity to satisfy the Lord and to rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years. We read in Revelation 2:5, some 32 years after Paul wrote the Epistle to the church at Ephesus (and to us), that unless they repented they were in danger of having their candlestick removed. That is proof enough that even Spirit-filled Christians need to repent! That is also proof enough that no man can ensure the maturity of believers in a local church simply by perfect teaching. Our adversary has never changed his game plan.
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remover thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:1, 4-5
Paul taught the Church at Corinth for 18 months. What happened there? The believers fell into all sorts of carnality. What happened in the Galatian churches? They mixed the things of God with the things of the world and the things of Judaism.
I have also run across several groups and individuals who have basically vowed to bring about unity in the Church and/or start a world-wide revival. Very admirable. I admire their enthusiasm but my sense is that is more emotional hype than anything else.
Let us return to our question … what is the greatest need in the Church community today? May we suggest that our greatest need is simply to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us the nature and character of Christ. The Lord is much more interested in our character than our comfort or our good works. But there is a prerequisite to “simply” allow the Holy Spirit to work within us the nature and character of Christ. We must be broken before God. Once we are broken we will be empowered with divine supernatural energy. The anointing will be overwhelmingly evident and we will be well equipped for the Master’s use. Our need for brokenness is a message which is declared throughout the Bible. Brokenness is a central message in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). Brokenness is also a central message in the lives of the two different women who anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7 and John 12) and the unnamed woman who anointed the head of Jesus (Matthew 26 and Mark 14).
There is blessing in brokenness. Without brokenness we would remain proud, arrogant, and selfish. The outcome of brokenness is genuine humility and a total reliance on God. One thing is for sure … the Lord will soon bring about circumstances where we all will be forced to depend solely on Him. Our God is a consuming fire. It is true that God is love. It is also true that God is a God of judgment. When is the last time you heard the judgment of God preached from any pulpit? May we all be found worthy to walk with Him.
In Mark 11:1-11 Jesus told two of his disciples where they could find a colt, the foal of a donkey. They were to untie it and bring it to Jesus. No man had ever sat on that donkey before; it had never been ridden by any man; it was wild. The disciples threw their garments over the donkey and Jesus mounted it. And what happened? Did the donkey rear, kick, bite, and try to throw Jesus off? No! But that is what a wild donkey would usually do. The donkey was meek and mild and carried Jesus wherever He wanted to go.
We are not able to do anything with this wild nature that we were born with. We can try everything under the sun to rid ourselves of this wild nature, but the only One who will ever mount that wild ass that is in us is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our will power is not sufficient; neither is our mental understanding; neither is our emotions. Some of the biggest problems in both the individual believer and the corporate church are caused by us trying to do what only God can do. He is able to take our wild nature and subdue it and reign over it and make us like Himself … even to the point that we will actually enjoy being a slave unto Him. We must turn our life over completely to the Lord and allow Him to work in us that which is His will, His good pleasure, and His purpose for us.
Where are the humble and broken people who will allow God to birth a mighty visitation through them? Where are the ones who are willing to empty themselves of their own agendas and plans in order to become saturated with God’s purpose for us? Where are the vessels that are poured out for Him? Where are those, like the poor widow woman in Mark 12:41-44, who will cast in all that they have? We must invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with that kind of all-consuming vision and calling. May we yield to the Spirit and give Him permission to groan, weep, and intercede through us! May we humble ourselves and repent of ANYTHING that would hinder or quench the Spirit of restoration!
There is never a better way to live than to live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit. The Holy Ghost MUST be in charge of our individual lives as well as all of the proceedings in all of our assemblies, whether two or three or thousands. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). That is easier said than done because of the pull of the flesh and of the world.
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, walked with God and God took him (Genesis 5:24). The Old Testament does not record any other information about Enoch. Certainly there is no greater ministry or purpose for a Christian than to walk with God. Would you have liked to have walked behind God and Enoch and listened to their conversations? It was probably a rather one-sided conversation as the Lord revealed end-time events to Enoch that will occur just before His second return to earth.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. Jude 14-16
A somewhat similar situation occurred when the resurrected Jesus walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:32, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” Does your heart burn within you while He talks with you by the way and while He opens to you the scriptures? Perhaps a better question is, “Does He talk with you along your way? Does He open to you the scriptures?”
I have a tape recording by a well-known Spirit-filled evangelist and preacher back in the 1970's. Among other things, the speaker said that some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. But unless we are heavenly minded we will be no earthly good. Both statements can be true. We can become so absorbed with revelation of Scripture that we never share our gifts with others and never come to know Him. Further, Jesus said, in John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” So life is not in the scriptures … life is in Christ. He is the Life. The scriptures simply point to the Life, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. “The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Jesus also said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In John 7:37-39, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
We also can get so caught up with earthly things that we cannot appreciate nor understand the realities of the Spirit. We do not require a glorified body in order to do the things ordained for us from before the foundation of the world. The early apostles did not have glorified bodies. We are able, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to work the works of Christ even now; but there is a condition, namely that which is led by the Spirit. Moses was human when he parted the Red Sea. David slew a lion, a bear, and the Philistine giant, all with no sword or spear. Daniel was human, even in the lion’s den. The fire meant nothing to the three Hebrew children except to release them from their bonds and a visit from One like unto the Son of Man. Philip was a natural human being and yet he was caught away in the Spirit without the aid of any human means of transportation. Even the very shadow of Peter healed some folks. Elisha and Paul raised the dead. Handkerchiefs from Paul healed the sick. Many more miracles will be performed by the sons of God in the day of their manifestation.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. John 14:12
20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
The phrase “exceeding abundantly” is the Greek word huperekperissos. That word occurs only two other times in the New Testament: in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, where it is translated as “exceedingly” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:13, where it is translated as “very highly.” It means “without limitations” or “no limitations.” When Jesus came to the earth as a man, He limited Himself considerably. He set aside His excellent glory and He limited Himself to the flesh and blood that all humans now have. But the risen Christ Jesus has NO limitations. Therefore there are no limitations to the Christ in you, the hope of glory. I very strongly believe that the time is soon at hand when the Lord will unveil His masterpiece … namely that there will arise a company of overcomers who will walk on this earth, in time, just as Jesus walked on earth, and produce the same results, except greater in number.
Now we need to be a little careful. It is true that gifts of healing and the working of miracles are gifts of the Spirit. But the flesh can never manifest these or any of the other gifts of the Spirit. “But all these [gifts] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing [or distributing] to every man severally [in His own way] as He will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God bestows His gifts freely by His grace upon whomsoever He will; all we have to do is to receive them and use them. We are exhorted to desire spiritual gifts, but the Lord determines those which we receive. Likewise, I can desire to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher, but unless the Lord has ordained for me to be one of those specific ministries, then it will never happen. “He sets the members, every one of them, in the body as it pleases Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18).
Gifts of the Spirit are not evidence of spiritual attainment (just consider the Church at Corinth); they are imparted by the Spirit … freely given to us. Likewise the ascension gifts (ministries) are for the purpose of adding fruit to God’s garden, that we “may grow up into Him” (Ephesians 4:11-15). Gifts are absolutely necessary, but they are only a means to the end. The fruit of the Spirit, and not the gifts of the Spirit, constitutes the real test of spiritual life; the fruit is the nature and expression of Christ within our heart and soul. We all have read many times about the fruit of the Spirit: "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22). But fruit must grow; and God has never intended that the Body of Christ should ever bring forth fruit except through a continual partaking of the Tree of Life. When God told Adam (and Eve) that they could eat of the tree of life, that was never intended to be a “one and done.” That was to be their daily food and nourishment. We must eat the Manna from heaven and drink of the Spiritual Rock on a daily basis. We must also remember that fruit does not immediately appear on trees … first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.
God does not come to us looking for gifts; He has freely given those to us. What God wants is fruit; that is something which He desires to receive from us. The fruit must grow within us by our patient and continual walk with God and by appropriating His Spirit. Until now the Husbandman has come into His garden, tenderly caring for it by pruning, cultivating, and watering. But now the harvest time is approaching, and soon He will visit His garden for one purpose only … seeking for fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. We can never appreciate any measure of the real glory until the fruit of the Spirit becomes manifest within us.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and fine none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Luke 13:6-9
If any man, after being born from above and delivered from the bondage of Egypt, desires to enter the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God), then he must keep the Sabbath. But the Sabbath is no longer a certain day of the week! Jesus is our Sabbath. All who dwell in the Kingdom of God must rest and abide in Him. Man is nearing the completion of the six years of sowing our field (6,000 years) and of pruning our vineyard (our soul and spirit) and of gathering in the fruit of the Spirit. But in the seventh year (the Feast of Tabernacles) there shall be a Sabbath rest unto the Lord. When we rest in Him, He sows the field and He prunes the vineyard. “That which grows of its own accord” is the work of the flesh.
Hosea 2:14 declares God’s select company to be in the wilderness; and the rest of Hosea 2 corresponds to the gathering, as in Isaiah 40. Notice that the Lord says, in Hosea 2:15, that He will give His remnant in the wilderness “the valley of Achor (trouble) for a door of hope.” The Lord today has scattered His people into the wilderness for the same reasons as in Isaiah 6. But the Lord is using suffering, trouble, and difficulties of all kinds to press those in the wilderness into Christ. He is refining His people in the wilderness as silver is refined by the fire.
We were part of a New Testament house church for about 12 years back in the late 1960’s through the very early 1980’s. I have often said that I have never seen a church like that one. We never had a paid minister, never passed a collection plate, never had a written program, never knew who was going to start singing what or when, had many of the gifts of the Spirit in operation, and in general never knew who was going to say what or when. But that church totally disintegrated in 1981. Why did the Lord remove the candlestick of that church? Only the Lord knows all of the reasons, but He has revealed several of those reasons.
One reason is because the proper foundation was never laid. There were several basic truths which I never heard anyone proclaim, such as the difference between being born again and walking in the Kingdom of God, the way of the cross within us believers, the difference between being born again and being “in” Christ, and Christ in you, the hope of glory. Also, some bad doctrine crept in but the one man who could have confronted it elected not to do so. Then that church got into a traditional or routine rut, following the same pattern religiously every Sunday. Nothing will cause a church to degenerate faster than to follow the same pattern in every meeting. Another reason was the presence of a mixed multitude, which we have described in Chapter 3.
We are creatures of habit. Man wants to worship God but man does not know how to worship God. So every group sets up its own routine for “worship” and follows the same routine religiously every Sunday. Exodus 10:26 is significant. Moses told Pharaoh that “we must take everything with us for we know not with what we must serve the LORD until we come thither.” I have been a big believer in the spontaneity of gatherings for 50 years. The problem is there is not enough maturity in the body to function that way (being led by the Holy Spirit in each gathering). Of course God is gracious and merciful.
I sometimes listen to a few “worship” songs on the internet. Two I particularly like are “Oh the Glory of Your Presence” by Ron Kenoly before at least 10,000 believers, a full band, and 50 or so choir members; another of the same title by Alvin Slaughter; and “I Sing Praises to your Name” by Terry Macalmon … the latter at a Benny Hinn crusade in 2001 in Shreveport, LA, before 15,000 people, a choir of 100, and a full 50-piece orchestra. The music is indeed very stirring emotionally. But what I heard form the Lord was … if those 15,000 believers were all walking with the Lord, then hurricane Katrina, the most devastating hurricane ever to hit the United States, would never have hit New Orleans and Louisiana in 2005. The tragic part is that America did not learn anything from the destruction of that hurricane; she simply rebuilt New Orleans to the tune of $160 billion dollars.
When we begin to follow the Lord, as new believers, we are quite ignorant as to what we must endure to continue on. We are stirred by nice sounding songs and vow great commitment and dedication to the Lord, only to soon discover that the conviction born in that time of emotion comes to very little in our adverse circumstances or when things don’t go the way we think they should. We become quite stirred up emotionally during the meeting and then go home and fuss at our spouse for being late, or for some other reason. At first, we aspire to great things, but we do so with many carnal misconception. Unfortunately that scenario still occurs with some more seasoned Christians.
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto Him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Matthew 8:18-19
Jesus never worked with a multitude. When you see large numbers of Christians going in the same direction, look at it carefully again. The scribe in Verse 19 did not know where Jesus had come from and he certainly had no idea where the Lord was going. Jesus destroys all self-centered delusions as He did when the mother of James and John requested her sons to sit on His right and left hand (Matthew 20:21).
There seems to be a movement in many places to teach believers how to heal and deliver others. In Christian bookstores we can find all of the “how to” books. Who taught Peter and John and Paul how to heal and deliver people?
Is the greatest need to go out and get them saved? The evangelical movement became significant in the United States during the series of “Great Awakenings” of the 18th and 19th centuries. Dating back some 160 years or more, American Evangelicals have sent “missionaries” to Africa and other parts of the world to spread their version of the “good news.” Now in the past 50 years many African nations have sent the same version of evangelism back to the United States in the form of literally hundreds and hundreds of churches. But evangelism only reproduces or spreads the religion of the day.
Now, what is the greatest need in the Spirit-filled community today? To know the Lord and walk with Him day by day. How can we know Him? We must cry out, “Help, Lord!” The Lord is saying to His people today that which He has always been saying, namely, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” We will describe that in detail in Chapter 7.
The most important “work” for us as believers in Christ is that we always continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The human nature of man is to “do.” Men are always looking for the answer to, “What shall I do?” Even Saul of Tarsus, when he was first apprehended by the Lord, asked that same question.
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all the things which are appointed for thee to do. Acts 22:10
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:30
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luke 18:18
God’s people have usually been concerned with what we must “do” only when circumstances seem difficult, critical, or urgent. Because the Church in America today sees nothing critical or urgent, we are very lukewarm concerning what we must do. For the most part, the Church still enjoys apparent prosperity and blessings, so why rock the boat? Some say that we need to move on in the Spirit and that this is no time for business as usual; nevertheless, the actions of the church, particularly by the leaders of the church, make it clear that business as usual is just fine. Let us keep everybody happy, keep the money coming in, preach feel-good messages, just love everybody, all is well, etc.
In today’s Christian community, everybody and his brother now talks about “what is wrong” within the Church. Many point out the apathy, the lukewarm attitude within the Church and exhort us to get on fire for the Lord. Very admirable, but is that all we need? Some also point out the many divisions within the Church, even within a specific local church. Both of those two points are certainly true, but is there a fundamental flaw in our Church community that goes deeper than those two lacks? If so, what is it? More importantly, what can you and I do about it? It does not take much discernment to see “what is wrong.” However, it takes nothing less than the wisdom of the Lord to be like the sons of Issachar, to know what spiritual Israel must do in this hour. The fact is that we can do absolutely nothing (of any value) outside of Christ. Jesus said,
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
The truth also is, “I can do all things through [in] Christ Which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
We believers need to recognize that we are living in the last days. Paul, Peter, and John all said in their days that they were living in the last days. How much more true is that fact in the times in which we live? Therefore, the important question is, “What shall this man do?” (John 21:21).
What would you say is the greatest need at all levels in the Church community today? Please think about that for a while … Our greatest need is to receive a revelation that we have a great need! Let me repeat that. Our greatest need is to receive a revelation that we have a great need! Sadly the Christian community is seeped in apathy, a lukewarm attitude, indifference, a lack of passion, passivity, and a lack of concern. There has been no substantive “move of God” in America for 70 years now. For the most part we have enjoyed peace and prosperity (in the natural realm) for the past 70 years. Unfortunately, because of the peaceful, prosperous time that we have enjoyed, far too many of God’s chosen people have been lulled to sleep by the enemy. But let us try to be more specific … a need for what?
Some say that all we need to “do” is to love everybody. Sounds good, but what does that mean and how do we walk in that? Forty-some years ago, a good brother who has ministered to a multitude of churches shared a rather surprising observation with me. He said that from his personal experience every time a church started talking a lot about “love” it was a sure sign that church was about to split up.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and will all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
28 And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. Luke 10:25-28
In those days, a lawyer was not the same as an attorney at law in our day. A lawyer was a teacher of the Mosaic law. So that certain lawyer knew the correct answer to Jesus’ question in verse 26, but it was only a doctrinal understanding; it was not a word made flesh. Further, it is not possible to love our neighbor or to love “everybody” unless we first love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Does that say anything to us Christians today?
Others say that we just need more good teaching. No one is opposed to more good teaching, but that has not got the job done in the past. I believe it is a mistake for any minister to believe that all he has to do to bring about maturity in other Christian believers is simply to teach the truth. That is no doubt necessary but certainly not sufficient. If that were true then the charismatic community would have been mature many years ago. We have been saturated with words, some good and some not so good. Paul taught day and night in Ephesus for 3 years. He also labored with tears and intercession on their behalf (Ephesians 1:17-18 and Acts 20:29-31). That adds up to at least 2000 teaching sessions from the greatest teacher who ever lived, except for Jesus of course. Although the saints at Ephesus had received all the counsel of God through Paul and an abundance of revelation concerning the Word of God, they had not yet received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Lord, which only the Lord, not Paul, could give. It is one thing to know the written word of God; it is quite another thing to know the Author of the Word of God. Paul himself, after 30 years of ministry, prayed, “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). Therefore the greatest need in the charismatic community today is not more training seminars and conferences.
What happened to the church at Ephesus after Paul left? Exactly what Paul had warned them about … they left their first love. The Church at Ephesus did not lose their first love, so they did go to heaven after leaving this earth. But unless they repented they forfeited the opportunity to satisfy the Lord and to rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years. We read in Revelation 2:5, some 32 years after Paul wrote the Epistle to the church at Ephesus (and to us), that unless they repented they were in danger of having their candlestick removed. That is proof enough that even Spirit-filled Christians need to repent! That is also proof enough that no man can ensure the maturity of believers in a local church simply by perfect teaching. Our adversary has never changed his game plan.
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remover thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:1, 4-5
Paul taught the Church at Corinth for 18 months. What happened there? The believers fell into all sorts of carnality. What happened in the Galatian churches? They mixed the things of God with the things of the world and the things of Judaism.
I have also run across several groups and individuals who have basically vowed to bring about unity in the Church and/or start a world-wide revival. Very admirable. I admire their enthusiasm but my sense is that is more emotional hype than anything else.
Let us return to our question … what is the greatest need in the Church community today? May we suggest that our greatest need is simply to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us the nature and character of Christ. The Lord is much more interested in our character than our comfort or our good works. But there is a prerequisite to “simply” allow the Holy Spirit to work within us the nature and character of Christ. We must be broken before God. Once we are broken we will be empowered with divine supernatural energy. The anointing will be overwhelmingly evident and we will be well equipped for the Master’s use. Our need for brokenness is a message which is declared throughout the Bible. Brokenness is a central message in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). Brokenness is also a central message in the lives of the two different women who anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7 and John 12) and the unnamed woman who anointed the head of Jesus (Matthew 26 and Mark 14).
There is blessing in brokenness. Without brokenness we would remain proud, arrogant, and selfish. The outcome of brokenness is genuine humility and a total reliance on God. One thing is for sure … the Lord will soon bring about circumstances where we all will be forced to depend solely on Him. Our God is a consuming fire. It is true that God is love. It is also true that God is a God of judgment. When is the last time you heard the judgment of God preached from any pulpit? May we all be found worthy to walk with Him.
In Mark 11:1-11 Jesus told two of his disciples where they could find a colt, the foal of a donkey. They were to untie it and bring it to Jesus. No man had ever sat on that donkey before; it had never been ridden by any man; it was wild. The disciples threw their garments over the donkey and Jesus mounted it. And what happened? Did the donkey rear, kick, bite, and try to throw Jesus off? No! But that is what a wild donkey would usually do. The donkey was meek and mild and carried Jesus wherever He wanted to go.
We are not able to do anything with this wild nature that we were born with. We can try everything under the sun to rid ourselves of this wild nature, but the only One who will ever mount that wild ass that is in us is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our will power is not sufficient; neither is our mental understanding; neither is our emotions. Some of the biggest problems in both the individual believer and the corporate church are caused by us trying to do what only God can do. He is able to take our wild nature and subdue it and reign over it and make us like Himself … even to the point that we will actually enjoy being a slave unto Him. We must turn our life over completely to the Lord and allow Him to work in us that which is His will, His good pleasure, and His purpose for us.
Where are the humble and broken people who will allow God to birth a mighty visitation through them? Where are the ones who are willing to empty themselves of their own agendas and plans in order to become saturated with God’s purpose for us? Where are the vessels that are poured out for Him? Where are those, like the poor widow woman in Mark 12:41-44, who will cast in all that they have? We must invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with that kind of all-consuming vision and calling. May we yield to the Spirit and give Him permission to groan, weep, and intercede through us! May we humble ourselves and repent of ANYTHING that would hinder or quench the Spirit of restoration!
There is never a better way to live than to live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit. The Holy Ghost MUST be in charge of our individual lives as well as all of the proceedings in all of our assemblies, whether two or three or thousands. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). That is easier said than done because of the pull of the flesh and of the world.
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, walked with God and God took him (Genesis 5:24). The Old Testament does not record any other information about Enoch. Certainly there is no greater ministry or purpose for a Christian than to walk with God. Would you have liked to have walked behind God and Enoch and listened to their conversations? It was probably a rather one-sided conversation as the Lord revealed end-time events to Enoch that will occur just before His second return to earth.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. Jude 14-16
A somewhat similar situation occurred when the resurrected Jesus walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:32, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” Does your heart burn within you while He talks with you by the way and while He opens to you the scriptures? Perhaps a better question is, “Does He talk with you along your way? Does He open to you the scriptures?”
I have a tape recording by a well-known Spirit-filled evangelist and preacher back in the 1970's. Among other things, the speaker said that some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. But unless we are heavenly minded we will be no earthly good. Both statements can be true. We can become so absorbed with revelation of Scripture that we never share our gifts with others and never come to know Him. Further, Jesus said, in John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” So life is not in the scriptures … life is in Christ. He is the Life. The scriptures simply point to the Life, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. “The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Jesus also said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In John 7:37-39, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
We also can get so caught up with earthly things that we cannot appreciate nor understand the realities of the Spirit. We do not require a glorified body in order to do the things ordained for us from before the foundation of the world. The early apostles did not have glorified bodies. We are able, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to work the works of Christ even now; but there is a condition, namely that which is led by the Spirit. Moses was human when he parted the Red Sea. David slew a lion, a bear, and the Philistine giant, all with no sword or spear. Daniel was human, even in the lion’s den. The fire meant nothing to the three Hebrew children except to release them from their bonds and a visit from One like unto the Son of Man. Philip was a natural human being and yet he was caught away in the Spirit without the aid of any human means of transportation. Even the very shadow of Peter healed some folks. Elisha and Paul raised the dead. Handkerchiefs from Paul healed the sick. Many more miracles will be performed by the sons of God in the day of their manifestation.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. John 14:12
20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
The phrase “exceeding abundantly” is the Greek word huperekperissos. That word occurs only two other times in the New Testament: in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, where it is translated as “exceedingly” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:13, where it is translated as “very highly.” It means “without limitations” or “no limitations.” When Jesus came to the earth as a man, He limited Himself considerably. He set aside His excellent glory and He limited Himself to the flesh and blood that all humans now have. But the risen Christ Jesus has NO limitations. Therefore there are no limitations to the Christ in you, the hope of glory. I very strongly believe that the time is soon at hand when the Lord will unveil His masterpiece … namely that there will arise a company of overcomers who will walk on this earth, in time, just as Jesus walked on earth, and produce the same results, except greater in number.
Now we need to be a little careful. It is true that gifts of healing and the working of miracles are gifts of the Spirit. But the flesh can never manifest these or any of the other gifts of the Spirit. “But all these [gifts] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing [or distributing] to every man severally [in His own way] as He will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God bestows His gifts freely by His grace upon whomsoever He will; all we have to do is to receive them and use them. We are exhorted to desire spiritual gifts, but the Lord determines those which we receive. Likewise, I can desire to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher, but unless the Lord has ordained for me to be one of those specific ministries, then it will never happen. “He sets the members, every one of them, in the body as it pleases Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18).
Gifts of the Spirit are not evidence of spiritual attainment (just consider the Church at Corinth); they are imparted by the Spirit … freely given to us. Likewise the ascension gifts (ministries) are for the purpose of adding fruit to God’s garden, that we “may grow up into Him” (Ephesians 4:11-15). Gifts are absolutely necessary, but they are only a means to the end. The fruit of the Spirit, and not the gifts of the Spirit, constitutes the real test of spiritual life; the fruit is the nature and expression of Christ within our heart and soul. We all have read many times about the fruit of the Spirit: "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22). But fruit must grow; and God has never intended that the Body of Christ should ever bring forth fruit except through a continual partaking of the Tree of Life. When God told Adam (and Eve) that they could eat of the tree of life, that was never intended to be a “one and done.” That was to be their daily food and nourishment. We must eat the Manna from heaven and drink of the Spiritual Rock on a daily basis. We must also remember that fruit does not immediately appear on trees … first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.
God does not come to us looking for gifts; He has freely given those to us. What God wants is fruit; that is something which He desires to receive from us. The fruit must grow within us by our patient and continual walk with God and by appropriating His Spirit. Until now the Husbandman has come into His garden, tenderly caring for it by pruning, cultivating, and watering. But now the harvest time is approaching, and soon He will visit His garden for one purpose only … seeking for fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. We can never appreciate any measure of the real glory until the fruit of the Spirit becomes manifest within us.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and fine none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Luke 13:6-9
If any man, after being born from above and delivered from the bondage of Egypt, desires to enter the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God), then he must keep the Sabbath. But the Sabbath is no longer a certain day of the week! Jesus is our Sabbath. All who dwell in the Kingdom of God must rest and abide in Him. Man is nearing the completion of the six years of sowing our field (6,000 years) and of pruning our vineyard (our soul and spirit) and of gathering in the fruit of the Spirit. But in the seventh year (the Feast of Tabernacles) there shall be a Sabbath rest unto the Lord. When we rest in Him, He sows the field and He prunes the vineyard. “That which grows of its own accord” is the work of the flesh.
Hosea 2:14 declares God’s select company to be in the wilderness; and the rest of Hosea 2 corresponds to the gathering, as in Isaiah 40. Notice that the Lord says, in Hosea 2:15, that He will give His remnant in the wilderness “the valley of Achor (trouble) for a door of hope.” The Lord today has scattered His people into the wilderness for the same reasons as in Isaiah 6. But the Lord is using suffering, trouble, and difficulties of all kinds to press those in the wilderness into Christ. He is refining His people in the wilderness as silver is refined by the fire.
We were part of a New Testament house church for about 12 years back in the late 1960’s through the very early 1980’s. I have often said that I have never seen a church like that one. We never had a paid minister, never passed a collection plate, never had a written program, never knew who was going to start singing what or when, had many of the gifts of the Spirit in operation, and in general never knew who was going to say what or when. But that church totally disintegrated in 1981. Why did the Lord remove the candlestick of that church? Only the Lord knows all of the reasons, but He has revealed several of those reasons.
One reason is because the proper foundation was never laid. There were several basic truths which I never heard anyone proclaim, such as the difference between being born again and walking in the Kingdom of God, the way of the cross within us believers, the difference between being born again and being “in” Christ, and Christ in you, the hope of glory. Also, some bad doctrine crept in but the one man who could have confronted it elected not to do so. Then that church got into a traditional or routine rut, following the same pattern religiously every Sunday. Nothing will cause a church to degenerate faster than to follow the same pattern in every meeting. Another reason was the presence of a mixed multitude, which we have described in Chapter 3.
We are creatures of habit. Man wants to worship God but man does not know how to worship God. So every group sets up its own routine for “worship” and follows the same routine religiously every Sunday. Exodus 10:26 is significant. Moses told Pharaoh that “we must take everything with us for we know not with what we must serve the LORD until we come thither.” I have been a big believer in the spontaneity of gatherings for 50 years. The problem is there is not enough maturity in the body to function that way (being led by the Holy Spirit in each gathering). Of course God is gracious and merciful.
I sometimes listen to a few “worship” songs on the internet. Two I particularly like are “Oh the Glory of Your Presence” by Ron Kenoly before at least 10,000 believers, a full band, and 50 or so choir members; another of the same title by Alvin Slaughter; and “I Sing Praises to your Name” by Terry Macalmon … the latter at a Benny Hinn crusade in 2001 in Shreveport, LA, before 15,000 people, a choir of 100, and a full 50-piece orchestra. The music is indeed very stirring emotionally. But what I heard form the Lord was … if those 15,000 believers were all walking with the Lord, then hurricane Katrina, the most devastating hurricane ever to hit the United States, would never have hit New Orleans and Louisiana in 2005. The tragic part is that America did not learn anything from the destruction of that hurricane; she simply rebuilt New Orleans to the tune of $160 billion dollars.
When we begin to follow the Lord, as new believers, we are quite ignorant as to what we must endure to continue on. We are stirred by nice sounding songs and vow great commitment and dedication to the Lord, only to soon discover that the conviction born in that time of emotion comes to very little in our adverse circumstances or when things don’t go the way we think they should. We become quite stirred up emotionally during the meeting and then go home and fuss at our spouse for being late, or for some other reason. At first, we aspire to great things, but we do so with many carnal misconception. Unfortunately that scenario still occurs with some more seasoned Christians.
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto Him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Matthew 8:18-19
Jesus never worked with a multitude. When you see large numbers of Christians going in the same direction, look at it carefully again. The scribe in Verse 19 did not know where Jesus had come from and he certainly had no idea where the Lord was going. Jesus destroys all self-centered delusions as He did when the mother of James and John requested her sons to sit on His right and left hand (Matthew 20:21).
There seems to be a movement in many places to teach believers how to heal and deliver others. In Christian bookstores we can find all of the “how to” books. Who taught Peter and John and Paul how to heal and deliver people?
Is the greatest need to go out and get them saved? The evangelical movement became significant in the United States during the series of “Great Awakenings” of the 18th and 19th centuries. Dating back some 160 years or more, American Evangelicals have sent “missionaries” to Africa and other parts of the world to spread their version of the “good news.” Now in the past 50 years many African nations have sent the same version of evangelism back to the United States in the form of literally hundreds and hundreds of churches. But evangelism only reproduces or spreads the religion of the day.
Now, what is the greatest need in the Spirit-filled community today? To know the Lord and walk with Him day by day. How can we know Him? We must cry out, “Help, Lord!” The Lord is saying to His people today that which He has always been saying, namely, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” We will describe that in detail in Chapter 7.
The most important “work” for us as believers in Christ is that we always continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Chapter 6: Who Is Waiting For Whom?
Many years ago in one session of an “intercessor” conference, the woman conducting the conference stated that she sensed there were a number of believers present who seemed to be waiting for the Lord to do something in their life. She said, “If that is true of you, please come forward because I want to pray for you.” At least 80% of those present went forward to be prayed for. I elected not to do so because I saw (and see) something different, based upon the following verse and others.
And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18
In the first part of the verse above, the Lord is waiting; in the last part of the verse, we wait for Him. Now the question arises, who is waiting on whom? If I am waiting for you and you are waiting for me, we have a stalemate … nothing happens. As in all Scripture, the order is significant. The Lord is first of all waiting for us to do something because He has already made available to us all things in Christ. What is He waiting for us to do? If we do not know the Lord, He is waiting for us to repent of our sins and ask Him to come into our heart and be our Lord and Savior. If we already know the Lord, He is waiting for us to cease from our own carnal ways and works, rest in Him, do the will of God, and walk in the works which He has prepared for us before the foundation of the world; in other words to press into the fullness of the kingdom of God. We must understand that the Lord is omnipresent and omnipotent, but not simply to do good things for us. We exist for His pleasure, not the other way around. Furthermore, the Lord waits patiently for the fruit of the Spirit to be made manifest in our life.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and letter rain. James 5:7
After we do His will, walk in the Spirit, and walk in His ways, then we wait for Him.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:19, 23
The following verses describe the omnipotence of the Lord and how He will empower those who wait for Him. That power is in the Holy Ghost. Waiting for the Lord does not mean that we sit back and do nothing. It means that we trust in Him, hope in Him, and look solely to Him.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength [to endure]; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
Those who wait upon the Lord are promised four sure results: we shall (1) renew our strength (or rather, renew strength, because it is not our strength but His strength within us – strength for spiritual defense); (2) mount up with wings as eagles; (3) run and not be weary; and (4) walk and not faint. As always, the order is significant. At first glance, logical reasoning would say that maturity in Christ means we walk first, then run, then mount up as eagles and soar in the sky. But the Holy Ghost never makes a mistake. God is very orderly. The order is correct as stated. What the Lord is after as an end product is that we are able to walk with Him on a daily basis.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Psalm 84:5
Why do we need His strength? because the natural man in his own power is no match for the enemy.
God has made use of every possible means of communication in order to teach us about Himself and to reveal Himself to us. His signature is written everywhere! In the trees, the flowers, mountains and hills, the color of the sky, birds and all animals, the fish of the sea, within our conscience, through everything in nature, and, of course, through the Scripture and other people. I knew a man many years ago who said that he had heard the Lord speaking through place mats, a man’s hat, a man’s shoes, a man’s pants, window blinds, a dog, believers and non-believers, and, of course, sovereignly from the Holy Ghost.
We should not think it strange that when Scripture talks about the eagle, God is trying to teach us something. An eagle is a type of an overcoming Christian which soars higher and faster than any other bird, knows no fear, and loves to look directly at the sun. When an eagle sees its young ones grown enough to start trying to fly, it hovers over their nest, flutters its wings, and excites them to imitate it and take their flight. When the mother eagle sees the babies as weary and fearful, it takes them upon its back, carries them, and becomes a shield for the young. In like manner, the Lord told Moses,
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Exodus 19:4
Just like the eagle, the Lord took upon Himself the care of His people. He led them out of Egypt and set them at liberty, as an eagle takes its young out of the nest to teach them how to fly by gently fluttering about them.
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; Deuteronomy 32:11
The eagle builds its nest very high in the tops of craggy rocks. It is a bird of great courage and sets on beasts much larger than itself. It flies very high, so high that man with his natural eye can no longer see it. It has a little eye, but a very quick sight, discerns its prey from afar off, and beholds the sun with open eyes. The eagle lives a long time. It is not like other birds, which flap their wings to start flying. Instead, the eagle sits on the top of a very lofty rock, and when an air current comes, it lets out a scream and mounts up into the air, riding that wave of air.
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Job 39:27-29
For an eagle Christian, his bodily health and strength continue vigorous and lively, just like the eagle, even until old age. We have known several such eagle Christians who continue to be very active past the age of ninety. One brother in the Lord stayed active in ministry until he was almost 102 years of age; another good brother is still active at age 103; a Christian woman we have known for many years was on her way to Israel to lead a tour group at age 102.
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deuteronomy 34:7
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:5
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. Proverbs 30:18-19
The way of a serpent upon a rock is the mystery of the battle between Satan and the Lord. The way of a ship in the midst of the sea is the mystery of the Church surviving and flourishing in the midst of the world. The way of a man with a maid is the mystery of Christ and the Church. The way of an eagle in the air is the mystery of an overcoming Christian walking in the realm of the Spirit.
Many years ago I heard the following song, sung by Ern Baxter, who was one of the “notables” at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, when what some have called “latter rain” broke out in 1948.
Rise and soar into the sunlight rays. Using both your wings of prayer and praise.
Mount like eagles, higher in the sky. And you’ll find things look so different when you fly.
The author of the Book of Hebrews exhorts us,
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
The word translated as “cool” is the Hebrew word ruach, which is most often translated as “spirt.” Ruach, in whatever sense it is used, always represents that which is invisible to the natural eye except by its manifestations. Nowhere is Scripture does it say that Adam and Eve saw the Lord God. They heard Him on several recorded times. In the verse above, they heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. The voice of the Lord has been walking ever since! His voice leads us ever upward toward Himself and His glory!
Walking is one of the actions of the body that denotes motion from one place to another. Certainly in the natural realm, walking is a great exercise for our bodies. In the spiritual realm we, as believers, should walk when the Lord says to walk. Now the question arises, “walk from where to where?” May we suggest that we are called to walk out from the darkness of the world and the flesh into His marvelous light. To walk in darkness is to live in a state of ignorance, error, and/or sin. To walk after the flesh (Romans 8:1) is to be guided by our sensual appetite and the principles of corrupt nature. To walk in the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3) is to live a natural life, independent of God, and which is subject to many infirmities and calamities where we are subject to the whims of the devil.
When Lucifer fell from grace, darkness then was upon the face of the deep. Why? because God shrouded the world with a mantle of darkness. It did not hide the earth from Him, for the darkness and the light are both alike to Him (Psalm 139:12). God is able to see all the time.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
To walk in the light is to live in the ways of truth and holiness. Walking in the light is an ever progressive walk because as we walk in the light that we have received, He gives us more light.
