Born To Die

The other day I was thinking of an old song that I knew from when I was a kid. The song was called “Ring The Bells” and was written in 1958 by Harry Bollback.

Ring the bells, ring the bells, let the whole world know,
Christ was born in Bethlehem many years ago.
Born to die that man might live, came to earth new life to give,
Born of Mary, born so low, many years ago.
God the Father gave His Son, gave His own beloved One,
To the wicked sinful earth, to bring mankind His love, new birth.

Chorus
Ring the bells, ring the bells,
Let the whole world know
Christ the Savior lives today
As He did so long ago!

Ring the bells, ring the bells, what a glorious morn!
Men and angels worship Him, singing, Christ is born!
Born to die on Calvary, born to set His people free,
God Himself in human form, tell it!  Christ is born.
He has left His royal throne, He has come to claim His own,
Christ the Lord has come to earth, go spread the news of Jesus' birth.

The phrase that got was this: “Born to die that man might live, came to earth new life to give.” As I began to ponder that fact the He was born to die…it led me to thinking about some deeper thoughts.

When the Bible speaks of death, there are three types of death that are depicted. First there is physical death, which means the cessation of life. Second there is spiritual death, which means separation from God. Finally there is the “Second Death” or eternal judgment, which is damnation and punishment in hell.

It is on this thought of three types of death that I want to expound. We all readily accept the fact that Jesus experienced physical death on the cross. Most also believe that Jesus experienced type of death #2, spiritual death, separation from God, for when He who knew no sin became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) on the cross, He cried My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me? (this is why Jesus was in such agony in the garden, because He knew the fellowship that He knew with the Father from eternity past was about to be forsaken at the cross)

This brings us to type of death # 3, the judgement death. There are many who do not believe that Jesus experienced this 3^rd type of death. May I submit to you that Jesus indeed experienced this type of death as well…yes my friends…JESUS WENT TO HELL!

I know when I make that statement it ruffles a lot of religious feathers, but it is true just the same and thank God He did or we would still have to! Even the Apostles Creed tells us so:

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”

If Jesus were to truly redeem us from hell death and the grave…He must not just suffer spiritual death, separation from God; physical death, the cessation of life; but also judgment death or going to hell. Let us examine a well-known verse of Scripture:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NASB

What type of death is being referred to here in this text? Is it referring to physical death? Well, if it were the first time you lied to your parents as a child growing up, you would have fallen over dead. Is it referring to spiritual death? No, since the fall of Adam in the garden the Bible tells us that we are conceived in iniquity and born in sin, we are born physically already separated from God.

So obviously the type of death that is the wages of sin is judgment or damnation. Consider with me Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost where he quotes from Psalm 16:10:

“BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY” Acts 2:27 NASB

“He looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY.” Acts 2:31 NASB

Did you notice what Peter said? He “will not abandon my soul to Hades.” Abandoned has several meanings which include deserted, left or forsaken. In order to be abandoned or left somewhere that must mean that you are there. You can’t be left in China if you are not in China. So therefore for Jesus to not be left in Hades, He must have been in Hades.

Then we can go to the writings of the Apostle Paul where he quotes from Psalm 68:18 for more clarification:

^“Therefore it says, WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, (He led a parade of captives – New Century Version) AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN. Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?” Ephesians 4:8 & 9 NASB

Notice Paul also talks about Jesus descending into the lower parts of the earth; other translations say depths of the earth or lowest parts of the earth. Folks, the simple truth is this…Jesus was born to die as part of the Father’s Master Plan of our Redemption:

“But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:7 & 8 NASB

Remember the words of Jesus in agony in the garden? If it is possible…let this cup pass from Me…Nevertheless, not My Will but Your Will be done. So during this Blessed Christmas Season when we remember His Birth, may we also remember that He was born to die…three types of death…as part of God’s Master Plan of our Redemption.

Don’t Lose Heart

As society seems to be “going to hell in a handbasket” all around us, it is very easy to get discouraged and lose heart. Everything we see seems totally contrary on every front to a move of God and an “Awakening”. Yet as children of the Kingdom…how do we live? Do we walk by what we see in the natural; or by what we see by the eye of our faith with spiritual eyes? I am reminded of what Apostle Paul wrote concerning Abraham.

“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17 KJV

Even when Abraham was way too old in the natural to be the father of many nations, he believed God, because God calls things that be not as though they were. Too many of us call things that be as though they are…we talk about the things that the News Media and the Political Pundits ram down our throats 24x7; which are contrary to what the eye of faith sees and says. Look how the New Living Translation translates this verse.

“That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” Romans 4:17 NLT

This thought also makes me think of Mary and the Christmas Story. She came to a similar realization during her encounter with the angel Gabriel Remember she asked?

“Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin.’” Luke 1:34 NLT

As the angel answers her he gets to the point that he utters these words:

“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God…For with God nothing will be impossible.’” Luke 1:35 & 37 NKJV

For With God Nothing Will Be Impossible!

We need to remind ourselves of that. No matter what we see around us…no matter how contrary what we see in the natural is to what we see in Scripture and by the eye of faith; God is still the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. He has not changed…He is the same Yesterday, Today & Forever. Won’t He Do It? YES I say He will. No matter how bad it looks in the natural…believe God…Nothing is impossible with God…Do Not Lose Heart.

Who’s Your Daddy?

There is an expression that is used in the streets quite regularly…”Who’s Your Daddy?” This question is often asked when the lineage of an individual is not known. It is really kind of a derogatory question that is surely not a complement…but a dig.

What has me thinking of that question you may ask? It seems we have a plethora of “Quote on Quote” Ministers these days all over social media calling themselves Apostles and Prophets. The truth of the matter is anyone can contract Vista Print to make Business Cards for them and can put whatever title they want on them. Vista Print doesn’t care if it is true or not as long as you pay them for their services.

There is a custom in the Jewish faith that when a male child reaches 30 years of age, even though he has already had his Bar Mitzvah at 13, that the Father of that male child announces him as being fully matured and able to rule and take over the family business. If you remember when Jesus was baptized by John, He was 30 years of age. It was then at that baptism as He came up out of the water that the Father announced Him as His Beloved Son in Whom He was well pleased.

If you recall in First Corinthians chapter 4 when Apostle Paul wanted to send someone he could trust to the church at Corinth; he said that he was sending his son Timothy. Timothy was announced as his son by Paul. Jesus was announced as God’s Son by His Father. The question remains: “Who’s Your Daddy?”

So many that are saying I am Apostle this or Prophet that…have never been announced! Who is their Father? Who trained them? Who raised them? Who sent them? Whose message are they carrying? Jesus was and is the Pattern Son. Jesus said My message is not my own, it is the message of Him Who sent Me. Jesus said whatever I see My Father do…that is what I do.

In the natural a child gets their DNA from their Father. Jesus had His Father’s DNA. When Paul said he didn’t have anyone else that he could send…one that would say the same thing that he would say…he sent Timothy. Timothy was a Sent Son…sent to Sons (Paul said that he had begotten Corinthian Church…they were his sons). Jesus was a sent Son. Who’s Son are we? Who is our Daddy?

The truth of the matter is the Son carries the Message, the Method, the Mantle, the Mandate, the Mindset and the Mission of the Father that sent them. Jesus did. Timothy did. What about us today? As I see so many of these supposed leaders I ask: Who sent you? Who announced you? Who’s DNA do you carry? Who’s Message, Mantle, Method, Mandate, Mindset and Mission are you carrying? Who’s your Daddy?

Where Is The Remnant

Prophetic Word August 5, 2015

Prophet Rev. Michael Fram

I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, who will stand in the gap? Where are the ones that know My purpose and call it forth? Who are the ones that will hold Me to My word? Where is the remnant within the earth…that will grab a hold of My promise and grab a hold of Me…one in each hand and pull the two together…that My promise might manifest within the earth?

Who are the ones? Who are the ones…that take Me at My word? Who are the ones that have believed My report? Who are the ones that know what the Logos says, and who are the ones that know what the Rhema says? Who are the ones that take the Rhema and hold it up against the Logos and find that which is true…and hold on to it…and recite it…and bring it before My throne…not letting heaven rest until My word and purpose is established within the earth?

Who are the ones that will stand in the gap? Who are the ones that will not settle for less than My purpose and My plan? Where is the remnant? Where is the remnant? The call is going out all across the earth, and even as My word says, he that has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. For O the Spirit is crying out, O the Spirit is calling out, calling for the remnant, calling for those that will hold on to the purpose and the plan of God and not let go until it manifests within the earth.

Who are those that have ears to hear? And who are those who are more than just hearers only? For didn’t I say that there would be some that would be hearers of the word but would not be doers? That they would let the word go in one ear and right out the other without acting upon it. Even as it were would look at themselves in a mirror and forget what they looked like. Because they heard the promise, they heard what the Spirit had said, but have let it go by the wayside even as those that had a heart condition that could not receive the word as the sower went to sew it.

And so it is…even with the Rhema word of God…even as it was in the parable of the sower…for as the sower sowed the word, the different heart conditions could receive it, fall by the wayside, or have it choked out. And so it is with the Prophetic Word of God that’s being released within the earth…some don’t even hear it, some their heart is so hard that hearing they hear not, and it doesn’t even enter their spirit, it never even makes it through their ear gate down into their heart, because their heart is hard like stony ground. And then there are others that receive it just for a little bit and when it doesn’t instantly manifest say that oh I know that word was too good to be true…surely it wasn’t God…and the things of life will choke out the seed of that Prophetic Word and it will not produce in their life because they’ve allowed things to choke it.

