Origianlly published April 13, 2006
apokatastasis - Restitution or restoration (the only time used in the New Testament)
Acts 3:20-21 - And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things...
You and I cannot move past religious curiosity without the revelation of the Holy Spirit who prophesied this Word about a coming restitution of all things. I honestly believe that the final restitution is at hand, but our desire to know Christ and be significantly used of Him in these last days has been fossilized by the many years of cultural lifestyle and Spiritual stagnation. As we watched the Twin Towers fall did we not feel an unsettling fear, a Spiritual shaking, and a sense that God was speaking to all of us that we are at the end? Jesus Himself told us that the end would resemble the days of Noah when God brought restitution to the earth by a colossal flood of His judgment. I am afraid for the world and for the lukewarm church as the enormous cloud of God's storm of judgment waits in the wings. This world is not what God had envisioned and He has promised to come and restore all things and rule and reign Himself from the city of Jerusalem.
Everything that people are talking about these days is meaningless. Immigration, gas prices, interest rates, joblessness, democracy, and all the other earthly issues that man thinks he can work out are sounding brass and tinkling cymbals because we should be consumed with the coming judgment of God. Jesus was consumed with God's judgment and He offered Himself to be judged in our place. His whole mission was to take God's judgment because He knew how destructive His Father's judgment was and that it was coming. In order for God to restore His will on this earth He will consume all evil Restitution is God's business, our business is regeneration. The quest for restitution by the hand of man and his government is nothing more than vain witchcraft which has its ups and downs but its end is judgment.
But the indictment against us is that even if we recognize the world and the church are headed in the wrong direction we still are not consumed with the presence of the Lord. We will never experience the presence and power of Almighty God until we confess that we are fairly indifferent about having a fiery and passionate walk with Christ that consumes us. There is little time left. The clock races toward a fearful day. Lucifer plays his sweet lullabies to the church and we awake to our pleasures and sleep to the truth of God's Word. And those of us who reject the seeker church and the plastic church growth strategies, we are content with identifying the obvious with little power or revival in our own lives. OK, even though this commemoration of the resurrection, Easter, was made by man, let us repent and diligently seek Him. If we could see the Spirit world for five minutes it would revolutionize our lives!
The restitution of the world will come soon by force at the angry hand of Almighty God. But our restitution began when we were regenerated by the Spirit of Grace as He responded to our heart-cry of faith placed upon the Son of God. But never forget that there came with that free gift a pouring out of the wrath of God upon His own Son for us, and the Angel of Death has "Passed-over" us. We see "through a glass darkly" now, but one day we will see face to face. I remember waking up the morning after the night I had been born again upon a mountain overlooking the brilliant skyline of New York City. After opening my eyes I again entered into the realization that Jesus was real and alive and that I had met Him last night an I felt such a desire to know Him more. I still had a long journey to become "like Him". There is coming a moment when we open our Spiritual eyes for the first time in heaven and at an instant we will not only realize that we became a follower of Jesus in our former life, but "we will see Him as He is". Love Him, praise Him, worship Him, experience Him, and a million other accompanying realities when ushered into His celestial dwelling place - FOREVER. And not only will we "see Him as He is", but we will be "Like Him!" The primary goal of Lucifer is to keep souls from gaining eternity with the Lord of Lords, but one of his most effective ways to accomplish that is to keep True saints from a deeper life of walking in His presence with obedience and worship. Remember, the Father is a "rewarder of them that diligently SEEK HIM".
Precious Holy Spirit, please "break up the fallow ground" of our hearts and break the cords and desires of this world that we may win Christ. Amen
Friday, May 12, 2006
What do you hear?