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Joshua 22:5
You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. Deuteronomy 5:33
Scripture never promises us that we will have a walk of ease. On the contrary Scripture reveals that all who live godly in Christ Jesus and walk uprightly before the Lord will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). It is well to remember, from Matthew 5:10-12, that we are blessed when we suffer persecution for His sake. We should remember the Lord’s purpose in leading His people forty years in the wilderness. It was to prove them, whether they would walk in His ways without murmuring and complaining.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25
To walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1) is to be led and guided by His counsels and motions, to regulate and order our whole behavior according to the rule and direction of God’s word and Spirit.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Zechariah 3:7
After Abram returned from Egypt to Canaan (i.e., after repentance), the Lord told him,
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Genesis 13:17
After the Lord told Abram to arise and walk through the land, what did Abram do? He simply changed his dwelling place. He sat somewhere else. He “dwelled in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord” (Genesis 13:18). Mamre means “vision”; Hebron comes from a verb which means “joined together” or “communion.” How noble! He dwells in vision, has communion with the Lord, and builds an altar unto the Lord to worship Him! Sounds good? Right? Wrong! Because that is not what the Lord told Abram to do.
Abram still dwelled in Mamre for two more years! He was still sitting! But the Lord had more walking for Abram to do! Therefore the Lord sovereignly arranged a huge war between four “good” kings and five “bad” kings, involving probably hundreds of thousands of men, for one purpose only … to get Abram to do what He told him to do in the first place … to walk through the land, the length and breadth of it (Genesis 14:14-15). So the grace and mercy of the Lord prevailed despite all of the failures of Abram! Note that the Lord never spoke to Abram and never appeared unto him again until after he had walked through the land, as instructed!
Under the law God’s people walked after (behind) the Lord. The Jews always required a sign to follow. They still do today.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:22
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: Exodus 13:21
Whenever the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, the people rested, but when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed (Numbers 9:15-23). At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. In other words, the Lord gave them a sign to follow … a sign they could see with their natural eyes. What a marvelous display of the grace and mercy of God! Even though it was never God’s intention for His people to follow signs, nevertheless He gave them what they could understand.
Under the New Covenant, a change was made.
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
We have just read in the Old Testament that the Israelites followed the signs … the cloud by day and the fire by night. But here, in Verse 4, Paul says that the Rock followed them! Did Paul make a mistake? No! Under the Old Covenant, the people of God followed the signs … they walked by sight, by their natural eyes. But under the New Covenant, we walk by faith!
When we walk before the Lord, by faith, we hear His voice behind us. Now the signs follow us, as believers! To walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) is to rely upon Christ in all things.
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. Genesis 17:1
To walk with God (Genesis 5:24) is to live in sweet communion with God, having a live sense of His presence, and endeavoring above all things to please Him and to be approved and accepted of Him. This is the highest spiritual form of walking, in which we walk not before and not after the Lord God, but with Him.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
When we come into such an intimate walk with the Lord, He will guide us with just the movement of His eye. Words will no longer be necessary because we will KNOW His every desire and instruction for us. The Lord says,
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Psalm 32:8
So in the final analysis, again, who is waiting for whom? After we do His will, walk in the Spirit, and walk in His ways, then we wait for Him. Let us re-visit that verse in Hebrews.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36
No serious believer would ever question that Jesus, as a Man on earth, walked in the fullness of the grace of God. Why? because He always did the will of the Father. I believe that the Lord wants us to identify with Him to such a degree that we lose all consciousness of self and desire that each member of His body might mature and walk with Him daily.
Although there are Scriptural verses which refer to our walking before God and walking after Him, the highest level is to walk with God. We have no greater function of purpose in life than to walk with God as He ever moves on. To do that we must agree with Him in all things. That is what Noah did. That is what Enoch did. “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Enoch walked with God and God translated him out of this earthly kingdom. If we as believers walk with God we too are translated into another kingdom. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Some have tried to pull that verse down to a natural level, but it speaks of the believer walking with God. Walking with God means that we are living and walking in His Kingdom. Is there any higher level for us as believers than to walk with God in His Kingdom? I don’t think so. In Genesis 3:8, Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. He is looking for those who will walk with Him! Walking with God means that we are living and walking in His Kingdom. (That does not equate to being “saved” or being born again.) Although there is no specific verse in the Bible that speaks of walking in grace, that phrase means the same as walking with God. That brings glory to His heart, but that can be effected only by the power of the Holy Ghost as we cooperate with and yield to Him.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: Colossians 1:13
Our responsibility likewise is to rest (Hebrew 3 and 4) from our works of the flesh while walking in the works that God has ordained for us to walk in. That, of course, requires hearing the voice of the Lord and discerning that which is of Him.
The pathway to receiving more grace from God is humility, walking in His righteousness, and doing the will of God from the heart.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10
How can we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing unless we are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding? There is a prerequisite to walking with the Lord. And why would Paul pray that prayer for the saints at Colosse (and for us) if they were already filled with that knowledge?
The early church walked in the fear of the Lord. “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied” (Acts 9:31). Note that “walking in the fear of the Lord” comes before “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." One of the greatest needs within the Christian community at all levels is a revelation of the scriptural fear of God. Lord, open our eyes!
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Now, what is the Lord waiting for? He is waiting for “the priests, the ministers of the Lord, to weep between the porch (the people of God) and the altar (The Lord), and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen would rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:17).
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Isaiah 66:7-9
Clearly, Zion has not yet travailed.
Many years ago in one session of an “intercessor” conference, the woman conducting the conference stated that she sensed there were a number of believers present who seemed to be waiting for the Lord to do something in their life. She said, “If that is true of you, please come forward because I want to pray for you.” At least 80% of those present went forward to be prayed for. I elected not to do so because I saw (and see) something different, based upon the following verse and others.
And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18
In the first part of the verse above, the Lord is waiting; in the last part of the verse, we wait for Him. Now the question arises, who is waiting on whom? If I am waiting for you and you are waiting for me, we have a stalemate … nothing happens. As in all Scripture, the order is significant. The Lord is first of all waiting for us to do something because He has already made available to us all things in Christ. What is He waiting for us to do? If we do not know the Lord, He is waiting for us to repent of our sins and ask Him to come into our heart and be our Lord and Savior. If we already know the Lord, He is waiting for us to cease from our own carnal ways and works, rest in Him, do the will of God, and walk in the works which He has prepared for us before the foundation of the world; in other words to press into the fullness of the kingdom of God. We must understand that the Lord is omnipresent and omnipotent, but not simply to do good things for us. We exist for His pleasure, not the other way around. Furthermore, the Lord waits patiently for the fruit of the Spirit to be made manifest in our life.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and letter rain. James 5:7
After we do His will, walk in the Spirit, and walk in His ways, then we wait for Him.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:19, 23
The following verses describe the omnipotence of the Lord and how He will empower those who wait for Him. That power is in the Holy Ghost. Waiting for the Lord does not mean that we sit back and do nothing. It means that we trust in Him, hope in Him, and look solely to Him.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength [to endure]; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
Those who wait upon the Lord are promised four sure results: we shall (1) renew our strength (or rather, renew strength, because it is not our strength but His strength within us – strength for spiritual defense); (2) mount up with wings as eagles; (3) run and not be weary; and (4) walk and not faint. As always, the order is significant. At first glance, logical reasoning would say that maturity in Christ means we walk first, then run, then mount up as eagles and soar in the sky. But the Holy Ghost never makes a mistake. God is very orderly. The order is correct as stated. What the Lord is after as an end product is that we are able to walk with Him on a daily basis.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Psalm 84:5
Why do we need His strength? because the natural man in his own power is no match for the enemy.
God has made use of every possible means of communication in order to teach us about Himself and to reveal Himself to us. His signature is written everywhere! In the trees, the flowers, mountains and hills, the color of the sky, birds and all animals, the fish of the sea, within our conscience, through everything in nature, and, of course, through the Scripture and other people. I knew a man many years ago who said that he had heard the Lord speaking through place mats, a man’s hat, a man’s shoes, a man’s pants, window blinds, a dog, believers and non-believers, and, of course, sovereignly from the Holy Ghost.
We should not think it strange that when Scripture talks about the eagle, God is trying to teach us something. An eagle is a type of an overcoming Christian which soars higher and faster than any other bird, knows no fear, and loves to look directly at the sun. When an eagle sees its young ones grown enough to start trying to fly, it hovers over their nest, flutters its wings, and excites them to imitate it and take their flight. When the mother eagle sees the babies as weary and fearful, it takes them upon its back, carries them, and becomes a shield for the young. In like manner, the Lord told Moses,
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Exodus 19:4
Just like the eagle, the Lord took upon Himself the care of His people. He led them out of Egypt and set them at liberty, as an eagle takes its young out of the nest to teach them how to fly by gently fluttering about them.
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; Deuteronomy 32:11
The eagle builds its nest very high in the tops of craggy rocks. It is a bird of great courage and sets on beasts much larger than itself. It flies very high, so high that man with his natural eye can no longer see it. It has a little eye, but a very quick sight, discerns its prey from afar off, and beholds the sun with open eyes. The eagle lives a long time. It is not like other birds, which flap their wings to start flying. Instead, the eagle sits on the top of a very lofty rock, and when an air current comes, it lets out a scream and mounts up into the air, riding that wave of air.
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Job 39:27-29
For an eagle Christian, his bodily health and strength continue vigorous and lively, just like the eagle, even until old age. We have known several such eagle Christians who continue to be very active past the age of ninety. One brother in the Lord stayed active in ministry until he was almost 102 years of age; another good brother is still active at age 103; a Christian woman we have known for many years was on her way to Israel to lead a tour group at age 102.
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deuteronomy 34:7
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:5
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. Proverbs 30:18-19
The way of a serpent upon a rock is the mystery of the battle between Satan and the Lord. The way of a ship in the midst of the sea is the mystery of the Church surviving and flourishing in the midst of the world. The way of a man with a maid is the mystery of Christ and the Church. The way of an eagle in the air is the mystery of an overcoming Christian walking in the realm of the Spirit.
Many years ago I heard the following song, sung by Ern Baxter, who was one of the “notables” at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, when what some have called “latter rain” broke out in 1948.
Rise and soar into the sunlight rays. Using both your wings of prayer and praise.
Mount like eagles, higher in the sky. And you’ll find things look so different when you fly.
The author of the Book of Hebrews exhorts us,
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
The word translated as “cool” is the Hebrew word ruach, which is most often translated as “spirt.” Ruach, in whatever sense it is used, always represents that which is invisible to the natural eye except by its manifestations. Nowhere is Scripture does it say that Adam and Eve saw the Lord God. They heard Him on several recorded times. In the verse above, they heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. The voice of the Lord has been walking ever since! His voice leads us ever upward toward Himself and His glory!
Walking is one of the actions of the body that denotes motion from one place to another. Certainly in the natural realm, walking is a great exercise for our bodies. In the spiritual realm we, as believers, should walk when the Lord says to walk. Now the question arises, “walk from where to where?” May we suggest that we are called to walk out from the darkness of the world and the flesh into His marvelous light. To walk in darkness is to live in a state of ignorance, error, and/or sin. To walk after the flesh (Romans 8:1) is to be guided by our sensual appetite and the principles of corrupt nature. To walk in the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3) is to live a natural life, independent of God, and which is subject to many infirmities and calamities where we are subject to the whims of the devil.
When Lucifer fell from grace, darkness then was upon the face of the deep. Why? because God shrouded the world with a mantle of darkness. It did not hide the earth from Him, for the darkness and the light are both alike to Him (Psalm 139:12). God is able to see all the time.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
To walk in the light is to live in the ways of truth and holiness. Walking in the light is an ever progressive walk because as we walk in the light that we have received, He gives us more light.
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Joshua 22:5
You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. Deuteronomy 5:33
Scripture never promises us that we will have a walk of ease. On the contrary Scripture reveals that all who live godly in Christ Jesus and walk uprightly before the Lord will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). It is well to remember, from Matthew 5:10-12, that we are blessed when we suffer persecution for His sake. We should remember the Lord’s purpose in leading His people forty years in the wilderness. It was to prove them, whether they would walk in His ways without murmuring and complaining.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25
To walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1) is to be led and guided by His counsels and motions, to regulate and order our whole behavior according to the rule and direction of God’s word and Spirit.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Zechariah 3:7
After Abram returned from Egypt to Canaan (i.e., after repentance), the Lord told him,
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Genesis 13:17
After the Lord told Abram to arise and walk through the land, what did Abram do? He simply changed his dwelling place. He sat somewhere else. He “dwelled in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord” (Genesis 13:18). Mamre means “vision”; Hebron comes from a verb which means “joined together” or “communion.” How noble! He dwells in vision, has communion with the Lord, and builds an altar unto the Lord to worship Him! Sounds good? Right? Wrong! Because that is not what the Lord told Abram to do.
Abram still dwelled in Mamre for two more years! He was still sitting! But the Lord had more walking for Abram to do! Therefore the Lord sovereignly arranged a huge war between four “good” kings and five “bad” kings, involving probably hundreds of thousands of men, for one purpose only … to get Abram to do what He told him to do in the first place … to walk through the land, the length and breadth of it (Genesis 14:14-15). So the grace and mercy of the Lord prevailed despite all of the failures of Abram! Note that the Lord never spoke to Abram and never appeared unto him again until after he had walked through the land, as instructed!
Under the law God’s people walked after (behind) the Lord. The Jews always required a sign to follow. They still do today.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:22
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: Exodus 13:21
Whenever the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, the people rested, but when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed (Numbers 9:15-23). At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. In other words, the Lord gave them a sign to follow … a sign they could see with their natural eyes. What a marvelous display of the grace and mercy of God! Even though it was never God’s intention for His people to follow signs, nevertheless He gave them what they could understand.
Under the New Covenant, a change was made.
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
We have just read in the Old Testament that the Israelites followed the signs … the cloud by day and the fire by night. But here, in Verse 4, Paul says that the Rock followed them! Did Paul make a mistake? No! Under the Old Covenant, the people of God followed the signs … they walked by sight, by their natural eyes. But under the New Covenant, we walk by faith!
When we walk before the Lord, by faith, we hear His voice behind us. Now the signs follow us, as believers! To walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) is to rely upon Christ in all things.
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. Genesis 17:1
To walk with God (Genesis 5:24) is to live in sweet communion with God, having a live sense of His presence, and endeavoring above all things to please Him and to be approved and accepted of Him. This is the highest spiritual form of walking, in which we walk not before and not after the Lord God, but with Him.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
When we come into such an intimate walk with the Lord, He will guide us with just the movement of His eye. Words will no longer be necessary because we will KNOW His every desire and instruction for us. The Lord says,
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Psalm 32:8
So in the final analysis, again, who is waiting for whom? After we do His will, walk in the Spirit, and walk in His ways, then we wait for Him. Let us re-visit that verse in Hebrews.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36
No serious believer would ever question that Jesus, as a Man on earth, walked in the fullness of the grace of God. Why? because He always did the will of the Father. I believe that the Lord wants us to identify with Him to such a degree that we lose all consciousness of self and desire that each member of His body might mature and walk with Him daily.
Although there are Scriptural verses which refer to our walking before God and walking after Him, the highest level is to walk with God. We have no greater function of purpose in life than to walk with God as He ever moves on. To do that we must agree with Him in all things. That is what Noah did. That is what Enoch did. “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Enoch walked with God and God translated him out of this earthly kingdom. If we as believers walk with God we too are translated into another kingdom. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Some have tried to pull that verse down to a natural level, but it speaks of the believer walking with God. Walking with God means that we are living and walking in His Kingdom. Is there any higher level for us as believers than to walk with God in His Kingdom? I don’t think so. In Genesis 3:8, Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. He is looking for those who will walk with Him! Walking with God means that we are living and walking in His Kingdom. (That does not equate to being “saved” or being born again.) Although there is no specific verse in the Bible that speaks of walking in grace, that phrase means the same as walking with God. That brings glory to His heart, but that can be effected only by the power of the Holy Ghost as we cooperate with and yield to Him.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: Colossians 1:13
Our responsibility likewise is to rest (Hebrew 3 and 4) from our works of the flesh while walking in the works that God has ordained for us to walk in. That, of course, requires hearing the voice of the Lord and discerning that which is of Him.
The pathway to receiving more grace from God is humility, walking in His righteousness, and doing the will of God from the heart.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10
How can we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing unless we are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding? There is a prerequisite to walking with the Lord. And why would Paul pray that prayer for the saints at Colosse (and for us) if they were already filled with that knowledge?
The early church walked in the fear of the Lord. “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied” (Acts 9:31). Note that “walking in the fear of the Lord” comes before “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." One of the greatest needs within the Christian community at all levels is a revelation of the scriptural fear of God. Lord, open our eyes!
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Now, what is the Lord waiting for? He is waiting for “the priests, the ministers of the Lord, to weep between the porch (the people of God) and the altar (The Lord), and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen would rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:17).
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Isaiah 66:7-9
Clearly, Zion has not yet travailed.
Chapter 7: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:3-5
The most important exhortation that should confront each one of us today and every day is, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” That word occurs for the first time in Isaiah 40:3. The same message is spoken of seven times in the New Testament (two in Matthew; two in Mark; and three in Luke). So, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” occurs eight times in Scripture. That word is not a request; it is a command; it is a command for us to do something … to prepare the way of the Lord.
Just prior to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus on earth, in Matthew 3:1-3, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John the Baptist was to have been the fulfillment of preaching the word of preparation. Mark 1:2 says, “As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.” But repentance is never a popular word … so John the Baptist was rejected and killed.
The time of John the Baptist was a time of transition … a transition from the dispensation of law to the dispensation of grace. The time of the new John the Baptist Company is also a time of transition … a transition to the age of the kingdom. We are on the verge of the dawning of a new dispensation. And with a new dispensation, that which was divinely given in the previous dispensations divinely set aside in the new dispensation. Abraham had three wives … Hagar (the law), Sarah (the church age), and Keturah (the age of the kingdom). “Keturah” means to “turn into incense, as by fire.” God is raising up a people who have been tried by the fire and turned into an altar of praise to our God. The new John the Baptist Company will consist of people like Amos, who said, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit. And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 9:14-15).
That one voice crying in the wilderness will be a company of some number of overcomers. Only the Lord knows how many and who specifically will be a part of this company. This group of believers will constitute one voice from the wilderness. Their unified message will not be as a result of conferring with one another. They will all get the word of God from the Source, directly.
Today, we personally know a few mature ministries who are in the wilderness. They have been tried by fire, tried by a lack of (human) fellowship that is common to the natural temple, tried through much suffering in a variety of forms. But they have been counted worthy by the Lord to suffer in His Name. They have found that the Lord Himself is sufficient for all of their needs. They have been chosen as a tenth of a tenth of believers (Nehemiah 10:38). Many are called but few are chosen. The reason that few are chosen is because few choose. It depends upon our response to God. It depends upon the decisions that we make.
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Proverbs 27:21
The New American standard says “the crucible is for silver.” Silver speaks of redemption. We are being tried in a crucible, in the wilderness. Certainly the Lord is waiting to provide for all of our needs in the wilderness: food (manna), water (Moses struck the rock), money (Matthew 17:27), healing, guidance, protection, and on and on. Lord, increase our faith!
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6
In Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” The wilderness is God’s proving ground. Waters break out in the wilderness, not in the cities, not in the traditional churches. Note that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness; He did not just decide to go there. So it is also with all of the faithful believers who are suffering in the wilderness. They have been led into their place of suffering by the Holy Spirit. Now when we are in the wilderness, our response to God leading us there is crucial. We can murmur and complain and just die in the wilderness, as did all of the Israelites (except two adults) when they came out of Egypt. Or we can patiently endure, just waiting for relief. Or we can be overcomers. Only we as individuals can make that choice. It is OUR decision. But make sure you know what you are doing if you pray, “Lord make me an overcomer,” because then the Lord will give you something to overcome. When we look at the response of Jesus, in Matthew 4, it is abundantly clear that Jesus was the Prime Overcomer. What happened as a result? Jesus began to preach, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17); and in Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” So it shall be with the overcomers. When the Lord blows the trumpet, there will be a new release of a healing ministry. This healing ministry will NOT be like what we have seen to date. It will be a complete healing of body, soul, and spirit. “And saviours [deliverers] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S” (Obadiah 21). In addition, the message to be preached is the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
So God has all the while been preparing the overcomers, the remnant, the man child, the tenth of the tenth. He has scattered them into the wilderness and has refined them as silver is refined in the fire. He has used suffering of all different kinds to press his remnant into Christ. And He has a timetable for the true to emerge. Only the Lord knows when that time is. But surely that time is close at hand. One characteristic of the overcomers is that they will trouble all Israel because of the apostasy of the church. Darkness hates the light.
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 1 Kings 18:17
The preparation of a soul to stand with (or in) Christ in the Kingdom of God is severe, demanding, and stringent. Much rigorous preparation is needed before His servants can bear His glory to the ends of the earth. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Such preparation has always been necessary before any revival to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). How much greater, then, is the need for ultimate preparation for the ultimate manifestation of His glory upon the earth within His overcomers. The time for the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-2 is close at hand. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” To whom are those verses addressed? to those overcomers in these end times who will allow the Lord to make them into His image. Now no man is perfect (yet) and no man on earth can at this time bear the glory of the LORD. That is why much more stringent preparation is necessary within His chosen vessels before, “And the Gentile shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3).
The parable of the sower speaks of preparing good ground to receive seed. Much old ground has to be plowed and prepared to receive the word of the kingdom of God. Many long years ago I rented a rototiller to try to prepare a small plot of land to plant a few vegetables. It was hard work! Once we allow the Holy Spirit to begin His work in our soul, He desires to restore and then release that soul to live life in a freedom which only the remnant of the Lord can know. Somewhere back in 1970 I received an unsolicited prophecy from one of the very few true prophets that I have met in my life. He said that he had seen a vision of the Lord slitting the soles of my shoes so that my toes would have room to wriggle around. I knew exactly what he meant by that prophecy. However, I had to wait another ten years for the fulfillment of that prophecy. But on May 30, 1980, the Lord sovereignly brought about the fulfillment of that word. Immediately I sensed a freedom and a liberty in my spirit that I had never experienced before. For me, that was indeed a day of jubilee in my life … a jubilee that I have basked in for almost 40 years. At the same time, I am fully aware that what I experienced of the freedom and liberty of the Lord was/is only a drop in the bucket compared to the glorious liberty of the sons of God that still lies ahead.
What kind of preparation occurred just before Jesus was rejected and crucified? It was a natural preparation. On what we now call Palm Sunday, upon Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people strewed their garments and palm branches and palm leaves in His path. Although there are many varieties of palm trees, what we see in Scripture refers to the date-palm, which brings forth fruit.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he (John the Baptist) said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:7-8). But there was no genuine repentance. There was no fruit, just branches and leaves. Even the common people were simply looking for a natural king to deliver them from their oppressors.
The preparation for the second coming of our King will no longer be purely natural … it must be a spiritual preparation. We must prepare His way in our hearts. There will still be garments, palm branches, and palm leaves, but in the realm of the Spirit. There will also be the fruit of the palm tree, the fruit of the Spirit. We must prepare His way with the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3), wearing linen garments … the garments of His righteousness.
The date-palm tree is very striking in its appearance … upright and beautiful. The tree is very fruitful, its foliage is perpetually green, and its foliage grows very high, as if reaching upward toward heaven. It grows ever upward, even when loaded with weights. And “the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” (Psalm 92:12). The fruit of the Spirit must become a manifested reality. Jesus said that we will know them by their fruit … the fruit of the Spirit.
Our preparation is to allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into that which He desires. Our attitude is critical. Sometimes I get the impression that we are an “I know that” church. We have received much good teaching (and some not so good) and read so many books that “we know that.” So we are no longer flexible and pliable in the Lord’s hands. We have crystallized our doctrine, got it all down pat, searched the scriptures, and lead our own lives. We have built three tabernacles and here we stand. It is no wonder that after an initial spurt of growth, the real life of the Spirit departs from our fellowships. After some period of time, the Spirit of God is no longer in control. We are running on our own steam, following our own traditions, having a great time, and never knowing that something is wrong. Because the most difficult aspect of preparing the way of the Lord is to see the need for such preparation, we will use several examples to emphasize this need. Let us consider the “handwriting on the wall.”
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, saw the handwriting on the wall but he could neither read nor interpret it. He saw the fingers of a man’s hand which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace (Daniel 5:5-6). It filled him with fear and foreboding. His fears were well-founded! For him, the “days of recompence” were come. Daniel not only read the writing for Belshazzar but also interpreted it. Daniel 5:25-28, “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
MENE, MENE means numbered, numbered. Any time any word is repeated in Scripture, it carries great emphasis. The significance is that the days of the king of Babylon were numbered and finished. TEKEL means weighed. The king of Babylon was weighed in the balance and found wanting. UPHARSIN (called PERES in Daniel 5:28) means divided or broken. His kingdom was divided. The United States has never been so divided, except possibly during the Civil War. Even the visible church is divided, just like the Church at Corinth, or worse. “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” is current events. It speaks prophetically of the United States right now!
Amos saw the handwriting on the wall. He read it rightly. He said (Amos 3:8), "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophecy?" Amos continued (Amos 9:8), "Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth."
Hose saw the handwriting on the wall. It spoke of judgment swift and sure, deadly and devastating. Hosea saw Israel following a path that could only end in complete destruction (Hosea 2:13, 4:7, 5:4, 5:7, 6:7, 7:13, 9:9, 10:4, 13:2, and a host of other Scriptures.)
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying …
2 Chronicles 21:12
The most interesting aspect of what follows that verse is that the letter came to Jehoram, the king of Judah, six years AFTER Elijah had been translated. Elijah saw that some things had been set in motion by Jehoram and Elijah knew the consequences that must follow, barring a sovereign intervention by the Lord, because Elijah knew the ways of the Lord. Elijah saw the handwriting on the wall.
Call the role of the prophets. Which of the Old Testament prophets did NOT see the handwriting on the wall? Moreover, the messages of the prophets are timeless, independent of any culture. It was not through the priesthood with its ritual and ceremony that God revealed Himself but through “His servants the prophets.”
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
Note that verse does NOT say “He revealeth His secret unto the prophets;” it says “He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets;” servants first, prophets second.
The August 2005 destruction from hurricane Katrina in Louisianan, Mississippi, and Alabama, particularly in New Orleans, was perhaps the most devastating natural event in the history of the United States. It caused at least 160 billion dollars in damages and claimed at least 1800 lives. But not everyone saw the handwriting on the wall from that judgment. We sincerely doubt that President George W. Bush or members of Congress saw the significance of Katrina. They saw it only as a horrible natural disaster. Only the Lord knows how many genuine believers saw Katrina as the handwriting on the wall.
President Bush spoke about rebuilding New Orleans to restore it to the “once proud city that is used to be.” That, of course, required billions of taxpayer dollars. Even in the natural realm it did not seem wise to pour billions of dollars into rebuilding New Orleans unless the city was moved to higher ground. Scripture warns us against building our house on sand. The Lord may even send a worse hurricane to destroy it again. New Orleans, like many other large cities, is full of evil, drugs, darkness, prostitutes, Mardi Gras orgies, crime of every sort, etc.
Of course we should not expect our secular leaders to see the handwriting on the wall. They do not have eyes to see or ears to hear or a heart to understand that which the Lord is about. The trumpet call can be heard only in Zion, which speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. Perhaps many professing Christians have, at one time or another, quoted the verse in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” The question is, “Does the Lord require something more from us than just to quote that verse?”
The Lord woke me up at 3:30 a.m. on September 3, 2005, a few days after Katrina, and reminded me of the similarity between the New Orleans debacle and what I personally witnessed many years ago. A rather large Assembly of God Church, a few miles from where we live, after building a very large church structure, decided to add on a full-size gymnasium for their “members.” Of course they had no problem raising the money for such a venture. Charismatic Christians are eager to pour money into almost anything that their pastor wants. All went smoothly until they started to put the roof on the gymnasium. Then the Lord sent a very strong wind and blew off many of the shingles and part of the plywood sheathing. Undoubtedly what happened next was that the pastor and the elders met together and determined what to do. I might as well have been sitting in on the meeting. They rebuked the devil and spent more money to repair the roof. Very shortly after that the Lord sent another strong wind and blew off part of the roof a second time. They never got the message! I am sure that it never entered into their minds that the gymnasium was displeasing to the Lord. So they repaired the roof yet once more! The last thing I heard about that Assembly of God church was through some Christian friends of ours, who said they stopped going there when the pastor passed the collection plate four times during one service! If we persist in doing things our way, the Lord will let us do our own thing, but His blessing and presence will depart. Shortly after the Lord delivered the Jews out of Egypt, we read in Psalm 106:13-15, “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel; But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”
The Book of Hosea, like most other books in the Bible, is about two things: (1) the judgment of God, which is steadfast and sure to all those who willingly and knowingly disobey Him, and (2) the love of God for His people. Of course, few pastors want to speak about the judgment of God lest they lose some of their members. God’s wrath can be terrible but His mercy is beyond understanding. God’s love is always extended, for this is His very nature, but His forgiveness is conditional upon the attitude and response of men. Without repentance and return there can be no forgiveness. God forgives when the conditions of forgiveness are met.
Compare Hosea’s day with our own. Replace the altars of Baal with the modern idols of materialism, sensualism, secularism, humanism, religious liberalism, compromise, and mixture. We have allowed foreigners who worship other gods to live with us, mix with us, and compromise our original, true, God-centered country. Is there a call to repentance? If so, is there a positive response to that call? How long can any nation survive when the foundations are undermined by godless living? The Christian community has been out of God’s order for many long years. Ephesians 2:20 says that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. We have changed that verse to say we are built upon the foundation of the pastor and the chief cornerstone is self.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. Hosea 14:9
Hosea emphasizes very clearly at least seven great truths. A wise man will take heed to all of these.
(1) Idolatry of any sort means the transfer of primary affection from God to some other object or person, and constitutes spiritual adultery. (Hosea 4:12; 9:1)
(2) Sin carries the seeds of judgment within it and always bears fruit. No one can play with sin with impunity. (Hosea 8:7; 10:13)
(3) God punishes sin … especially sin in the hearts of His own people. The high privilege which He has bestowed upon us demands a corresponding sense of responsibility on our part. (Hosea 4:1-6)
(4) There is no easy road to forgiveness and restoration. Only sincere and wholehearted repentance can pave the way to a renewed fellowship. (Hosea 14:1-4)
(5) National apostasy and idolatry will inevitably mean national disintegration and destruction. (Hosea 9:1-7)
(6) God will never be satisfied with superficial, formal, external ritual. (Hosea 6:6)
(7) God’s heart is filled with a tender, gracious, inexhaustible love. (Hosea 2:15, 19-20; 6:4; 11:8; 14:4-8)
The prophet Isaiah spoke about the first coming of the Lord, which is recorded in Isaiah 40:3-5 (quoted at the start of this chapter). However, if I read those verses in Isaiah correctly, Isaiah also prophesied of the second coming of the Lord in those same verses in Isaiah 40:3-5. Why can I believe that? because Isaiah 40, verses 4 and 5 were not fulfilled upon the first coming of Jesus. Every valley was not exalted at His first coming; every mountain and hill was not made low at His first coming, the crooked was not made straight, and the rough places were not made plain. Further, all flesh together did not at that time see the glory of the LORD revealed. It is not unusual that some events prophesied in the Bible have two separate fulfillments … the first fulfillment being partial and the second fulfillment being complete.
Now let us read what Jesus said about John the Baptist in Luke 7:24-28, “And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written [in Malachi 3:1], Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Let us emphasize that the words of both Isaiah and John the Baptist, namely, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” are commandments. They are not optional; our preparing the way of the Lord is not if we feel like it or if we have time. They are commandments. If anyone thinks there are no longer any commandments under the New Covenant, then perhaps that person should read the New Testament again. Jesus spoke many commandments to His disciples and to us, such as “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
Therefore, to repeat, the most important exhortation that any man could speak today is “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” … prepare for the second coming of the Lord to earth, or, as one good brother put it, prepare for the glory. That is a personal word to each of us; it is also a corporate word. Leonard Ravenhill, a highly respected Christian author, evangelist, and preacher once said: “I’m sick to death of the so-called Christianity of our day. What’s supernatural about it? When do people come out of the sanctuary awed and can’t speak for an hour because God has been in glory there? Dear God, as soon as they get out, they’re talking football, or sports or something or there’s going to be a big sale downtown or somewhere. We are not caught up into eternity! When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary? When you couldn’t say a word to anybody because you were so overwhelmed with the glory of God? The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory. God wants to bring us into a glory we know nothing about.”
Jeremiah 13:16-17, “Give glory to the LORD your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.” We need an enlarged vision in this hour … we need to know where we are going and how to get there.
The most important handwriting on the wall is that Jesus is coming back to earth soon! Are we looking for him? Are we prepared for Him? Now the next questions are “Why do we need to prepare the way of the Lord? How do we prepare the way of the Lord? How do we make His paths straight? What happens after we prepare the way of the Lord?” May the Holy Spirit stir up our hearts to prepare for the Lord’s soon coming.
Why do we, you and I, and every professing Christian need to prepare the way of the Lord? for several very good reasons. First of all, that is a commandment, as we stated above. Let us emphasize that there is a distinct difference between being born again and walking in the kingdom of God. There can be little doubt that the Lord will return to earth very soon. Now some may say, well brother, believers have been saying that for 2000 years. True, but who can doubt that the world is rapidly going from darkness to gross darkness? (Isaiah 60:2). But from Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” What or who is that standard? the manifestation of the sons of God … the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. The enemy has been coming in like a flood for many years and it will get worse. Coming in to where? to the Church, the body of Christ. There are many reasons why the Church has allowed the enemy to come in like a flood. Throughout this book I have shared some of those reasons.
Almost every Christian knows that the Bible contains 66 books … 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Likewise the Book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters. The first 39 chapters in the Book of Isaiah are primarily about the judgment of God. Thirty-nine is three times 13. “Thirteen” in the Bible speaks of rebellion or apostasy (Genesis 14:4), so thirty nine speaks of perfect or complete rebellion. Some have called the last 27 chapters of the Book of Isaiah the “Book of Comfort,” perhaps because the first word in Isaiah 40 is “comfort.” “Twenty-seven” is three times three times three, where three is the number of Divine completeness or perfect testimony.
About 12 years ago the Holy Spirit seemed to quicken to me that the last 27 chapters in the Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66, represent a chronological, time-order of events in the history of God’s chosen people, starting with the time just prior to the birth of Jesus. When I shared that thought with Marion Fretwell, a precious, mature brother in Christ, who lived in Yakima, Washington, he quickly responded that he had received that same revelation in the year 2006. I have no idea how many others received that same revelation, although I have never read or heard that said through any other believer. Without going into a lot of detail, the primary significance of a few of the last 27 chapters is as follows:
Chapter 51: Conditions in the land just prior to the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
Chapter 52: The ministry of John the Baptist
Chapter 53: Calvary
Chapter 54: Pentecost
Chapter 55: Call of the Gentiles
Chapter 56: Rise of a mixed multitude within the Church
Chapter 57: Persecution of the righteous and the rise of traditions of men
Chapter 58: Voice of the Spirit through the Reformation
Chapter 59: Denominational strife
Chapter 60:The dawn of spiritual Zion’s glory (overcomers)
Chapter 61: Beginning of the harvest
Chapter 62: The restoration of spiritual Zion
Chapter 63: Destruction of evil
Chapter 64: Repentance in the Church
Chapter 65: Overcomers and the new earth
Chapter 66: God’s final victory and the glory of the Church
If that be true, and I am persuaded it is, then what Chapter of Isaiah are we in today? I believe we live on the verge of the fulfillment of Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” But Chapters 60 through 66 can be fulfilled rapidly.
The Church at Ephesus was perhaps the most spiritually mature church in Paul’s day. Paul warned the elders of the Church at Ephesus in Acts 20:29-31, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” So Paul warned the church at Ephesus 2000 times about what would (not could) happen after his departure. God has always warned His chosen people to prepare for what is coming soon. Psalm 10:17 speaks of the climax of wickedness before the end of the age and a reference to the Lord’s overcomers during this time of evil: “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart.” How many times have you heard warnings from ministers?
Jesus said, in Luke 20:18, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” “That stone” of course is Jesus Himself. That Verse does not contrast the Christian with the non-Christian. The contrast is between those who have been born from above and those who have been broken and walk in the Kingdom of God. Unless we are broken of all traces of self, we cannot walk in the kingdom of God. But unless we are walking in the Kingdom of God, we will suffer the consequences of great tribulation. If we are walking in the kingdom of God we will still go through the great tribulation but it will not affect us. In like manner, I believe that when the Jewish Sanhedrin stoned Stephen to death, he never felt anything … he just fell asleep, as the scripture says. The so-called “rapture” out from the great tribulation is a product of the carnal mind. It runs totally counter to the spirit of the Bible.
