An Apostolic Letter To An Apostolic Son

Traditionally theologians have referred to the Epistles of First and Second Timothy, as well as Titus as Pastoral Epistles. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Timothy and Titus were both Spiritual Sons to Apostle Paul and as such were being fathered, mentored and trained as young up and coming emerging Apostles in their own right.

If you read the New Testament through the Paradigm of an Apostolic Mindset, this will be quite clear. Paul clearly referred to Timothy as his son. (see 1 Corinthians 4: 17, 1 Timothy 1: 2 & 18 and 2 Timothy 1:2) Titus was also referred to as his son. (see Titus 1:4) With that in mind we are better off referring to these Epistles as Apostolic Epistles, not Pastoral Epistles.

I want to draw your attention to one passage from Apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy:

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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.” 1 Timothy 4: 13-16 NKJV (Emphasis Mine)

I have highlighted some words in this passage that we should pay attention to as an Apostolic Father was writing to an Emerging Apostolic Son:

Ø  Reading

Ø  Exhortation

Ø  Doctrine

Ø  The Gift

Ø  Prophecy

Ø  Laying On Of Hands

Ø  Meditate

Ø  Doctrine (second time…just maybe it is important)

Ø  Continue

It is quite often that we get asked what Apostolic Ministry is all about and how does it differ from other types of ministry. This should be a PROOF TEXT for every Apostle and Emerging Apostle in the Body of Christ!

We could go into great detail on each one of these bullet points, but suffice it to say, each and every one of them are an integral part of Apostolic Ministry. These were things that Paul stressed to his Son Timothy. If we are going to be truly New Testament Apostolic all of these things will be part of what we do; and if we are going to raise up Apostolic Sons, we will stress these things to them just as Paul stressed them to Timothy.

What Ever Happened To The Whole Counsel Of God?

As I read through some of the posts by Leaders in the Body of Christ these days I grow quite concerned. This morning I posted my ‘Thought For The Day’ on Facebook: “We must beware of Hobby Horses. Some have an inclination or bend towards a particular doctrine and ride it like a horse stressing it alone avoiding everything else. There is great danger in that as it leads to unbalanced Believers. Apostle Paul said I did not shrink back from declaring the Whole Counsel of God...neither should we.”

About twenty years ago a team of Ministers and I conducted a Minister’s Seminar. That particular day the Lord led me to deal with the topic: “The Dangers Of Not Preaching The Whole Counsel Of God”. I would like to think that the Church has made great strides and improvement over the last twenty years since that seminar, and while in some areas we have, in this area it is clear that we have not. Look at what Apostle Paul declared to the Elders of Ephesus as they came to him at Miletus in Acts chapter 20.

“For I never shrank or kept back or fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

Notice what Paul said:

·         I Never Shrank or Kept Back or Fell Short From Declaring…

·         Declaring What?

·         The Whole Purpose and Plan and Counsel of God!

It should be noted that the word Declare in this text in the Original Greek carries the meaning: I bring back word, I report; I announce, I declare. Paul was saying he made an announcement of the Whole Counsel of God. He Declared the Whole Counsel of God. He Brought Back A Word…A Report of The Whole Counsel of God.

To hear some people tell it there is only on doctrine in Scripture. As much as I believe in Sonship and desire to pour into the next generation raising up sons; there is more to the Whole Counsel of God than just Sonship. As much as I believe in preaching the Kingdom, after all John the Baptist preached the Kingdom, Jesus preached the Kingdom and Paul preached the Kingdom; but there is more to the Whole Counsel of God than just the Kingdom.

The Whole Counsel of God contains Sonship. The Whole Counsel of God contains the Kingdom. Neither Sonship nor the Kingdom as good as they are; they are not the be all and end all of the Whole Counsel of God. If they were…what do we do with the Major and Minor Prophets? What do we do with the Psalms and Proverbs? What do we do with all of Israel’s history? I thought all of their history was written as examples for us???? (1 Corinthians 10:10-12) I thought all Scripture was profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Whole Counsel of God is all inclusive of all truth from Genesis to Revelation. We must preach all of it from cover to cover. We were never called to be “a one trick pony”…we were called to Declare and Announce the Whole Counsel of God.

If we continue in Acts chapter 20 in the context we will note some of Paul’s concern as to why it is so important that the Whole Counsel of God be proclaimed:

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20: 29 & 30 New American Standard Bible

Notice what Paul said:

·         Savage wolves will come in.

·         They won’t spare the flock.

·         From among your own selves men speaking false doctrine will arise.

·         They will draw away disciples to themselves.

