That They May Be One

It is an amazing thing to me how Scriptures that have been in the Word of God forever, somehow, sometimes, take on more relevance and authority in our lives than at others. Depending upon the season in God we are in will determine what Holy Spirit will emphasize and stress to us individually for that season. What He stresses to me may be different than what He stresses to you. I believe that what He stresses will be in accordance with what our assignment is in that season.

Currently, I am leaving one season and stepping into another. My old season was overseeing a local church. My new season is to work with Leaders across the Body of Christ and bring Regional Alignment. There is one Scripture that Holy Spirit has had his finger on in my heart as I fully enter this new season.

“…That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21 NKJV

Here Jesus was praying what we call His High Priestly prayer; praying for us who would believe down the road because of what the Apostles of the Lamb did. This of course was right before going to the cross for us. And what was on His mind was our unity! Selah! Let that sink in!

So often we in the church blame the devil for things, but this not one that we can blame him for. We have done everything that we could to keep this prayer from coming to pass ourselves! We have divided over race, over stream in the body, over doctrinal camp, over gender, over denomination, over age…anything and everything we could divide over we have.

I have found in my almost 39 years of ministry that we only associate with those in our clique, circle, or group; and never venture beyond it. How is that fulfilling what Jesus prayed for? Isn’t it time we started fulfilling what He prayed for? We have Apostolic Streams, Prophetic Streams, Word of Faith Streams, Classic Pentecostal Streams, Deliverance Streams, Kingdom Now Streams, Dispensational Streams, and so forth…you get the idea. With all these different streams…folks won’t venture outside of their own stream. Leaders from the different streams will not even talk to each other.

We can forget about Cross-Pollination occurring if we can’t even get Leaders to come together. This must change! It is time that we learn to put these things aside. If the Leaders can’t come together, there is no way the people will ever come together. It is time for New Relationships! It is time for New Alliances! It is time to get out of our cliques! It is time Leaders Come Together and fulfill Jesus’ Prayer…That They May Be One!

MOTHERS & FATHERS OR BROTHERS & SISTERS

Trends in the Kingdom come…and trends in the Kingdom go. There is one fad today, and another fad tomorrow. The latest trend gathering momentum in the Body of Christ is Spiritual Mothers and Spiritual Fathers. Don’t get me wrong at all, I fully believe in, support, endorse and work towards the furtherance of this concept…I am a product of it. It is the basis for a Group on Facebook called Apostolic Teaching Fathers Group that I am one of the administrators of.

Lord knows we have had a tremendous shortage of “True” Mothers and Fathers in the Faith. Surely the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth have rung true for many in our day as they have dealt with and been in bondage to an orphan heart. This verse has become a rallying cry of sorts: “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers…”

That being said, I must ask the question: are we really looking for a Mother or Father in the Kingdom? Many say that they are, but words and actions are two different things. A Spiritual Mother or Father is very much like a Natural Mother or Father, in the sense that most times they have been where you are and where you are going; and they know what to do, as well as what not to do. Because they love you, they pass on to the Son or Daughter the wisdom of their experience, in the hope that said Son or Daughter will heed their counsel and advice.

We do the same with our children in the natural too because we love them and want to spare them the headache and heartache we have gone through. So it is in the Kingdom with “True” Mothers and Fathers. Many say they want a Mother or Father, but what they really want is a brother or sister who will rubber stamp their every decision, regardless of whether it is a good decision or not. Too many don’t listen just like Natural Children don’t listen, and then end up in hurt and harm because of it. A Mother or Father, whether Natural or Spiritual will correct; which is a sign of their love, not of cramping the Son or Daughter’s style. So…Do you want a Mother/Father or do you want a Brother/Sister?

Alignment & Ruach

I believe most Believers are familiar with the Prophetic Encounter of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. I want to draw some things from that encounter.

Recently we hosted a Regional Leadership meeting here in NJ, where we gathered Ascension Gift Leaders, both men & women, from across the Region. During that meeting one of the Apostles present quoted from this same familiar text, before prophesying to the dry bones, that they would live and begin to come together.

Later in the meeting right before we dismissed I called for Ruach (Breath of God, Spirit of God) to breathe on us again.

I believe we are right in the middle of these two simultaneously in our region. Bone is coming together to bone, there is a rattle of bones as God brings us into alignment (Apostolic). He is also breathing a fresh wind (Prophetic) of His Spirit into us in this season. Fresh wind is coming to our dreams...even some of our old dreams that we forgot about or gave up on.

Coming into alignment is one thing...which we must do...but having the Breath of God is what will empower and make the alignment have impact! We need both the Alignment & the Ruach together! So often we in the church have settled for an either/or mentality...where God wants us to have a Both mentality.

For years folks in the church fought over whether we were "Word" people (we must be sticklers for the Word, teach the Word, preach the Word) or were "Spirit" people (we just want a move of the Holy Spirit). Why do we have to choose? Why is it either/or? Why not both? Can't we teach & preach the Word and have a move of the Holy Spirit at the same time?

