What has Already been Set in Motion - Part 2 by Bill Click
Identity Network
Jesus told the Apostles:
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Last time, we emphasized that what Jesus commanded the Apostles to do was to continue what He had set in motion. It was a succession of faith that would reproduce the very same dimension of who He had not only been to them, but through them, and was getting ready to release throughout the earth (Acts 1:4-8). This reflects who Christ must become to us, through us, and that: throughout the earth until His return (Ac.1:8; Mt.10:23).
We emphasized that the Lord said they were to be, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” The word translated as “observe” is the Greek word tereo, meaning to make, guard and keep as a fortress, to prevent from loss. This means Matthew 28:20 could actually be translated, “teaching them to keep doing all that I commanded you to keep doing.”?
We stressed that the Apostles DID evangelize under Christ’s authority, but they did so with an anointing (Mt.10:8). This was also carried out by the seventy: heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, “the kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:9) Their effectiveness was verified by testimony: the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” (Lk.10:17). Jesus established an ongoing apostolic dimension that could, should and must flow through His Church. That is God’s normal for the Great Commission (Mt.28:18-20). But to be and do this, we must first abandon non-biblical doctrines that allow these commands to no longer be valid.
Healing, Deliverance & the Supernatural: God’s Status Quo
Because of our experience, we have often made being healed, delivered and experiencing God supernaturally a “bonus” to salvation, instead of being part of God’s total package. Jesus accomplished these and freely gives them by His authority through the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension and ongoing intercession.
Being brought up in a traditional church, I always thought that when it came to God healing someone, that was certainly in His ability, but was an exception, not the rule. I cannot remember any reports of deliverance. The Supernatural of God was limited to someone having a burden to pray or, on very rare occasions, someone would confess that “God told me to...” (& such persons were not really seen as socially palatable by the “in-crowd” of that religious setting).
After becoming Spirit-filled and seeing the Lord begin to move in revelation gifts, I still saw very little healing, deliverance and the Supernatural. I began to have more opportunities to pray/speak deliverance (the devil seemed to be responsible for just about everything at times). And it seemed that ALL the “God told me to...” people came to the churches I was part of (& it became evident later many were not really hearing Him). That in mind, it was easy for me to maintain very similar attitudes about the works of God that I had held in the more traditional setting (Jn.6:28).
I did update from a “God can heal, but we don’t know if it is His will,” mentality to “Jesus wants to heal today, just as He did then,” but without seeing much difference in what actually took place. A few years ago I then further adjusted my attitude to “All healing comes from Jesus.” I start and stop with the Lord. If a Doctor is to be involved in the process, that will be at His leading. He is the Great Physician, they can be at God’s leading His assistants.?
This last view was mostly because of (1) my personal experience, (2) the fact that Luke traveled with Paul, (3) Paul confessed to having an illness (Gal.4:13-14), (4) Paul may have had issues with his hands (Ro.16:21), and (5) the “thorn in the flesh” dilemma. (2Cor.12) Additionally, I didn’t like to see people beat up for their insufficiency in faith (I knew what it was like to have pain either so loud or for so long that belief didn’t come easily). This view seemed to make everything neat, tidy, and especially nice. But as I continued to receive words in my spirit about healing and the Supernatural that didn’t match up with my updated experience and teaching, I knew something was lacking.
Our primary issue is that we theologize what God wants to actualize; we seek to doctrinally institute what God has released in order to Spiritually activate. We find our experience in the Word and then make it God’s status quo. In Golf there is an expression, “Think long, think wrong.” As I have heard people in the church say, “when all is said and done, much more is said than done.” True! So whenever faith rises, we need to get into that stirred water (John.5:1-4). Later, we can reflect on what took place. Much more often there will be praise to God for all He has done.
Your Freedom is to Become the Liberty of Others as Well
My lack of seeing healing, deliverance and the Supernatural take place has not been the hardest aspect of my personal experience to ignore. Instead, it has been the discrepancy between that and the instantaneous deliverance I myself received from the Lord. It had happened just before my 27th birthday. I experienced it 4 days after saying “yes” to the Lord for life, as opposed to when I didn’t follow through on my commitment to that same call 10 years before.
Without prayer by others or medical assistance, God freed me from a root of bitterness that (over 9 years) had led to stage 3 alcoholism, amphetamine addiction, and other multiple daily drug abuse issues. A few days later I was set free from smoking tobacco. I had been completely delivered without any withdrawal, rehab, working of the 12 steps, or seeking out prayer from others. To insure it was real, I waited 2 weeks before returning to church after 9 years.
This deliverance had come through a Supernatural encounter with God. The closest I have seen to it in Scripture is described in Ezekiel chapter 1. Yet it was still very different. I heard the Voice of the Lord coming through (actual) thunder, lightning, and pulsating Heavenly lights. Through those the Holy Spirit took me through 1Corinthians 2:11-16 over and over again until I received impartation of His Word. I had received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that (I) we may know the things freely given to (me) us by God (2:12). As I was made to go over that again and again, the previous words of 2:11 were also made clear: who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Eventually, the Spirit focused me on 1 Corinthians 2:14-16:
A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.?
Somehow, through the miracle of grace and faith received in that moment, God had made it clear to me that by His own power I was free, and that through the mind of Christ in the Spirit I knew what was being imparted to me. As I was still taking that in, I received the specific call, “go to Florida and study the Word.”
From the beginning, I knew God was real, I knew what I had experienced, but I later became compromised. Unknowingly and over time, I chose to offend God and deny Christ’s authority because of observing what took place around me, my need to package everything neatly, and my own present experience which didn’t match up with what He had clearly said we are to be and do:
“As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.” (Matthew 10:7-10)
Faithfulness with what You have is the Gateway to Much
During the first few years of my growth into ministry (1984-1991), I saw God deliver people in ways similar to my own. Whether in state substance abuse centers, treatment hospitals, rescue missions and prisons, I allowed the Lord to “get some mileage” from my past. God has not sent me in those specific ways since that time. But today, when the opportunity presents itself, I will announce, “if there is anyone here with drug, alcohol, or tobacco issues, God miraculously set me free and will do the same for you.” This is not only based on “freely you received, freely give,” but also 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
The Lord has given us two clear witnesses: whatever we have already received from Him is active within us to be released, and is to be done so freely. While you may very well need to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high to see Christ heal, deliver and release His Presence in ways you have yet to, you have what you have to give away and can, should and must do so.
Jesus said faithfulness with what we already have is the gateway to much:
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?” (Luke.16:10-12)
We must allow God to use the “little thing” we already have as a springboard into much. If we can be trusted to steward what we have already been blessed with, we will be promoted into more. In fact, if you will serve faithfully in the natural, as well as faithfully under the anointing of others, you can not only expect to receive the Spirit’s true riches, but also that which is your own.?
Last time, we concluded by outlining a process of progressing into receiving and walking in the apostolic anointing of Jesus that has already been set in motion. That call is:
- We are each to seek Jesus until we truly find Him.
- After finding Christ, ask Him what He wants you to do.
- Believe what Jesus tells you to do will result in what He wants done through you.
This process needs to continue, but we do not have to sit on our hands during the process accomplish it. We don’t have to go lock ourselves away either, or (perhaps especially) use our own personal health as the gauge of our progress or readiness. We truly need to seek/find, ask/follow and believe in His process.
We must give away what we have received while we continue to seek to come into full alignment with Christ for His mandate. Our right, privilege and responsibility is representing Christ as He was, is, and forever will be: King of Kings and Lord of Lords, having "all authority….in heaven and on earth.?
Bill Click
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