It's time for Acts

 

The book of Acts could very well be the most important book in the Bible for the Church of the living God at this crucial point in it's history, for it is full of insight into how the Church was born and grew. This model revealed to us in the Book of Acts should never have been deviated from, yet sadly, the churches of our day have wandered far from it, and the fact remains  - we must get back to it, and remodel ourselves after it, or we will never fulfill our corporate destiny. We should all be studying the first ten chapters of the Book of Acts very carefully,  line upon line.

In Acts 2:42, the scripture testifies they "continued stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine" z- to be blunt, a lack of apostle's doctrines has directly led us to the weakened, emancipated, shell of the church we read about in the book of Acts. Simply put, pastors cannot replace apostles in the lives of the believers, they are a poor substitute. Since God is well aware of this, He is raising up and releasing apostles to the nations today, to teach doctrine that reflects his heart and mind, not man's. 

It also says in verse 42, they continued stedfastly in fellowship,  by breaking bread together. Who you eat with is who you will truly draw close to. The unique thing about their fellowship then, as opposed to ours today, was that they met together daily. Verse 46: "AND THEY CONTINUED DAILY WITH ONE ACCORD in the temple, and breaking bread FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart". The apostles treated their disciples like Jesus treated them. They made themselves available for the people to meet and fellowship with daily. If leadership did this today, the people would mature 7 times as fast as they normally do ( if they do at all) because they would have 7 times the amount of spiritual food and fellowship they're used to getting. 

"They met daily in the Temple and house to house" is a key aspect of the early church that virtually no one is following today. Sadly, the ones that are, are usually cults. We haven't truly given our lives in service to God and one another, not really. We typically meet only once or twice a week - and then only for a few hours, with those hours spent staring at the back of someone's head, not their face. Haven't you noticed you often get more out of a shared meal after the service than you do the service itself? The church in Acts met every day, in the church building of their day and in their homes. They broke bread and ate meat together daily, in this way every belly and heart was satisfied.  Could the "daily bread" in the Lord's prayer be fellowship with the Lord in each other?

In acts 5:42 we again see that the Apostles never ceased to teach and preach Jesus Christ, daily in the Temple and house to house.  They never took a day off. Their lives did not belong to them anymore at all. If we actually did this today, if we actually met with each other daily, if we actually became family to one another, we would all be so much healthier. We say we're a family, the family of God, but we don't live like it. Temptations and satanic attacks would have a much harder time getting to us, and be much weaker when they did, if we were constantly surrounded by each other's love and care. Look at any animal on earth, they all guard and protect their young, fiercely. God wants us to guard each other this way. Satan's time worn strategy to isolate us from one another as much as possible.  It's the banana that gets seperated from the bunch that gets peeled. 

We desperately need Acts 2:43 today. We need fear to come on every soul - a holy fear and reverence for God and this will happen as a result of God's apostles moving in the miraculous the way the early apostles did. We need mighty signs and wonders, like Elijah displayed when confronting Baal's false prophets.  Or Peter and Paul, who confronted sorcerers and governments and all in authority with the Universe ' true authority. We need more confronting and less capitulating. We need more "acts" and less facts i.e. talk.

2:44 - In every city, we need ALL THAT BELIEVE to be together as one in Christ, not in any man-made, man led organizations.  This is the workbof God's Spirit and a sure sign he is among us for this kind of unity can only be achieved supernaturally, when all flesh is submitted to him and him alone. NO MORE hundreds of churches in each city all seperate and autonomous, identifying with their denomination more than Christ, identifying more with a man, past or present,  more than Christ. For while one saith I am of Wesley, and another, i am of Luther, are ye not carnal? Divisions prove you are carnal and walk as men. Once we fulfill John 17:21, then we will have "all things in common". Like a healthy marriage,  when i am in Christ,  living in his kingdom,  all i have is not mine, it's ours. We do not condone laziness but we do meet all legitimate needs with love. No one should ever be uncared for, whether it's clothing, food or a warm hug. There are no homeless or fatherless in the Body of Christ. Our attitude should always be " if i can help, i will". We cannot claim to love God if we do not love one another. 

