Published on March 30th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Paul Keith Davis at White Dove Ministries.

The Brides End-Time Harvest Anointing – Part 1

By Paul Keith Davis

One of the great Old Testament prophecies regarding the promised Messiah is Isaiah 11:1-2. This passage prophetically foretells the anointing to be resident upon the Messiah, Who would usher in a new era in human history. It declares:

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear.

Gods “Sevenfold Spirit” is a wonderful mystery to highlight the functioning of the Lord’s Spirit in the earth. It is not in contradiction to the triune nature of God but a perfect and complete expression of His Spirit that demonstrates the fullness of His character and power. The Spirit of the Lord doesn’t have wisdom and revelation, counsel and might, knowledge and reverential awe; He IS all of these.

The Book of Revelations uses the phrase “Seven Spirits of God” in four passages. It is taken from two Greek words:

Hepta= meaning seven or more appropriately sevenfold.
Pneumata= meaning a plural rendering of spirits, breath or wind that can also be used to describe a singular object or person.

The seven aspects of the Holy Spirit provide a more clear definition of His nature. The Spirit of the Lord is an expression of who He is while wisdom and revelation, counsel and might, and knowledge and the reverential fear of God are what He is.

The Jewish Bible records Revelations 4:5 as follows:

From the throne came forth lightnings, voices and thunderings; and before the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God.

The Lord’s Ministry

A simple examination of the four gospels clearly illustrates the functioning of this manifestation of God’s Spirit through the One who is our perfect example. However, it does not end there! Astonishingly, the Lord Jesus prophesied that as He was sent by the Father so also are we to be sent by Him. He goes further emphasizing the works that He did we shall do also an even greater works shall we do because He has ascended to the Father. We simply cannot fulfill this responsibility with any anointing less than the full manifestation of the sevenfold Spirit of God.

The Bride of Christ is to be “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.” The body is to be an extension of the Head. We are called to carry on in these last days the fullness of the Lord’s ministry to bring in the harvest of the ages through a many-membered body. The Lord is depicted as a lamb slain having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelations 5:6 declares:

I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The sevenfold Spirit is a complete representation of His revelation (seven eyes) and power (seven horns) essential to accomplish His plan in the earth. In order for the Church to do the works that He did, fulfilling John 14:12, this same manifestation of the Spirit must also rest upon her! The Lord promised to baptize us in the Holy Spirit and fire; the Seven Spirits of God are manifested in fire.

Consecration and Preparation

It is no small responsibility for someone to be anointed in fullness with the sevenfold Spirit of God. Much prayer and preparatory refining must usher in the release of this powerful spiritual reality. Careful adherence to the leading of the Spirit must also follow in the administration of these mantles of the Spirit’s attributes. It will be the responsibility of God’s fivefold ministry gifts to prepare the Bride for her end-time anointing. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given for:

The equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12-14

There are numerous forerunners that have gone before us as spiritual prototypes to demonstrate a mature life in God and the fullness of His anointing. John G. Lake was described as a 20th century apostle of faith. Even after experiencing great success in evangelism and miraculous healings and deliverances, he describes being propelled into a deeper place in God following a nine-month season of prayer and fasting. It was there that he discovered the fullness of Christ that catapulted him into a much higher plain of revelation and power clearly demonstrated in the last decades of his life.

His messages vividly outline the progressions in his life that brought him to the place of total surrender to become a “Christ-man,” as he put it. For those who have been so prepared, the Seven Spirits of God will become a reality in this present age. The Church has seen only isolated few willing to pay the price and endure the persecution to become a mature man and the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Even so, this generation will produce a company of “dread champions” anointed in this way; an invitation is being extended to whosoever will.

Divine Pairs

The Seven Spirits of God work together in pairs. The spirit of wisdom and the spirit of understanding work in harmony with one another. The spirits of counsel and might work in unison as do the spirits of knowledge and reverential fear of God, all flowing from the manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord.

The gifts of the Spirit are appropriations of the Spirit operated by His will when the need arises. We do not possess the gifts; rather the gifts are manifested according to need. All nine gifts of the Spirit can operate within a believer filled with the Holy Spirit. However, the Seven Spirits of God are measurably greater demonstrations of the Spirit taking the mature and purified believer deep into God’s mysteries and power.

The Seven Spirits of God are “mantles” placed upon the believer to operate in full measure. It is a wonderful thing to receive a word of wisdom; but it is altogether greater to walk in the spirit of wisdom. The “mantel” that rested upon Elijah and Elisha was an Old Testament representation of this reality. An examination of the messages and miracles demonstrated in these ministries reveals the functioning of God’s sevenfold Spirit. The distinction is that the Spirit descended upon these prophets as the need arose while we are promised an abiding presence that is perpetual.

The Spirit’s anointing that came upon these Old Testament prophets rested for a season until God’s mandate was complete and then it lifted; in the ministry of the Lord Jesus the Spirit remained, tabernacled in the Son of God. The Bible declares that the Heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended as the appearance of a dove and remained. This is our promise as well!