Originally published April 22, 2006
Rev.2:7 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
I hear the panicked sound of demons as they scurry to steal, kill, and destroy before they are bound. I hear the whole world preoccupied with this world as they neglect the world to come. I hear the cackles of Lucifer's legions as they mock God's people and their anemic commitment to the Savior Himself. I hear the satisfied groans of Satan as his massive deceptive shift from the unseen to the seen has produced results beyond his expectations. I hear the clinking of coins as believers lay treasures upon treasures on this earth. I hear the echoes of the empty prayer closets and the silence of the unturned pages of God's Word. I hear the constant sound of the last sands of the hourglass hitting the bottom but void of the bold prophets of God unashamedly calling us to prepared repentance? I hear the vows of men to men and women to women pledging their marital commitment to each other while I hear God's spouses breaking theirs. I hear the silent screams of unborn babies being murdered alive in their own mother's wombs while the sound of computer keyboards in the houses of God's people check their portfolios. I hear Israel's enemies gathering around her and the church calls no solemn assembly with prayer and fasting. I hear hell giggle as preachers tell stories and jokes and congregations leave feeling good about their situation without ever knowing what it means to be under the mighty Sword of God's Word. I hear 150,000 souls slip into a tormented eternity ever single day while we sleep on dry, careless pillows.
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
I hear a faint but growing, guttural, powerful roar in the distance as if coming from a magnificent, celestial Lion. It's permeating the atmosphere, connecting with the Spiritual ears of His pride, and sounding out a warning of impending doom to all His enemies. He has already marked His territory and the sound of His gigantic paws grows closer and closer. He started with a determined walk two thousand years ago, began to gain speed through the centuries, and He now runs with His fiery eyes fixed and with justice dripping from His tremendous jaws from which He will roar out His irresistible and powerful Word to the four corners of the Earth. I hear His enemies turn their heads in fear as they recognize the gathering storm in the distance is rapidly coming to fulfill the destruction which this Lion has promised to all who oppose Him. All will tremble, all will wonder, all will bow before Him on that great and terrible day. I hear the growing echo of "Behold He Comes" surrounding this Mighty Lion of Judah as He snorts great clouds of wrath from His nostrils!! His subjects prepare to welcome Him with waves of regal worship as this Lion King promenades through His victory. I hear the voice of Judah's Lion beckon for His rightful bride with a wave of His nail-pierced paw, and I hear Him lovingly purr "Come up with Me". I hear a blood bought lioness brought before her Worthy Bridegroom and prostrate herself in love and worship, and I hear this August Lion say "Well done thou good and faithful servant" to His bride.
I hear this Lion breathing, panting, speaking, and coming, shaking out God's glory from His massive mane and with all the armies of heaven His entourage. I hear the clarion call of this Holy Lion's Spirit commanding His pride "Awake from your sleep and arise! The battle is joined, run to it in My power Put aside your worthless toys and glorify My Name. Away from your shaded places of rest and pleasure and spoil the enemy's camp. Speak what I speak, walk as I walk, shout my name in the heavenlies, stay under the banner of my blood, and be filled with My Spirit. Count it an honor to give your very life for Me and My reward is with Me! I will avenge my enemies, and all who follow Me will share!!"
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
Rev.2:7 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
I hear the panicked sound of demons as they scurry to steal, kill, and destroy before they are bound. I hear the whole world preoccupied with this world as they neglect the world to come. I hear the cackles of Lucifer's legions as they mock God's people and their anemic commitment to the Savior Himself. I hear the satisfied groans of Satan as his massive deceptive shift from the unseen to the seen has produced results beyond his expectations. I hear the clinking of coins as believers lay treasures upon treasures on this earth. I hear the echoes of the empty prayer closets and the silence of the unturned pages of God's Word. I hear the constant sound of the last sands of the hourglass hitting the bottom but void of the bold prophets of God unashamedly calling us to prepared repentance? I hear the vows of men to men and women to women pledging their marital commitment to each other while I hear God's spouses breaking theirs. I hear the silent screams of unborn babies being murdered alive in their own mother's wombs while the sound of computer keyboards in the houses of God's people check their portfolios. I hear Israel's enemies gathering around her and the church calls no solemn assembly with prayer and fasting. I hear hell giggle as preachers tell stories and jokes and congregations leave feeling good about their situation without ever knowing what it means to be under the mighty Sword of God's Word. I hear 150,000 souls slip into a tormented eternity ever single day while we sleep on dry, careless pillows.
