How many sermons have you heard in your life? How many have you heard in the last year? How many were memorable? How many left an eternal mark inside of you adding to the very makeup of your being? Leonard Ravenhill said to his son,

“Be careful when you preach, because if you don’t have a word from God, you are not only wasting your hour but as many hours that are sitting in the pews.”

I have had the privilege to hear some of the greatest sermons ever preached. I also have been in meetings where I felt like life was being sucked out of me. I know that you know the feeling of the latter, and hopefully you have had the experience of the former. Leonard Ravenhill said,

“When was the last time you tip toed out of the sanctuary because you met God.” In Titus Paul said that the, “Word was made manifest through…preaching.”

A living word from the throne has that much power–it brings men face to face with Jesus. A word from heaven can sweep one up by the wind of the Spirit into the reforming gaze of God.

I have noticed a few things about these messages. I have noticed that they all seem to have some undeniable and inescapable qualities. After I noticed these things, I made a mental note to weigh each word that I am hearing by this Spiritual scale. I submit to you that this is a very good way to test the spirits. A solid factor in hearing God. A distinguishing marker to determine the origin of a preached word. Maybe this falls short, maybe it’s spot on.  I have seen it to help me.  So humbly I share it with you, to take a piece of paper and mark down how many times in a month that you hear these themes selected by your pastor. If you find them lacking, I suggest to sensitively share it with him so that he might take it back to God in prayer. There are 5 points. I believe the first is most important but the following four are not in order of importance.

1) Christ

Listen closely to note how much is Jesus the emphasis. Not just the historical Jesus, but the person. Notice how challenged you are to know Him more and how personally He is referred to. Note in your heart if you genuinely and undeniably see Jesus as the centerpiece.

2) The Cross

Are you challenged to take up your cross? Are you able to see the evidence of the cross in your life or lack there of? Note if the doorway into the resurrected life is proclaimed to your soul.

Have you a constant Spiritual remembrance of God’s suffering punctured into your heart? Does the preacher cause you to see the dripping blood of God?

Is there any encouragement to take up your cross in relation to one another? Is the cross the heart of all wisdom presented to you and the universal solution to the problem of man?

3)  How Does What Is Being Spoken To You Relate To Those in Chains?

In America we often forget that Paul told us to “remember those in chains.” Not just to pray for them but that the constant meditation upon the fact that our brothers are suffering throughout the world will affect the very fabric of our thinking. It is not an equal balance to weigh a prosperity message next the father who has just been ripped away from his children for the Gospel. I mean, how foolish would a man feel to stand before Richard Wurmbrand, who suffered 14 years in Romanian prisons for Jesus and tell him about his best life now? Or that there is a rich blessing of material things coming his way as he gazes from the floor with a bleeding back unable to walk from his last beating, shivering from eating only one slice of bread per week?

We need to remember those in chains when we speak. I am all for being provided for, but if the preaching doesn’t ring true for those in chains, we have forgotten them. If we are giving a revelation of Jesus to the inner man, it will ring to to all men. Not just a select portion of the world.

4) Conviction

Paul said that his words came with…”conviction.” Conviction is being convinced inwardly beyond intellectual reason. Conviction is the influence of the Holy Spirit on the soul. Conviction is the power to arrest a man not just about sin but about God. I am moved in the core of my being by words from another world entering into my soul. Prophets burn with this gift. Ravenhill said, “you want to meet a prophet? You probably want to see one but not hear one. Because he will leave blisters on your soul.” Though not all men will carry such a deepness of conviction there must be a sense that this man speaking to me has been with God. Some people describe honey and others dispense honey.

5) Incentives

What are the incentives that are being laid down in front of you? Is it something eternal? Is it a vision of eternity? Has the essence of eternal significance been injected into you? Is there a negative incentive rooted in eternity, that to disobey will have consequences? We cannot preach an emasculated word. It must carry the essence of a positive eternal incentive and a negative incentive as well or it will create a loose generation no matter how great their gifting, their calling or their power.   Without the fear of God, we will create an emasculated Christianity that cannot overcome the devil.

These things are very important to me. You may add some or disagree with some, but I feel that it is a crucial layout for weighing a word that is claiming to be from God. If we have failed in these areas, God will have mercy on us. And He will move in spite of us, but to have these qualities is a great indication that you are standing before a man that you can be assured has come forth from the counsel of the Most High.

Eric Gilmour is an Associate Editor for Voice of Revolution, overseeing Revival & Evangelism. Visit his website at agonypress.podbean.com

There has been a lot written about the key of David over the last decade. Jason Upton sings of its relation to intimacy. Bob Gladstone calls it: “The willingness to live or die in protest to the law of sin and of death.” These are fantastic descriptions to view, or to start to unravel the meaning of the key of David.

As you read over David’s life, one can find many keys I believe that unlock the secrets of David’s amazing life and testimony that rings throughout both written and unwritten history. But what is the “key” determining factor that caused such a statement to be eternally and irrevocably made as “The Key of David?” This is a complex mystery that I do not claim to have completely unearthed and hold all the answers to. I believe it does start with intimacy, which is the only door to unlocking a life with God, and the secret mysteries waiting to be discovered through such a life. And such a life reveals the strength and fortitude needed to live in protest to this age.