Now my Brother and Sister look across the landscape of the church in our day and you can see that these very things are happening right among us. The Church has been permeated from within by “Gooey Grace” and “Sloppy Agape” to the point that folks no longer believe that repentance is required and that we can live like the devil and still go to heaven.

We are in dire need of the Whole Counsel of God! The Bible is clear: “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5 New American Standard Bible

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 New American Standard Bible

The Whole Counsel of God says that God wants all to come to repentance and that none should perish. It says that unless one does repent they will perish. That is surely a far cry from the damnable heresy of the hyper-grace message being propagated today.

Can you see how important the Whole Counsel of God is? I have only given a few examples, but these examples should prove the validity of what I am saying. It is time to live and practice the use of ALL SCRIPTURE…Not Just Our Pet Doctrine or Hobby Horse…IT IS TIME TO DECLARE THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD!

Johnny Enlow: 'AzusaNow 2016: Convergence of the Ages and the Harvest Glory Angel'

Johnny Enlow: 'AzusaNow 2016: Convergence of the Ages and the Harvest Glory Angel'

Get Ready For Suddenly

A few years ago the Lord spoke to me and said: “Son GET READY FOR SUDDENLY.” The suddenly of God seems to be something we are hearing quite a bit about these days. Prophetically God is speaking through many vessels about His suddenlies.

“And even as things are changing all around you, you will notice that it will just seem like a snap of a finger, and things will suddenly change… And lo and behold you won’t know where it came from or how it came, but all of a sudden, YOU’RE GOING TO BE IN YOUR DESTINY! For this year suddenly happens to you! And all of a sudden you’re going to realize that YOUR DESTINY HAS COME UPON YOU.” Prophesied By Michael Fram

“This is the year that leaders who have opposed Me are going to suddenly die.” Prophesied By Cindy Jacobs

“Things that now look impossible and unchangeable will suddenly turn around.” Prophesied By Kenneth Copeland

There are even new revelations coming to me from familiar Scriptures that God has been showing me regarding suddenly:

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1 NASB

“I declared the former things long ago and they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted and they came to pass. Isaiah 48:3 NASB

Acts 3:21 refers to the time we are currently living in. A period called: “The Restoration Of All Things”. This is the time just before the Lord’s return. That is why we are seeing the strong emphasis by the Spirit of God that we are seeing on the Apostolic and Prophetic offices that we are seeing in our day. But they are not the only things being restored to ‘The Church’. The Suddenlies of God are also being restored.

There are 3 occurrences in the Book of Acts where it says that God moved Suddenly. If we look at these 3 occurrences I believe there are some conclusions we can draw about what happens when God moves Suddenly.

“And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:2 NASB

“And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.” Acts 9:3 NASB

“And suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” Acts 16:26 NASB

Here are the 3 common things we see as we examine these 3 occasions where God moved Suddenly:

1. When God Moved Suddenly It Was Surprising.

2. When God Moved Suddenly It Was Supernatural.

3. When God Moved Suddenly It Was Sovereign.

·         In all 3 occasions…they were Surprised.

o   The word for Suddenly in the Greek in all 3 texts, besides suddenly also means: Unexpected or Unaware.

o   In all 3 texts they were not expecting what occurred to occur.

o   A great Modern Day example would be the cessationist theologian, Dr. Jack Deere, who taught the cessation doctrine at Dallas Theological Seminary until as he wrote in his book he was: “Surprised By The Power Of the Spirit”.

·         In all 3 occasions…God moved Supernaturally.

o   On the Day of Pentecost: Rushing Mighty Wind, Cloven Tongues of Fire, First Manifestation of Tongues.

o   Paul on the road to Damascus: Light from Heaven, Voice from Heaven, No one else was blind but Paul.

o   The Philippian Jail: The Earthquake, Everyone’s chains fall off, Nobody tries to escape.

·         In all 3 occasions…God moved Sovereignly.

o   It seems that this is a lost doctrine by many in our day.

o   God’s supreme rule and authority in Heaven, on earth, and in hell, to do what He wants, when He wants, to whomever He wants, because He is God.

o   On the Day of Pentecost: God moved when he wanted to, not when they wanted Him to. They had already waited in the upper room for ten days.

o   Paul on the road to Damascus: God alone decided to manifest Himself to Paul. Paul had nothing to do with it.

o   The Philippian Jail: God being pleased by Paul and Silas’ sacrifice of praise moved sovereignly.

If God moved Suddenly in the Book of Acts, we should expect Him to move Suddenly in our day as well. Get ready for God: to SURPRISE you, by moving SUPERNATURALLY, in His SOVEREIGNTY once again, with greater magnitude than before…GET READY FOR SUDDENLY!

