Church, Church Leaders, Church System, Churchianity, End Times, Eric Wheeler, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Latter Rains, Prophesy

The Deep Things of God (Chapters 1 – 6)

November 17, 2006 gregt

By Eric Wheeler
eric@sharingtheway.com

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (I Cor. 2:10)

Chapter 1: THE NEW TESTAMENT WILL BE REPEATED
A number of years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me in a series of visions, dreams, and revelations that just as the Old Testament was fulfilled and played out in the New Testament, the New Testament will be fulfilled and played out in the present day and immediate future. Let me explain. The Old Testament happenings and events, Paul says, were given to us as physical examples of a spiritual reality (I Cor. 10:6-11). For example, baptism. Paul says that when the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, it was a form of baptism (I Cor. 10:1-2). He said that when they ate the manna and drank water from the Rock, that it spiritually symbolized them eating and drinking Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:3-4). In other places, Paul explains that the physical Temple, the sacrificial system, the priesthood, the holy days and Sabbaths, the ceremonial meat and drink offerings, and many other things prescribed in the Old Testament, were actually fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament.

Jesus testified to this fact also, by saying to His followers after His resurrection, “These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.’ Then He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures [the Old Testament]” (Luke 24:44-45).

Generally speaking, most Christians believe and understand this. That is why they call themselves “Christians” or “followers of Christ”! They believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law and the prophets. They believe that He is the culmination and fulfillment of the entire Old Testament and its promises. Being a Christian myself, I too believe that this is by all means true! However, what many Christians don’t realize is that Jesus and the apostles both said and did many things in the New Testament which were prophetic, and given as “physical types” or examples for us today.

Many of the things which Christ and the apostles did physically in the New Testament have their spiritual counterpart in these modern times. Just as many of the events described in the Old Testament physically pointed to a spiritual reality that was to be fulfilled in the New Testament, so likewise, many physical occurrences and details in the New Testament have their spiritual fulfillment and prophetic meaning today. The Bible itself reveals this truth by saying first comes the physical, then comes the spiritual (I Cor.15:46).
Like most Christians, I too believed in the past that the New Testament Scriptures were linear, and more or less, chronological. That is to say, like history, the New Testament’s message flowed consecutively in one direction beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ and continuing forward to the writings of the last surviving apostle, John. I believed that the present-day Church, to one degree or another, was but the direct continuation of the original apostolic Church established in the New Testament. However, the Holy Spirit has since shown me that this belief is inaccurate and incomplete. Yes, it is true that we are “built upon the apostles and the prophets”. Yes, it is true that we are the spiritual descendants of the apostles. But the New Testament Scriptures are not linear. They are dual. They are prophetic.

Just as the New Testament was not just a physical continuation of the Old Testament, but rather, its spiritual fulfillment. Neither is our modern-day era of the Church just a physical continuation of the apostolic era of the Church, but rather, its spiritual fulfillment. Just as the New Testament fulfilled the writings of the Old Testament, so our modern-day Church will fulfill the writings of the first century Church! We will spiritually replay the New Testament. It has been said that history repeats itself. Well, this is exactly what the Holy Spirit has been showing me — that the New Testament is going to be repeated and fulfilled in us in this present day!

Chapter 2: SPIRITUAL PARALLELS

In the few years before the birth of Jesus Christ, we find “the Church” or people of God in the following condition:

They were ruled over by the Sadducees and Pharisees and the Sanhedrin.

The church leaders had formal theological training and education, and were appointed by the religious, and sometimes, secular authorities.
The church leaders each had positions and titles, and dressed religiously to insure that they were recognized for their authority.
Many of the religious leaders were politically-aligned with the civil government.

They were in bondage.

to sin.
to the religious authorities.
to the Roman government.

They were spiritually blind and “sitting in darkness”.

They didn’t believe that they needed to change.
They believed that they were righteous because they went to synagogue, paid their tithes, and submitted to the religious hierarchy.

They had a general expectation that the Messiah’s Coming was near, but clearly didn’t understand its spiritual significance and the signs of the times.
They regularly met in buildings of worship, heard prepared messages, and attended formal services.

None of the laity was permitted to speak regularly.
They were financially burdened and expected to financially support the synagogue or Temple.
They could be put out of the synagogue or “disfellowshipped”.

Jesus described the leaders of the Church this way: They were blind guides of the blind. They were hypocrites. They taught traditions of men instead of the commandments of God. They loved to be seen of men and recognized for their position and title. They put heavy burdens on the people, and instead of helping the elderly and needy, they consumed them. They were greedy and covetous. And although outwardly they appeared righteous, inwardly they were filthy and unclean.

When Jesus came, He told them that He was there to “preach the good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Notice that He was not talking to the Gentiles here, but to those in the Church! It says that the eyes of all of them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him and that He said to them “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears!” (Luke 4:21). In other words, they were the poor, the dejected, and broken-hearted! They were the ones held captive, spiritually blind, and oppressed! Here, Scripture gives us a clear description of the state of the Church during Jesus’ day!

Notice in the next verse (Luke 4:22) how the people in the Church responded to Jesus’ description of them. At first, they wondered and marveled at His gracious words. They didn’t realize that they were in that condition. They didn’t consider themselves to be spiritually poor, oppressed, or blind! Afterall, they were God’s people! ‘How could this be?’ they thought. But knowing their thoughts, Jesus went on to explain from the Old Testament that even a prophet’s own people wouldn’t receive the prophet’s message. And just as He had predicted, they became angry at Him, and threw Him out of their church (Luke 4:28-29).

The Church is no different today! We don’t realize how spiritually poor we are. We are blind to our current spiritual state. We think that we are rich and increased with goods, yet we are wretched, miserable and naked (Rev. 3:17)! As the prophets foretold long ago, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple [His Church]… but who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears?!” (Mal. 3:1-2). The Church of the first century was caught off-guard and rejected His First coming. Why do we today therefore self-righteously think that we will be ready and recognize His Second Coming?! The truth is, just as the first Church [Judaism] rejected the First Coming of the Messiah, so shall Christianity as a whole reject the Second Coming of the Messiah. Even as it is written, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner” (Luke 20:17). And again, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not!” (John 1:11).

Thankfully though, just as the New Testament Scriptures foretell, not all of the Jews rejected Jesus. For the Scriptures say that God left Himself a remnant of believers in disbelieving Israel. “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, to them He gave the right to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). The Scriptures say that initially only about one-hundred and twenty people believed in the living Jesus after His ascension (Acts 1:14). But that soon after the Day of Pentecost, many more believed and were added to the Church daily (Acts 2:41-47). This same Church-wide repentance and re-birth will happen once again in the Church in the not-so-distant future, only this time it will happen on a much larger scale!