I feel that between the intimacy and the protest, David found something. And I believe that this discovery will shed more light upon the revelation and understanding into the meaning of the “Key of David.”

David was a young man that spent time in his father’s fields watching his sheep. In the external it seems insignificant. Even at a young age David was able to conquer time. It was not wasted. He took his role as a shepherd very seriously. I believe that he both enjoyed it and found it challenging.

Not much in Scripture is mentioned about the time he spent out there alone with his father’s sheep. In 1 Samuel 17 sits the massive story of David defeating Goliath. Suddenly in the trenches of the story David’s secret life is exposed even to the king of Israel. What David had been doing privately for years when no one was watching unexpectedly becomes the determining factor in the salvation of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.

David’s Vision

Goliath had been taunting the armies of Israel for forty days. Saul and his army were afraid and hid from Goliath behind the rocks. David was not in the army, but still tending to the flocks. His father had sent him to bring supplies to his brothers. This day he happened to arrive at the same moment that Goliath came out the same words he had before:

I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man the we may fight together. 1 Sam 17 :10 And David heard them. (v 23)

This is the morning that Goliath probably should’ve slept in. There is a difference in reaction when the same words are spoken, but their sound penetrates someone with the heart of God for His people.

David, I believe, arrives on the scene with his head and his hands up worshiping the Lord of host. His vision was on God. From this perspective he hears something. In order to even hear dribble that Goliath was trying to articulate, David had to look down just to see him. And, when all you have been doing is looking at God, Goliath doesn’t look that big. In fact in the shadow of the All Mighty, the giant is just a midget, even if he was nine feet tall.

Then David spoke to the men who were standing  by him, saying, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this  Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God? (v26)

I can imagine it went something like this: David says “Hey, what are you guys doing behind those rocks?” Then Goliath defies the armies and David hears him. David responds “WHAT! Who is this that dares to even fathom that in any way that he could ever speak such unthinkable things to army of the LIVING GOD?”

When everyone else is afraid and in hiding, I am sure that David’s bold proclamations caused quite a stir in the camp. David was saying “Who does this giant think that he is?” And everyone else, including David’s brothers were saying “Who does David think  he is?”

Everyone else was so afraid because instead of looking at God like David was, they were looking at themselves. And in comparison, they didn’t have much on Goliath.

The Lion and the Bear

As the repercussions of David’s bravery echoed through the camp it reached the ears of Saul.

David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.’ (vv 32-33)

Saul thought that David was just a kid trying to be brave. He was comparing David to Goliath, which in the natural he is massively under matched. If he was comparing Goliath to the God in David, seeing with spiritual eyes, then it is Goliath who would have been massively under matched!

But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion and a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went our after him and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them since he has taunted the armies of the living God… The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go and may the Lord be with you.’ (vv 34-37)

Even though David was a shepherd on the outside, on the inside, he was a warrior. “Wisdom” would have told David to cut his loses. This young man actually went out to rescue his father’s sheep from both lions and bears, and he lived to tell about it. He did not kill them from a distance with a sling, it says he grabbed them by their beards and struck them in their mouths.

In application for our own lives, this is a very important concept that can only be obtained through intimacy, only from having your vision on God day and night will beasts such as lions and bears become things to triumph and not things to fear. If we cannot defeat the lions and bears in our private lives then how will we overcome the giants that strike fear in the heart of our generation?

David’s Armor

Saul at this point heard David’s testimony and saw the warrior in David. However he was still looking at David the man and failed to realize the KEY to David’s strength.

Then Saul clothed with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ And David took them off. (vv 38-39)

Saul tried to clothe David with the best armor that the age had to offer. The problem was that David was not used to fighting with the weapons of the age. He was used to fighting with the weapons of the age to come.  Now that’s prophetic!  Saul’s armor did not fit on David because David already had his armor ON!

As stated in Apostolic Essence, David was used to fighting with the ways of God and not the ways of man. If David would have met Goliath on Goliath’s terms, he probably would have had a much more difficult time. The problem for Goliath is that he ignored David’s prophetic warning and tried to meet David on God’s terms. David would not have been so bravely enraged if it were not for the heart of God that beat within him.

He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch and his sling was in his hand and he approached the Philistine. (v 40)

The Sword and the Stone

What is a sword? It is a rock that is cut out by human hands. What did David choose to fight with? Five smooth stones from the brook. Often brooks and rivers can represent the presence of God. He chose a weapon to defeat the giant of his generation that was formed in God’s presence.

What is the significance of the stone? As previously mentioned, in the study Apostolic Essence, I illustrated how in Matthew 16, Jesus declares that revelation from heaven is the foundation stone for His Church. And then in the 2nd chapter of Daniel, a stone cut out without human hands strikes the statue that I believe represents the evil empire and scatters it like dust. That statue, that revelation from heaven then becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth.

I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to say that David, because of his secret life, was able to draw from God’s presence the revelation to defeat the giant and in doing so opened up an eternal door in heaven in which the kingdom of heaven invades and defeats the kingdoms of this world.