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
I hear a faint but growing, guttural, powerful roar in the distance as if coming from a magnificent, celestial Lion. It's permeating the atmosphere, connecting with the Spiritual ears of His pride, and sounding out a warning of impending doom to all His enemies. He has already marked His territory and the sound of His gigantic paws grows closer and closer. He started with a determined walk two thousand years ago, began to gain speed through the centuries, and He now runs with His fiery eyes fixed and with justice dripping from His tremendous jaws from which He will roar out His irresistible and powerful Word to the four corners of the Earth. I hear His enemies turn their heads in fear as they recognize the gathering storm in the distance is rapidly coming to fulfill the destruction which this Lion has promised to all who oppose Him. All will tremble, all will wonder, all will bow before Him on that great and terrible day. I hear the growing echo of "Behold He Comes" surrounding this Mighty Lion of Judah as He snorts great clouds of wrath from His nostrils!! His subjects prepare to welcome Him with waves of regal worship as this Lion King promenades through His victory. I hear the voice of Judah's Lion beckon for His rightful bride with a wave of His nail-pierced paw, and I hear Him lovingly purr "Come up with Me". I hear a blood bought lioness brought before her Worthy Bridegroom and prostrate herself in love and worship, and I hear this August Lion say "Well done thou good and faithful servant" to His bride.
I hear this Lion breathing, panting, speaking, and coming, shaking out God's glory from His massive mane and with all the armies of heaven His entourage. I hear the clarion call of this Holy Lion's Spirit commanding His pride "Awake from your sleep and arise! The battle is joined, run to it in My power Put aside your worthless toys and glorify My Name. Away from your shaded places of rest and pleasure and spoil the enemy's camp. Speak what I speak, walk as I walk, shout my name in the heavenlies, stay under the banner of my blood, and be filled with My Spirit. Count it an honor to give your very life for Me and My reward is with Me! I will avenge my enemies, and all who follow Me will share!!"
WHAT DO YOU HEAR???????????
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Was Jesus a failure?
Lk.7:23 - And blessed is he, whosoever shall not offended in Me.
He had prepared for His ministry all His life and for three and a half years He had covered the whole nation of Israel preaching His message. He had taught on such relevant topics as heaven, hell, cross bearing, angels, sacrifice, prayer, surrender, and the worthlessness of the things of this world compared with the Spiritual blessings from the Father. He performed many miracles and healed thousands. Over the course of His ministry He had gathered thousands of seekers only to see them turn away in response to some of His "hard" messages. He baptized no one, He built no buildings, He operated on a shoestring budget, and He showed no material signs that God's blessing was on Him.
So after three and a half years He had 120 followers, most of whom scattered when He was arrested, huddled in an insignificant upper room, and lead by a man who just a couple of weeks ago denied he even knew Jesus. Nobody would have scheduled Jesus to speak at a church growth conference; nobody would read any book He wrote on how to reach people; nobody would examine His strategies to attract seekers. In the genre of today's "success" measuring stick Jesus was a dismal failure.
Now these 120 nobodies could never impact the world for Jesus. No training, no education, no plan, no television, no money, no New Testament, no graphics, and soon the whole world would seek their lives which all but one of them would gladly give up. If the early followers of Jesus had just had enough sense to be relevant and non-offensive they could have avoided the burnings, the stonings, the crosses, the lions, and they could have been accepted by the unbelieving culture - like we are! You see, if only they had presented their message in an appealing and positive way more people would have been saved It's a shame they didn't have a Purpose Driven Pentecost.
Either Jesus was a failure...or we are.
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