“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (NIV, Psalm 119:18)
“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (NIV, 2 Kings 6:17)
“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again….” (NIV, Acts 9:18)
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, …” (NIV, Ephesians 1:18)
“… faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (NIV, Romans 10:17)
(Seeing by faith with spiritual eyes, the message heard by grace.)
Paul recounting Christ’s voice to him: ‘“‘to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”’ (NIV, Acts 26:18)
“‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’” (NIV, Matthew 13:35)
(Symbols and types were created and designed by God to fulfill the “created design” of our hearts to be inspired through discovery.
God created “discovery” to come in many forms.
It may come from the testimony of God’s creative acts, his faithfulness, the testimony of those experiencing the work of grace, past and present, or, the revelation of things to come.
Simply, God has put within us the “desire” to discover the mysteries and deep things of God.)
“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (NIV, 1 Corinthians 2:14)
Angels rescuing Lot and his family: “Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.” (NIV, Genesis 19:11)
“‘Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’” (NIV, Matthew 15:14)
****
Hello and greetings again.
I hope this post gives you more “awareness” of where the body is in its’ long (2000 years) journey.
And, new insight on the progressive moves of God.
And, most important, greater desire for Jesus.
(I have a post coming on how we know we’re in the last days “from the Scriptures” – it is compelling. I hope it will be my next post.)
****
About two years ago the Lord gave me a word – famine.
Many today are experiencing a season of dryness, along with the press from the “Spirit of this age.”
Times like these can either move us closer to the Lord or farther away.
They reveal things about us; things we hide and secret away in good times.
During this last year my family experienced some healing in relationships otherwise hard to come by in times of plenty.
The Lord encouraged me a few years ago, telling me, regarding a relationship, “When trouble comes, they will come.”
And when trouble came this last year, they came; an open door for relationship.
These are times the Lord can do deep and wonderful things in those who respond to his knock on their door (Revelation 3:20).
We may be witnessing the beginning of increasing worldly sorrows – social seeds coming to fruition planted in decades past – increasing the drift from God for those who are far from him.
But, the cultural winds of adversity, appearing formidable and resolutely dark, will not stop the Lord from doing a new, deep work of grace, in the body of Christ.
“…But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” (NIV, Romans 5:20)
As in times past, out of darkness will come those God has set apart, to offer Christ once again to a lost and dying world.
God will use the enemy’s apparent victory in darkness, to display in stark contrast, his kindness and goodness, even in the darkest of times.
****
Regarding this post, the exhortations in Scripture to be ready for his “coming,” applies to all generations, in all seven church ages.
(I’ve written a lot about Christ’s “coming,” “appearing,” “revealing,” “taking,” and “judging,” as used in the New Testament, and what those terms mean to the body of Christ in the gospel age, re: redemption, healing, and restoration.
Simply, Christ’s personal intervention to cleanse and heal his sons and daughters, which is particularly the “heart,” of the last gospel church age, Philadelphia, the fulfillment of the plan of God, the bride.)
As we get closer to the end of the gospel dispensation, the intensity of the work of grace increases, becomes more specific, deep, and defined: the final opportunity to be made a new creation in Christ.
We live in a unique time of history – a growing time of anticipation and expectation in the Church, and in the World, two opposing views of life.
In this present hour, the Philadelphia church age, a time of deeper new beginnings and transition, the Lord has provided “unique” resources for those who venture and journey with him.
Philadelphia brings to fruition and maturity two millenniums of gospel labor into one final season of opportunity and fulfillment – the work of grace in the revelation of Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
Philadelphia is the last stop on the long gospel journey to be made new, restored to the likeness of Christ, “resurrection life,” in relative peace and safety, even though, at the same time, the “seventh world kingdom” is coming to final form.
It will be dealt a deathblow, for a short season, by the move of God in the end time revival.
Some think Revelation is a fairytale; like the sun, moon, and stars created on the fourth day, or, the stories of Noah, the parting of the Red Sea, Jonah, Hezekiah (time moving backwards), Joshua (sun standing still), and, even much of the story of Christ, etc.
Sadly, some of this thinking is even in the Church.
No wonder there’s a great apostasy; the Church at large blind to the Dragon standing before her (Revelation Chapter 12), waiting to devour the bride in her womb.
