Jesus commanded the Apostles 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 was getting ready to release into them and then throughout the earth (Acts 1:4-8).
While they were with Jesus, the Apostles evangelized under Christ’s authority with an anointing (Mt.10:8). This power was also released to the seventy. The effectiveness of all was verified by the testimony that they, “seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name” (Luke10:17).
Such is to be God’s normal for the Great Commission today (Mt.28:18-20). But to be and do this, we must abandon the old wineskins that make these commands no longer valid (Mt.22:29).
Our experience leads us to form doctrines that say being healed, delivered and experiencing God supernaturally is either false, unnecessary or a bonus to salvation, instead of being an essential part of its total package.
Moving from the Concept to Conception
Jesus came to institute Spiritual reality, true relationship, and divine authority. For years, however, the dimension of the apostolic most of us have witnessed is primarily one of doctrine, networking and structure. There is so much more. But that is what happens when we take what we have received in seed form and prematurely call it a tree. The seed of the revelation of the apostolic was not planted prematurely, but any evaluation of it being either fully established or a finished product is.
Whenever we take whatever is only ours in seed form and run with it prematurely, what we ultimately see is only the result of our own efforts. Then the obvious disparity between “this is that” and what it is discredits not only the realm of the Spirit, but also the Lord Himself (Acts.2:16).
Our desire for something to be does not make it so. Even when whatever we may perceive reaches to the farthest extent of what has been understood to that point. Instead, what the Lord is calling His people into is the very substance and evidence of apostolic faith which brings power with its revelation (Heb.11:1; Ro.10:17).
This is not only more but also completely different from understandings acknowledged and agreed upon by groups based on principles that are rooted in the mind rather than the power of the Spirit (1Cor.2; 2Tim.3:1-5). What you just read above was the very definition of denominationalism: common ideals of truth about God and the church designed to identify who is “one of us” and who is not.
Deepening in the Spirit without Complicating it in Soul
To move past the framework of what is true about God into the actual house Christ is building, we first need to get into His living room. We need the intimacy and resulting power that makes the foundation not only identifiable, but sustainable. The foundation itself is essential, but God has more than just acknowledging gifts, ministries and offices, their place, and what their function should look like in serving the Church. The foundation is about the whole body doing likewise, because of what Christ’s work in each of us is to result in.
Through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Eph.2:19-22).
Paul was emphasizing that through Christ, both he and those who would read have our access in one Spirit to the Father (19). The same Spirit that was on the Apostles and Prophets came on the body at Ephesus. Although Apostles and Prophets lay foundation, it is not so they can do so over and over again. It is so that the whole building, being fitted together will be growing into a holy temple in the Lord (21). Paul gave them (& also us) the word of the Lord. I the same way Apostles and Prophets receive and release Christ in the Spirit, you (we) also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (22).
With a foundation alone you have the appearance of what can become a house. Set apart for building purposes, its future use is determined, but it is only the beginning. That doesn’t change too much just by adding a frame. Without the Spiritual reality, true relationship, and divine authority of the foundation actually becoming that which belongs to body members, only the framework of what has been promised is established. But the Lord has given us all we need to become that completely finished house. Not only observed and defined as such, but inhabited and functioning as one. That way, the house becomes a home.
We are to become His home on Earth, just as His home will be ours in eternity. Jesus came to occupy us in such a way that He not only resides, but we abide (Col.1:27; Jn.15:7). It is a mutual, ongoing experience shared by those who have entered into His abundant life (Jn.10:10). And by doing so, we cannot only work the works of God but come to the place in our shared housing that we do greater works than these “because I go to the Father.” (Jn.6:28; 14:12)
We want to get caught up in qualifications, so that we may excuse and explain away what we are not seeing. But how many times have we said, “God qualifies those He calls, He does not call the qualified.” We tend to get caught in criticism of people or manifestations, then reject what does not match our “jot and tittle” of doctrine or lack of Supernatural experience (Mt.5:18). But we have neither seen it all, heard it all, nor experienced it all. God WILL definitely use His Word as a confirmation for what He does in the Spirit, but He has called us to understand it and apply His Word by His Spirit, not our soul (1Cor.2:12-16).
God Goes Beyond Our Understanding in Ways which Require Us to Receive as Children
It is clear that the Kingdom of God belongs to those Jesus personally touches (Mt.19:13-15). No one can understand the extent to which people are physically impacted by a true visitation: not only what happens in the Spirit realm, but also in their bodies and how it often transforms their mind, will and emotions. The adult in most of us says, “all that is not necessary, we just need the anointing to get the job done.” But Jesus said that the gist of what it means to truly be converted is to become as children (Mt.18:3).
Throughout Scripture and Church history, God chooses to manifest His Glory by granting His children moments of visitation which not only feature down loadings of anointing, but demonstrations of the extent to which our bodies, souls and cultures are so obviously vacant and powerless compared to His presence and power. Phenomena such as visions of Jesus, revelations of past or future, loss of bodily control and/or waves of glory which emanate and affect those who get near them (spread the experience). The laughing, crying, vacillation between the two or even other unusual sounds which come forth not only cleanse but empower and are truly signs and wonders.
We need more than just the witness of the Spirit (Ro.8:9,16). We need more than just the call of God (Ro.11:29). We need much more than just the revelation of our gift (Ro.12:6). We even need more than just to move in spiritual gifts (1Cor.12:11; 14:1). Years ago, during a time of training: the Lord called us into His depths by having me exhort that, “you need to get inside the One who is inside you.” It will take that to begin to see things through His eyes and not our own. And it will take even more to become fully occupied by Christ. We need to actually “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come…” (Acts1:8).
Jesus made it mandatory for the Apostles who were to make it mandatory for those who followed them (Mt.28:20). And we have inherited both their promise and its command: “I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke.24:49).
At the end of part 1, I emphasized that we need to seek the Lord until we find Him. After finding, we must then ask Him what He wants. After receiving His direction, we must then believe that following His process will result in becoming those who will truly be houses of his power. In part 2, I encouraged that we do not have to stop all human activity to do so, neither do we have to refuse to be available for use by the Lord. Instead, that we are to give away what we already have received as we seek Him for the “more” that will make the difference in this next, upcoming and ongoing release of His Glory.
The Power will Reveal what has not Yet Been Discovered
Again, we need more than just the witness of the Spirit, the call of God, the revelation of our gift, and even moving in the spiritual gifts (1Cor.12:11; 14:1). Most if not all have been designed to flow in gifts which have never been activated, even if already received. On occasion you may have been used in the anointing in ways that have yet to become consistent or even seasonal. There are times when God will do something sovereign through us, but at the same time point toward what can become more than just a momentarily experience or even sporadic occurrence.
For God to use us more consistently (& increasingly) in power, we must receive greater impartations of His power. For Jesus to extend Himself through you prophetically, you must receive more significant impartations of revelation.
But to increase what you already have, you must use what you have been given while you seek for more of Him. Instead of just trying to “hold on till the end” or “hold on to the horns of the altar” or “hold onto faith” or “hold on until things change,” it is time to take hold of what He has taken hold of us for (Php.3:12).
All through Scripture we are reminded that we will reap what we sow. Paul exhorted us to “sow after the Spirit” (Gal.6:7-9). What puts to death the misdeeds of the body and enables us to live that abundant life only happens through the Spirit (Ro.8:13). So that is how we will demonstrate being true sons and daughters of God (Ro.8:14).
Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. (Ho.10:12)
Bill Click
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By Jeremy Lopez
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