Look at Acts 4:32-37. They even sold their land and homes out of obedience to God and love for their brethren. What do "things" gain us but temporal pleasures anyway? Their hearts and minds were on things above, as Jesus instructs us all to do. Ohh how wise they were! Because a few years later, the Romans took or destroyed their homes and lands. They laid the money from the sale of their lands and homes and laid it at the apostle's feet, for God knew he could trust them. He had previously sent them out with "no money in their purse" and they obeyed him and went, proving they weren't motivated by money. They could not be bought. They refused to turn God into a commodity to be bought and sold. This freedom from a lust for worldly wealth is a hallmark of all who flee from Babylon.  Love for the poor and needy among them compelled the apostles to give awayvthe wealth they were receiving.  They were doing the Word, not just preaching it. You too will gladly give your worldly wealth and possessions, if you truly do esteem your brethren higher than yourself.  When Jesus testified he had "nowhere to lay his head", he was not lamenting but rather showing us as our example,  the life he chose to lead. He could have easily bought homes and land but chose not to. He trusted completely in his heavenly Father to care for his needs each day, as should we all, when we are walking in obedience to his will. 

Part two soon...comment below

 Is your love for Me a secret to all you meet?

Is the love we share a secret love affair? 

Do you wear My Word as a ring around your heart for all to see?

Or is our relationship one you're hiding?

Who is it you're trying to please?

People or Me?

Are you ashamed of our love?

Do you show it enough?

Think upon questions such as these -

you who declare your love for Me.

Will you declare your love for Me quite publicly?

Even among the multitude who hate Me so?

Or will you deny Me before the Cock thrice crows?

Do you have respect for men and their acceptance?

Do you fear what they can do more than My judgments?

Oh do not fear what man can do to you -

for it only affects your flesh and it's temporary, 

While I AM the landlord of Heaven and Hell,

I decide for eternity where all souls will dwell.

"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men

(and He doesn't just mean wearing a t-shirt or bracelet with His name on it)

Him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven."

The Willy Wonka Prophecy (received March 25th, 2021)

 

The following is based on the original 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" -

MANY are about to find their "Golden Ticket" - their ticket into paradise - into the realm of wonders and delights, far from the ordinary into the extraordinary, from the natural to the supernatural - Far from the boredom and maddening monotony of Christianity as a religion into the paradise that is God's presence. In His presence alone is "Fulness of Joy" because in His presence alone the miraculous becomes a lifestyle - a daily reality. We go from just reading His book to becoming a chapter in it. 

WE all come from the supernatural realm, put into the natural realm for a moment, for a blink of an eye, but make no mistake - WE ARE ALL MIRACLES, each one of us was born of the miraculous, for a miracle is by definition something that can only occur with God's Divine intervention,  and each of us was formed by God in our mother's womb. This is why movies and TV shows are so popular,  with their amazing special effects, because deep inside all of us is a yearning to experience the supernatural,  wondrous realm from which we came, and to which we're all invited to return.

IN the movie, the boy finds the ticket as one born out of season. It seemed all hope was lost. It appeared all the tickets had been found: it was too late for him. But things are not always as they appear, which is why we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Unexpectedly,  one of the ticket holders was exposed as a fraud. Prophetically,  we see two insights from this - 

One is that for many in the Body today, they've given up hope of ever experiencing the kingdom of heaven the way the early church did in the book of Acts. Many despair of ever experiencing a single, bonafide miracle, personally. Many believe that others more worthy than they have their "Golden Ticket", but for whatever reason the miraculous is not for them (some of this kind of thinking can come from churches that actually teach from a position of unbelief, some have "little faith", some have no faith at all. Some teach the concept that the pastor and a few elders selected by him are professional Christians while the rest are amateurs). God is a God of "suddenlies". He can and will "suddenly" visit this generation and many will begin to experience the supernatural like never before.

SECONDLY, God is exposing frauds - those pretending to be members in good standing in the Body of Christ but are actually imposters, masquerading as saints. Indeed, fraud in all areas of government is being exposed, secular and spiritual. Sadly, many in America were aware of the Democrat candidates corruption, yet voted for them anyway,  because they themselves are corrupt. It's the same in churches with corrupt leadership. Wicked people love wicked leadership. 