Like I’ve noted before, it’s more certain Scripture will come to pass then it is for the sun to rise.
God has already shown, on a number of occasions, even the sun serves him.
*** SECTION I ***
The Lavish Grace of God in the Darkest of Times
Here are a few quotes from famous students of history, who, reveal the connection of the “past with the present,” and the “present with the future.”
And how, with God’s wisdom, to discover the unfolding work of grace created and designed for your healing and restoration.
Important Note:
It is important to understand the accounts and stories in Scripture, from Genesis forward, are not isolated events, but, a progressive, unfolding, work of grace created and designed from the beginning to make men and women into the likeness of God.
Adam and Eve fell before their journey began in earnest.
God’s original design and plan came to fruition, “in perfection and fullness,” in Christ first, the “firstborn” first – fruit,” at the start of the fifth millennium, according to our calendar.
Over the gospel age, others have entered into what Christ apprehended them for.
The deep work of grace in the gospel age comes to completion in the bride at the end of the sixth millennium, according to God’s calendar.
And this is the time frame in which we live.
And the deep work of grace will continue in the Millennium, in the time of deep rest – the absence of the enemy’s assaults.
Christ
“Now Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, … the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” (NIV, Luke 3:23 – 38)
“‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is. … You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?’” (NIV, Luke 12:54 – 56, bold and italicized mine.)
“‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.’” (NIV, Luke 17:26)
“‘It was the same in the days of Lot. …’” (NIV, Luke 17:28)
“‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. … Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. … Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’” (NIV, Luke 17:30 – 37)
****
Note:
This last passage, the revealing of the Son of Man, is a treasure chest full of discovery. It’s not about the rapture, or, destruction and death, or, the literal physical second coming of Christ.
It’s a revelation of the unique and peculiar “making” of the bride, Sonship, and, the revealing of Christ “in his sons and daughters” in revival and otherwise, in the gospel age.
It’s Christ choosing, from among the wise virgins, sons and daughters for a deep work of the Spirit, as John records about Peter (John 21:18), and Peter later testifies (1 Peter 1:13).
It’s the baptism unto death – putting the old man and woman to death, being made alive in spirit, resurrection life – the heart of the gospel (Romans Chapters 1 through 8; Hebrews).
This is the heart and soul of the Philadelphia church age, to prepare a bride adorned for her husband, fulfilling the third and final Old Testament feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus Chapter 23).
The vultures (literally eagles) are symbolic of resurrection life – dead to the cravings of this world, alive unto God; carried by the Spirit above the clamor of this world, no longer a slave to the fallen nature.
****
Peter
“‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. … this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:’” (NIV, Acts 2:14 – 16)
“David said about him: ‘“I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”’” (NIV, Acts 2:25)
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, …” (NIV, 1 Peter 1:10, bold and italicized are mine)
“if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, …
and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless…
… then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” (NIV, 2 Peter 2:5 – 9)
“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come…” (NIV, 2 Peter 3:3)
Paul
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” (NIV, 1 Corinthians 10:6)
“These things happen to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” (NIV, 1 Corinthians 10:11)
James
“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. … You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (NIV, James 5:10 – 11)
“Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (NIV, James 5:17 – 18)
John
“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother….” (1 John 3:11 – 12)
Stephen
An entire chapter, Acts Chapter 7, is devoted to Stephen’s exhortation and admonishment to the Sanhedrin, of God’s work from Abraham to Solomon – which unveiled and foretold the work of the Father to make a “righteous” dwelling place for his Holy Spirit (Acts 7:48 – 50) – Jesus, who they murdered (Acts 7:52).
They missed the Lord of glory, because, they missed the unfolding work of grace prefigured in Israel’s sons and daughters – all pointing to Christ, who became the object of their wrath – their unhealed sins.
They missed the revelation of history; the progressive, “deepening,” moves of God over the centuries.
They missed God’s passion for life and love.
They missed God’s heart in providing for their sins and his offer of cleansing.
They missed God’s offer to transcend the natural order of things observed by Solomon, the recurring nature of sin, and be made new in the likeness of God, the heart of the gospel of Christ.
They not only murdered the messenger, but sabotaged their own redemption carried in his blood for them.