Even as it was with the sower sowing the Logos, so it is with the Rhema word of God…as the prophetic is released…do you hear? Didn’t He say, take heed how you hear? Where is the remnant? Where is the remnant that hears the word, receives the word, allows it to take root in their heart, holds on to the word, stands in the gap with the word and believes Me for the manifestation of that word? Where is My remnant?

Jesus’ Glory

Two nights ago we held one of our Prophetic Holy Ghost Meetings in Asbury Park, NJ. During the meeting the Spirit of God began to direct things towards the direction of the Glory. Some spontaneous Songs of the Lord came out regarding the Glory. Next a Prophetic Word came out about the Glory, then a Prophetic Exhortation about the Glory.

As we went back into worship, the Lord dropped some very familiar Scriptures into my spirit; and began to talk to me about them. I then got up and read them and shared what He was quickening to my spirit.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 & 14 NASB

“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:22-24 NASB

In these verses in Chapter 1, Jesus was the Word who was with God and was God…and became flesh. John says we (meaning the early followers) saw His Glory…Glory as of the only begotten from the Father.

When we get to Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus speaks about that same Glory that John speaks of in Chapter 1. John said we saw His Glory. Now Jesus says The Glory You have given to Me…I have given to them. The same Glory that Jesus had…He in turn gave to us. Notice Jesus said the intended purpose of this Glory that the Father gave Him that He was giving to us so that WE MAY BE ONE!

Notice that Jesus was not just praying for those that believed (the early Believers) but for all those who believed through their word (that is us) (John 17:20). So not only was Jesus praying that the Glory which the Father had given him would come on His followers, but by extension us as well as those who believe because of their word.

At this point the Lord reminded me of the promise of the Prophet Haggai:

“‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:9 NASB

During the early Glory of the Book of Acts the church certainly was not one, they suffered from whether one was of the circumcision or the uncircumcision. Even a great portion of my Christian life we were not one. But in these days of the Latter Glory that is beginning to change. The Body of Christ is beginning to come together like never before. Denominational walls, gender walls, ethnic walls are all falling by the wayside in our day as we are experiencing the Latter Glory; the very Glory that was Jesus’ given Him by the Father and now given to us, so that we may be one.

The other night during the Prophetic Holy Ghost Meeting those in attendance were evenly mixed between Black and White Believers. There was no issue of race whatsoever. We were all worshipping God together, loving each other and flowing together. Even the music was a mix of multiple styles with both Black and White musicians.

We are living in the day of the Latter Glory and the Glory that the Father gave Jesus, He has given to us that we may be one and so that the world may know that the Father sent Jesus!

Fullness of Time Moment

Fullness of Time Moment

Prophetic Word June 28, 2015

Prophet Rev. Michael Fram

I heard the Spirit of the Lord say that we have entered into a ‘Fullness of Time Moment’… a ‘Fullness of Time Moment’. And He spoke and said that it doth not yet appear what it shall be…it doth not yet appear what it shall be. And we have entered into the season of the ‘Shall Be’. We have entered into the season that the things that we have not yet seen…shall be seen.

For years the people of God have said eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and neither has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. But you have crossed into that season and that time where eye will begin to see and ear will begin to hear; and what will be made manifest are the things that have only been dreamed about…the things that have only been visioned in the realm of the Spirit. And those things are now being released out of the realm of the Spirit into the natural realm.

The things that as you prayed in your prayer language, and visions would pop into your spirit, and visions would pop into your mind, and you would get glimpses and pictures of things and you would say to yourself: ‘O Lord when?’ and ‘O Lord how shall these things be?’ Even as Mary when she was befuddled by the word of the angel, and she said: ‘How will this be?’ And the angel declared unto her and said: ‘The Spirit of the Most High will overshadow you.’

So I say unto you this day that with the release of the sound from heaven (we already had an exhortation earlier in the service from Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost about the release of a sound from heaven) there comes the overshadowing of My Spirit. And even as was born in Mary that which was called the Son of God; because the Spirit overshadowed her, so what is being released in this season at this time, with the release of a sound from heaven is an overshadowing Spirit; that will cause those pictures, those images, those dreams, those things that you thought were far-fetched and could never be…you have come to a ‘Fullness of Time Moment’ and these things are being birthed and released NOW by the Spirit of the Living God.

