Greetings!
This message will be mostly scripture (as you'll soon notice). The main point I'm hearing the Lord say deals with "the end times". I believe these are the final days before the end of the age Jesus spoke about. A lot has been written, spoken, perceived, believed, etc., about these times. You probably have your own ideas and maybe, just maybe, you have them all packaged neatly into one of 3 boxes: pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation. Maybe you're not quite certain where to hang your "beliefs", but none the less, I'm sure you have some kind of "notion" as to how things are going to pan out in the end.
I'm hearing the Lord speak of a simultaneous move of the Spirit...a time of unprecedented Glory and Power released through the ones who will go to unprecedented extremes for God, as well as a time of unparalleled shaking and even dismay among the "church folk". Dismay sets in when discouragement and frustration have run their course. When we keep looking at our little "box" and then look at the world around us and wonder why things don't match up. People get to looking at WHAT they believe rather than WHO they believe and, little by little, the joy leaves, their own desires begin to crowd out the will of God and they eventually fall away (as in 1 Tim. 4 and 2 Thes. 2). But those WHO KNOW THEIR GOD WILL BE STRONG AND DO EXPLOITS! (Dan.11:32)
Sifting, shaking, glory and power. The problem this kind of thinking brings to the church world is that it doesn't fit too well with our little boxes we've used to store our theology. Too many of us, and for far too long, have built an idol of worship out of our ability to "know the scriptures" and "be correct" in the way we "rightly" divide the truth. We'll even go to battle with our brothers and sisters to make sure we're understood and perceived as having the correct view. We'll build whole denominations (fellowships) around our ability to rightly divide the truth. Now I'm all for interpreting the scriptures accurately; I believe it's very important for each of us to study and be scripture smart. But if God really meant everything each of the different churches believed He meant, God must be one confused being! But God isn't confused; man is and has attempted to use God's name to give their belief substance. But in these last days, God's going to get His message across; without a doubt. The line's being drawn and His truth will prevail!
Think about this...our "Blessed Hope" isn't the EVENT of the coming of the Lord!! Our "Blessed Hope" is Jesus Christ Himself!!! Look at the verses below and let the Lord speak to your heart. Lay aside your religious brain (even if for just a little while) and read these verses as if Jesus was your hope. You see, if we have Jesus as our hope, we find ourselves more ready to live for Him, die for Him, and everything in between. Remember what He said in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Our HOPE, Jesus, said that wherever He'll be, that's where we'll be. Hallelujah!
So, let's get beyond the "waiting" game and get on with living in the Name! There's Glory and Power to be released through those whose HOPE IS Christ Jesus.
Titus 2:11-14
11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
1 John 3:1-3
1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Romans 15:4,12
4. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
12. ...in Him the Gentiles shall hope.
13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:18
18. the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling...
Ephesians 2:12
12. that at that time you were without Christ...having no hope and without God in the world.
Colossians 1:27
27. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1 Thessalonians 5:8,9
8. ...and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 1:1
1. ...the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope
Titus 3:7
7. that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 6:18,19
18. that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Hebrews 7:19
19. for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 10:23-25
23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Peter 1:3
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Blessings,
Pastor Jan
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Written for our example...
Greetings in the Name of the Desire of All Nations...
I'm going out on the limb a little with this teaching, but I really believe it's what the Spirit of God has been speaking deep into my spirit these last few weeks. He keeps bringing these things up - no matter where I'm reading in the Word, He seems to direct my thoughts and prayers back to this central theme. And that theme is what I'm going to share about now.
For teaching purposes, I'm going to speak as though I'm a history teacher and then draw some parallels with what's happening today. I'll try and keep my points as concise as possible.
1. The Lord always builds on relationships, not rules and laws. God appeared to Abram (Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-21; 17:1) with no mention of rules or laws. It's not that Abram didn't need them; it's that as he began to know and trust the Almighty, the law and rules were obeyed as a result of the relationship they had with each other. Abram (Abraham) stuck up for God and God stuck up for Abraham!
2. Abraham's son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob, had a relationship with the Almighty, but not to the extent of Abraham. They each had a shining moment when God met their need or redefined their life (and Jacob's "walk"), but they didn't seem to nurture the relationship with El Shaddai; they knew that their God was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but when it came down to trusting Jehovah Jireh not a thing was mentioned about the Lord. They instead sought the help of Egypt. Now, mind you, God understood where they would be spiritually at this time and provided a savior (Joseph) anyway. And thank God He does! How many times have we depended on Egypt for our help and because our God knew where we stood He provided for our help to come from that direction. But that wasn't His best! As a matter of fact, Israel stayed in Egypt over 400 years. People of the promises living in a strange land, surrounded by strange gods.
3. The children of Israel had their traditions, their stories of the God of Abraham, but as long as they had their prosperity (the land of Goshen) and their ministries (shepherds, farmers, ranchers for Pharoah), they really didn't give two hoots about the Living God. Why? Because they didn't have a relationship with Him. No relationship, no fellowship; no fellowship, no ability to really touch God; no touch, no power! But that was to change.
