Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts (Mal. 3:7b).

The return of the Lord that is most important today involves men and women first returning to the Lord. He has promised to return to live in those who return to Him with their whole heart.

In past generations, Christians have looked to the future, bodily return of Christ Jesus for much of what is already available to believers now. Some Scripture, which applies to the coming of Christ Jesus now in believers, has been for centuries interpreted as referring to only the bodily return.

In the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries, the men translating the Bible into English and other languages were of the strong persuasion that the bodily return of Jesus was the only hope of Christians to overcome the evil in the world. Their translation work bears the mark of their persuasion.

Many words that should have been translated to refer to the manifestation of the indwelling Christ within believers were erroneously translated to refer toward the future bodily return.

The Manifesting Christ

(I encourage you to take the time to understand the following study of the Greek words behind these verses.)

Several different Greek words are translated “coming” in the New Testament. The word “coming” occurs 125 times in the New King James Version of the New Testament. Most of those occurrences are translated from the Greek word “erchomai” (er’-khom-ahee). However, on 22 occasions the word “parousia” (par-oo-see’-ah) is also translated “coming”; but on two other occasions “parousia” is translated “presence.” In the two verses speaking of Paul, “parousia” is translated “presence.”

The primary meaning of parousia is “a being near.” It comes from the word “pareimi”* (par’-i-mee), which means “to be near” as “at hand,” and comes from two words “para” meaning “near,” and “eimi” (i-mee’) meaning an emphatic “I exist.” The primary meaning of parousia is presence.

Every usage of the word “parousia” that involves Christ is translated “coming,” which sounds future, instead of “presence,” which gives the impression of being present. Coming is an acceptable translation in some verses, which actually do refer to the visible bodily return of Jesus. But there are others that refer to the victorious appearing or manifesting of Jesus Christ now in believers. These should have been translated presence or manifest. Aparently, the translators had no understanding at that time as to how Christ could be present or manifest except to bodily return.

The following verse, I Thess. 3:13, is a typical example of this slant in translation. We know that Christ Jesus is with believers now to perfect holiness. He is purifying our hearts now as His presence manifests in our lives.

1 Thes 3:13: so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

The word “at” is the Greek word “en” and could be translated a number of different ways including “in” or “by.” And of course, “coming” should be “presence.” The word “all” is “pas” and could also be translated many different ways including, “any,” “every,” “everyone,” and “whosoever.”

This verse should read: “That He may establish your hearts blameless before our God and Father by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ within all His saints.”

The English translations makes it seem certain that the verse is referring only to a future coming of Jesus when He is bringing the departed saints with Him. This does fit with other verses, which do say that Christ will bodily return and will bring those that have died with Him. However, take a closer look at the Greek and it becomes clear that the verse is speaking of the manifestation of Christ within all His saints in this age.

2 Thes 1:11-12: Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps there is no scripture more explicit in distinguishing the bodily return of Christ and the day of the Lord than 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 4:18, and 5:1 to 5:11. The subject changes from the future visible return of Christ, to the present day of the Lord, at chapter 5, verse 1.

(Scripture about the bodily return of Christ)

1 Thes 4:13-18: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

These verses very clearly refer to the bodily return of Christ. Now observe the shift as we begin Chapter Five.

(Scripture about the manifestation of Christ in His saints)

In the first verse of chapter five (1 Thess. 5:1) the shift is obvious. Paul begins with the word “But.” “But concerning the times and the seasons.” The word translated “the” is translated into many articles and could be translated “this” or “these.” The word translated “seasons” is “kairon,” the plural form of “kairos” (kahee-ros’), which means set or proper time. Thus, this portion could read: “But concerning these times and these specific seasons,” referring to the current times and seasons.

1 Thes 5:1-4: But concerning the (these) times and the (these) seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief.

The great and terrible day of the Lord, which comes as a thief in the night, is very different from the joyous celebration of the visible, bodily return of the Lord. As we have seen earlier, the day of the Lord is occurring and the visible return is yet future. The day of the Lord is great because of the promises of God coming forth in His subsequently purified people; and it is terrible because of the great destruction coming forth upon the wicked.

It is not necessary that anyone be lost!

Salvation is available for everyone. Salvation includes the new birth, deliverance, and healing for the repentant believer who will spiritually sell out everything for the one important thing–to be a dwelling place for the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Jesus is more than the most important thing in life. He is the life! There is no life apart from Him. Proud and lofty works of man, no matter how great they are in man’s eyes, cannot bring real life. We should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness within us now. “Christ in you the hope of Glory”.