Chapter 3: HOW WILL JESUS COME?

When Jesus returns to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in the fullness of His glory, the nations of the earth will see it and mourn and tremble (Matt. 24:30; Psalm 114:7). The whole world will see it. Jesus said that it will be as visible as the sunshine rising in the east is visible even unto the west (Matt. 24:27). This is how the whole world will see His coming! However, He describes His coming to the Church as a “thief in the night” (II Peter 3:10). He warns His own people to watch, and to be vigilant, because we don’t know in what hour (or how) the Master will be coming to us (Matt. 24:42, 44). He warns us, “But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Rev. 3:3).

Notice in the Scriptures that He came unto His own people in ways that they didn’t recognize Him or expect Him to come. Instead of coming as a “conquering Messiah”, He came to His people as a helpless baby in a manger born in a stable unto a virgin (Luke 2:7-16). He appeared to His friend, Mary Magdalene, after He was resurrected, but she did not recognize Him (John 20:14). He spoke to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus, but they didn’t realize that it was Him (Luke 24:16). He appeared unto his own disciples a number of times after His resurrection, and yet, even they didn’t recognize Him at first in the form in which He chose to reveal Himself (John 21:1-4; Luke 24:36-39).

Consider the Parable of the Ten Virgins that Jesus gave. The ten virgins collectively picture the Church – the people of God. Notice that it says in Matthew 25:10 that only the wise virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. The remaining five virgins who were foolish and not ready to meet Him got left out. In other words, they missed their opportunity to be with the Bridegroom, that is, Christ. Now notice something else. It says that at midnight (in the middle of the night or in the midst of darkness) the cry went out – “the Bridegroom is coming! Go you out to meet Him!” (Matt. 25:6). Notice that it doesn’t say that Jesus was coming in the clouds as the whole world was witnessing it and the Church then made herself ready to join Him! It says that those “five wise virgins” (representing half of the Church) who were spiritually ready went out to meet Him as He was coming.

Remember in Matthew 24:27-30-, it says that when Jesus actually returns to the earth in the greatness of His glory, His coming will actually be visible in the skies from the east even unto the west. And that all of the nations and the peoples of the earth are going to mourn in anguish as they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Notice that the wise virgins are already with Jesus when He comes because it says, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints” (Jude 14). And in another place, it says that those saints who are prepared and still alive at His coming will be caught up together with those saints who have previously died, and together they will meet the Lord in the clouds of the air as He returns to the earth (I Thes. 4:14-18). Some Christians erroneously think that they are going to be able to wait until they actually see Jesus coming in the clouds before they get themselves spiritually ready to meet Him. But God says that they are foolish and are sadly mistaken. Their opportunity to have been with Christ would have long passed by the time that the world actually sees His physical coming. The Scriptures are clear! The Bride must make herself ready to meet the Bridegroom now, or else she is going to miss her opportunity to be with Him forever.

Chapter 4: HOW WILL JESUS COME TO HIS PEOPLE – THE CHURCH?

As was mentioned earlier, after His resurrection and ascension, Jesus appeared to His followers in many ways and forms that they weren’t expecting. Many of the parables and messages recorded in the Bible seem to indicate that Jesus intends to come again to His people in the same manner. Notice what He warns His people in the Church in the last days: “I know your deeds. You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard. Obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up [spiritually], I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Rev. 3:1-3). If God’s people are not spiritually vigilant and living in a deep abiding relationship with Him, then He is going to come upon them in a way and at a time in which they don’t expect. Let me explain.
First of all, Jesus said to be careful how we treat people because it could be Him that we are really mistreating (see Matt. 25:31-46). He also said that “whoever receives someone that I send, receives Me” (John 13:20). In another place, Jesus said that whoever welcomes even a little child that comes in His name, welcomes Him (Luke 9:48). The point is that Jesus can come to us in any form that He chooses. Sometimes, He may come to us in the form of a beggar, sometimes as a prisoner, sometimes as a stranger, and other times as a little child (Matt. 25:34-46). But the question is, are we humble and spiritual enough, and in a close enough relationship with Him, to recognize Him when He comes to us in the Spirit – that is, when He comes to us in another form that we are not expecting? Notice when the Apostle Paul was persecuting the Christians and having them arrested before his conversion, that the Lord Jesus appeared unto him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul (Paul) answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!” (Acts 9:4-5). Notice that Saul (Paul) didn’t recognize Jesus. And furthermore, notice how Jesus said that Saul was actually persecuting Him, by persecuting His followers and servants!

We have to remember that Jesus’ servants and followers have His Holy Spirit in them. That is, they have the Spirit of Christ living in them! For it is written, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). And again, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts…” (Gal. 4:6). And again, it says, “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Rom. 8:9-10). It is clear then from the Scriptures, that those who persecute Jesus’ followers persecute Him! And those who reject His servants reject Him (Exod. 16:2-8; I Sam. 8:7; Jer. 35:15).

Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, “Behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues [churches] and pursue from town to town” (Matt. 23:34). He then went on to tell the religious leaders that they will indeed see Him no more, until they would say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:39). This is a very interesting statement for Jesus to make here. It is made right smack dab in the middle of His chastening of them for rejecting and murdering His servants the prophets which He had been sending to them since the days of Abel at Creation (Matt. 23:29-39). He said that they had the same self-righteous murderous attitude as their forefathers. And that they were indeed the very spiritual sons of them who murdered the prophets, and yet, all the while trying to appear righteous unto men.

Jesus then, as God, laments the fact that even though it was His long-time desire to hold Jerusalem in His arms and gather them together as His people under His wings, His people were not willing. Therefore, He said to them, “You shall see Me no more until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:39). In other words, His rebellious people will not see Him anymore until they humble themselves, and stop self-righteously rejecting those that He sends to them. He is not the one who is “coming in the name of the Lord”. For He is the Lord! He is referring here to His messengers that He sends – those that “come in His name”. But just as their spiritual forefathers did before them, His people still today (collectively being referred to as “Jerusalem”) are not spiritually discerning the fact that when they reject those who “come in His name”, they are in actuality, really rejecting Him!

Chapter 5: JESUS WILL COME TO HIS PEOPLE IN SPIRIT FIRST

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). In other words, the Word of God is the tool through which the Spirit of God does His work in our lives. For it is written, “The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12-13). And we know that Jesus is the One to whom we must all give account (see Rom. 14:10-12; John 5:22).