THE boy in the movie represents this, the latest and perhaps final, generation.  His name is "Charlie" which means "Free Man". God is raising up young people with Joshua's anointing - destined to become free from their parent's obstinate unbelief and pride, free from Babylon,  from the religion's of men that resist the power of God. Though the spirit of religion is a "Strong Man" it is about to be robbed and spoiled of a multitude of souls. Many "Charlies" are about to find their "Golden Ticket" , the Holy Spirit, our true golden ticket to the wonderland otherwise known as Heaven. Heaven is wherever God is present. This is why Jesus said "The kingdom of Heaven (the kingdom of the miraculous, made possible by God's presence) is within you, because upon our invitation God lives within us. 

CHARLIE was poor, from a poor family. The poor hold a special place in God's heart. Jesus said the Gospel is for them - God delights in helping the needy, the poor and needy not the rich and greedy. God delights in feeding the hungry. He loves to clothe the naked. He wants to provide safe, warm shelter, full of love to those who lack it. He deeply cares for the "poor in spirit" too. They will be filled, in the coming revival. The suicidal will experience revival. 

THOSE who don't see themselves in their true condition, i.e. in desperate need of revival,  will not take part in the coming movement inspired by God's Spirit. They will make excuses.  "Then, the Master will say Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor, and the maimed and the crippled and the blind". Invite the hungry and the thirsty, who realize they're in spiritual poor health, who have a deep longing for God's presence,  who miss their daddy, like the prodigal son did - these shall be filled.

PEOPLE submitted to the spirit of religion are satisfied, full, yet stagnant,  dry, fat and lazy, spiritually, which is what happens when we are content to sit around week after week, hraring the Word but never becoming the Word, never doing it. For them, God is a part of their life, not their life. They are happy that God laid His life down for them, but they will not lay their lives down for Him. They honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. They pledge their undying love to Him at the wedding altar but they never consummate the marriage.

NO, it's the poor, the passionate, the desperate who say to God "i need You, not just what You can give me or do for me" who are about to receive the desire of their hearts. They're about to find their "Golden Ticket" , the Holy Spirit, like the believers Paul met on the road in Acts 19. Indeed, an Apostle of God's first priority with any believers they meet is to make sure they are "filled with the Holy Spirit". Apostles by example are to teach the saints how to walk with, flow in and constantly submit to the Holy Spirit. The poor in spirit are about to become very rich! 

THE boy in the film chose his grandfather to accompany him to the Chocolate Factory (our promised land). Scripturally, the younger often lead the older. One of the hallmarks of this up and coming generation of young people wholeheartedly pursuing God is that they will honor and respect their elders. (not that they will accept the bondage and traditions of man their father's generation walk in. They will not be as their fathers "a stubborn and rebellious generation that set not their heart aright, and who's spirit was not steadfast with God." (Psalm 78) These youth will respect their elders as David did Saul and they will invite them to accompany them as they enter fully into and possess their "promised land". These young, faith filled warriors will " let no man despise their youth". Oh how many young people,  fully anointed and called by God, are told to sit in their pew silently by pastors who do not have the father's heart! 

The boy and his grandfather represent Joshua and Caleb entering into the Kingdom together,  as one, the older generation and the younger, fully believing God's word to them, whether written or spoken (there'll be none of this nonsense about God only communicating through His written word) but make no mistake, the younger generation will be in charge. 

CHARLIE found the golden ticket in the gutter, a sewage drain. Now hear me well - look in the gutters I say! Go to the sewers, to the "highways and byways" - find the freaks and the geeks, the misfits and the unfit, everyone on the fringe, unloved and unwanted, overlooked and underappreciated. The malcontents.   These are the ones God will populate  His magnificent kingdom with in the coming revival. The spiritual orphans and widows and the fatherless, will all find the love they lost, the love their hearts are aching for. There is so much "buried treasure"  lying hidden just beneath the surface, that is never discovered because the "surface" doesn't appear valuable in the eyes of men. Amazing, powerfully anointed men and women will be found among the transgenders and homosexuals and other sexual deviants. Among the pews of the world will be found exceptionally anointed saints heretofore unknown. Godly leadership will mine the gold in their spirits, not their wallets.

BY the way, in the movie, the Oompa Loompa's represent God's angels, speaking to those spoiled, sitting in pews, eating junk food sermons, that taste sweet but are really unhealthy.  They say 

"Oompa, Loompa, doompa di do

I've got a perfect puzzle for you.

