“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
“A Church Triumphant”
Cries coming forth across the land today are resulting in the trumpets of God sounding out a signal for repentance. The Day of the Lord is come as God searches across creation for a people willing to hear His voice. In this search, humanity must recognize this crying out is the result of the anguish coming from a hungry, thirsty people. Why should a people know hunger and thirst except when these voices are speaking, as blowing trumpets, words of unstable and unproven religious activities come forth? Along with the corrupted arena’s existing within today’s society (political, economical, educational, etc.), this corruption has perverted the gospel of Christ until it has lost its power and been replaced with a form of godliness. Thus, we see the declarations of God having its fulfillment in this our season. Amos 8:11-12, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they (includes today’s visible church) shall wonder from sea to sea (carnal church to carnal church), and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it (looking in all the wrong places)”. These carnal churches are full of empty activities that are the results of rejecting God’s pure word as they follow the philosophies of carnal minded professional ministries. Man’s high ideas cannot become a replacement for that which God has stated.
With humanity living in this our season in God, what is it that God has stated for us? To this stated promise, humanity should pay special attention as spoken in Haggai 2:6-9, “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens (also heavens within man’s spirit), and the earth (self-willed man independent from God), and the sea (carnality), and the dry land (man without water – the Spirit of Christ); and I will shake all nations (carnal worldly churches), and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house (true church of God) with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver (redemption) is mine, and the gold (divine nature of God) is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house (God’s temple which is God dwelling in man) shall be greater than the former (temples of tents, wood, brick, and stone), saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts”. While many may be waiting and looking for another natural structure built in Jerusalem, God’s greater temple is not of stone built by man, but a dwelling place for God within the temple God alone builds, that is the temple made up of regenerated vessels coming forth in God’s likeness and image.
As darkness covers the earth, which is the results of man’s carnal mind without restraint, humanity finds they are losing all hope while living without any purpose. Thus, the mind-set that motivates the majority is one of; we might as well eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. Meanwhile, another trumpet is sounding, the voice of God through a matured ministry. Isa. 55:1-3, “Ho, every one that thirsteth (invitation is for the thirsty), come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk (spiritual gladness and nourishment) without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread (eating the carnal doctrines of man)? And you labor for that which satisfieth not (religious works of the flesh)? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (resurrected Christ nature from within). Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live (from a sin-nature to a Christ-nature); and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David”. (Read Acts 13:34). Know that God shall keep His promises, for that which He has purposed shall return unto Him completely fulfilled in each yielded vessel. (Read Isa. 55:1-13).
With darkness, covering the earth and gross darkness the people, the question that should be ask is why. In following the history of the children of Israel and by recognizing that God’s order is first the natural and then the spiritual, the natural types and signs given through Israel should speak to us, the called spiritual house, loud and clear. Isa. 1:2, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me”. “Rebelled” is the Hebrew word “PUSHA” with the meaning of “revolt, rebellion, sin against lawful authority, transgression”. Likewise, the church of today, God’s spiritual entity placed within the earth has also rebelled against Him. Scripture declares of a church that has a form of godliness, but denies the power of God. While the world does not need religious form, the cry coming forth from the world is a need for power to change. John writing to the church of the Laodicians sets the thermostat expected by God while this last day church finds itself falling far short. Rev. 3:15-16, “I know thy works (today’s church has a works driven theme while trying to please God with their fleshly works), that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth”. What is God looking for in those who call themselves Christians? We hear this word as written to all the seven churches of Asia Minor, “overcome and receive”.
As we look at the children of Israel, we continue to see the downward spiral they embarked upon in their rebellion against God’s pattern ways. God was rejecting Eli from being the High Priest during a time of Israel rejecting God, because Eli, without correction, allowed his sons to corrupt God’s intended way of worship and service. I Sam. 3:13, “For I have told him (Eli) that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he (Eli) restrained them not”. Iniquity as written in this verse speaks of “perverseness which is from a root word to be bent or crooked”. Where is a ministry that ministers the pure word of God? Does this verse point to those ministers who refuse to minister against the sins revealed in God’s Word as they preach a permissive doctrine that leads to spiritual perversion?
Consider those ministries who remaining in a state of disobedience and stubbornness, the ministries who remain stiff-necked in responding to pleasing the people instead of pleasing God? I Sam. 15:22-23 as God speaks to King Saul, “And Samuel said, hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath rejected thee from being king”. How many are practicing witchcraft and stubbornness in the church today? Much of today’s church, like these children of Israel, have lost the Ark of the Covenant, the piece of furniture that represents the power and presence of God within their midst. Among these churches, as they continue only in their form, their activities are without having or knowing God’s presence among them. In this, their form becomes but a realm of death, feeding a carnal minded people who depending upon entertainment to attract and satisfy them.