When the Lord returns, the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 will be fulfilled. All ten of them represent true born-from-above Christians. Five were wise and five were foolish. The five wise virgins were prepared with ample supply of oil in their lamps, but the five foolish virgins had no oil for their lamps. The five wise virgins speak of the bride of Christ; the five foolish virgins speak of the rest of the church … those who neglect to prepare the way of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:18-29, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”
It is time for us, the church, to wake up, man up, stand up, speak up, or shut up and fold up. It is time to get our thumb out of our mouth. It is time to get off our pablum diet and start chewing some meat. It is time to be potty-trained, time to get rid of our diapers. It is time to put away our childish ways … time to understand and walk in His ways. It is time to cease all debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and tumults: (2 Corinthians 12:20). A house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25).
Joel 1:5, “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” “Drunkards” and “wine” does not speak of the natural realm. New wine cannot be put into old wineskins. Old wineskins are not flexible and resist change. New wine speaks of fresh revelation from the Lord.
Ezekiel 47:3-5 says, “And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.”
Today, far too many of us professing Christians haven’t even got our feet wet. A few more are wading in the kiddie pool. We tend to believe that the vast majority of professing Christians put ourselves on a slightly more mature spiritual level than our brothers “over there.” After all, we are born again, baptized with the Holy Ghost, go to church regularly, give money to the church, lead a morally good life, etc. But Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We must compare ourselves with Jesus. Who among us is perfect?
In Revelation 1:7 we read, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
The “clouds” in that verse do not speak of those white puffy things we see in the sky. It speaks of a cloud of witnesses … those saints who have gone before. “Every eye shall see Him” speaks of the natural realm. After the resurrection of Jesus and before His final ascension, He appeared and He disappeared to some of His disciples (Luke 24:31). He did not appear to all of His disciples before His final ascension. John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” That sequence of appearing and disappearing will be repeated until every eye shall see Him. The following verse speaks of those who see Him in the realm of the Spirit before every eye shall see Him in the natural realm.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28
And I will wait upon the LORD that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him. Isaiah 8:17
The “house of Jacob” speaks of the natural man or the carnal Christian … those who are not looking for Him. So a very important question for you and me and every professing Christian is, “Are you looking for Him?”
There is at least one more huge reason why we all should prepare the way of the Lord … that is if we have any desire to rule and reign with the Lord Jesus on earth for 1000 years, usually called the Millennium.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-6
Verses 4 and 5 clearly indicate that not all born-from-above Christians will participate in the Millennium. Why not? because of the decisions and choices that each of us must make during our time on earth. Verses 4 and 6 refer to the Bride of Christ; Verse 5 refers to the rest of the Church. Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”
We have tried to emphasize the necessity to “prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Now we want to think about the scriptural answer to the question, “How do we prepare the way of the Lord?” first of all by preparing our hearts. Without any doubt the main responsibility that we have is to prepare our heart (by the power of the Holy Spirit). Our heart does not speak of our natural heart. Our heart speaks of the essence of our being; it corresponds to our spirit. We must be prepared and I’m afraid that many of us are not prepared, spiritually or physically.
About seven years ago a good Christian friend of ours, named John, told me about a sermon the pastor of the Episcopal Church that he attended preached three times one Sunday. I will call that pastor’s name Sam (not his real name). Sam was a very conservative preacher and highly respected and sought after by the conservative segment of the Episcopal Church. In his rather amazing message that one Sunday he said that very difficult times were soon coming to the church in America. He continued that he believed that many in his church were not prepared to live in the difficult times ahead, but that he did not know how to help them get prepared. We can admire Sam’s honesty and his sincere desire for the welfare of those present that Sunday. We can also admire his humility for saying what he said. But we are somewhat disappointed that he did not know how to help those professing Christians. So I asked our good Christian friend, John, to try to set up a meeting for me to talk with his pastor, Sam. John told me that would be hard to arrange because Sam was so busy. But after two or three months John arranged the meeting. So John, Sam, and I met in Sam’s modest office for about one hour. I do not remember everything that I shared with Sam, but I do remember sharing one thing. I said that one of the biggest reasons for the lack of maturity in Sam’s church was because they had no real prophetic ministry. Therefore their vision was too small. A prophet was formerly called a seer. The major purpose of a true prophet is not to prophesy but to help to enlarge the vision of the members of the body of Christ. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
What should we do to be ready for this shaking that we are in and the even harder times that are sure to come? Most evangelicals and some charismatics believe that the church will not have to endure this difficult time because of something men call the “rapture.” But too many scriptures indicate that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom; that will not only make us stronger but we will be purified through the trail to become the Bride of Christ. The so-called “rapture” doctrine has contributed beyond all measure to the apathy, complacency, and lukewarm attitude of the Church. That complacency should give us considerable concern. Our resources, our wealth, our military might, our claim to democratic ideals and practices have become our boast. Like Israel of old, we assume that God is on our side and that He is bound to protect us and prosper our cause. God bless America so we can continue to do our own thing.
Our first step to prepare the way of the Lord. You do it … I do it … we do it. Make ready for the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords. This preparation does not end when we are born again or baptized with the Holy Spirit. That is only the beginning. If you know that a secular king or president or any other dignitary is coming to your house for dinner, you will undoubtedly make haste to (1) clean your house thoroughly, (2) wear your best clothes, and (3) prepare your best meal for him/her. How much more shall we prepare for the Lord Himself?
How do we clean our house spiritually? By making sure that the enemy has no foothold in our life. We must get clean before the Lord; repent and bring all our darkness to the light of the Lord. Nothing else we do in the natural realm will matter if our spirit is not right with God. Many will not get past this point because they are very comfortable with their sin. All of the hidden sin that is in our life must be exposed so it can be washed by the blood of the Lamb. David said, in Psalm 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 51:2, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” This is the key for us to be able to hear the voice of the Lord.
Jesus said, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). As long as we abide in the Vine, the prince of this world has nothing in us either, for the Lord is our shield.
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1
This is not automatic. It takes action on our part to take His shield upon us.
Next, we must wear our best clothes. We must keep our garments clean. Obviously, “keeping our personal garments clean” does not refer to the natural realm. We speak, of course, of our spiritual garments that clothe our soul and spirit. Under the Old Covenant, the garments of the priests were natural garments.
2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a gridle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
Exodus 28:2-5
That is still true in the spiritual realm under the New Covenant. Note, in Verses 3 and 4 above, the purpose of those garments … so that the priests may minister unto the Lord. “Minister to the Lord” does not equate to what men call praise and worship in gatherings of His people.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister unto Me, and they shall keep My charge.
17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:15-19, 23
Verse 23 is an amazing verse! How can any man cause another man to discern between the unclean and the clean? Only by the power of the Holy Ghost through a vessel that has been shaped into the full nature of Christ. The New Covenant spiritual counterpart of the garments of Aaron, the high priest is,
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:13-17
Verse 13 is an exhortation to take, or put on, the whole armor of God, not just part or most of that armor. Christ in you, the hope of glory! For what purpose? so that we may be able to stand in these end times.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Revelation 19:7-8
So the Bride, the Lamb’s wife must make herself ready. How? by obedience to the faith of Christ … by keeping oil in our lamps … by being a wise virgin (Matthew 25:1-13) rather than a foolish virgin. What is the portion of the foolish virgins (who likewise represent born again Christians)? They must come out of great tribulation.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-14
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
Once clean, pray for guidance from the Lord. No plan that we can come up with will carry us through this time; only obedience to the voice of the Lord can carry us through.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15
Matthew 22:1-14, “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he set forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
In those days the wedding garment was furnished by the host … the bridegroom. “Garments” speak of righteousness, but “all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). So the man who was cast into outer darkness had trusted in his own righteousness, rather than the righteousness which comes only from the Lord.
Third, we must prepare our best meal. That which we serve to the Lord must be the fruit of the Spirit. The spiritual food that we eat, prepare, and serve to others must be the truth as illuminated by the Holy Spirit, not what our carnal mind understands through our reasoning, logical thinking, or traditions of men. One of the greatest causes of doctrinal error and lack of understanding comes about by trying to interpret Scripture in the natural realm, using our natural minds and logical reasoning.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14
In conclusion, let us read a few of the many verses in the Bible that speak of our heart and how we prepare our heart.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84:1
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend you heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Joel 2:12-13
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if we will hear His voice,
8 Harden not you hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Hebrews 3:7-8
Our hearts are overly concerned with materialism, entertainment, traditions of men, putting an “X” in all the right boxes, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and a hundred other things. Therefore it seems only reasonable that we should understand what constitutes a right heart. More importantly, a right heart must become a living reality and not simply a mental understanding.
At the most basic level, a right heart is a heart that is attuned to the heart of the Lord. Every believer is called to identify (in reality, experientially) with the Lord Jesus in His suffering, His death, His burial. His resurrection, His weeping over Jerusalem, His will, His heart, His intercession for us, His love and zeal for the Church, and His jealousy over Zion, to name a few. It is a heart that wants the Lord to be pleased and satisfied with us even if we never receive anything from the Lord. It is a heart that wants the will of the Lord to be done more than life itself. It is a heart that is jealous for the Lord of hosts, which is what Elijah said in 1 Kings 19 … jealous that He might have His way within every believer. Stephen, Paul, and Moses (and others) had that same jealousy for the Lord to be satisfied and glorified. Moses said, “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin --; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written” (Exodus 32:32). Paul said, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3).
The first step in preparing the way of the Lord is to have that same heart attitude that Moses, Paul, Stephen (and others, like David) had. That heart attitude can never be generated by our own effort or by our own faith. Some may say, “Well I am not in that place in my life yet.” Then you are not alone. But God is no respecter of persons. If He did that amazing work in Moses, Paul, Stephen, and others, He will also do that work within you and me, PROVIDED that we see the need and cry out to the Lord. What the Lord is looking for is that each of us believers cry out to the Lord and say, “Help me, Lord.”
One of the things that every believer should have in common is the attitude of our heart. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our first priority is always to glorify God, first of all in our heart, and then outwardly as the Holy Spirit gives us unction.
The Lord will visit those willing to yield to Him. We must keep humble and little in our own eyes. If we get built up by a sense of our own importance, we are gone. The Lord has always sought humble people. He can use no other. There is much need always for heart preparation, in humility and separation, before God can consistently come to us.
As a testimony to even a young believer having a right heart, in 1973 the Lord told us to start a “neighborhood Bible study.” He said to invite our neighbors, which we did. We also invited a few folks who lived a few blocks away. About six or seven came regularly, once a week to our home. We had no idea if any of them were Christians. For the first month or two, we talked about “Who is Jesus Christ?” Then we started going through the Gospel according to John. It was like we sat back and watched the Lord work in their lives. I found out almost 52 years ago that the Lord can save someone all by Himself, He can heal someone all by Himself; He can deliver someone all by Himself. One night in our living room, the Lord lengthened arms and legs of most of those people, making the arms and legs equal in length. Then one evening a woman, whose husband never came with her, said to us all, “Before we start tonight, I need to share something with everyone.” As soon as she said that, the Lord quickened to me John, Chapter 8, about the woman caught in adultery. Sure enough, she said that she had committed adultery with a next-door neighbor. She said that even though she had committed the unpardonable sin and never would go to heaven, she was still going to serve the Lord as long as she lived. That is what I call a right heart with dedication and commitment! Of course I quickly assured the woman that she had not committed the unpardonable sin and that the Lord forgave her. She still serves the Lord to this day. Would that all professing Christians had that same heart attitude!
The Lord is not asleep. The Lord is quietly and inconspicuously building up Zion. It is a marvelous work that is hidden from the eyes of man and can only be seen in the realm of the Spirit. And one day soon He will unveil His masterpiece. Then He shall appear in His glory … the parousia of the Lord. The question is, Whose heart is stirred up? Who is looking for Him? Whose spirit is made willing to “prepare ye the way of the Lord?”
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:3-5
The most important exhortation that should confront each one of us today and every day is, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” That word occurs for the first time in Isaiah 40:3. The same message is spoken of seven times in the New Testament (two in Matthew; two in Mark; and three in Luke). So, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” occurs eight times in Scripture. That word is not a request; it is a command; it is a command for us to do something … to prepare the way of the Lord.
Just prior to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus on earth, in Matthew 3:1-3, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John the Baptist was to have been the fulfillment of preaching the word of preparation. Mark 1:2 says, “As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.” But repentance is never a popular word … so John the Baptist was rejected and killed.
The time of John the Baptist was a time of transition … a transition from the dispensation of law to the dispensation of grace. The time of the new John the Baptist Company is also a time of transition … a transition to the age of the kingdom. We are on the verge of the dawning of a new dispensation. And with a new dispensation, that which was divinely given in the previous dispensations divinely set aside in the new dispensation. Abraham had three wives … Hagar (the law), Sarah (the church age), and Keturah (the age of the kingdom). “Keturah” means to “turn into incense, as by fire.” God is raising up a people who have been tried by the fire and turned into an altar of praise to our God. The new John the Baptist Company will consist of people like Amos, who said, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit. And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 9:14-15).
That one voice crying in the wilderness will be a company of some number of overcomers. Only the Lord knows how many and who specifically will be a part of this company. This group of believers will constitute one voice from the wilderness. Their unified message will not be as a result of conferring with one another. They will all get the word of God from the Source, directly.
Today, we personally know a few mature ministries who are in the wilderness. They have been tried by fire, tried by a lack of (human) fellowship that is common to the natural temple, tried through much suffering in a variety of forms. But they have been counted worthy by the Lord to suffer in His Name. They have found that the Lord Himself is sufficient for all of their needs. They have been chosen as a tenth of a tenth of believers (Nehemiah 10:38). Many are called but few are chosen. The reason that few are chosen is because few choose. It depends upon our response to God. It depends upon the decisions that we make.
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Proverbs 27:21
The New American standard says “the crucible is for silver.” Silver speaks of redemption. We are being tried in a crucible, in the wilderness. Certainly the Lord is waiting to provide for all of our needs in the wilderness: food (manna), water (Moses struck the rock), money (Matthew 17:27), healing, guidance, protection, and on and on. Lord, increase our faith!
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6
In Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” The wilderness is God’s proving ground. Waters break out in the wilderness, not in the cities, not in the traditional churches. Note that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness; He did not just decide to go there. So it is also with all of the faithful believers who are suffering in the wilderness. They have been led into their place of suffering by the Holy Spirit. Now when we are in the wilderness, our response to God leading us there is crucial. We can murmur and complain and just die in the wilderness, as did all of the Israelites (except two adults) when they came out of Egypt. Or we can patiently endure, just waiting for relief. Or we can be overcomers. Only we as individuals can make that choice. It is OUR decision. But make sure you know what you are doing if you pray, “Lord make me an overcomer,” because then the Lord will give you something to overcome. When we look at the response of Jesus, in Matthew 4, it is abundantly clear that Jesus was the Prime Overcomer. What happened as a result? Jesus began to preach, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17); and in Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” So it shall be with the overcomers. When the Lord blows the trumpet, there will be a new release of a healing ministry. This healing ministry will NOT be like what we have seen to date. It will be a complete healing of body, soul, and spirit. “And saviours [deliverers] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S” (Obadiah 21). In addition, the message to be preached is the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
So God has all the while been preparing the overcomers, the remnant, the man child, the tenth of the tenth. He has scattered them into the wilderness and has refined them as silver is refined in the fire. He has used suffering of all different kinds to press his remnant into Christ. And He has a timetable for the true to emerge. Only the Lord knows when that time is. But surely that time is close at hand. One characteristic of the overcomers is that they will trouble all Israel because of the apostasy of the church. Darkness hates the light.
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 1 Kings 18:17
The preparation of a soul to stand with (or in) Christ in the Kingdom of God is severe, demanding, and stringent. Much rigorous preparation is needed before His servants can bear His glory to the ends of the earth. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Such preparation has always been necessary before any revival to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). How much greater, then, is the need for ultimate preparation for the ultimate manifestation of His glory upon the earth within His overcomers. The time for the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-2 is close at hand. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” To whom are those verses addressed? to those overcomers in these end times who will allow the Lord to make them into His image. Now no man is perfect (yet) and no man on earth can at this time bear the glory of the LORD. That is why much more stringent preparation is necessary within His chosen vessels before, “And the Gentile shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3).
The parable of the sower speaks of preparing good ground to receive seed. Much old ground has to be plowed and prepared to receive the word of the kingdom of God. Many long years ago I rented a rototiller to try to prepare a small plot of land to plant a few vegetables. It was hard work! Once we allow the Holy Spirit to begin His work in our soul, He desires to restore and then release that soul to live life in a freedom which only the remnant of the Lord can know. Somewhere back in 1970 I received an unsolicited prophecy from one of the very few true prophets that I have met in my life. He said that he had seen a vision of the Lord slitting the soles of my shoes so that my toes would have room to wriggle around. I knew exactly what he meant by that prophecy. However, I had to wait another ten years for the fulfillment of that prophecy. But on May 30, 1980, the Lord sovereignly brought about the fulfillment of that word. Immediately I sensed a freedom and a liberty in my spirit that I had never experienced before. For me, that was indeed a day of jubilee in my life … a jubilee that I have basked in for almost 40 years. At the same time, I am fully aware that what I experienced of the freedom and liberty of the Lord was/is only a drop in the bucket compared to the glorious liberty of the sons of God that still lies ahead.
What kind of preparation occurred just before Jesus was rejected and crucified? It was a natural preparation. On what we now call Palm Sunday, upon Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people strewed their garments and palm branches and palm leaves in His path. Although there are many varieties of palm trees, what we see in Scripture refers to the date-palm, which brings forth fruit.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he (John the Baptist) said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:7-8). But there was no genuine repentance. There was no fruit, just branches and leaves. Even the common people were simply looking for a natural king to deliver them from their oppressors.
The preparation for the second coming of our King will no longer be purely natural … it must be a spiritual preparation. We must prepare His way in our hearts. There will still be garments, palm branches, and palm leaves, but in the realm of the Spirit. There will also be the fruit of the palm tree, the fruit of the Spirit. We must prepare His way with the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3), wearing linen garments … the garments of His righteousness.
The date-palm tree is very striking in its appearance … upright and beautiful. The tree is very fruitful, its foliage is perpetually green, and its foliage grows very high, as if reaching upward toward heaven. It grows ever upward, even when loaded with weights. And “the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” (Psalm 92:12). The fruit of the Spirit must become a manifested reality. Jesus said that we will know them by their fruit … the fruit of the Spirit.
Our preparation is to allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into that which He desires. Our attitude is critical. Sometimes I get the impression that we are an “I know that” church. We have received much good teaching (and some not so good) and read so many books that “we know that.” So we are no longer flexible and pliable in the Lord’s hands. We have crystallized our doctrine, got it all down pat, searched the scriptures, and lead our own lives. We have built three tabernacles and here we stand. It is no wonder that after an initial spurt of growth, the real life of the Spirit departs from our fellowships. After some period of time, the Spirit of God is no longer in control. We are running on our own steam, following our own traditions, having a great time, and never knowing that something is wrong. Because the most difficult aspect of preparing the way of the Lord is to see the need for such preparation, we will use several examples to emphasize this need. Let us consider the “handwriting on the wall.”
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, saw the handwriting on the wall but he could neither read nor interpret it. He saw the fingers of a man’s hand which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace (Daniel 5:5-6). It filled him with fear and foreboding. His fears were well-founded! For him, the “days of recompence” were come. Daniel not only read the writing for Belshazzar but also interpreted it. Daniel 5:25-28, “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
MENE, MENE means numbered, numbered. Any time any word is repeated in Scripture, it carries great emphasis. The significance is that the days of the king of Babylon were numbered and finished. TEKEL means weighed. The king of Babylon was weighed in the balance and found wanting. UPHARSIN (called PERES in Daniel 5:28) means divided or broken. His kingdom was divided. The United States has never been so divided, except possibly during the Civil War. Even the visible church is divided, just like the Church at Corinth, or worse. “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” is current events. It speaks prophetically of the United States right now!
Amos saw the handwriting on the wall. He read it rightly. He said (Amos 3:8), "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophecy?" Amos continued (Amos 9:8), "Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth."
Hose saw the handwriting on the wall. It spoke of judgment swift and sure, deadly and devastating. Hosea saw Israel following a path that could only end in complete destruction (Hosea 2:13, 4:7, 5:4, 5:7, 6:7, 7:13, 9:9, 10:4, 13:2, and a host of other Scriptures.)
The most interesting aspect of what follows that verse is that the letter came to Jehoram, the king of Judah, six years AFTER Elijah had been translated. Elijah saw that some things had been set in motion by Jehoram and Elijah knew the consequences that must follow, barring a sovereign intervention by the Lord, because Elijah knew the ways of the Lord. Elijah saw the handwriting on the wall.
Call the role of the prophets. Which of the Old Testament prophets did NOT see the handwriting on the wall? Moreover, the messages of the prophets are timeless, independent of any culture. It was not through the priesthood with its ritual and ceremony that God revealed Himself but through “His servants the prophets.”
Note that verse does NOT say “He revealeth His secret unto the prophets;” it says “He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets;” servants first, prophets second.
The August 2005 destruction from hurricane Katrina in Louisianan, Mississippi, and Alabama, particularly in New Orleans, was perhaps the most devastating natural event in the history of the United States. It caused at least 160 billion dollars in damages and claimed at least 1800 lives. But not everyone saw the handwriting on the wall from that judgment. We sincerely doubt that President George W. Bush or members of Congress saw the significance of Katrina. They saw it only as a horrible natural disaster. Only the Lord knows how many genuine believers saw Katrina as the handwriting on the wall.
President Bush spoke about rebuilding New Orleans to restore it to the “once proud city that is used to be.” That, of course, required billions of taxpayer dollars. Even in the natural realm it did not seem wise to pour billions of dollars into rebuilding New Orleans unless the city was moved to higher ground. Scripture warns us against building our house on sand. The Lord may even send a worse hurricane to destroy it again. New Orleans, like many other large cities, is full of evil, drugs, darkness, prostitutes, Mardi Gras orgies, crime of every sort, etc.
Of course we should not expect our secular leaders to see the handwriting on the wall. They do not have eyes to see or ears to hear or a heart to understand that which the Lord is about. The trumpet call can be heard only in Zion, which speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. Perhaps many professing Christians have, at one time or another, quoted the verse in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” The question is, “Does the Lord require something more from us than just to quote that verse?”
The Lord woke me up at 3:30 a.m. on September 3, 2005, a few days after Katrina, and reminded me of the similarity between the New Orleans debacle and what I personally witnessed many years ago. A rather large Assembly of God Church, a few miles from where we live, after building a very large church structure, decided to add on a full-size gymnasium for their “members.” Of course they had no problem raising the money for such a venture. Charismatic Christians are eager to pour money into almost anything that their pastor wants. All went smoothly until they started to put the roof on the gymnasium. Then the Lord sent a very strong wind and blew off many of the shingles and part of the plywood sheathing. Undoubtedly what happened next was that the pastor and the elders met together and determined what to do. I might as well have been sitting in on the meeting. They rebuked the devil and spent more money to repair the roof. Very shortly after that the Lord sent another strong wind and blew off part of the roof a second time. They never got the message! I am sure that it never entered into their minds that the gymnasium was displeasing to the Lord. So they repaired the roof yet once more! The last thing I heard about that Assembly of God church was through some Christian friends of ours, who said they stopped going there when the pastor passed the collection plate four times during one service! If we persist in doing things our way, the Lord will let us do our own thing, but His blessing and presence will depart. Shortly after the Lord delivered the Jews out of Egypt, we read in Psalm 106:13-15, “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel; But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”
The Book of Hosea, like most other books in the Bible, is about two things: (1) the judgment of God, which is steadfast and sure to all those who willingly and knowingly disobey Him, and (2) the love of God for His people. Of course, few pastors want to speak about the judgment of God lest they lose some of their members. God’s wrath can be terrible but His mercy is beyond understanding. God’s love is always extended, for this is His very nature, but His forgiveness is conditional upon the attitude and response of men. Without repentance and return there can be no forgiveness. God forgives when the conditions of forgiveness are met.
Compare Hosea’s day with our own. Replace the altars of Baal with the modern idols of materialism, sensualism, secularism, humanism, religious liberalism, compromise, and mixture. We have allowed foreigners who worship other gods to live with us, mix with us, and compromise our original, true, God-centered country. Is there a call to repentance? If so, is there a positive response to that call? How long can any nation survive when the foundations are undermined by godless living? The Christian community has been out of God’s order for many long years. Ephesians 2:20 says that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. We have changed that verse to say we are built upon the foundation of the pastor and the chief cornerstone is self.
Hosea emphasizes very clearly at least seven great truths. A wise man will take heed to all of these.
The prophet Isaiah spoke about the first coming of the Lord, which is recorded in Isaiah 40:3-5 (quoted at the start of this chapter). However, if I read those verses in Isaiah correctly, Isaiah also prophesied of the second coming of the Lord in those same verses in Isaiah 40:3-5. Why can I believe that? because Isaiah 40, verses 4 and 5 were not fulfilled upon the first coming of Jesus. Every valley was not exalted at His first coming; every mountain and hill was not made low at His first coming, the crooked was not made straight, and the rough places were not made plain. Further, all flesh together did not at that time see the glory of the LORD revealed. It is not unusual that some events prophesied in the Bible have two separate fulfillments … the first fulfillment being partial and the second fulfillment being complete.
Now let us read what Jesus said about John the Baptist in Luke 7:24-28, “And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written [in Malachi 3:1], Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Let us emphasize that the words of both Isaiah and John the Baptist, namely, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” are commandments. They are not optional; our preparing the way of the Lord is not if we feel like it or if we have time. They are commandments. If anyone thinks there are no longer any commandments under the New Covenant, then perhaps that person should read the New Testament again. Jesus spoke many commandments to His disciples and to us, such as “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
Therefore, to repeat, the most important exhortation that any man could speak today is “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” … prepare for the second coming of the Lord to earth, or, as one good brother put it, prepare for the glory. That is a personal word to each of us; it is also a corporate word. Leonard Ravenhill, a highly respected Christian author, evangelist, and preacher once said: “I’m sick to death of the so-called Christianity of our day. What’s supernatural about it? When do people come out of the sanctuary awed and can’t speak for an hour because God has been in glory there? Dear God, as soon as they get out, they’re talking football, or sports or something or there’s going to be a big sale downtown or somewhere. We are not caught up into eternity! When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary? When you couldn’t say a word to anybody because you were so overwhelmed with the glory of God? The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory. God wants to bring us into a glory we know nothing about.”
Jeremiah 13:16-17, “Give glory to the LORD your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.” We need an enlarged vision in this hour … we need to know where we are going and how to get there.
The most important handwriting on the wall is that Jesus is coming back to earth soon! Are we looking for him? Are we prepared for Him? Now the next questions are “Why do we need to prepare the way of the Lord? How do we prepare the way of the Lord? How do we make His paths straight? What happens after we prepare the way of the Lord?” May the Holy Spirit stir up our hearts to prepare for the Lord’s soon coming.
Why do we, you and I, and every professing Christian need to prepare the way of the Lord? for several very good reasons. First of all, that is a commandment, as we stated above. Let us emphasize that there is a distinct difference between being born again and walking in the kingdom of God. There can be little doubt that the Lord will return to earth very soon. Now some may say, well brother, believers have been saying that for 2000 years. True, but who can doubt that the world is rapidly going from darkness to gross darkness? (Isaiah 60:2). But from Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” What or who is that standard? the manifestation of the sons of God … the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. The enemy has been coming in like a flood for many years and it will get worse. Coming in to where? to the Church, the body of Christ. There are many reasons why the Church has allowed the enemy to come in like a flood. Throughout this book I have shared some of those reasons.
Almost every Christian knows that the Bible contains 66 books … 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Likewise the Book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters. The first 39 chapters in the Book of Isaiah are primarily about the judgment of God. Thirty-nine is three times 13. “Thirteen” in the Bible speaks of rebellion or apostasy (Genesis 14:4), so thirty nine speaks of perfect or complete rebellion. Some have called the last 27 chapters of the Book of Isaiah the “Book of Comfort,” perhaps because the first word in Isaiah 40 is “comfort.” “Twenty-seven” is three times three times three, where three is the number of Divine completeness or perfect testimony.
About 12 years ago the Holy Spirit seemed to quicken to me that the last 27 chapters in the Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66, represent a chronological, time-order of events in the history of God’s chosen people, starting with the time just prior to the birth of Jesus. When I shared that thought with Marion Fretwell, a precious, mature brother in Christ, who lived in Yakima, Washington, he quickly responded that he had received that same revelation in the year 2006. I have no idea how many others received that same revelation, although I have never read or heard that said through any other believer. Without going into a lot of detail, the primary significance of a few of the last 27 chapters is as follows:
Chapter 51: Conditions in the land just prior to the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
Chapter 52: The ministry of John the Baptist
Chapter 53: Calvary
Chapter 54: Pentecost
Chapter 55: Call of the Gentiles
Chapter 56: Rise of a mixed multitude within the Church
Chapter 57: Persecution of the righteous and the rise of traditions of men
Chapter 58: Voice of the Spirit through the Reformation
Chapter 59: Denominational strife
Chapter 60:The dawn of spiritual Zion’s glory (overcomers)
Chapter 61: Beginning of the harvest
Chapter 62: The restoration of spiritual Zion
Chapter 63: Destruction of evil
Chapter 64: Repentance in the Church
Chapter 65: Overcomers and the new earth
Chapter 66: God’s final victory and the glory of the Church
If that be true, and I am persuaded it is, then what Chapter of Isaiah are we in today? I believe we live on the verge of the fulfillment of Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” But Chapters 60 through 66 can be fulfilled rapidly.
The Church at Ephesus was perhaps the most spiritually mature church in Paul’s day. Paul warned the elders of the Church at Ephesus in Acts 20:29-31, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” So Paul warned the church at Ephesus 2000 times about what would (not could) happen after his departure. God has always warned His chosen people to prepare for what is coming soon. Psalm 10:17 speaks of the climax of wickedness before the end of the age and a reference to the Lord’s overcomers during this time of evil: “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart.” How many times have you heard warnings from ministers?
Jesus said, in Luke 20:18, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” “That stone” of course is Jesus Himself. That Verse does not contrast the Christian with the non-Christian. The contrast is between those who have been born from above and those who have been broken and walk in the Kingdom of God. Unless we are broken of all traces of self, we cannot walk in the kingdom of God. But unless we are walking in the Kingdom of God, we will suffer the consequences of great tribulation. If we are walking in the kingdom of God we will still go through the great tribulation but it will not affect us. In like manner, I believe that when the Jewish Sanhedrin stoned Stephen to death, he never felt anything … he just fell asleep, as the scripture says. The so-called “rapture” out from the great tribulation is a product of the carnal mind. It runs totally counter to the spirit of the Bible.
When the Lord returns, the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 will be fulfilled. All ten of them represent true born-from-above Christians. Five were wise and five were foolish. The five wise virgins were prepared with ample supply of oil in their lamps, but the five foolish virgins had no oil for their lamps. The five wise virgins speak of the bride of Christ; the five foolish virgins speak of the rest of the church … those who neglect to prepare the way of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:18-29, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”
It is time for us, the church, to wake up, man up, stand up, speak up, or shut up and fold up. It is time to get our thumb out of our mouth. It is time to get off our pablum diet and start chewing some meat. It is time to be potty-trained, time to get rid of our diapers. It is time to put away our childish ways … time to understand and walk in His ways. It is time to cease all debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and tumults: (2 Corinthians 12:20). A house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25).
Joel 1:5, “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” “Drunkards” and “wine” does not speak of the natural realm. New wine cannot be put into old wineskins. Old wineskins are not flexible and resist change. New wine speaks of fresh revelation from the Lord.
Ezekiel 47:3-5 says, “And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.”
Today, far too many of us professing Christians haven’t even got our feet wet. A few more are wading in the kiddie pool. We tend to believe that the vast majority of professing Christians put ourselves on a slightly more mature spiritual level than our brothers “over there.” After all, we are born again, baptized with the Holy Ghost, go to church regularly, give money to the church, lead a morally good life, etc. But Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We must compare ourselves with Jesus. Who among us is perfect?
In Revelation 1:7 we read, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
The “clouds” in that verse do not speak of those white puffy things we see in the sky. It speaks of a cloud of witnesses … those saints who have gone before. “Every eye shall see Him” speaks of the natural realm. After the resurrection of Jesus and before His final ascension, He appeared and He disappeared to some of His disciples (Luke 24:31). He did not appear to all of His disciples before His final ascension. John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” That sequence of appearing and disappearing will be repeated until every eye shall see Him. The following verse speaks of those who see Him in the realm of the Spirit before every eye shall see Him in the natural realm.
The “house of Jacob” speaks of the natural man or the carnal Christian … those who are not looking for Him. So a very important question for you and me and every professing Christian is, “Are you looking for Him?”
There is at least one more huge reason why we all should prepare the way of the Lord … that is if we have any desire to rule and reign with the Lord Jesus on earth for 1000 years, usually called the Millennium.
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying …
2 Chronicles 21:12
The most interesting aspect of what follows that verse is that the letter came to Jehoram, the king of Judah, six years AFTER Elijah had been translated. Elijah saw that some things had been set in motion by Jehoram and Elijah knew the consequences that must follow, barring a sovereign intervention by the Lord, because Elijah knew the ways of the Lord. Elijah saw the handwriting on the wall.
Call the role of the prophets. Which of the Old Testament prophets did NOT see the handwriting on the wall? Moreover, the messages of the prophets are timeless, independent of any culture. It was not through the priesthood with its ritual and ceremony that God revealed Himself but through “His servants the prophets.”
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
Note that verse does NOT say “He revealeth His secret unto the prophets;” it says “He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets;” servants first, prophets second.
The August 2005 destruction from hurricane Katrina in Louisianan, Mississippi, and Alabama, particularly in New Orleans, was perhaps the most devastating natural event in the history of the United States. It caused at least 160 billion dollars in damages and claimed at least 1800 lives. But not everyone saw the handwriting on the wall from that judgment. We sincerely doubt that President George W. Bush or members of Congress saw the significance of Katrina. They saw it only as a horrible natural disaster. Only the Lord knows how many genuine believers saw Katrina as the handwriting on the wall.
President Bush spoke about rebuilding New Orleans to restore it to the “once proud city that is used to be.” That, of course, required billions of taxpayer dollars. Even in the natural realm it did not seem wise to pour billions of dollars into rebuilding New Orleans unless the city was moved to higher ground. Scripture warns us against building our house on sand. The Lord may even send a worse hurricane to destroy it again. New Orleans, like many other large cities, is full of evil, drugs, darkness, prostitutes, Mardi Gras orgies, crime of every sort, etc.
Of course we should not expect our secular leaders to see the handwriting on the wall. They do not have eyes to see or ears to hear or a heart to understand that which the Lord is about. The trumpet call can be heard only in Zion, which speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. Perhaps many professing Christians have, at one time or another, quoted the verse in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” The question is, “Does the Lord require something more from us than just to quote that verse?”
The Lord woke me up at 3:30 a.m. on September 3, 2005, a few days after Katrina, and reminded me of the similarity between the New Orleans debacle and what I personally witnessed many years ago. A rather large Assembly of God Church, a few miles from where we live, after building a very large church structure, decided to add on a full-size gymnasium for their “members.” Of course they had no problem raising the money for such a venture. Charismatic Christians are eager to pour money into almost anything that their pastor wants. All went smoothly until they started to put the roof on the gymnasium. Then the Lord sent a very strong wind and blew off many of the shingles and part of the plywood sheathing. Undoubtedly what happened next was that the pastor and the elders met together and determined what to do. I might as well have been sitting in on the meeting. They rebuked the devil and spent more money to repair the roof. Very shortly after that the Lord sent another strong wind and blew off part of the roof a second time. They never got the message! I am sure that it never entered into their minds that the gymnasium was displeasing to the Lord. So they repaired the roof yet once more! The last thing I heard about that Assembly of God church was through some Christian friends of ours, who said they stopped going there when the pastor passed the collection plate four times during one service! If we persist in doing things our way, the Lord will let us do our own thing, but His blessing and presence will depart. Shortly after the Lord delivered the Jews out of Egypt, we read in Psalm 106:13-15, “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel; But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”
The Book of Hosea, like most other books in the Bible, is about two things: (1) the judgment of God, which is steadfast and sure to all those who willingly and knowingly disobey Him, and (2) the love of God for His people. Of course, few pastors want to speak about the judgment of God lest they lose some of their members. God’s wrath can be terrible but His mercy is beyond understanding. God’s love is always extended, for this is His very nature, but His forgiveness is conditional upon the attitude and response of men. Without repentance and return there can be no forgiveness. God forgives when the conditions of forgiveness are met.