Jesus, as the literal Word of God, emptied Himself of His divine nature, and became flesh like us taking on the form of a human being (John 1:14; Phil 2:5-8; Heb. 3:14-17). In other words, Jesus was the incarnate (or embodied) literal Word of God here on earth. While Jesus was here in the flesh, He said, “If anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world [at this time], but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:47). What does that mean? Very simply put, God sent forth His Word in the form of His Son to be the embodiment of Truth for us. But if anyone doesn’t believe Him to be the Truth, then God does not hold that person accountable now because they are blind to the Truth. However, in the last day when that person is resurrected and finds himself standing before the judgment seat of Christ, he will then realize that Jesus as the Word was indeed the Truth, and he will then become convicted in his heart that His Word was indeed true. In other words, God is not judging the “unbelievers” (the world) now. He is only judging His own people (“the believers”) now.

The “believers” category includes any and all people who claim to be Christian or “followers of Christ”. This includes anyone who knows Him; anyone who recognizes and acknowledges Him; anyone who has been instructed and felt called by Him; and anyone who believes that they have been enlightened by Him. In other words, anyone who claims that they have had their “spiritual eyes opened” and therefore know and see Him. He is coming to them to see if they really do know Him and recognize Him. The Pharisees and Sadducees thought that they knew Him (God). But Jesus told them that they didn’t (John 8:55). They collectively called themselves “the people of God”, but they did not recognize Him when He came to them. In fact, just like their forefathers had done to the prophets that God had sent to them, they opposed the Son of God, and murdered Him also. Yet through it all, they professed to be enlightened and claimed they could spiritually see. That is why Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see [spiritually] may see, and that those who see [claim to see spiritually] may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:39-41). Because we Christians say that we see and we know Him, we will therefore be tried and tested to see whether or not we are true.

That is why the Apostle Peter said, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ [because you are a Christian – a believer], blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their [the unbeliever’s] part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer [being a believer] as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters … For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God” (I Pet. 4:14-17). Only those who claim that they are followers of Christ (Christians) are being judged at this time! Not the unbelievers. For God is beginning to come to each of us who call ourselves Christians, in the power of the Spirit to see whether or not we are truly abiding in Christ [His Word]. For it is written, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of My mouth does man live” (Matt. 4:4). He is coming to us through His Word (Jesus) in various forms to see whether or not we are hot or lukewarm (see Rev. 3:15-16). He is coming to us in Spirit! Notice that this is what Jesus warns His people, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev.3:20).

He is not coming to the Church, His people, physically. That is, He is not coming in a visible way where they can see Him coming in the clouds, and then make themselves ready to meet Him. That is how He is coming to the world, not His Church! His people better be ready to receive Him in an unexpected manner in which He chooses to reveal Himself. He wants to find out if we are indeed staying vigilant and spiritually awake, and always prepared as He warned us to be (Luke 12:35-40). Or have we fallen asleep spiritually, become complacent, and weighed-down with “carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life” (Luke 21:34)? As we have discussed previously, He may come to us unexpectedly in the form of another person – through a prophet or a messenger. He may come to us in the form of a child or as a beggar on the street. He may speak to us through His written Word – the Bible, or through dreams, visions and personal revelations, or even an audible voice as He did with Peter and Paul and some of the other apostles and disciples. One thing is for certain though – His Word shows that He will come unto His own people in a way in which they aren’t expecting! He did this to His own people in the first century during His First Coming. For it is written, “He came unto His own [people], but His own did not receive Him. But as many as did receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). No matter what form or body He chooses to visit us in, we need to be vigilant and spiritually awake because it could be Jesus in the Spirit speaking to us. For it is written, “God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things” (Heb. 1:1-2).

Chapter 6: THE GREAT OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

As was mentioned earlier, parts of the New Testament are going to be replayed again. This is especially true in terms of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days. Notice how the Apostle Peter referred to these prophecies when he witnessed the first public outpouring of the Holy Spirit in his day: “Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you. Listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Acts 2:14-21).

Obviously, these prophecies were not yet fulfilled in their fullest sense. The sun didn’t turn dark and the moon didn’t turn blood red during the days of the Apostles’ ministry. This first public outpouring of the Holy Spirit was only a small prophetic type of what was to come. It was “the former rain” prophesied to come by the prophet Joel. “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God. For He has given you the former rain moderately [in measure], and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month” (Joel 2:23). The final great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is yet to come. Notice that it says, “He will cause to come down for you the rain, [both] the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month”. The next great public outpouring of the Holy Spirit will far exceed the first one both in terms of scope and scale. God says through His prophet Joel, that this first outpouring of the Holy Spirit as described by Peter was only the “former rain” given moderately, not abundantly. The next great outpouring of the Holy Spirit will encompass both of these rains. The prophet Hosea confirms this: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord. For He has torn, and He will heal us. He has smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days [two millennia] will He revive us. In the third day [third millennia] He will raise us up [restore us], and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning. And He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hos. 6:1-3).
Jesus said that the spirit of Elijah would truly come first, and “restore all things” before the day of the Lord comes (Matt. 17:11). And in another place it says that “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25). In other words, God is going to restore to us the spiritual things that were taken away from us by spiritual “drought, famine, and pestilence”! For it was written long ago, “Behold, the days come, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing of the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). But thankfully, God promises that He is going to “restore all things” to us shortly. And that in these last days He is going to “pour out His Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17), and that “all flesh will see the salvation [saving power] of God” (Luke 3:6).

Recently, God has been revealing to me by His Holy Spirit that the prophets have been “travailing” in childbirth for a long time now, and that it is time for the “children of the kingdom” to be born. For it is written that the prophet Isaiah lamented, “As a woman with child who is about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we [prophets] in Your presence, O Lord. We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth. We have not given birth to people of the world” (Isa. 26:17-18).

Yet God declares, “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth. Before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion [the Church] in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery? says the Lord. Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery? says your God. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts. You will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance” (Isa. 66:7-11). God is about to call many people to Himself in these last days. The Church [the Body and Bride of Christ] is about to bring forth many children unto the Father! And it says that all of creation itself waits in earnest expectation for these sons of God to be revealed (Rom. 8:19). Are we spiritually ready to meet Him and to help bring in this harvest – the “firstfruits” of the Kingdom?

[To Be Continued…]

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Eric Wheeler, Faith, Inspiration

Keeping A Spiritual Journal

November 17, 2006 gregt

Note from the moderator: A while back our Bible Study group was discussing the benefits of keeping a personal “spiritual journal” in order to record some of the experiences and emotions that we have had while walking with the Lord. We were discussing how many of the Psalms and verses in the Bible were really, in a sense, the “spiritual journals” of many of the servants of God down through the ages. These servants of God recorded their “spiritual ups and downs”, trials and sufferings, as well as miraculous deliverances and victories, which encourage us and strengthen us today as we read them. They serve as examples to us teaching us to persevere with Christ and to not give up on God. When servants of God give us “insights” into their personal walks with Christ through their testimonies (both written and oral), they speak to us and encourage us to believe even more strongly in our own walks with Him as well. That is why we must share these experiences with each other. The Scriptures say that “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). In other words, faith is built-up by hearing.

