Five-Fold Today - An Apostolic Vision - Brace Yourself, the Hand of the Lord is Coming Down on the Church - The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Wednesday, March 29, 2000

An Apostolic Vision
by John L. Moore

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face."
I Corinthians 13:12

About 18 months ago I was driving a friend and prophet to the airport when I had a brief open vision of a tremendous move of God. It was distant on the horizon, like a squall line.

"This will be the real office of the Evangelist," the Lord told me.

"What have we seen so far?" I asked.

"You have seen in a mirror dimly," He said.

For months it burned in my spirit that our contemporary understanding of the dispensations of the Five-Fold ministry offices was not complete.

Most of us can trace the outline:
1950s: The Evangelist
1960s: The Pastor
1970s: The Teacher
1980s: The Prophet
1990s: The Apostle

Just recently the Lord began reminding me of a photograph I took years ago for a college photography class. It showed the reflection of the sky and a set of corrals.

"In a mirror dimly," I heard again. I then realized that in the photograph reality is actually the reverse of the image.

And the Lord showed me this:

The apostles and the prophets are truly to be the foundation of His end-time move. That which is reflected last in the mirror -- the apostles and prophets -- will actually be first in His coming move and we are presently in a time of transition between the dim image and a glorious reality.

Soon apostles will take their rightful place and they will establish proper order and government. Situated beneath the head of Christ, they will provide fatherly direction and sacrifice.

The Apostle will cover and release the Prophet into his true ministry and he will speak without restriction. His words will be creative and creating.

The declared word of the Prophet will release the Teacher who will search out and confirm all that is spoken in the written Word. He will be a father first, which is better than having ten thousand teachers.

This established confirmation will provide release for the new office of Pastor. This new pastor will be a shepherd who has been purged of all hireling spirits and is dedicated to the provision of the sheep.

The nurture and mentoring provided by the true Pastor will ignite the Evangelist. This new evangelist will be one with Good News, not one with a mixture of good and bad. Even what seems "bad" from his mouth will be good because of its purity. It will be truth and love.

Because this progression will be like the oil dripping down Aaron's head, all will be blessed by the anointings that preceded it. Consequently, the Prophet will be apostolic; the Teacher will be apostolic and prophetic; the Pastor will be apostolic, prophetic, and an insightful teacher.

And the endtime company of evangelists will walk in all of the anointings. They will declare that which is unseen and it will become seen. The Word of God will be fire on their lips and their love for the lost will have them seeking out the uttermost parts of the earth.

We are now standing in the period of transition. To our one side is the mirror that reflects the natural. The movements of the previous decades were God-ordained, but they were birthed from the bondwoman. Like the Law, the mirror only reflects a small portion of a Greater Glory.

If we are looking to the past then the mirror is before us and the doorway to the future is behind us. We must turn and behold a new thing. For our ears shall hear a word behind us saying, "This is the Way, walk in it."

BRACE YOURSELF! THE HAND OF THE LORD IS COMING DOWN UPON THE CHURCH!
Bobby Conner
March 2000

In a startling prophetic experience, the Lord said, " I have a message for the Church!"The message is - "Brace yourself! The hand of the Lord is coming down upon the Church." I said "Lord!" that sounds threatening, He replied "It is!"

THE HAND OF THE LORD

The hand of the Lord deals with His Divine Government. His hand will come down and commence to shake down everything He has not built. The hand of the Lord also speaks of the functioning fivefold ministry flowing together. The Word of God declares in Psalm 127:1 "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." The writer of the book of Hebrews warns us concerning this upcoming shaking, in Hebrews 12:25-29 declaring See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

God Is Going To Deal With Our Foundation

God will Demolish Man s Self-glorifying Efforts.

God is beginning to reveal and shake down every work that is not of HIM. The example of how He dealt with the tower of Babel is a warning for all who attempt to build a name for themselves. In Genesis 11:1-9 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had slime for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

God is again destorying every effort of mankind to build a name for themselves and attempting to get to heaven without God. This coming judgnment of God will deal with fruit as well as foundation. The Refiner s fire will only serve to purify and make more precious the true faith. (See Malachi 3:1-3)

The Tower of Babel was an ancient tower symbolizing man's pride and rebellion that was built during the period after the flood. The teachings are many for us in this display of God s disapproval of our efforts to seek a name and a place for ourselves apart from the Spirit of God. We must remember salvation is from the Lord, man can not work his way into the kingdom of God. (See Eph. 2:8-10) also (Titus 3:5-7).

Brick In The Place Of Stone- Bricks Speaks of the work of man.

The tower was constructed of brick, brick is always the type of man s labors and man s work. Man builds with brick because they are all formed alike, uniformity is not a substitute for true unity, however bricks are an inferior substitute for stone. ( see Is. 9:10). No matter how big a tower we build it is nothing for God to shake down. To men the tower is a architectural monument Deut. 1:28, but to God it is so small that He must come down from heaven to catch a glimpse of this tiny endeavor. The construction of the tower and city is described as an act of self-glorification by the builders. Mankind continuously plays the role of a fool when he attempts to seek for his own protection, attempting to be his own salvation. It is a mistake to seek salvation and help from any source except God. See Proverbs 14:12, and Acts 4:12.