Wisdom and Revelation

For the purposes of this month’s study we will emphasize understanding of wisdom & revelation. We will address in next months newsletter counsel & might and knowledge & reverential awe.

For the release of the mantle of wisdom and understanding we must pray and ask for it and the integrity to steward it well. The apostle Paul taught us that in Ephesians 1:17-19. Equipping and instruction will result, helping us to appropriately understand the Biblical offices and administration. We must earnestly desire these mantles and pray for the maturity, character, and grace to be endowed with them. Their benefits are enormous.

1. The eyes of our hearts are enlightened.
2. Insight to know what is the hope of His calling.
3. What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
4. What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

The spirit of wisdom is the supernatural ability of God that comes upon our spirits to see Jesus as He is and receive a spiritual understanding and knowledge of God’s word that enables us to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it in every situation. It also reveals God’s manifold and unsearchable wisdom and secrets affecting His plans and purposes. It means a deeper intimacy into the things of God.

The Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and the Bride is to be seated with Him in heavenly places. Therefore, this places the Bride at the right hand of the Father with Him. In this place, the Lord can communicate in a moment of time insight that would take many hours and even months to unfold otherwise. If we will learn the art of waiting on God, we will discover the mysteries of the Kingdom through these mantles.

Spirit of Understanding

The spirit of revelation/understanding is a comprehension of the things of God providing understanding with the mind giving insight with perception. Wisdom and understanding means the insight into the true nature of things with the ability to discern mode of action with a view to their results. It is the ability to not only know the things of God but also the application of them practically.

Revelation is the comprehension imparted into our spirits from the Holy Spirit and transmitted into our minds. It is the voice of God speaking to our spirits and informing our minds of that which God is going to do; the unfolding of hidden secrets to us by the Holy spirit; and the revealing of mysteries and insight into the future.

Daniel 1:17 and 5:11-12 conveys that Daniel was anointed with this same spirit and how it functioned in his life. As with Daniel, it will enable us to understand God’s plans and purposed in the unveiling of Himself. Gabriel came to Daniel saying, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.” (Daniel 9:22) Following that commissioning, Gabriel unveiled tremendous visions with far reaching implications and then explains their meaning. As demonstrated by this great prophet, humility and an excellent spirit are vital attributes in the operation of the spirits of wisdom and revelation.

Our Mandate

The spirits of wisdom and revelation will enable us to understand the deep mysteries and purposes of God that are kept hidden. The apostle Paul stated in Romans 16:25:

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past

Paul’s ministry clearly revealed mysteries of the Kingdom with this anointing and mantle of the Holy Spirit. When the spirit of wisdom is resting upon you, even while meditating upon the scriptures, suddenly deep truths are instantaneously imparted. The spirit of revelation is then present to give understanding of Truth and its relevant application.

Wisdom & understanding provides knowledge of the Godhead and allows us to know God more affectionately, leading to intimate appreciation of God Himself; the inner beauty of the Lord is His grace and Glory. Likewise, we must adorn the inner man with meekness and humility. The inner beauty of God is His grace; the beauty of holiness. The spirit of wisdom and revelation will give us the comprehension of these aspects of God. As 2 Corinthians 3:17 declares:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Published on March 29th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Dale Sides at Liberating Ministries for Christ International.

Fruit of the Spirit: Producing Christ-like Character for a Lifetime

Dale Sides

In 1972, as a junior at North Carolina State University, I was asked to teach the Bible at a small group meeting that we held in our dormitory. My major was forestry and I had been studying fruit at the time, so I decided to do a teaching on the fruit of the Spirit. I had recently received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I knew the verses on the fruit of the Spirit were found in Galatians 5, so with great zeal I set forth to prepare myself. I learned something then that is still true 35 years later—producing fruit takes time.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5: 22–23 KJV

Combining what I had learned in the natural realm and the spiritual realm about fruit, I came to the following conclusions:

• Fruit begins with a seed.

• The seed of God is the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:9).

• The seed germinates due to the tropisms of the light and heat of God’s love, because of the life within it (Genesis 3:11).

• A fruitful plant or tree will shoot its leaves up to reach for more light (of the Spirit) and deeper depth of the soil (the Bible).

• The process of producing fruit is just beginning at the time of germination; it usually takes years to develop the structure of the trunk, branches, and twigs before substantial fruit can be produced.

• Fruit is produce, and since it is a seed of the fruit it is from, it is “re-produce.”

• Producing fruit takes a lot of patience.

The Greek word for fruit is karpos. It simply and literally means “fruit,” but notice that it is in the singular, indicating that all these attributes are wrapped up together. In other words, they are all in one and inseparable. Fruit is also commonly referred to as “produce,” meaning it is a product or result of the labor or energy that was put out to bring it forth. Therefore, we could call the fruit of the Spirit the produce or result of the Spirit.