The kingdom of God is “at hand.”

Though the potential for the kingdom of God way of life has been available for around 2000 years, since the time when Jesus returned in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the time is now for the full restoration of the revelation of the kingdom.

Over the centuries man has used his ingenuity in a failed attempt to successfully do life his way. The failure of man exhausting all of his ways finally leads to accepting God’s ways of life. The potential of the kingdom that has been with us since Pentecost is being more fully revealed in this season.

The error of thinking that only the bodily return of Jesus would bring forth the power to overcome evil is melting away. The return of the anointed Christ within believers is having an impact in the world. However, this error remains firmly locked into our English translations of the New Testament.

Praying for Holy Spirit revelation while studying the New Testament in the Greek language will help bring forth truth. However, the study of commentaries from the past, which include man’s opinions of the Word and what it says, will not help in this matter. The major commentaries that are available all reflect this same erroneous persuasion as those of the English New Testament translations.

What is lacking on God’s part for His kingdom to manifest on earth?

Now that Christ is present on earth within His people, what potential for overcoming evil is lacking? There is nothing lacking on God’s part. There is nothing that Jesus will bring with Him at His visible return that will be more than is available now for establishing His kingdom. The only things standing in the way of Christ being revealed to overcome evil in our world are on man’s part.

Christ does not need to visibly bodily return to overcome evil and establish God’s ways on earth.

MAN IS THE ONE THAT MUST RETURN. MAN MUST RETURN TO CHIRST JESUS. The fire of God is available to flow through Christ in man to cleanse and heal our world.

Love and unity are key factors.

Love, that brings faith and unity, is a key factor in the puzzle of cleansing and restoring our world. No one person has all of Christ. Many godly people coming together in unity will reveal a greater fullness of the presence of Christ to meet the needs of the world for cleansing and restoration to God’s rule. Disunity caused by unlove is an enemy of the revealing of Christ and the releasing of His power. Only God’s love in His people can melt the intellectual and cultural strife of a segmented Body of Christ in the world.

Religion with its sectarianism is an enemy to the work of God restoring the earth. Faith and power cannot grow in disunity. Disunity cannot be cured by compromising intellectual positions or religious doctrines. Unity can only come by laying down our lives, including our religion. Taking up our cross and denying self is the road to the love of God and unity, which will produce faith to reveal Christ and His power to the world to save, heal, deliver, and restore.

The fire of God will increasingly manifest as more and more individuals lose their own self focused life and come together in the love of God. The power and love of Christ to change the world with faith that moves mountains awaits the agreement and unity of God’s people.

Heb 12:29: For our God is a consuming fire.

As God’s people come into unity in Christ those who trouble them will be repaid with tribulation from God.

2 Thes 1:6-8: …since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many interpret the above passage as referring only to the visible return of Jesus. However, the rest of this passage makes it clear that it deals with the power of Christ in his saints, not the bodily return of Jesus.

2 Thes 1:10-12: when He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus revealed from heaven in His saints, coming together with His mighty angels (ministering spirits), with spiritual fire is the true church experience in this day, the day of the Lord.

Heb 1:7: And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.

The True Church – The New Jerusalem Assembly

The Scripture speaks clearly of the heavenly Jerusalem, the spiritual church of Jesus, coming together in the presence of God, with Jesus, the holy angels, and the spirits of mature believers cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Many are now beginning to grasp the reality of the presence of God, Jesus, and holy angels together with us in union worshiping and serving God.

Scriptures that have been veiled in the fog of religion or futurity are now opening to many and becoming crystal clear revelation and a present reality. When the writer of Hebrews wrote Hebrews 12:22-24, he was speaking to the believers at hand and not just future generations. He was writing of characteristics of the first-century church and the restored present day body of Christ in this season.

Heb. 12:22-24: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The purifying work of Christ in His people

The Greek word for Christ in the New Testament is “Christos” meaning “anointed” or “anointed One.” The anointed Jesus flowing through His people is a flaming fire of spiritual ministry and a consuming fire against wickedness. The word translated angels is “aggelos” (ang’-el-os), meaning to bring tidings, a messenger, ministering spirits or preacher.