In the text of Ezekiel 37 there was the time where Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy to the bones, that they might come together. This is a picture of the Alignment that God is doing in our day, which is an Apostolic Function. But after the bones began to come together, they had no life in them, and Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy again to the Ruach (breath, Spirit), that they might come alive. This is a picture of the Breath or Wind of the Spirit which is a Prophetic Function.

If Apostles and Prophets together are the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20), how do we expect to have a solid foundation, if we are arguing which function is more important…the Alignment (Apostolic) or Ruach (Prophetic)?

Even now some are picking sides over which is more important. The Alignment (Apostolic) or The Ruach (Prophetic)...when the truth of the matter is we need both at the same time! They were designed to synergistically work together! Let us not settle for either/or and embrace both Alignment (Apostolic) and Ruach (Prophetic) at the same time.

When Your Now Doesn't Look Like Your Vision

What do we do when we know we have seen our vision for our future, but it doesn't look like our now?

God grants a vision of your future and then begins the process of getting you ready to step into that picture, because when He gives it you are not ready to step into it.

The picture or vision God shows is to show you who and what He wants you to be, not who and what you are now. Remember faith calls things that are not as though they were. So, He speaks into your now to begin a process to take you to what and where He has for you.

So many of us get a correct vision but do not understand timing and preparation. We see it and expect that we will immediately walk into it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Character development and process is what makes us ready to step into the picture that we have seen. Though the vision tarry, wait for it. Why? Because it is for an appointed time. What appointed time?

When you have been through the process required to step into it. What you do and how you yield during the process; determines the length of time between receiving the promise and the manifestation of the promise.

RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION???

I had a great conversation with a ministry colleague last night that was deep on many levels. This Scripture was brought to my remembrance through what this friend shared.

“For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:20 NASB

This reminds us to see what spirit we are of or are acting from. What is the fruit of what we are doing? Acting out of anger…is that the fruit of the spirit…or is that the fruit of the flesh?

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 NASB

Notice that outbursts of anger are deeds of the flesh NASB, works of the flesh NKJV & KJV.

Is it possible that much of our “Quote on Quote” “Righteous Indignation” is just our way to cover for our Outburst of Anger? (work or deed of the flesh)

Perhaps we all need to go back and allow God to work His Character in us afresh and anew. Perhaps we all need to really develop the fruit (singular, not plural) of the spirit (it is NOT fruits of the spirit, but, fruit of the spirit) in our lives.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

The fruit of the spirit is self-control, not outburst of anger…which are we doing? There is a lot of action displayed by many on social media as well as in person, that wreaks of flesh…not spirit.

The next time your ire or dander get up…stop and ask yourself, is this a work of the flesh or fruit of the spirit? Is this an outburst of anger or self-control?

Just maybe…our Righteous Indignation isn’t so Righteous after all!

Protocol & Delegated Authority

Two of the biggest needs in the church today is for a clear understanding of both Protocol & Delegated Authority. Much of what occurs in our Meetings, Fellowships, Networks, and Churches lacks proper Biblically Balanced Submission and is clearly out of order because of these foundations are not understood.

Let me first deal with Protocol. Webster defines Protocol as: "A system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations." I teach about Protocol quite often when teaching on Prophetic Ministry. Every church or ministry has their own Protocol. There are general Biblical guidelines for how things are supposed to function and operate…but not specifics. Each church or ministry Set-Man or Set-Woman must determine what the rules of correct conduct and procedures will be for the work they are set over.

It is up to all the followers to play the game we played as kids in school: “Follow The Leader”. Quite often, folks get used to a Protocol in the house where they fellowship on a regular basis. Then they go visit another work that has a different Protocol. If said person begins to operate the way they do in the ministry they normally attend in the other work with the different Protocol; then they are out of order because they are not submitting to the Protocol of that house they are currently in.

It does not matter what you normally do, it is your job to submit to the house you are in and follow the Protocol that has been set out by the Set-Man or Set-Woman. You also cannot get upset at another Man or Woman of God if they have a different Protocol to the one you are used to. If we understood this we would have less folks out of order and less folks with their nose bent out of shape. (I hope you understand my expression)

Now let me deal with Delegated Authority. The Free Dictionary defines Delegated Authority as: "The action by which a commander assigns part of his or her authority commensurate with the assigned task to a subordinate commander. While ultimate responsibility cannot be relinquished, delegation of authority carries with it the imposition of a measure of responsibility. The extent of the authority delegated must be clearly stated." The church totally operates by this principle.

Jesus is the Head of the Church and as such is the Final Authority and ultimate holder of authority. He delegates or gives a measure or a part of His authority to a Set-Man or Set-Woman in a church or ministry. Then that Set-Man or Set-Woman in turn will delegate authority to various staff members, department heads, and leaders. Closely related to Delegated Authority is the understanding of Spheres of Authority. Allow me to illustrate the difference between the two from my life and my role as a Set-Man in a local fellowship.