Galatians was written as a reproof to believers who were allowing their flesh to run wild instead of faithfully disciplining themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. The leading of the Holy Spirit is what produces the fruit of the Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to subdue our flesh with its passions and to bring forth the good character that is inherent within the seed. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convict the world of sin (John 16:8). The errors of our way and the strength of our flesh can only be overcome as we yield to His conviction and rely upon His strength. It takes time and patience to develop our faithful dependency upon Him. If a plant only received its nourishment sporadically, it would not develop properly. Consistent, perpetual nourishment is necessary to produce a healthy plant with healthy fruit.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it [cultivate it] and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

In the natural realm, we know that it takes more than pulling weeds to produce good fruit; likewise, in the spiritual realm, it takes more than denying the flesh to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. While we still need to pull the “weeds” out by putting off the flesh and dedicating ourselves to holiness and purity, I believe it’s possible for some fruit of the Spirit to be produced even in the midst of weeds. Years ago, I had a garden that was overgrown with weeds, yet I still discovered beans and tomatoes existing amongst them. However, they were hard to see and certainly not thriving. This is what happens to the witness of our Christ-like character—it will be obscured from view when weeds are allowed to overshadow it.

I once knew a man who was a dedicated drunk, and yet he was probably the best-hearted person I had ever met. However, those who knew him did not mention his good heartedness first and foremost when they spoke of him; they simply referred to him as a drunk. People generally will focus on what they can easily see; when the weeds are wild and overgrown, they are what will stand out in a person’s character. In other words, even though our garden may be producing fruit, if we do not weed it, that Christ-like character will be less visible. The Holy Spirit is faithful to point out the weeds to us as we yield ourselves to His conviction.

The fruit of the Spirit displays the character of Jesus Christ. I must confess that in my years of teaching on the subject of the Holy Spirit, I have committed the error of overemphasizing the gifts over the fruit of the Spirit. As I have matured spiritually, I can bear witness that the Holy Spirit is not only the provider of power for miracles, but He is also our inner witness and strength—urging and empowering us to become good people. We become good people as we produce good fruit. (Remember that goodness is a part of the fruit of the spirit.)

All the potential qualities for fruit lie resident within the seed God implanted within us at the time of our new birth. The Holy Spirit provides all the necessary factors to produce the character of Christ in an evident manner, and as we follow His leading these qualities will begin to manifest themselves in our lives: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Each one is a character trait of Jesus that will grow and mature and make us more and more like Him. Jesus said that when a tree does not bear fruit, it would be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10). When a tree ceases to bear fruit, its worth is over. This should serve as an incentive to produce more fruit in our lives!

If we feel we have been slack in this area of our lives, we know we can repent and that God will be faithful to forgive us. However, we need to begin now to patiently and faithfully discipline ourselves to pull the weeds out by yielding to the inner convictions of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to prune and nourish us (John 15:2 and 5).

It takes the faithful work of the Holy Spirit working on us day by day, week by week, and year by year to produce a man or woman who looks like Jesus. It requires our submission to the working of the Holy Spirit—to pull out the weeds He reveals to us and walk in obedience to His leadings.

He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6

These were some of the truths that even as a junior in college I was able to share in that little home group in my dorm. All these years later, I can say that the depths of these truths have become more of a reality as I have endeavored to tend my garden throughout my life. I know now from experience that it truly does require diligence and persistence to produce fruit that remains and to possess that Christ-like character for a lifetime.

When I ended my sharing in that college dorm many years ago, I left them with these words from Jesus, as I do now:

By their fruits you shall know them. Luke 6:44

Published on March 28th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Francis Frangipane at Francis Frangipane Ministries.

Grace Works!

Francis Frangipane

Whether we realize it or not, most Christians of Protestant lineage carry in their doctrinal heritage the revelation of Martin Luther, that “the just shall live by faith.” For whatever flaws may have otherwise been in Luther’s life, his contribution remains a living revelation in the consciousness of the modern Church.

Today, we know we are saved by grace and justified by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s grace remains a consistent, liberating power in our lives. If I fall, grace does not retreat; rather, it lifts me up. If I become virtuous, I know virtue is truly the result of grace working in me.

We must never forget that salvation is the gift of God. As it is written, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

God knew us before we were born. Before we knew Him, He was working in us in secret, drawing us to Himself. He led us to someone who then helped us find Christ. Of course, we told others that we made a “decision for Jesus,” but in truth, it was God who made a decision for us before the foundation of the world.

So, we can thank God in Christ for liberating us from a “works based” salvation, thanking also Paul for explaining grace so well in his epistles, and Luther for persevering to see this great truth restored. It is obvious why “salvation by grace” is the inspiration behind most of our greatest hymns.

Salvation and Good Works

Christ delivered us from a religion about God and brought us into a family fathered by God. We are not working for acceptance or to earn our salvation. Such a difference is profound.

Yet, the revelation that salvation is not based on our works should not be interpreted as though the family of God is a “work-free zone.” God has not liberated us from the realm of works, only from self-generated, religious “dead works.” As new creations, the Holy Spirit dwells in us in an eternal relationship. His presence is a living reality, capable of speaking to us, inspiring and directing our lives to fulfill God-inspired works.