The Next Phase Of The Apostolic Restoration

Recently while Apostle Jim Becton was up visiting NJ for my Apostolic Commissioning, we were discussing where the Apostolic Restoration has been, and where it is going. Such great progress has been made since the Mid to Late 90’s to now in what many have called “The New Apostolic Reformation”. God has mightily used men like C. Peter Wagner, David Cannistraci, Jonas Clark, Bill Hamon, Hector Torres, John Eckhardt, Che Ahn and others.

The focus of this move of restoration was the restoration of the function, title and importance of the Office of the Apostle. The fact that it, like all of the other four Ascension Gift Ministries; were given UNTIL…Ephesians chapter 4. It focused largely on the fact that the Apostle was part of the Foundation of the Church (along with the Prophet) (Ephesians 2:20); and if the foundation be destroyed…what hope is there for the people of God (Psalm 11:3).

The final focus has been the understanding from 1 Corinthians 12:28 where the Greek uses the word PROTON for the English word First, where it says that God hath set in the church first Apostles. This word Proton carries several meanings including: First in time or place in any succession of things or people, and First in rank, influence or honor. Chief. Principal. This is where the Restoration of the Apostolic has been and where we have come to where most have a general understanding and acceptance.

It is important for us to understand that revelation and knowledge are progressive in nature…we don’t get it all at once. The Bible is clear line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. But where is it going now? That as they say is the $64,000.00 question! This is where I believe we are currently on the cutting edge of what God is doing next in this Apostolic Restoration.

We are now progressing beyond the Revelation of the Apostolic that really began in the 90’s and shifting or evolving naturally supernaturally (or organically) into the Father/Son order. We have begun to grasp and get an understanding that the Previous Restoration of the Gift/Office of the Apostle has been missing this extremely important and key component. Many all over the Body of Christ are beginning to have Malachi 4: 5 & 6 come alive within them knowing that the hearts of the Fathers MUST be turned towards the Sons…so in turn the hearts of the Sons can be turned in response back to the Fathers.

In the previous generation there has been a great emphasis on building and establishing “My Ministry” with little or no thought for the Next Generation that is up and coming. Thank God this is changing in our day. There is a two-fold thrust of this New Apostolic Paradigm that is currently being revealed.

The first thrust of this New Apostolic Paradigm of the Father/Son Order is Vertical. This is up and down. This is where Fathers speak into the lives of Sons. This is a multi-generational lineage that is meant to be perpetuated. All through the Old Testament we see: Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. In Stephen’s defense in the Book of Acts he states about the covenant of circumcision that God gave it to Abraham, who gave it to Isaac, who gave it to Jacob, who gave it to the 12 Patriarchs; which shows four generations. When Paul was writing to his Son Timothy he said, commit thou to faithful men, who in turn will be able to teach others also. So this is also four generations; Paul, Timothy, Those Timothy taught and those that they could teach also.

This is the vertical thrust of the Father/Son order. From Father to Son, From Father to Son, From Father to Son. In this there is always a middle generation like Isaac or Timothy who are the middle generation who are both Sons to their Fathers, and Fathers to those Sons that they are pouring into. The heartbeat now becomes: I must pour into the next generation! I must teach them what I have learned! I must help them avoid some of the blunders and mistakes I have made. The greatest expression of the heart of a Father that I have ever heard is: “Son, my ceiling is your floor!” In other words…you will start where I end because you have the benefit of my experience.

The second thrust of this New Apostolic Paradigm of the Father/Son Order is horizontal. This is across. There was some thought of this in the previous Restoration Move some were referred to as Horizontal Apostles…meaning they didn’t have a Network under them, but had the ability to gather folks together. They are equipped with a gathering anointing. This thought is carried to another level in this current move.

It is not just an anointing to gather folks together, but this is a gathering together of Spiritual Fathers whose heart it is to pour into the next generation. In this Horizontal Thrust of this Apostolic Restoration it is about gathering Fathers Nationally and Regionally. As Fathers become aligned, iron will sharpen iron and the thrust will get stronger. The end result of this Horizontal alignment will be many Sons coming to glory!

Due Season Is Coming For Many In March

I have had this sense for the last several weeks that March 2016 is going to be a pivotal key month for many in the Body of Christ. I have shared this in speaking with several friends over the last couple of weeks. I have mentioned in passing from Pulpits in passing recently while preaching and during radio interviews. It was confirmed to me last night by Nationally known Prophet Doug Addison as he ministered on an Interactive Virtual Ministry Webinar as he spoke about the month of March.

