Please enjoy the worship music as you read
This article is dedicated to those who are seeking Him. At times, it may feel like you are walking alone in your quest. Please listen to the music and read the article below. God does indeed have a special place for you with His church in the Kingdom of God (John 4:23)
Some of you may wonder why I begin many of the articles with examples of how I messed up in life and my Christian walk. I am not sure I really have an answer, other than the fact I want it to be known how much we need to lean on the Lord in all our thinking.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
It seems so many preachers desire your support, and push how ‘their’ book or ‘their’ understanding is essential to your lives. The Lord reminds me (and I want to emphasis this) there is no one that can have any real truth without the light of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Holy Spirit gives us His Truth with incredible love. The only desired return is the hope of a unified heart that pleases the Father. Mentioning personal errors should be as natural as acknowledging areas of growth in our walk and becomes a safeguard. Admitting- ‘Lord we are in total need of your guidance. Here are the ways I have blown it and how you rescued me from falsehood. I am so grateful for Your grace and Your compassionate wisdom.’
The true beauty of Your wisdom however is not when it enlightens one person. It is when Your majestic grace is given to the bride of Christ. When your truth flows into your bride, and we share in this great love of who You are and what You desire, the church becomes one in Your glory. When we start to magnify Your love by implanting it in the hearts of the your bride-the body of Christ, there is an explosion of Your heavenly presence that transforms our hearts. Ephesians 4 mentions the purpose of church leadership is to bring the fullness of Christ to the body of believers. Our task is to have you ‘glow in Christ’.
Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ..so that the body of Christ may be build up…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Somehow, we have gotten His divine purpose backwards. The fullness of Christ comes through you, the body of Christ. As we shall see in later articles on the Kingdom of God, having the body of Christ come into His fullness will unite the heaven and earth as one.
This article is not meant to solidify a particular aspect of the Kingdom message. His Word will do this as mentioned on the site map. It is intended to bring those together who have felt ‘left out’ of the organized church, but who truly have sought His direction and guidance in their lives. Those who know they are far from perfect, far from elegant in speech or presentation-who fall short of the standards placed by the distinguished church. It is my hope to explain in part why many of you feel the Lord is putting truth in your hearts that does not match what you are hearing in the pulpit. What you are hearing is not necessarily false, but so different than what is crying out in your spirit.
It is also an attempt to explain why many of you receive what I like to call the ‘stiff arm’. For years, the hand shakes have been unlimited, but your heart into the ministry has been given the football stiff arm, stay away. Your troubled, because you know-through the loving burden of the Holy Spirit-the concerns and passion in your heart is from the living God. My friend, you are not alone, and if you continue to surrender your heart, He indeed has created a place for you in His Kingdom ministry, His army. (see In Your Heart You Always Knew-Weekly Thoughts). Let’s look.
In Mark 3:13-19 Jesus went on the mountainside, indication He wanted to be alone with His Father. He then appointed 12 apostles. Not one of the 12 apostles had formal background from divinity school (Acts 4:13). In fact, when Jesus sent the 72 disciples out to preach the Kingdom of God, He rejoices that the Father showed the ‘secrets’ of His heavenly kingdom to those whose hearts were like children Matt. 13:11
Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
His first appointed were not from the organized synagogue (or church). The number one qualification was and will forever be, the heart
John 4:21-24 Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Yet a time …has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Let it be known, as in the time of Jesus, His Kingdom revival will begin with
Luke 9:48 for he who is least among you all (in heart)—he is the greatest.(in Gods’ realm)”
True Kingdom revival in the end times will come from ‘the least of these’. The organized church is invited, but will begin with the ‘least of these’ in heart. Paul was given great honor in the Word because of his sufferings, and he was brought up in the traditional synagogue (Acts 9:16, Phil. 3:3-6). God will not leave out the traditional church, but He will start with ‘the least’(King David was the youngest, and Jesus followed by being born in a manger).
Note: It is interesting that in order for Paul to see (he was ‘top of his class’ while he persecuted the church) he had to be torn down and become blind. Led by the hand in total humility he received his sight (Gal. 1:14, Acts 9:3-18) In order for the church to receive this Kingdom message, many believe the same is true for the organized church. Please see related articles-Kingdom of God and Prophecy.
