Monday, May 9, 2011

SPIRITUAL VISION

 



I AM SENDING YOU TO THEM TO OPEN THEIR EYES AND TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, AND FROM  THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD.  ACTS 26:17,18

The hand of the Lord is on my life and as He permits I open His word to you.  He is speaking to me about the current state of the church. The church we see today is not in accordance with God's word. There is a lack of spiritual vision in the Body of Christ and we have made it of very little importance. Spiritual vision is not an option! It is God’s grace and love for His children that makes available this distinguishable trait. Seeing the world in chaos, confusion, pain, and hunger it is important, as God's sons and daughters, to understand what is actually taking place and who is really in control. I mentioned in my last letter that ‘The Heavens Rule’. God is in control; it is God's plan that is unfolding on the face of this Earth and throughout the universe. “We are seated with Christ in heavenly places.” If we are ever going to realize our position and be over-comers we must accept the fact that God is in control. This is absolute, it will not change. I am asking the Holy Spirit for spiritual insight into the truth which is Christ Himself.

 There is a revelation in the Old and New Testament which I have briefly touched on in past letters.  That revelation is not a system; it is not a teaching to use as a means to control others.  The revelation of the Old and New Testament is the Person, Jesus Christ. My prayer for you comes from the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “... that God would grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation...” (Ephesians 1:17). If you and I are going to overcome, we must have a revelation of Jesus Christ.  All the answers to the questions of why things are happening and who is the cause are answered in the one person of Jesus Christ. 

There are several miracles mentioned in the book of John which he refers to as ‘signs’. John's final words to the church were, “These signs were written so that we may believe in the Son” (John 20:30-31 paraphrased). One particular miracle ‘sign’ that I would like to focus on is in John chapter 9 which reads, “As he went along he saw a man blind from birth.” By this ‘sign’ the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us that we are all born spiritually blind; Jesus came to heal us from that spiritual blindness. Jesus is talking about spiritual blindness as a result of Adam’s disobedience. Adam was cut off from God and his original relationship with God was severed.  Thereafter every directive of God was objective and outward, but with spiritual significance. All the blood sacrifices that our heavenly Father commanded of His people in the Old Testament were symbols of things to come. The disciples asked Jesus in John 9:2-3, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus answered very carefully, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. Jesus is saying that every man is spiritually blind but when he is ‘born again’ he receives sight. He is then able to see the work of God taking place in and through his life and it becomes increasingly evident. (Ephesians 2:10)  Without spiritual vision we cannot display the works of God, so how can the world believe? This is why spiritual vision is so important and why our Lord performed this ‘sign’ for us. This is for each member of the Body of Christ throughout the world.  With our spiritual eyes opened, we will be able to see how we are connected to each other by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 12:12,13)

God is permitting the persecution and torture of the children of God throughout this world.  This is not something new; we read about it throughout the history of the Church. Read the prayer, in Acts 4:23-28, that the early church offered when the hostility towards them began and note the conviction at the end of their prayer which should also be in us. Acts 4:28 reads, “They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” The persecuted church had no doubt about who was in control of the affairs of men. Our “Sovereign Lord” is in control. A new strength is undeniably coming to the Body of Christ through those with spiritual vision.  A fresh revelation of Jesus Christ is coming. For too long we have sat in our pews and listened to one man bring the Word of God and we leave without being changed. There's no revelation and therefore no transformation. You are a part of the Body of Christ as a whole.  This is not the movement of one ministry; this is the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the face of this earth. If you are a child of God you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I repeat Lord and Savior. You have the privilege of having insight into the Truth, which is Christ Himself! Revelation is not the revelation of earthquakes; it is not the revelation of the anti-Christ; it is not the revelation of the harlot; it is the revelation of Jesus Christ and this is what we His children should be governed by. We should be living by the revelation of Jesus Christ coming into our hearts. You might say, “I thought that was only meant for the apostles and the prophets”. No! God desires all His children to have this gift of revelation to be able to see beyond mere words and actions into the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ our pattern. He is the plan of God. He is the purpose of God on the move.