Compare Hosea’s day with our own. Replace the altars of Baal with the modern idols of materialism, sensualism, secularism, humanism, religious liberalism, compromise, and mixture. We have allowed foreigners who worship other gods to live with us, mix with us, and compromise our original, true, God-centered country. Is there a call to repentance? If so, is there a positive response to that call? How long can any nation survive when the foundations are undermined by godless living? The Christian community has been out of God’s order for many long years. Ephesians 2:20 says that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. We have changed that verse to say we are built upon the foundation of the pastor and the chief cornerstone is self.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. Hosea 14:9
Hosea emphasizes very clearly at least seven great truths. A wise man will take heed to all of these.
(1) Idolatry of any sort means the transfer of primary affection from God to some other object or person, and constitutes spiritual adultery. (Hosea 4:12; 9:1)
(2) Sin carries the seeds of judgment within it and always bears fruit. No one can play with sin with impunity. (Hosea 8:7; 10:13)
(3) God punishes sin … especially sin in the hearts of His own people. The high privilege which He has bestowed upon us demands a corresponding sense of responsibility on our part. (Hosea 4:1-6)
(4) There is no easy road to forgiveness and restoration. Only sincere and wholehearted repentance can pave the way to a renewed fellowship. (Hosea 14:1-4)
(5) National apostasy and idolatry will inevitably mean national disintegration and destruction. (Hosea 9:1-7)
(6) God will never be satisfied with superficial, formal, external ritual. (Hosea 6:6)
(7) God’s heart is filled with a tender, gracious, inexhaustible love. (Hosea 2:15, 19-20; 6:4; 11:8; 14:4-8)
The prophet Isaiah spoke about the first coming of the Lord, which is recorded in Isaiah 40:3-5 (quoted at the start of this chapter). However, if I read those verses in Isaiah correctly, Isaiah also prophesied of the second coming of the Lord in those same verses in Isaiah 40:3-5. Why can I believe that? because Isaiah 40, verses 4 and 5 were not fulfilled upon the first coming of Jesus. Every valley was not exalted at His first coming; every mountain and hill was not made low at His first coming, the crooked was not made straight, and the rough places were not made plain. Further, all flesh together did not at that time see the glory of the LORD revealed. It is not unusual that some events prophesied in the Bible have two separate fulfillments … the first fulfillment being partial and the second fulfillment being complete.
Now let us read what Jesus said about John the Baptist in Luke 7:24-28, “And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written [in Malachi 3:1], Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Let us emphasize that the words of both Isaiah and John the Baptist, namely, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” are commandments. They are not optional; our preparing the way of the Lord is not if we feel like it or if we have time. They are commandments. If anyone thinks there are no longer any commandments under the New Covenant, then perhaps that person should read the New Testament again. Jesus spoke many commandments to His disciples and to us, such as “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
Therefore, to repeat, the most important exhortation that any man could speak today is “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” … prepare for the second coming of the Lord to earth, or, as one good brother put it, prepare for the glory. That is a personal word to each of us; it is also a corporate word. Leonard Ravenhill, a highly respected Christian author, evangelist, and preacher once said: “I’m sick to death of the so-called Christianity of our day. What’s supernatural about it? When do people come out of the sanctuary awed and can’t speak for an hour because God has been in glory there? Dear God, as soon as they get out, they’re talking football, or sports or something or there’s going to be a big sale downtown or somewhere. We are not caught up into eternity! When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary? When you couldn’t say a word to anybody because you were so overwhelmed with the glory of God? The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory. God wants to bring us into a glory we know nothing about.”
Jeremiah 13:16-17, “Give glory to the LORD your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.” We need an enlarged vision in this hour … we need to know where we are going and how to get there.
The most important handwriting on the wall is that Jesus is coming back to earth soon! Are we looking for him? Are we prepared for Him? Now the next questions are “Why do we need to prepare the way of the Lord? How do we prepare the way of the Lord? How do we make His paths straight? What happens after we prepare the way of the Lord?” May the Holy Spirit stir up our hearts to prepare for the Lord’s soon coming.
Why do we, you and I, and every professing Christian need to prepare the way of the Lord? for several very good reasons. First of all, that is a commandment, as we stated above. Let us emphasize that there is a distinct difference between being born again and walking in the kingdom of God. There can be little doubt that the Lord will return to earth very soon. Now some may say, well brother, believers have been saying that for 2000 years. True, but who can doubt that the world is rapidly going from darkness to gross darkness? (Isaiah 60:2). But from Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” What or who is that standard? the manifestation of the sons of God … the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. The enemy has been coming in like a flood for many years and it will get worse. Coming in to where? to the Church, the body of Christ. There are many reasons why the Church has allowed the enemy to come in like a flood. Throughout this book I have shared some of those reasons.
Almost every Christian knows that the Bible contains 66 books … 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Likewise the Book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters. The first 39 chapters in the Book of Isaiah are primarily about the judgment of God. Thirty-nine is three times 13. “Thirteen” in the Bible speaks of rebellion or apostasy (Genesis 14:4), so thirty nine speaks of perfect or complete rebellion. Some have called the last 27 chapters of the Book of Isaiah the “Book of Comfort,” perhaps because the first word in Isaiah 40 is “comfort.” “Twenty-seven” is three times three times three, where three is the number of Divine completeness or perfect testimony.
About 12 years ago the Holy Spirit seemed to quicken to me that the last 27 chapters in the Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66, represent a chronological, time-order of events in the history of God’s chosen people, starting with the time just prior to the birth of Jesus. When I shared that thought with Marion Fretwell, a precious, mature brother in Christ, who lived in Yakima, Washington, he quickly responded that he had received that same revelation in the year 2006. I have no idea how many others received that same revelation, although I have never read or heard that said through any other believer. Without going into a lot of detail, the primary significance of a few of the last 27 chapters is as follows:
Chapter 51: Conditions in the land just prior to the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
Chapter 52: The ministry of John the Baptist
Chapter 53: Calvary
Chapter 54: Pentecost
Chapter 55: Call of the Gentiles
Chapter 56: Rise of a mixed multitude within the Church
Chapter 57: Persecution of the righteous and the rise of traditions of men
Chapter 58: Voice of the Spirit through the Reformation
Chapter 59: Denominational strife
Chapter 60:The dawn of spiritual Zion’s glory (overcomers)
Chapter 61: Beginning of the harvest
Chapter 62: The restoration of spiritual Zion
Chapter 63: Destruction of evil
Chapter 64: Repentance in the Church
Chapter 65: Overcomers and the new earth
Chapter 66: God’s final victory and the glory of the Church
If that be true, and I am persuaded it is, then what Chapter of Isaiah are we in today? I believe we live on the verge of the fulfillment of Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” But Chapters 60 through 66 can be fulfilled rapidly.
The Church at Ephesus was perhaps the most spiritually mature church in Paul’s day. Paul warned the elders of the Church at Ephesus in Acts 20:29-31, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” So Paul warned the church at Ephesus 2000 times about what would (not could) happen after his departure. God has always warned His chosen people to prepare for what is coming soon. Psalm 10:17 speaks of the climax of wickedness before the end of the age and a reference to the Lord’s overcomers during this time of evil: “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart.” How many times have you heard warnings from ministers?
Jesus said, in Luke 20:18, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” “That stone” of course is Jesus Himself. That Verse does not contrast the Christian with the non-Christian. The contrast is between those who have been born from above and those who have been broken and walk in the Kingdom of God. Unless we are broken of all traces of self, we cannot walk in the kingdom of God. But unless we are walking in the Kingdom of God, we will suffer the consequences of great tribulation. If we are walking in the kingdom of God we will still go through the great tribulation but it will not affect us. In like manner, I believe that when the Jewish Sanhedrin stoned Stephen to death, he never felt anything … he just fell asleep, as the scripture says. The so-called “rapture” out from the great tribulation is a product of the carnal mind. It runs totally counter to the spirit of the Bible.
When the Lord returns, the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 will be fulfilled. All ten of them represent true born-from-above Christians. Five were wise and five were foolish. The five wise virgins were prepared with ample supply of oil in their lamps, but the five foolish virgins had no oil for their lamps. The five wise virgins speak of the bride of Christ; the five foolish virgins speak of the rest of the church … those who neglect to prepare the way of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:18-29, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”
It is time for us, the church, to wake up, man up, stand up, speak up, or shut up and fold up. It is time to get our thumb out of our mouth. It is time to get off our pablum diet and start chewing some meat. It is time to be potty-trained, time to get rid of our diapers. It is time to put away our childish ways … time to understand and walk in His ways. It is time to cease all debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and tumults: (2 Corinthians 12:20). A house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25).
Joel 1:5, “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” “Drunkards” and “wine” does not speak of the natural realm. New wine cannot be put into old wineskins. Old wineskins are not flexible and resist change. New wine speaks of fresh revelation from the Lord.
Ezekiel 47:3-5 says, “And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.”
Today, far too many of us professing Christians haven’t even got our feet wet. A few more are wading in the kiddie pool. We tend to believe that the vast majority of professing Christians put ourselves on a slightly more mature spiritual level than our brothers “over there.” After all, we are born again, baptized with the Holy Ghost, go to church regularly, give money to the church, lead a morally good life, etc. But Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We must compare ourselves with Jesus. Who among us is perfect?
In Revelation 1:7 we read, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
The “clouds” in that verse do not speak of those white puffy things we see in the sky. It speaks of a cloud of witnesses … those saints who have gone before. “Every eye shall see Him” speaks of the natural realm. After the resurrection of Jesus and before His final ascension, He appeared and He disappeared to some of His disciples (Luke 24:31). He did not appear to all of His disciples before His final ascension. John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” That sequence of appearing and disappearing will be repeated until every eye shall see Him. The following verse speaks of those who see Him in the realm of the Spirit before every eye shall see Him in the natural realm.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28
And I will wait upon the LORD that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him. Isaiah 8:17
The “house of Jacob” speaks of the natural man or the carnal Christian … those who are not looking for Him. So a very important question for you and me and every professing Christian is, “Are you looking for Him?”
There is at least one more huge reason why we all should prepare the way of the Lord … that is if we have any desire to rule and reign with the Lord Jesus on earth for 1000 years, usually called the Millennium.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-6
Verses 4 and 5 clearly indicate that not all born-from-above Christians will participate in the Millennium. Why not? because of the decisions and choices that each of us must make during our time on earth. Verses 4 and 6 refer to the Bride of Christ; Verse 5 refers to the rest of the Church. Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”
We have tried to emphasize the necessity to “prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Now we want to think about the scriptural answer to the question, “How do we prepare the way of the Lord?” first of all by preparing our hearts. Without any doubt the main responsibility that we have is to prepare our heart (by the power of the Holy Spirit). Our heart does not speak of our natural heart. Our heart speaks of the essence of our being; it corresponds to our spirit. We must be prepared and I’m afraid that many of us are not prepared, spiritually or physically.
About seven years ago a good Christian friend of ours, named John, told me about a sermon the pastor of the Episcopal Church that he attended preached three times one Sunday. I will call that pastor’s name Sam (not his real name). Sam was a very conservative preacher and highly respected and sought after by the conservative segment of the Episcopal Church. In his rather amazing message that one Sunday he said that very difficult times were soon coming to the church in America. He continued that he believed that many in his church were not prepared to live in the difficult times ahead, but that he did not know how to help them get prepared. We can admire Sam’s honesty and his sincere desire for the welfare of those present that Sunday. We can also admire his humility for saying what he said. But we are somewhat disappointed that he did not know how to help those professing Christians. So I asked our good Christian friend, John, to try to set up a meeting for me to talk with his pastor, Sam. John told me that would be hard to arrange because Sam was so busy. But after two or three months John arranged the meeting. So John, Sam, and I met in Sam’s modest office for about one hour. I do not remember everything that I shared with Sam, but I do remember sharing one thing. I said that one of the biggest reasons for the lack of maturity in Sam’s church was because they had no real prophetic ministry. Therefore their vision was too small. A prophet was formerly called a seer. The major purpose of a true prophet is not to prophesy but to help to enlarge the vision of the members of the body of Christ. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
What should we do to be ready for this shaking that we are in and the even harder times that are sure to come? Most evangelicals and some charismatics believe that the church will not have to endure this difficult time because of something men call the “rapture.” But too many scriptures indicate that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom; that will not only make us stronger but we will be purified through the trail to become the Bride of Christ. The so-called “rapture” doctrine has contributed beyond all measure to the apathy, complacency, and lukewarm attitude of the Church. That complacency should give us considerable concern. Our resources, our wealth, our military might, our claim to democratic ideals and practices have become our boast. Like Israel of old, we assume that God is on our side and that He is bound to protect us and prosper our cause. God bless America so we can continue to do our own thing.
Our first step to prepare the way of the Lord. You do it … I do it … we do it. Make ready for the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords. This preparation does not end when we are born again or baptized with the Holy Spirit. That is only the beginning. If you know that a secular king or president or any other dignitary is coming to your house for dinner, you will undoubtedly make haste to (1) clean your house thoroughly, (2) wear your best clothes, and (3) prepare your best meal for him/her. How much more shall we prepare for the Lord Himself?
How do we clean our house spiritually? By making sure that the enemy has no foothold in our life. We must get clean before the Lord; repent and bring all our darkness to the light of the Lord. Nothing else we do in the natural realm will matter if our spirit is not right with God. Many will not get past this point because they are very comfortable with their sin. All of the hidden sin that is in our life must be exposed so it can be washed by the blood of the Lamb. David said, in Psalm 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 51:2, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” This is the key for us to be able to hear the voice of the Lord.
Jesus said, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). As long as we abide in the Vine, the prince of this world has nothing in us either, for the Lord is our shield.
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1
This is not automatic. It takes action on our part to take His shield upon us.
Next, we must wear our best clothes. We must keep our garments clean. Obviously, “keeping our personal garments clean” does not refer to the natural realm. We speak, of course, of our spiritual garments that clothe our soul and spirit. Under the Old Covenant, the garments of the priests were natural garments.
2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a gridle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
Exodus 28:2-5
That is still true in the spiritual realm under the New Covenant. Note, in Verses 3 and 4 above, the purpose of those garments … so that the priests may minister unto the Lord. “Minister to the Lord” does not equate to what men call praise and worship in gatherings of His people.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister unto Me, and they shall keep My charge.
17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:15-19, 23
Verse 23 is an amazing verse! How can any man cause another man to discern between the unclean and the clean? Only by the power of the Holy Ghost through a vessel that has been shaped into the full nature of Christ. The New Covenant spiritual counterpart of the garments of Aaron, the high priest is,
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:13-17
Verse 13 is an exhortation to take, or put on, the whole armor of God, not just part or most of that armor. Christ in you, the hope of glory! For what purpose? so that we may be able to stand in these end times.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Revelation 19:7-8
So the Bride, the Lamb’s wife must make herself ready. How? by obedience to the faith of Christ … by keeping oil in our lamps … by being a wise virgin (Matthew 25:1-13) rather than a foolish virgin. What is the portion of the foolish virgins (who likewise represent born again Christians)? They must come out of great tribulation.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-14
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
Once clean, pray for guidance from the Lord. No plan that we can come up with will carry us through this time; only obedience to the voice of the Lord can carry us through.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15
Matthew 22:1-14, “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he set forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
In those days the wedding garment was furnished by the host … the bridegroom. “Garments” speak of righteousness, but “all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). So the man who was cast into outer darkness had trusted in his own righteousness, rather than the righteousness which comes only from the Lord.
Third, we must prepare our best meal. That which we serve to the Lord must be the fruit of the Spirit. The spiritual food that we eat, prepare, and serve to others must be the truth as illuminated by the Holy Spirit, not what our carnal mind understands through our reasoning, logical thinking, or traditions of men. One of the greatest causes of doctrinal error and lack of understanding comes about by trying to interpret Scripture in the natural realm, using our natural minds and logical reasoning.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14
In conclusion, let us read a few of the many verses in the Bible that speak of our heart and how we prepare our heart.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84:1
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend you heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Joel 2:12-13
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if we will hear His voice,
8 Harden not you hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Hebrews 3:7-8
Our hearts are overly concerned with materialism, entertainment, traditions of men, putting an “X” in all the right boxes, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and a hundred other things. Therefore it seems only reasonable that we should understand what constitutes a right heart. More importantly, a right heart must become a living reality and not simply a mental understanding.
At the most basic level, a right heart is a heart that is attuned to the heart of the Lord. Every believer is called to identify (in reality, experientially) with the Lord Jesus in His suffering, His death, His burial. His resurrection, His weeping over Jerusalem, His will, His heart, His intercession for us, His love and zeal for the Church, and His jealousy over Zion, to name a few. It is a heart that wants the Lord to be pleased and satisfied with us even if we never receive anything from the Lord. It is a heart that wants the will of the Lord to be done more than life itself. It is a heart that is jealous for the Lord of hosts, which is what Elijah said in 1 Kings 19 … jealous that He might have His way within every believer. Stephen, Paul, and Moses (and others) had that same jealousy for the Lord to be satisfied and glorified. Moses said, “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin --; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written” (Exodus 32:32). Paul said, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3).
The first step in preparing the way of the Lord is to have that same heart attitude that Moses, Paul, Stephen (and others, like David) had. That heart attitude can never be generated by our own effort or by our own faith. Some may say, “Well I am not in that place in my life yet.” Then you are not alone. But God is no respecter of persons. If He did that amazing work in Moses, Paul, Stephen, and others, He will also do that work within you and me, PROVIDED that we see the need and cry out to the Lord. What the Lord is looking for is that each of us believers cry out to the Lord and say, “Help me, Lord.”
One of the things that every believer should have in common is the attitude of our heart. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our first priority is always to glorify God, first of all in our heart, and then outwardly as the Holy Spirit gives us unction.
The Lord will visit those willing to yield to Him. We must keep humble and little in our own eyes. If we get built up by a sense of our own importance, we are gone. The Lord has always sought humble people. He can use no other. There is much need always for heart preparation, in humility and separation, before God can consistently come to us.
As a testimony to even a young believer having a right heart, in 1973 the Lord told us to start a “neighborhood Bible study.” He said to invite our neighbors, which we did. We also invited a few folks who lived a few blocks away. About six or seven came regularly, once a week to our home. We had no idea if any of them were Christians. For the first month or two, we talked about “Who is Jesus Christ?” Then we started going through the Gospel according to John. It was like we sat back and watched the Lord work in their lives. I found out almost 52 years ago that the Lord can save someone all by Himself, He can heal someone all by Himself; He can deliver someone all by Himself. One night in our living room, the Lord lengthened arms and legs of most of those people, making the arms and legs equal in length. Then one evening a woman, whose husband never came with her, said to us all, “Before we start tonight, I need to share something with everyone.” As soon as she said that, the Lord quickened to me John, Chapter 8, about the woman caught in adultery. Sure enough, she said that she had committed adultery with a next-door neighbor. She said that even though she had committed the unpardonable sin and never would go to heaven, she was still going to serve the Lord as long as she lived. That is what I call a right heart with dedication and commitment! Of course I quickly assured the woman that she had not committed the unpardonable sin and that the Lord forgave her. She still serves the Lord to this day. Would that all professing Christians had that same heart attitude!
The Lord is not asleep. The Lord is quietly and inconspicuously building up Zion. It is a marvelous work that is hidden from the eyes of man and can only be seen in the realm of the Spirit. And one day soon He will unveil His masterpiece. Then He shall appear in His glory … the parousia of the Lord. The question is, Whose heart is stirred up? Who is looking for Him? Whose spirit is made willing to “prepare ye the way of the Lord?”
Chapter 8: Repent, For the Kingdom of Heaven Is At Hand
The first message preached by Jesus was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The first message preached by John the Baptist was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To whom did John the Baptist and Jesus preach that word? To the chosen people of God. Today, many charismatic believers seem to believe, “That word does not apply to me because I am already saved.” How tragic! Human nature has never changed. The major word spoken in the first half of the book of Joel is repentance. The message preached by all of the prophets was repentance. Among the most-used words of the vocabulary of the prophets were the two words “turn” and “return.” Jesus said,
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: Luke 12:48
Therefore, for those who have eyes to see and a heart to understand, much is required. From our experience as well as the witness of the Holy Spirit, three major actions are required on our part as individual believers in Christ. The first is to repent; the second is to keep our own personal garments clean (which we described in the previous chapter); the third is intercession with weeping and groaning that the will of God may be completed within the body of Christ. At the top of our action list is repentance! Repentance is not just for those who do not know the Lord. It applies to all of us today. To repent means to turn around, to change one’s mind, to go in a different direction.
Come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. Hosea 6:1
That verse in Hosea is current events. Why has the Lord smitten us? because we have strayed from Him and His ways. The prerequisite for healing is to return unto the Lord (repent).
True repentance is not superficial words or thoughts that are “short lived.” Shallow, sentimental tears will not suffice. A mere admission of guilt will not solve the problem. Neither will an outward performance of ritual satisfy the demands of a holy God. Unfortunately, this is why many of us go around the same mountain for years and are never able to walk in the victory which is found in Christ. Something must happen in our heart which will reflect itself in our life. John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to his baptism:
7 O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Matthew 3:7-8
True repentance requires our ability to sense, at least in some measure, the grief of the Lord as a result of our own ungodly thoughts, words, or actions. If we really love the Lord, we don’t want to hurt or grieve Him. So often we superficially repent because our words or actions backfired on us or we have harmed another person. However, our grieving the Lord must affect us deeply and supersedes all other reactions which lead us to repentance.
When our heart is broken because we let the Lord down, only then can we earnestly hate our “sinful nature” and desire only to please the Lord. At this point, we are able to turn in the direction of the Holy Spirit and be “born” into the victory which is in Christ. This may be painful to the flesh, but the Lord is more than able to complete that which He has begun. Weeping, travail, and intercession should spring forth as we identify with the wrong and cry out to the Lord for mercy, healing, and restoration.
Three weeks after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me in 1967 I went as a team member to a Lay Witness Mission in a small Methodist church in Gainesville, Virginia. I commuted each of the three days because of the short distance (28 miles). On that Sunday morning, September 17, 1967, I arrived about ten minutes late for the meeting of the team members, the local pastor, and a few other leaders in that church. I sat in the only available seat, next to a man in a wheel chair. He had fallen off the roof of his house and was partially paralyzed. After a few minutes a thought came to my mind: “If you will just reach over and lay your hand on his shoulder, I will heal him.” At that point in my life I had received absolutely no teaching. So fearing that thought was just a product of my natural mind, I did not lay my hand on his shoulder. By the time that the regular Sunday service started all I could do was to sit and weep because I saw how I had let the Lord down. However may I hasten to say that the hand of the Lord does not depend upon the obedience or disobedience of any man.
Repentance is NOT a popular word! We believers like the “good” part, but we don’t care too much for the suffering, travail, denying our self, etc.., that must precede that “good” part.
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he repented. Isaiah said,
Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 6:5
The word “undone” can be translated as “lost” or “cut off.” But there is NOTHING in the previous five chapters of Isaiah that indicates that Isaiah had done anything wrong or said anything wrong. Isaiah saw that his very being was unclean, in comparison with the Lord. Isaiah repented because of his human nature.
Job likewise repented for the same reason that Isaiah did. The Lord said there was none like Job in the earth, a perfect and upright man who feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:8). After 40 more chapters of carnal reasoning between Job and his three “friends,” the Lord gave Job a revelation, such that Job said,
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6
There seem to have been many breech births in the body of Christ … those who have come to Christ, but for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way, where the Head does not come first. There is nothing about the natural man … the first Adam … that is acceptable to God.
Many believers might say, “repent? of what?” Perhaps for starters, we could repent of any self-seeking attitude. We must repent from our two-way thinking and life style, with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. Repent of any desire to fulfill some lower-level goal. Repent of any attitude that falls short of, “Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.” Repent because of our human nature.
It is profitable to read the rewards or results of repentance found in Deuteronomy 30. We will read only parts of that chapter.
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.
9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers. Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 9
Please notice the little word, “then,” in Verse 3. Little words mean a lot in the Bible. In other words, the blessings, prosperity, etc., spoken of starting in Verse 3 are conditional upon the repentance in Verses 1 and 2. The same is true in the Book of Joel. Exactly in the middle of the Book of Joel (Joel 2:18) is the word “then.” This is the only occurrence of the word “then” in Joel. What follows Joel 2:18 is deliverance, blessing, prosperity, etc. What precedes Joel 2:18 is repentance.
Please go back and read all of Isaiah 58, which describes the fast that the Lord has chosen. Those 14 verses in Isaiah 58 contain the word “then” four times. Each time, it describes how the Lord will bless us IF we repent. We suspect that there have been a multitude of people who have said, “Lord if you will just do this for me, then I will …” In general, those who make such a statement do not keep their vow. But AFTER we have accepted the saving grace of our Lord, there is no more place for that kind of statement or vow. At that point it is the Lord who says, “If you repent, then I will …” Will what? then the Lord will restore.
The word, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” is the first word of the kingdom of God. All of the Old Testament prophets preached repentance. To whom did they preach that word? to the chosen people of God. The first word of the Lord that came unto Zechariah for the chosen people of God was a call for national repentance.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 1:3
Note the conditional decree of the Lord. We must first (re)turn to the Lord and then He will turn to us. Why did the remnant of Judah need to repent and turn back to the Lord? because of their apathy, lukewarm attitude, and self-centeredness, which is clearly indicated in the Book of Haggai. Do we need national repentance in America today? if so, in what segment of the population? the heathen? those in denominational churches? those in charismatic fellowships? How can the heathen turn back or repent to someone they never knew? Those in denominational churches have not received nearly the light that we have. The national climate is a mirror reflection of the modern-day spiritual Judah, which is similarly characterized by apathy, a lukewarm attitude, a self-centeredness. Continuing in Zechariah 2,
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Zechariah 2:1-7
In Verse 1, the “man” with a measuring line in his hand is clearly an angel, sent by the Lord to measure Jerusalem. That measurement speaks of judgment, because the remnant in Jerusalem was not doing what they were supposed to be doing; the remnant was not “measuring up” to the will of God. Then, lest Zechariah become totally discouraged at the state of the remnant, the Lord sent another angel to tell the first angel what else to say to Zechariah. In Verse 4, the new message was, Run, speak to this young man (Zechariah). Run! Don’t walk! Hurry! In other words, this additional word is likewise critical.
Now the second (positive) message in Verses 4 and 5 did not negate the first message of measuring Jerusalem, The scripture does not say that the first angel aborted his first command to measure Jerusalem. Here again we see the sovereignty of God at work. The Lord will have what He desires in spiritual Jerusalem one way or another. Note in Verse 7 that the Lord tells Zion, which is dwelling in Babylon, to deliver thyself. He says, “You do it.” That requires a decision on our part.
Each one of us is familiar with the parable of the “prodigal son” as recorded in Luke, Chapter 15. The younger son said, “Give me,” then went out and wasted his substance with “riotous” living (Luke 15:13). The word “riotous” does not mean what we think it means. It means to “preserve, save, or tend to self.” In other words, he was just doing his own will. After a series of difficult circumstances he repented and went back to his father. But we must remember that he was always the son of his father, even when he strayed away. Further, who caused the famine in the land? Who caused no man to give unto the son when he was away? That was the sovereignty of God. If we are called of God, He will arrange all of our circumstances to help us to return to Him if we have strayed. But He will never override our will or our decisions.
That example clearly shows that true repentance is something that begins with God, and not with man. It originates not in the will of man, but in the free and sovereign grace of God. Apart from the working of God’s grace and the moving of His Spirit, man of his accord is not capable of repentance. Psalm 80 declares this fact three different times. When anything is repeated three times in Scripture, we best pay attention.
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19
The verses above clearly state that unless the Father draws us by His Spirit, we cannot be born from above. But nothing is automatic. Because man has free will, we can still reject the call of God. Therefore we must accept the call of God. That requires a decision on our part, not an emotion. That acceptance constitutes the first-level of repentance; i.e., from the status of being a non-Christian to becoming a born-again believer. But everything begins with God. In the beginning, God, in the end, God, and everything in between, God. Further,
No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
A “second level” of repentance, and the one which is perhaps most obvious to us believers is when we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we have said something “wrong” or done something “wrong.” Then, like David, we must be quick to repent.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we way that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word in not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
Nevertheless, we believe there is another level of repentance … and one which Jesus primarily meant when He came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We will describe this level shortly. We must always remember that Jesus spoke those words to the chosen people of God.
A number of years ago I read on a website a short excerpt, titled, “Removing the Candlestick!!” The excerpt was written by a believer of great, national reputation (his name is not important) and a man who was highly respected. His excerpt, which was an exhortation for believers to repent, was/is 100% truth. However, I do not know if his word had much of an effect on any believers because there was no reference as to WHY we, as charismatic/Spirit-filled believers, need to repent. (I do not refer to the times when we say something “wrong” or do something “wrong.”) Unless we, as professing Christians, see a need for the repentance that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the early apostles preached, then things will just rock along as usual. We can still have our nice meetings every Sunday, feel “good” that we have put an “X” in the right box, and never know what we missed. That is the same central message that is preached in the story of Gideon’s army, as related in Judges 7.
The Church at Ephesus in Paul’s time was considered the “highest” in spiritual awareness of all churches. The Church at Ephesus in that day corresponds to the charismatic churches of today. We should never forget that all of Scripture is profitable for us today (2 Timothy 3:16).
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:4-5
Everyone knows that the first and most important exhortation from the Lord to the Church at Ephesus was Verse 4, “You have left your first love.” What is our “first love?” the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Church at Ephesus had become all engrossed and absorbed with hearing and learning new revelation from Scripture, with listening to all sorts of preachers instead of listening to what the Spirit was saying, with traditions of men (much more could be shared on that topic), with focusing on “what’s in it for me,” etc.
In Verse 5, what are the “first works?” the works of the Spirit … the works which were foreordained for us to walk in from before the foundation of the world. Perhaps the most important word for believers is, “Whatever He says unto you, do it” (John 2:5). We cannot do the first works unless we have returned to our first love.
The problem is that we charismatic Christians have become so hard-hearted and ego-centered that very few understand what “repent” means. A slowly increasing number of ministers now preach “repent.” Experience and observation indicates that very few who even preach that word understand what “repent” means to a believer. NEVER in my life have I heard or read the true meaning of this “third-level of repentance” except from the Holy Spirit. (I do not refer to the “textbook” definition of repentance, which could be “a firm inward decision, not an emotion … a change of mind.”) As an aside, Biblical terms must be defined by Scripture itself, not by “textbook” dictionaries.
The meaning of this level of “repentance” is found in Isaiah 6 and Job 42. This “third-level” meaning of repentance is, we firmly believe, that which Jesus referred to when He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Isaiah and Job were both good men. Isaiah prophesied in the first five chapters of the Book which bears his name. The Lord, Himself, had some good things to say about Job.
But Isaiah and Job both received a revelation (without which we all will continue to go around the same mountain day after day). They were allowed to see the holiness of God and the filthiness of us humans. What they were allowed to see (revelation) did not come through the teaching of men or the doctrines of men. To repeat, Job said,
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6
Concerning Verse 5, we charismatic believers have heard, with our natural ears, all about the Lord. (Well, maybe not ALL, but quite a bit.) We have read many books, listened to many of the TV preachers, listened to many of the DVDs, gone to many of the conferences, and perhaps have heard a number of new thoughts that have tickled our ears. Unfortunately, that is the problem. We are so full of information that we have left off the most important part … hearing from the Lord Himself. We are so busy with all of our church meetings and busy work that we have left our first love.
Now we turn to Isaiah.
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:1-8
Many years ago, as I was reading those verses in Isaiah, I found myself reading it this way: “In the year that king SELF died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” Now “Uzziah” does NOT mean “self.” It means “the strength of the Lord.” So Uzziah had replaced the strength of the Lord with his own strength. Sometimes the Holy Spirit has a way of putting into context some things that normally are not in context. In any event, the latter interpretation is a good one. The substitution of “self” in that verse is still true. If we desire to see the Lord, we must die to self. The very essence and basis of sin is to put self in the preeminent place of God. Paul said, “I die daily.” “He must increase but I must decrease.” Whenever anyone is allowed to see the King, the Lord of Hosts, he must repent. We must repent simply because of who we are … our human nature. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1). No man can cleanse himself! So how do we fulfill that commandment? by repentance. Then we allow the Spirit of God to do His work within us. Whenever “king self” dies we can see the Lord high and lifted up.
I am sure that almost every true believer will agree that no man, except Jesus Christ, could ever live up to the law. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 that we must, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” That is a commandment! Why did Jesus say that? To help us to understand that just as no man, except Jesus, can ever live up to the law as given through Moses, likewise no man can ever live the Christian life, except Christ Himself and the Christ within us. Repentance is the FIRST step toward perfection. That is required to return to our first love so that we can do the first works. If we do not fulfill that first step, we have no need to try to get to step two.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is the Book of Joel.
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Joel 2:12-14
In Verse 14, the “blessing … even a meat [meal] offering and a drink offering,” has nothing to do with the natural realm. The meal offering and drink offering speaks of the remnant, or the sons of Zadok, who “shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23).
Revisiting Isaiah 6:8, many Christians believe they are “sent” to go out and save the lost. But before we are sent, we must have a clear vision of the Lord Himself. That involves much more than being born again and baptized with the Holy Ghost. We must have the same revelation that both Isaiah (in Isaiah 6:5) and Job (in Job 42:5-6) received. It is never sufficient to “go” because we see a need. Unless we are sent by the Lord, then our efforts are of little value. The Lord says,
For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word. Isaiah 66:2
Is it time to repent from our dead works and let Christ build His Church? Who perceives the difference between “dead works” and the works of the Spirit. Repentance from dead works is the first principle of the doctrine of Christ.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. Hebrews 6:1
Let us remember that the verse above is written to Christians, not heathens. Dead works are works of the flesh. We must repent from anything that is not led by the Spirit. If we cannot get through that first principle, there is no reason to try going any further.
There is only one reason for a sinner to repent and it’s not because he will go to heaven and it’s not to keep out of hell. If we are trying to serve God because He will do us good then it’s nothing but trying to make a deal with God. Likewise, there is only one reason for a professing Christian to repent. It’s because we have received a revelation of the holiness of God and because we have seen that “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). It’s because Jesus Christ deserves the worship, love and obedience of our heart. It’s because “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
Also in Isaiah 6:5, note the confession of Isaiah: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Much of modern Christianity says, “I have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). What an indictment about its sorry state! That proud boast is the epitome of the ugly attitude of self-sufficiency and self-confidence. Those the Lord has chosen to lead His people throughout history usually bewail their lack of capability to fulfill the work of the Lord. Without a deep understanding of who we really are, with our hidden faults and weaknesses, we will never seek the Lord to remedy them or to fully cooperate with the process when He works to remedy our shortcomings.
But throughout the ages the Lord always has had a remnant … a Church within a Church … men who have been broken, burdened, bent, and bowed … men who have prayed, preached, prophesied, and pleaded with God’s chosen people over the truth of “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” … men who have avoided the snare of humanism. One such revivalist in the 20th century was Leonard Ravenhill, who was a real porcupine. Every local church needs a porcupine or else we get hardened and set in our ways. The kingdom of heaven is like a concrete mixer truck and the people of God are like the concrete therein. Unless we are constantly stirred up we get hard and set in our ways.
Any time that we see the Lord with spiritual eyes, we must repent. But “If any man sin, we have an Advocate (paraclete, intercessor) with the Father, Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1). We must learn to be quick repenters. “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
Those Verses speak not only of the first coming of Jesus but also of the second coming of the Lord to earth. In order for the Lord to come for spiritual Israel’s redemption, she must repent. The Lord is not returning to the earth for millions of immature, baby Christians. The Lord is returning with ten thousands of His saints (Jude 14-15) for “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
The first message preached by Jesus was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The first message preached by John the Baptist was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To whom did John the Baptist and Jesus preach that word? To the chosen people of God. Today, many charismatic believers seem to believe, “That word does not apply to me because I am already saved.” How tragic! Human nature has never changed. The major word spoken in the first half of the book of Joel is repentance. The message preached by all of the prophets was repentance. Among the most-used words of the vocabulary of the prophets were the two words “turn” and “return.” Jesus said,
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: Luke 12:48
Therefore, for those who have eyes to see and a heart to understand, much is required. From our experience as well as the witness of the Holy Spirit, three major actions are required on our part as individual believers in Christ. The first is to repent; the second is to keep our own personal garments clean (which we described in the previous chapter); the third is intercession with weeping and groaning that the will of God may be completed within the body of Christ. At the top of our action list is repentance! Repentance is not just for those who do not know the Lord. It applies to all of us today. To repent means to turn around, to change one’s mind, to go in a different direction.
Come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. Hosea 6:1
That verse in Hosea is current events. Why has the Lord smitten us? because we have strayed from Him and His ways. The prerequisite for healing is to return unto the Lord (repent).