Thus, just after Paul explained our salvation is not “of works,” he writes: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

We are not saved by our works, but neither are we saved from works. The truth is, we have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.” So we are saved by faith, but God has a plan for us that requires we work with Him to see it come to pass.

Destiny

Our destiny doesn’t just happen; it is connected to our fulfilling the “works, which God prepared beforehand.” God is producing something in each of us that fits into the grand scheme of His will on earth. It may be a life vocation or a prayer ministry or feeding the poor or developing spiritual gifts or editing for a Christian writer or raising godly children. The list is as endless as it is varied.

But whatever God’s will is for us, Paul says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).

“God is at work in you.” This is such an amazing reality. It does, indeed, inspire fear and trembling, yet it is also the source of great confidence. For if it is God who is working in us, He will soon be working through us. It will look like us working, but it will really be God manifesting His works through us.

You see, our lives are the outworking of God’s grace. Our task is to seek Him, to study His Word, to minister to Him through prayer and worship, and to draw close to Him so we can discern what He is doing in us. Then make His inner working visible through us.

This is exactly how Jesus revealed the Father. He said, “. . . the Father abiding in Me does His works” (John 14:10). Again, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working” (John 5:17). And again, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me . . . ” (John 9:4).

There should be God-inspired ideas, love-activated thoughts bubbling up into our minds from the redemptive Spirit of God. His inner working will ultimately affect every area of our lives. He will reach to others; He will work through us to reveal Jesus. These are the “good works” that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

He whose grace led us to Christ will also conform us to Christ as we obey Him. Yes, grace works!

Published on March 27th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from the archives of Derek Prince at Derek Prince Ministries.

Hope in Christ – Part 1

Derek Prince

Is there something in you that flinches at the mention of the word death? Is your first reaction to stop reading? If so, that is a sure indication that you, in particular, need to open your heart to this message. In our contemporary culture, there has been an unadvertised effort to remove anything that might be unpleasant or painful from the concept of death. We no longer speak about a cemetery, instead we use a phrase such as “a memorial garden.” And when the body of a dead person is displayed for view before burial, everything possible is done to minimize the changes caused by death.

Still, I believe it is important that we do not allow ourselves to forget one simple, objective, unchanging fact: death is real and it is unpleasant. It is painful and cruel. Any view of life that cannot accept this fact is deceptive and unrealistic. Any philosophy or religion that does not have a redemptive answer to the harsh reality of death is inadequate to meet the needs of humanity.

What distinguishes the Christian faith from all other religions and philosophies is that it has a positive, proven answer to death.

When modern medicine encounters a physical problem it seeks to provide three statements: a diagnosis, a prognosis, and a remedy. The diagnosis reveals the cause; the prognosis predicts the course that the disease will take; and the remedy, of course, is the answer to the disease.

When we face the topic of death, the Bible offers us all three of these. The diagnosis is stated very simply in Scripture: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJ).

So, death came through sin. If there had never been sin, there never would have been death. But because all men have sinned, death comes to all men. In its prognosis, the Bible indicates that death comes in three successive stages.

The first is spiritual death. God said to Adam, as He warned him about the tree of knowledge of good and evil: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17 NKJ).

God told Adam “in the day that you eat you will die.” As we understand death, Adam lived another 900 years and more. But in the very day that he sinned he was cut off, or alienated from, a life with God. In that moment he died spiritually. In Ephesians 2:1 Paul reminds the Christians in Ephesus what their spiritual condition was before they knew Christ: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (NKJ, emphasis added).

Paul was not speaking of a physical death, but a spiritual death—alienation from God. Once man’s spirit was cut off from God by sin, his physical life was like a battery that could not be recharged. It continued to function for quite a while, but ultimately it would run down. The second phase is physical death. This is what we actually call “death”—the separation of the soul from the body. There is a visible result in the condition of the body. It begins to decay. But the condition of the soul remains unchanged. The third phase is what the Bible calls “the second death.”

This is something that is known only through the revelation of Scripture: “This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire”(Revelation 20:14–15 NKJ). As we study this picture, we see two important elements. First, this second death is final, eternal, irrevocable banishment from the presence of God. From the second death there is no way back. Second, it is not a cessation of consciousness, for there is never a cessation of consciousness. Personality remains conscious both in this life and afterward. We never escape our own consciousness.

The remedy for death is, of course, Jesus—the One who came to avenge our death at the hand of Satan. He did this by taking our death upon Himself, by paying our penalty. In this way, He set us free from the fear of death. John 10 says Satan was the thief who came to steal. But Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” So Jesus gave us back our inheritance. In our relationship to Jesus, we become pleasing and acceptable to God. Condemnation is gone. Fear is gone. We can say with the apostle John, “The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8 NKJ).

How Did He Do That?