David was armed not with a sword, which is man’s way of doing things, but with a stone, which is revelation of God’s way of doing things. I believe this is the KEY OF DAVID. This is not the full unveiling of the matter but I know in my heart that this, on some level brings us closer into the discovery.

When Goliath saw David approaching, he mocked him. David was looking at heaven, the armies looked at Goliath, and Goliath looked at David in the flesh as if he were a little child.

The Philistine also said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.’ Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth,that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.’

David prophesied to Goliath that he was putting his strength in his weapons and not in God and that in itself would be his downfall. The prophetic word itself was a stone being slung into the mind of Goliath even before the actual rock hit him.

Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. (vv 44-51)

The Scripture specifically points out that David had no sword in his hand and thus he used Goliath’s own sword the cut the head off the giant. The wisdom of this age will end up cutting off its own head.

Just as in Daniel the stone destroys the statue, the idol, man’s way of doing things apart from God, the stone strikes Goliath and kills all that he represents. David versus Goliath is the apex of human reason versus divine revelation.

This released a generation from hiding behind the rock in fear of the giant. They rose up and defeated the army. David started a revolution. They saw someone with heaven in heart rise up in the moment and stand victorious. David may have not been crowned king in Jerusalem for another 13 years or so, but he was king in their hearts from that day forward.

Will the sound of your protest echo through the camp? Will you shepherd your time and defeat the lion and the bear in the dark so that you may stand in the hour of testing and plunge the stone of revelation into the head of the giant of our generation. Friend David was a forerunner for you. Jesus has empowered us through His Spirit to take the land for his kingdom. All of creation is groaning for another David, another son of God to be revealed and start a revolution! (Romans 8:19)

The Key of the King

Jesus makes the following statement in Revelation 3:7b in His letter to the church at Philadelphia:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no on will open…

When a king possesses a key it speaks of authority. Within his kingdom there are no doors he cannot enter, likewise, there are no doors that will be opened unless he permits it. David was the ultimate king in Israel and Jesus is saying that he is the one who holds the key, the secret, the authority, of the heart of David. Once again this is similar language to that in Matt 16:19.

With Jesus as our king there is no limitations in this age because we live in the age to come. His Word in our heart is the mountain that is filling the earth.

The other description of the Key of David in Scripture is in of Kingdom as well:

Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, when he opens no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open. (Isaiah 22:22)

What does it take to open and shut like this? This is in essence unlimited power. And if Jesus Himself lives in us through the Holy Spirit, then we too can be like David. I believe the secret is in the life that David lived before the gift of the Spirit. Therefore we have the ability not just to kill a giant, but to slayers of giants all across this world.

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Editor’s note: For a great message to listen to on this very subject, please check out

“Intimacy – Key of David” by Jerome Ocampo:

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What kind of church makes an apostolic statement that is genuine, authentic, sent of God, and changes the culture in which it resides? Where is such a statement being made? The goal of the apostolic church is not to be recognized as apostolic. The goal of the apostolic church is to be recognized as Jesus. This will be a church, a body operating in the fullness of His word.

This is not an in-depth calculation of the matter but more of a idea building exercise to challenge us to consider the apostolic in its intent within the body and the elements of its necessity for the revelation of the kingdom as it manifests through believers in the church to the creation.

“Apostle” Defined

Simplistically, apostle translated from Greek means “sent one.” This was a term used in the Roman empire for a general that was sent to change the culture of a conquered country to Roman.

The term seems to have been used because Jesus sent out His disciples out into the world to preach the kingdom. The calling in was for the purpose of the sending out:

And He went up on the mountain  and summoned the those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed the twelve, so that they could be with Him and He could send them out. Mark 3:13-14 emphasis mine.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Act 1:8

So we understand an apostle is one who is sent to preach the kingdom and in doing so the culture is attuned to that of the kingdom of heaven. I believe it safe to say in our consideration that an apostle is a culture changer.

We know from the Word and even from history the results of the apostles and apostolic ministry in the earth. There has always been a remnant of the apostolic call and gifts in the earth, but only recently has there been an increased desire for such a consideration to be apprehended by the faith.

As stated in an earlier post, same as the gifts, such as the apostolic and prophetic are being restored–and thus furthered in their fulfillment in the earth–there will be the attachment of naivety and misunderstanding concerning the elementary, and therefore secondary knowledge of the operation of the gift.

Apostolic Constitution

So we have the jury’s verdict in our persuit of the nature of the pure apostolic form that “Jesus saught.” We conclude that apostles are sent ones. Therefore something that is of an apostolic constitution is something sent of heaven.  I have included an excerpt from Apostolic Essence, a previous post that details this conclusion:

Matthew 16:13-23

Jesus asked His disciples who people said that He was (13-16). The response by the disciple was a natural one. They knew He was supernatural so they compared Him to other supernatural men. This sounds good, but their vision was still on men and not on God. They needed to lift their vision higher, so Jesus asked them the question again; “But who so you say that I am?”