Over the past eight years, I have kept a personal spiritual journal of my prayers and experiences with God. These have helped me tremendously in times of discouragement, hopelessness, and fear. I have recorded my spiritual ups and downs, successes and failures, hopes and prayers, as well as my private revelations and psalms to God. When I find that I need strength and encouragement to go on, I read them from time to time. I have found that sometimes “looking back” at my own personal walk with God helps me to go forward and realize that God has delivered me many times in the past, and that He will continue to faithfully do so in the future. It helps me to remember that all I have to do is keep believing in Him and persevering and that my God will make it all work out for me according to good (Rom. 8:28). It is clear from the Bible that David sometimes did this as well. He drew upon his personal past record of deliverances by the Lord in order to face bigger giants ahead of him. He told King Saul that the same God that delivered him from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear would deliver him from that giant Goliath (I Sam. 17:34-37). The Bible says that “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” when he was distressed and didn’t know what to do (I Sam. 30:6). In other words, David remembered his past walk with the Lord and God’s faithful dealings with him up until that current time, and this helped him by encouraging him to go on and to go forward in faith.

After studying this subject, and seeing how “keeping a spiritual journal” can help aid your spiritual life, one of the ladies in our Bible Study group, Sue Bosh, took what she had learned from the study and began applying it in her life. This is what she wrote as her first entry which she wanted to share with us at Sharing the Way:
10/27/06: Dear God – When it was said to write down our experiences, good and bad, as they happened, I had no idea what to expect. But, as always, I knew You would be in charge of things so I didn’t really think about this other than to think to myself, “What will I write about? How will I? ” … and all that other stuff. I shouldn’t have worried. You had something in mind, and I am grateful. Thank You, Father.

Today was an average Friday. My daughter had the day off from work and we had some time to ourselves. We decided to go to Hobby Lobby and just spend a bunch of time browsing.

As we walked up to the door of the store, there was a woman in a wheelchair rolling up at the same time. She was the kind of woman that sometimes gets ignored: she was elderly, her clothes were kind of dirty, she wore a stocking cap with big sunglasses perched on it, she was rough to look at, large, and she was struggling to open the door with the handicap button. I opened one side for her but her chair was too wide so another lady opened the other side. We all rolled into the store.

She told us that she was grateful for the help; that some people wouldn’t have done that and thanked us a lot.
After about 15-20 minutes of looking on some shelves just inside the door, my daughter and I started to go to the back of the store and there this lady was again. I said that it was funny to have been in there for that amount of time and had only gotten a few feet inside the door. I said that the store had all kinds of cute stuff for Thanksgiving and I showed the woman the little things I had picked up. She assured me that Thanksgiving was a Christian holiday .She also said that she wasn’t sure what she would have to eat on that day, but she was sure that God would provide her with what she needed. She said that He always did. I agreed and added how thankful I was that He provides as we need.

Thank you, Father for that!

We started sharing a conversation right there in the aisle of the store. We talked of God and Jesus. She told me of her struggles with her neighbors and that they disdain her talking about God and His Word. They told her that she was crazy. Dirty. And that her apartment was stinking because she preached the things of God!
I was stunned! She told me that she didn’t mind when they said those things, because she knew that they were controlled by Satan and his demons. Amazing lady!

Watch over her, Dear Lord.

She said that she was shopping for some incense to freshen up the air at her place and to help with the cigarette smells, etc. around the place where she lived. (There were a lot of younger people that were in “cult stuff” living in her building) And did I know where it was in the store? I asked a clerk and we went together to find it.

Her name is Cecilia. And she is 74 years old.

I helped her select a scent that wasn’t so strong and we continued our talk. All the while she kept thanking me for talking with her. (It really didn’t occur to me not to) She said that she had prayed for God to send her someone to talk with about Him and she thought it was His Providence that I was there….so do I.

Thank You, My Father.

She told me that she searched for “something” all her life and didn’t quite know what it was that she was looking for, but nothing filled her until God touched her heart!

I praise You, Abba Father for holding her heart.

She explained to me that before she came to know God she was visited by a pastor of some church and he noticed that she had a bunch of books about all kinds of religions lining her shelves. This pastor told her to give them to him and for her to concentrate on just the Bible because the other books she had wouldn’t do her any good, only confuse her. So she said okay, but wouldn’t they attract demons to him? And he told her that he could handle that. She told me that from that day on, she was God‘s. He opened her heart and she found peace. After 70-some years of searching, she finally found rest. Cecelia said that she “started hating what she once loved and started loving what she once hated”! A new woman!!

We talked for close to an hour and it was hard to part ways. She had things to do and so did I. We will look for each other when we go to that area again, and be glad when we meet.

My daughter said that she knew I had a Divine appointment…she was right.

Dear Lord, Thank You for arranging that assignment for me. Thank You, too, for using me for Your purpose. I love You more each day. What deep feelings I felt for You just talking with Cecilia. That You call us all right where we are! Please comfort her in the lonely times. Feed her body and spirit as You see fit and help her to be strong in You. I pray in the name of Jesus my Brother and Lord.

Amen

Church, Church Leaders, Church System, Churchianity, End Times, Eric Wheeler, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Latter Rains, Prophesy

The Deep Things of God (chapters 5-6)

November 17, 2006 gregt

Note from the moderator: This is the final installment of a 3-part series. If you missed any of the previous installments in this series, you can read all of the chapters in their entirety on our website at:https://sharingtheway.com/. As always, your thoughts, comments, questions, and/or rebuttals are always encouraged. Sharing the Way is intended to be an online open discussion forum.

THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD
By Eric Wheeler
eric@sharingtheway.com

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (I Cor. 2:10)

Chapter 5: JESUS WILL COME TO HIS PEOPLE IN SPIRIT FIRST

God declared through the Apostle Peter that before He comes to judge the world, He is going to judge His household first (I Peter 4:17). But how is He going to do that, one might ask? By His Spirit and through His Word is the answer! Let me explain.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). In other words, the Word of God is the tool through which the Spirit of God does His work in our lives. For it is written, “The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12-13). And we know that Jesus is the One to whom we must all give account (see Rom. 14:10-12; John 5:22).