They refused the offer of restoration in Christ, having been reared and accustomed to the natural realm, the law of sin (Romans 7:23).
And missing the knowledge of the work of grace accomplished in Christ (beyond what Adam and Eve lost, to the fullness of God), the Sanhedrin missed not only their own redemption and restoration, but the Millennial reign of the Messiah through them.
It would now have to wait, and come to their descendants in the latter times.
Less we make the same pattern of mistakes, let’s respond to the Lord, discover what we need from history, opening our hearts to the work of grace offered in this late hour of the Church.
****
The beauty of Jesus
Some of the ancients, and key figures in Israel’s history, prefigured in “types and shadows” the work of grace God would accomplish “in” perfecting his Son, the Lord Jesus.
What do all these examples from history, prefiguring the coming work of grace “in” Christ’s personal journey have in common?
The answer, healing and restoration by grace through faith in obedience.
By grace through faith, obedient to his heavenly Father, Christ was perfected, “…the pioneer and perfecter of faith. …” (NIV, Hebrews 12:2, italicized mine)
The work of grace in those who “typified” Christ, pointed forward to the work of grace in fullness to come in the Messiah: putting to death the hostility of his flesh, fulfilling the law of God in the fleshly tables of his heart. (Romans Chapters 1 through 8; Ephesians 2:14 – 16 see an interlinear; Hebrews; 1 Peter 3:18b, etc.)
And in accomplishing the marriage of truth and grace in Christ, he became everything the Scripture foretold and declared of the Messiah to come.
This is what we’ve been called into, to be hidden and sheltered in him, made new, hidden under the shadow of his wing, perfect “in” Christ.
Christ’s personal journey was not guaranteed, other than his Father was committed to him no matter what happened.
Yes, God’s will fore-ordained and predestined us to be conformed to Christ (Romans 8:29).
But, Christ’s “will,” allowed, “submitted,” to the Father’s, permitted God to accomplish his desires in him, and in him, us.
And the outcome of God’s work in him, including, the surrender of his God given rights and privileges, in order to serve (Philippians 2:7), elevated him to the highest place possible in this creation (Ephesians 1:20 & Philippians 2:9).
Jesus fought for everything he apprehended, while receiving grace and care for those things only the Father could apprehend in him on his behalf.
And yes, Christ operated in the realm of faith.
Else, how could he be our pattern, our pioneer, “… the firstborn among many brothers and sisters”? (NIV, Romans 8:29, italicized mine)
See Romans 3:22 and Galatians 3:22 in an interlinear, re: the faith “of” Christ.
The greatest treasure, beauty of Christ, are not the words he said, or the miracles he performed, though, those are a treasure beyond compare, it is who he became by his Father’s work of grace in him.
And the same can be said of us. It’s not what we do but who we become.
And who we become will bear its fruit in due season if we shrink not.
This is the beauty of Christ Christendom has forgotten and lost.
****
Jesus, bringing everything together, past, present, and future, spoke of his “coming” to men and women throughout the gospel dispensation, and, particularly, to the Church of Philadelphia, to cleanse and prepare a people for his own, a Tabernacle for his Father:
“‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. … he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.’” (NIV, Luke 12:35 – 37)
****
Important Note:
Another wonderful discovery in the Scriptures.
Jesus is basically saying, look, “I’ll be coming back to each one of you, personally, in the same manner the Father came to me.
Many know about me, and many have experienced my Spirit, but most do not know me.
I have an open door for you, if, you open your door for me, and, take the time to know me.
A door into intimacy and connection.
And don’t worry, I will prepare you – clean you up – heal and restore you to the design and purposes of our Father, resurrection life.”
****
We are members one of another, and that stretches all the way back to Adam and Eve.
We cannot understand the present work of grace without the inspiration and discovery of the work of grace in the past, and, the promise of greater grace to come in this dispensation. (See Hebrews 11:40.)
These are examples and warnings so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, but, by grace through faith, press into the promises of God, and not fall under the law of sin, i.e., “…there is nothing new under the sun.” (NIV, Ecclesiastes 1:9, italicized mine)
Because, everything in Christ is new in the Son!
“‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’” (NIV, Isaiah 43:18 – 19)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone the new is here!” (NIV, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
If those at the time of Christ were exhorted to look at the past to understand their present, and the possibilities of their future, how much more would it apply to the deep work of grace God has made available in the body of Christ today.
Especially, to us who live “… at the culmination of the ages….” (NIV, Hebrews 9:26)
Taking stock of history is not to focus on the recurring nature of sin, like Solomon did in his day, but, the progressive revelation of the Lord, the deep work of grace over millenniums in the body of Christ.
****
Because we have the benefit of much history, we will be held to a higher level of understanding and preparation.
That’s why there’s such a distinction in parables, accounts, and church ages at the end of time, e.g.;
- the wise virgins ushered into the “making” of the bride;
- the Philadelphians given new names; God’s servants in the end time revival(s), and, in the nick of time, snatched from the hour of trial coming upon the whole world;
- the Laodiceans, having foolishly missed the call of the Spirit, the time of preparation, come into the kingdom through the severest of trials, having to give their lives to Christ or take the mark of the beast,
- and, from another perspective, a parable speaking of the heart of those in the age of Philadelphia – a merchant willing to sell everything he has for the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45).
*** SECTION II ***
Voices
Let’s not be like those in ages past, who neglected the warnings of history, listened to other voices, and, missed the work of grace in their midst.
To varying degrees and measures, we all have at some level agreements with the voice of wounds and sins, dictating what we believe, how we live, and, what we expect from others, God, and ourselves.
Sometimes those voices can almost silence the voice of the Lord.
If we ask the Lord, he will be faithful to cleanse us from the voices of those who would rob us of him.
Today, like never before, the enemy is pounding the airwaves with layers upon layers of voices and choices.
Instant communication is the autobahn for the gospel of our adversary, “the spirit of this age.”
****
The enemy has his own gospel for making men and women into his likeness – and it’s not pretty to say the least.
Isaiah gives some crude pictures of it.
John, maybe referring to Isaiah, warns to keep ourselves from idols so we don’t become formed and hardened irreversibly into the image of our agreements.
****
Let’s endeavor to respond to the cry of the Spirit, “the Holy Spirit,” to be sheltered under the shadow of his wings, protected and secure in his care and love.
We do not want to be found among those who miss over 6,000 years of spiritual history – outside God’s progressive plan to heal and restore men and women into the likeness of his Son.
And, miss the glory of restoration God purposed from the beginning for you and me.
Because of approaching darkness – beginning transition to the Millennium, the culmination of the gospel age – restoration is especially singled out, ordained for greater fullness, for those living in the last days of the Gentile age.
****
An interesting tidbit some of you may appreciate.
The feast of Tabernacles fulfilled in the closing hours of the gospel age is a “type” of relationship the mass of humanity will come into in the Millennium.
It had to be accomplished in the Church first, before it could be exampled to the true Millennials, which includes the restoration of Israel.
Just like types in the Old pointed to the New Covenant, certain milestones in the New will be looked back in the Millennium as prefiguring their journey.
The Philadelphia church age is one of them. (Christ, of course, being the first and foremost cornerstone in every “type” of righteousness.)
****
We live in increasing darkness, unprecedented in many ways, seemingly permeating every level of desire and passion; good becoming bad, and bad becoming good.
The law of sin is building to a crescendo; ultimately, to manifest an air of invincibility in the last world kingdom.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he says, “while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (NIV, 2 Timothy 3:13)
And Jesus said, regarding the last days, which encompasses the entire gospel age of two millenniums:
‘“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”’ (NIV, Matthew 24:12 – 13)
And in Paul’s first letter to Timothy he says, “The Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (NIV, 1 Timothy 4:1)
Further, you can read in Paul’s second letter to Timothy his warnings in Chapter 3 of terrible times in the last days.
And though we’ve seen these events unfold time and again in the past (over the last two millenniums), they are unfolding again in our midst – an increasing foothold, “being deeply rooted” in our culture and in the global community at large.
So, how do Christians respond?
By focusing our eyes on Jesus, listening to his voice for the path and direction for one’s life, seeking him… (Hebrews Chapter 12)
If we focus on Christ, his Word and Spirit, seeking him for the adventure and call in this critical hour of human history and Christendom, he’ll be faithful to lead us gently and carefully to the door “he’s opened” for those, in this, the “Philadelphia” church age.