Calling VS Commissioning

For the past few weeks this thought has been very strong in my spirit: “There is a vast difference between being ‪#‎Called by God & being ‪#‎Commissioned by God.” It has come out in several ministry engagements. It first came out about three weeks ago in my Advanced Prophetic Training Class, then a couple of weeks ago I devoted a whole radio broadcast to it when I was a guest on Prophetess Elaine Salit’s radio program, then this past Sunday during my Father’s Day message: “Show Us The Father” it came out again; now last night I took to Twitter tweeting several bullet points along this line.

It seems I can’t get away from this thought, so now I will devote a Blog to it. We are living in a day when so many have a genuine Call of God on their life; but unfortunately they are confusing a Call of God with walking in the fullness of that Call or being Commissioned to walk in that Call. I want to share with you some of my own experience as well as experiences from some in Scripture to show that there is a time period between the Call of God and the Commission of God called PROCESS. So many want to avoid the Process and move straight from Call to Commission; BUT IT JUST DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!

It seems we have many immature “Title Grabbers” in our day, more so than any time in my time in the Church; who recognize that they are called and immediately run out to get Business Cards with the Title of whatever they feel they are called to be, without undergoing any kind of ‪#‎Mentorship, ‪#‎Apprenticeship or ‪#‎Sonship. This just ought not to be. Unfortunately many of these are an accident going somewhere to happen and there is shipwreck ahead for them and those they have influence over.

I know that in the past we have had many leaders in the Church who have not been willing to be #‎Mentors and ‪#‎Fathers, but that is changing in our day. We are living in the fulfillment of Malachi’s Prophecy:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4: 5 & 6 NKJV

Beloved because God restored the Prophetic Office and anointing back to the Church from the late 80’s to the late 90’s (I will send Elijah the prophet…the prophetic came first paving the way for the apostolic fathering anointing) it paved the way for the Apostolic Office and anointing (Fathering, Mentoring) to be released from the late 90’s to the mid 2000’s. We are now living in a time where many Fathers are being raised up more so than anytime throughout Church History.

In my own development I recognized the Call of God on my life to preach when I was about 16 or 17 years old. I immediately began a mentorship and fathering process with my Parents; Apostles Leo & Edith Fram to be trained for ministry. In my early days as a teenager I was not very good and did not have much mercy or grace; I was a bull in the china shop that did not care; thank God He has softened me over the years. After getting married and moving to Tulsa, OK I continued my training and development at Rhema Bible training center at the feet of Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin. In 1987 at 25 years of age I began to actually begin to flow in the elementary stages of my first Office of Evangelist some 8 or 9 years after I first knew I was called to preach. But my full Commissioning did not occur until 1992 when I was 30 years old after I went through some more developing and training serving in just about every are of ministry you could think of at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, OK under Rev. Billy Joe Daugherty.

Around 1999 or 2000 history repeated itself, as God began to deal with me about changing my Office from that of Evangelist to Prophet; which initially I argued with Him about because I didn’t want to do it. But after I accepted the call, I did not run out and go get new cards that said Prophet on them; I went back into a mentorship, development process for several years until I as well as others recognized that the transition from Evangelist to prophet was complete; which was about a 4 or 5 year time period. Then and only then did I begin to start referring to myself as a Prophet.

This process that I went through twice in my life is also one we see in Scripture in the life of several Bible heroes. King David was anointed to be King over Israel as a teenager, (His Calling) but as we study his story in the Old Testament we see that it took years, around 20 or so, before he was actually walking in the fullness of that Call as King (His Commission). David endured a long Process of development on his road from Calling to Commissioning.

Elisha was another great example of this same Process. When Elijah was sent to him to anoint him to be prophet in his room or place; Elijah threw his mantle (symbolizing his office and anointing as Prophet) over Elisha (His Call). This occurred in 1 Kings 19. As we follow their story we find that Elisha served Elijah, if you will went through an apprenticeship or mentorship season with the senior prophet while he was the prophet in training, until 2 Kings 2 when Elijah is taken up from Elisha in the whirlwind. Elisha cried out: “My Father, My Father.” At this occurrence the mantle of Elijah fell and Elisha picked it up and all the sons of the prophets who watched said surely the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha (His Commission).

Just as David and Elisha went through a Process from Calling to Commissioning, so did the Apostle Paul. We first meet the Apostle Paul as Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the church, who has a divine encounter the Resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. When Ananias is sent to Saul after his conversion in Acts 9 the Lord said to Ananias:

“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15 & 16 NKJV

Saul was shown what he was called to do and be (His Call), but yet he did not get to walk in the fullness of that call until many years later in Acts 13 as one of the Prophets and Teachers in the church in Antioch who was ministering to the Lord and fasting; was singled out by the Holy Spirit who said separate unto Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to (His Commission).