Psa 104:4: Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

The people of God are now beginning to grasp the significance of Christ living in them. We have begun to touch the fringes of the potential power of God available to the pure-hearted believer. Even in our wildest dreams, we have not imagined the fullness of the reality of faith and power available to the purified sons of God.

As the purifying fires of God do their work, people will be amazed at the level of love, faith, and power released in the sons of God.

The practical reality of the kingdom of God is coming forth now. As the purifying fires are burning and the glory of the Lord is manifesting, an army of people are coming forth who live only for God, and who speak not of their own but speak words from heaven as the oracles of God. The Spirit of Christ within them directly connects with Christ at the right hand of the throne of God. Through that pure unfiltered communication with the throne of God, powerful, world-changing words are spoken into the earth.

The purification of the planet

The entire world and heavens around the world will be shaken by the fire of God flowing from Christ through His sons. It is not wise to fail to hear and respond to the voice of God. Everything that can be shaken is being shaken; only the truth of God and His ways will remain.

Heb 12:25-28: See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

Keep on pursuing Love. Love never fails
and His kingdom never ends.

Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

Demons flee , blessings come ,

For you flow “AS” My kingdom ,

There is no truth greater to know ,

Then being one with me and My glory show !

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ephesians 4:15

Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Colossians 3:15-17
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

http://thejoshuachronicles.blogspot.com/

In the onslaught of exposed lack of godly character in Christian ministers, significant questions may have arisen in our minds. Questions like: Where is discernment? Why do so many people follow impure leaders? Where are the safeguards and controls to prevent such episodes of moral failures? What can be done to fix the systems so this does not happen and the people are not misled? Where is God in all this, and why doesn’t He correct these issues?

There are some basic major answers to these and other questions that most people may not be ready to deal with. It is futile to try to alleviate the surface problems without dealing with the root causes. The need is more that dealing with the issues of the ministry by better minister training or setting up checks and balances. It is not just the fruit on the limbs of the religious systems that is sick. The entire tree from the root up has been infected and is decaying. The decaying religious systems have born good fruit in the past centuries and will continue to produce some good fruit as long as the trees are standing. Many of us were born again through the church systems or some outreach of them.

Though the systems have born fruit, they have not been able to bring forth the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The disease has made it impossible for them to bear the desired fruit of the real kingdom of God. Since its inception around the third century, the religious church systems have had a genetic predisposition for the whole tree, from the roots up, to dry up and decay to eventually become enriched soil for the new grass of the kingdom to spring forth and blossom with the beauty of the glory of God covering the earth. Back in the early 80s when God began to pour revelation of the kingdom into me and other seed planters, He told me that eventually it would come up like grass in a field. Grass grows close to the ground and seems to come from nowhere. It is not just a few tall trees, but it is many plants all at the same ground level.

A Season of Great Historical Significance

In this historical season of God’s transformation of His people from religious systems to the kingdom of God the old is coming down to allow the new seeds of the gospel of the kingdom to grow into the world. The religious systems have spawned the secular systems that both compete and cooperate for the rule of the world. The whole adulterated world of religious and secular darkness mixed with the true light must give way to the pure and glorious light of the kingdom of God.

God is cleansing the darkness from our midst, first from the children of God and then from the world.

The core answers to the questions above regarding the corrupt leaders and lack of discernment is that the church left the reality of the headship of Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Discernment is by the Holy Spirit. Empowerment for holy living is by the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit. When men after the first few centuries set up church government and turned to their own minds for guidance, the Holy Spirit pulled back leaving the then apostate church with only human intellect to discern the word and guide the church. Christianity became a religion, modern theology was born, and a hierarchy of men replaced Jesus as head. Doctrines were devised without the revelation of the Holy Spirit that favored the new system and shrouded the truth of the gospel of the kingdom. The void created by the loss of the Holy Spirit was filled by powerful religious spirits that have infiltrated and affected the religious church and the world ever since.

Though reformation began four or five centuries ago, there is much yet to be dissolved before the true gospel of the kingdom can be fully implemented. What we are seeing now in the uncovering of the corrupt character of ministers is a part of the major cleansing and dissolution of the religious systems that are decaying before our eyes. That which God used in the past is not usable in the kingdom age that we are entering. God is preparing a people of faith who will walk in holiness by the Holy Spirit and will be used to destroy the works of darkness and bring forth the pure clear light of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Love Never Fails Overcoming evil with good

Is it possible that the destruction of evil is now within the potential of Christ in man? Is it not possible that the Bible word is true and that good can overcome evil? Could it be that the Spirit of Christ bringing forth His love in the body of Christ throughout the world can bring forth righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit and overcome the evil of the world?

