Thursday, December 26, 2013

Apostolic Briefing I - Winter Edition, "The State of God's Union/Answers to Disunion"

A word about the season we are in. We must be alert about how this season is being celebrated. What is the primary reason why we as Believers are to celebrate what is commonly known as Christmas? In the economy of the Kingdom here are the facts which should govern our celebratory exercises. Firstly, according to pattern, man was formed by Creator from the dust of the earth. When Adam abdicated, the title deed to both his origin and territory of which God delegated him as ruler, went to the domain of the enemy. 

Since man was made from dust, the redeemer of mankind had to mirror the error in order to correct the disparity. God could not bring correction merely by having Jesus come straight from heaven. He had to come in the same fashion in which the person who abdicated was in at the time of abdication. Being born in human flesh (dust of the ground) qualified Jesus as the redeemer. What we commonly know as Christmas should of truth be celebrated as the Believer's thanksgiving. So, as you sojourn this season, be thankful for the manifold wisdom of God to provide a kinsman redeemer through Jesus! Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

THE STATE OF THE DISUNION

Prediction: 2 Timothy 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come..."
Believer's Position: Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having our loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness." Matthew 24:15 "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place..."

To refresh our memories, a brief is precise instructions that give essential information concerning the tenor of our times. By design the brief will not suggest explicit actions, but will encourage each ministerial gift to seek God's counsel on the manner of response that should be given to each point in each brief, 

As 2013 closes, a whole new set of changes stand to test the faithful and aggravate certain vital aspects of our church world, as we know it. This includes, but is not limited to, a direct application of some of the printed prophetic words given to men and women of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. There will be a great "falling away" in 2014.

The isolated incidences that plagued the Body of Christ last year will be pale considering the upcoming bold attacks that will be launched against the Body of Christ. Legislation is not just being bantered about merely to facilitate the next moves for the enemy of righteousness, it is designed to further attempt to impede the necessary functions of the Body of Christ in areas of instructions by our Chief Apostle, Jesus Christ!

There is a term that I want to explore with you. The term is semblance. In both kingdoms, semblance is vital to the success of the ventures of the Kingdom of God as well as the Kingdom of darkness. Semblance is "one that is like oneself." Note, this is not merely resemblance, but in all facets of being, the one produced is like the original. 1 John 4:17b "...so are we in this world."

Our challenge is not what is being produced in the world through sin, but ignorance of the purposes of God in our assignment. Is it possible that the reality is that most Ministers are ignorant of the mission of the Church? It appears that church services are being conducted to facilitate an ego building forum for insecure men and women. The procedural pattern of Ephesians 4 lays out the schematic for the existence and mission of the local congregation. An evaluative view of this passage explicitly states these dynamics for developing God's people. 

It must be understood that these facilitations and these only are requisites for spiritual operations and authority in the Body of Christ. The explicit statements of Ephesians 4 are "...working within Christ's Body, the Church, until we are all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ." (Message Bible) Additionally, from verses 12-13, Living Bible states "...to prepare God's people for works of service so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ." (New International Version)

It is an insult to the Spirit of Intelligence for us to read these verses and not comply with them in complete obedience. Now is the time of adherence. Now is the time of full implementation. Did you see the term maturity and unity in Ephesians 4? Unity will never be accomplished with immature thinking or behavior. The presumption is that a Word oriented group of Believers is a mature unit of the Body. With the lack of results that have evaded this present generation of the Body of Christ, it will appear that the awareness that since immaturity breeds separation and division of the Body, that sincere men and women in leadership would work to eradicate this menace to our assignment. Unity and serving are not optional possessions of the lives of Believers, they are essential and required for effective Kingdom living and service. 

All of the accomplishments above are achievable by the fully functioning of the Five Fold Ministry Gifts. They are causation to the entire process of maturity and activation of the congregations. They are pivotable for the "...working within Christ's Body, the Church, until we are all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ." (Message Bible). In light of these clarifications, there must be a re-evaluation of our understanding and commitment to the mission of the Five Fold Ministry. 

Please hear my heart on this, but in the past twenty years, the Five Fold Ministry Gifts appear to have operated as a renegade pose' and loose cannons. It appears that the claim to the title and privileges belonging to the office were more prevalent than knowing and doing the will of God for the fully functioning of His Body. In addition, the Five Fold was to mirror the excellence in government from the Heavens and shed light upon the malfunctioning and corrupt government by man in nations of the world. Have we accomplished that expectation? Are we willing to abandon all else and pursue heavenly goals and perspectives?

With respect to the statements above, 2 Corinthians 10:6 clarifies this point. "...and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." This leads to a very interesting twist. Rather than "as goes the world, so goes the church." Rather, we are products of the prophet words of Jesus, "...you are the light of the world, a city that is set upon the hill." So, as goes the Body of Christ, so goes the economy, the civil and governmental functions, and peace in our cities. Joy to the world, The Lord has come through His Body and He, through His Body, rules the world in truth and grace. Then heaven and nature sings, Glory to the new born King. 

Part Two of this brief will introduce and explain the term Semblance. 

Your feedback is essential. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts.

Remember THE INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT IN THE SON. There will be an Early Bird Special on Saturday, February 15, 2014. This is a special featuring Dr J's famous home made buttermilk biscuits. This speciality has been a standard gift to the early birds for several years now! You must be at Dr J's house between 10AM and 2PM in order to partake. In fact, due to the popularity of this feature, you must now sign up BEFORE Thursday, February 13, 2014. If your name is NOT on the list, you cannot be admitted because of the need that I have to rest for the next morning's Sunday School Class at the Hotel.

You must sign up by writing an email to Atpvad@aol.com and stating your intensions to attend. 

Sincerely In Him,

Dr. Earl D Johnson
Team Lead
According To Pattern Apostolic Team

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