Peter had his vision on God. He was not comparing Jesus to other men. Jesus was more than a man. He was God manifested in their midst, yet it still required the unveiling of a mystery to see this. Jesus was revealing in such a way to show that the unveiling of the mysteries of the kingdom come from God, and not from man. The vision must not be surface level, and must be a heavenly eternal vision. This is where, at this time, Peter had his sights. Therefore he could make the proclamation that this Man was the “Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is the same as saying; “Here is God!” This is monumentous; this is perplexing; this is a clarion call sounding throughout the earth: creation acknowledging and returning in faith & revelation to its creator. Here is the announcement to the heavens and the earth, the creation and the universe HERE IS GOD! (This revelation should be present within us everywhere we go, if indeed we are The Church.)

Do you realize what it took for Peter to speak that out (17)? What it took for Peter to confess that? Peter who was a Jew in a nation where all men where looking for this? This was risky; to look at this man, Jesus, as the Son of God. Yet all the others missed it. God was staring them in the face, but because they were looking at the appearance of a man, they missed the revelation needed to understand that this was the appearance of God.

Thus you have the revelation of two paradigms: the vision of God and the vision of man. This is the core of the issue in determining that which it in initiation is defined as; the way of God or the way of man. This is precisely why Jesus came, to save us from our own way and to show us His. Ours is influenced by the devil, and it is the way to death. His way is influenced by the Holy Spirit, and is the way to life. The very first thing to understand in the church is that Jesus is Lord, and from this revelation, we must build the church in the Spirit, by further revelation from Him, and not try to build it ourselves.

The revelation that is sent of heaven is the fabric for the church that Jesus is building through His people in the earth. I fathom that it is safe to reason that a church that is functioning or living this way is apostolic indeed.

Apostolic Function

We have now somewhat developed an idea for the terms apostles and apostolic. With that we can now proceed with the determination of how they would look and function in the church today.

One of the demarcations of an apostle in Scripture is the signs of an apostle.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 2 Cor 12:12

For a church to be apostolic and for her apostles to be true, the signs will be present. And in the case of the apostolic, the supernartural in essence is a part of their very being. Down in the core of who they are beats the sounds of the heart of heaven. They burn for the heavenly realities to not only be revealed, but also overtake the earthly ones. This is the culturization of the earth with the kingdom of heaven. The fact that they are heavenly makes them different, makes them real. Their buisness card is the exercised demon and the healed body. I understand that all who walk in these gifts are not apostles and even in an apostolic work, however, according to Paul, true apostles absolutely live this out as part of their function and existence.

The road is beginning to take route. With somewhat of a foundation laid for us to now ponder apostolic considerations. What–in context of Scripture in accordance with the plans of God in the Spirit in our generation and times–is the apostolic influence within the body as it matures into fullness?

Apostolic Words

Some food for thought of how to go about considering the apostolic:  we can preface words or ideas, even things God has shown us to derive their meaning and influence within the apostolic matrix. Some examples: apostolic fellowship; apostolic church; apostolic foundations; apostolic origins; apostolic function; apostolic expression; apostolic anointing; apostolic generations; apostolic lifestyle.

The list could go on and on, but do you see how the dynamic of the word changes when considering it in an apostolic light? Each one could be a study in and of itself.

Apostolic Journey

This is where I am presently at in my own journey into the knowledge of the apostolic.

What is the apostolic? Our hearts pound for the truth. I don’t just want to be apostolic or prophetic. I want the Father’s intention for those gifts to spring the life in my heart they are designed to edify and equip me and us with. They are not the goal; Jesus is. And He gave us gifts to enable us to reach fullness in Him.

I have been on a ten year quest to be purged deeper with meaning of the matter from my relationship with the Lord only to find out that the answers come in the form of the purging experience of life itself. I do feel I am more acclimated with the subject and I am eager to share the glimpses I have seen.

Apostolic Galaxy

One thing that I have come to realize is that in the exploration of a galaxy, the understanding of a planet is necessary in the understanding of the galaxy.  However, the planet alone does not describe the galaxy. I feel this where we are in the consideration of the apostolic, which why I am eager to encourage the body of Christ to search out and identify the encapsulation of its meaning.

So, for an encapsulation of the apostolic on my part, ask me again in 10 years and maybe you will get a more profound paragraph with fewer words and more impact. I hope to encounter other explorers of this apostolic galaxy, ones who have visited planets I have yet to hear of, and show me things I have yet to see. And as the fellowship of revelations comes together, a picture will be painted for the next generation to follow and believe.

Faith is a vast exploration, the validation of life and existence. There is more of God every second of every day. Consider the sand and the stars, countless as they are, they are not but one breath, one thought of His majestic glory. O that we may see and gain wisdom into His majesty. All life comes from Him. In its most basic description, the apostolic is something sent, borne in His bosom, created, original, awesome and glorious. This is the place we must reside. The exploration of Him is far more grand than that of galaxies and His gifts to us are grand and majestic; gifts given to make us more like Jesus.

I think this is a safe angle from which we can glean, grow and discover the meaning of the apostolic. This has been a conglomeration of thoughts that I hope you were able to follow. Volumes could and are being written on the matter but I hope we can surf the wave coming out of God’s heart that reveals the apostolic.