If we look at the problem, the multitudes of evil men who are bent on destruction, and the great deceptive philosophy of seeking carnal pleasure that rules men around the world, certainly it does not seem possible to the natural mind that evil can be defeated and the kingdom of God can and is coming forth into our world. Looking at the giants in the land is exactly what the enemy wants us to do. (Num 13:32-14-1)

The victory waits for men to grow in faith to really believe the words of God. Faith grows where there is righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Lord in the Holy Spirit. Faith in God cannot be strong in carnal pleasure-seeking people. The prayers and faith of righteous people will unleash the power of God to change the world. The great outpourings of the Spirit of God upon His mature sons can bring forth revival and people will repent of their mixture of seeking carnal pleasure and seeking to serve God at the same time. Many will turn to God with their whole hearts and become holy humble servants filled with the love and power of God by the Holy Spirit.

In the same season of great outpouring of Holy Spirit revival, great shakings of purifying judgment upon all the earth will continue. We will enter the kingdom age through much tribulation, and all pride and loftiness of man that lifts itself against God will come down.

Acts 14:22: “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

While at the same season of spiritual revival, the great apocalyptic cataclysmic events of the book of Revelation will destroy evil works and quickly alter the entire scheme of things in the world. Yes, it may be a bloody, fiery road to the kingdom, but God can protect and deliver His children. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God. (Rev 11:15) We will rule and reign in the earth with Him. (2 Tim 2:12) We will overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. (Gen 18:14)

This is a miraculous transformation of God from the church age to the kingdom of God age. Only God could have ever orchestrated such an apocalyptical and cataclysmic series of events that would in the end bring forth the beauties of holiness in the glory of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Rev 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

All the rich history of the people of God all the incredible acts of godly people all the pain and suffering of Christ and the many who have willingly followed Him and suffered and died through the ages all the sacrifices of the saints all the victories that have been won all the revelation from heaven and all the faithful service of men and women in the church age have all been moving toward the season we have just began to enter the season of the proclamation and the manifestation of the promises of the ages for the redemption of all the kingdoms of this world as the kingdoms of our God. Christ Jesus, the rightful king of all, will fully reign with His holy Bride upon Planet Earth. And there shall be no more pain, no more sorrow, for the old will have passed away and the kingdom of heaven will be fully manifested on earth as it is in heaven.

We need not be discouraged when the unsoundness of mixture and corruption is revealed in the decaying church systems that have faithfully done and continue to do the works of God while striving with darkness of religious futility. When our own inner futility is revealed, we must count it all joy and be made holy and be made whole. The presence of God is among us to change us into the original design of image and likeness of God to rule and reign with Him in pure holiness and humility of love and power.

However, this is not just about our sanctification and empowerment; it is about our becoming redeemed sons of God to carry out the mission of restoring the kingdom of God on earth. We have a glorious and worthy mission , a mission that will only be done as Christ Jesus is formed in His Body by the Holy Spirit and we become as Christ in this world. Our mission includes the glory of God covering the earth, a goal worthy of losing our lives, that we find His life. Be greatly encouraged God is on the throne, and His love wins.

Keep on pursuing love.
It never fails.

Ron McGatlin
Coordinator OpenHeaven.com

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

“After much prayer, careful study and reliance on the Holy Spirit, I have concluded this about Christ’s intercession for us. Jesus died on the cross to purchase peace with God for me – and He is in heaven now to maintain that peace, for me and in me.” — David Wilkerson

Today is a sad day for me, for the man who led me to the Lord, died in a car crash yesterday, Rev. David Wilkerson. My heart and prayers go out to the Wilkerson family. If I were to say that I had a true Spiritual Father, it would be David Wilkerson, his writing and sermons shook and molded my life. David Wilkerson was like the John the Baptist and the prophet Jeremiah of this generation.

Of all the godly men that the Lord has used to impact my life, Rev. David Wilkerson impacted mine the most.

Rev, David Wilkerson started his ministry off in the streets of New York, reaching out, ministering the gospel message and love to the drug addicts and gang members. He went on to establish Teen Challenge in 1971 and then Times Square church in 1987, which today has over 8000 members.