Even now, in the midst of darkness and gross darkness, God’s is speaking His promises. Unto those that receive these promises, certain events take place in bringing change to that individual. Isa. 59:19-20, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion (place of God’s manifesting glory in man), unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob (house of flesh), saith the Lord (remember Jacobs name was changed to Israel – a Prince with God – the spiritual house)”. This promised Redeemer has come into the hearts of all those who are receiving Him. In this reception of the Redeemer, the promise continues to restore until the fulfillment of all things in the continuous receiving vessel. Eph. 4:13, “Till we all come in the unit of the faith and of the knowledge (full and perfect knowledge) of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. The little word “in” from the above scripture is the word “EIS” which speaks of “a line that is drawn to meet another line, at a certain point”.
The raising up of a standard as spoken above concerning that which stands against the enemy, is the Christ who died on the cross to be resurrected before humanity as a living standard for all creation. With Jesus being the pattern Son, we can also include a remnant of people who shall fulfill the prayer prayed by Jesus and its fulfillment. John 17:5 & 22, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. … And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one”. A prayer of fulfillment by the Holy Spirit as the vessel stands in complete obedience to the progressive work of sanctification. This work is that which no man can accomplish within himself or in his own strength and power. Nay, but a work accomplished as the Holy Spirit, yielded unto, purifies the vessel unto God’s purpose. This purpose is a promise from God in reference to the restoration of David’s tabernacle. Acts 15:16, “After this (taking out a people for His name, His nature) I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up”.
David’s tabernacle was a tent erected on Mt. Zion wherein the Ark of the Covenant rested, a tent manifesting the Holy of Holies. In this tent, the glory of God rested as His presence filled the tent. This promised restoration is the temple of God, men who receive Christ within to become a manifesting tabernacle. This tabernacle shall retain the glory of God as they manifest that glory, the nature of God unto all creation. For this purpose, God is raising up His remnant first fruits wherein His glory, His presence dwells to manifest on the earth. Meanwhile, how is it that the world sees the church today? The testimony of the majority of the Christian community is a testimony of having a form of godliness while denying the power of the gospel of Christ. Because of this lack of godliness, the Christian community does not appeal too, is not appetizing or attractive where the world is concern. Most of the populace is declaring that there is no difference in the life of the so-called Christian, and how the non-Christian lives and acts. How can the fire of God that purifies, a God that saves, delivers, and heals be present when these Christians reject the Holy Spirit? A form of weariness rest upon the people because the religious arena preaches another gospel that is absent of God’s power.
A people restored are now sounding out a warning of change. Change, the results of a Holy Spirit filled people yielding to the unity of oneness in the nature of Christ. Change that roots out, pulls down, destroys, and throws down for the purpose of building up and planting God’s everlasting kingdom throughout creation. Ezek. 12:22-23, “Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel (Christian community), saying, the days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect (word) of every vision”. (Read Ezek 12:22-28).
Unto all receiving vessels who hear the words of God, they are to respond to them with this knowing, God’s word will not return to Him void or without fulfillment. The time of restoration in the midst great and gross darkness is now upon us. This restoration of God’s triumphant church shall affect all creation as God fulfills His promises to a full measure. Each promise fulfilled brings forth a full measure of fruit. Joel 2:18-19, “Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people (in Christ we are Abraham’s true seed, we are His land). Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto His people. Behold, I will send you corn (Jesus Christ the bread of life), and wine (gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit); and oil (the anointing of God’s presence), and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations” (Read Joel 2:23-27).
A triumphant church, a first fruits people, as the hand of God fulfills His word in that obedient people to restoration, a restoration concerning what manner and unto what expression? These shall know the fullness of joy concerning their salvation. Psalm 51:10-13, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (unforced obedience). Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee”.
This victorious church shall know and express the glory of God even more so than the early church. Col. 3:4, “When ye also appear (manifest) with Him in glory”. This triumphant church shall walk with God in the cool, the spirit of the day. Gen. 3:8a, “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool (spirit) of the day: …”. After six days or six thousand years, this man of Gods intended purpose is now coming forth. That is, a people created in His likeness and image. This people of the sixth day are even now crossing over into the spirit of God’s seventh day. The sixth day is closing out with God’s wrath beginning to come forth for the cleansing of the earth and a purifying of His people. This people are those who walk with God in the Spirit of complete restoration with but one sound. This is God’s day for His glorious church without spot or wrinkle with a triumphant sound, manifestation the nature of God from within His temple, which we are.