More Articles on the Apostolic

Apostolic Essence David Edwards

True and False Apostles Bryan Purtle

Changing the Culture through the Apostolic Greg Tankersley

Reclaiming Genuine Apostolic Anointing J. Lee Grady

Are Apostles for Today? (Podcast) Bryan Purtle and Steve Bremner
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“And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back. And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” 1 Kings 13:20-22

This is a passage that confuses many of us, and in all honesty, for a long time I couldn’t honestly admit I understood its implications or what exactly was supposed to be conveyed here. We read in 1 Kings 13, the story of a prophet sent by the Lord to speak a harsh word of judgment against the backslidden kingdom of Judah. Oh how mightily this young man operated! He was clearly not a novice to the ministry!

The prophet went to Bethel, and he challenged King Jeroboam of Judah, delivered a word that came to pass generations after this concerning Josiah’s reforms to the nation, and proclaimed judgment on the current king. The moment Jeroboam tried to seize him, his hand was withered, and the prophet mercifully entreated the Lord, and healed him. When the king sought to reward him and offered him a meal, the man refused and resisted, while repeating what the Lord had commanded him to do. This prophet was unflinching in his focus to only do as the Lord commanded him, and refused to have any communion with wicked idolaters. No doubt this would cause him either persecution or at the very least, inconvenience.

Too bad the story doesn’t end here on a good note, as we continue reading.  The narrative changes focus and zeros in on this “old prophet” who lived in Bethel.It’s observable that the Lord did not use this old prophet to speak to the king. In fact, it’s clear he was unworthy of being used mightily of the Lord for the purpose of which the Lord had to send this other young prophet who still had character issues to be worked out.

This old prophet’s sons came and told him about what the other young prophet had done—such as the predictions he offered and the healing power he operated in. Why the sons of ‘the prophet’ were at the king’s sacrifices is pure speculation—it could have been as spectators, or maybe as participants. When the old man rode his donkey to the place the young prophet was found, it should be noted the young man was sitting under an oak tree—likely fatigued since he was fasting and had been on a long journey as well, and probably in his physical weakness he was more vulnerable, and impressionable. The old prophet not only invited him to his house like the king had done, but deceived the man and said the Lord told him it was alright:

And he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” And he said, “I may not return with you, or go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’” And he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. So he went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.

At first, the man told the older prophet the same thing as he said to the king, only this time, a man who is supposed to be seasoned in the ministry of the prophetic—or at least wears the title–told him “no no, the Lord told me to tell you…” which is a common form of manipulation in the Body of Christ. The older prophet used the ‘God card” and coerced the young man into obedience.  Each and every one of us will at some point face people we should be able to trust, but will throw the ‘God card’ at us in order to manipulate us to do their desires.Not only that, but the old man said an angel of the Lord spoke to him. The young prophet probably didn’t think he could argue that! But verse 18 indicates the old man was lying. In fact, it might be possible that the man did hear from an angel—an angel of darkness seeking to discredit the young prophet’s ministry and destroy him early in his ministry, and the old man–for whatever reason–was open game to it.  Who knows conclusively, but false prophets have always been among the worst enemies of true prophets.

If you’re like most evangelical Christians who don’t believe in the gifts of the Spirit, you’ve probably rejected the possibility men in sin could prophesy accurately–if you’re one that believes we can at all. But this passage shows otherwise. In verse 20 the man who brought the young prophet back, at the dinner table stood up and told him:

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.‘”

Isn’t that interesting?! The deceiving prophet proclaimed a word from the Lord, and it came to pass!  And not only that, he had a word of knowledge about what the Lord told the young prophet.  If you’re a good charismatic, you’ve been told that you can’t prophesy anything accurately if you’re living in sin, so get the sin out. Which is true—clean up your life!   When reading this passage, notice the young prophet just gets up from the table and goes on his way. If someone just prophesied to me that I disobeyed God and would be killed for it, I’m sure I’d be more concerned than that!  Maybe the writer of this passage is simply omitting other details, and forgot to write “and he left trembling in fear uncontrollably” but the text doesn’t specify or go into more detail than we have here.

Obey Your Leaders Without Question?

Sometimes the hardest people we must refuse to be persuaded by are those who are ‘mature leaders’ or spiritual pioneers in our lives.  Though it is important to be submissive to our leaders, and trust those who’ve gone before us in the Lord, they’re capable of being wrong! Not only that, they’re capable of being in sin or deceived. Recent headline news of scandals and leaders falling from grace make that abundantly clear.  It is very easy to fall for what leaders and people we look up to in our lives tell us.  It’s easy to fear contradicting people we should trust, and just believe what we’re told and not ruffle any feathers or disappoint anyone we respect when we develop an understanding or convictions of our own.

I’ve been in situations before that will remain vague due to the fact I don’t know who may read this.  I’ve run with a few different Christian circles the following applies to, so people may read this and believe I’m talking about them.  I am, and I’m not.  I’ve been told more than once in my life  I was in rebellion to certain people or persons when I stepped out and obeyed and did what the Lord told me to do–or didn’t do someone else’s wishes because I could not in good conscience before the Lord. In situations like these it’s very easy to be persuaded by the people who have gone before us or who wear spiritual titles because we trust they know better and are out for our best interests.