His book, the Cross & the Switchblade had a very big impact on my life which was also made into a movie where Pat Boone starred as David Wilkerson and is one of my favorite movies.

His love for people and dedication to being a true watchman of the Bride was matched with a life of honor without compromise in regard to the truth about the Lord, His Word and the Kingdom of God. Like that of Jeremiah, Rev. Wilkerson was faithful in releasing the word that the Lord gave him to release. Making such bold comments as:

“Our nation is being led astray by ungodly judges, mayors and governors, who are given to change, defying the Constitution and substituting their own wicked agendas”.

And when asked about the modern day revivals he was quoted as saying:

‘Do I believe any of the “revivals” represent the last-days outpouring — the last great revival before Jesus comes? No! Not at all. We should rejoice in every work of the Spirit that results in true conversions — but any “revival” that purports itself to be “the great revival” and is promoted and “spread” by its leaders must be immediately discounted. When the last great outpouring comes, it is prophesied to come “upon all flesh.” It will not be isolated in just a few areas. No one will be counting numbers. Hungry seekers will not be falling backwards — but frontwards, on their faces, humbled and broken. The preaching of the cross will be central. There will be no fundraising, no introducing of star visitors. The meetings will be times of wooing by the Holy Spirit, because He never drives people to altars — He woos them. No one will have to defend such an outpouring. All manifestations will focus on Christ, not flesh. Weeping, brokenness, a lifting of holy hands in thankfulness for God’s mercy and grace will produce a true spirit of joy’.

He spoke about the state of affairs in much of the modern day church:

“I believe modern Babylon is present-day America, including its corrupt society and its whorish church system. No other nation on earth fits the description in Revelation 18 but America, the world’s biggest fornicator with the merchants of all nations. Ancient Babylon was long destroyed when John received this vision“.

and…

“Tragically, however, few ministers today have the anointing of God’s Spirit. They may be able to tell a good story or inject humor into their sermons. But they have no fresh word from heaven, because they don’t spend time alone with the Lord. The result is a widespread famine of a true word from God in the land”.

David Wilkerson was one of the few respected modern day prophets who had a track record of following the Word and his prophesies were always based in scripture. Even when it cost him much support in the United States as many of the main stream churches turned their backs on him, calling him such names as false prophet and prophet of doom. Yet the prophetic word’s that he spoke have come true and I am sure that history will prove those to be truthful as well for which he prophesied about the coming days.

Yet his love for the truth of God’s Word was always a motivation to speak in truth especially to those seeking the “perfect church” :

“Then you can go to any church, no matter how dead it may seem. Why? You do it so that you can connect with other Zadok seekers there! He has hungry servants everywhere — and he will supernaturally bring you to those who share your hunger to minister to the Lord”.

At the age of 15 my sister Roxanne took me to one of his crusades held in Bangor, Maine some 2 1/2 to 3 hours from our home and I can still to this day, some 30 years later remember most of his sermon. His words were on fire with the passion of the Lord and they found their mark in my hardened heart, breaking up the hardness until it was cracked to the point of the Lords words entering in and leading me to cry out to Jesus to be my Lord.

In the times when I would stumble, the Lord would in some way bring his messages back into my life and every time, this mans words of truth were used to return me to seeking the Lord. Over the past 10 years as I have walked in ministry, Rev Wilkerson’s sermons were a constant reminder of righteousness as well as holiness and have always been an encouragement to me to seek the Lords Kingdom and His righteousness first in my life. His daily devotionals were always spiritual food for me. There was a season last years when I was not attending a “church building” and I would sit and listen to his and Carter Conlon’s messages on Sunday morning’s and they continued to not only build up my faith, they encouraged me to also live a life of no compromise.

He was never afraid to speak on the subject of sin and hell, even in a day when it appears that many choose to appease the people, tickling their ears and entertaining them rather than remaining faithful to the power of God’s Word. Yet he was always sure to thread into every one of his messages, the grace and mercy of a forgiven God such statements as:

“God’s way is this: accept God’s gift, Jesus Christ. You can’t buy this love. He loves you even with all your sins and offers salvation to you — free. You don’t have to reform yourself. He’ll transform you”.

It is my prayer that when my time comes to go be with the Lord, that people will look back on my life and be able to say, like that of David Wilkerson, that I was faithful with the Word of the Lord in my life, and in the pulpit – not merely in my messages but my life’s actions as well.