4. The catalyst for the change was..."Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." Exodus 1:8. When their comfort started waning, their focus started changing. Without the cry to God there will be no change, no deliverance. The children of Israel had gotten comfortable in their religion but just because they had prosperity and the acceptance of their world (up to that point) they were still not partaking of what God had promised. So, God would change that. He would reveal Himself to them as they had never known before. He would bring them out of their comfort, through a wilderness where the Law would be used to help forge a relationship with the Almighty, and He would bring them into the place of possession of the promises He had made to their ancestors. Their relationship with Him would be developed within the boundries of the Law, God's revealed purposes and procedures; as God would prepare His people to be His witnesses and change their world. By the time Joshua led the people across the Jordan, the Word of the Lord to him was - as I was with Moses, so I am with you (relationship). No one will be able to stand before you (or against you) all the days of your life. You will lead this people and divide to them their inheritance.
5. All of the above, I believe, is a type of what God is doing in the Church, the called out ones. 1 Corinthians 10:10,11 - "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
The Church didn't begin because someone read the Law or heard a rule. It began through a relationship that the Father initiated through sending His Son as THE Revelation of Love. He initiated the fellowship, much the same way the Father did with Abram. God came to us. Immanuel, God with us. Throughout the Gospels, the Acts, etc, we read of people building a relationship with Jesus and He with them. We read where people are "led" by the Spirit of God and whoever is "led" by the Spirit, THESE are the SONS of God. Led by the Spirit implies hearing and obeying, through a trust relationship, the voice of the Lord Jesus.
6. Unfortunately, and much like the son and grandson of Abraham and very much like the children of Israel, things began to change. For many years, though God has always had a remnant, the "Church", the "called out ones", became more and more content to be accepted by the world than accepted in the Beloved. The Church has gotten to the point where it is quite comfortable with the world's system, even though God says to not "love the world or the things of the world" (1 John 2:15-17). It's like we're Israel, back in Egypt, eating the best of the land. As long as there isn't any pressure, as long as we have our own land (tax exemption, "ministry", entertainment and industry (Christian music?), we seem quite content to live in the land of many gods as long as we're not bothered. As long as we can worship our "One God", we don't seem to bothered by the "many" around us.
7. But there is a transition that is taking place. Our God is in the process of bringing us to the place of relationship and then fellowship and power. But first, as it was long ago, there must be a moving of His people. A repositioning, a changing of the mind (repentance?), a separation from a reliance upon the world's system to a whole hearted faith in the One True God. And the thing that started Israel on that trek while "stationed" in Egypt was "now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." There is coming a time, not too far off, where the church - the true believers - will be scorned by the world. We will be dropped by the world as "last year's lover". And while there will be miracles take place during this time of transition, it will be a very trying time as God takes us from being spoiled brats to sons and daughters who are trained to reign with Him. The "wilderness", a time of pruning, cutting, separating, learning His ways once more, knowing His provision as never before, knowing His likes and dislikes to where we hate what He hates and love only what He loves. And, as He used the Law of Moses to "pound out" the unclean elements and provide revelation to those who had an ear to hear, He will again be doing that through the Word of God. Once again there will be prophetic preaching that will cut the flesh but heal the wounds. It will decree "thus saith the Lord" and the Spirit's Presence will be as it was when the Holy Cloud covered Mount Sinai. Our God IS a consuming fire and He will shake anything that CAN be shaken - so that His purposes, His Holiness, His and His alone, may remain. Hallelujah!
8. Bottom line, saints: brace yourself. NO ONE will be left untouched. Every church, every leader, every denomination, every individual will be affected. Not all will embrace His "move", but as Jesus said "he that has ears, let him hear...", let us heed the word of the Lord to now "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." See 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 The Glory of God SHALL be revealed. He IS coming for a church that is without spot or blemish. He IS working in us that which is pleasing in His sight and He WILL perfect that which concerns us. No doubt about it. This is HIS SHOW and He will have His way.
The last thing the enemy of our soul wants is for us to enter back into the Promised land. He'd much rather we stay in Egypt, eating and drinking and telling all the glorious stories of old. We're a lot "safer" there. But God wants us inhabiting that for which Christ died. Amen? Amen!
Pastor Jan
I'm going out on the limb a little with this teaching, but I really believe it's what the Spirit of God has been speaking deep into my spirit these last few weeks. He keeps bringing these things up - no matter where I'm reading in the Word, He seems to direct my thoughts and prayers back to this central theme. And that theme is what I'm going to share about now.
For teaching purposes, I'm going to speak as though I'm a history teacher and then draw some parallels with what's happening today. I'll try and keep my points as concise as possible.
1. The Lord always builds on relationships, not rules and laws. God appeared to Abram (Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-21; 17:1) with no mention of rules or laws. It's not that Abram didn't need them; it's that as he began to know and trust the Almighty, the law and rules were obeyed as a result of the relationship they had with each other. Abram (Abraham) stuck up for God and God stuck up for Abraham!
