Part two

 

If anyone is more mature among us - their heart should be to see everyone else become as mature as they are - "till WE ALL come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man" - "from whom THE WHOLE BODY fitly joined together  - and compacted by that which EVERY JOINT supplies" - "How is it then, brethren? When you come together EVERYONE OF YOU HAS". Leadership is meant to equip the saints  - to teach them and anoint them to do their ministry  - not do it themselves all the time. Those anointed to teach should offer to, and be perfectly free to, do it from their homes, or someone's home, then, anyone who wishes to hear them may go and do so - led by the Spirit, hopefully  - keep in mind - anyone God anoints and equips to do a five-fold headship ministry will make it abundantly clear to all that God has chosen them by their character, by their fruit, and by their gifting (anointing). The elders will recognize this too and bear witness.  They will hear the Holy Spirit say "seperate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them". 

Saints should be free to minister to one another in any way they are led by God to do so - as long as they remain humble and teachable, and are open to direction and correction from the elders they are in relationship with.  Elders should attend home meetings - not to minister or take over or any such thing - but to provide analysis and helpful pointers to those doing the ministering (of course they may minister if God leads them to, just not with the heart to put the focus on themselves  but rather to keep it on God). Large gatherings should be reserved for visiting Apostles or Prophets, or perhaps Teachers (anyone God sends) but never for one man to be heard all the time - except Jesus! Large gatherings should be for corporate prayer and worship and for the Body to edify itself in love - saints laying hands on each other for healing, deliverance and prophecy- individually or to the entire assembled body at once. No one is to tell everyone else what they should be doing - and the direction everyone should be going - that's up to God, and that's what He uses Apostles and Prophets for. We need "Thus saith The Lord" not "Thus saith the Pastor" or any man.

Part three coming 

- Apostle Christopher 

 God definitely wants us to love and care for each other, after all, we are born into a family when we're born again.  Our lives belong (not to ourselves) to each other in service of one another. Yes, He gives elders,  - He wants us to recognize those among us who have attained maturity (regardless of age). These elders may have specific anointings and callings,  such as Apostle,  Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist or Pastor but they are not to lord it over others - they are simply there to make themselves available to the Body - who call upon them when they need them - listen - "Is any sick among you? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM" See? We are to call upon leadership when we need - they do not call us to serve them. We are a Body if Believers - we organically minister to one another  - as God sees fit - HE organizes the Body - just as the Father prepared a body for Jesus to inhabit in Mary's womb, so is He doing now - in the womb of the Spirit.  He knits members together whom He wants to love and care for each other - in so doing, He is building His House - unless He does this, it's a house of vanity, of foolish pride, with flesh choosing who to exalt and who to abase, using criteria that is the opposite of God's selection process.  "EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT" - These things ought not to be, my brethren! We should never exalt a man over us. We should always exalt the Father,  the Son and the Holy Spirit over us. When Peter rebuked Ananias and Sapphira, it was the Holy Spirit using him to expose their duplicity to God - not men "THOU HAST NOT LIED UNTO MEN BUT UNTO GOD". Yes, Apostles walk in a heavier, more weighty anointing, along with Prophets, for the benefit of all - "GREAT FEAR CAME ON ALL THEM THAT HEARD THESE THINGS". Apostolic authority is given for the building up of the Body - not so a man, any man, may be exalted above his brethren, but so he may be a foundation stone Jesus can use to build His House upon - "THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD IS BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS".

Truthfully,  God can use anyone of us to instruct another - WE have the mind of Christ, not "I". 

God used to speak to me (wisdom) through my young children! They used to say the most profound things that I knew were directly from the heart of the Father through His Spirit - "OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS" - Amen! God often used them to give me insights I couldn't have had otherwise.  Children have a unique outlook on life we'd do well to emulate, in some ways. 

Part two coming

 God didn't invent potato chips - He created potatoes.  He made fruits, vegetables,  cows and chickens, but not chips! Chips (crisps) are man-made - they are examples of man doing what he does best -  taking something God made and corrupting it! This is what Satan did in Heaven and it's what man does on earth - for mankind (as a whole), is following his example,  not Jesus'. Man takes something healthy and turns it into something unhealthy  - water to soda is another example. Babylon (Satan's kingdom) does this with souls, originally made by God, in His image, now corrupted.  Religion does it with God's Word. False pastors and preachers, teachers and prophets - all take God's Word and corrupt it. This is the stench of Satan  - once you get free you can smell him a mile away -  you can smell his stink.  You learn to quickly discern his modus operandi  - which is to take something good God made (example: you! Another example: sex) and corrupt it so that it is no longer fulfilling it's original purpose and destiny, that which it was designed for: which (this is true of all creation) is to give God pleasure.  

"LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN" . And what exactly is His number one commandment? Love! Indeed, all of His commandments can be distilled to this. Love the Lord thy God and love one another.  

 Oh Lord, how I love Your words!

 How I adore every jot, tittle and curve!

But Lord, more than these - written or heard -

 I love You!  The Word made flesh!

My joy!  My source of eternal happiness!

                        Please don't let me

                         ever come to be

                        In a place where I see

                         Your words but not You

Don't let me become 

 complacent,   numb,

satisfied with words alone -

   May Your words always lead me      home

to   You

 Did I not know? Did I not see? 

 When Lucifer's heart was lifted up in pride before Me?

 For the one thing you can never hide

 (from me) is the smell, the stench, of pride.

Why else do you think I made it so horrible?

 The smell of death and decay?

I want you to see the lunacy,

 and avoid at all costs,

 the path of pride -

which will cause your soul to rot.

I want you to know how bad your sin stinks to Me,

and avoid it with all the strength that's in thee -

My strength,  made perfect in your weakness -

given so you'll be called eternally blessed.

What smells good to Me?  Burning flesh!

Offered to Me, willingly,  on the altar

of that heart beating within your chest -

For death is the most awful reality

in which to spend eternity. 

Pride! Oh Leviathan! 

You've consumed mankind!

With your deceptive ways you've made men blind,

as you feed them a steady diet of lies!

Satan, you filthy destroyer of souls -

 every lie and deception will be exposed, 

 and all will see and all will know

your ways are full of the stench of fire and brimstone .

Therefore all who follow your path of pride

will end up like you  - far,  far from my side  -

never to enter or know.....  paradise. 

 It's not easy to remain unknown,

 to glorify His name and not your own,

 to not seek fortune, to not seek fame,

 to seek only to bring the Lord gain;

 but there's no other way that we can receive 

       The blessing of obscurity 

So, so many of The Lord's best, it's true,

 remain unknown to me and you,

for pride can so easily enter in,

when we become exalted by men.

When we become known,

sought after, given room,

it can often lead us to our doom.

If God promotes us and not we ourselves, 

then He will protect us from the path to Hell.

He will know we can handle it then,

for our hearts are more precious to Him

than any ministry we're called to walk in.

AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS  -

very, very few can handle being famous.

Most bow and succumb to the temptation inside 

of allowing their hearts to become full of pride,

full of self, seeking vain glory,

unable to remain humble before Me,

says the Lord of your heart's 

most private story.....

 Isaiah 35  -  A prophetic chapter for God's people today- to be spoken and decreed over the Body of Christ  - my beloved brethren worldwide.  I declare  -

The wilderness and the solitary place 

shall be for those who seek My face.

The desert shall rejoice 

and blossom as the rose

as hearts give voice

to My Spirit's prose:

Yes, the hearts like unto deserts

shall bloom abundantly.

With a joy beyond measure 

they'll sing their praises to Me,

for they shall see the glory of their Lord

and the excellency of our God

which many have never seen 

nor experienced until now.

So strengthen the weak hands and weak knees,

say to them now these words from Me  -

"BE STRONG,  FEAR NOT, BEHOLD, 

YOUR GOD WILL COME WITH VENGEANCE  -

HE WILL SAVE YOU, OH FEARFUL HEART!"

Believe this too - the blind eyes of understanding will be opened and the deaf will hear -

My voice, to them, will become so clear, 

the lame too, shall leap as a deer,

and the mute shall shout out loud and cheer:

For in the wilderness, waters will flow -

Streams in the desert will again be known.

The parched ground,  full of dry bones - 

These bones shall live - 

pools will form, springs shall give

life again, grass, reeds and rushes  -

My people shall know what more than enough is -

A highway shall be there - the way of holiness  -

no more will My people indulge in filthiness, 

the unclean shall not walk therein  -

those who despise Me but love their sin.

It shall be for My wayfaring men, though fools,

they shall not err, be unkind or cruel,

but gentle,  full of mercy, quick to forgive  -

These men shall sup with Me and by doing so - live.

No lion or ravenous beast shall be there,

only My redeemed,  refreshed, without cares.

My ransomed  - My orphans,  My widows,

all those upon whom I choose to bestow

everlasting joy upon their heads

because their hearts are fully Mine to wed.....

COME MY PEOPLE,  BELOVED OF MY FATHER,

COME TO ZION - DO NOT FALTER.