It’s easy to stand tall in a wicked society that rejects God, but it’s even harder to do so in the midst of a compromised Church. It’s not so easy to resist people when they cast doubt on if we really heard the Lord or not, because they throw out the “God told me” card—implying WE haven’t heard the Lord for ourselves if we contradict what the Lord allegedly told them. While I don’t judge the hearts or intentions of any of those people I’ve mentioned, it bears noting that just because people older and mature in the Lord advise us to do or not do something does not guarantee they’re hearing from–or have heard from–the Lord.  They could be old useless prophets who’ve missed their calling and are encamped at Bethel, instead of having moved on, and are just jealous and envious that you are willing to step out and be used mightily in ways they are missing out on.

It’s a strong possibility.  I’ve been told a few times in my life–by people who sincerely believe this no doubt!–that “when you have authority over you and they tell you not to do something, even if it’s wrong, God will judge them and you’ll be protected so long as you stay under their authority”.  Supposedly, even if they’re wrong, YOU won’t be affected by the judgment or consequence that falls on them.  Is such a notion even Biblical, or true in history?  What of the Nazi soldiers who committed unspeakable atrocities to Jews, and used as their defense “I was just following orders.” They did not avoid consequence for their actions and faced the death penalty and life sentences for their crimes.

We see in passages like this that such “covering” and “protection” teachings are not true–even though a young man listened to someone else more seasoned in the Lord tell them “God told me to tell you to do this“, that there was still grave consequences for not obeying the direct word from the Lord he was initially given.  I know many believers who sincerely believe God will judge you if you disobey the orders of a so-called apostle or prophet–especially the former–because in the way God has set up his ‘church government’ that you venture into unsafe territory if you leave your ‘covering’ of your pastor or apostolic ministry.

But the thing is, as we see in this passage, it’s even more unsafe if you disobey the Lord–even while listening to a so-called leader or more experienced minister. 

Who are you going to listen to?

Walking in Wisdom and the Spirit, and The Mystery of Christ and the  Church

II. The Mystery of Christ and the Church

1.   22-24 Wives were created to be subject to their husbands just as the church was created to be subject to Christ. This is not bondage, this is liberty. This is the place where the wife is in her realm. She is free, doing what she was created to do, helping and strengthening her husband.[6]

2.   25; 28, 29 Husbands must not take advantage of this and lord over his wife his position. He must love her and serve her. What wife, who is loved, will not joyfully subject herself to her husband? He must put her first in everything, just as Christ put the His bride (us) first, even in death and life. This is the husband laying his life down for her, daily putting her before him. He must nourish her, giving her all the physical, intimate, mental, and spiritual food that she needs. He must cherish her. She is a gift, not a toy or a slave, etc…

3. 25-32 Christ and the Church

a. Christ treated us like His own wife.   He died in our place, so we could live. He cleansed us of our sin, washing us in His blood, so we would be a virgin on our wedding day. This is also why Paul told us earlier to stay away from things that make us filthy. Jesus does not want a filthy bride. He meets us in that state and removes from us the filthiness and makes us ready in the Spirit for the wedding day. So we must walk this out. We have a wedding to attend and we must be ready for it. When husbands love their wives, they will respect and love him back. She will obey him because she is loved. Christ loves us and gives us life, so we will freely love Him back. We are not forced to obey, He wants lovers, not robots. We are free and compelled to obey all that He commands of us, because we love to be loved by Him.

b. When we are married, we leave our parents to become joined with another. We are joined to that person, and in intimacy[7] there is no distinction. We become one entity-connected.[8] Christ left His Father to be joined with us, His bride. He created a bride for Himself who would love Him because He nourishes and cherishes, and laid His life down for Her. He longs to fill us with Himself, as the marriage illustrates. Remember we are His dwelling, and we are filled with His Spirit.[9]

c. This is supernatural, not natural.[10] Being intimate with God means getting out of bed with the world. We are married and joined to Him and Him alone. This is total freedom. An authentic mature church is one that is married to God and subject to Him in everything. This is a great mystery and I am not attempting to complete an explanation here, just providing revelatory insight into the understanding of the context.

d. 33 We must have properly loving marriages and families that make up the church. They must be string if the church is going to be strong. Paul starts the next chapter with emphasis on this. Only when we understand the relationship between Christ and the church can we properly relate to each other as husband and wife, and as a family.

[2] vv 4:1

[3] vv 4:3

[4] see 39

[5] vv 4:13

[6] With so much feminism and “equality” in today’s western culture, this is being fought and even being taught from an incorrect “Biblical” standpoint. Men and women are equal as far as it comes to their relationship to God. However, they were created to fulfill different roles. These roles may change at different times and vary from person to person, but there is still a divinely created order that they generally operate in. For women to do and be what she was created to be is total freedom for her. If she steps out of these roles and tries to do what a man is created to do, she is actually straying into bondage. (I am speaking of general life and family function of having peace in your place. Yes God can raise up females to do seemingly manly things as He sees fit, and as a need may arise, especially if a man is not present nor able to act in the call. This is a response to a culture that says women have to equalize themselves with men.)

[7] (a reflection of the spirit)

[8] This is why adultery and lust is so bad.  In a sense, we break the connection (and covenant) we have with our lover and join to another.