True repentance is not superficial words or thoughts that are “short lived.” Shallow, sentimental tears will not suffice. A mere admission of guilt will not solve the problem. Neither will an outward performance of ritual satisfy the demands of a holy God. Unfortunately, this is why many of us go around the same mountain for years and are never able to walk in the victory which is found in Christ. Something must happen in our heart which will reflect itself in our life. John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to his baptism:
7 O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Matthew 3:7-8
True repentance requires our ability to sense, at least in some measure, the grief of the Lord as a result of our own ungodly thoughts, words, or actions. If we really love the Lord, we don’t want to hurt or grieve Him. So often we superficially repent because our words or actions backfired on us or we have harmed another person. However, our grieving the Lord must affect us deeply and supersedes all other reactions which lead us to repentance.
When our heart is broken because we let the Lord down, only then can we earnestly hate our “sinful nature” and desire only to please the Lord. At this point, we are able to turn in the direction of the Holy Spirit and be “born” into the victory which is in Christ. This may be painful to the flesh, but the Lord is more than able to complete that which He has begun. Weeping, travail, and intercession should spring forth as we identify with the wrong and cry out to the Lord for mercy, healing, and restoration.
Three weeks after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me in 1967 I went as a team member to a Lay Witness Mission in a small Methodist church in Gainesville, Virginia. I commuted each of the three days because of the short distance (28 miles). On that Sunday morning, September 17, 1967, I arrived about ten minutes late for the meeting of the team members, the local pastor, and a few other leaders in that church. I sat in the only available seat, next to a man in a wheel chair. He had fallen off the roof of his house and was partially paralyzed. After a few minutes a thought came to my mind: “If you will just reach over and lay your hand on his shoulder, I will heal him.” At that point in my life I had received absolutely no teaching. So fearing that thought was just a product of my natural mind, I did not lay my hand on his shoulder. By the time that the regular Sunday service started all I could do was to sit and weep because I saw how I had let the Lord down. However may I hasten to say that the hand of the Lord does not depend upon the obedience or disobedience of any man.
Repentance is NOT a popular word! We believers like the “good” part, but we don’t care too much for the suffering, travail, denying our self, etc.., that must precede that “good” part.
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he repented. Isaiah said,
Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 6:5
The word “undone” can be translated as “lost” or “cut off.” But there is NOTHING in the previous five chapters of Isaiah that indicates that Isaiah had done anything wrong or said anything wrong. Isaiah saw that his very being was unclean, in comparison with the Lord. Isaiah repented because of his human nature.
Job likewise repented for the same reason that Isaiah did. The Lord said there was none like Job in the earth, a perfect and upright man who feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:8). After 40 more chapters of carnal reasoning between Job and his three “friends,” the Lord gave Job a revelation, such that Job said,
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6
There seem to have been many breech births in the body of Christ … those who have come to Christ, but for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way, where the Head does not come first. There is nothing about the natural man … the first Adam … that is acceptable to God.
Many believers might say, “repent? of what?” Perhaps for starters, we could repent of any self-seeking attitude. We must repent from our two-way thinking and life style, with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. Repent of any desire to fulfill some lower-level goal. Repent of any attitude that falls short of, “Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.” Repent because of our human nature.
It is profitable to read the rewards or results of repentance found in Deuteronomy 30. We will read only parts of that chapter.
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.
9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers. Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 9
Please notice the little word, “then,” in Verse 3. Little words mean a lot in the Bible. In other words, the blessings, prosperity, etc., spoken of starting in Verse 3 are conditional upon the repentance in Verses 1 and 2. The same is true in the Book of Joel. Exactly in the middle of the Book of Joel (Joel 2:18) is the word “then.” This is the only occurrence of the word “then” in Joel. What follows Joel 2:18 is deliverance, blessing, prosperity, etc. What precedes Joel 2:18 is repentance.
Please go back and read all of Isaiah 58, which describes the fast that the Lord has chosen. Those 14 verses in Isaiah 58 contain the word “then” four times. Each time, it describes how the Lord will bless us IF we repent. We suspect that there have been a multitude of people who have said, “Lord if you will just do this for me, then I will …” In general, those who make such a statement do not keep their vow. But AFTER we have accepted the saving grace of our Lord, there is no more place for that kind of statement or vow. At that point it is the Lord who says, “If you repent, then I will …” Will what? then the Lord will restore.
The word, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” is the first word of the kingdom of God. All of the Old Testament prophets preached repentance. To whom did they preach that word? to the chosen people of God. The first word of the Lord that came unto Zechariah for the chosen people of God was a call for national repentance.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 1:3
Note the conditional decree of the Lord. We must first (re)turn to the Lord and then He will turn to us. Why did the remnant of Judah need to repent and turn back to the Lord? because of their apathy, lukewarm attitude, and self-centeredness, which is clearly indicated in the Book of Haggai. Do we need national repentance in America today? if so, in what segment of the population? the heathen? those in denominational churches? those in charismatic fellowships? How can the heathen turn back or repent to someone they never knew? Those in denominational churches have not received nearly the light that we have. The national climate is a mirror reflection of the modern-day spiritual Judah, which is similarly characterized by apathy, a lukewarm attitude, a self-centeredness. Continuing in Zechariah 2,
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Zechariah 2:1-7
In Verse 1, the “man” with a measuring line in his hand is clearly an angel, sent by the Lord to measure Jerusalem. That measurement speaks of judgment, because the remnant in Jerusalem was not doing what they were supposed to be doing; the remnant was not “measuring up” to the will of God. Then, lest Zechariah become totally discouraged at the state of the remnant, the Lord sent another angel to tell the first angel what else to say to Zechariah. In Verse 4, the new message was, Run, speak to this young man (Zechariah). Run! Don’t walk! Hurry! In other words, this additional word is likewise critical.
Now the second (positive) message in Verses 4 and 5 did not negate the first message of measuring Jerusalem, The scripture does not say that the first angel aborted his first command to measure Jerusalem. Here again we see the sovereignty of God at work. The Lord will have what He desires in spiritual Jerusalem one way or another. Note in Verse 7 that the Lord tells Zion, which is dwelling in Babylon, to deliver thyself. He says, “You do it.” That requires a decision on our part.
Each one of us is familiar with the parable of the “prodigal son” as recorded in Luke, Chapter 15. The younger son said, “Give me,” then went out and wasted his substance with “riotous” living (Luke 15:13). The word “riotous” does not mean what we think it means. It means to “preserve, save, or tend to self.” In other words, he was just doing his own will. After a series of difficult circumstances he repented and went back to his father. But we must remember that he was always the son of his father, even when he strayed away. Further, who caused the famine in the land? Who caused no man to give unto the son when he was away? That was the sovereignty of God. If we are called of God, He will arrange all of our circumstances to help us to return to Him if we have strayed. But He will never override our will or our decisions.
That example clearly shows that true repentance is something that begins with God, and not with man. It originates not in the will of man, but in the free and sovereign grace of God. Apart from the working of God’s grace and the moving of His Spirit, man of his accord is not capable of repentance. Psalm 80 declares this fact three different times. When anything is repeated three times in Scripture, we best pay attention.
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19
The verses above clearly state that unless the Father draws us by His Spirit, we cannot be born from above. But nothing is automatic. Because man has free will, we can still reject the call of God. Therefore we must accept the call of God. That requires a decision on our part, not an emotion. That acceptance constitutes the first-level of repentance; i.e., from the status of being a non-Christian to becoming a born-again believer. But everything begins with God. In the beginning, God, in the end, God, and everything in between, God. Further,
No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
A “second level” of repentance, and the one which is perhaps most obvious to us believers is when we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we have said something “wrong” or done something “wrong.” Then, like David, we must be quick to repent.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we way that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word in not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
Nevertheless, we believe there is another level of repentance … and one which Jesus primarily meant when He came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We will describe this level shortly. We must always remember that Jesus spoke those words to the chosen people of God.
A number of years ago I read on a website a short excerpt, titled, “Removing the Candlestick!!” The excerpt was written by a believer of great, national reputation (his name is not important) and a man who was highly respected. His excerpt, which was an exhortation for believers to repent, was/is 100% truth. However, I do not know if his word had much of an effect on any believers because there was no reference as to WHY we, as charismatic/Spirit-filled believers, need to repent. (I do not refer to the times when we say something “wrong” or do something “wrong.”) Unless we, as professing Christians, see a need for the repentance that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the early apostles preached, then things will just rock along as usual. We can still have our nice meetings every Sunday, feel “good” that we have put an “X” in the right box, and never know what we missed. That is the same central message that is preached in the story of Gideon’s army, as related in Judges 7.
The Church at Ephesus in Paul’s time was considered the “highest” in spiritual awareness of all churches. The Church at Ephesus in that day corresponds to the charismatic churches of today. We should never forget that all of Scripture is profitable for us today (2 Timothy 3:16).
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:4-5
Everyone knows that the first and most important exhortation from the Lord to the Church at Ephesus was Verse 4, “You have left your first love.” What is our “first love?” the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Church at Ephesus had become all engrossed and absorbed with hearing and learning new revelation from Scripture, with listening to all sorts of preachers instead of listening to what the Spirit was saying, with traditions of men (much more could be shared on that topic), with focusing on “what’s in it for me,” etc.
In Verse 5, what are the “first works?” the works of the Spirit … the works which were foreordained for us to walk in from before the foundation of the world. Perhaps the most important word for believers is, “Whatever He says unto you, do it” (John 2:5). We cannot do the first works unless we have returned to our first love.
The problem is that we charismatic Christians have become so hard-hearted and ego-centered that very few understand what “repent” means. A slowly increasing number of ministers now preach “repent.” Experience and observation indicates that very few who even preach that word understand what “repent” means to a believer. NEVER in my life have I heard or read the true meaning of this “third-level of repentance” except from the Holy Spirit. (I do not refer to the “textbook” definition of repentance, which could be “a firm inward decision, not an emotion … a change of mind.”) As an aside, Biblical terms must be defined by Scripture itself, not by “textbook” dictionaries.
The meaning of this level of “repentance” is found in Isaiah 6 and Job 42. This “third-level” meaning of repentance is, we firmly believe, that which Jesus referred to when He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Isaiah and Job were both good men. Isaiah prophesied in the first five chapters of the Book which bears his name. The Lord, Himself, had some good things to say about Job.
But Isaiah and Job both received a revelation (without which we all will continue to go around the same mountain day after day). They were allowed to see the holiness of God and the filthiness of us humans. What they were allowed to see (revelation) did not come through the teaching of men or the doctrines of men. To repeat, Job said,
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6
Concerning Verse 5, we charismatic believers have heard, with our natural ears, all about the Lord. (Well, maybe not ALL, but quite a bit.) We have read many books, listened to many of the TV preachers, listened to many of the DVDs, gone to many of the conferences, and perhaps have heard a number of new thoughts that have tickled our ears. Unfortunately, that is the problem. We are so full of information that we have left off the most important part … hearing from the Lord Himself. We are so busy with all of our church meetings and busy work that we have left our first love.
Now we turn to Isaiah.
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:1-8
Many years ago, as I was reading those verses in Isaiah, I found myself reading it this way: “In the year that king SELF died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” Now “Uzziah” does NOT mean “self.” It means “the strength of the Lord.” So Uzziah had replaced the strength of the Lord with his own strength. Sometimes the Holy Spirit has a way of putting into context some things that normally are not in context. In any event, the latter interpretation is a good one. The substitution of “self” in that verse is still true. If we desire to see the Lord, we must die to self. The very essence and basis of sin is to put self in the preeminent place of God. Paul said, “I die daily.” “He must increase but I must decrease.” Whenever anyone is allowed to see the King, the Lord of Hosts, he must repent. We must repent simply because of who we are … our human nature. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1). No man can cleanse himself! So how do we fulfill that commandment? by repentance. Then we allow the Spirit of God to do His work within us. Whenever “king self” dies we can see the Lord high and lifted up.
I am sure that almost every true believer will agree that no man, except Jesus Christ, could ever live up to the law. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 that we must, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” That is a commandment! Why did Jesus say that? To help us to understand that just as no man, except Jesus, can ever live up to the law as given through Moses, likewise no man can ever live the Christian life, except Christ Himself and the Christ within us. Repentance is the FIRST step toward perfection. That is required to return to our first love so that we can do the first works. If we do not fulfill that first step, we have no need to try to get to step two.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is the Book of Joel.
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Joel 2:12-14
In Verse 14, the “blessing … even a meat [meal] offering and a drink offering,” has nothing to do with the natural realm. The meal offering and drink offering speaks of the remnant, or the sons of Zadok, who “shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23).
Revisiting Isaiah 6:8, many Christians believe they are “sent” to go out and save the lost. But before we are sent, we must have a clear vision of the Lord Himself. That involves much more than being born again and baptized with the Holy Ghost. We must have the same revelation that both Isaiah (in Isaiah 6:5) and Job (in Job 42:5-6) received. It is never sufficient to “go” because we see a need. Unless we are sent by the Lord, then our efforts are of little value. The Lord says,
For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word. Isaiah 66:2
Is it time to repent from our dead works and let Christ build His Church? Who perceives the difference between “dead works” and the works of the Spirit. Repentance from dead works is the first principle of the doctrine of Christ.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. Hebrews 6:1
Let us remember that the verse above is written to Christians, not heathens. Dead works are works of the flesh. We must repent from anything that is not led by the Spirit. If we cannot get through that first principle, there is no reason to try going any further.
There is only one reason for a sinner to repent and it’s not because he will go to heaven and it’s not to keep out of hell. If we are trying to serve God because He will do us good then it’s nothing but trying to make a deal with God. Likewise, there is only one reason for a professing Christian to repent. It’s because we have received a revelation of the holiness of God and because we have seen that “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). It’s because Jesus Christ deserves the worship, love and obedience of our heart. It’s because “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
Also in Isaiah 6:5, note the confession of Isaiah: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Much of modern Christianity says, “I have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). What an indictment about its sorry state! That proud boast is the epitome of the ugly attitude of self-sufficiency and self-confidence. Those the Lord has chosen to lead His people throughout history usually bewail their lack of capability to fulfill the work of the Lord. Without a deep understanding of who we really are, with our hidden faults and weaknesses, we will never seek the Lord to remedy them or to fully cooperate with the process when He works to remedy our shortcomings.
But throughout the ages the Lord always has had a remnant … a Church within a Church … men who have been broken, burdened, bent, and bowed … men who have prayed, preached, prophesied, and pleaded with God’s chosen people over the truth of “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” … men who have avoided the snare of humanism. One such revivalist in the 20th century was Leonard Ravenhill, who was a real porcupine. Every local church needs a porcupine or else we get hardened and set in our ways. The kingdom of heaven is like a concrete mixer truck and the people of God are like the concrete therein. Unless we are constantly stirred up we get hard and set in our ways.
Any time that we see the Lord with spiritual eyes, we must repent. But “If any man sin, we have an Advocate (paraclete, intercessor) with the Father, Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1). We must learn to be quick repenters. “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
Those Verses speak not only of the first coming of Jesus but also of the second coming of the Lord to earth. In order for the Lord to come for spiritual Israel’s redemption, she must repent. The Lord is not returning to the earth for millions of immature, baby Christians. The Lord is returning with ten thousands of His saints (Jude 14-15) for “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
Chapter 9: Intercession
After repentance on the part of those believers who are baptized with the Holy Spirit, the next major action on our part is intercession. But to attempt to fulfill this commandment we must have first learned to develop fruit.
Samuel said that it was a sin against the Lord if he ceased to pray for the people.
23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all of your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:23-24
Samuel prayed for Saul even after God had rejected him from being king (1 Samuel 15:11). That verse says that Samuel cried unto the Lord all night on behalf of Saul.
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. Nehemiah 4:10
The bearers of burdens represent true intercessors, whose strength is decayed. No one can build a wall on rubbish because it has no firm foundation. Such is the condition of far too many churches today.
To intercede literally means “to come in between.” The intercessor is one who comes in between God and man, on behalf of men, frequently those men who deserve His wrath and punishment. The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus. I believe the greatest ministry is not that of an apostle or prophet; it is the ministry of intercession.
Quite a number of years ago, I became convinced that the only real solution for the Church in our present state is prophetic intercession, by which I mean groaning in the spirit, weeping in travail for the maturity of the body of Christ, founded on spiritual wisdom and understanding. Of course such intercession must be born of the Spirit. It is not something that we can teach, although we can set forth the need to other members of the body. The following verse is of utmost priority in the eyes of the Lord.
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Joel 2:17
Those verses were not written for the heathen. They were written as an admonition to you and me, upon whom the end of the ages has come.
I am firmly convinced that what the Church needs now are some Daniels, Ezras, Nehemiahs, Esthers, Isaiahs, Jeremiahs, and Pauls, to name a few. What did all of those saints have in common? two things. They all identified with the Lord, with His ways, with His purposes, etc. They also all identified with the people. If you check them out, they all said, “WE have sinned.” I have yet to find one case where Scripture records that they had committed any “sins.” So how could they say that they had sinned, when it is not recorded as such? David said, in Psalm 51:15, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” I believe that each one of those saints had a real revelation about the mystery of the oneness in Christ, the mystery of the oneness of the body. When one member suffers, the whole body suffers. That simple truth seems to apply to leaders in a big way.
It might be good for someone to write a book, called, “The Mystery of the Oneness in Christ.” I believe that the Lord today is searching for those who have that same revelation of the oneness of the body of Christ, and who will prostrate himself before the Lord, repent for the whole body, and ask for His mercy to be upon us. The time for playing church is over. Our nice meetings with our nice sermons have not got the job done in the past; neither will it do so in the future. I further believe that each Ezra or each Nehemiah should groan in intercession for the body in secret. Most importantly, we cannot ask other members of the body to repent when we have not repented on behalf of the body. Such a person will never get the applause of men. Jeremiah never made one convert. How precious are those who are looking only for the applause of God, not men.
Now I want to try to clarify the difference between prayer and the level of intercession that the Lord is looking for. Let us look at the example of Jesus, as given in Luke 22:39-46.
39 And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him.
40 And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Luke 22:39-46
There are at least two very significant principles in the above verses. First, note the difference between Verse 41 and 44. In Verse 41, Jesus prayed … prayed for what? prayed for Himself … that if it were possible for the Father to remove this cup from Him. What cup? the cup of suffering and death on the cross. However, Jesus’ overriding motivation and will was always to do the will of the Father. Jesus, as a Man, needed the strength and power of the Holy Ghost to drink His cup (Verse 43). We also note that Jesus never asked for that strength. But God knows our need before we ask for His help. He will always provide for our need as long as we are motivated only by His will. Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Further, whatever the Father did for Jesus, He will do for us, PROVIDED that we walk as Jesus walked.
But note the difference in the level or intensity of prayer from Verse 41 to Verse 44. In Verse 44, Jesus was in “agony and prayed more earnestly and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Verse 44 illustrates the level of intercession that the Lord is looking for from the priests, the ministers of the Lord (Joel 2:17). For what did Jesus pray in Verse 44? not for Himself but for His disciples over all of time. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” “Save to the uttermost” means much more than being born again! In addition, many years ago the Holy Ghost quickened to me an eternal principle from Psalm 18.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. Psalm 18:25-26
Verse 26 can be translated as, “With the perverse (or crooked) thou wilt wrestle.” The two instances of “froward” in Verse 26 are two entirely different Hebrew words. That brings to mind Genesis 32:24, when the Lord wrestled with Jacob: “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” That “man” was the Lord Himself. Note that the “Man” wrestled with Jacob, not that Jacob wrestled with the “Man.” There is a difference! Unless the Lord comes to us, we cannot go to Him.
The other significant principle in Psalm 18:25-26 is that the Lord will always show Himself to us in the same manner that we show our self to Him. Moses was an intense man. Elijah was an intense man. He was intense for the Lord’s will and way to be done. Stephen and Peter were intense men. Saul of Tarsus was a very intense man … intense for Phariseeism or Judaism … so intense that in Acts 8:1, Saul was consenting to the death of Stephen; and in Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” But after the Lord sovereignly came to Saul, the new man, Paul, was even more intense for the Lord. I have to believe that the intensity of Paul for the Lord contributed greatly to the great revelations given to Paul. This principle also works the other way. If we are lukewarm or apathetic to the Lord, He will be lukewarm or apathetic toward us (Revelation 3:16).
Now let us return to Luke 22:39-46 to see the second, very important principle therein. We note that both in Luke 22:40 and Luke 22:46, Jesus exhorted His disciples to pray that they enter not into temptation. We should remember that is also part of what men call “The Lord’s Prayer.” Every Sunday, hundreds of thousands of professing Christians recite in unison “The Lord’s Prayer,” part of which is “deliver us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13), and have no idea what they are saying. To what temptation did Jesus refer in Luke 22? the temptation to rob a bank? the temptation to have an affair? I doubt He referred to something at that level. I believe the temptation He referred to was the temptation to fall away from Christ when persecution gets intense. We know that persecution became very intense during the lifetime of all of the original apostles and with Paul. That persecution climaxed with Nero in 64 A.D. Then that persecution became even more widespread and has continued until this day. It will get worse. Therefore “watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:4). Very few professing Christians understand how serious that exhortation is.
From my somewhat limited experience, I have seen very few saints who even know what intercession is, much less move in that vital ministry. Even the so-called “intercessor conference” that I attended in 2004 gave little sign of genuine intercessors.
Does anyone think, “But brother I have not been called to the ministry of intercession”? I heard a good brother a few years ago say, publicly, that he was not called into a ministry of intercession. What he should have said was that he was not aware of that call on his life. Let us examine that statement from a scriptural perspective. If you are a member of the body of Christ, you are automatically called to intercession because you are called to be part of the holy, royal priesthood after the order of Melchisedec! Because He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) we likewise, in identifying with Him in all points, are called to intercession for the lost (who will be found) and those already in the Church who have strayed, particularly those in leadership positions. Consider also,
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
To elaborate on our call to intercession, let us consider what has always been, and still is, in the heart of God with respect to His chosen people. First, the Lord told Moses to say unto the people:
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine.
6 And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5-6
So the mind of God always was and still is to have a kingdom of priests … a holy priesthood … a royal priesthood. This high calling was originally offered to the Jewish nation, but they rejected (and continue to reject) that call and crucified the Lord of glory. Therefore the chosen generation is no longer the natural Jewish nation but spiritual Israel … the body of Christ. The chosen generation is not a natural generation but consists of ALL believers over all of time who accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). Let us look at the function of priests, as first recorded in Scripture.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before Him to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8
The above verse is the prophetical prototype of the Melchisedec priesthood that we have been called to in the spiritual realm. “Unto this day” still holds true for us today! The whole body of believers, as priests, are to (1) reflect the holiness of God and that of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ (bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord); (2) offer spiritual sacrifices (stand before Him to minister unto Him); (3) intercede for man before God; and (4) represent God before men. Functions (3) and (4) constitute “bless in His name.”
What shall intercessors pray for? that the spiritual leaders of the Church will return unto the Lord, laying aside all mixture, all pride, and all things that hinder. Scripture is clear that judgment is according to the light that has been given … the greater the light, the more severe the judgment.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him will be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48
Intercessors also need to ask the Lord to open the eyes of each believer in our midst to come and see Jesus, to hear His voice, and to walk in His ways. Ask the Lord to give each member of the local church discernment concerning the body of Christ and His will, purposes, and plan for the Church.
But the important aspect is that God have His way … that God’s will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. We MUST identify with the heart of God. To repeat, because we are in Christ, we likewise have been called after the priesthood of Melchisedec. Therefore, it is crucial for all who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to make real our ministry of intercession. There is no higher calling than that of an intercessor. This is a hidden ministry. Man will not see, recognize, or applaud you, but in the Kingdom of God your life will count for eternity.
And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
Closely associated with intercession is weeping. The pathway to the fullness of the kingdom of God MUST go, sooner or later, through the valley of Baca … the valley of weeping. If we have been allowed to see in some small measure the heart of God, His purposes, His ways, then we must weep at the current state of affairs in the church.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. Psalm 84:4-7
In Verse 4, “they” is clearly plural and speaks of all true born-from-above believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Verse 5, “the man” (sometimes translated as “a man”) is clearly singular; and some translations say “in whose heart are the ways to Zion.” In any event, Verses 5-7 speak of a smaller subset of those mentioned in Verse 4. That truth is found in many different places in the Bible. Verses 6 and 7 seem to apply to those in Verse 5 but not necessarily to the larger set of believers in Verse 4.
Verses 5-7 speak of overcomers. They make the valley of Baca a well by their tears for the body of Christ to come into maturity. The rain (from heaven) also fills the pools. Scripture seems to describe several different reasons why His chosen people have wept. The first is because of sorrow when a relative or close friend has died. Such was the case with Mary when her brother, Lazarus, first died. That is a normal aspect of human nature, but there is a higher-level task of weeping set before us.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept. John 11:33-35
Why did Jesus weep? Probably out of compassion for Mary; and perhaps Lazarus had not yet completed his purpose on earth.
A second reason for weeping is because one of His chosen people finally sees how they “missed” God’s best. Such was the case with Esau and Peter. Esau sold his birthright for bread and pottage of lentils.
And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. Genesis 27:38
After Peter had denied the Lord three times,
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:74-75
Peter, of course, because of his repentance, found grace in the eyes of the Lord but Esau did not.
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:15-17
Esau not find repentance but Peter did? … perhaps because Esau was a fornicator or profane person but Peter was a chosen vessel. Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34). But we do not believe that was the reason why God hated Esau, who was a man of the earth and lived for worldly things and nothing else. Esau’s repentance was directed only to his natural father, Isaac. Esau never repented to God. In fact Esau never even mentioned the name of the Lord or God. Esau was simply sorry that he had lost his birthright and then lost the blessing due to the elder son. He was only interested in worldly pursuits. Even his stated repentance to his father Isaac was superficial and me-centered, because he still hated Jacob and vowed to kill him. That was probably why the Lord hated Esau. We only know for certain that we should never question God’s decisions. The following two verses are also examples of the chosen people of God weeping when they saw what they had missed.
And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:9
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Psalm 137:1
Yet another reason to weep is as a result of exhortation, as in the Book of Joel. Unfortunately, the ministers of the Lord have not yet done this in these end times to the degree that will satisfy the Lord, but will do so soon.
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. Joel 1:5
Revelation 7:1-8 speaks of the sealing of His servants in their foreheads. The word, “servants,” is the Greek doulos, which means a voluntary bond-servant or a slave. It means much more than simply a born-from-above believer. These Verses answer the question in Revelation 6:17: “Who shall be able to stand?” Note that the servants were sealed (not, will be sealed). This speaks of the sovereignty and the foreknowledge of God, who lives in eternity.
Scripture then says that 144,000 were sealed of all the tribes of the children of Israel (except for the tribes of Dan and Ephraim). The reason those two tribes are excluded is because they both participated in introducing idolatry (see Leviticus 24:10-16 and Judges 18:2, 30-31). And from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, idolaters shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (but they can still be saved and go to heaven one day). Therefore those two tribes remain unprotected from great tribulation. I doubt that the 144,000 is a literal number.
It is true that 2 Corinthian 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, and Ephesians 4:30 all speak of believers being sealed with or by the Holy Spirit, but that is a different type of sealing than what is described in Revelation 7. Further, to say that all born-from-above believers are servants is wishful thinking. The Church at Corinth is proof of that.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:9-10, 13-17
Revelation 7:9 says, “After this … a great multitude, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues … which came out of great tribulation …” We believe this speaks of all, both Jew and Gentile, who have been born from above but have not qualified to walk in the Kingdom. Then in Revelation 7:17, “… and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Who is “their”? the great multitude, which no man could number. Clearly there is a distinction between the servants of God in Revelation 7:1-8 and the great multitude in Verses 9-17. The former speaks of overcomers. The latter speaks of true born-again believers, but who were like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. They wept because they finally saw what they had missed. They are like the 31,700 of Gideon’s men who “went back” because the Lord could use only 300 of them. The 300 are those referenced in Psalm 84:5-7 … the overcomers. Note that this great multitude was crying, because all they knew was salvation. They had to go through great tribulation, which did not affect the servants of God. Revelation 7:14 says this multitude have washed their robes, and made them white through or by (not “in”) the blood of the Lamb. Nothing can be made white while washed in natural blood.
And they overcame him [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
So this great multitude met the first criteria to be an overcomer and possibly the second, but certainly not the third (and they loved not their lives unto the death).
Now let us consider Revelation 14.
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:1-5
These Verses definitely speak of overcomers, the firstfruits unto God. Moreover, these were redeemed from among men and from the earth, as distinct from the ten thousands of saints that will come with Jesus on the last Day of Atonement … His parousia (Jude 1:14). Are these 144,000 the same as the 144,000 in Revelation 7? I believe they are not the same. I believe this refers to the overcomers who are on earth when the Lord returns … two sets of 144,000 overcomers, neither set being a literal number.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:2-4, 7
In Revelation 21:4, “and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Who is “their” in Verse 4? These are not the same people as those in Revelation 7:9-17. God is not going to wipe away all tears from their eyes twice. These are overcomers … the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2) … those who have His name in their foreheads (Revelation 22:4) … those who voluntarily offered themselves as a burnt offering … those who dwell in the secret place of the most High … those who look for His appearing … those who are waiting at the Tabernacle Gate to see the High Priest come out of the Holy of Holies and complete the redemption of the saints … those who will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6). This includes both Jew and Gentile. Why did the overcomers weep? because they identified with the heart of God … they identified with the Lord Jesus in every respect. They had great compassion and love for their brethren who, for whatever reasons, were content with being saved and going to heaven one day. Even the great Apostle Paul said,
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul is not saying that he might not be “saved” and go to heaven one day. That is not what he means when he says “lest he should be a castaway.” Many years prior, Paul had been caught up into the third heaven, into paradise, where he heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Paul says that he keeps under his body, his flesh, his will, his desires, and subjects his will to the will of God.
Only God can, and will, wipe away all of our tears. But it is important to understand WHY the great multitude in Revelation 7 and the overcomers in Revelation 21 were crying. When God wipes away the tears from the great multitude, it is because that great multitude (of believers) finally saw what they had missed … they were like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. When God wipes away the tears of the overcomers, in Revelation 21, it is because they had wept over spiritual Jerusalem, just as Jesus, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Ezra and many others have done.
There is no better example of weeping than that of Jesus. Jesus wept over Jerusalem; so did Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-4); so did Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:1, Jeremiah 13:15-17), who has often been called the “weeping prophet.”
41 And when He [Jesus] was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Luke 19:41-44
I do not believe that Jesus wept over a piece of real estate in the Middle East called Jerusalem; neither did He weep over the physical temple or any other natural substance. He wept because “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). He wept because the people could have known and should have known who He was/is but they did not want to know. Paul said (Romans 1:20), they are without excuse.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6
The above verse speaks of the great harvest of souls during the last spiritual Feast of Tabernacles. The precious seed is the word of the Kingdom of God. The “they” in Verse 5 and the “He” in Verse 6 both speak of the overcomers … those who have identified with the heart of God … those who weep over spiritual Jerusalem … those who fulfill Joel 2:17. Lord, open our eyes and ears that we may be attuned to your will in these last days!
It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer. Matthew 21:13
Paul also said, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).
“Men” in the above verse is the Greek word for males, not the generic word for human beings. Just as the Lord instructed every male to gather manna each day for himself and his family, here again is an exhortation for men (males) to pray. This does not diminish the importance and tremendous effect and fruit which springs forth from the prayers of women. In the following verse, the word “man” is the Greek word for human being and thus includes both male and female.
The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus. In effect, when Jesus died on the cross, He said, “Let the judgment that is due to the people come upon Me.” Then after His death, resurrection, and ascension, we are told,
24 But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25
What a comfort we have to know that Jesus continues to make intercession on our behalf before the throne of the Father! Jesus spent thirty years in relative obscurity in “normal” family life; three and one-half years in public ministry; and now about two thousand years in intercession, unseen by any natural eye. Do those time frames say anything about the importance of intercession?
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom because his nephew, Lot, was there. Abraham knew that if judgment came upon Sodom, then Lot and his family would be part of the judgment. Abraham kept interceding for Sodom until the Lord promised the He would not destroy it if He found ten righteous persons in the city. I have read that at that point in time, Sodom was a major city with a population of 10,000 people. So for the sake of ten righteous people out of 10,000 persons God was willing to spare the entire city. That is one out of a thousand! Elihu, in the Book of Job, records this same proportion.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then He is gracious unto him. And saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job 33:23-24
One out of a thousand! That does not seem like a very large percentage … 0.1% … or a tenth of a tenth of a tenth. Let us apply this same proportion to the United States. As of this point in time, the population of the United States is very close to 300,000,000 people. Does that mean, if we use the same proportion, that God will spare the United States if He finds 300,000 persons who walk in righteousness? A better question might be, are there 300,000 committed believers in the United States who walk in righteousness? (That does NOT mean those who have their names on a church roster; nor does it mean those who are born-again believers but are doing their own thing.) Do you think that America is in trouble? Is it time for the judgment of God to descend upon our country? Do we need some real intercessors, such as Abraham was in his time?
Another striking example of an intercessor was Moses. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the Promised Land. But Moses interceded.
31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
32 Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book, which Thou hast written. Exodus 32:31-32
That is intercession! How many such saints do you think there are in the United States who could sincerely make that same statement? Only the Lord knows, but I would guess not too many! The Lord surely would have destroyed His chosen people had not Moses stood before Him in the breach to turn away His wrath.
In Verse 31, the people had made gods of gold. Do you think that some believers today have likewise made gods of gold? Money is a HUGE driving force in America, both in the world and in the Church. The word says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Almost all of the teaching relating to money that I have heard in person and from the television preachers is WARPED and DISTORTED!
The apostle Paul made the same statement as did Moses.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh. Romans 9:3
Ezekiel 22 records a different scene. Just as in the time of Abraham and Moses, the sins of God’s people are portrayed once more. But this time there was NO intercessor found to stand in the gap.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 22:30-31
One man … one intercessor … could have saved an entire nation, even though every section of society was corrupted (see Ezekiel 22:23-29 for proof of that). Can one man save the United States from the judgment of God? The same apostasy existed in the time of Isaiah. Please read all of Isaiah 59 to get the complete picture.
And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:16
Even God Himself wondered that there was no intercessor! What an amazing verse! Not one intercessor! Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be that intercessor. Thank you Lord! Therefore, it is crucial for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to raise up true intercessors in our midst. May we all aspire to such a high calling!
After repentance on the part of those believers who are baptized with the Holy Spirit, the next major action on our part is intercession. But to attempt to fulfill this commandment we must have first learned to develop fruit.
Samuel said that it was a sin against the Lord if he ceased to pray for the people.
23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all of your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:23-24
Samuel prayed for Saul even after God had rejected him from being king (1 Samuel 15:11). That verse says that Samuel cried unto the Lord all night on behalf of Saul.
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. Nehemiah 4:10
The bearers of burdens represent true intercessors, whose strength is decayed. No one can build a wall on rubbish because it has no firm foundation. Such is the condition of far too many churches today.
To intercede literally means “to come in between.” The intercessor is one who comes in between God and man, on behalf of men, frequently those men who deserve His wrath and punishment. The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus. I believe the greatest ministry is not that of an apostle or prophet; it is the ministry of intercession.
Quite a number of years ago, I became convinced that the only real solution for the Church in our present state is prophetic intercession, by which I mean groaning in the spirit, weeping in travail for the maturity of the body of Christ, founded on spiritual wisdom and understanding. Of course such intercession must be born of the Spirit. It is not something that we can teach, although we can set forth the need to other members of the body. The following verse is of utmost priority in the eyes of the Lord.
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Joel 2:17
Those verses were not written for the heathen. They were written as an admonition to you and me, upon whom the end of the ages has come.
I am firmly convinced that what the Church needs now are some Daniels, Ezras, Nehemiahs, Esthers, Isaiahs, Jeremiahs, and Pauls, to name a few. What did all of those saints have in common? two things. They all identified with the Lord, with His ways, with His purposes, etc. They also all identified with the people. If you check them out, they all said, “WE have sinned.” I have yet to find one case where Scripture records that they had committed any “sins.” So how could they say that they had sinned, when it is not recorded as such? David said, in Psalm 51:15, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” I believe that each one of those saints had a real revelation about the mystery of the oneness in Christ, the mystery of the oneness of the body. When one member suffers, the whole body suffers. That simple truth seems to apply to leaders in a big way.
It might be good for someone to write a book, called, “The Mystery of the Oneness in Christ.” I believe that the Lord today is searching for those who have that same revelation of the oneness of the body of Christ, and who will prostrate himself before the Lord, repent for the whole body, and ask for His mercy to be upon us. The time for playing church is over. Our nice meetings with our nice sermons have not got the job done in the past; neither will it do so in the future. I further believe that each Ezra or each Nehemiah should groan in intercession for the body in secret. Most importantly, we cannot ask other members of the body to repent when we have not repented on behalf of the body. Such a person will never get the applause of men. Jeremiah never made one convert. How precious are those who are looking only for the applause of God, not men.
Now I want to try to clarify the difference between prayer and the level of intercession that the Lord is looking for. Let us look at the example of Jesus, as given in Luke 22:39-46.
