“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
www.avoiceforthegatheringsaints.org
“Honesty Opens the Door to Heaven”
A time has come, a time when the Christian community is to know its time of judgment. For is it not within the church itself where God’s judgment begins? Therefore, a need for honesty is upon the church. This speaks of a time when the Christian community must consider their stand as to their spiritual condition. This also points us to a much-needed change that is to take place for the purpose of, not only entering into God’s promises, but also becoming the manifestation of said promises. In knowing, seeing and becoming these promises, a needed position, to stand up and manifest is necessary. Where is the kingdom of God, which Jesus speaks of, and what is its purpose?
Luke 17:20-21, “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees [the law keepers of today – these oppose God’s grace as made possible only by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross] when the kingdom of God [His dwelling place on earth] should come, He answered them and said, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation [hostile watching]: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo there! For behold the kingdom of God is within you [speaking of that which was available to them but they refused in their hostility towards the change that become necessary – from law to mercy and grace].”
There remains, as the day of manifesting God’s kingdom is approaching and even now is upon us, a like kind hostility expressed through these modern day Pharisees that still exist in today’s church. With most of the Christian community still living under the law of sin and death, the self-realm, hostility continues to oppose that which Christ has made available. This hostility expresses itself in a stubborn disregard to God’s Word when it opposes their legalistic religion, anything that reveals the need for spiritual change. In this need, changing from legalism to spirituality in Christ, let us consider Jesus’ example of how to pray. Matt. 6:9-11, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which are in heaven [the Fathers dwelling place], hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come [a kingdom made available to those willing to receive], thy will [desire] be done in earth [man’s dwelling place or life-style because of receiving and becoming God’s dwelling place and life-style], as it is in heaven.”
The above verses express God’s desire to dwell within His creation and to manifest Himself through His new creation people. In this example of how to pray, Jesus reveals God’s purpose for creation, which is to have for Himself a creation in which to dwell. Therefore, within the kingdom of God that dwells within the vessel, a throne room is also present. This throne room is likewise an established place within, where God’s delegated authority is established. This throne room is the place of His authority where He rules and reigns through His people. With the book of Revelation inspired and written by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John, only by spiritual revelation as quickened by the same Holy Spirit can man understand and manifest unto its fullness. Rev. 4:2 declares, “And immediately I was in the Spirit [by the power of the Spirit]: and behold, a throne was set in heaven [also the heavens within receiving man], and One sat on the throne [denotes the extended motion downward from heaven to earth – the man].”
Herein, by the Spirit, we behold the journey of man into the fullness of Christ. It also reveals a seeing of Christ as He is, making Him Lord of our life. 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear [bring to light, make manifest] what we shall be: but we know [by experience become acquainted with] that, when [expresses a hypothetical but possible condition] He shall appear [make manifest when brought to light], we shall be like Him; for we shall see [that presented and perceived at the same time] Him as He is.” Remember, in Christ we sit with Him in the heavenlies. Eph. 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places [heavenly spheres and understandings] in Christ Jesus [remaining in Him as the whole man is transformed by the renewing of the mind].” Herein, a purified people can and are putting on the righteousness of God and manifesting His delegated authority.
Let us take advantage of the types and shadows established by God to reveal and uncover truths now being revealed. These same truths speak loudly to the Christian community of today with much of the same results, a rejection. However, unto those who hear and receive, they can become a part of the salvation of our Lord. Num. 33:50-53 & 55-56 describes the necessary transition from the order of law (Moses) to the order of Joshua (pointing to salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice and the grace received in taking up the cross daily). “And the Lord spoke unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when you are passed over Jordan [in Jesus Christ we cross over this river of the order of death] into the land of Canaan [our promised land – our body and it’s make-up]; Then you shall drive out [participate in Christ’ sanctifying process, the sword and fire of God’s Word] all the inhabitants of the land from before you [with God’s people being the promise land for His dwelling place, that which occupies our make-up from the sin nature must be driven out], and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places [sin nature worship]: And you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land [from people groups and individual bodies] and dwell therein: for I have given you the land [defeating the sin nature make-up] to possess it.” God’s promise and purpose is a people who become the habitation of God as they take the land through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ.