The entire revelation of Scripture centers in the atonement—the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, and His triumphant resurrection. Atonement restores the sinner to God’s favor. It is a total reconciliation and union. One vivid picture that illustrates the place of the atonement in the total message of the Gospel is that of a wheel. In a common wheel, there are three sections: the outer circle, the spokes and the hub. In this picture, the outer circle represents God’s complete provision for every area of our lives—spiritual, physical, and material, for time and through eternity. The total provision of God through the Gospel is like that full-orbed circle of the wheel. It covers everything. The spokes that support the outer wheel are the ways that God makes provision. One spoke would be forgiveness, which gives us peace; another spoke healing, which gives us health; another deliverance, which gives us liberty; and another would be sanctification, which gives us holiness. In that way, the spokes support the outer rim, which is God’s provision.

The hub—the very center—is the atonement. The spokes rest upon the hub. Without the hub they have nothing to support them. Also, through the hub comes the driving power that turns the wheel. It is the hub of the atonement on which everything else depends— through which the power for the Christian life is supplied. Hebrews 2:9 makes it more clear: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (NKJ) Notice that last phrase: “That He [Jesus], by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” He tasted our death; He took our place. That which was due to us came upon Him. This is stated again in Isaiah 53:6: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; And the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (NIV) The word that is translated iniquity also has the meaning of “rebellion.” The rebellion of the whole human race is summed up in that phrase. Each one of us has turned to his own way. But as Jesus hung on the cross, all our rebellion was laid upon Him. And then, upon Him as He hung there, came all the evil consequences of rebellion: sickness, rejection, pain, agony, and finally death. But He did not die for Himself; He died our death. He tasted death in our place.

Resurrection

The greatest event of all history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the heart of the Christian message. Without the resurrection there is no Christian message. It all revolves around the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ consists of three simple historical facts—events that have actually taken place in human history and are attested by many reliable witnesses. In 1 Corinthians 15:1– 4, Paul establishes himself as one of those reliable witnesses. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. (NKJ) Paul states for us the Gospel that he preached: the Gospel that is essential to believe for salvation. It centers, first of all, in the person of Christ. Second, it centers in three great historical facts that relate to Jesus Christ: He died, was buried, and rose again the third day. Imprint those facts on your heart. Paul says, “These are the facts by which you are saved— unless you believed in vain.” Paul is saying that if, at any time, they should get away from these basic facts into some kind of religious theories, fantasies, or subjective experiences, then they would have believed in vain. The same is true for you and me.

Paul offers two confirmations of these historical facts. First, they are attested by the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament. Second, they are attested by the testimony of many reliable witnesses. The primary confirmation of these facts is the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament. The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes that the Old Testament prophetic Scriptures had to be fulfilled—that not one of them could fail. This theme is woven throughout the entire New Testament—both in the life of Jesus Himself and in the subsequent activities of His apostles and of the early church. Not only had the resurrection been predicted in the Old Testament, but Jesus Himself clearly predicted His own resurrection because He was familiar with the Scriptures of the Old Testament prophets. The second source of confirmation is the testimony of many reliable witnesses who saw Jesus and fellowshipped with Him after He rose from the dead. So we have three facts: Christ died. He was buried. He rose again. And we have two sources of confirmation: the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament and the testimony of many reliable witnesses. Let me add five supporting details related to the resurrection that affirm its validity:

• It was attested by a much greater number of reliable witnesses than would be required to establish a fact in law.
• It produced a dramatic and permanent change in those witnesses, for which there is no satisfactory alternative explanation.
• Adhering to their testimony cost many of these witnesses their lives. They had nothing material to gain from it.
• It has produced a radical change in the course of history. History will never be the same, and there is no satisfactory alternative explanation for that change.
• The risen Christ has continued to reveal Himself personally as alive to countless millions—including me.

One night in 1941, while serving as a soldier in the British Army, I had a direct, personal revelation of Jesus. I was not unduly religious. I was not a person who was seeking something special or fanciful or out of order. There was nothing unusual in my psychology at that moment. But Jesus revealed Himself to me so genuinely and so personally that, from that day to this, I have never been able to doubt that He is alive. His sacrifice on the cross—and His subsequent resurrection—has provided me with the remedy for death. And it can do the same for you.

Published on March 14th, 2008 | Our Music, Songwriting, Technology, Worship

Deborah Ivrin over at Leap of Faith has an incredible voice and real heart for God.

Deborah has recently finished her vocals and added some orchestration to our piano track “Forever.”

Have a listen… Forever

Published on March 14th, 2008 | Our Music, Songwriting, Worship

This is a worship song I wrote back in the late 90′s. It was written on guitar and transposed to keyboards. We hope you enjoy it.

Lyrics and chord chart available for free in PDF format.

Published on March 7th, 2008 | Our Music, Technology, Worship

I always keep an Israeli flag in my studio because I love Israel. Always have… always will.

Last night while David and I were recording a song we felt a strong presence of the LORD in the room.