39 And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him.
40 And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Luke 22:39-46
There are at least two very significant principles in the above verses. First, note the difference between Verse 41 and 44. In Verse 41, Jesus prayed … prayed for what? prayed for Himself … that if it were possible for the Father to remove this cup from Him. What cup? the cup of suffering and death on the cross. However, Jesus’ overriding motivation and will was always to do the will of the Father. Jesus, as a Man, needed the strength and power of the Holy Ghost to drink His cup (Verse 43). We also note that Jesus never asked for that strength. But God knows our need before we ask for His help. He will always provide for our need as long as we are motivated only by His will. Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Further, whatever the Father did for Jesus, He will do for us, PROVIDED that we walk as Jesus walked.
But note the difference in the level or intensity of prayer from Verse 41 to Verse 44. In Verse 44, Jesus was in “agony and prayed more earnestly and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Verse 44 illustrates the level of intercession that the Lord is looking for from the priests, the ministers of the Lord (Joel 2:17). For what did Jesus pray in Verse 44? not for Himself but for His disciples over all of time. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” “Save to the uttermost” means much more than being born again! In addition, many years ago the Holy Ghost quickened to me an eternal principle from Psalm 18.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. Psalm 18:25-26
Verse 26 can be translated as, “With the perverse (or crooked) thou wilt wrestle.” The two instances of “froward” in Verse 26 are two entirely different Hebrew words. That brings to mind Genesis 32:24, when the Lord wrestled with Jacob: “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” That “man” was the Lord Himself. Note that the “Man” wrestled with Jacob, not that Jacob wrestled with the “Man.” There is a difference! Unless the Lord comes to us, we cannot go to Him.
The other significant principle in Psalm 18:25-26 is that the Lord will always show Himself to us in the same manner that we show our self to Him. Moses was an intense man. Elijah was an intense man. He was intense for the Lord’s will and way to be done. Stephen and Peter were intense men. Saul of Tarsus was a very intense man … intense for Phariseeism or Judaism … so intense that in Acts 8:1, Saul was consenting to the death of Stephen; and in Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” But after the Lord sovereignly came to Saul, the new man, Paul, was even more intense for the Lord. I have to believe that the intensity of Paul for the Lord contributed greatly to the great revelations given to Paul. This principle also works the other way. If we are lukewarm or apathetic to the Lord, He will be lukewarm or apathetic toward us (Revelation 3:16).
Now let us return to Luke 22:39-46 to see the second, very important principle therein. We note that both in Luke 22:40 and Luke 22:46, Jesus exhorted His disciples to pray that they enter not into temptation. We should remember that is also part of what men call “The Lord’s Prayer.” Every Sunday, hundreds of thousands of professing Christians recite in unison “The Lord’s Prayer,” part of which is “deliver us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13), and have no idea what they are saying. To what temptation did Jesus refer in Luke 22? the temptation to rob a bank? the temptation to have an affair? I doubt He referred to something at that level. I believe the temptation He referred to was the temptation to fall away from Christ when persecution gets intense. We know that persecution became very intense during the lifetime of all of the original apostles and with Paul. That persecution climaxed with Nero in 64 A.D. Then that persecution became even more widespread and has continued until this day. It will get worse. Therefore “watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:4). Very few professing Christians understand how serious that exhortation is.
From my somewhat limited experience, I have seen very few saints who even know what intercession is, much less move in that vital ministry. Even the so-called “intercessor conference” that I attended in 2004 gave little sign of genuine intercessors.
Does anyone think, “But brother I have not been called to the ministry of intercession”? I heard a good brother a few years ago say, publicly, that he was not called into a ministry of intercession. What he should have said was that he was not aware of that call on his life. Let us examine that statement from a scriptural perspective. If you are a member of the body of Christ, you are automatically called to intercession because you are called to be part of the holy, royal priesthood after the order of Melchisedec! Because He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) we likewise, in identifying with Him in all points, are called to intercession for the lost (who will be found) and those already in the Church who have strayed, particularly those in leadership positions. Consider also,
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
To elaborate on our call to intercession, let us consider what has always been, and still is, in the heart of God with respect to His chosen people. First, the Lord told Moses to say unto the people:
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine.
6 And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5-6
So the mind of God always was and still is to have a kingdom of priests … a holy priesthood … a royal priesthood. This high calling was originally offered to the Jewish nation, but they rejected (and continue to reject) that call and crucified the Lord of glory. Therefore the chosen generation is no longer the natural Jewish nation but spiritual Israel … the body of Christ. The chosen generation is not a natural generation but consists of ALL believers over all of time who accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). Let us look at the function of priests, as first recorded in Scripture.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before Him to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8
The above verse is the prophetical prototype of the Melchisedec priesthood that we have been called to in the spiritual realm. “Unto this day” still holds true for us today! The whole body of believers, as priests, are to (1) reflect the holiness of God and that of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ (bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord); (2) offer spiritual sacrifices (stand before Him to minister unto Him); (3) intercede for man before God; and (4) represent God before men. Functions (3) and (4) constitute “bless in His name.”
What shall intercessors pray for? that the spiritual leaders of the Church will return unto the Lord, laying aside all mixture, all pride, and all things that hinder. Scripture is clear that judgment is according to the light that has been given … the greater the light, the more severe the judgment.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him will be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48
Intercessors also need to ask the Lord to open the eyes of each believer in our midst to come and see Jesus, to hear His voice, and to walk in His ways. Ask the Lord to give each member of the local church discernment concerning the body of Christ and His will, purposes, and plan for the Church.
But the important aspect is that God have His way … that God’s will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. We MUST identify with the heart of God. To repeat, because we are in Christ, we likewise have been called after the priesthood of Melchisedec. Therefore, it is crucial for all who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to make real our ministry of intercession. There is no higher calling than that of an intercessor. This is a hidden ministry. Man will not see, recognize, or applaud you, but in the Kingdom of God your life will count for eternity.
And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
Closely associated with intercession is weeping. The pathway to the fullness of the kingdom of God MUST go, sooner or later, through the valley of Baca … the valley of weeping. If we have been allowed to see in some small measure the heart of God, His purposes, His ways, then we must weep at the current state of affairs in the church.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. Psalm 84:4-7
In Verse 4, “they” is clearly plural and speaks of all true born-from-above believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Verse 5, “the man” (sometimes translated as “a man”) is clearly singular; and some translations say “in whose heart are the ways to Zion.” In any event, Verses 5-7 speak of a smaller subset of those mentioned in Verse 4. That truth is found in many different places in the Bible. Verses 6 and 7 seem to apply to those in Verse 5 but not necessarily to the larger set of believers in Verse 4.
Verses 5-7 speak of overcomers. They make the valley of Baca a well by their tears for the body of Christ to come into maturity. The rain (from heaven) also fills the pools. Scripture seems to describe several different reasons why His chosen people have wept. The first is because of sorrow when a relative or close friend has died. Such was the case with Mary when her brother, Lazarus, first died. That is a normal aspect of human nature, but there is a higher-level task of weeping set before us.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept. John 11:33-35
Why did Jesus weep? Probably out of compassion for Mary; and perhaps Lazarus had not yet completed his purpose on earth.
A second reason for weeping is because one of His chosen people finally sees how they “missed” God’s best. Such was the case with Esau and Peter. Esau sold his birthright for bread and pottage of lentils.
And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. Genesis 27:38
After Peter had denied the Lord three times,
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:74-75
Peter, of course, because of his repentance, found grace in the eyes of the Lord but Esau did not.
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:15-17
Esau not find repentance but Peter did? … perhaps because Esau was a fornicator or profane person but Peter was a chosen vessel. Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34). But we do not believe that was the reason why God hated Esau, who was a man of the earth and lived for worldly things and nothing else. Esau’s repentance was directed only to his natural father, Isaac. Esau never repented to God. In fact Esau never even mentioned the name of the Lord or God. Esau was simply sorry that he had lost his birthright and then lost the blessing due to the elder son. He was only interested in worldly pursuits. Even his stated repentance to his father Isaac was superficial and me-centered, because he still hated Jacob and vowed to kill him. That was probably why the Lord hated Esau. We only know for certain that we should never question God’s decisions. The following two verses are also examples of the chosen people of God weeping when they saw what they had missed.
And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:9
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Psalm 137:1
Yet another reason to weep is as a result of exhortation, as in the Book of Joel. Unfortunately, the ministers of the Lord have not yet done this in these end times to the degree that will satisfy the Lord, but will do so soon.
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. Joel 1:5
Revelation 7:1-8 speaks of the sealing of His servants in their foreheads. The word, “servants,” is the Greek doulos, which means a voluntary bond-servant or a slave. It means much more than simply a born-from-above believer. These Verses answer the question in Revelation 6:17: “Who shall be able to stand?” Note that the servants were sealed (not, will be sealed). This speaks of the sovereignty and the foreknowledge of God, who lives in eternity.
Scripture then says that 144,000 were sealed of all the tribes of the children of Israel (except for the tribes of Dan and Ephraim). The reason those two tribes are excluded is because they both participated in introducing idolatry (see Leviticus 24:10-16 and Judges 18:2, 30-31). And from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, idolaters shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (but they can still be saved and go to heaven one day). Therefore those two tribes remain unprotected from great tribulation. I doubt that the 144,000 is a literal number.
It is true that 2 Corinthian 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, and Ephesians 4:30 all speak of believers being sealed with or by the Holy Spirit, but that is a different type of sealing than what is described in Revelation 7. Further, to say that all born-from-above believers are servants is wishful thinking. The Church at Corinth is proof of that.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:9-10, 13-17
Revelation 7:9 says, “After this … a great multitude, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues … which came out of great tribulation …” We believe this speaks of all, both Jew and Gentile, who have been born from above but have not qualified to walk in the Kingdom. Then in Revelation 7:17, “… and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Who is “their”? the great multitude, which no man could number. Clearly there is a distinction between the servants of God in Revelation 7:1-8 and the great multitude in Verses 9-17. The former speaks of overcomers. The latter speaks of true born-again believers, but who were like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. They wept because they finally saw what they had missed. They are like the 31,700 of Gideon’s men who “went back” because the Lord could use only 300 of them. The 300 are those referenced in Psalm 84:5-7 … the overcomers. Note that this great multitude was crying, because all they knew was salvation. They had to go through great tribulation, which did not affect the servants of God. Revelation 7:14 says this multitude have washed their robes, and made them white through or by (not “in”) the blood of the Lamb. Nothing can be made white while washed in natural blood.
And they overcame him [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
So this great multitude met the first criteria to be an overcomer and possibly the second, but certainly not the third (and they loved not their lives unto the death).
Now let us consider Revelation 14.
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:1-5
These Verses definitely speak of overcomers, the firstfruits unto God. Moreover, these were redeemed from among men and from the earth, as distinct from the ten thousands of saints that will come with Jesus on the last Day of Atonement … His parousia (Jude 1:14). Are these 144,000 the same as the 144,000 in Revelation 7? I believe they are not the same. I believe this refers to the overcomers who are on earth when the Lord returns … two sets of 144,000 overcomers, neither set being a literal number.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:2-4, 7
In Revelation 21:4, “and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Who is “their” in Verse 4? These are not the same people as those in Revelation 7:9-17. God is not going to wipe away all tears from their eyes twice. These are overcomers … the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2) … those who have His name in their foreheads (Revelation 22:4) … those who voluntarily offered themselves as a burnt offering … those who dwell in the secret place of the most High … those who look for His appearing … those who are waiting at the Tabernacle Gate to see the High Priest come out of the Holy of Holies and complete the redemption of the saints … those who will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6). This includes both Jew and Gentile. Why did the overcomers weep? because they identified with the heart of God … they identified with the Lord Jesus in every respect. They had great compassion and love for their brethren who, for whatever reasons, were content with being saved and going to heaven one day. Even the great Apostle Paul said,
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul is not saying that he might not be “saved” and go to heaven one day. That is not what he means when he says “lest he should be a castaway.” Many years prior, Paul had been caught up into the third heaven, into paradise, where he heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Paul says that he keeps under his body, his flesh, his will, his desires, and subjects his will to the will of God.
Only God can, and will, wipe away all of our tears. But it is important to understand WHY the great multitude in Revelation 7 and the overcomers in Revelation 21 were crying. When God wipes away the tears from the great multitude, it is because that great multitude (of believers) finally saw what they had missed … they were like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. When God wipes away the tears of the overcomers, in Revelation 21, it is because they had wept over spiritual Jerusalem, just as Jesus, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Ezra and many others have done.
There is no better example of weeping than that of Jesus. Jesus wept over Jerusalem; so did Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-4); so did Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:1, Jeremiah 13:15-17), who has often been called the “weeping prophet.”
41 And when He [Jesus] was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Luke 19:41-44
I do not believe that Jesus wept over a piece of real estate in the Middle East called Jerusalem; neither did He weep over the physical temple or any other natural substance. He wept because “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). He wept because the people could have known and should have known who He was/is but they did not want to know. Paul said (Romans 1:20), they are without excuse.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6
The above verse speaks of the great harvest of souls during the last spiritual Feast of Tabernacles. The precious seed is the word of the Kingdom of God. The “they” in Verse 5 and the “He” in Verse 6 both speak of the overcomers … those who have identified with the heart of God … those who weep over spiritual Jerusalem … those who fulfill Joel 2:17. Lord, open our eyes and ears that we may be attuned to your will in these last days!
It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer. Matthew 21:13
Paul also said, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).
“Men” in the above verse is the Greek word for males, not the generic word for human beings. Just as the Lord instructed every male to gather manna each day for himself and his family, here again is an exhortation for men (males) to pray. This does not diminish the importance and tremendous effect and fruit which springs forth from the prayers of women. In the following verse, the word “man” is the Greek word for human being and thus includes both male and female.
The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus. In effect, when Jesus died on the cross, He said, “Let the judgment that is due to the people come upon Me.” Then after His death, resurrection, and ascension, we are told,
24 But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25
What a comfort we have to know that Jesus continues to make intercession on our behalf before the throne of the Father! Jesus spent thirty years in relative obscurity in “normal” family life; three and one-half years in public ministry; and now about two thousand years in intercession, unseen by any natural eye. Do those time frames say anything about the importance of intercession?
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom because his nephew, Lot, was there. Abraham knew that if judgment came upon Sodom, then Lot and his family would be part of the judgment. Abraham kept interceding for Sodom until the Lord promised the He would not destroy it if He found ten righteous persons in the city. I have read that at that point in time, Sodom was a major city with a population of 10,000 people. So for the sake of ten righteous people out of 10,000 persons God was willing to spare the entire city. That is one out of a thousand! Elihu, in the Book of Job, records this same proportion.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then He is gracious unto him. And saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job 33:23-24
One out of a thousand! That does not seem like a very large percentage … 0.1% … or a tenth of a tenth of a tenth. Let us apply this same proportion to the United States. As of this point in time, the population of the United States is very close to 300,000,000 people. Does that mean, if we use the same proportion, that God will spare the United States if He finds 300,000 persons who walk in righteousness? A better question might be, are there 300,000 committed believers in the United States who walk in righteousness? (That does NOT mean those who have their names on a church roster; nor does it mean those who are born-again believers but are doing their own thing.) Do you think that America is in trouble? Is it time for the judgment of God to descend upon our country? Do we need some real intercessors, such as Abraham was in his time?
Another striking example of an intercessor was Moses. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the Promised Land. But Moses interceded.
31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
32 Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book, which Thou hast written. Exodus 32:31-32
That is intercession! How many such saints do you think there are in the United States who could sincerely make that same statement? Only the Lord knows, but I would guess not too many! The Lord surely would have destroyed His chosen people had not Moses stood before Him in the breach to turn away His wrath.
In Verse 31, the people had made gods of gold. Do you think that some believers today have likewise made gods of gold? Money is a HUGE driving force in America, both in the world and in the Church. The word says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Almost all of the teaching relating to money that I have heard in person and from the television preachers is WARPED and DISTORTED!
The apostle Paul made the same statement as did Moses.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh. Romans 9:3
Ezekiel 22 records a different scene. Just as in the time of Abraham and Moses, the sins of God’s people are portrayed once more. But this time there was NO intercessor found to stand in the gap.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 22:30-31
One man … one intercessor … could have saved an entire nation, even though every section of society was corrupted (see Ezekiel 22:23-29 for proof of that). Can one man save the United States from the judgment of God? The same apostasy existed in the time of Isaiah. Please read all of Isaiah 59 to get the complete picture.
And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:16
Even God Himself wondered that there was no intercessor! What an amazing verse! Not one intercessor! Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be that intercessor. Thank you Lord! Therefore, it is crucial for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to raise up true intercessors in our midst. May we all aspire to such a high calling!
Chapter 10: Restoration in Reality
Have you ever noticed the number of words in Scripture that begin with “re?” Some of these words are renew, restitution, remove, refresh, regeneration, reconcile, replenish, redemption, recall, recover, recompense, return, repent, revive, and restore. The prefix “re” generally means “again.” So “restore” or “restoration” means to store again, or to bring back to a former position or condition. It means to re-establish; to enhance; to build up. To return something that was lost, or something that was mislaid, or something that was dormant because of lack of use. People talk about restoring a car or restoring a house. One of the major truths that is dear to the heart of God is restoration … a restoration of the Church back to something that was always intended in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. This is the day of restoration. In this chapter we will be sharing different aspects of restoration as they primarily apply to believers individually.
A word of caution is in order! What we present should not be interpreted as a cookbook approach to the restoration of the Church. Too many Christians today are looking for some “magic formula” or a 1-2-3 steps to follow. Such an approach is always doomed to failure! Restoration is NOT about do’s and don’ts. The Lord is no longer saying, “Thou shalt do this” or “thou shalt not do that.” The Lord Himself desires to teach us by the Holy Spirit as we cry out to Him. Reading any book, including the Bible, will NOT, by itself, bring forth any level of restoration. Earnestly seeking the Lord WILL help to bring about that restoration! “The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life.” Of course we must still read the Bible, but we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning to us AND we must have an open mind (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Historically, ever since the “dark ages,” which lasted 1000 years, God has gradually been using chosen vessels to light the fires of revival. If we think about all of the major revivals in history, the last revival of any significance began more than 70 years ago with what some have called “latter rain.”
Around 2002, Ken Bennett, a solid man of God, began to see, with his natural eyes, “spiritual rain.” At one point he said that he had seen that spiritual rain for 75 consecutive days. When my wife and I stayed with them at a beach house in South Carolina in the late summer of 2002, both of us also saw that spiritual rain. We know that there were at least a handful of other believers who saw that same spiritual rain. Only the Lord knows how many others around the world saw the spiritual rain. It looked exactly like a gentle, slow drizzle or mist of rain, except that no water ever hit the ground. It was easier to see on a clear day. I now believe that was the beginning of God’s restoration of the spiritual golden pot that had manna (see the next Chapter). In the past few years, there has been a further acceleration of revelation coming down from above.
The Husbandman has received the early rain and some latter rain sprinkles, but not the fullness of that latter rain. Note that He will receive the early rain and the latter rain together! A double portion! What is the early rain? All those saints who have gone before by the power of the Holy Ghost. What is the latter rain? All those saints who are still on earth and are looking for Him. But all are part of the spiritual rain, His great grace and power that He causes to come upon us.
Many years ago, through a Divine appointment, I met a godly man who always lived on the west coast of the U.S. He went to be with the Lord about 7 years ago at age 97. He was one of the most mature men of God I have ever met. One time he told me that he and another brother went to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1948 when what some called “latter rain” first broke out to see what was going on. He said that they saw a lot of God and a lot of flesh. However, that event was not the “latter rain” that the Bible speaks about.
What is the former rain? The remnant that existed over all of time in the past, including the church that existed immediately after the day of Pentecost, including Paul, of course. What is the latter rain? The remnant, overcomers, part of the Bride of Christ, the manifestation of the sons of God, who will be revealed soon, just prior to the second coming of the Lord. Those overcomers are being prepared in the wilderness even now. May we all be found worthy to be part of that very elect.
3 If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them;
4 Then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people. Leviticus 26:3-4, 12
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3
From Verse 3, above, the Lord, Himself, is both the early rain and the latter rain! Glory be to His wonderful name!
Despite all the failings of Christian men, God has something far better and greater in mind for the present and the future. A new sound is being heard in the earth by those who have ears to hear! That sound is a certain sound. It is the sound of a trumpet. We see a little cloud, like a hand, coming on the horizon. That little cloud is a cloud of witnesses; they are called a remnant. They are unknown to the world and largely unknown to the Church, even the charismatic Church. They are nobodies in the sight of men. But they are well known to God. They have been in the crucible in the wilderness, being prepared to come forth in these end times. Although it is a little cloud, that remnant will bring forth an abundance of rain, a rain that will saturate the earth.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23
We Christians like pleasant-sounding verses like Joel 2:23, but note two things about that verse: (1) It is written to the children of Zion, not the Church at large, and (2) That verse cannot be fulfilled until Joel 2:17 is fulfilled (“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar.”)
And may the grace and mercy of God abound with all of us as we make our decisions.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14
For many years I interpreted Joel 3:14 in the same manner that most Christians today probably interpret it, namely that we people are deciding whether or not we will follow the Lord completely. However I now believe that verse is a two-edged sword. First, what valley does that Verse refer to? From Joel 2:12, it is the valley of Jehoshaphat, where the heathen come to be judged. “Jehoshaphat” (which means “judgment”) speaks of God’s role as the final Judge. But for us Christians, God, our righteous Judge, is the One who makes the final decision as to our eternal destiny. 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
We do not see the so-called “charismatic” movement, which started in 1961 with its short-lived emphasis on the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a major “revival.” But historically almost every revival started by God through a few good men quickly started downhill as man tried to take control of what God wanted to do. But God is on the verge of one final restoration! (I personally differentiate between a “revival” and “restoration.”) The Lord Jesus Christ is searching for a people in the earth today … a people to complete the work of restoration of His glorious Church! Whenever God desires to restore the Church, the eyes of the Lord begin to search the earth for a suitable vessel. The suitable vessel is always a man (or men) whose heart longs for the fulfillment of God’s purposes upon the earth.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
Likewise, God has been gradually revealing more of Himself and His word. That is what I call progressive revelation. Many scriptural interpretations of the older generation must die. What happens as God ushers in more revelation about Himself and His word and brings the Church, both sovereignly and through human vessels, closer to full restoration to what was always in His heart and mind before the foundation of the earth? It is a scriptural and historical fact that each major step of restoration is accompanied by more persecution, more misunderstandings, more confusion, division, riots and revolution, wars and rumors of wars, torture, and many other problems. Scripturally, historically, and experientially, each generation of those who call themselves God’s people have persecuted the next generation of God's people. The Roman Catholics persecuted the Lutherans, the Lutherans persecuted the Anabaptists, the Anabaptists persecuted the Puritans, the Puritans persecuted the Wesleyan churches; many denominations, as well as the Roman Catholics persecuted those who were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. History is on the verge of repeating itself! Who will (perhaps we should say have) the charismatics persecute? the overcomers, those chosen vessels who have been selected to usher in the final restoration of truth. Yes, there will be an end to the process! The last-day remnant, which I am convinced is in the earth right now, will restore, by and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth that will trigger the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first requirement on our part is a heart attitude of giving all the glory to God. The glory an honor of God should be habitually and in reality the chief end of all of our actions. To give glory to God should be the greatest desire of every believer. Not only should this be the supreme goal for our individual lives, but it should also be true whenever we gather in our local churches.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Everything and everyone has been designed to show forth His glory.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7
Around 600 B.C., Jeremiah said,
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
9 Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.
10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:1, 9-10
The name “Jeremiah” means “whom the Lord raises up,” or “the Lord is exalted.” “Hilkiah” means “the Lord is my portion.” That brings to mind Abraham, when the Lord told him that He, the Lord Himself, was his exceeding great reward. “Anathoth” means “answered prayers.” The ministry of Jeremiah was to Judah. Scripture does not tell us the name of his mother. We believe that either his mother or his grandmother was a real intercessor who prayed earnestly for the birth and future ministry of Jeremiah. We believe that intercession was a part of his being apprehended, just as with Hannah and Samuel.
Scripture records only four friends of Jeremiah: Ahikam, Gedaliah, Baruch (his secretary), and Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian eunuch. Ahikam and Gedaliah both had been made governors of Judah after the exile by the king of Babylon. Both were used by the Lord to spare Jeremiah’s life before his ministry was completed. Ebed-Melech, which means servant of the king, likewise risked his own life to save Jeremiah from sure death in a pit.
Now we ask you, did Jeremiah fulfill Verse 10? NO! Jeremiah never made one convert. No one believed what Jeremiah spoke. Israel and Judah showed only hostility toward the true prophets whom God sent to warn His people of the great dangers that threatened them. But Jeremiah did speak forth the word of God which set things in motion to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, and to build and plant. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. His word never returns to Him void.
Note that the four “negatives” come first … to root out, to pull down, to destroy, and to throw down. In reality, there is NOTHING negative about the Word of God. The Truth is never negative. (“Truth” means “that which is real.”) That which man, even Christian man, has built must come down before the building and planting can occur. The building and planting will come sovereignly and through true apostolic and prophetic ministry as the Lord builds His Church. The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind (Ezekiel 37). I believe the Lord today is telling His anointed prophets likewise to prophesy to the wind; because too many of God’s chosen people do not want to hear the true gospel.
Charles Finney, the great 19th century revivalist once said: “If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” I must agree with him.
Finney believed there was a direct correlation between the kind of legislation passed in Congress and the kind of preaching taking place in the pulpits of America’s churches. He also believed that the churches are ultimately responsible for corruption in government. Again, I must agree. America’s biggest threat does not come from domestic abortionists, gay rights activists, pornographers, drug dealers, or terrorists. Neither does it come from North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan. America’s biggest threat comes from our nation’s pulpits.
Donald Barnhouse, in his book, “Genesis” (Zondervan, 1970), puts it this way: “The earth has always been a mirror of its inhabitants. When Lucifer was an unsinning cherub, the earth was perfect. When he fell, it became a wreck and a ruin. When Adam was created innocent, the world was a garden of Eden. When he fell, God cursed the ground for man’s sake, and it became the mirror of fallen Adam.”
Reluctance to change is widely accepted by the field of psychology as a phenomenon of people. Max Planck, who received a Nobel prize in 1918 for discovery of the revolutionary quantum theory in physics, once stated: “This experience gave me also an opportunity to learn a fact – a remarkable one in my opinion: A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” Please think about that quotation in terms of the Church today.
As with most topics, we do well to look at the life of Jesus on earth as recorded in Scripture. The religious elite of the day branded Jesus as a reactionary, a revolutionary, a heretic. FIVE times, in Matthew 5, Jesus said: “Ye have heard … But I say unto you …” The religious elite of the day bristled as they heard Jesus say things that seemed to be contradictory to the law, as given through Moses. When Jesus was healing people, working all sorts of miracles, and feeding people with natural food, He was generally well-received, at least by the common people. However, the religious elite of the day objected strenuously when Jesus healed anyone on the Sabbath day because that was contrary to “their” law. Further, Jesus seemed to be a revolutionary heretic who threatened their comfortable religious system. So they crucified Him. Are there any comfortable believers in comfortable churches today? Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.
A major characteristic of our walk as Christians is (or at least should be) change. There is nothing static about Christianity. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever; but we should be changing! How do we change? By looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith … by being obedient to the Holy Spirit.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
The closer we walk with the Lord … the more we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal His Truth to us … the more we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into His image, the more we will be misunderstood and the more difficult it will be for us to try to explain to others what we have experienced. Anyone who really seeks only the will of God is a person who will be marked as “different.” People do NOT like to be branded as “different.” Also, the further we walk on with the Lord, the more people will abandon us.
There is a price to pay to walk on with the Lord. That walk took Jesus to Calvary. It will take us to that same cross, not necessarily physically, but spiritually. Are we really willing to pay the price? If so, a crown of glory, rather than a crown of shame, awaits us. Salvation is FREE, but it cost the life of Jesus. To enter into the Kingdom of God is NOT free … it will cost us OUR self-life. Count the cost VERY carefully! May that love relationship we are honored to have with Christ propel us into fulfilling His purpose within us.
We have previously spoken of the state of the visible Church today. Believe me, it is NOT a pretty picture! The enemy has come in like a flood. Many years ago I heard a man who seemed to have a very powerful, anointed ministry say, “If I don’t travel, the money doesn’t come in.” I sure hope he did not mean that he traveled to minister in order to make money! Way back in the 1970’s, in an elders’ meeting, almost everyone agreed to have Sam (not his real name) to minister in some of the local gatherings. The question then arose as to which specific meetings we should invite him to minister. Then one elder said, “Let’s have him go to Mary’s morning meeting (not her real name) because I hear they give good offerings there.” My, My, My! Is the purpose of ministering to make money?
Christianity, at least a number of years ago, was growing by leaps and bounds in China, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. But in the United States, the grapes are withering on the vine. It is rare for a charismatic church to have one new convert per MONTH. Why? We attempt to provide at least partial answers to that question.
Where there is no way, Jesus is THE way! (We do not speak of being born-again.) There is a stirring in the mulberry bushes! God will have His way, despite all of the failures of men!
Historically, ever since the “dark ages,” which lasted 1000 years, God has gradually been using chosen vessels to light the fires of restoration … vessels such as John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others. God is in the process of one final restoration!
Leonard Ravenhill, a well-known and respected 20th century revivalist once said, in his book, “Why Revival Tarries,” “Oh God send us prophetic preaching that searches and scorches! Send us a race of Martyr-preachers – men burdened, bent, bowed and broken under the vision of impending judgment and the unending hell of the impenitent. Preachers make pulpits famous; prophets make prisons famous. May the Lord send us prophets – terrible men, who cry aloud and spare not, who sprinkle nations with unctionized woes – men too hot to hold, too hard to be heard, too merciless to spare … We are tired of men in soft raiment and softer in speech who use rivers of words with but a smidgeon of unction. These know more about competition than consecration, about promotion than prayer. They substitute propaganda for propagation and care more for their church’s happiness than holiness …”
A.W. Tozer, another highly respected 20th century revivalist, said: “If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting. Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, renounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.” (“The Size of the Soul,” pages 128-129).
In all of the history of the human race, there has never been a generation on the face of the earth that has been exposed to greater spiritual light than this generation in the United States. We have heard many good teachers, read the Bible many times, read many of the good Christian books, listened to many of the tapes and DVDs, and have been bombarded with many TV evangelists. Yet the Church in America has strayed far from what the Lord desires. All of that has produced a visible church that is very close to apostasy. Pity poor Abraham and a multitude of other Old Testament saints. They never even had a Bible to read. They had to depend upon what the Lord said to them. Those in positional authority within the Church have always been, and still are, the ones that must bear the brunt of the judgment of God. The problems always have been with the leaders, scripturally, historically, and experientially.
And the common people heard Him gladly. Mark 12:37b
Arthur Schopenhauer, a 19th century German philosopher, said, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Two quips written by Dresden James, a British novelist, are very fitting for the times in which we live: “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” “A truth’s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the TRUTH will seem utterly preposterous, and its speaker a raving lunatic.” Would you believe that a Scripture says essentially the same thing?
7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it [discover her wickedness when she said …]: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man [man of the Spirit] is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. Hosea 9:7-8
Note, starting in Verse 8 through the end of Hosea 9, the series of contrasts – what Ephraim had been and what Ephraim had now become.
In Jeremiah 1, starting at Verse 11, the Lord asked Jeremiah, “What seest thou?” The Lord has taken me to perhaps more than 100 different churches in my lifetime. In many of those occasions I never said a word. The Lord just told me to go and sit on the back row. He then asked me, “What do you see and what do you hear?” Believe me, it has not been a pretty picture. I have seen the spirit of democracy, an independent spirit, a self-seeking spirit, a spirit of mixture, a spirit of materialism, the traditions of men, stagnation, complacency, lack of vision, lack of discernment, disunity, compromise, strife, division, entertainment, and yes, even idolatry, which has permeated the charismatic churches in America and greatly affected believers. False doctrines abound, particularly the faith and prosperity teachings that thrill the flesh but anger the Lord. None of those spirits should have any place in Christianity. However, quite a number of years ago the Lord challenged me with, “What are you going to do about the state of the Church?” To repeat what I shared in the Preface, on June 13, 1976, the Lord said to me, “If you want to see the body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place that I have called you.” I ask you, the reader, that same question … What are you going to do about the state of the Church?
Today, the watered-down Gospel is big business. Indeed, it is the best form of entertainment around! I have seen a few Sunday “sermons” that would rival a Broadway play. Some sixty years ago William Branham prophesied of this coming entertainment in “Christian” circles. We are aware, through a brother who was a close personal friend of William Branham, that, “He [Branham] was particularly sharp in his insight and understanding of future events as well as of those personalities and organizations that would bring terrible confusion, mixture, and impurity to the body of Christ through religious programming, networking, television, Christian entertainment and music with a contemporary beat.” He was right on! That was and is a true word of prophecy which has come to full fruition.
This once new (but now old) charismatic breed of evangelistic showmanship never ceases to amaze the world with its Hollywood dress and Broadway appearance. Gospel music is big business! About 48 years ago, I heard some Christian music by a nationally known singing group. I thought it was as good as any music I had ever heard, so I bought about ten of their albums and gave them to the elders in our house church. Two years later, as we were visiting my mother in North Carolina, we went to one of that group’s live performances. The music was still just as good. However, they might as well have held up a big poster which said, “Look at us! We are good!” They exhibited the pride of man (and also collected lots of dollars for their performance).
Now perhaps some of you have had thoughts like, “But brother, none of that applies to me and none of that applies to us as a local church.” Well I certainly hope that is true. But even if none of that applies to you directly, it definitely applies indirectly. Why? Because there is one Church, one body, and if one member of the body is suffering then the whole body is suffering (1 Corinthians 12:26).
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be led from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. Isaiah 11:11, 16
In the time of Moses, God’s chosen people were in bondage in Egypt (one captor) for 400 years before they finally cried out to God for deliverance. In our day, many (dare I say “most”?) of God’s chosen people are in bondage to one or more of eight captors (Isaiah 11) and don’t know it. Isaiah 11 is a good topic for another word. Only the Lord knows if our 400 years of bondage are about up. But it is time to cry out to the Lord for deliverance.
Verse 11 speaks of the second time that the Lord will sovereignly recover the remnant of His people. That verse can NOT refer to the restoration after the Exile in Babylon which began around 600 B.C. There was NO exile at that time in Egypt, Pathros, or Cush. That verse also says, “In that day.” The events spoken of in Isaiah 11:6-10 clearly have not yet happened. Therefore these events are prophetic of the end times … the last days. Verse 16 compares the second (and last) recovering of the remnant to the first time when the Lord led His people out of the land of Egypt.
The first recovering of His people was a NATURAL, historic event, which began in 1491 B.C. The second (and last) recovering of His people will be a SPIRITUAL event, which certainly is on the verge of occurring in our time. This is a time when the modern day Moses (not one person) is beginning to speak to the modern day Pharaoh to let the people of God go free from our captivity and all of our many bondages. When the Lord sovereignly recovered the remnant the first time (from the bondage and captivity of Egypt) there was only one captor … Egypt. When the Lord sovereignly recovers the remnant of His people (spiritual Israel, the Church) the second time, in these last days, there are eight captors, as listed in verse 11, above. Many in the Church today are in captivity and in bondage (but don’t know it) to spiritual Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea. This is a repeat of the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye My disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? John 8:31-33
That is deception, pure and simple, and it exists today in the Church. Without going into detail, those eight captors represent the current religious system, the political system, worldly education, success, power, prestige, the idolization of a man, the wisdom of man, good food, the many pleasures of sin (including illicit sex), man’s ways to protect himself, financial treasures, mixture and impurities of all kinds, a democratic spirit, the imaginations of our natural hearts, man’s attempt to reach heaven, inbreeding, the ecumenical movement, mega-churches, man’s attempt at self-preservation, closed ministries, the infiltration of the ways of the world into Christianity, and idolatry. If you are interested I will be happy to email you the significance of each of those eight captors, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me a number of years ago.
Note what Jesus said in John 8 to those Jews which believed on Him. IF ye continue … Jesus never said to go out and get them saved. He said (to the apostles) go and make disciples. Big difference! Verse 32 says that IF we continue … THEN we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free (not “set” us free). We were set free at Calvary. We are made free (a process) IF we continue in His Word (logos). Logos in John with the article means the Divine Expression; i.e., Christ. It does not mean that “if we continue legalistically in our personal interpretation of the Bible” then … From Verse 33, note that the Jews who believed on Him did not know they were in bondage. Those verses certainly seem to say that we can believe on Him and still be in bondage.