If David had to go through a Process from Calling to Commissioning; If Elisha had to go through a Process from calling to Commissioning; If Paul had to go through a Process from Calling from Commissioning; If I had to go through a Process from Calling to Commissioning…Don’t you think everyone does? I have not even covered our Prime Example the Lord Jesus Christ, who believe it or not went through a similar process, but I am sure many of your religious minds are going tilt like a pinball machine over that thought, or can’t even dare compare yourself in your development to Him.

The point is clear; There are no short cuts on the way to your ‪#‎Calling. Stop looking for them. Yield to the ‪#‎Process. It is the Process that we must all go through on the road from CALLING to COMMISSIONING. Thank God it is easier today than ever before because #‎Mentors & ‪#‎Fathers serve a purpose...learn from their wisdom & experience...they will aide you in your ‪#‎Process to your ‪#‎Calling.

Emerging Generals Arise

Prophetic Exhortation June 10, 2015

Prophet Rev. Michael Fram

This prophetic exhortation was given after a season of prayer where a contrast was prayed between those that God has hidden in a cave and those that have hid themselves in a cave.

There is something about that…that God has hidden people in the cave. And this is their season to come out. There’s a release of people that nobody knows. This is a season of a release of people that nobody knows and nobody’s heard of yet. But they’ve been in the cave, they’ve been in the cave of preparation, they’ve been in the cave of dying to self, they’ve been in the cave of yielding to the Spirit of God, they’ve been in the cave of honing their skills in silence. They’ve been in the cave of honing their abilities where nobody saw and nobody knew.

But like David and his men came out of hiding, and came out of the cave, and became warriors and conquerors; God is calling forth in this season those that have been in that cave. These are those that God has had hidden. Not even the enemy knew…because they were under the radar; they weren’t out in the public eye as much as the quote on quote Big Name. They’ve been under the radar spiritually.

But grace deposits have been made in their spirits. And wisdom has been downloaded into their inner man. And character has been formed within their life. And anointing has been imparted unto them. And they are ready now to come forth on the scene and release all those things that have been poured into them while they’ve been in the cave…while they have been in that cave of preparation; and this is their coming out party…

And yes, Generals have gone home. But God Always Has A Successor! He always has a successor. God was the initiator of if there’s a number 1…there has to be a number 2. There has to be somebody to move in and take their place. There came a time in Israel’s history when: “Moses My servant is dead”. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” “You therefore Joshua, you rise up and go over this Jordan, just like I was with him, I will be with you.”

There was a successor. Just like when Elijah went up into heaven and his mantle signifying the anointing…the call of God…of the office of Prophet; that came to Elisha and he picked it up, then all the sons of the Prophets saw and they said: “Surely the spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” God always has a successor. And for every General that has gone home God has somebody in waiting.

He’s got somebody to bring out onto the scene. And this is the season where many are being released like David and his men from out of the cave of preparation; coming onto the stage into the release and taking their place…it’s a season for the Emerging Generals to arise. The Emerging Generals are arising in Jesus Name.

Days of the Manifestation of the Holy Ghost

Prophetic Word June 3, 2015

Prophet Rev. Michael Fram

This word was given by Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues, this was the Interpretation

For these are the days of the manifestation of the Holy Ghost. These are the days of the manifestation of the Holy Ghost. And the Spirit is moving to and fro across the face of the earth looking for places that He can rest and abide. For in days gone by there were places that the Spirit of God could go, and He could visit a house. He could come and manifest His presence within a house, and there would be what the church would call: “A Move Of God” on a particular day; when the Spirit of God visited a house.

But these are days that are accelerated and expanding far beyond the time where the Spirit of God would come and visit a house. The Spirit of God at this point in time, at this juncture, at this season; is not looking for places that He can go and visit, He is looking for places where He is always welcome, where He can go and rest and abide. Even as many within the Body of Christ are no longer satisfied with visitation, but have within their hearts that they are believing for habitation…that is a desire that has been birthed in them and placed in them by My Spirit…for that is the same desire of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is no longer satisfied with visitation rights to the house of God. The Holy Ghost wants habitation rights with the house of God. And the time has come in the earth, and to the Body of Christ, THAT THOSE THAT DON’T LOOK FOR HABITATION…BUT ARE SATISFIED ONLY WITH VISITATION…WILL FIND THAT VISITATION RIGHTS WILL BE REVOKED; where the Spirit of God will no longer come and visit because know He is looking for a permanent dwelling place.

Hear the voice and sense the yearning of the Spirit of God this night, the Spirit is no longer satisfied with visiting a house, He wants to come and rest and abide in a house. And those that don’t press in, and those that don’t yield to that yearning that has been birthed by the Spirit within them; will find themselves no longer even having visitation.

The Spirit is not playing games anymore. For the time is for those that are serious with God. And the Spirit of God has been placing a yearning within the hearts of the people of God. But even the Word says: “That My Spirit will not always strive with a man.” If you will…My Spirit will not always strive with a house. For I am endeavoring to bring all in My Body past the stage of visitation and move them into the stage of habitation.