We do not want to miss his “coming” – the opportunity to be cleansed and healed in the venture he’s pioneered for those who won’t settle for loaves and fishes.
He will help you and me cultivate passion and desire only he can fulfill.
****
Hot, Cold, and Lukewarm, Snapshot
This may be hard to receive by some, but, the old ways of Christian living will be insufficient in the coming days of increasing spiritual famine, darkness, warfare, and evil.
Those who fail to heed the cry of the Spirit – to come into the secret place with Jesus under the shadow of his wing – will either strive in their labor in Christ, or become cold and bitter, or settle in the realm of contentment with what they have in Jesus and in this world.
The Lord knows how to access the heart of those who strive (hot), and those who become cold and bitter (cold), but those who languish in contentment (lukewarm), are another matter.
Because deception has so intimately woven itself into the fabric of their life.
****
See Luke 12:16 – 21 for the parable of stocking and building yet bigger barns and not being rich toward the Lord.
The heart of this parable is not about money, but the heart toward Christ and the offer of God to share himself with his children.
Simply, do we want the rulership of Christ in our life, a relationship like a husband and wife, but, oh, much more?
Regarding contentment, I’m not talking about a place where the Lord may have someone, in rest and confidence, trusting in the saving power of Christ, where Christ is building relationship because sin all but destroyed the kindness and goodness of God, etc.
I’m talking about a contentment rooted and grounded in the marriage of Christianity with the things of this life, so hard to tell one from the other.
Where the desire and passion for Christ has been compromised; where the knowledge of the heart of the gospel, to be made new, has been thwarted with misunderstandings and the lack of knowing God’s Word all but smothering desire and passion for Christ.
Where Jesus would say, “I don’t know you, because, you never took the time to know me.”
****
Those who are hot or cold are more easily apprehended than those who are wholly content and satisfied.
It takes extreme situations to access and discomfort the heart of the lukewarm to move toward Christ, as evident in those who miss the bride and flee into the wilderness from the face of the Dragon (Revelation 3:16 – 18; 12:6; 12:13 – 17; 13:7; 13:15; and 7:13 – 17).
But thankfully, oh so thankfully, we are not at that point in time yet.
There is still time to prepare, receive grace, be faithful, and obedient in seeking the Lord to cultivate our heart.
There is still time to be chosen by the Lord for a deep work of the Spirit.
It’s not too late.
Though we are deep in the Philadelphia church age, which will fulfill the feast of Tabernacles in the gospel age, we are still in the beginning stages.
The question for you and me, and the Church, as we approach another “fullness of time,” is: “Will you and me, and those in Christendom, receive the lavish grace of Christ to be made new, and be found in the secret and holy place with him?
Will the Church allow Christ to take them into the deep places of his care and love, the revelation of Christ in grace, and be set apart, “made” into new vessels for the Masters use in the last days?
Will the Church at large prepare their hearts to be chosen by Christ for the deep work of his Spirit offered in Philadelphia, the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles in a global body of believers?
Will the Church allow the discomfort of Christ to come to individual lives, to the secreted and deep places lying beneath the veneer of Christianity, laying aside old creeds and traditions hindering the work of grace?
****
Prophecy can be viewed from a variety of perspectives.
Everything God does is good and loving and is for the best – to further men and women in relationship with the Lord though it may seem at first impression to be just the opposite.
For example, the judgments found in the Tribulation – the seals, trumpets, and plagues, are measured with desire to draw men and women into repentance, and not to wholly destroy them.
Though many in Christian circles talk about them as punishment; the heart of God, even in that late hour, is to find some who will repent and come to him.
Notice in the sixth seal those who were slain asking, “When will their death be avenged?”
And, in the sixth trumpet, and the fourth and fifth plagues, it is noted, they still did not repent.
The inference, those who do will find forgiveness, though they still may lose their life, like in the days of Noah, those who repented in the flood waters of death.
Prophecies, foretelling the intervention of the Lord, speak of a coming “cure” where present resources are insufficient; because, the Lord is still bringing things together to usher in a new season of his work – another fullness of time.