2. Abraham's son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob, had a relationship with the Almighty, but not to the extent of Abraham. They each had a shining moment when God met their need or redefined their life (and Jacob's "walk"), but they didn't seem to nurture the relationship with El Shaddai; they knew that their God was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but when it came down to trusting Jehovah Jireh not a thing was mentioned about the Lord. They instead sought the help of Egypt. Now, mind you, God understood where they would be spiritually at this time and provided a savior (Joseph) anyway. And thank God He does! How many times have we depended on Egypt for our help and because our God knew where we stood He provided for our help to come from that direction. But that wasn't His best! As a matter of fact, Israel stayed in Egypt over 400 years. People of the promises living in a strange land, surrounded by strange gods.
3. The children of Israel had their traditions, their stories of the God of Abraham, but as long as they had their prosperity (the land of Goshen) and their ministries (shepherds, farmers, ranchers for Pharoah), they really didn't give two hoots about the Living God. Why? Because they didn't have a relationship with Him. No relationship, no fellowship; no fellowship, no ability to really touch God; no touch, no power! But that was to change.
4. The catalyst for the change was..."Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." Exodus 1:8. When their comfort started waning, their focus started changing. Without the cry to God there will be no change, no deliverance. The children of Israel had gotten comfortable in their religion but just because they had prosperity and the acceptance of their world (up to that point) they were still not partaking of what God had promised. So, God would change that. He would reveal Himself to them as they had never known before. He would bring them out of their comfort, through a wilderness where the Law would be used to help forge a relationship with the Almighty, and He would bring them into the place of possession of the promises He had made to their ancestors. Their relationship with Him would be developed within the boundries of the Law, God's revealed purposes and procedures; as God would prepare His people to be His witnesses and change their world. By the time Joshua led the people across the Jordan, the Word of the Lord to him was - as I was with Moses, so I am with you (relationship). No one will be able to stand before you (or against you) all the days of your life. You will lead this people and divide to them their inheritance.
5. All of the above, I believe, is a type of what God is doing in the Church, the called out ones. 1 Corinthians 10:10,11 - "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
The Church didn't begin because someone read the Law or heard a rule. It began through a relationship that the Father initiated through sending His Son as THE Revelation of Love. He initiated the fellowship, much the same way the Father did with Abram. God came to us. Immanuel, God with us. Throughout the Gospels, the Acts, etc, we read of people building a relationship with Jesus and He with them. We read where people are "led" by the Spirit of God and whoever is "led" by the Spirit, THESE are the SONS of God. Led by the Spirit implies hearing and obeying, through a trust relationship, the voice of the Lord Jesus.
6. Unfortunately, and much like the son and grandson of Abraham and very much like the children of Israel, things began to change. For many years, though God has always had a remnant, the "Church", the "called out ones", became more and more content to be accepted by the world than accepted in the Beloved. The Church has gotten to the point where it is quite comfortable with the world's system, even though God says to not "love the world or the things of the world" (1 John 2:15-17). It's like we're Israel, back in Egypt, eating the best of the land. As long as there isn't any pressure, as long as we have our own land (tax exemption, "ministry", entertainment and industry (Christian music?), we seem quite content to live in the land of many gods as long as we're not bothered. As long as we can worship our "One God", we don't seem to bothered by the "many" around us.
7. But there is a transition that is taking place. Our God is in the process of bringing us to the place of relationship and then fellowship and power. But first, as it was long ago, there must be a moving of His people. A repositioning, a changing of the mind (repentance?), a separation from a reliance upon the world's system to a whole hearted faith in the One True God. And the thing that started Israel on that trek while "stationed" in Egypt was "now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." There is coming a time, not too far off, where the church - the true believers - will be scorned by the world. We will be dropped by the world as "last year's lover". And while there will be miracles take place during this time of transition, it will be a very trying time as God takes us from being spoiled brats to sons and daughters who are trained to reign with Him. The "wilderness", a time of pruning, cutting, separating, learning His ways once more, knowing His provision as never before, knowing His likes and dislikes to where we hate what He hates and love only what He loves. And, as He used the Law of Moses to "pound out" the unclean elements and provide revelation to those who had an ear to hear, He will again be doing that through the Word of God. Once again there will be prophetic preaching that will cut the flesh but heal the wounds. It will decree "thus saith the Lord" and the Spirit's Presence will be as it was when the Holy Cloud covered Mount Sinai. Our God IS a consuming fire and He will shake anything that CAN be shaken - so that His purposes, His Holiness, His and His alone, may remain. Hallelujah!
8. Bottom line, saints: brace yourself. NO ONE will be left untouched. Every church, every leader, every denomination, every individual will be affected. Not all will embrace His "move", but as Jesus said "he that has ears, let him hear...", let us heed the word of the Lord to now "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." See 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 The Glory of God SHALL be revealed. He IS coming for a church that is without spot or blemish. He IS working in us that which is pleasing in His sight and He WILL perfect that which concerns us. No doubt about it. This is HIS SHOW and He will have His way.
The last thing the enemy of our soul wants is for us to enter back into the Promised land. He'd much rather we stay in Egypt, eating and drinking and telling all the glorious stories of old. We're a lot "safer" there. But God wants us inhabiting that for which Christ died. Amen? Amen!
Pastor Jan
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