And in order for the greater to come, in order for the manifestation of the Spirit to come to the fullness of capacity, ability, demonstration and power; the church must move beyond visitation and into habitation. And so those that are stiff-necked and those that put their foot in the water and pull their foot back out of the water; will find themselves not having any water to put their foot into. For its you’re in or you’re out. You want it or you don’t. Hear the voice and the yearning of the Spirit. He’s crying in all corners of the earth: “Where is My habitation?” “Where is My habitation?”

And as long as an individual house remains with that yearning that you have expressed this night, and keeps that yearning on the forefront of what they do, I will come in greater measure, in greater manifestation, in greater demonstration and in greater power than you have seen or known before; for the greater is yet ahead. But the greater cannot come without the habitation. Hear the word of the Lord. 

The Sovereignty Of God

It seems there was a time in the church when most folks if they did not fully understand the sovereignty of God, they at least had a general idea what it meant or was referring to. I don’t know what happened to those days but it seems like they are very much in the past. Many in the church today when asked will just shrug their shoulders and say: I don’t know. Beloved, this should not be.

I really am not sure why this is the case but most likely it would stem from one of two reasons. I remember back in the 80’s when I was a student at Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, OK; Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin used to tell us that when folks are ignorant about a subject it is because of either No Teaching or Poor Teaching on that subject.

That is true if it is Mathematics or Basic Bible Doctrines. If nobody ever teaches you that 2 + 2 = 4, then you are ignorant because of no teaching. If somebody teaches you that 2 + 2 = 6, then you are ignorant because of poor teaching. The same would hold true regarding Bible truth.

“What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the godhood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou?.(Daniel 4:35) To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will.” Arthur W. Pink

The sovereignty of God represents the ability to exercise His holy will or supremacy. The Most High, Lord of Heaven and earth, has unlimited power to do what He has resolved. Being absolutely independent, God does as He pleases. None can deter Him, none can hinder Him. I remember growing up my Dad, Dr. Leo Fram, used to say about the sovereignty of God that God can do what He wants, whenever He wants, to whoever He wants, through whomever he wants, just because He wants to because He is God and no one can question or say anything about it.

Scripture is full of examples that prove this out both directly and indirectly.

“Remember the first events, because I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there’s no one like me. From the beginning I revealed the end. From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying, ‘My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.’” Isaiah 46: 9 & 10 God’s Word Translation

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46: 9 & 10 New Living Translation

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 & 12 New American Standard Bible

“The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all it contains, You have founded them.” Psalm 89:11 New American Standard Bible

“But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3 New American Standard Bible

“Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.” Psalm 135:6 New American Standard Bible

Besides all these Scriptures that deal with the Sovereignty of God directly, there are many stories in the Bible that demonstrate it as well. In the Book of Acts Chapter 12 we have the account of where Peter was arrested and the Bible tells us that prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God, and God sent an angel to supernaturally deliver him. But in Acts Chapter 5 after Peter’s shadow is healing folks, they laid hands on the apostles and threw them in jail. In this case, God sent an angel to deliver them, but it was not in response to any prayer that was offered, God just sovereignly moved.

We can also look at the life of John the Baptist and see the Sovereignty of God. In Luke 1:15 we see that the angel of the Lord spoke to Zacharias and said that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, while still in his mother’s womb. John was an Old Covenant Prophet. In the Old Covenant nobody was filled with the Holy Spirit; that was reserved for the Church Age and New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant the Holy Spirit only came upon the Prophet, the Priest and the King; yet John was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb before he was even born. Who can tell God that He can’t do that? Nobody! God can do what He wants.

These are just a few quick thoughts about a subject that was prevalent in years gone by but not so much today. I for one would like to see a return to this type of teaching and preaching. I believe we need to have a view of our God as indeed being an awesome God that does just as He pleases and as He intends, who nothing is too difficult for. I want to leave you with one final Scripture that a very popular chorus was based on back in the 80’s that for those of you that have been around the church for that long will surely remember.

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” Jeremiah 32:17 New King James Version

Living Faith Realities: The Necessity Of Restoring Apostolic Ministry

Living Faith Realities: The Necessity Of Restoring Apostolic Ministry: Guest Blog By My Father Apostle, Dr. Leo Fram Today we hear a lot about Apostles and Apostolic Ministries. Unfortunately most of the B...

The Necessity Of Restoring Apostolic Ministry

Guest Blog By My Father Apostle, Dr. Leo Fram

Today we hear a lot about Apostles and Apostolic Ministries. Unfortunately most of the Body of Christ has little or no accurate information about who Apostles are or what they do? Misinformation is more readily available than truth causing confusion in the people of God. While this topic is too broad to be fully explained in one article I will attempt to present some basic truths about Apostles and their ministry.