Old Testament Types, i.e., examples, are real people, places, or things, that symbolize – foretell/prefigure – a future person, place, or thing.
The Lord uses Old Testament types and prophecy to give us a picture of what is to come, as well as a better understanding of the present, as a means of providing hope and confidence during our wilderness sojourn.
As we get closer to the end times, the revelation of Christ in grace becomes more important than ever to receive and embrace (1 Peter 1:13).
Also, the revelation of the last days, the unfolding of events in the end times, will become clearer, even as warfare intensifies.
The Lord’s voice will become more distinctive and discerning the more healed and restored we become.
Grace is, and will continue, to triumph over sin, for those in Christ!
For two millenniums the Lord has been laboring to birth and mature a corporate bride, sons and daughters uniquely prepared by Christ to advance his kingdom and radiate his fullness, in their uniquely created and gifted areas.
Some Christians dismiss the thought of bearing the likeness of the Lord Jesus.
But what’s impossible with man is possible with God.
It is not the will of men and women, but the will of God, the grace of Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, that will accomplish the design and plan of God he set in motion from the beginning of creation.
Philadelphia will someday come to fullness, and usher in the end time revival, a wound to the seventh world kingdom.
This is a certainty. It is written that no one need err.
What’s coming is no different in magnitude and certainty than the revival Noah ushered in, or Joseph, or Moses, or Joshua, or Samuel, or David, or Solomon, or Elijah, or Hezekiah, or Josiah, or, the greatest revivalist of all, Jesus, not to mention all those in the New Covenant who ushered in revival.
The body of Christ is in need of much healing and restoration.
Today, at large, Christendom lacks the power of God, the deep revelation of his Spirit, and the depth and breathe of life – giving revival.
Every man and woman needs “a deep work of grace” – to come out the other side of the journey in resurrection power and life.
This is the heart of the gospel and the purpose for which Christ came – to birth you and me into the design and purposes of God, redemption, healing, restoration, union with Christ.
Philadelphia is coming in such richness and depth it will astound those who’ve been waiting for the advent of the Lord in revival.
Philadelphia is in an infant stage now.
When it comes in fullness, a mighty wind will be evident, shaking foundations, freeing you and me from any remaining chains of darkness into his glorious light.
Do not be surprised at the shaking to come.
Lean into the shaking and let God cleanse and heal you to the uttermost.
The shaking is going to come in ways you cannot anticipate or expect because the Holy Spirit is birthing new territory – new wine in new bottles.
Become a prisoner in Christ, just like Paul, secured and anchored to the rock of ages.
Begin your journey now, why wait.
Ask the Lord to choose you for a deep work of his Spirit.
You may be surprised at how quick he responds, and, how deep and fast the Lord will take you; for, he’s searching the earth right now for those he can use to birth and lead others into revival.
*** SECTION III ***
Out of the Wilderness – Raised from the Dead
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (NIV, Galatians 4:4 – 5)
“regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NIV, Romans 1:3 – 4)
****
Note:
It was through the Holy Spirit Jesus was appointed the Son of God, being known as the Son of God before Calvary, i.e., Christ died to sin (Romans 6:10), made alive to walk in resurrection life, before Calvary.
The Church has long lost the knowledge of Christ’s personal “death to sin and resurrection” before his ministry.
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“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (NIV, Romans 8:11)
Note:
This is not talking about resurrection after physical death, but, life to our mortal bodies by the Holy Spirit who lives in us now, resurrection life, the subject matter of Romans Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and many other references throughout the New Testament.
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Toward the Feast of Booths (third part of the feast of Tabernacles)
New moves of God are birthed “in” and then “out” of those God’s prepared to lay the foundation for the move of his Spirit.
Each seed bears fruit of its kind.
An apple seed will not birth an orange and vice versa.
And that applies to the unique spiritual work of grace God is doing today in his sons and daughters around the world.
Moses spent 40 years in the desert and met God.
Out of his desert experience, a “type” of being raised from the dead, he was chosen to birth a new move of God.
What God birthed – fathered in Moses – fathered the Hebrews, transporting them from death to life, from Goshen, to a land of milk and honey.
The message God birthed and fathered in Noah bore fruit in the building of the Ark, redemption for him and his family.