I don’t know all that is going to transpire, but I have this sense that it is going to be a season of the things that have already been in a season of acceleration getting into what Emeril Lagasse used to call “Kicked Up A Notch” from acceleration to EXPLOSION! I can’t put my finger on the whys and the wherefores but I know it like I know my name is Michael Fram. There are two passages of Scripture that have been coming to me for this season.

“Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.’” Habakkuk 2: 2 & 3 NKJV

^“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV

I believe that that are many who have been holding on to promises from God and are feeling like they are just never going to come to pass. They are becoming weary in well doing and are discouraged in their faith and are ready to quit and throw in the towel. I tell you what the Prophet declared…Though it Tarries…Wait for it…It Will Surely Come! Don’t Quit Now!

If you don’t quit now you will reap in Due Season…Due Season is about to come for many in March! Don’t quit now when you are this close to your Breakthrough…when you are this close to Due Season. I remember way back in the late 70’s Tammy Faye Baker used to sing a song on the Old PTL Club: “Don’t Give Up On the Brink Of Your Miracle”. Many get so close…then get tired and discouraged and quit right when they are about to break through.

I saw a cartoon om Facebook a couple of weeks ago that showed a man digging a tunnel under ground. You could see where he had dug down, and where he was digging across. You were looking at the picture head on from the front with him digging across underground with the dirt over his head as he was progressing with the tunnel. You could also see how much dirt like a wall was left in front of him until he broke through…and it was just a sliver of a wall…he was almost through to the other side. But because he grew weary he turned and walked away after all the work he had done when he only had a sliver left.

This is where many of you are…you are almost there. Don’t quit now! Don’t give up now! You are almost through…you are right on the brink of the fulfillment of what God has promised you. For many…March 2016 is your Due Season! Just keep digging a little more…you are about to break through that last sliver of dirt! I feel so strongly…Though it tarries…wait for it…It Will Surely Come! You are about to Reap…It is Your Due Season!

The Goal Of Prophetic Revelation

I read a quote on Facebook the other day that said: “The Holy Spirit will warn you, it’s up to you to pay attention.” This got me to thinking and meditating on the discourse of Jesus about the Holy Spirit as recorded in John’s Gospel from chapters 14 through 16. There were several things that stood out to me. This is one of my favorite texts in the entire Bible as it speaks of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and His work of revelation to us.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16: 13-15 NASB

I also like the King James Version’s wording of the last phrase of verse 13 where it says: “He will show you things to come.”

The simple point is that God is a God of Revelation! The Bible is very clear about that!

“Surely the Lord God does nothing; Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 NKJV

The New American Standard Bible says: “He reveals His secret counsel…” I like that too!

The Facebook quote said that the Holy Spirit would warn us. God reveals! Jesus said the Holy Spirit would take what was mine and would disclose…or reveal it to us. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would show us things to come.

This is the very nature of the Prophetic! God wants us to know what He intends to do and what is coming so we don’t miss it. Remember when God was about to judge Sodom and Gomorrah? What did God Say?

“The Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?’” Genesis 18:17 NASB

This leads me to the crux of this Blog. I came across something in John 14 at the end of the chapter that I had never seen before.

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you….You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.” John 14: 25, 26, 28 & 29 NASB

I don’t know where some of this has been all my Christian life. Look at what Jesus said:

·         These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

·         You would have rejoiced because I go to the Father.

·         Now I have told you before it happens.

·         So that when it happens, you may believe.

I don’t know how many times I have read John chapter 14 in my life…but I have never noticed these four statements before. I have seen verse 26 before about the Spirit being sent by the Father in Jesus’ name. I have seen that the Spirit would teach us all things and bring to our remembrance all that Jesus said…but never these other statements.

The ultimate goal of Prophetic Revelation is summed up in these verses! Namely that we might rejoice and so that we might believe! Look at what Jesus said. I am telling you all of this in this whole discourse while I am with you. But, I am getting ready to go to the Father who is greater than I. You should rejoice over this. The revelation of God should make us rejoice because we have the inside track on the purpose and plan of God.

Notice He said I told you this before it happens! What did Amos prophesy? “SURELY THE LORD GOD DOES NOTHING WITHOUT REVEALING HIS SECRET COUNSEL TO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS!” What did God say about letting Abraham in on His Plan? “SHALL I HIDE FROM ABRAHAM WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO?” Do you see a pattern here?

Jesus told them before it happened. Why did He tell them before it happened? “SO THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU MAY BELIEVE!” This so reminds me of what the Word says:

“Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20b NKJV

God wants us to believe His Revelation. If we believe His Revelation we rejoice and are made glad. If we believe His Revelation we prosper and are established. If we believe His Revelation we don’t miss what it is He is about to do and we get to be in on it; which is why He revealed it in the first place.