JOY AND GLADNESS ARE ETERNALLY YOURS,

SORROW AND SIGHING SHALL BE FOUND NO MORE

WITHIN THE BORDERS OF YOUR HEARTS  -

I'VE REMOVED EVERY FIERY DART

AND HEALED YOU UPON YOUR SICK BED

WITH THE BLOOD OF MY SON

AND THE BALM OF GILEAD -

I'VE PERSONALLY PREPARED FOR YOU A MANSION

WHERE NO SORROW NOR CARE

WILL EVER AGAIN FIND IT'S WAY

INTO THE LOVE WE SHARE.....

 Thus saith The Lord:

"The highway of holiness shall be restored, that My redeemed may walk therein 

absolved and cleansed of every sin.

The desert shall bloom once again;

Wherever their feet touch,

pools of blessings shall form in their steps.

And all will know I have a remnant, 

in Zion - a people redeemed 

Who will no longer grieve

for the joy they'll know

will quench their sorrow

and the songs they'll sing

will be everlasting!

So be strong!  Fear not!

I will have My revenge on the ones who rot.

Strengthen the weak -  those with feeble knees,

the blind will see My glory

and the deaf will hear Me sing

and all who thirst will be satisfied 

from My everlasting Spring

found by those who flee

into the wilderness  - to meet with Me."

Apostle Chris

 Moses parted the water - Jesus walked on it. The difference? Authority! Moses had authority but only in part - under the old covenant, God took His people through opposition  - but in the new covenant He puts all our enemies under our feet - completely conquered and submitted to us. Paul testified that Jesus, when He had been raised from the dead- was placed at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places - far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but in that which is to come - AND (I love that And!) hath put all under His feet and gave Him (who deserves) to be head over all TO THE CHURCH! Hallelujah!!!

He's given Christ to us! Who are His Body - the fulness of Him - who fills all in all! Let all that sink in, because what it means is -  spiritually speaking  - we too are called and equipped to walk on water - to place all opposition to us under our feet - as Jesus did to His. He has also raised us up together to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We aren't meant to just endure hardships and opposition  -  we are meant to place all spiritual authority and opposition under our feet! That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus! We are equipped and enabled to walk in this world just as Jesus did so God can brag about Jesus in us in the ages to come! Jesus said "ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH" and He's given it to us! So don't look at that vast sea of troubles before  you - and think you can't go on. Don't look at your enemy's  - or listen to them - put them in their proper place! Don't wait for God to part the waters - walk on them! Go! Nothing and no one in heaven or earth can stop you. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. He's placed Satan under you! You are Satan's lord! He must submit to your command. He postures himself as a god - as one having authority  - in truth - he does not. Step on him and keep him there. He is your servant, not the other way around. He is your slave. All his kingdom is beneath you - conquered by your King and his kingdom,  of which you are a part. He fears you. This is why he flees when you resist him - he doesn't want to get stepped on!

The need to be liked

 

The need to be liked, the Lord told me, is one of the greatest hindrances to a successful ministry.  The need to be liked is rooted in the flesh. Our spirits, consecrated to Him and holy, do not crave people's approval and praise - they crave the Lord's.  Having to be liked can derail our ministry by causing us to become man-pleasers. We seek the honor and praise that comes from men because it's public, while God's praise and honor is most often private (public in the realm of the Spirit but private in the earthly realm. Those walking, or flying, in the Spirit will immediately know upon meeting you what your standing with God is - but carnal men and women won't have a clue). The root of wanting to be publicly recognized and praised and adored by people is pride. Flesh loves to be exalted by (other) flesh! A humble and contrite heart seeks to go lower, not higher - being highly esteemed by God and despised by men is perfectly acceptable.  Those who need to be liked end up sacrificing the anointing,  God's presence, because they turn from Him to men. Paul said "follow me as i follow Christ" - Paul's focus was on Christ with his back to his followers! This is the kind of leadership we need - men whose focus is entirely on Christ, not us - then, Jesus can use them to bless us because they aren't seeking our approval or adulation.  If we focus on garnering people's approval, we become susceptible to flattery - a deadly dart from the enemy if there ever was one! We like being liked - I get that. It's ok for people to like us - as long as we don't focus on it or need it - needing it comes from ego - from undead self - that likes to be stroked with praise and approval from men. We should spend our heart's energy on pleasing God, not man. Are we in lockstep with His agenda for our lives? Are we seeking His pleasure? What makes Him smile, not men? What draws Him to us? What makes us attractive to Him?

"I don't need to be liked but i like to be needed"