When I listen to recorded tracks in my studio I always use “Windows Media Player.” The default visualization was on and right before our eyes the Star of David appeared on the screen while the song was playing. Not once… but twice.

David and I both knew we had just experienced a close encounter of the God kind.

This morning while play this song on different computer, I saw the very same thing. The awesome thing about this is that we were recording a track that is going to Israel to be sung by Deborah Ivri.

Deborah over at Leap of Faith currently lives in Israel with her husband (who’s name is Israel) and their two young children.

In light of the horrific attack in Jerusalem yesterday, let’s all say an extra prayer for the nation of Israel today.

May the LORD use this song to His Glory and may His Grace and Power be displayed on behalf of the nation of Israel.

So, this song goes out to Israel. Here is the MP3 track of our song. Forever

Shabbat Shalom

Published on March 6th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Graham Cooke at Graham Cooke Ministries.

Transformation

Graham Cooke

God seeks to transform you so that His word can be fulfilled. There is simply no way around this process for present-past people except to be healed.

Joseph is a perfect example of this. In Genesis 37, we first read about the man whose humble willingness to listen to the Lord would eventually save his family and nation. But when God gave him, as a teenager, two dreams about that future, Joseph proved he was a long way from being that wise. Instead, he woke up and bragged to his older, rough and tumble brothers. They knew the meaning of those dreams, and the fact that a cocky pipsqueak expected to be in power over them. And they didn’t like it. They already had issues with Joseph, who was their father’s favorite, and who arrogantly strutted around in a fancy coat.

The prophetic dreams were clear: he would be above all of them. The reality of what happened next was the complete opposite. The brothers, tired of Joseph’s act, smacked him around, and dumped him into a pit. Now who was looking up at whom? Joseph had a prophetic word, but he had gone in the opposite direction.

To overcome issues like these, we must think about our destiny, and ask ourselves a number of questions:

• Who has God called us to be?
• What has God called us to do?
• What wisdom and direction has He placed within the prophetic words over our lives?
• What kind of person will we need to be in order for that word to come true?
• What steps do we need to take?
• What issues do we need to resolve within ourselves?
• What kind of personality will we need in order to live out our destiny?
• What depth of character will we need to develop?

If we have a significant call or anointing, we need the character to match. Any architect will tell you that the taller the building, the deeper and stronger the foundation needs to be. A building of forty stories cannot have the same foundation structure as a simple two-floor house. It needs depth and reinforcement to withstand the pressure it will face. Our spiritual foundation must provide the same security. If God wants to take you to a dizzying height, He must first take you that deep. And for present-past people, that means all of those ties must be severed by the Holy Spirit. You will have to be healed and make a choice to stand up and start moving again.

Q&A

Every month, Graham receives dozens of questions from people working through significant spiritual issues. It is impossible for him to answer every question, but in this space, Graham addresses some common queries.

Question: I heard you recently speak about present-past people. Can you elaborate on that?

Graham’s reply:

Two kinds of people exist in God’s Kingdom: those who live from their present to their past, and those who live from their present to the future.

Present-past people have to be broken of that outlook by God. All too often, we are tied to an event or issue in the past. Sometimes, it’s a wound or a betrayal or a particular sin. The truth is that if we are going to be anyone of stature in the Kingdom of God, we must learn the art of being healed. No one has the right to be wounded, only a right to be healed. Jesus bought that right with His own blood and sacrifice. He literally died so you and I could be free. Our call is to cast off our grave clothes, quit moaning or pretending to be dead, and to live the destiny God has put before us.

Present-past people have to break that backward-looking cycle before they can be accelerated into the fullness of God. If you are tied to your past and receive a word, it is impossible to move directly to the manifestation of that word. God has a process for us to break free from the past, be healed, and then move into our destiny. God will plunge you into a season of confrontation, and the revelation that could take you upwards will in fact drag you down until you and God work through these issues.

Published on March 2nd, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Frank Viola at Present Testimony Ministries.

The Kingdom, the Church, and Culture

Frank Viola

The Kingdom of God is the rule of God. And it rests upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God produces the church . . . the community of the King. The church, in turn, submits to the sway or rule of the Kingdom. As it does, the church expresses, represents, and advances God’s Kingdom on the earth.

Properly conceived, the church is the community of believers who possess Divine life. This community joyfully enthrones Jesus Christ, expresses His sovereign rule in the world, and as a result, enjoys the blessings of the future age here-and-now (Rom. 14:17; Heb. 6:5).

According to the New Testament, the church is not a building. Neither is it a denomination, a religious service, nor a non-denominational organization. The church is a living organism. It is simply this: A community of people who possess the life of God’s Kingdom and who express it together.

Your New Testament contains the epic saga of the early church. That saga centers on how God the Father has made Jesus of Nazareth both Lord and King of the universe. According to the Gospels, the master thought of Jesus was the Kingdom of God which is “at hand.” The book of Acts continues this thought and tells the story of how the Kingdom made its introduction in Jerusalem and spread to Rome.