There are two passages of Scripture that we will base this teaching on. First Corinthians 12:28 says: “And God has appointed in the church, first Apostles, second Prophets, third Teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing’s, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” The other text is Ephesians 4:11 &12: “And He gave some as Apostles, and some as Prophets, and some as Evangelists and some as Pastors and Teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the service to the building up of the Body of Christ.”

Both of these passages refer to Apostolic Ministry, but from two different perspectives. The First Corinthian text presents an organizational listing of how the Ministry gifts are aligned. Apostles come first because they are the predominant gift, being first in Rank, Authority and Importance. There is no ranking given in the Ephesian text, this passage pictures the five ministry gifts as a team designed to fulfill a function. Each gift is equally important to the fulfillment of our assignment. Working together we are to bring the Body of Christ to maturity. No local church will ever attain to its full potential without input from each of the ministry gifts. I am sad to say that many congregations are 3/5 short. They have a Pastor and occasionally an Evangelist drops by, but Apostles, Prophets and Teachers are never invited in. If Jesus Christ provided the five ministry gifts to bring the church to maturity and we ignore the three most important gifts it is easy to understand why the modern church is so weak and unbalanced. If we can grasp the concept that each ministry gift operates with its own unique anointing, then the need for the five to release their impartations into the Body becomes easy to comprehend.

If an Apostle quotes John 3:16 it is released with an Apostolic anointing and will produce an Apostolic impartation. If a Prophet quotes John 3:16 it will be released with a Prophetic anointing and produce Prophetic results. It is exactly the same scripture, but delivered under a different anointing it will produce a different impact on the hearers. It’s the anointing makes the difference. With that as background let’s look at some Apostolic functions.

One of the primary functions of Apostles is to judge doctrine. They are the only ministry gift anointed to perform this task. We can see a good example of this in Acts the fifteenth chapter. Some Jewish converts began teaching that in order to be saved you had to put faith in Jesus Christ and also be circumcised. Needless to say this caused division in the young church. It was decided that an Apostolic Counsel be formed to look into this matter. Many church leaders came together to examine this teaching. Peter, Paul and Barnabas were among those gathered together. James was serving as the presiding Apostle overseeing the meeting. The Bible says that there was a great deal of discussion among those present. When many had spoken their minds Peter addressed the counsel sharing from his own experiences. After Peter, Paul and Barnabas related their experiences.

When everyone had shared their viewpoint, Apostle James said “listen to me”. He next stated my judgment is. No votes were taken, no objections were voiced. The presiding Apostle judged the issue and rendered his decision. The church was not designed to be operated by committees and votes. James issued an Apostolic decree and that settled the issue and his decision still stands today. When the counsel announced its findings to the church at large, they wrote a letter saying: “Having become of one mind”…everyone agreed with James’ decision. They also said: “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us.” James decreed and the counsel said amen.

If you want to see an Apostle come completely unglued just preach some flaky doctrine. They will go right up the wall, because of their gift to judge doctrine. It is important to remember that we are talking about doctrine not opinion; there is a huge difference between the two. Godly men and women hold different views on some teachings. For example consider the return of the Lord for his church. Many different opinions are espoused by Christian Leaders in our day. That is Okay, we respect everyone’s right to be wrong on controversial issues. Perry Stone and John Hagee present the pre-tribulation point of view. Pat Robertson and Irving Baxter teach the Post-tribulation position.

Both cannot be correct, but this is opinion. All four of these men love the Lord and are serious students of the scriptures. Each can present his viewpoint from the Word. They disagree on when the Lord will return for his Bride; that’s a matter of opinion, we do not judge opinions. If someone preaches that Jesus has gone away and He is never coming back, that is faulty doctrine and it will be judged. There are other controversial issues in the church. Some churches serve wine at the Lord’s Table, others use grape juice. That’s opinion. Some baptize converts in Jesus Name, others say in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, that too is opinion. Apostles must be mature enough and schooled enough to know the difference between opinion and false doctrine and carefully select what they challenge.

Apostles also bring correction and establish protocol. The Corinthian Church was abusing the Lord’s Table. Paul wrote to them saying: when you meet together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. Some of you are hungry, others are full and some are even drunk; in this I will not praise you. Most of us would agree that this is improper behavior. In short Paul was telling them you are out of order. Then he uses the next ten verses to explain the proper administration and purpose of Communion. In this case the Apostle corrected their conduct. The way things are performed in the House of God is still to be judged by an Apostle; not only the style but also the substance. For example today many ministries have dance teams; I have seen some that promote worship and others that bring other thoughts to mind. Some direct your attention to Jesus; others cause you to focus on the artist. Apostolic correction is needed for the latter. Revealing costumes and suggestive movements should never be allowed in the sanctuary. Enough said!