Noah called others to do the same (2 Peter 2:5) but to no avail.
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It does appear there were those who made heaven their home, who cried out to God, receiving forgiveness, as the floodwaters began.
See 1 Peter Chapter 3, Christ’s proclamation to those who were disobedient.
The inference: Christ confirmed to the disobedient the “type” Noah pointed to, a coming righteousness, which they are now allowed to partake because of the change of heart before they died.
It’s really no different than those who give their life to Christ when facing death, like the thief on the cross.
Also, 1 Peter 3:19 is a picture of Christ testifying of “resurrection life,” i.e., Noah’s faithfulness a picture of that, by building the Ark.
They, the disobedient in Noah’s day, imprisoned, at Christ’s proclamation, were released into the kingdom of God, all of this occurring before Christ’s ministry, not after Calvary.
They are a type of the Christians who do not make the bride, finding themselves in the Tribulation, having to give their lives, physically, to their savior, to make heaven their home.
Regarding the proclamation, remember, Christ, walking in resurrection life had access to heaven.
Hebrews describes it as passing through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14).
His proclamation to the disobedient occurred after his perfection, becoming our savior, Hebrews 5:7-10, but, before his ministry.
Proving Christ walked in resurrection life and power, transcending heaven and earth, before his physical death at Calvary.
Christ clearly stated he was the resurrection before he died – he had the New Testament in his blood before Calvary (Matthew 26:28).
This is bits and pieces of what I’ve already covered in depth in earlier posts.
Even Jesus said he came down from heaven, a figure of speech of his orientation and place of dwelling, abiding with his Father, and his ability to transcend into the heavenly realm, like the Transfiguration.
Yes, Jesus bore our sins in his body at Calvary, but he offered salvation before that to many – his death at Calvary made public our sins we were want to confess.
As Israel could have accepted Christ and ushered in the Millennium then and there.
In the same breath Jesus said, “‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.’” (NIV, John 8:23)
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Noah was spiritually raised from the dead (a prophetic “type,” prefiguring the coming of the Messiah) and literally as well, above the flood.
The building of the Ark typified the work of grace that would come to build a dwelling place for God, a habitation, an Ark, i.e., “a temple for him in you and me.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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The message of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 is not about a new body in heaven, but the making of the temple of the Lord here on earth in our bodies, the new creation – cleansing, healing, and restoration this side of heaven.
Else, as Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 15), we are of all men most miserable, if all we have to look forward to is Christ on the other side of physical death.
We are then no better off than any other religion, and Christ died in vain, because his death was to usher us into life now, redemption now, the fruit of the spirit now, healing and restoration now, not solely when we die.)
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Elijah appears out of nowhere and proclaims there will be no rain until his word.
That is the message, the seed, planted in Elijah’s heart, the fruit of God’s work in him, there will be no rain until his word.
That is the message he lives and manifests.
He’s given just enough to maintain life while he waits for the promises of God.
Unbeknownst to Ahab and Jezebel, and the northern kingdom, Elijah like Moses of old, is leading them through the desert to the promised land of the presence of God once again.
And just like the rebels who died when Moses came down from the mountain the same fate awaits Ahab and Jezebel and all those who prophesied false promises, leading God’s people astray, failing to warn about idols.
The fire consuming the sacrifice and the slaying of the 400 prophets of Baal will baptize the northern kingdom unto Elijah just like Moses at the crossing of the Red Sea, and destruction of Pharaoh’s army.
God uniquely birthed and fathered David in the wilderness; foretelling the coming Messiah’s personal journey before his public ministry and reign.
And God continued to birth and father moves of God in the lives of those he’s called and chosen, raising them to life from spiritual deadness, seeding messages of hope, life, and love in them.
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God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34)
He raises up the most unlikely to seed and cultivate revival.
The wise of this world reject the gospel, it is foolishness to them.
So, what is the difference between the foolishness of the world and the foolishness of the five virgins?
I hope none of us find ourselves having to wrestle personally with that.
We’ve seen this story time and time again, new moves of God planted in our very midst.
In my short life I’ve experienced or seen from afar the Jesus movement of the 60s and early 70s; the move of deliverance in the early 80s; and various revivals here and there, notably: Toronto in the 90s, MorningStar Ministries, Bethel, Elijah House, Wild at Heart, Hillsong, and many others.