Oompa, Loompa, doompa di di

If you are wise you'll listen to me.

What do you get when you guzzle down sweets?

Eating as much as an elephant eats?

What are you at getting terribly fat? 

What do you think will come    of    that?

I DON'T LIKE THE LOOK OF IT!

Oompa, Loompa, doompa di dar,

If you're not greedy, you will go far!

You will live in God's presence too,

like the Oompa Loompa di's do!

IN the movie, Charlie is tempted by greed and indeed, these modern day "Charlies" will be tempted by at least one of the "three g's"- the gold, the glory or the girls. But like Charlie in the movie, after succumbing to temptation,  they will repent. Can you remember the look of delight on Willy Wonka's face when Charlie gave the stolen candy back? Willy Wonks represents our heavenly Father (yes, he's that cool)! He was so happy he'd found someone he could give his Chocolate Factory to. It is our Father's good pleasure to give us his kingdom, with all the pleasures and delights it contains! Oh how He longs for people He can trust, who will desire His kingdom over eathly, fleshly ones, who's hearts are set on heaven's wealth, not that which this world lusts after, that is soon passing away. The most High rewards the most low by exalting them to the highest positions. Those who walk in true humility will be given great power and authority simply because they believe. Remember how Jesus wasn't interested in glorifying Himself but rather His Father? We must have this same mind.

AND now, at the last, i leave you dear ones, with this - at the end of this remarkable film the elevator broke the "glass ceiling", bursting through to soar high in the heavens. A "glass ceiling" by definition is "an unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession,  especially affecting women and minorities." Im telling you - i prophecy the glass ceiling set in place by the Pharisees of today disguised as pastors, or any leadership that loves the hierarchy that keeps them in leadership to the exclusion of all others, is soon shattered.  All who are overlooked for promotion by men will find themselves promoted by God. They will be gloriously free to fly in the heavens, in the realm of faith where God dwells, as Rev:19:17 declares. "Flying as birds" speaks to us of rising above our "earth", our flesh, with all it's lusts and desires, trying to pull us away from God's holiness into continual, repetitive sin. No! We're destined to be free like Charlie in the elevator, soaring high like Eagles, not remaining like chickens in a cage. We're breaking free of our Chrysalis to fly wherever the wind of God's Spirit blows us. "The wind blows wherever it pleases" it cannot be controlled by men. You hear it's sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it's going - so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.

 So, come, join me as I enter God's Kingdom of Delights. NO MORE RELIGION! IT'S been exactly 50 years since the movie came out. It's time for Jubilee! It's time for us all to be restored to our rightful inheritance.  

"A LITTLE NONSENSE NOW AND THEN IS RELISHED BY THE WISEST MEN" - Willy Wonka

Who can take a sunrise, and sprinkle it with dew? 

Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two? 

THE CANDY MAN, OH THE CANDY MAN CAN!

THE CANDY MAN CAN CAUSE HE MIXES IT WITH LOVE 

AND MAKES THE WORLD TASTE GOOD!

Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh?

Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie? 

THE CANDY MAN,  OH THE CANDY MAN CAN!

THE CANDYVMAN CAN CAUSE HE MIXES IT WITH LOVE

AND MAKES THE WORLD TASTE GOOD!

THE CANDY MAN MAKES, EVERYTHING HE BAKES,

SATISFYING AND DELICIOUS! TALK ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD WISHES,

YOU CAN EVEN EAT THE DISHES!

Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream?

Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream?

The Candy man! The Candy man can!

The Candy man can cause He mixes it with

LOVE and makes the world taste good! 

Thank you Jesus for being our Candy man! 

      A leadership strategy from Washington to Beijing, is to keep the masses entertained - fill their lives with frivolities, whether amusement parks and recreation or movies and TV shows or music, anything at all, sports for example,  to keep them happy and distracted from the truth. People won't mind as much losing their freedoms, one by one, as long as they're comfortable,  well-fed and have plenty of pleasures "IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME FOR MEN SHALL BE 

1) LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES- everything else that follows on this list is a result of this: keeping self on the throne of their hearts instead of Jesus.

2) COVETOUS - "greedy, desirous of wealth or possessions". After all, what is the "American Dream"? Isn't it to have a nice home and a nice car? Filled with nice things? When self is who we're serving, we want to be pampered, spoiled.  We pay lots of time and attention to ourselves. Not only must "self" vacate the throne of our hearts but we must crucify Christ daily. 