Apostles promote the proper operation of Spiritual Gifts. There are some ministries that have no manifestations of the Gifts of the Spirit. They require an Apostle to not only teach on the Gifts but also to release an impartation for the Gifts to begin operating. There are other places that have a spiritual mess. Everything is out of order. You will see two people trying to prophesy at the same time seeking to out shout one another. Someone will deliver a public message in tongues, with no one in the house to interpret. There are also people who think they have the right to interrupt the preaching of the Word with their utterance. All of these situations need to be corrected. The Apostle Paul wrote three chapters defining the Gifts and their proper operation. Still there is great confusion in the church. If you ask three Pastors you could get four opinions. Two will say what they think and the third is not sure so he picks from the other two. We need an Apostle to settle the issue. This issue should be settled for the entire network, territory or area under that Apostle’s leadership. Some denominations tried to accomplish this task by appointing District Superintendents. In too many cases those appointed were not Apostles. They were smart, successful, gifted individuals, but they lacked Apostolic anointing. Only those possessing Apostolic anointing can successfully perform Apostolic functions. It’s the anointing that makes the difference.

All Apostles are not alike. They may be as brilliant as Paul or as uneducated as Peter. Neither Paul’s keen mind nor Peter’s ignorance had any major impact on their ministries. It was the gift of God freely bestowed on each of them that produced the results. Apostles are not self-made, and no one deserves to stand in the Apostolic office. No one is good enough or smart enough to occupy this lofty position. It is God’s choice, God’s calling, God’s gifting and God’s grace that enables Apostles to function. Paul said I am what I am by the grace of God. Every minister should say amen to that. When God appoints a person to function in Apostolic Ministry, He anoints them to fulfill the responsibilities of that office. The Chief Apostle imparts exactly what each Apostle requires to fulfill their individual assignment. Every Apostle receives Apostolic anointing, but their gifts, talents and abilities will differ based on their assignment.

Some Apostles are gifted musically they can arrange music, direct choirs and lead worship. Others have the ability to be prolific writers, it seems every time they pass a keyboard a new book or article comes forth. Still others are creative and artistic they can produce illustrated sermons that will keep you on the edge of your seat. All are Apostles, all function Apostolically, yet possess very different personalities and passions. Look at Peter, Paul, James and John. These four are about as different as it is possible to be, but all are Apostles. Peter was the fighter he cut off the ear of Malchus in the garden when they came to arrest Jesus. Paul was the intellectual, he learned at the feet of Gamaliel the most respected teacher of the day. Paul was called a Pharisee among Pharisees. John was the lover he was the one who leaned on Jesus breast. James was the intercessor. He was nicknamed old camel knees. It was said that he spent so much time on his knees praying that his knees resembled the knees of a camel. These four were very different from one another yet each was a true Apostle. We must learn to recognize everyone the Lord sends to us not based on their personality or gifts but by the anointing on their lives. Simply put if you are not anointed, you have not been appointed by the Master. If you have been both appointed and anointed, your ministry will produce the fruit that proves who you are.

Finally I want to share what I see coming to pass in the very near future. Get ready for an Apostolic explosion. The church began operating under Apostolic leadership, and that is the way it will be at the end of the age. The emerging Apostles will be men and women from every culture, tribe and nation. No one will be overlooked as God restores His church. The restoration of Apostolic and Prophetic ministries is a sign that we are moving deeper into the last days of the church age. Peter preached in Acts 3 that heaven must receive Jesus until the restoration of all things. (Acts 3:21) That includes restoring Apostles and Prophets to their rightful positions in the church. The Christ proclaimed: “I will build my church.” He will build it according to His own design. Men have been messing up his design for centuries, but things are beginning to change. Several local assemblies are beginning to resemble the Biblical pattern. Jesus provided the five ministry gifts and every local church must welcome and receive from all five in order to participate in God’s end time program.

Many will continue to follow their own traditions and the Lord will allow them to reap their own harvest. Those releasing the five ascension gifts to flow freely in every service are the ones that will be strong and do exploits. It has always been important to be a part of the right church; but in the days ahead it will be critically important. So much so that the church you attend could determine whether you will live or die. Every church must receive: Apostolic influence, Prophetic direction, Evangelistic fervor, Profound teaching and Pastoral nurturing to fulfill its destiny. This is the pattern of the New Testament Church. Everything that looks different than this pattern is a work of the flesh and destined to fail. There is only one way to have a successful church that is God’s way. We will either follow the Master’s blueprint or we will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. The shift to the Biblical pattern is already underway, may each of us be a part of it.