In the modern day church, just who are the inhabitants that live in the land? These inhabitants are the residue that continues to live and rule over our promise land, our body, which is the attributes manifesting from man’s carnal mind and his fallen nature. These inhabitants manifest through modern day life-styles, mind-sets, philosophies, carnal traditions, and the religious rituals and worship of modern day idols. Do these not point to a modern day society that influences most of the population’s way of thinking? Note the word of God concerning these last days. 1 Tim. 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits [deceivers], and doctrines [teachings] of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Rev. 18:2, “And he cried mighty with a strong voice saying, Babylon [modern day religion] the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every foul spirit [unclean], and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”
Lest we forget God’s intention and purpose, let us hear again the prayer of Jesus as He finished His earthly ministry and makes it possible for a new creation people to appear. John 17:5 & 22-23, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own Self with the glory which I had with you 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: I in them, and Thou in Me that they may be made perfected in one and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me [A birthing of the first-fruit ministry, the man-child, to reveal Christ to the world].”
It would be well for us to notice the word of caution God speaks to His people of promise. Num. 33:55-56, “But if you will not drive out [also applies to today’s Christian community] the inhabitants of the land [people groups and individual bodies] from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain [this the modern day church has allowed and even invited them to dwell and teach among them] of them shall be pricks in your eyes [become spiritually blind], and thorns in your sides, and vex you in the land wherein you dwell. Moreover, it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.” (read Deut. 13:1-18).
What condition does the Christian community find itself in today? Here honesty must be considered and expressed before God. Can we not observe a condition that finds itself absent from the powerhouse promises of God? Its beginning on the Day of Pentecost enabled the church to take the land available to them. These first-church saints, in obedience to God’s command, waited for the promised Holy Spirit, the enabler going before them to take the land. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power [the power of reproducing itself], after that the Holy Ghost is come upon [denotes the extended motion downwards from heaven to earth] you: and you shall be witnesses [a bearing witness manifesting that which has been received] unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth [this coming of the Spirit within is to now consume the whole of the earth, including the whole of man].”
However, evidence shows that unto many from the Christian community, they have dismissed the presence of the Holy Spirit from their rituals with many believing there is no need for such in this modern day thinking church. In this, we must consider the condition of the earth, first, the individual Christian, then the church, and then the world in general. Even as promised to the Israelites and now to the church, the need remains. Slay all the old inhabitants of the land or they shall be pricks to the eyes, thorns in the side and they shall be vexed throughout their existence, especially concerning the mind-sets and life-styles of each vessel. Therefore, the church finds itself in a time of judgment, reaping the fruits of judgment that God purposed for the sin-nature inhabitants of the land.
However, let us look to Rev. 4:5 and see the results of God opening the door to the throne room authority of God. With God on the throne of the hearts of His first-fruits, righteousness proceeds from the authority of God to manifest His glory. Herein a purified people manifest the nature of Christ to bring forth the appearing of the Christ. “And out of the throne [the hearts of sanctified men] preceded lightning’s [glory] and thundering’s [authority] and voices [corporate appearing of Christ]: and there were seven [a ministry of spiritual perfection, completeness] lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” These seven spirits of God now flow from the hearts of the perfected ones as the nature of Christ now dwells within them. Christ nature, His throne within the heart is His authority delegated to those He sends. A first-fruits people designated by God to go forth in the Spirit without measure to manifest, not a doctrinal tradition of carnal efforts, but the nature of Christ to the world. John 3:34, “For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”
Again, let us consider what the Children of Israel lost because of disobedience and a disregarding of God’s promises and purpose. In this, today’s Christian community, how are you individually responding to God’s purpose? In remembering the first church on the Day of Pentecost, they received into their hearts the throne room authority of God. The commission was to take the whole land, the spirit, soul and body of each believer, to influence the whole of their world. Acts 2:1-3, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord [not splintered like today’s Christian community] in one place [in the same Holy Spirit, not mind-set doctrines of separation]. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven [the invisible spiritual realm] as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting [denotes the whole house which man is individually and corporately worldwide]. And there appeared [were seen by them] unto them cloven tongues [tongues parting themselves] like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
Herein we observe the beginning of the church, a church called to establish for God a dwelling place in the earth (within man). These revealed tongues of fire were the appearing of God’s lamps of fire that are before the throne (Rev. 4:5 above) that are the seven spirits of God imparted to the early church for the witness of Christ in their day. Now during the time of today’s church, it needs a like kind fire, a first-fruits people ministering the seven spirits of God for the establishing of His kingdom on the earth. That is to take possession of God’s entire promise land. The appearing of the first-fruits of God’s many member sons now manifesting what they received to establish God’s kingdom upon the earth. Is this not what the world in general needs to see today?