And in the last 10 years, the deep, intensive, moving of the Holy Spirit in inner healing and restoration, the age of Philadelphia, corporate fulfillment of the third and final feast of the Old Covenant in the New, the feast Tabernacles.
(The Old Covenant feasts of Passover and Pentecost (Leviticus Chapter 23) having been fulfilled corporately in the Reformation, and Pentecost (early 1900s), the Sardis Church age.)
And many of us are likely to see another wave of God’s Spirit fall upon this thirsty and dry land.
It is not by the will of man nor the outward progress of the Church that births the next move of God, but the moving of the Holy Spirit in those he’s called, chosen, and fathered.
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Just like Martin Luther (Reformation, 1500s), William Seymour (Pentecost, 1900s), James Hudson Taylor (UK missionary to China, 1800s), Billy Graham (international evangelistic crusades 1900s), and,
just like William Branham, Oral Roberts, Katherine Kuhlman, John G. Lake, Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple McPherson, and many other evangelistic and healing ministers, straddling the 1800s and 1900s, and,
just like the more recent movements: the Jesus people movement, the inner healing movement (birthed in the last half of the 1900s by John Sanford and others), the prophetic movement, and,
other peculiar and unique movements of God birthed by the likes of the International House of Prayer, Bethel, MorningStar, Wild at Heart, Listening Prayer, and others,
were unknown until the Lord moved upon them to establish new moves of his Spirit, advancing his kingdom further into the kingdom of the “inner man and woman” and the kingdom of this world, so shall it be once again when the Lord ushers in the next profound and deep move of his Spirit.
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The question, as always, “Who are the people today the Lord is preparing to raise up and lead in the next move?”
Who will be the ones to embrace the new move of God’s Spirit?
And sadly, tragically, “Who will be the ones who stay camped, letting the glory cloud move forward without them?”
Jesus has good things in store – a new work of grace, deep grace in the inner man and woman – for those who are looking for his appearing in their personal life.
Forerunners, starting with Noah (possibly Enoch as well), through the present age, invited others to embrace the “new move of God” he was birthing in them.
New moves of God are not seen with the natural eyes, judged with the natural mind, but are spiritually discerned, and birthed and made known in the revelation of Christ in grace.
The Reformation lasted about 400 years, continually birthing new moves with increasing revelation of the Word and Spirit.
The rebirth of Pentecost in the early 1900s lasted less than a century until newer moves came forward.
The length of times for new moves is getting shorter, more intense, decisive.
It’s in the transition that those of the old line are tested with the advent of the new.
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The established order of Christ’s day, was, to their own account, sorely tested by Christ.
John the Baptist, who heralded the coming of the Lord, in his waning days, wondered if Christ was of God or not, whether they should expect another.
This is natural, as the Spirit of God moves from one move to another for those of the “old” to wonder if what they’re seeing and hearing in the “new” is of God.
It’s happened in the past and will happen again.
When the feast of Tabernacles finally comes together in fullness, manifesting in intensity, there will be many alive today who will either be alarmed and threatened, or, wonder and question, or, who champion the new move of God because of the testimony of the work of grace in their life.
It is by revelation we come to faith and obedience, into grace, and it is by revelation we rightly discern the moving of God’s Spirit (Matthew 13:34 – 35; 1 Corinthians 2:6 – 16; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 2:20 – 21).
Like moves of Old, the feast of Tabernacles – the age of Philadelphia – will come out of those God has birthed and prepared, called and chosen, for a new and deep work of the Spirit of grace.
Some are being prepared today, but it is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come, an intense time of preparation within the body of Christ for what the Lord has next.
From all indicators, God is getting ready to birth something world-wide again, another major paradigm shift in Christendom, a possible beginning transition to the Millennium.
The next post will focus on “how we know we’re in the latter times of the gospel era.”
The evidence is compelling, and hopefully, comforting, knowing we are in God’s care.
He’s preparing everything we need in advance to be victorious in him.
This is God’s plan and work, and, as we cry out and lean into him, he will increasingly exert himself in our life and in the lives of those we love, showing himself strong in our dependence and weakness.
Blessings, Drake
(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™