The Kingdom of God is a dual reality. It is “already,” but it is “not yet.” The Kingdom is present. At the same time, it is future. The Kingdom is today; but it is also tomorrow. In effect, the future age of the Kingdom is present on the earth even though it is a future reality. With the coming of Christ, the Kingdom that belongs to the future age has broken into this present age. Consequently, those Christians who gather as community under the Lordship of Christ are living in the presence of the future.

The Kingdom of God is also a mystery. It does not set out to destroy human authority in this age. Instead, the Kingdom destroys the powers and principalities in the spiritual realm. Its enemy is the kingdom of darkness and the ruler of this age (Satan). Put another way, the Kingdom of God does not seek to change the political order of things by fleshly effort. It rather makes changes in the spiritual order that affect the lives of men and women at a deeper level.

The Kingdom works quietly and secretly among men and women. It is not a forceful power that cannot be resisted. The Kingdom is rather like a man planting a seed. Its success depends on the type of soil in which it is planted. Like a mustard seed, its growth is slow and imperceptible. Yet at a future day, the Kingdom will be manifested in great power and glory. The fact that the Kingdom is fulfilled today, yet it is waiting to be consummated, is indeed a mystery.

In all of Paul’s letters, the theme of the Kingdom of God appears. However, Paul’s letters were primarily written to Gentile audiences. Thus he speaks more of the Lordship of Christ than he does of the Kingdom of God. For Paul, Jesus as Lord is a synonym for the Kingdom. In addition, terms such as “reigning,” “rule,” “majesty,” “Lord Jesus Christ,” “King of kings,” “Lord of lords,” “Christ the Head,” “the age to come” are all Paul’s shorthand ways of describing the Kingdom.

Tragically, the saga of the early church has been obscured for centuries because our New Testament books are arranged out of order. The present arrangement of the New Testament books has created a seedbed for the very damaging “cut-and-paste” approach to Bible study, where out-of-context “proof-texts” are lashed together to support man-made doctrines and practices.

In Greek mythology, a man named Procrustes owned a magical bed that had the unique property of matching whoever laid upon it. But his bed was not so magical. Procrustes had a crude method for creating his “one-size-fits-all” bed. If the person laying upon it was too small, Procrustes would stretch his limbs out to fit the bed! If the person was too large, Procrustes would chop off the person’s limbs to make them fit!

The modern concept of “church” is a Procrustean bed. Scriptures that do not fit its shape are either chopped off (dismissed) or they are stretched out to fit its mold.

Many of the practices of the contemporary church are without Scriptural merit. Yet we justify them by our “cut and paste” hermeneutic. These man-invented practices are at odds with the organic nature of the church. They are also contrary to the Kingdom of God. In fact, they hinder the Kingdom from advancing. They do not reflect the rule of Jesus Christ, nor do they express His Headship nor His glorious Personality (the very things the church is called to bear). Instead, they reflect the enthronement of man’s ideas and traditions, smothering the church’s natural expression.

Regrettably, many people today justify these practices by saying that the church is different in every culture. Therefore, in our culture, God accepts the clergy-system, the performance-spectator order of worship, the single pastor (or bishop), the practice and mentality of church being a place where you “go,” and a host of other practices that were created around the 4th century as a result of Christians borrowing from the Greco-Roman customs of their day.

But this argument is severely flawed. Let me explain. I will borrow from Paul when he said, “does not nature teach you?”

It is clear from the New Testament that the church is a living organism. It’s a new biological entity. To borrow C.S. Lewis’ language, it’s a “new species” (Eph. 2:15; Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 10:32; Col. 3:11; 2 Cor. 5:17). This organism is produced when the living seed of the gospel of Christ is planted in the hearts of women and men, and they are allowed to gather together. Interestingly, the organism of the church has a DNA which produces certain identifiable features. Some of them are: The experience of community, the fruits of the Spirit, a familial love and devotion among its members; the every-member functioning of the Body of Christ, the centrality of Jesus Christ, open-participatory gatherings, etc.

Now . . . while the seed of the gospel will naturally produce these particular features, how they are expressed may look slightly different from culture to culture. For instance, I once planted an organic church in the country of Chile. The songs they write, the way they interact with each other, their meetings, what they do with the children, all look different from an organic church born in England, or the United States, or Australia. However, the same basic features that reside in the DNA of the church are all present. Never did any of these churches produce a clergy system, a single pastor, an order of worship that rendered the majority passive, a hierarchical structure, etc.

In nature, we have a flowering shrub called a Bigleaf Hydrangea. If you took the seed of that shrub and planted it in the soil of Indiana, it would yield pink flowers when it blooms. If you took that same seed and planted it in the soil of Brazil or Poland, it would produce blue flowers. And if you took the same exact seed and planted it in another kind of soil, it would yield purple flowers. (The reason has to do with the different ph levels in the various soils.) However, the Bigleaf Hydrangea will never produce thorns or thistles. It will never bear oranges or apples. Nor will it grow tall like a tree. Why? These features are not within the DNA of the seed.