Chapter 6: THE GREAT OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus said that the spirit of Elijah would truly come first, and “restore all things” before the Day of the Lord comes (Matt. 17:11). And in another place it says that “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25). In other words, God is going to restore to us the spiritual things that were taken away from us by spiritual “drought, famine, and pestilence”! For it was written long ago, “Behold, the days come, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing of the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). But thankfully, God promises that He is going to “restore all things” to us shortly. And that in these last days He is going to “pour out His Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17), and that “all flesh will see the salvation [saving power] of God” (Luke 3:6).

[To be continued in the future as the Spirit leads…]

Eric
eric@sharingtheway.com

The Walk

An Anointing from God (Part 2)

November 17, 2006 gregt

By Jerry Olson

I have been shown an additional component for an anointing from God. And it appears as if not all, called of God, are given the same degree of anointing. In addition, just because you had, or were anointed by God at one time, is no guarantee that this anointing will continue. If God chooses to anoint someone, it would seem to reason that the anointing would be blessed, as to the way it is applied. God wants obedience and honor from His people. We are going to examine the Scriptures to see how compromise plays are large roll in the anointing power and blessing from God. It can be devastating to allow yourself to compromise your position, beliefs, truths, obedience, honor, and the word of God. When we compromise, we limit and can possibly destroy our relationship with God, a relationship where we must honor God with respect for His sovereignty and instruction for the way we are to live. If we love Him as our eternal Father, and we love our Lord Jesus as well, we will try very hard to not compromise with what we know is right in the eyes of God. For example, Mat 26:33 “Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’ :34 Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’” Peter thought he was ready to make a strong stand, however without the Holy Spirit we are very weak indeed. John 20:21 “Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ :22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” You may not have thought about it in the past, but I believe that when one receives the Holy Spirit, you are receiving an anointing from God. Special power and privilege are given to each individual that is blessed with this unique, setting apart, as a member of the family of God. Mat 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.”

Peter became more anointed as his ministry developed with greater faith and love for our Lord, and the purpose of his calling. Act 9:36- 43 In this account Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas, full of good works and charitable deeds, became sick and died. But Peter put them out of the room, knelt down and prayed. “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. This is the same Peter that had denied Christ Jesus not long before. He had compromised because he was weak at that point; however he became powerful in the Lord, at a later time, with the Holy Spirit from God. Eventually, Peter understood the purpose for his calling; he became anointed with even greater power from on high.

Act 5:15 “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. :16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

God our Father decides who is to be called and anointed with the Holy Spirit of God. He too is the gift giver, and places each in the body as it pleases Him. God only, chooses who will be king, governor and president. He alone determines who will be apostles, prophets, teachers, and ministers of God, He decides who is and who is not anointed. Anointing is giftedness, a power, a blessing, a privilege, an authority, determined by God, for His purpose, His will, according to His timetable, desire, plan and under His authority.

Gen 12:1-3 “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” Gen 17:3 “Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: :4 ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. :5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. :6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. :7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.” Gen 22:1 “Now it came to pass after these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ :2 And He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’” Gen 26:3 “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” :5 “because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statues, and My laws.”

Psalm 105:6 O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

Luke 19:9 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; :10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’”

Gal 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’) :14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Gen 37:3 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. 5: Now Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. Now it came to pass that Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianite traders. And they took Joseph to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.” Gen 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph, :3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him. :7 Now it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’ :8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife…:9 ‘There is no one greater in the house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ : 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 41:1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. : 13 ‘And it came to pass just as he interpreted for us; so it happened:’ 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph. : 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of the Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. :33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. : 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. : 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word;’” Joseph had many opportunities to compromise his obedience to God. However, he honored God, he kept the faith. His anointing remained with him his entire life. And he asked that his bones be carried to the Promised Land, which took place 400 years later.

Num 13:1 “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of the fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” Num 13:27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. :28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. :30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.’” :31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in the wilderness!’ :6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; :8 ‘If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. : 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord,’ :26 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, :27 ‘How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who murmur against Me?’ :28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: :29 The carcasses of you who have murmured against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. :30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.’” Because Joshua and Caleb did not compromise and show weakness, and because they trusted in the Lord, the Lord blessed them and they were the only adults above 20 years of age to enter the Promised Land. They did not rebel, they kept the faith and God anointed their faithfulness. Joshua replaced Moses and lead God’s people into the Promised Land.

Now Hannah was in bitterness of soul because the Lord had closed her womb. I Sam 1:11 “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ :20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked for him from the Lord.’”

I Sam 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

My horn is exalted in the Lord.

I smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

:2 “There is none holy like the Lord,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

:3 “Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance

Come from your mouth,

For the Lord is

The God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.

:4 “The bows of mighty men

Are broken,

And those who stumbled

Are girded with strength.

:5 Those who were full

Have hired themselves out for bread,

And those who were hungry

Have ceased to hunger.

Even the barren has borne seven,

And she who has many children has

Become feeble.

:6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;

He brings down to the grave

And brings up.

:7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

He brings low and lifts up.

:8 He raises the poor from the dust

And lifts the beggar

From the ash heap,

To set them among princes

And make them inherit

The throne of glory.

“For the pillars of the earth

Are the Lord’s

And He has set the world upon them.

:9 He will guard the feet of His saints,

But the wicked shall be silent

In darkness.

“For by strength no man shall prevail.

;10 The adversaries of the Lord

Shall be broken in pieces;

From heaven He will thunder

Against them.

The Lord will judge

The ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to His king,

And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Hannah asked for an anointing from God. In response, she received a double portion (blessing) from Him in a sense. Not only was her womb opened so that she conceived a son named Samuel, but her son grew up to be a wonderful example of a servant that served with absolute dedication to God never wavering from his calling.

I Sam 3:19-20 “So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.”

I Sam 9:15 “Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, :16 ‘Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.’” I Sam 10:1 “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance? :8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”

But Saul did not wait on Samuel as he was instructed. That is, he did not obey the word of the Lord. I Sam 13:9 “So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering. :10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. :11 And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, :12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ :13 And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. :14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

I Sam 15:10 “Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, :11 ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as King, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’ :17 So Samuel said, ‘When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord?’ :22 Then Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? : 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.’”

This represents an anointing from God lost, because of haughtiness and disrespect for the Word of God and the anointing power of the Most High God.

David was just a youth when he heard the words of the Philistine; however, his love for God, his respect for God and his great faith in the Lord, gave him strength!

David would not allow the disrespect for God, shown by the Philistine champion, to go unanswered. King Saul should have been the first one in line to challenge the call. However, David could not stand by and not defend God’s honor.

I Sam 17:26 “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

I Sam 17:37 “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”.

I Sam 17:45 “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.”

I Sam 17:46 “The Lord will deliver you.”