For years I have noticed something. ‘The least’ many times have received beautiful truths of God. They may be ‘unpolished’ and fall short in personal ability. They may not excel in communication or business skills. They may lack self esteem and their social skills may not blend in perfectly with their peers. Yet you can see a calling in their lives. Their heart is pure, and few notice. These, those who have gone unnoticed, are the ‘least of these’ that Jesus will make into His army in the end times. I know men and women who have the offices (gifts) of pastor, evangelist, prophet and other ministries that have so much more insight than what is being preached in most pulpits. I believe God is wanting to unite these believers into a church and army for Him.
Since the church as a whole has not pursued the Kingdom of God, Satan has skillfully encouraged denominations and personal ministries to divide His body. Separation divides power and an evil ruler is able to continue his quest (Mk. 3:23-27, Matt 16:19, Matt. 11:12, Ephesians 4:11-13, 6:12, Rev. 12:7-11). Denominations and organizations are not evil, but having them in replace of the Kingdom of God is.
Those who put His bride first will be called to unite the church that will be without blemish. All those who feel alone in your calling (but know it is from God) hang on to this truth and He will in no way forsake you or your calling. (Romans 11:29, Heb. 13:5) Remember, Jesus himself was unnoticed by the religious leadership until the time of His calling. He too received the ‘stiff arm’ (Matt. 13:54-57)
A personal example
Over a year ago, while having some java at coffee shop, a retired pastor and his wife were having lunch. They seemed friendly, and we talked about the Lord. I have seen this gentleman several times after our first discussion. One time while feeling rather discouraged about my lack of progress in the church, I asked this elder for advice. I thought, what could it hurt; maybe his years of knowledge will help me set a course that might accomplish more for Him.
He picked up quickly what kind of direction I was looking for. His answer was already ‘logged’ and ready to be reviewed. Basically he mentioned how his son took over his ministry and God blessed his dedication with this size of a congregation. He then mentioned another minister he mentored, and because of his dedication God blessed him with a much larger sized congregation. As usual, I left a discussion with another pastor feeling ‘emptier’ than before our talk.
Fast forward a year down the road. While the truth of the Kingdom of God has been in my heart for a while, searching this truth with intensity (seeking His throne room) was rather recent. There is no greater joy than experiencing His deep love and purpose for His bride.
Recently, this pastor was again at the restaurant talking with another leader in their organization. They spoke of their organization and on occasion used a scriptural principal. After seeing what the Lord has in His Word for America through the Kingdom of God, I wanted to mention frankly what I saw in my spirit when they talked. My intention is not to belittle brothers in the Lord, but to identify a major problem facing the church. When they spoke, they had parts of their philosophies in the Word, but their scripture was surrounded by hard concrete. Bible verses could be found in their thinking, but traditions of men were ‘encased’ around it to make it hard and stiff. The Word did not flow by the Holy Spirit, it was ‘stuck’ by their traditions of men.
I looked at what they had, and in my spirit I instantly knew I did not want it. Gods’ throne room, His true life and love for His bride filled my heart more than anything these men had to offer. Again, my goal is not to be harsh, but to lift the veil of blindness that so many churches are bound with. Now I realize why so many of the Lords saints are receiving the ‘stiff arm’. Their hearts did not have the same material-concrete that was set with the traditions of men. The separation works both ways, mans teaching can never fill a heart needing the Holy Spirit, and many in the church are immune to see truths of God.
MK 7:8 You (Jesus talking to leadership) have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
I do not believe these men were hardened like the Pharisees, but Paul warns a little concrete or yeast-if uncared for can do great harm
1 Cor. 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?
Asking God to purify our hearts is admitting we need purification. Jesus washed our feet and told Peter we did not need a complete bath because He purified us before God by the cross, but our hearts need daily maintenance (John 13:10). It was incredibly sad, but the Lord showed me these men thought they were at the pentacle of power and insight and yet they were so far from the knowledge of the true love God has for His bride. This can only be shown by leaving our traditions and abiding at His feet
John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I knew in my heart if I tried to present the truth of this message, it would truly be what Jesus explained in His parable about His Kingdom …a seed that never took root. (Mk 4:1-29)
For those who know there is more, continue to go to His throne. Pursue the Kingdom of God, and the church will most certainly grow in this knowledge and truth
Matt 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Never let discouragement win the final battle. Your heart will shine-praise God.
Dan. 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Lets commit to pray for one another to bring His truth to light.