[9] I am not saying the Holy Spirit is a man’s seed. Earthly marriage according to the text reflects the spiritual between God and men. I am simply expounding on being joined to, and “one” with God (vv31-32).

[10] You must be mature to understand this and not be of a gross mindset.

Links for the individual articles are below. Click here for the entire study.

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places

Ephesians 5a – Living in the Light

1. 1-2 As we grow, we imitate Christ, and walk as He walked, in love. When we imitate Him, we become more like Him, and less like the world. This will mean the more like Him we will become. We will live more pure and sin less. Sin is a stench in the nostrils of God. And when we are living like Him and imitating Him, we will be a fragrant aroma.

2. 3-5 We learned in the previous verse what a fragrant aroma is, and now we have a description of what it is not. We adhere to the highest standards, not because we are religious, but because we love God so much, that we do not want to sin.

a.   4 – These seem like little insignificant things that do not matter much.  However, their presence can be just enough to hinder our relationship with the Father that we miss the greater opportunity in the Spirit, or it may keep us from growing in and flowing in our gifts. Song of Solomon 2:15 states “The little foxes are ruining the vineyards.” They may not appear to do much damage, but in harvest time, the fruit of our lives could be half eaten away, just because we tolerated a little joke here and silly talk there. We must examine every aspect of our lives and lay it all on the altar, if we want to reach all the fullness that God has for us in this lifetime.

1. 5 – In verse 1:11, we read of our inheritance in the Spirit, in Christ. Here we have the contrast of that which describes those who do not receive an inheritance. We have been raised up and seated with Christ (2:6), and there is a requirement on our part to walk out that position and inheritance as we grow in Christ. God does take us from where we are at (2:1-5), and gives us spiritual life. This life in the Spirit is the power to overcome sin and live according to that very Spirit. If you live the way as described in this verse, you have not an inheritance. God saw us in our sinful state, separated from Him and gave His life to restore us to our proper place (2:1-6). When we return to that state, we forsake our inheritance. God will always accept us back, but we must be growing into His image. “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live.” (Romans 6:13)

3. 6-14 Into the Light – Christ Shines

a.  6-7 Empty words are boasts of things which someone may proclaim, but does not walk in. “For I will come to you soon… and shall find out not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.” (1 Cor 4:19-20) Paul, when writing to Timothy, describes men like this, that they “[hold] to a form of godliness, but have denied its power.” (2 Tim 3:5)

1. 8-11 If we walk the way we used to walk, then we are walking away from our inheritance, away from our heavenly position, and back into darkness. This is walking away from the light, not toward it. We are ministers of light, not ministers of darkness. We are ministers of life, not ministers of death. We are always fleeing darkness, and pursuing light. Pleasing Him, not doing what does not.
2. c. 11-14 What is done in darkness is shameful and unfruitful. What is done in light produces fruit (9). We as the church expose what happens in darkness, shinning the light of Christ there. How can we do that if we live there or have occasional visits? These things of darkness are of satan, and we should not even mention them. We expose it and bring the light of Christ there. In darkness, there is death, but the light of Christ will make the darkness visible, and transform the death into life. You cannot see without light. The world is in darkness and we must shine the light.
   1. i. Much of the church either lives there, in the dark, or somewhere in between. They have a little light here and a little darkness there.[1] The church, the body of Christ must awake from this death. Christ shines in us and we must shine to the world.
   2. ii. 14 This verse fits here and also in context to everything that we have studied in Ephesians up to this point. The church must wake up to these things and embrace the mystery of who she really is, and the power that she really possesses in the heavenly places. Only when there is an authentic church, awake, walking in the fullness of Christ, will the world see the truth of the gospel-Jesus Christ is Lord!
   3. iii. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden: nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:14-17)

Links for the individual articles are below. Click here for the entire study.

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places

Reading Philippians this morning, one thing Paul says really jumped out at me.  “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus” (2:21).

So, what are the interests of Christ Jesus?  The context explains clearly. His interests are people.  God’s burning concern, and the concern of His imprisoned apostle, is the well-being of His family – both as individuals and as a community.  Read the whole chapter carefully.  It’s all about people getting along, caring for each other more than themselves, serving the purposes of the gospel.

Paul’s spirituality was not some abstract mysticism.  It was essentially people.  For him, the second great commandment was the natural outflow of the first.

Notice how he exhorts a somewhat divided church to take Christ’s attitude and example.  Philippians 2, one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture, sets them forth for us:  Jesus did not insist on His own greatness.  Rather, He emptied Himself of His inherent, heavenly status and lowered Himself to the place of total abasement.  All of this, for people.

Jesus Christ did not become a slave and die to establish Christian religion.  He did not suffer affliction for buildings and ministry programs.  He did not submit to shame and torture to exalt celebrity-styled ministries. Jesus died for people! He died to create born again, whole, supernatural individuals who together make up the family He always dreamed of.