I Sam 17:47 “ The battle is the Lord’s, He will give you into our hands.”

The entire army of God cowered in the face of the great Philistine warrior. But David would not compromise when he heard the giant defy the armies of God. The Lord anointed him that day with power and the giant and the Philistine army fell before them.

I Sam 24:2 “Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from Israel and went to seek David and his men in the rocks of the wild goats.” Saul wanted to kill David.

I Sam 24:4 “And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. :5 Now it happened afterwards that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. :6 And he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.’” Many would conclude that David was justified in killing Saul; however, David would not compromise with such an act against an anointed of the Lord.

Daniel was another young man we read about that was very strong in the Lord. He would not compromise his beliefs and the Lord blessed him and anointed him as a leader that served God for 60 years, because of his faith and honor for God.

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Dan 3:12 “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Dan 3:15 “ If you do not worship, the image I have made, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the God who will deliver you from my hands?”

Dan 3:17 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”

Dan 3:19 “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, Therefore he spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.”

Dan 3:25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

In these biblical accounts we have read where God does the anointing according to His will. He anoints individuals with knowledge, wisdom, understanding, authority, position and power as He desires and for His purposes.

And in I Samuel 2:30 we read where the Lord God of Israel is speaking: “Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me, I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

What about you and me?

Do we dare to stand alone?

We will never be alone if we choose to stand with our Lord! He will provide. Fear not for God knows what His people need, even before we ask.

Act 10:34-38

“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-He is Lord of all – that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached – how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Hebrews 13:6

So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

Please feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited.

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The Walk

Standing Alone

October 26, 2006 gregt

-Author unknown.

IT IS HUMAN to stand with the crowd; it is divine to stand alone.
It is man-like to follow the people, to drift with the tide; it is
God-like to follow a principle, to stem the tide.

It is natural to compromise conscience and follow the social and
religious fashion for the sake of gain or pleasure; it is divine to
sacrifice both on the altar of truth and duty.

"No man stood with me, but all men forsook me" (2 Timothy 4:16)
wrote the battle-scarred apostle in describing his appearance
before a civil court to answer for his life of believing and teaching
contrary to the Roman world.

God’s absolute, revealed Truth has been out of fashion since man
changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves.

Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his
strangeness and perished in style.

Abraham wandered and worshipped alone. Sodomites smiled at
the simple shepherd, followed the world’s fashion, and fed the flames.

Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed
alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone.

And of the lonely way His disciples should walk, He said, "Straight
is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it." Matthew 7:14.

Of their treatment by the many who walk in the broad way, He said,
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because
ye are not of the world,. . . therefore the world hateth you." John 15:19.

The redeemed children of Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham
and persecuted Moses. The people of God in the days of the kings
praised Moses and persecuted the prophets. The court of Caiphas,
the high priest, praised the prophets and persecuted Jesus. The
church of the popes praised the Saviour and persecuted the saints.

And multitudes now, both in the church and the world, applaud the
courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles
and martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness or foolishness the
same faithfulness in standing for truth today.

Wanted, today, men and women, young and old, who will obey
their convictions of truth and duty at the cost of fortune and friends
and life itself.

"Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood,
suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him
without the camp, bearing His reproach." (Hebrews 13:12-13).

~SOURCE: http://www.feasite.org/Tracts/fbcalone.htm
– © Fundamental Evangelistic Association.

Taken with permission from:
http://www.revivalschool.com

Please feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited.

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Church, Church Leaders, Church System, Churchianity, End Times, Eric Wheeler, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Latter Rains, Prophesy

The Deep Things of God (chapters 3-4)

October 26, 2006 gregt

Note from the moderator: This is the second installment of a 3-part series. Chapters 1 through 2 were sent out last time. If you don’t want to wait until the 3rd installment (chapters 5-6) is sent out, you can read it in its entirety on our website at: https://sharingtheway.com/. As always, your thoughts, comments, questions, and/or rebuttals are always encouraged. Afterall, Sharing the Way is intended to be an open discussion online forum.

THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD
By Eric Wheeler
eric@sharingtheway.com

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (I Cor. 2:10)

Chapter 3: HOW WILL JESUS COME?

Many people would say that Jesus will come in the same manner as He left — He will come in the clouds, just as He left in the clouds. This is true. Acts 1:9-11 says that while the disciples were looking at Jesus, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they looked up, two angels announced to them that this same Jesus would also come again in like manner as they had seen Him go. Matthew also confirms this by saying, “And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30). But many people don’t realize that by the time that Jesus comes in the fullness of His glory, it will be too late for the Church. Let me explain.

When Jesus returns to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in the fullness of His glory, the nations of the earth will see it and mourn and tremble (Matt. 24:30; Psalm 114:7). The whole world will see it. Jesus said that it will be as visible as the sunshine rising in the east is visible even unto the west (Matt. 24:27). This is how the whole world will see His coming! However, He describes His coming to the Church as a “thief in the night” (II Peter 3:10). He warns His own people to watch, and to be vigilant, because we don’t know in what hour (or how) the Master will be coming to us (Matt. 24:42, 44). He warns us, “But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Rev. 3:3).

Chapter 4: HOW WILL JESUS COME TO HIS PEOPLE – THE CHURCH?

As was mentioned earlier, after His resurrection and ascension, Jesus appeared to His followers in many ways and forms that they weren’t expecting. Many of the parables and messages recorded in the Bible seem to indicate that Jesus intends to come again to His people in the same manner. Notice what He warns His people in the Church in the last days: “I know your deeds. You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard. Obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up [spiritually], I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Rev. 3:1-3). If God’s people are not spiritually vigilant and living in a deep abiding relationship with Him, then He is going to come upon them in a way and at a time in which they don’t expect. Let me explain. First of all, Jesus said to be careful how we treat people because it could be Him that we are really mistreating (see Matt. 25:31-46). He also said that “whoever receives someone that I send, receives Me” (John 13:20). In another place, Jesus said that whoever welcomes even a little child that comes in His name, welcomes Him (Luke 9:48). The point is that Jesus can come to us in any form that He chooses. Sometimes, He may come to us in the form of a beggar, sometimes as a prisoner, sometimes as a stranger, and other times as a little child (Matt. 25:34-46). But the question is, are we humble and spiritual enough, and in a close enough relationship with Him, to recognize Him when He comes to us in the Spirit – that is, when He comes to us in another form that we are not expecting? Notice when the Apostle Paul was persecuting the Christians and having them arrested before his conversion, that the Lord Jesus appeared unto him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul (Paul) answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!” (Acts 9:4-5). Notice that Saul (Paul) didn’t recognize Jesus. And furthermore, notice how Jesus said that Saul was actually persecuting Him, by persecuting His followers and servants!