3) BOASTERS - When we're full of ourselves,  when we love self above all,  we become prideful or "full of pride", in it's number 4 on the list -

4) PROUD -  We end up thinking more highly of ourselves and less highly of others. "Be not highminded but fear". We end up boasting of ourselves and our accomplishments rather than boasting in the Lord. We seek and accept the praise of men.  We seek ourvown wealth instead of the wealth of another 1 Cor:10:24. A deadly result of pride is that it leads us to become

5) BLASPHEMERS- "To speak irreverently of God or sacred things" Of course the worst form of blasphemy is to speak irreverently or impiously of the Holy Spirit.  This will be a common denominator among those pronounced unworthy at the Judgment throne of Christ,  for if we reject or mock or deny the Holy Spirit we cannot come to know Christ intimately as a bride should. The Holy Spirit truly is our "Bridal Attendant" preparing us to be with our God-groom forever. When we do not reverence God but choose to reverence ourselves or our pastors our religion ends up replacing our relationship with God through Hus wonderful Spirit. 

     All that follows - "DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION,  TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS (boy have i encountered this in my time), INCONTINENT (lacking in moderation or self-control, especially in sexual desires), FIERCE (as opposed to gentle and meek), DESPISERS OFVTHOSE THAT ARE GOOD (think Trump - a good man, widely despised), TRAITORS,  HEADY (rashly impetuous), HIGHMINDED, and, back to the beginning of this lesson - LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD.    

     The leadership knows the people love pleasures above all else because they themselves are that way, in fact, the reason they become leaders is often so they can pursue pleasures. They exalt themselves so they can become rich in this world's pleasures and that includes goods and things. They want to ensure they have all that their hearts desire, so they convince people the people that they (the leaders) are their (the people) servants when indeed the people are serving them . "Public Servant" has become an oxymoron. This practice of convincing people to give them their money and attention is just as prevalent in churches as it is in the halls of Congress. 

     Today's typical church leadership use the same tactics as worldly leadership does - a combine of fear and fun; threats and rewards to maintain their iron gripbon leadership "I'm essential to your spiritual health," they lead us to believe. They threaten us with eternal damnation if we do not submit to them, while placating us with entertaining music and sermons, and plush carpeting and air conditioned seating, making surevour flesh is comfortable. The people feel like they're at a concert or Broadway show, the set up is the same, why not pay for it! For the people (in the flesh, not the Spirit) love to sit and watch, just like they do at a concert or a movie, or in frontbof their televisions for that matter. Watching others do (sports for example) is the model forblife the world embraces. The churches too, ever watchingvthe pastor deliver his sermons, never giving one themselves. The people are happy to honor and exalt men who will gladly do "THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY" for them, so they can be considered special, set apart from the rest, chosen by God, though most often chosen by man, not God. The ones God choises are told to sit and be quiet, or, if faithful enough TO THE CHURCH, LOYAL ENOUGH TO THE PASTOR, they might get to usher. Everyone has a call from God but few are chosen by the pastor to pursue it. In the religious churches they end up diluting the call, compromising it, or abandoning it altogether. The people ever hear but never do, endlessly watching a select few do all the work. All of this is carnal, of the flesh, from "you only matter in the context of this church - on your own, apart from us, ypu are nothing. Only by following our pastor can you be safe and perhaps become someone of importance someday.  You are a true worshipper and saint because you come here every Sunday. True worship is not done to be seen of men. True worship is done heart to heart, from our heart to God's. 

     Leadership from Washington to the local pulpit doesn't care what you do with your life as long as you keep them in power, with your approval based on the money you give. Never challenge or question them, just blindly follow (Mt:15:14), Never become displeased with them fir anything,  this is rebellion. Leadership in your average church is a good gigvif you can get it. Just jump through all the hoops,  go to Bible college,  etc. Thank God Jesus didn't call his disciples by saying "come and folloq me, but first go to Rabbinical school for six years, then getvthe approval of a rabbi, then intern at a synagogue for four more years,  then you'll be ready to follow me". Good gig? NOT!

The preceding was written in December of 2018. It is published here for the first time.

- Christopher Michael Tripp