In one of his messages he penned the following statement that will always be part of my life:

The messages to the seven churches were directed to “the angel” of the churches, meaning the pastors, leaders or messengers. John is saying,

“What I share with you is what every minister of the church ought to know and preach. This is the heart of God revealed against sin and apostasy – see that you hear the words, heed them, then preach them.”

I am honored to have been one of the thousands that God used David Wilkerson to bring into His Kingdom. My life will never be the same because of him. One day, when I walk the streets of heaven I hope to meet him once again, just to say thank you David, for your faithfulness in love & service to the Lord and His Bride!

IHS,
Russ Welch

The Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him and called out his name “the Lord.” Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “The Lord, the Lord, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive. He continues to show his love to thousands of generations, forgiving wrongdoing, disobedience, and sin. He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children and grandchildren for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation.” Immediately, Moses knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground.  (Exodus 34:5-8)

What man or institution has these qualities? In addition, He is the eternal Creator, Healer, Savior, Judge, and the very pinnacle of wisdom, understanding, and grace.

Yet, mankind is so deluded that, without realizing it, many worship their consciences formed by their own earthly experiences.

A true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ will walk as He did, spending time with the Father and allowing Holy Spirit to form the truth of who God the Father is in our hearts & Spirit that we be not mis-led by our own hearts or the opinions of others. Jesus showed us the way to live our lives friends, by going to Father God in prayer and spending quality time there.

We need to be like Moses crying out – “I want to see your face” and “I will go no place unless You go with me Lord”

Oh that we would indeed being as willing as our Lord to do what the Father has called us to do:

Jesus stirred people up so that they said, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46). He challenged and exposed the hypocrisies of the religion of His day and was moved to deep anger by the shameless exploitation taking place at the Temple. He was of such personality that He walked unscathed through hostile crowds. Jesus was meek, but the term indicates that He had the power to use as He willed, restraining it as an act of mercy, wisdom, and love.

Christianity is not for the soft and sentimental. We have a war on our hands, and our God is a powerful warrior—the Lord of Hosts is His name. He is on our side, but He demands our loyalty.

No soldier(H) gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (I) An athlete is not(J) crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is(K) the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Tim 2:5 AMP)

We must get to the place as Disciples of Christ where the appeals of this world no longer entice us.  More and more the desire to watch any TV is dying in my life – not because all TV is bad, it is because it takes away from the time I could be ministering the gospel message. TV robs our time – it consumes seconds, moments and hours from time that we could be consumed by the Lord’s presence! The same is about getting all tied up in the celebrated holidays that are not of the Lord, they can consume your time and money – even your joy!

As to TV, I found that I would watch the news just to find out what was going on in certain political parties and would get all riled up. Then  I read this chapter in Timothy and had to get on my knees and say “Your right Father, the affairs of this world must not consume my time – my faith is in you and you hold all things in your hands.

We will have to discipline ourselves. In Timothy’s case, the rules are scattered throughout Paul’s epistle to him. In terms of the Sabbath and the annual feast days, they are the only days in the entire Bible that God designates as “holy.” They are part of “the rules.” God never gives His approval to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, but only the seventh day, the Sabbath. He never gives His approval to Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and all of the other man-made holidays, but only the ones He points out to us in Leviticus 23.

The Sabbath must not be a tradition or stumbling block – it must be viewed and lived just as the Lord intended it – a day of rest – a day to spend with family and friends to rejoice in all that the Lord has done for us!

Let us lay down the ways of this world and pick up the WAY of the Lord to direct our life!

Welcome to my blog – here you will be able to read some pretty radical idea’s in regard to the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ – then again the people considered the Lord’s teaching pretty radical 2000 plus years ago – they were radical because they went against the traditional religious beliefs in that time – even today the true teachings of Jesus are a swift slap into the face of the man-made traditions that many of the churches hold onto – their sacred cow doctrines.

 

The Father is sweeping across the vast “church” landscape filled with walled divisions and man made empires that have been empty of His Presence due to their claiming the glory rather than placing it where its due – Upon His Son.

 

Prayerfully this blog with shake any religious mud that may have become cakes upon your spirit man and bring a clear understanding of who we – the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ – are really called to be – our radical life style of selfless servant-hood – laying down our lives daily and picking up the cross that the Lord has prepared for us – the thirst to see the Fathers Will carried out in our daily walk – the hunger to see the harvest field filled with workers and the desire above all else to see the name of Jesus Christ lifted higher than anything else.