[to be continued…]

Eric
eric@sharingtheway.com

The Walk

An Anointing From God

October 26, 2006 gregt

– by Jerry Olson olsonjd@netscape.com

Last week I read an article written by Andrew Strom entitled “Miracles are a Must”. I was particularly interested in the article and it caused me to think about why we see limited anointing on messages (preaching) and healings in the body of Christ Jesus today.

I would like to attempt, at least in part, to begin the process of answering this question.

I believe that all anointing comes from God. The scriptures clearly talk about individuals that are given gifts by God in order to help members of the body of Christ. I Cor 12:28 says, “And God has appointed these in the Church….miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” In addition to individuals that are being called by God and are not yet members of the body, they can likewise benefit from these special anointings.

Jesus has all these leadership qualities, and God’s called out servants will possess these as well. The Word of God clearly addresses what a Godly leader is, or should be. Jesus is our example. He was first a servant. Speaking of Jesus, Paul writes, “He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). Jesus also called Himself a shepherd. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The shepherd gives His life for the sheep. :12 But he who is a hireling and not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.”

Eph 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, :12 for the equipping of saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, :13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

If you want to work for Jesus, you must first have love. For God is Love (I John 4:8). I Cor 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” Without love, I feel your ministry would yield nothing as well.

Faith is another extremely important prerequisite in our walk and service with the Lord Jesus. Heb 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Gal 3:5 “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? :6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Mat 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to the mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ it will be done. :22 “And all things, whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” All anointed servants shall be bold in their work for God. Faith and boldness work together in all those that know and trust in our Lord. Prov. 28:1 “The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.” Heb 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. :15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. :16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Unfortunately, many church body leaders are more interested in church income, congregation numbers and how to please men, than doing the will of God, and thereby receiving from Jesus, a preaching and healing anointing. Does it not stand to reason that if Jesus is not pleased with your ways, that He would hold back an anointing until you got it right? Gal 1:9 “As I have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. :10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

In addition, some leaders have various titles, diplomas and certificates but without the Holy Spirit, and the anointing from Jesus, very little work for God can be achieved. All profitable servants for our Lord Jesus will know what the Word of God teaches and will only follow sound scriptural doctrine. I Tim 4:16 “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

A servant of the Most High God will also live life according to the following scriptures. Micah 6: 8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

All chosen and called-out servants for God will be givers, often giving anything and everything to benefit others. Dedicated and devoted Christians giving their lives in service to others and to the gospel of Christ Jesus our Lord. II Cor 9:6 “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. :7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. :8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.”

Jesus called those He was about to send out. Mk 10:42 “Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. :43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.”

I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin,

We deceive ourselves,

And the truth is not in us.

I John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world.

If anyone loves the world,

The love of the Father is not in him.

Authority is another major consideration when it comes to accomplishing anything of God. Where does authority come from? God the Father is supreme authority throughout the entire universe. However, God the Father has now put all authority with Jesus the Son. John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, :27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” Mat 7:29 “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Luke 9:1 “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. :2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Prov 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

Jn 7:16 “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. :17 If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. :18“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.’” I Tim 2:1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men :2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

I Peter 5:5 “God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Anointed power, why is it critical to this subject? Where does this power come from? God the Father again is supreme in power as well as authority. Power from God, flowing through a Christian, is how miracles are accomplished.

Luke 4:36 “So they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’” Act 3:11 “Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. :12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?’”

Act 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” God the Father has power beyond our understanding. However, with faith we can know and experience this power here on earth and in our Christian lives.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world

His invisible attributes are clearly seen,

Being understood by the things that are

Made, even His eternal power and Godhead,

So that we are without excuse.

In conclusion:

“Gifts of the Spirit !!! “

II Peter 1:1-11

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with

us by the righteousness of our God and Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge

Of God and of Jesus our Lord,

As His divine power has given to us all things

That pertain to life and godliness, through the

Knowledge of Him who called us by glory

And virtue,

By which have been given to us exceedingly

Great and precious promises, that through these you

may be partakers of the divine nature, having

escaped the corruption that is in the world

through lust.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, to virtue, knowledge,

To knowledge, self-control, to self-control perseverance,

To perseverance godliness,

To godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly

kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has old sins.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your

Calling and election sure, for if you do these things

You will never stumble;

For so an entrance will be supplied to you

Abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Is this not Jesus living in His brothers and sisters?

These scriptures written in II Peter 1:11 clearly convey the righteousness, and even virtue, that is possible living in servants of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Christian servants having faith in Jesus, demonstrating God’s love, teaching the Word of God, and healing the sick. These are Christian leaders that allow the light of Jesus to shine brightly in their lives, even in a world that has become much darker today. Their good works shall be seen and provide a testimony of the authority, power and love of God for His children.

Please feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited.

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Church, Church Leaders, Church System, Churchianity, End Times, Eric Wheeler, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Latter Rains, Prophesy

The Deep Things of God (chapters 1-2)

October 9, 2006 gregt

Note from the moderator: This is a 3-part installment series that I want to share with Sharing the Way subscribers. It currently has a total of 6 chapters to it. I will send it out in 3 installments (of 2 chapters each) over the next few days. I submit it to the readers in hopes that it will generate thought, discussion, understanding, and hopefully, spiritual enlightenment. Your questions, comments, and/or rebuttals/criticisms are encouraged (I Cor. 14:29). If you don’t want to wait until the other two installments are sent out, you can read it in its entirety on our website at: https://sharingtheway.com/.

THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD
By Eric Wheeler
eric@sharingtheway.com

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (I Cor. 2:10)

Chapter 1: THE NEW TESTAMENT WILL BE REPEATED

A number of years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me in a series of visions, dreams, and revelations that just as the Old Testament was fulfilled and played out in the New Testament, the New Testament will be fulfilled and played out in the present day and immediate future. Let me explain. The Old Testament happenings and events, Paul says, were given to us as physical examples of a spiritual reality (I Cor. 10:6-11). Take, for example, baptism. Paul says that when the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, it was a form of baptism (I Cor. 10:1-2). He said that when they ate the manna and drank water from the Rock, that it spiritually symbolized them eating and drinking Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:3-4). In other places, Paul explains that the physical Temple, the sacrificial system, the priesthood, the holy days and Sabbaths, the ceremonial meat and drink offerings, and many other things prescribed in the Old Testament, were actually fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament.

Jesus testified to this fact also, by saying to His followers after His resurrection, “These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.’ Then He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures [the Old Testament]” (Luke 24:44-45).