In summary, nothing has changed in 6000 years. The nature of man has never changed. The sad part is that too many Christians (even one is too many) do not see the bondage and captivity that we are in. And very few seem to care. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years and never made one convert. NOT ONE PERSON ever believed Jeremiah concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the exile.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to John by the Lord, includes the following unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans:
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
Only the Spirit of God can shed His light into our hearts and dispel the darkness. The question is, do we want to be part of the problem (those who need to be recovered from the snares of the enemy) or part of the solution (those who will be delivered in these end times), as foretold in Obadiah 21? “And saviours shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” What does the mount of Esau refer to? The flesh … the carnal mind.
22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Isaiah 42:22-23
Those verses, like so many others in the Old Testament, are prophetic of the time in which we live. Who are “this people” in Verse 22? The modern-day church in America (and the world). That verse says ALL of them are snared in holes and hid in prison houses. The charismatic community in America is a people robbed and spoiled. Who has robbed and spoiled the modern-day church? The “pastors” who have made millions of dollars from “offerings” from undiscerning Christians. We have been robbed because those in leadership positions have not spoken the word of the Lord, but instead have been pastors who feed themselves. We have been spoiled on the milk of the word and by those who make a name and wealth for themselves. Even the milk we have received has been spoiled! And we love to have it so (Jeremiah 5:31).
Verse 22 also says that we are for a prey. That means that we are hunted by the adversary simply because we are believers. A mouse is a prey for a cat. What did the mouse do to deserve being a prey for a cat? Nothing! It was simply born a mouse. The second, third, and fourth generation of the Israelites who were in bondage and captivity in Egypt were also a prey. They had grown up in an environment and all they knew was a life of bondage. They had never experienced anything else. What had they done to deserve being in bondage? Nothing! They simply were born into that environment. They never knew there was a better way. Finally, after 400 years of increasing bondage, suffering, and hardship, the Israelites finally cried out to God and God sent a deliverer, Moses, who led them out of Egypt. In like manner, many charismatic believers today have grown up in an environment and just assume that their “leaders” are preaching the truth. These lovely believers have never known there is a higher way! The same is true with the spiritual significance of Gideon’s army, spoken of in Judges 7.
Isaiah 42:22 says prophetically that none delivereth the charismatic churches in America. The blind are leading the blind. That same verse says that none sayeth, Restore! We can think of only three possible reasons why none saith retore. The first reason is fear, which comes in many forms. Fear of losing “our” money or position. We like to speak only smooth things to keep everyone happy, keep the money coming in. On November 4, 1977, the Lord gave me a word: “It is the fear of man that hinders the body of Christ from functioning; but it is the fear of God that compels us to function.” Whenever the Church loses that scriptural fear of God, the enemy comes in like a flood.
The second reason that none says “restore” is ignorance; none are able to see the need to proclaim restoration. Anyone can say the word, “Restore.” However, to speak that word by the power and authority of the Holy Ghost is something else.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6
Paul, six times in the New Testament, says, “brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant …” (Romans 1:13, Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Peter says the same thing in 2 Peter 3:8.
The third possible reason that none says restore is indifference. Indifference may also include the desire to maintain the status quo, don’t rock the boat, keep everybody happy, and keep the money coming in.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Revelation 3:16-17
Note that the last verse, above, combines BOTH indifference and ignorance. However, we change the trend where “none saith, Restore.” With this word we proclaim, RESTORE! We are not so naive as to believe that this is the first proclamation of the word “restore” in modern America. We are sure that this word is not hid in a corner. Neither are we so naive to believe that the mere utterance of the word, restore, is sufficient. There must be a heartfelt cry from the depths of our being! But enough is enough! It is time for the Lord to have His way! ALSO!
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. Isaiah 49:24-25
As we stated earlier, we Christians are the prey for the enemy. Who are the “mighty” in Verse 24? demons. What about a “lawful captive?” We, as believers, become a lawful captive whenever we sin through omission or commission, through word or deed. That includes doing our own thing. As a lawful captive we are subject to the will of the adversary. If we have become a lawful captive, no amount of prophecy, praise, or prayer will restore us. We must run to the cross and sincerely ask forgiveness for going astray. But,
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
The question in Isaiah 49:24 clearly states that NO man can deliver the prey or the lawful captive from the mighty. But praise the Lord! In Verse 25 the Lord says that He will deliver the prey and the lawful captive from the terrible (our enemy). The Lord also says that He will save our children! Now in NO way does that speak of universal reconciliation where everyone will be saved. This is an Old Testament version of Acts 16 when the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house.” If you are truly born from above, then the Lord promises to also save your children.
Luke, Chapter 15, contains three parables, each of which contains this same promise. Jesus said, in John 18:9, that of them which the Father had given to Him, He has lost none!
I am quite certain that some of you believers have children which are caught up in rebellion and are just doing their own thing. That is a source of tremendous grief to the parents. But if you, as Christian parents, continue to trust the Lord and pray for your wayward children, the Lord says He will save them. What marvelous, amazing grace! Why? so that “all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26). Why does the Lord do anything for us? In the Book of Ezekiel we find 25 occurrences of the phrase, “that they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Hear what the Word of God says about “restore.”
He restoreth my soul. Psalm 23:3
And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6
In the above verse, the Father is speaking to the Son. Who can raise up the tribes of Jacob or restore the preserved of Israel except for the Son? “Raise up the tribes of Jacob” refers to bringing the yet unsaved into the fold. “Restore the preserved of Israel” refers to those believers who have strayed from the purposes of God.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible which contains the word “restore” is found in the Book of Joel.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25
Please note the four increasing stages of destruction (four stages of the locust) were sent by the Lord Himself! He calls them “MY great army!” “Joel’s army” and “Gideon’s army” are two totally different types of armies; but both are the Lord’s army. Please also note that the Lord restores ONLY after we repent! The book of Joel is very clear about that fact. The key word in the Book of Joel is the little word “then” in Joel 2:18. The primary action on our part is repentance. The primary action on God’s part, after we repent, is restoration. Only God can restore. Christian man’s attempts at restoration are, for the most part, emotionally driven works of the flesh.
The number “three” symbolizes divine completeness or perfect testimony (or witness). Examples of sets of three in the Bible are too numerous to mention.
If we think about the New Testament, twenty-three of the twenty-seven books were written or heavily influenced by three apostles … Peter, Paul, and John. This “twenty-three” includes the Book of Hebrews (written by Paul) and the Gospel according to Mark. It is generally agreed that John Mark was a close associate of Peter, from whom he received the things said and done by the Lord. Mark, in writing his Gospel, recorded Peter’s recollection of his Lord. These truths came to Mark as the preaching of Peter directed to the needs of the early Christian community. Mark accurately preserved this material. It is also thought that the man Peter mentions a “Marcus, my son” (1 Peter 5:13) is this same Mark.
The lives of Peter, Paul, and John reflect not only unique ministries, but also a chronological emphasis or order ordained by God which clearly shows the development of the Church from its first beginning with Peter (at Pentecost), then to its development through Paul, and finally to its restoration through John. Each of the three apostles brings his own fresh and timely emphasis to fulfill God’s timetable for the Church,
Peter and his brother Andrew were called to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). That is the work of an evangelist and that was Peter’s initial distinctive task. He was to bring men, urgently and in great numbers, into the Kingdom. Peter was later called to a pastoral ministry of “feeding His sheep.” Jesus told Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” A key implies an entry, a beginning. The burden of Peter’s message was salvation, not a salvation for its own sake but always with a view of the Kingdom in fullness, with Jesus as its exalted King. When Peter stood up with the eleven on the Day of Pentecost, he opened the door to the Jews. When later he preached Christ in the Roman home of Cornelius, he opened the door for the Gentiles.
Whereas Peter initiated things, Paul’s task was to construct … to help to build God’s Church into fullness. Paul was a tent-maker (or tent-builder). The word, “tent,” can also be translated as “tabernacle.” Paul was chosen to build up the tabernacle of the congregation (Old Testament wording) or the tabernacle of the soul of the body of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4). The special ministry of Paul was to build believing souls together according to the heavenly vision which God had given to him. Paul was a prophetic teacher who undoubtedly received more revelation than any other man in history, other than Jesus of course. The ministry of Paul was the necessary complement and addition of that of Peter. But at the end of Paul’s amazing ministry came many set-backs and disappointments. In Philippians 2:21, Paul tells us why: “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Has anything changed today?
At this point, God calls in John. John’s is the last of the four Gospels; John’s Epistles are the last of all of the Epistles; his Revelation is the last of all of the books in the Bible. Up until this point, John has remained in the background. The Book of Acts never records one word that John spoke. Although Peter and John are always seen together in the first eight chapters of Acts, we never see Peter and John mentioned together anymore. That is not to say that they never saw each other anymore; it just is not recorded in the Bible. But now with both Peter and Paul gone, the Lord brings to light another vessel of ministry with a fresh emphasis to meet a new need. Doctrinally, John has nothing to add to the revelation given through Paul. Then what further ministry is needed after Paul? John and his brother James were “mending their nets” when Jesus called them. (Matthew 4:21). When we mend anything we bring it back to its original condition. John is always bringing us back to God’s original intention. The ministry of John was primarily restorative in nature … to restore all things back to what was in the heart and mind of God before the foundation of the world. What distinguishes John, whether in his Gospel, his epistles, or in the Apocalypse (Revelation) is his concern to bring the people of God back to a position they have left or lost. One of the distinctive marks of the Book of Revelation is “to him that overcometh,” which is a message with an accompanying promise to each of the seven churches. But there is one more conditional promise in Revelation 21:7, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”
The practical outworking of the pattern those three apostles illustrate is that it takes the complementary and inter-related ministries of all three to make the Church perfect (but by the power of the Holy Ghost, of course). Peter was a mouth; Paul was a renewed mind, full of revelation knowledge; John was a heart. Who can deny that we need all three of these ministries today? But the third ministry of restoration is perhaps the greatest need of all in these last of the last days.
Please read again Isaiah 42:23. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? The “time to come” is NOW! A new sound is being heard in the earth by those who have ears to hear!
Have you ever noticed the number of words in Scripture that begin with “re?” Some of these words are renew, restitution, remove, refresh, regeneration, reconcile, replenish, redemption, recall, recover, recompense, return, repent, revive, and restore. The prefix “re” generally means “again.” So “restore” or “restoration” means to store again, or to bring back to a former position or condition. It means to re-establish; to enhance; to build up. To return something that was lost, or something that was mislaid, or something that was dormant because of lack of use. People talk about restoring a car or restoring a house. One of the major truths that is dear to the heart of God is restoration … a restoration of the Church back to something that was always intended in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. This is the day of restoration. In this chapter we will be sharing different aspects of restoration as they primarily apply to believers individually.
A word of caution is in order! What we present should not be interpreted as a cookbook approach to the restoration of the Church. Too many Christians today are looking for some “magic formula” or a 1-2-3 steps to follow. Such an approach is always doomed to failure! Restoration is NOT about do’s and don’ts. The Lord is no longer saying, “Thou shalt do this” or “thou shalt not do that.” The Lord Himself desires to teach us by the Holy Spirit as we cry out to Him. Reading any book, including the Bible, will NOT, by itself, bring forth any level of restoration. Earnestly seeking the Lord WILL help to bring about that restoration! “The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life.” Of course we must still read the Bible, but we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning to us AND we must have an open mind (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Historically, ever since the “dark ages,” which lasted 1000 years, God has gradually been using chosen vessels to light the fires of revival. If we think about all of the major revivals in history, the last revival of any significance began more than 70 years ago with what some have called “latter rain.”
Around 2002, Ken Bennett, a solid man of God, began to see, with his natural eyes, “spiritual rain.” At one point he said that he had seen that spiritual rain for 75 consecutive days. When my wife and I stayed with them at a beach house in South Carolina in the late summer of 2002, both of us also saw that spiritual rain. We know that there were at least a handful of other believers who saw that same spiritual rain. Only the Lord knows how many others around the world saw the spiritual rain. It looked exactly like a gentle, slow drizzle or mist of rain, except that no water ever hit the ground. It was easier to see on a clear day. I now believe that was the beginning of God’s restoration of the spiritual golden pot that had manna (see the next Chapter). In the past few years, there has been a further acceleration of revelation coming down from above.
The Husbandman has received the early rain and some latter rain sprinkles, but not the fullness of that latter rain. Note that He will receive the early rain and the latter rain together! A double portion! What is the early rain? All those saints who have gone before by the power of the Holy Ghost. What is the latter rain? All those saints who are still on earth and are looking for Him. But all are part of the spiritual rain, His great grace and power that He causes to come upon us.
Many years ago, through a Divine appointment, I met a godly man who always lived on the west coast of the U.S. He went to be with the Lord about 7 years ago at age 97. He was one of the most mature men of God I have ever met. One time he told me that he and another brother went to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1948 when what some called “latter rain” first broke out to see what was going on. He said that they saw a lot of God and a lot of flesh. However, that event was not the “latter rain” that the Bible speaks about.
What is the former rain? The remnant that existed over all of time in the past, including the church that existed immediately after the day of Pentecost, including Paul, of course. What is the latter rain? The remnant, overcomers, part of the Bride of Christ, the manifestation of the sons of God, who will be revealed soon, just prior to the second coming of the Lord. Those overcomers are being prepared in the wilderness even now. May we all be found worthy to be part of that very elect.
3 If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them;
4 Then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people. Leviticus 26:3-4, 12
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3
From Verse 3, above, the Lord, Himself, is both the early rain and the latter rain! Glory be to His wonderful name!
Despite all the failings of Christian men, God has something far better and greater in mind for the present and the future. A new sound is being heard in the earth by those who have ears to hear! That sound is a certain sound. It is the sound of a trumpet. We see a little cloud, like a hand, coming on the horizon. That little cloud is a cloud of witnesses; they are called a remnant. They are unknown to the world and largely unknown to the Church, even the charismatic Church. They are nobodies in the sight of men. But they are well known to God. They have been in the crucible in the wilderness, being prepared to come forth in these end times. Although it is a little cloud, that remnant will bring forth an abundance of rain, a rain that will saturate the earth.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23
We Christians like pleasant-sounding verses like Joel 2:23, but note two things about that verse: (1) It is written to the children of Zion, not the Church at large, and (2) That verse cannot be fulfilled until Joel 2:17 is fulfilled (“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar.”)
And may the grace and mercy of God abound with all of us as we make our decisions.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14
For many years I interpreted Joel 3:14 in the same manner that most Christians today probably interpret it, namely that we people are deciding whether or not we will follow the Lord completely. However I now believe that verse is a two-edged sword. First, what valley does that Verse refer to? From Joel 2:12, it is the valley of Jehoshaphat, where the heathen come to be judged. “Jehoshaphat” (which means “judgment”) speaks of God’s role as the final Judge. But for us Christians, God, our righteous Judge, is the One who makes the final decision as to our eternal destiny. 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
We do not see the so-called “charismatic” movement, which started in 1961 with its short-lived emphasis on the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a major “revival.” But historically almost every revival started by God through a few good men quickly started downhill as man tried to take control of what God wanted to do. But God is on the verge of one final restoration! (I personally differentiate between a “revival” and “restoration.”) The Lord Jesus Christ is searching for a people in the earth today … a people to complete the work of restoration of His glorious Church! Whenever God desires to restore the Church, the eyes of the Lord begin to search the earth for a suitable vessel. The suitable vessel is always a man (or men) whose heart longs for the fulfillment of God’s purposes upon the earth.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
Likewise, God has been gradually revealing more of Himself and His word. That is what I call progressive revelation. Many scriptural interpretations of the older generation must die. What happens as God ushers in more revelation about Himself and His word and brings the Church, both sovereignly and through human vessels, closer to full restoration to what was always in His heart and mind before the foundation of the earth? It is a scriptural and historical fact that each major step of restoration is accompanied by more persecution, more misunderstandings, more confusion, division, riots and revolution, wars and rumors of wars, torture, and many other problems. Scripturally, historically, and experientially, each generation of those who call themselves God’s people have persecuted the next generation of God's people. The Roman Catholics persecuted the Lutherans, the Lutherans persecuted the Anabaptists, the Anabaptists persecuted the Puritans, the Puritans persecuted the Wesleyan churches; many denominations, as well as the Roman Catholics persecuted those who were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. History is on the verge of repeating itself! Who will (perhaps we should say have) the charismatics persecute? the overcomers, those chosen vessels who have been selected to usher in the final restoration of truth. Yes, there will be an end to the process! The last-day remnant, which I am convinced is in the earth right now, will restore, by and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth that will trigger the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first requirement on our part is a heart attitude of giving all the glory to God. The glory an honor of God should be habitually and in reality the chief end of all of our actions. To give glory to God should be the greatest desire of every believer. Not only should this be the supreme goal for our individual lives, but it should also be true whenever we gather in our local churches.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Everything and everyone has been designed to show forth His glory.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7
Around 600 B.C., Jeremiah said,
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
9 Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.
10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:1, 9-10
The name “Jeremiah” means “whom the Lord raises up,” or “the Lord is exalted.” “Hilkiah” means “the Lord is my portion.” That brings to mind Abraham, when the Lord told him that He, the Lord Himself, was his exceeding great reward. “Anathoth” means “answered prayers.” The ministry of Jeremiah was to Judah. Scripture does not tell us the name of his mother. We believe that either his mother or his grandmother was a real intercessor who prayed earnestly for the birth and future ministry of Jeremiah. We believe that intercession was a part of his being apprehended, just as with Hannah and Samuel.
Scripture records only four friends of Jeremiah: Ahikam, Gedaliah, Baruch (his secretary), and Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian eunuch. Ahikam and Gedaliah both had been made governors of Judah after the exile by the king of Babylon. Both were used by the Lord to spare Jeremiah’s life before his ministry was completed. Ebed-Melech, which means servant of the king, likewise risked his own life to save Jeremiah from sure death in a pit.
Now we ask you, did Jeremiah fulfill Verse 10? NO! Jeremiah never made one convert. No one believed what Jeremiah spoke. Israel and Judah showed only hostility toward the true prophets whom God sent to warn His people of the great dangers that threatened them. But Jeremiah did speak forth the word of God which set things in motion to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, and to build and plant. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. His word never returns to Him void.
Note that the four “negatives” come first … to root out, to pull down, to destroy, and to throw down. In reality, there is NOTHING negative about the Word of God. The Truth is never negative. (“Truth” means “that which is real.”) That which man, even Christian man, has built must come down before the building and planting can occur. The building and planting will come sovereignly and through true apostolic and prophetic ministry as the Lord builds His Church. The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind (Ezekiel 37). I believe the Lord today is telling His anointed prophets likewise to prophesy to the wind; because too many of God’s chosen people do not want to hear the true gospel.
Charles Finney, the great 19th century revivalist once said: “If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” I must agree with him.
Finney believed there was a direct correlation between the kind of legislation passed in Congress and the kind of preaching taking place in the pulpits of America’s churches. He also believed that the churches are ultimately responsible for corruption in government. Again, I must agree. America’s biggest threat does not come from domestic abortionists, gay rights activists, pornographers, drug dealers, or terrorists. Neither does it come from North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan. America’s biggest threat comes from our nation’s pulpits.
Donald Barnhouse, in his book, “Genesis” (Zondervan, 1970), puts it this way: “The earth has always been a mirror of its inhabitants. When Lucifer was an unsinning cherub, the earth was perfect. When he fell, it became a wreck and a ruin. When Adam was created innocent, the world was a garden of Eden. When he fell, God cursed the ground for man’s sake, and it became the mirror of fallen Adam.”
Reluctance to change is widely accepted by the field of psychology as a phenomenon of people. Max Planck, who received a Nobel prize in 1918 for discovery of the revolutionary quantum theory in physics, once stated: “This experience gave me also an opportunity to learn a fact – a remarkable one in my opinion: A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” Please think about that quotation in terms of the Church today.
As with most topics, we do well to look at the life of Jesus on earth as recorded in Scripture. The religious elite of the day branded Jesus as a reactionary, a revolutionary, a heretic. FIVE times, in Matthew 5, Jesus said: “Ye have heard … But I say unto you …” The religious elite of the day bristled as they heard Jesus say things that seemed to be contradictory to the law, as given through Moses. When Jesus was healing people, working all sorts of miracles, and feeding people with natural food, He was generally well-received, at least by the common people. However, the religious elite of the day objected strenuously when Jesus healed anyone on the Sabbath day because that was contrary to “their” law. Further, Jesus seemed to be a revolutionary heretic who threatened their comfortable religious system. So they crucified Him. Are there any comfortable believers in comfortable churches today? Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.
A major characteristic of our walk as Christians is (or at least should be) change. There is nothing static about Christianity. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever; but we should be changing! How do we change? By looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith … by being obedient to the Holy Spirit.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
The closer we walk with the Lord … the more we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal His Truth to us … the more we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into His image, the more we will be misunderstood and the more difficult it will be for us to try to explain to others what we have experienced. Anyone who really seeks only the will of God is a person who will be marked as “different.” People do NOT like to be branded as “different.” Also, the further we walk on with the Lord, the more people will abandon us.
There is a price to pay to walk on with the Lord. That walk took Jesus to Calvary. It will take us to that same cross, not necessarily physically, but spiritually. Are we really willing to pay the price? If so, a crown of glory, rather than a crown of shame, awaits us. Salvation is FREE, but it cost the life of Jesus. To enter into the Kingdom of God is NOT free … it will cost us OUR self-life. Count the cost VERY carefully! May that love relationship we are honored to have with Christ propel us into fulfilling His purpose within us.
We have previously spoken of the state of the visible Church today. Believe me, it is NOT a pretty picture! The enemy has come in like a flood. Many years ago I heard a man who seemed to have a very powerful, anointed ministry say, “If I don’t travel, the money doesn’t come in.” I sure hope he did not mean that he traveled to minister in order to make money! Way back in the 1970’s, in an elders’ meeting, almost everyone agreed to have Sam (not his real name) to minister in some of the local gatherings. The question then arose as to which specific meetings we should invite him to minister. Then one elder said, “Let’s have him go to Mary’s morning meeting (not her real name) because I hear they give good offerings there.” My, My, My! Is the purpose of ministering to make money?
Christianity, at least a number of years ago, was growing by leaps and bounds in China, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. But in the United States, the grapes are withering on the vine. It is rare for a charismatic church to have one new convert per MONTH. Why? We attempt to provide at least partial answers to that question.
Where there is no way, Jesus is THE way! (We do not speak of being born-again.) There is a stirring in the mulberry bushes! God will have His way, despite all of the failures of men!
Historically, ever since the “dark ages,” which lasted 1000 years, God has gradually been using chosen vessels to light the fires of restoration … vessels such as John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others. God is in the process of one final restoration!
Leonard Ravenhill, a well-known and respected 20th century revivalist once said, in his book, “Why Revival Tarries,” “Oh God send us prophetic preaching that searches and scorches! Send us a race of Martyr-preachers – men burdened, bent, bowed and broken under the vision of impending judgment and the unending hell of the impenitent. Preachers make pulpits famous; prophets make prisons famous. May the Lord send us prophets – terrible men, who cry aloud and spare not, who sprinkle nations with unctionized woes – men too hot to hold, too hard to be heard, too merciless to spare … We are tired of men in soft raiment and softer in speech who use rivers of words with but a smidgeon of unction. These know more about competition than consecration, about promotion than prayer. They substitute propaganda for propagation and care more for their church’s happiness than holiness …”
A.W. Tozer, another highly respected 20th century revivalist, said: “If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting. Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, renounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.” (“The Size of the Soul,” pages 128-129).
In all of the history of the human race, there has never been a generation on the face of the earth that has been exposed to greater spiritual light than this generation in the United States. We have heard many good teachers, read the Bible many times, read many of the good Christian books, listened to many of the tapes and DVDs, and have been bombarded with many TV evangelists. Yet the Church in America has strayed far from what the Lord desires. All of that has produced a visible church that is very close to apostasy. Pity poor Abraham and a multitude of other Old Testament saints. They never even had a Bible to read. They had to depend upon what the Lord said to them. Those in positional authority within the Church have always been, and still are, the ones that must bear the brunt of the judgment of God. The problems always have been with the leaders, scripturally, historically, and experientially.
And the common people heard Him gladly. Mark 12:37b
Arthur Schopenhauer, a 19th century German philosopher, said, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Two quips written by Dresden James, a British novelist, are very fitting for the times in which we live: “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” “A truth’s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the TRUTH will seem utterly preposterous, and its speaker a raving lunatic.” Would you believe that a Scripture says essentially the same thing?
7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it [discover her wickedness when she said …]: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man [man of the Spirit] is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. Hosea 9:7-8
Note, starting in Verse 8 through the end of Hosea 9, the series of contrasts – what Ephraim had been and what Ephraim had now become.
In Jeremiah 1, starting at Verse 11, the Lord asked Jeremiah, “What seest thou?” The Lord has taken me to perhaps more than 100 different churches in my lifetime. In many of those occasions I never said a word. The Lord just told me to go and sit on the back row. He then asked me, “What do you see and what do you hear?” Believe me, it has not been a pretty picture. I have seen the spirit of democracy, an independent spirit, a self-seeking spirit, a spirit of mixture, a spirit of materialism, the traditions of men, stagnation, complacency, lack of vision, lack of discernment, disunity, compromise, strife, division, entertainment, and yes, even idolatry, which has permeated the charismatic churches in America and greatly affected believers. False doctrines abound, particularly the faith and prosperity teachings that thrill the flesh but anger the Lord. None of those spirits should have any place in Christianity. However, quite a number of years ago the Lord challenged me with, “What are you going to do about the state of the Church?” To repeat what I shared in the Preface, on June 13, 1976, the Lord said to me, “If you want to see the body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place that I have called you.” I ask you, the reader, that same question … What are you going to do about the state of the Church?
Today, the watered-down Gospel is big business. Indeed, it is the best form of entertainment around! I have seen a few Sunday “sermons” that would rival a Broadway play. Some sixty years ago William Branham prophesied of this coming entertainment in “Christian” circles. We are aware, through a brother who was a close personal friend of William Branham, that, “He [Branham] was particularly sharp in his insight and understanding of future events as well as of those personalities and organizations that would bring terrible confusion, mixture, and impurity to the body of Christ through religious programming, networking, television, Christian entertainment and music with a contemporary beat.” He was right on! That was and is a true word of prophecy which has come to full fruition.
This once new (but now old) charismatic breed of evangelistic showmanship never ceases to amaze the world with its Hollywood dress and Broadway appearance. Gospel music is big business! About 48 years ago, I heard some Christian music by a nationally known singing group. I thought it was as good as any music I had ever heard, so I bought about ten of their albums and gave them to the elders in our house church. Two years later, as we were visiting my mother in North Carolina, we went to one of that group’s live performances. The music was still just as good. However, they might as well have held up a big poster which said, “Look at us! We are good!” They exhibited the pride of man (and also collected lots of dollars for their performance).
Now perhaps some of you have had thoughts like, “But brother, none of that applies to me and none of that applies to us as a local church.” Well I certainly hope that is true. But even if none of that applies to you directly, it definitely applies indirectly. Why? Because there is one Church, one body, and if one member of the body is suffering then the whole body is suffering (1 Corinthians 12:26).
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be led from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. Isaiah 11:11, 16
In the time of Moses, God’s chosen people were in bondage in Egypt (one captor) for 400 years before they finally cried out to God for deliverance. In our day, many (dare I say “most”?) of God’s chosen people are in bondage to one or more of eight captors (Isaiah 11) and don’t know it. Isaiah 11 is a good topic for another word. Only the Lord knows if our 400 years of bondage are about up. But it is time to cry out to the Lord for deliverance.
Verse 11 speaks of the second time that the Lord will sovereignly recover the remnant of His people. That verse can NOT refer to the restoration after the Exile in Babylon which began around 600 B.C. There was NO exile at that time in Egypt, Pathros, or Cush. That verse also says, “In that day.” The events spoken of in Isaiah 11:6-10 clearly have not yet happened. Therefore these events are prophetic of the end times … the last days. Verse 16 compares the second (and last) recovering of the remnant to the first time when the Lord led His people out of the land of Egypt.
The first recovering of His people was a NATURAL, historic event, which began in 1491 B.C. The second (and last) recovering of His people will be a SPIRITUAL event, which certainly is on the verge of occurring in our time. This is a time when the modern day Moses (not one person) is beginning to speak to the modern day Pharaoh to let the people of God go free from our captivity and all of our many bondages. When the Lord sovereignly recovered the remnant the first time (from the bondage and captivity of Egypt) there was only one captor … Egypt. When the Lord sovereignly recovers the remnant of His people (spiritual Israel, the Church) the second time, in these last days, there are eight captors, as listed in verse 11, above. Many in the Church today are in captivity and in bondage (but don’t know it) to spiritual Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea. This is a repeat of the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye My disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? John 8:31-33
That is deception, pure and simple, and it exists today in the Church. Without going into detail, those eight captors represent the current religious system, the political system, worldly education, success, power, prestige, the idolization of a man, the wisdom of man, good food, the many pleasures of sin (including illicit sex), man’s ways to protect himself, financial treasures, mixture and impurities of all kinds, a democratic spirit, the imaginations of our natural hearts, man’s attempt to reach heaven, inbreeding, the ecumenical movement, mega-churches, man’s attempt at self-preservation, closed ministries, the infiltration of the ways of the world into Christianity, and idolatry. If you are interested I will be happy to email you the significance of each of those eight captors, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me a number of years ago.
Note what Jesus said in John 8 to those Jews which believed on Him. IF ye continue … Jesus never said to go out and get them saved. He said (to the apostles) go and make disciples. Big difference! Verse 32 says that IF we continue … THEN we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free (not “set” us free). We were set free at Calvary. We are made free (a process) IF we continue in His Word (logos). Logos in John with the article means the Divine Expression; i.e., Christ. It does not mean that “if we continue legalistically in our personal interpretation of the Bible” then … From Verse 33, note that the Jews who believed on Him did not know they were in bondage. Those verses certainly seem to say that we can believe on Him and still be in bondage.
In summary, nothing has changed in 6000 years. The nature of man has never changed. The sad part is that too many Christians (even one is too many) do not see the bondage and captivity that we are in. And very few seem to care. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years and never made one convert. NOT ONE PERSON ever believed Jeremiah concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the exile.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to John by the Lord, includes the following unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans:
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
Only the Spirit of God can shed His light into our hearts and dispel the darkness. The question is, do we want to be part of the problem (those who need to be recovered from the snares of the enemy) or part of the solution (those who will be delivered in these end times), as foretold in Obadiah 21? “And saviours shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” What does the mount of Esau refer to? The flesh … the carnal mind.
22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Isaiah 42:22-23
Those verses, like so many others in the Old Testament, are prophetic of the time in which we live. Who are “this people” in Verse 22? The modern-day church in America (and the world). That verse says ALL of them are snared in holes and hid in prison houses. The charismatic community in America is a people robbed and spoiled. Who has robbed and spoiled the modern-day church? The “pastors” who have made millions of dollars from “offerings” from undiscerning Christians. We have been robbed because those in leadership positions have not spoken the word of the Lord, but instead have been pastors who feed themselves. We have been spoiled on the milk of the word and by those who make a name and wealth for themselves. Even the milk we have received has been spoiled! And we love to have it so (Jeremiah 5:31).
Verse 22 also says that we are for a prey. That means that we are hunted by the adversary simply because we are believers. A mouse is a prey for a cat. What did the mouse do to deserve being a prey for a cat? Nothing! It was simply born a mouse. The second, third, and fourth generation of the Israelites who were in bondage and captivity in Egypt were also a prey. They had grown up in an environment and all they knew was a life of bondage. They had never experienced anything else. What had they done to deserve being in bondage? Nothing! They simply were born into that environment. They never knew there was a better way. Finally, after 400 years of increasing bondage, suffering, and hardship, the Israelites finally cried out to God and God sent a deliverer, Moses, who led them out of Egypt. In like manner, many charismatic believers today have grown up in an environment and just assume that their “leaders” are preaching the truth. These lovely believers have never known there is a higher way! The same is true with the spiritual significance of Gideon’s army, spoken of in Judges 7.
Isaiah 42:22 says prophetically that none delivereth the charismatic churches in America. The blind are leading the blind. That same verse says that none sayeth, Restore! We can think of only three possible reasons why none saith retore. The first reason is fear, which comes in many forms. Fear of losing “our” money or position. We like to speak only smooth things to keep everyone happy, keep the money coming in. On November 4, 1977, the Lord gave me a word: “It is the fear of man that hinders the body of Christ from functioning; but it is the fear of God that compels us to function.” Whenever the Church loses that scriptural fear of God, the enemy comes in like a flood.
The second reason that none says “restore” is ignorance; none are able to see the need to proclaim restoration. Anyone can say the word, “Restore.” However, to speak that word by the power and authority of the Holy Ghost is something else.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6
Paul, six times in the New Testament, says, “brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant …” (Romans 1:13, Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Peter says the same thing in 2 Peter 3:8.
The third possible reason that none says restore is indifference. Indifference may also include the desire to maintain the status quo, don’t rock the boat, keep everybody happy, and keep the money coming in.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Revelation 3:16-17
Note that the last verse, above, combines BOTH indifference and ignorance. However, we change the trend where “none saith, Restore.” With this word we proclaim, RESTORE! We are not so naive as to believe that this is the first proclamation of the word “restore” in modern America. We are sure that this word is not hid in a corner. Neither are we so naive to believe that the mere utterance of the word, restore, is sufficient. There must be a heartfelt cry from the depths of our being! But enough is enough! It is time for the Lord to have His way! ALSO!
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. Isaiah 49:24-25
As we stated earlier, we Christians are the prey for the enemy. Who are the “mighty” in Verse 24? demons. What about a “lawful captive?” We, as believers, become a lawful captive whenever we sin through omission or commission, through word or deed. That includes doing our own thing. As a lawful captive we are subject to the will of the adversary. If we have become a lawful captive, no amount of prophecy, praise, or prayer will restore us. We must run to the cross and sincerely ask forgiveness for going astray. But,
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
The question in Isaiah 49:24 clearly states that NO man can deliver the prey or the lawful captive from the mighty. But praise the Lord! In Verse 25 the Lord says that He will deliver the prey and the lawful captive from the terrible (our enemy). The Lord also says that He will save our children! Now in NO way does that speak of universal reconciliation where everyone will be saved. This is an Old Testament version of Acts 16 when the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house.” If you are truly born from above, then the Lord promises to also save your children.
Luke, Chapter 15, contains three parables, each of which contains this same promise. Jesus said, in John 18:9, that of them which the Father had given to Him, He has lost none!
I am quite certain that some of you believers have children which are caught up in rebellion and are just doing their own thing. That is a source of tremendous grief to the parents. But if you, as Christian parents, continue to trust the Lord and pray for your wayward children, the Lord says He will save them. What marvelous, amazing grace! Why? so that “all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26). Why does the Lord do anything for us? In the Book of Ezekiel we find 25 occurrences of the phrase, “that they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Hear what the Word of God says about “restore.”
He restoreth my soul. Psalm 23:3
And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6
In the above verse, the Father is speaking to the Son. Who can raise up the tribes of Jacob or restore the preserved of Israel except for the Son? “Raise up the tribes of Jacob” refers to bringing the yet unsaved into the fold. “Restore the preserved of Israel” refers to those believers who have strayed from the purposes of God.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible which contains the word “restore” is found in the Book of Joel.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25
Please note the four increasing stages of destruction (four stages of the locust) were sent by the Lord Himself! He calls them “MY great army!” “Joel’s army” and “Gideon’s army” are two totally different types of armies; but both are the Lord’s army. Please also note that the Lord restores ONLY after we repent! The book of Joel is very clear about that fact. The key word in the Book of Joel is the little word “then” in Joel 2:18. The primary action on our part is repentance. The primary action on God’s part, after we repent, is restoration. Only God can restore. Christian man’s attempts at restoration are, for the most part, emotionally driven works of the flesh.
The number “three” symbolizes divine completeness or perfect testimony (or witness). Examples of sets of three in the Bible are too numerous to mention.
If we think about the New Testament, twenty-three of the twenty-seven books were written or heavily influenced by three apostles … Peter, Paul, and John. This “twenty-three” includes the Book of Hebrews (written by Paul) and the Gospel according to Mark. It is generally agreed that John Mark was a close associate of Peter, from whom he received the things said and done by the Lord. Mark, in writing his Gospel, recorded Peter’s recollection of his Lord. These truths came to Mark as the preaching of Peter directed to the needs of the early Christian community. Mark accurately preserved this material. It is also thought that the man Peter mentions a “Marcus, my son” (1 Peter 5:13) is this same Mark.