In the same way, the church of Jesus Christ . . . when planted properly and left on its own without humanly-devised interference . . . will produce certain features by virtue of its DNA. Like the Bigleaf Hydrangea, it may look different from culture to culture, but it will have the same basic form wherever it is allowed to flourish. However, when man introduces human traditions into this living organism, the church loses her organic features and produces foreign elements that run contrary to its DNA.

Another example would be the basic element of human life. Humans who are native to China appear different than humans who are native to North America. Humans who are native to Sweden look different from humans who are native to North Africa. However, the human DNA is the same for all, and the basic features of humanity are present for each one. By contrast, I once saw a man who had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to make him look like a cat! This is a violation of the natural DNA of humanity. It is unnatural and artificial.

Consequently, the culture may slightly change the appearance of an organic church depending on where it is born. However, the culture should never be allowed to govern its expression by violating its genetic code.

The church expresses and advances the Kingdom of God best when she is allowed to express herself the way that God created her, and when she refuses to be co-opted by the traditions and organizational systems of fallen humans.

Published on March 1st, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Francis Frangipane at Francis Frangipane Ministries.

To Dwell Upon God

Francis Frangipane

It is hard for us in this anxious, fearful age to quiet our souls and actually dwell upon God in our hearts. We can engage ourselves with Bible study or other acts of obedience; in varying degrees we know how to witness, exhort and bless. We know how to analyze these things, and even perfect them; but to lift our souls above the material world and consciously ponder God Himself seems beyond the reach of our Christian experience.

Yet, to actually grasp the substance of God is to enter a spiritual place of immunity; it is to receive into our spirits the victory Christ won for us, which is oneness with God in Christ.

Thus, we cannot content ourselves merely with the tasks we are called to perform. Ultimately, we will discover that study and church attendance are but forms which have little satisfaction in and of themselves. These activities must become what the Lord has ordained them to be: means through which we seek and find God. Our pleasure will be found not in the mechanics of spiritual disciplines, but that these disciplines bring us closer to God.

Paul’s cry was, “That I may know Him!” (Phil. 3:10). It was this desire to know Jesus that produced Paul’s knowledge of salvation, church order, evangelism and end-time events. Out of his heart’s passion to know God came revelation, the writing of Scriptures and knowledge of the Eternal. Paul’s knowledge was based upon his experience with Christ.

On the other hand, we have contented ourselves not with seeking the face of God, but with studying the facts of God. We are satisfied with a religion about Christ without the reality of Christ.

The Bible is the historical record of man’s experiences with the Almighty. Out of personal encounters people had with the living God, our theological perspectives have developed. But knowledge about God is only the first step toward entering the presence of God. As much as the Bible is a book of truths, it is also a map to God. As Christians, we study and debate the map yet too often fail to make the journey.

Love Surpasses Knowledge

There is a place greater than knowledge; it is a simple, yet eternally profound place where we actually abide in Christ’s love. This is, indeed, the shelter of the Most High.

Remember the apostle’s prayer was that we each would “know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge.” As important as knowledge is, love “surpasses knowledge.” Doctrinal knowledge is the framework, the vehicle, that opens the door toward divine realities, but love causes us to be “filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19).

There is a dwelling place of love that God desires us to enter. It is a place where our knowledge of God is fulfilled by the substance of God. Listen to the Amplified Bible’s rendering of this verse: “May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (Eph. 3:17-19).

Is this not our goal, to be rooted deeply in love, to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of God’s love and to know for ourselves the deep, personal love of Christ? Can any goal be more wonderful? Indeed, to be filled and flooded with God Himself is the very hope of the gospel!

You see, God cannot truly be known without, in some way, also being experienced. If we had never seen a sunrise or a starry night sky, could any description substitute for our own eyes beholding the expansive beauty? Awe comes from seeing and encountering, not merely from knowing that somewhere a beautiful sky exists.

Likewise, to truly know God we must seek Him until we pass through the outer, informational realm about God and actually find for ourselves the living presence of the Lord Himself. This is the “upward call” of God in Christ Jesus. It draws us through our doctrines into the immediacy of the divine presence. The journey leaves us in the place of transcendent surrender, where we listen to His voice and, from listening, ascend into His love.

The earth’s last great move of God shall be distinguished by an outpouring from Christ of irresistible desire for His people. To those who truly yearn for His appearing there shall come, in ever-increasing waves, seasons of renewal from the presence of the Lord (see Acts 3:19-21). Intimacy with Christ shall be restored to its highest level since the first century.

Many on the outside of this move of God, as well as those touched and healed by it, will look and marvel: How did these common people obtain such power? For they shall see miracles similar to when Jesus Christ walked the earth. Multitudes will be drawn into the valley of decision. For them, truly, the kingdom of God will be at hand. But for those whom the Lord has drawn to Himself, there will be no mystery as to how He empowered them. Having returned to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, they will have received the baptism of love.