Like most Christians, I too believed in the past that the New Testament Scriptures were linear, and more or less, chronological. That is to say, like history, the New Testament’s message flowed consecutively in one direction beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ and continuing forward to the writings of the last surviving apostle, John. I believed that the present-day Church, to one degree or another, was but the direct continuation of the original apostolic Church established in the New Testament. However, the Holy Spirit has since shown me that this belief is inaccurate and incomplete. Yes, it is true that we are “built upon the apostles and the prophets”. Yes, it is true that we are the spiritual descendants of the apostles. But the New Testament Scriptures are not linear. They are dual. They are prophetic.

Chapter 2: SPIRITUAL PARALLELS

In the few years before the birth of Jesus Christ, we find “the Church” or people of God in the following condition:

They were ruled over by the Sadducees and Pharisees and the Sanhedrin.
1. The church leaders had formal theological training and education, and were appointed by the religious, and sometimes, secular authorities.
2. The church leaders each had positions and titles, and dressed religiously to insure that they were recognized for their authority.
3. Many of the religious leaders were politically-aligned with the civil government.
They were in bondage.
1. to sin.
2. to the religious authorities.
3. to the Roman government.
They were spiritually blind and “sitting in darkness”.
1. They didn’t believe that they needed to change.
2. They believed that they were righteous because they went to synagogue, paid their tithes, and submitted to the religious hierarchy.
They had a general expectation that the Messiah’s Coming was near, but clearly didn’t understand its spiritual significance and the signs of the times.
They regularly met in buildings of worship, heard prepared messages, and attended formal services.
1. None of the laity was permitted to speak regularly.
2. They were financially burdened and expected to financially support the synagogue or Temple.
3. They could be put out of the synagogue or “disfellowshipped”.

Thankfully though, just as the New Testament Scriptures foretell, not all of the Jews rejected Jesus. For the Scriptures say that God left Himself a remnant of believers in disbelieving Israel. “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, to them He gave the right to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). The Scriptures seem to indicate that not very many people (probably less than a thousand) believed in the living Jesus after His ascension (see Acts 1:15; I Cor. 15:5-8). But that soon after the Day of Pentecost, many more believed and were added to the Church daily (Acts 2:41-47). This same Church-wide repentance and re-birth will happen once again in the Church in the not-so-distant future, only this time it will happen on a much larger scale!

[to be continued…]

Eric
eric@sharingtheway.com

Inspiration, Revival, Testimony, Unknown

Incredible Revival Fire in China!

October 6, 2006 gregt

prophetic@revivalschool.com

A leader from the house church movement in Henan Province
reports on the continued remarkable work of God in China:

The things we are seeing now are beyond anything we ever saw or
even thought possible. For example, during ‘Gospel Month’ – a
time when we ask every believer to lead at least one person to
Christ – there were 120,000 conversions in Henan alone.

God worked with us, confirming the word with signs and wonders.
Without these miracles, man alone would not be able to
accomplish anything.

Three sisters went to Xinyue District in Henan to evangelize, and
after seven days of ministry 1,100 people repented and were saved.

It was as if there was fire in their hands, for whoever they laid their
hands on, they immediately experienced a ‘burning’ sensation all
throughout their body.

As these three sisters were evangelizing, a man came up to them
and began to curse them. However, they paid no attention to him.

After a long time others came to the sisters and said, ‘Why is it
you show compassion to this man, even though he is cursing you?’

As soon as they said this the man collapsed and died. It caused
great awe and reverence toward the Lord in the crowd of people
who witnessed this judgment of God.

Many repented and accepted Jesus. In previous years when
missionaries worked here, they didn’t see such numbers converted
even after several dozen years. We sense now that this is the time
for the Holy Spirit to mightily work through us.

Though there are many difficulties in open street evangelism here,
during the Chinese New Year festivals it is easier to go out into
the open to preach the gospel.

A whole group of sisters were preaching when some police
officials suddenly appeared.

One stretched out his hand toward the sisters and shouted, ‘Arrest them!’

However, immediately his arm turned stiff in its stretched out
position and he was not able to put it down or retract it. He went
back to the police station and in desperation asked, ‘What can I
do?’ Someone said, ‘You must find a Christian to pray for you.

Therefore they invited our preachers to the police station to pray
for him, and when they did, he was healed!

They then preached to the police and many of them accepted the Lord.

Previously, during our open air meetings, few people would pay
any attention. Now, everywhere when we go out with our
tambourines and other instruments to share about Jesus, crowds
of people stop everything they are doing to attend our meetings.

As we preach, many cry out, ‘We have never heard such good
news in all our lives. Why has nobody told us this before?’

The people forget about all their plans and activities and remain for
hours to listen to the gospel. It is truly the fire of the Holy Spirit
burning in our midst.

~Source: Revival Christian Church, Hong Kong.
[ http://www.jesus.org.uk/ja/mag_revivalfires_china6.shtml ]

Church, Church System, Churchianity, Kingdom of God, Ray Ashmore

A True Description of the Church

October 6, 2006 gregt

By Ray Ashmore (Storm-Harvest Ministries)

The Kingdom and the Church: Every gathering of believers is an expression of the Church, the present “body” of Christ on earth, and is commissioned to reach out to every tongue and tribe and nation, breaking down walls among people groups through the reconciliation that is in Christ. The Church is not the Kingdom, but is the primary residence of the kingdom, the company of those who are bound together by their common allegiance to the King. As such, every gathering of believers should be an outpost for the extension of the Kingdom, reclaiming what rightfully belongs to God—through worship, training, proclamation and doing the powerful works of the King.

The Continual Reformation of the Church: Because the reality of the Kingdom is always greater than and institutional framework of the visible Church, churches must be continually renewed and reformed, and never uniformly “set” in a local or denominational structure. Therefore, the church, local or otherwise, can never be a building, a fixed organization, a constitution and set of by-laws, an order of service or a religious hierarchy and government—in other words, an institution. These things may be useful to the church, but are distinctly not the church. To the degree these things are considered to be the church, to that degree they have become “brazen serpents.” And to the degree that institutional structures are static and unchanging, to that degree they mitigate the will of God and hinder the Holy Spirit’s work. A major function of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ is to serve the Gospel in new and ever changing ways, applying the creativity of God in different times and cultures and contexts.

Please feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited.
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Sharing The Way

The Deep Things of God (Chapters 1 – 6)

Keeping A Spiritual Journal

The Deep Things of God (chapters 5-6)

An Anointing from God (Part 2)

Standing Alone

The Deep Things of God (chapters 3-4)

An Anointing From God

The Deep Things of God (chapters 1-2)

Incredible Revival Fire in China!

A True Description of the Church

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