My Mother and Father who are both Apostles, happen to be members of the local fellowship that I am the Set-Man of, it is their home church when they are not out on the road ministering. When we are not in church, they are Mom & Dad and I submit to their authority as both my Natural and Spiritual Parents. But once we come into the church, they tell everyone that Michael is the Set-Man and what he says goes. In fact, this past Sunday morning when my Dad spoke he got up and said the boss said to speak now and that we would do the announcements and offering after he spoke. He said this because I whispered to him to go and speak now. Now they are still my parents, but in the church, they are submitted to my sphere of Authority as the Set-Man.

Now let me contrast that with Delegate Authority. In the church that I am Set-Man of, I have an Associate Minister who I have been friends with for some 25 or so years. He is really the one with the Pastor’s Heart and is the most gifted Psalmist I have ever met. When I turn a service over to him to either speak or lead worship, I am no longer in authority because I have Delegated my Authority to him. Once he is exercising that Delegated Authority, if someone wants to share or say something, they need to go to Pastor Mike, not to me, because he is operating in authority at that moment. Both Spheres of Authority and Delegated Authority are critical for us to understand and walk in.

If we could get these simple things right…oh how much better things would flow. Imagine how much less strife we would have in Ecclesia if these things were understood and practiced. Let us make this our goal that we understand and walk in Protocol and Delegated Authority.

Restoration & Convergence

I woke up with two Words on my heart & mind this morning: Restoration & Convergence.

Restoration is defined as - the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition, or the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. the act of bringing back something that existed before, or the act of returning something that was stolen or taken.

Convergence is defined as - when two or more things come together to form a new whole, or two or more things coming together, joining together, or evolving into one, or to come together and unite in a common interest or focus. An example would be many streams converging into one river. Related words would be: combination, connection, or culmination.

I began to think of these two words in relation to where the church has been, where we are now, and what lies just ahead:

Many in the church have been crying and believing for the church to live in the power demonstrated in the book of Acts. Many have prophesied that it was coming; even in our time right now on the earth. I also fully expect this to be fulfilled in our day, but not because we have prayed some magic prayers or made some magic confessions, but rather because: The church has been going through a period of Restoration.

What we fail to realize is that God has been quite busy over the last 70 years or so bringing the church through Restoration whether we have realized it or not. Sometimes looking back over recent history gives us some perspective. If we can see where we have been and what God has taken us through we can see where we are going.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22 NKJV

For us to walk in what the book of Acts walked in, we must look like the book of Acts in our structure. God will not waste the New Wine if the current Wineskin can’t hold it! So, God has been taking us through a Period of Restoration through different moves and emphases starting with the Voice of Healing Revival in the late 40’s – early 50’s.

With each restoration move of God a different Ministry Manifestation or Expression has also been Restored to the Church. The one constant throughout church history has been the function of the Pastor, but the rest of the Ascension Gifts in Ephesians 4:11 were not seen or known to be among the church.

·         In the late 40’s – the mid 50’s God restored the Office of Evangelist with the Voice of Healing Revival. AA Allen, Oral Roberts, William Branham, Jack Coe etc.

·         In the 70’s God restored the Office of the Teacher with the Word of Faith movement. Kenneth E. Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Charles Capps, Fred Price etc.

·         In the Late 80’s – mid 90’s God restored the Office of the Prophet. Bill Hamon, Chuck Pierce, James Goll, Cindy Jacobs etc.

·         In the mid 90’s – the 200’s God restored the Office of the Apostle. C. Peter Wagner, Che Ahn, John Kelly, Jonas Clark, etc.

Many times, throughout church history, we have been like the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, declaring that it is good for us to be here and desiring to build a tabernacle and camp there. The thing about God is that He does not camp, He moves. From the very beginning in Genesis we see the Holy Spirit moving over the face of the deep. In the Old Testament when the Pillar of Cloud Moved…they had to move; when the Pillar of Fire Moved…they had to move.

Well God moved from the Voice of Healing, through the Charismatic Renewal, into the Word of Faith Movement. Then into the Prophetic and finally the Apostolic. The problem is many have stopped at different moves along the way and camped while God moved on. He was busy working the Restoration of all Things!

“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3: 19-21 NASB

This brings us to where we are right now. God has restored the wineskin so that we can hold what the Book of Acts held. All the Ascension Gifts are not only in operation, but now in many circles, are fully accepted. It is time for the Convergence! It is time for all these moves of restoration to come together in one Major, Mighty Move of God!

For those of us who did not camp, but kept on moving through the various moves of Restoration we have come to a time that James Goll called: “The Convergence Of The Ages”. We have reached the time in History where all the Ministry Gifts have been Restored. We have reached the time in History where all the Moves of God have wrought their Manifestations and done their Work.

In likening Convergence to a Culmination, we must realize that everything God does has as intended purpose, nothing is haphazard or by chance. He has been working all along through these last 70 years or so to bring us to this point in time, where we could have a wineskin like the book of Acts and therefore hold the Demonstrations of the Book of Acts. The Restoration is complete and it is time for all the Restoration Moves to be in Manifestation at once and all the Ministries to Operate and Flow as One…Convergence has come!