Paul pleaded with the Philippians to have this same attitude toward one another.  How can we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” in any other way but to pour our lives out for those around us?  Paul told them, in so many words, “I gave my whole life away.  I have given up my own dreams and ambitions (Phil 3).  I suffer immensely even in prison… all for you to prosper in Christ.  And, greatest of ironies, in this do I find my own deepest joy!  In fact, I’m sharing this joy of mine with you so you will have it!  Would you do the same for one another?  This would make my joy complete, and yours too!”

Paul bemoaned the lack of ministers in his day that had this kind of attitude.  “They seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.”  There were few gospel ministers he could entrust with the care of his churches.  Too many wanted to use the churches for their own well-being, rather than to be used for the churches’ well-being.

It’s sadly similar today.  We live in a culture – including a religious culture – that promotes individualism and self-centered happiness as the goal of life.  But God calls us to break the mold.  Let’s embrace Christ’s interests.  Let’s lay our lives down for people.  Let’s make it our ambition to use our time, energy, and gifts to make the lives of those around us better in Christ.

That is Christ’s own heart and happiness – people, the Family of God.  Listen again to the words of the great hymn…

“Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.”

Bob Gladstone is director, and professor of practical theology at the FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina.  To visit his blog go to HeavenRules.org.

To hear messages of his at last year’s Fire For Life Summer School, in the Netherlands, click on this link.

Ephesians 4b-Learning to Walk in a Mature Manner

1. 1. 4:17-24 Walking in Maturity 1 – What Goes In
   a. In context with verse 15, which stated that we grow up in all aspects, I believe this next section deals with some aspects that can hinder our growth if we do not deal with them and grow out of them. What goes in: Verses 17-24 deal with things that we allow into our lives, minds, and spirits, that influence us. I title the next section, vv 25-32, What Comes Out. This pertains to how we influence, act, speak; essentially our character. The order is significant because what we allow in will affect what comes out. These things that we must grow out of are childish; so the next point is going to be about putting aside childish things.

   b. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12[1] - We individually and corporately are presented with a revelation of Jesus Christ the more we grow and the closer we get to the return of Christ, the more clear that revelation becomes. The ministry gifts and the spiritual gifts are given so that all the pieces (the partial) may come together to give us a greater and greater revelation of Jesus until we see Him fully revealed and face to face (12). The knowledge of Him will increase until we know Him fully just as He has fully known us. These gifts are given until Christ is full unveiled in glory. When this happens, we will not need the partial (gifts) that bring revelation of Jesus because we are in His presence. Love will remain, so we need that hear because that is the greatest revelation of Jesus to any one and when we are looking Him in the face[2], the gifts will no longer be needed, but until then, we need all the revelations that He gives us of Himself so we can be like Him, (but not neglecting to love).

   1. c. 4:17-19 Getting closer to and growing up in Jesus means putting away things we got away with when we were spiritual babies. And we are still doing them; we will grow by putting them aside. Gentiles, here, refers to unbelievers since most of them were possibly gentiles. He is referring to a way of living which he is about to describe rather than a race of people.
   2. 4:20-24 These childish and worldly things are not characteristic of Christ.  We came to Him in His perfection and in our weakness. We grow by turning that weakness into strength (Eph 3:16). The darkness is driven away the closer we get to the light of Jesus. We should not try to remain as we were before we met Christ. 22 – We lay that old self down renewing our minds[3], and putting on the new self in Christ. We are walking toward fullness and not continuing in sin[4].

2. 4:25-32 Walking in Maturity 2 – What Comes Out

1. a. 4:25 We must be real with each other speaking the truth in love. Remember if we hurt another member of the Body we are actually hurting ourselves. We are also hurting the body as a whole.
2. b. 4:26 We will be angry and that is not wrong. There will be disagreements within the body. This is our family and we should lovingly resolve our problems.
3. c. 4:27 When we get mad and gossip or let bitterness build up, we are giving satan a foothold, room for deceit and division. Not letting the sun go sown may mean dealing with the problem quickly and no letting it settle in our hearts. 
4. d. 4:28-29 The Body is the source and we must help all with all their needs. Our words have power. They affect all who hear them; us, people, God. We need to bless and lift up. We need to not sin when we are angry by saying something that we will regret. If we want our words to have power when we speak then we need to watch what we say!
5. e. 4:30 All these things we do and say can hinder us in our ministry. They grieve the Holy Spirit. If He strengthens our inner-man, and we grieve Him, then we are weakening our inner-man. Growth is giving place to the Spirit in all things. Our life is not our own it belongs to God. He leads us and guides us as sons. Let us not act like bastards. Embrace His presence in our lives and He will lead us away form these things. If we resist Him in this then there will be resistance in our ministry. For growth inside and out, we must not grieve the Holy Spirit.
6. f. 4:31-32 All of these things divide, but we must seek the unity of the Spirit in the Body. We must be forgiving in all things. Authentic church consists of authentic believers who are not false with one another, but they are real with each other, and are able to forgive because they love each other.

[2] When you’re face to face, the picture is not needed, but until then the picture will be of great comfort.

[3] Cross ref Romans 12:1-2.

[4] Holiness is not perfection, but the pursuit thereof. We are not perfect, but we can be perfect (Matt 5:48), as He is perfect (He being the key). We should be walking away from sin and towards the Lord.

Links for the individual articles are below. Click here for the entire study.

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places