What does the Bible say concerning Abraham?  Listen to Stephen in Acts 7:2, “To this he replied, Brothers and fathers listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia.” What enabled Abraham to leave his homeland,his family, and his community of friends? It was the revelation of God, the revelation of Jesus Christ coming to him and equipping him through the journey. I admit he made mistakes just like we make mistakes. However, our Father is always bringing him back to the most powerful satisfaction that was in his heart, ‘He saw the day of the Lord Jesus Christ and rejoiced’ (John 8:56). This is the spiritual vision we must have if we're going to go through these times of great tumult and tribulation. Remember we are the Body of the living Christ. Hebrews 11:27,  “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing.” This will separate God’s children from the pretenders, because remember, for every original there will always be a counterfeit.  Neither Abraham nor Moses created their circumstances, God did. He knows precisely the time He is going to make Truth real to you as you walk with Him and are lovingly obedient to His Son and the Holy Spirit. Each step will require a new revelation of Truth to your spirit, to your heart. Hebrews 11:27 continues, “By faith he left Egypt not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” How is it possible to see someone who is invisible? He saw in his heart with spiritual vision. He persevered because he saw spiritually. The Word from Genesis to Revelation is Jesus Christ.


 MINISTRY BEGINS BY SEEING, BY REVELATION THROUGH AND OF JESUS CHRIST; NOT THE DOCTRINES AND TEACHINGS THAT HAVE COME INTO FORMATION.

How does ministry start? How is a man called? How is a man placed into position to impart life and bring growth to others? God asks Jeremiah in chapter 1:11, “What do you see Jeremiah?” Ministry begins by seeing, by revelation through and of Jesus Christ; not the doctrines and teachings that have come into formation. Those things are the result of a standard formed by man as an easy cure attempting to reveal the house to the house (Hebrews 4:6). We are His house and we are instructed “to make it plain.” How can we counsel, how can we teach someone else, if we haven’t had the standard revealed to us which is Christ Himself. You cannot take someone beyond the point of your walk and yet that is what we hear from pulpits. God is bringing judgment to the church. Remember we are a nation even as Israel in the Old Testament was a nation within the nations       (1 Peter 1:9). The purpose of Israel was to reveal God to the nations; the true God Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God was to be revealed through Israel’s conduct as they were given evidence that there is only one true God – Elohim!

God’s purpose has not changed. We, the Body of Christ, have the same responsibility and the same call.  Zechariah 4:2 reads, “What do you see Zechariah?” Spiritual vision is so important for every child of God, not just for those behind the pulpit but for every member from the smallest babe in Christ to the mature. You cannot progress without spiritual vision. Growth comes by seeing.   II Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces always reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” As you are seeing Jesus Christ in His word, you are being transformed. Without that revelation there cannot be growth and transformation to be able to stand in the midst of opposition like Jeremiah stood when confronted by the teachings of the false prophets and the priests. The true Church is coming forth.

There will be a falling away of many so called believers when the man of sin is revealed  (II Thessalonians 2:3). The true church, the born-again by the blood of the lamb, the saved, and the delivered will expose the false. The glory  of Jesus Christ is coming forth from within His children; coming forth from within each member regardless of where you live. God doesn't see us as isolated individuals, He sees us as a whole. When you are going through persecution and tribulation He sees us as one. God does not make exceptions, He loves us all and if He must bring correction, He will. He is correcting us now and it will increase according to the distance that we have gone astray. It is a privilege to live in America but the blessings that God, by his grace, has bestowed upon us has become a curse to His church. There are many of our brothers and sisters, members of the same body living in poverty in other countries, but rich in Christ. They possess the true riches of the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ our inheritance. God told Abram in Genesis 15:1, “Do not be afraid Abram; I am your shield, your very great reward.” Now substitute Abram’s name with yours and LIVE! 

Without a doubt I know the time is here for our brothers and sisters in the Third World countries to come forth with the revelation of Jesus Christ and the powerful, mighty faith of God that will shake nations. Heaven and earth will pass away but the kingdom of God and the Word of God will not pass away. You have been born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible; Christ himself. Genesis 1:11 says “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kind. . .”  I pray you receive this word in your heart to produce the life of Christ. This is why Paul sums it all up in this phrase, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Christ is living through you and in you. He’s dictating and governing your every action even through trials, persecutions and tribulations. This is the revelation to the Body of Christ.

Open your heart and say, “Lord here I am, reveal your son in me and through me.” May the spirit of God come upon you in waves of power and might.  Many of you will be saturated and consumed by the Holy Spirit, who will purge out doubt and unbelief. He cares for us with His love that never changes. Remember that God the Father chose us in Christ Jesus before this world in all its hatred, confusion and limitations. He chose us to be with Him forever. Awesome! Galatians 1:15 reads, “God . . . .was pleased to reveal his son in me”.  It brings pleasure to our Heavenly Father to reveal his son in us. This is the beginning of everything in God’s Kingdom. This is eternal life. I pray this word will strengthen your heart; will touch you; will minister life to you. My heart’s desire is to impart life to you wherever you are or wherever you’re listening. Amen and Amen!