The lives of Peter, Paul, and John reflect not only unique ministries, but also a chronological emphasis or order ordained by God which clearly shows the development of the Church from its first beginning with Peter (at Pentecost), then to its development through Paul, and finally to its restoration through John. Each of the three apostles brings his own fresh and timely emphasis to fulfill God’s timetable for the Church,
Peter and his brother Andrew were called to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). That is the work of an evangelist and that was Peter’s initial distinctive task. He was to bring men, urgently and in great numbers, into the Kingdom. Peter was later called to a pastoral ministry of “feeding His sheep.” Jesus told Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” A key implies an entry, a beginning. The burden of Peter’s message was salvation, not a salvation for its own sake but always with a view of the Kingdom in fullness, with Jesus as its exalted King. When Peter stood up with the eleven on the Day of Pentecost, he opened the door to the Jews. When later he preached Christ in the Roman home of Cornelius, he opened the door for the Gentiles.
Whereas Peter initiated things, Paul’s task was to construct … to help to build God’s Church into fullness. Paul was a tent-maker (or tent-builder). The word, “tent,” can also be translated as “tabernacle.” Paul was chosen to build up the tabernacle of the congregation (Old Testament wording) or the tabernacle of the soul of the body of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4). The special ministry of Paul was to build believing souls together according to the heavenly vision which God had given to him. Paul was a prophetic teacher who undoubtedly received more revelation than any other man in history, other than Jesus of course. The ministry of Paul was the necessary complement and addition of that of Peter. But at the end of Paul’s amazing ministry came many set-backs and disappointments. In Philippians 2:21, Paul tells us why: “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Has anything changed today?
At this point, God calls in John. John’s is the last of the four Gospels; John’s Epistles are the last of all of the Epistles; his Revelation is the last of all of the books in the Bible. Up until this point, John has remained in the background. The Book of Acts never records one word that John spoke. Although Peter and John are always seen together in the first eight chapters of Acts, we never see Peter and John mentioned together anymore. That is not to say that they never saw each other anymore; it just is not recorded in the Bible. But now with both Peter and Paul gone, the Lord brings to light another vessel of ministry with a fresh emphasis to meet a new need. Doctrinally, John has nothing to add to the revelation given through Paul. Then what further ministry is needed after Paul? John and his brother James were “mending their nets” when Jesus called them. (Matthew 4:21). When we mend anything we bring it back to its original condition. John is always bringing us back to God’s original intention. The ministry of John was primarily restorative in nature … to restore all things back to what was in the heart and mind of God before the foundation of the world. What distinguishes John, whether in his Gospel, his epistles, or in the Apocalypse (Revelation) is his concern to bring the people of God back to a position they have left or lost. One of the distinctive marks of the Book of Revelation is “to him that overcometh,” which is a message with an accompanying promise to each of the seven churches. But there is one more conditional promise in Revelation 21:7, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”
The practical outworking of the pattern those three apostles illustrate is that it takes the complementary and inter-related ministries of all three to make the Church perfect (but by the power of the Holy Ghost, of course). Peter was a mouth; Paul was a renewed mind, full of revelation knowledge; John was a heart. Who can deny that we need all three of these ministries today? But the third ministry of restoration is perhaps the greatest need of all in these last of the last days.
Please read again Isaiah 42:23. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? The “time to come” is NOW! A new sound is being heard in the earth by those who have ears to hear!
Chapter 11: Restoration in Type: The Ark of the Testimony
The Tabernacle of Moses is a type of the true restoration that is in process today. The Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, was a perfect cube. It represented God’s dwelling place. Many have noted the dimensions of the sanctuary, or holy place, and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was 10 by 10 by 10 cubits or 1,000 cubic cubits. The sanctuary was 10 by 10 by 20 cubits or 2,000 cubic cubits. Does the 2,000 cubic cubits correspond with the time (2,000 years) from the end of Jesus’ first ministry on earth as a Man until His second coming? Does the 1,000 cubic cubits of the Holy of Holies correspond to the Millennium, when Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years? Only the Lord knows, but it is certainly a possibility.
Another prophetic significance of the Tabernacle of Moses is that the total area of the tabernacle was 5000 square cubits. Of that area, 2% was for the Holy of Holies, 4% for the Holy Place, and 94% for the outer court. The outer court speaks of those who are born again; the Holy Place speaks of those disciples who are baptized with the Holy Ghost; and the Holy of Holies speaks of the remnant … the overcomers.
The outer court had no covering. It was therefore subjected to the natural sun and weather of all types. That means that at night the outer court was in darkness. The Bible records two times when God caused darkness to be over all the earth. The first time is recorded in Genesis 1:2, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
The second time that darkness was over all the earth was just before Jesus died on the cross. That is recorded in Luke 23:44-45, “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Yes, there have been other times when darkness was over part of the earth, such as the darkness over Egypt for three days in the time of Moses (Exodus 10).
But there will be a third and last time that darkness will be over all the earth. Isaiah, in Isaiah 13:10 and Isaiah 60:2, Zephaniah in Zephaniah 1:15, and Joel, in Joel 2:1-2 and 2:31, prophesy that fact. Jesus, also told us that will come, when He said,
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Mark 13:24-27
Note that the Lord will not gather His elect until after that last, great tribulation. Here we see another scripture which seems to disprove and discredit the so-called pre-tribulation rapture theory, However,
Isaiah 60:1-2, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Note that when darkness covers the earth that those in the Outer Court will be in darkness. Jesus three times spoke of outer darkness, only in the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 8:11-12, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:12-14, “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 25:29-30, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The phrase “outer darkness” literally means, “outside, where there is no light.” But the Greek word for darkness can be used metaphorically to mean spiritual ignorance or blindness. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth denotes extreme anguish and utter despair.
The walls surrounding the outer court were made of fine, white linen, five cubits tall. Five speaks of the grace of God. Fine white linen speaks of the righteousness of God. Therefore all who enter the outer court represent born-again believers. Note that the brazen altar was placed in the outer court. That says that repentance is needed for those who are already born-again believers. Those who remain in the outer court will go to heaven; they just never experience walking on earth in the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Place was covered and therefore exempt from weather. The only light was provided by the golden lampstand.
Exodus 25:31-32, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:”
A candlestick implies burning candles, but the golden candlestick was actually a lampstand upon which were seven lighted lamps. So the word candlestick is not a good translation. Candles burn by self-consumption but lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them. The seven lamps were to burn continually. They were never to go out. It was the function of Aaron and his sons to make sure that the lamps never went out. Likewise, it is our responsibility that the oil in our lamps never goes out.
The Holy of Holies contained only “the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims” (2 Samuel 6:2). The ark symbolized the presence and power of God. The ark, for a period of time, contained three items: the two tables of stone, upon which were written the Ten Commandments and given to Moses; the golden pot that had manna; and Aaron’s rod that budded.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. Hebrews 9:2-4
The Greek word translated “censer” refers to a vessel used for burning incense. So it can describe either the shovel used for carrying the coals or the altar on which the coals were placed. Although the altar of incense stood in the holy place, the author of the Book of Hebrews describes it as belonging to the most holy place. On the Day of Atonement the high priest took incense from this altar, along with the blood of the sin offering, into the most holy place (Leviticus 16:12-14).
The Two Tables of the Covenant
The Lord told Moses: “And thou shalt put into the ark the Testimony which I shall give thee” (Exodus 25:16). Later, Moses did just that, on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus from Egypt. The two tables of the covenant (or the Testimony), which contained the Ten Commandments, was the first item put into the ark.
And he [Moses] took and put the Testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark. Exodus 40:20
The Golden Pot That Had Manna
During the Exodus from Egypt, after about 40 days, the people murmured because of hunger, and the Lord rained down manna from heaven (Exodus 16). The manna lasted for almost 40 years and ceased as suddenly as it began (Joshua 5:12) after the Israelites had eaten of the old corn of the promised land of Canaan.
This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. Exodus 16:16
32 And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it [manna] to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.
34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Lord, to be kept. Exodus 16:32-34
Aaron “laid it up before the Lord” is a Hebrew figure of speech which indicates that he put it in the ark. The manna was a foretaste of the spiritual counterpart which was to come in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of the word, as given by the Holy Ghost. The Lord also told Moses to save an omer of manna in a golden pot. An omer is slightly less than a gallon. From Verse 32 we see a rather amazing fact. Only the Lord could preserve the manna in the golden pot for generations! Hebrews 9:4 clearly states that as being true.
33 For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us of this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. John 6:33-35
Aaron’s Rod That Budded
The third item in the ark, at one time, was Aaron’s rod that budded (Hebrew 9:4). This event occurred some twenty years after the start of the Exodus, or about halfway through the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness.
7 And Moses laid up the rods [twelve rods, one for each of the tribes’ houses] before the Lord in the tabernacle of Witness.
8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of Witness; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. Numbers 17:7-8
Note that Aaron’s rod budded, bloomed blossoms, and brought forth fruit (almonds). This was (is) a sign of God’s anointing … to bring forth fruit. Aaron’s rod that budded foreshadowed the coming apostolic authority, reflected in shadow and type with the Aaronic priesthood. Apostolic authority points first to our Apostle and High Priest, Christ Jesus, and then to those whom the Lord sets in the body as true apostles, as in Ephesians 4:11.
Now, let us fast forward through time. After the new generation of Israelites entered the Promised Land, judges were set in to rule over Israel. These judges lasted for about 350 years. The Book of Judges recounts the sad events of Israel’s apostasy. It was common in Israel during the time of the judges for every man to do “that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). God had to remind them again and again that He was the one true God, because they repeatedly indulged in the idolatry and immorality of the Canaanites among whom they lived. The Book of Judges reflects a cycle: Israel falls into apostasy, God sends an oppressor, Israel repents, God sends a deliverer, there is peace and prosperity, and then Israel falls away again. So it is in the modern day Church in America!
During the time of Eli the priest, who also judged Israel, things got so bad that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, both died in battle the same day and the ark was taken by the Philistines. When Eli heard of the news, he likewise fell off his seat, broke his neck, and died the same day. Then the wife of Phineas, who travailed in birth and brought forth a son, “named the son Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken” (1 Samuel 4:21-22). She likewise died the same day.
The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months, during which time the Lord smote the Philistines with several plagues. So the Philistines decided to send the ark back to the Israelites on a new cart. When David finally brought the ark back to Jerusalem and Solomon built the temple, there was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone, which Moses had put there at Horeb (1 Kings 8:9 and 2 Chronicles 5:10).
What happened to the golden pot that had manna and Aaron’s rod that budded? Did the Philistines remove them from the ark? We do not think so. If they had, they would have been struck dead immediately. Scripture does not specifically tell us, but we strongly believe that God sovereignly removed them from the ark. Why? To signify that what those two items represented had been lost to the people of Israel. They were left with only the Mosaic law, even until this very day.
The two missing items (Aaron’s rod that budded and the golden pot that had manna) were spiritually restored with the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. No one can deny that Jesus, and then Peter and Paul certainly manifested apostolic authority. Paul received so much revelation that he had to receive a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble (2 Corinthians 12). Paul was also caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable words which were not lawful to utter.
8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and He gave gifts unto men.
11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:8, 11-13
So the “five-fold ministries” are temporal … till we all come. Have we all come unto a perfect man? NO! Therefore, these ministries are still valid. Please also note that we, the Church,
Are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. Ephesians 2:20
The modern day Church has changed that verse experientially to read that we are built upon the foundation of the pastors, who have usurped the God-given function of true apostles, but the Lord is not honoring that substitution. That is why we have thousands of denominations today. Churches at all levels have said, through their actions, “Let the pastor speak to us the words of the Lord, but let not the Lord speak to us.” It is much easier to hear what the Lord is saying through a pastor or through a book or tape than to seek the mind and voice of the Lord for ourselves. So once again, every man does that which is right in his own eyes. Once more, the Church has got into much idolatry, mixture, and abominations in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has once more sovereignly removed Aaron’s rod that budded and the golden pot that had manna. Except for a few brief, isolated events at various times in history, there has been no apostolic authority and little outpouring of revelation. But despite all the natural efforts of men, the Lord is still building His Church!
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17
Now we must remember that Aaron’s rod that budded was laid up before the ark of Testimony some 20 years AFTER the golden pot that had manna. We believe that God will raise up and manifest true apostolic authority in the earth in the very near future. Undoubtedly those who will receive such authority are even now in the earth, being prepared for their ministry in these end times.
However, there will be one final removal of these two items from the ark … namely when Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming. And yes, despite some claims to the contrary, Jesus Himself will return to the earth. When that happens, there will no longer be a need for apostolic authority through men or for raining down revelation from heaven. “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10). That will leave only the Word of God in the ark for eternity. The trumpet is sounding! The trumpet no longer is giving an uncertain sound (1 Corinthians 14:8). It is time to prepare ourselves for the battle and for eternity!
The Tabernacle of Moses is a type of the true restoration that is in process today. The Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, was a perfect cube. It represented God’s dwelling place. Many have noted the dimensions of the sanctuary, or holy place, and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was 10 by 10 by 10 cubits or 1,000 cubic cubits. The sanctuary was 10 by 10 by 20 cubits or 2,000 cubic cubits. Does the 2,000 cubic cubits correspond with the time (2,000 years) from the end of Jesus’ first ministry on earth as a Man until His second coming? Does the 1,000 cubic cubits of the Holy of Holies correspond to the Millennium, when Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years? Only the Lord knows, but it is certainly a possibility.
Another prophetic significance of the Tabernacle of Moses is that the total area of the tabernacle was 5000 square cubits. Of that area, 2% was for the Holy of Holies, 4% for the Holy Place, and 94% for the outer court. The outer court speaks of those who are born again; the Holy Place speaks of those disciples who are baptized with the Holy Ghost; and the Holy of Holies speaks of the remnant … the overcomers.
The outer court had no covering. It was therefore subjected to the natural sun and weather of all types. That means that at night the outer court was in darkness. The Bible records two times when God caused darkness to be over all the earth. The first time is recorded in Genesis 1:2, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
The second time that darkness was over all the earth was just before Jesus died on the cross. That is recorded in Luke 23:44-45, “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Yes, there have been other times when darkness was over part of the earth, such as the darkness over Egypt for three days in the time of Moses (Exodus 10).
But there will be a third and last time that darkness will be over all the earth. Isaiah, in Isaiah 13:10 and Isaiah 60:2, Zephaniah in Zephaniah 1:15, and Joel, in Joel 2:1-2 and 2:31, prophesy that fact. Jesus, also told us that will come, when He said,
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Mark 13:24-27
Note that the Lord will not gather His elect until after that last, great tribulation. Here we see another scripture which seems to disprove and discredit the so-called pre-tribulation rapture theory, However,
Isaiah 60:1-2, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Note that when darkness covers the earth that those in the Outer Court will be in darkness. Jesus three times spoke of outer darkness, only in the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 8:11-12, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:12-14, “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 25:29-30, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The phrase “outer darkness” literally means, “outside, where there is no light.” But the Greek word for darkness can be used metaphorically to mean spiritual ignorance or blindness. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth denotes extreme anguish and utter despair.
The walls surrounding the outer court were made of fine, white linen, five cubits tall. Five speaks of the grace of God. Fine white linen speaks of the righteousness of God. Therefore all who enter the outer court represent born-again believers. Note that the brazen altar was placed in the outer court. That says that repentance is needed for those who are already born-again believers. Those who remain in the outer court will go to heaven; they just never experience walking on earth in the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Place was covered and therefore exempt from weather. The only light was provided by the golden lampstand.
Exodus 25:31-32, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:”
A candlestick implies burning candles, but the golden candlestick was actually a lampstand upon which were seven lighted lamps. So the word candlestick is not a good translation. Candles burn by self-consumption but lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them. The seven lamps were to burn continually. They were never to go out. It was the function of Aaron and his sons to make sure that the lamps never went out. Likewise, it is our responsibility that the oil in our lamps never goes out.
The Holy of Holies contained only “the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims” (2 Samuel 6:2). The ark symbolized the presence and power of God. The ark, for a period of time, contained three items: the two tables of stone, upon which were written the Ten Commandments and given to Moses; the golden pot that had manna; and Aaron’s rod that budded.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. Hebrews 9:2-4
The Greek word translated “censer” refers to a vessel used for burning incense. So it can describe either the shovel used for carrying the coals or the altar on which the coals were placed. Although the altar of incense stood in the holy place, the author of the Book of Hebrews describes it as belonging to the most holy place. On the Day of Atonement the high priest took incense from this altar, along with the blood of the sin offering, into the most holy place (Leviticus 16:12-14).
The Two Tables of the Covenant
The Lord told Moses: “And thou shalt put into the ark the Testimony which I shall give thee” (Exodus 25:16). Later, Moses did just that, on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus from Egypt. The two tables of the covenant (or the Testimony), which contained the Ten Commandments, was the first item put into the ark.
And he [Moses] took and put the Testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark. Exodus 40:20
The Golden Pot That Had Manna
During the Exodus from Egypt, after about 40 days, the people murmured because of hunger, and the Lord rained down manna from heaven (Exodus 16). The manna lasted for almost 40 years and ceased as suddenly as it began (Joshua 5:12) after the Israelites had eaten of the old corn of the promised land of Canaan.
This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. Exodus 16:16
32 And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it [manna] to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.
34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Lord, to be kept. Exodus 16:32-34
Aaron “laid it up before the Lord” is a Hebrew figure of speech which indicates that he put it in the ark. The manna was a foretaste of the spiritual counterpart which was to come in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of the word, as given by the Holy Ghost. The Lord also told Moses to save an omer of manna in a golden pot. An omer is slightly less than a gallon. From Verse 32 we see a rather amazing fact. Only the Lord could preserve the manna in the golden pot for generations! Hebrews 9:4 clearly states that as being true.
33 For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us of this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. John 6:33-35
Aaron’s Rod That Budded
The third item in the ark, at one time, was Aaron’s rod that budded (Hebrew 9:4). This event occurred some twenty years after the start of the Exodus, or about halfway through the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness.
7 And Moses laid up the rods [twelve rods, one for each of the tribes’ houses] before the Lord in the tabernacle of Witness.
8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of Witness; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. Numbers 17:7-8
Note that Aaron’s rod budded, bloomed blossoms, and brought forth fruit (almonds). This was (is) a sign of God’s anointing … to bring forth fruit. Aaron’s rod that budded foreshadowed the coming apostolic authority, reflected in shadow and type with the Aaronic priesthood. Apostolic authority points first to our Apostle and High Priest, Christ Jesus, and then to those whom the Lord sets in the body as true apostles, as in Ephesians 4:11.
Now, let us fast forward through time. After the new generation of Israelites entered the Promised Land, judges were set in to rule over Israel. These judges lasted for about 350 years. The Book of Judges recounts the sad events of Israel’s apostasy. It was common in Israel during the time of the judges for every man to do “that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). God had to remind them again and again that He was the one true God, because they repeatedly indulged in the idolatry and immorality of the Canaanites among whom they lived. The Book of Judges reflects a cycle: Israel falls into apostasy, God sends an oppressor, Israel repents, God sends a deliverer, there is peace and prosperity, and then Israel falls away again. So it is in the modern day Church in America!
During the time of Eli the priest, who also judged Israel, things got so bad that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, both died in battle the same day and the ark was taken by the Philistines. When Eli heard of the news, he likewise fell off his seat, broke his neck, and died the same day. Then the wife of Phineas, who travailed in birth and brought forth a son, “named the son Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken” (1 Samuel 4:21-22). She likewise died the same day.
The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months, during which time the Lord smote the Philistines with several plagues. So the Philistines decided to send the ark back to the Israelites on a new cart. When David finally brought the ark back to Jerusalem and Solomon built the temple, there was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone, which Moses had put there at Horeb (1 Kings 8:9 and 2 Chronicles 5:10).
What happened to the golden pot that had manna and Aaron’s rod that budded? Did the Philistines remove them from the ark? We do not think so. If they had, they would have been struck dead immediately. Scripture does not specifically tell us, but we strongly believe that God sovereignly removed them from the ark. Why? To signify that what those two items represented had been lost to the people of Israel. They were left with only the Mosaic law, even until this very day.
The two missing items (Aaron’s rod that budded and the golden pot that had manna) were spiritually restored with the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. No one can deny that Jesus, and then Peter and Paul certainly manifested apostolic authority. Paul received so much revelation that he had to receive a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble (2 Corinthians 12). Paul was also caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable words which were not lawful to utter.
8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and He gave gifts unto men.
11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:8, 11-13
So the “five-fold ministries” are temporal … till we all come. Have we all come unto a perfect man? NO! Therefore, these ministries are still valid. Please also note that we, the Church,
Are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. Ephesians 2:20
The modern day Church has changed that verse experientially to read that we are built upon the foundation of the pastors, who have usurped the God-given function of true apostles, but the Lord is not honoring that substitution. That is why we have thousands of denominations today. Churches at all levels have said, through their actions, “Let the pastor speak to us the words of the Lord, but let not the Lord speak to us.” It is much easier to hear what the Lord is saying through a pastor or through a book or tape than to seek the mind and voice of the Lord for ourselves. So once again, every man does that which is right in his own eyes. Once more, the Church has got into much idolatry, mixture, and abominations in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has once more sovereignly removed Aaron’s rod that budded and the golden pot that had manna. Except for a few brief, isolated events at various times in history, there has been no apostolic authority and little outpouring of revelation. But despite all the natural efforts of men, the Lord is still building His Church!
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17
Now we must remember that Aaron’s rod that budded was laid up before the ark of Testimony some 20 years AFTER the golden pot that had manna. We believe that God will raise up and manifest true apostolic authority in the earth in the very near future. Undoubtedly those who will receive such authority are even now in the earth, being prepared for their ministry in these end times.
However, there will be one final removal of these two items from the ark … namely when Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming. And yes, despite some claims to the contrary, Jesus Himself will return to the earth. When that happens, there will no longer be a need for apostolic authority through men or for raining down revelation from heaven. “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10). That will leave only the Word of God in the ark for eternity. The trumpet is sounding! The trumpet no longer is giving an uncertain sound (1 Corinthians 14:8). It is time to prepare ourselves for the battle and for eternity!
Chapter 12: Epilogue
At about 6:00 a.m. on November 10, 2019, the Lord gave me a dream. In that dream I found myself in the open air, not in any kind of building, and surrounded by a virtual throng of people, all of who seemed to be professing Christians. There were so many people that it was difficult to walk, although almost all of the people were moving about rapidly as in a state of confusion. Daniel 12:4 says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Amos 8:11-12 says, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
The Lord is earnestly seeking diligent and courageous souls who will sound the alarm to wake up multitudes of believers now fast asleep (Ephesians 5:14). The Lord desires a mature people conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. He will have what He purposes, with or without you and with or without me. But maturity doesn’t come overnight or without going through trials and tribulations. There are no magic pills to take for the process of maturing. Paul told Timothy (and us), “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who that chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). As a good friend of ours once put it, “Soldiers are not made by sipping tea in a rose garden.” But a soldier has to go through training exercises over and over again in preparation for perhaps a final battle.
Crisis always reveals character. Let me say that once more. Crisis always reveals character. How we respond to those crises makes all the difference in our lives. It is easy to live a morally good church life when everything in our life is going smoothly. However it is the love of God that allows trials and tribulations that serve to strengthen and prepare His people for the time to come. Your crosses are different from my crosses, but the end product is purposed the same … “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
There are many differing voices in the Church community today, which has resulted in much confusion and lack of understanding. We desperately need greater discernment to separate the precious from the vile. We live in an age when many Spirit-filled Christians do that which is right in their own eyes. We see a repeat performance of the Book of Judges. Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Further, we must learn how to live and walk with the Lord even during times of great stress and distress in the world.
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5
Scripturally and historically a few churches have attained to some degree of spiritual maturity, but only for a limited time period. One such church was the early church after the Day of Pentecost.
20 Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I? Matthew 26:20-22
The twelve men who had walked with Jesus for three years all asked, “Lord, is it I?” That included Peter, James, and John. If the Lord asked that question at any local church, my educated guess is that the majority would respond, or at least think, “Lord, it definitely is not me! I have been a faithful part of this church for 20 years! The problem is with those Christians over there.” That is the degree of deception and presumption and lack of fear that exists in the visible church today. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of end time events. But four different times He speaks of the great deception that will confront the Church in the last days … so much so that if it were possible even the very elect will be deceived. That time is upon us. Help, Lord!
The early church preached no messages on positive thinking, self-improvement, or how to have a happier life. They preached lots of messages on the need to repent, the working of the cross within us, rejoicing when persecuted, the judgment of God, exhortations and warnings, and many other “hard” messages. For preaching these things they were hated, persecuted, imprisoned, and killed. In fact, this STILL happens in some countries around the world! Very few of us Christians in the United States are subjected to persecution, suffering, and false accusations as are believers in the third world. Why? One of several reasons is because most western believers live much like our fellow citizens. It is very difficult, in general, to discern the difference in lifestyle and behavior between the godly and the ungodly. The ungodly have no reason to persecute us for righteousness’ sake. Is it possible that today there is more persecution within the Church than without?
We in the United States are blissfully unaware of what it means to suffer for the true Gospel. We have the freedom to believe and teach any way we want. But in these last days, even these freedoms will quickly disappear. How will this unfold?
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Luke 3:1-2
Note there were two religious leaders, Annas and Caiaphas, and five political leaders. Prophetically, these seven heads with the 10 crowns symbolize total domination, describing the nature of the beast of the Apocalypse; a mixture of politics and religion with every nation subservient except those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (See Revelation 12:3, 13:1, and all of Revelation 17.)
Babylon, the antichrist system, is made up of a mixture of economics, politics and religion so deceptive that the whole world will bow to it in awe and wonder. Just as surely as Nimrod was opposed to God, Babylon is an organized worldwide system, inspired and empowered by the devil. It is a culture that is anti-Christ, anti-God, and it is everywhere! Further it has always been backed up by military might, if necessary.
Regardless of form, whether communism, socialism, democracy, fascism, or any other type, human government is based on exploitation of people and resources, power, aggression, and deception. Whatever form human governments take, they display the same Babylonian style of rule. Governments have risen and fallen, but their basic principles have remained … competition and strife based on greed and pride (Psalm 10:2-11). The entire system began with Nimrod and continues with the idea of cramming people together into cities. As a world order built on strife and competition, each of the three aspects of human civilization, political, economic, and religious, has tried to dominate the others, and in many cases by using military might.
Many Christians and even some worldly economists have been predicting a world-wide economic collapse on the immediate horizon, starting in the United States. That will give rise to the political beast reestablishing “order” when no man can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast. “When men cry peace, peace, then cometh sudden destruction” (1 Thessalonians 5:13, Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11). Then the religious aspect of Antichrist will take over, whose goal will be to eliminate Christianity.
For many years I pondered how the Muslims, with their 1.8 billion adherents and the Roman Catholics, with their 1.4 billion adherents could possibly co-exist, because both religions have openly stated their goal of world-wide religious domination. Which of the two will dominate the other? Then a few years ago the Lord quickened the answer … neither one. How could Jews, Gentiles, Catholics, and Muslims possibly unite in such an unholy alliance against Christians? The same way that the Pharisees and Sadducees (who disagreed on resurrection life) united when they crucified Jesus. Herod and Pilate (the political aspect of Babylon) were not the best of friends in their day, but they united with the Gentiles and Jews to crucify Jesus. Herod and Pilate (the political aspect of Babylon) were not the best of friends in their day, but they united with the Gentiles and Jews to crucify Jesus. That same unholy alliance today has infiltrated all the Christian churches (where there is a real anointing) and has placed spies in our midst, just as Judas had infiltrated the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Nothing has changed! It is the same group, the Pharisaic Jews of Judaism, who want to remove Jesus and Christianity from every aspect of society today. And eventually, with the help of the Roman Catholic Church, Muslims, apostate Christians, and the political leaders of the day, they will call for the death of all true Christians (see Revelation 13). In other words there will be a repeat occurrence in our day of what happened just before and just after Jesus was crucified. Of course, the devil is not overly concerned with the many churches (which includes charismatic churches) where there is no real anointing.
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4:25-28
The unholy alliance of the kings of the earth, the political rulers, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel will unite once more in these end times. That unholy alliance is the “they” in Verse 9, below.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:9-13
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My names’ sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:21-22
The phrase, “kings of the earth,” occurs 24 times in the Bible. The “kings of the earth” speaks of spiritual Babylon. The phrase, “kings of the east,” occurs only once, in Revelation 16.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:12-16
Now the question arises … who or what are the “kings of the east” whose “way is prepared” for them? Men have come up with a variety of answers to that question. On the surface, the literal answer seems to be that the kings of the east perhaps come from China, but that is not the spiritual answer. The kings of the east, in Revelation 16:12, are the kings of heaven … a kingdom of priests. The kings of the east is a symbolic term for God’s overcomers, who are reserved in the womb until the time appointed for their unveiling (manifestation) to the people of the earth. They are called kings of the east because that is the direction from which heavenly beings approach the earth. Note the following:
(1) God’s glory comes from the east. “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east” (Ezekiel 43:2).
(2) “Then He brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same” (Ezekiel 44:1-3).
(3) The sun, symbolizing Jesus, rises in the east. “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2).
(4) Jesus’ second coming will be from the east. “For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).
(5) Revelation’s sealing angel comes from the east. "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2).
Now we cannot be like the ostrich and put our heads in the sand. We cannot say that Jesus was referring only to the time from about 66-71 A.D. when Rome pillaged Jerusalem and burned the temple. But praise the Lord! He is our refuge and our shield and our exceeding great reward! There is no fear of man or beast as long as we abide in Christ. The Lord always wants to challenge His people to come up higher. Therefore it is of utmost concern that we prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts … that we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Blessed be the Name of the Lord! His Name is Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!
At about 6:00 a.m. on November 10, 2019, the Lord gave me a dream. In that dream I found myself in the open air, not in any kind of building, and surrounded by a virtual throng of people, all of who seemed to be professing Christians. There were so many people that it was difficult to walk, although almost all of the people were moving about rapidly as in a state of confusion. Daniel 12:4 says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Amos 8:11-12 says, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
The Lord is earnestly seeking diligent and courageous souls who will sound the alarm to wake up multitudes of believers now fast asleep (Ephesians 5:14). The Lord desires a mature people conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. He will have what He purposes, with or without you and with or without me. But maturity doesn’t come overnight or without going through trials and tribulations. There are no magic pills to take for the process of maturing. Paul told Timothy (and us), “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who that chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). As a good friend of ours once put it, “Soldiers are not made by sipping tea in a rose garden.” But a soldier has to go through training exercises over and over again in preparation for perhaps a final battle.
Crisis always reveals character. Let me say that once more. Crisis always reveals character. How we respond to those crises makes all the difference in our lives. It is easy to live a morally good church life when everything in our life is going smoothly. However it is the love of God that allows trials and tribulations that serve to strengthen and prepare His people for the time to come. Your crosses are different from my crosses, but the end product is purposed the same … “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
There are many differing voices in the Church community today, which has resulted in much confusion and lack of understanding. We desperately need greater discernment to separate the precious from the vile. We live in an age when many Spirit-filled Christians do that which is right in their own eyes. We see a repeat performance of the Book of Judges. Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Further, we must learn how to live and walk with the Lord even during times of great stress and distress in the world.
Scripturally and historically a few churches have attained to some degree of spiritual maturity, but only for a limited time period. One such church was the early church after the Day of Pentecost.
21 And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I? Matthew 26:20-22
The twelve men who had walked with Jesus for three years all asked, “Lord, is it I?” That included Peter, James, and John. If the Lord asked that question at any local church, my educated guess is that the majority would respond, or at least think, “Lord, it definitely is not me! I have been a faithful part of this church for 20 years! The problem is with those Christians over there.” That is the degree of deception and presumption and lack of fear that exists in the visible church today. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of end time events. But four different times He speaks of the great deception that will confront the Church in the last days … so much so that if it were possible even the very elect will be deceived. That time is upon us. Help, Lord!
The early church preached no messages on positive thinking, self-improvement, or how to have a happier life. They preached lots of messages on the need to repent, the working of the cross within us, rejoicing when persecuted, the judgment of God, exhortations and warnings, and many other “hard” messages. For preaching these things they were hated, persecuted, imprisoned, and killed. In fact, this STILL happens in some countries around the world! Very few of us Christians in the United States are subjected to persecution, suffering, and false accusations as are believers in the third world. Why? One of several reasons is because most western believers live much like our fellow citizens. It is very difficult, in general, to discern the difference in lifestyle and behavior between the godly and the ungodly. The ungodly have no reason to persecute us for righteousness’ sake. Is it possible that today there is more persecution within the Church than without?
We in the United States are blissfully unaware of what it means to suffer for the true Gospel. We have the freedom to believe and teach any way we want. But in these last days, even these freedoms will quickly disappear. How will this unfold?
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Luke 3:1-2
Note there were two religious leaders, Annas and Caiaphas, and five political leaders. Prophetically, these seven heads with the 10 crowns symbolize total domination, describing the nature of the beast of the Apocalypse; a mixture of politics and religion with every nation subservient except those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (See Revelation 12:3, 13:1, and all of Revelation 17.)
Babylon, the antichrist system, is made up of a mixture of economics, politics and religion so deceptive that the whole world will bow to it in awe and wonder. Just as surely as Nimrod was opposed to God, Babylon is an organized worldwide system, inspired and empowered by the devil. It is a culture that is anti-Christ, anti-God, and it is everywhere! Further it has always been backed up by military might, if necessary.
Regardless of form, whether communism, socialism, democracy, fascism, or any other type, human government is based on exploitation of people and resources, power, aggression, and deception. Whatever form human governments take, they display the same Babylonian style of rule. Governments have risen and fallen, but their basic principles have remained … competition and strife based on greed and pride (Psalm 10:2-11). The entire system began with Nimrod and continues with the idea of cramming people together into cities. As a world order built on strife and competition, each of the three aspects of human civilization, political, economic, and religious, has tried to dominate the others, and in many cases by using military might.
Many Christians and even some worldly economists have been predicting a world-wide economic collapse on the immediate horizon, starting in the United States. That will give rise to the political beast reestablishing “order” when no man can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast. “When men cry peace, peace, then cometh sudden destruction” (1 Thessalonians 5:13, Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11). Then the religious aspect of Antichrist will take over, whose goal will be to eliminate Christianity.
For many years I pondered how the Muslims, with their 1.8 billion adherents and the Roman Catholics, with their 1.4 billion adherents could possibly co-exist, because both religions have openly stated their goal of world-wide religious domination. Which of the two will dominate the other? Then a few years ago the Lord quickened the answer … neither one. How could Jews, Gentiles, Catholics, and Muslims possibly unite in such an unholy alliance against Christians? The same way that the Pharisees and Sadducees (who disagreed on resurrection life) united when they crucified Jesus. Herod and Pilate (the political aspect of Babylon) were not the best of friends in their day, but they united with the Gentiles and Jews to crucify Jesus. Herod and Pilate (the political aspect of Babylon) were not the best of friends in their day, but they united with the Gentiles and Jews to crucify Jesus. That same unholy alliance today has infiltrated all the Christian churches (where there is a real anointing) and has placed spies in our midst, just as Judas had infiltrated the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Nothing has changed! It is the same group, the Pharisaic Jews of Judaism, who want to remove Jesus and Christianity from every aspect of society today. And eventually, with the help of the Roman Catholic Church, Muslims, apostate Christians, and the political leaders of the day, they will call for the death of all true Christians (see Revelation 13). In other words there will be a repeat occurrence in our day of what happened just before and just after Jesus was crucified. Of course, the devil is not overly concerned with the many churches (which includes charismatic churches) where there is no real anointing.
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4:25-28
The unholy alliance of the kings of the earth, the political rulers, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel will unite once more in these end times. That unholy alliance is the “they” in Verse 9, below.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:9-13
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My names’ sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:21-22
The phrase, “kings of the earth,” occurs 24 times in the Bible. The “kings of the earth” speaks of spiritual Babylon. The phrase, “kings of the east,” occurs only once, in Revelation 16.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:12-16
Now the question arises … who or what are the “kings of the east” whose “way is prepared” for them? Men have come up with a variety of answers to that question. On the surface, the literal answer seems to be that the kings of the east perhaps come from China, but that is not the spiritual answer. The kings of the east, in Revelation 16:12, are the kings of heaven … a kingdom of priests. The kings of the east is a symbolic term for God’s overcomers, who are reserved in the womb until the time appointed for their unveiling (manifestation) to the people of the earth. They are called kings of the east because that is the direction from which heavenly beings approach the earth. Note the following:
(2) “Then He brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same” (Ezekiel 44:1-3).
(3) The sun, symbolizing Jesus, rises in the east. “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2).
(4) Jesus’ second coming will be from the east. “For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).
(5) Revelation’s sealing angel comes from the east. "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2).
Now we cannot be like the ostrich and put our heads in the sand. We cannot say that Jesus was referring only to the time from about 66-71 A.D. when Rome pillaged Jerusalem and burned the temple. But praise the Lord! He is our refuge and our shield and our exceeding great reward! There is no fear of man or beast as long as we abide in Christ. The Lord always wants to challenge His people to come up higher. Therefore it is of utmost concern that we prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts … that we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Blessed be the Name of the Lord! His Name is Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!
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