OUR FOUNDATION IS FUNDAMENTAL

Foundation is the strong, stable base on which a building is built. Jesus spoke very powerful about foundations in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching that believers should build their faith on the strong, solid foundation of obeying His Word. The apostle Paul also referred to Christ as a foundation for believers (See1 Cor. 3:11). The Prophet Isaiah reveals how precious and powerful Christ Jesus is in Isa 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

In this vision I was told that we must examine the foundation to make sure it was solid. It is crucial that we have the correct foundation. Hear the warning of Jesus Christ spoken in Matthew 7:20-27 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Notice Jesus was inspecting the foundation not just the deeds being done. This is a strong warning, against just trusting in what one does as evidence that they are right with God.

EXAMINATION TIME

It is time for some very close investigation and examinations. Hear these instructions found in 2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless indeed you are disqualified". It is time to ask the Spirit of God to turn on the search light and expose everything false and fake in our life.

The only sure foundation is the Word of God. Paul writes in 1 Cor 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. The fire of God s judgment will only work the work of purifying if our foundation is correct and will only prove what we have built.

THE SURE SOLID FOUNDATION

Jesus Christ is the only true Cornerstone and Foundation. Ps 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builder together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

This coming Government of God s hand will be the functioning five fold ministry spoken of in Paul s letter to the Church at Ephesus in Eph 4:11-14 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

We are experiencing the unfolding of the promised five fold ministry. Thank God for how the Spirit of God is releasing understanding about the roles and responsibilities of these ministries. God is bringing about a team ministry that will prepare the Saints for the work of service. The Christian life was never intended to be something we observed someone else doing. It is time to be actively serving Jesus.

THE PROPER POSTURE AND POSITION

In response to the warning of "brace yourself" I questioned "Lord! How can we be ready for the hand of God?" He said only in the place of true humility. It is time to get honest and humble before the Lord. We have been brought to a place of real repentance. It is a broken and contrite heart that touches the heart of God. (See Psalms 51:17.

May God grant us the grace to fall upon the Rock in true humility. Asking God to prune us and cut away from our lives anything that would keep us from being fruitful for the Kingdom of God. We welcome this coming shaking in order to deal with any deception. Remember it is only on Christ the Solid Rock we can stand, all else is sinking sand. (Amen)

Demonstration Of God s Power Ministry with Bobby Conner
Box 1028 Moravian Falls, NC. 28654

Copyright (c) 2000 Bobby Conner Ministry. All rights reserved.
For forwarding do not change, or add to, or delete anything.
Complete copyright must be included with every article.
http://www.BobbyConner.Org/

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
by Doug Fortune

"This is the REVELATION of Jesus Christ..."(Rev.1:1) The word revelation in Greek is apokalupsis, meaning disclosure, appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation; it is from the word apokalupto which means to take off the cover, to disclose! I believe that it is the very heart of Christ to REVEAL Himself. Consider even His name, the Word of God (Rev.19:13)... a word REVEALS the heart, the intents and purposes of an individual; out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Yes, even His name demonstrates His heart to REVEAL Himself.

As one who operates in a prophetic gifting, I used to think that revelation was that thing that happens like a light bulb coming on, suddenly you see or know something you didn't know before. It is being REVEALED to me now however, that the 'light bulb' experience is only the very beginning of revelation. You see, the true REVEALation of Jesus Christ is Christ REVEALing Himself IN us and THROUGH us. This book of the Revelation is not just a series of hidden mysteries wrapped up in symbolism to keep us guessing what to expect... rather, it is the systematic REVEALING of Christ in the earth... the story of that rock of revelation upon which Jesus told Peter He would build His Church, growing into a great mountain that fills the earth with the knowledge or REVEALation of Christ (Dan.2:35). It is the REVELATION of Jesus Christ SIGNified (conveyed in SIGNS and symbols, metaphors) to us concerning the appearing, the coming, the manifestation of Christ in the earth. We are even shown in this very first chapter where to look for His appearing, for it seems that true to His name (the Word of God), He was speaking His purpose, "...I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last..." (Rev.1:11). John turned to see where the Voice came from (sometimes we have to turn from our present position to actually see where the Voice is!), "...and ON TURNING, I saw seven golden Lampstands..."(verse 12). Now we know from verse 20 that the Lampstands are the Churches. I believe that the Voice came not only from, "...One like a Son of Man..." in the MIDST of the Lampstands, but rather as a collective voice of the Lampstand as the One like a Son of Man spoke through the Lampstands. Why do I say this?... because verse 15 says "...His voice was like the sound of many waters...", and waters/ seas are symbolic of people (Rev.17:15). WE are the voice of Christ in the earth as He speaks THROUGH us!

Also we must keep in mind that when John speaks of seven golden Lampstands (this would have been obvious to the readers of his day), his symbolic reference was to the Golden Lampstand of Zech.4 and the Golden Lampstand of the Tabernacle. Exodus 25:31-37 tells us that this Lampstand was actually seven lamps in one Lampstand... I believe this is what John was seeing, not seven separate Lampstands. Ex.25:32 says "...Six branches shall come out of the sides of it..."; keep in mind that six is the symbolic number of MAN and Jesus said "...you are the branches...". There was to be a seventh lamp on the shaft in the midst of the branches... keep in mind that seven is the symbolic number of completeness or perfection and the Son of Man, Christ was in the MIDST of the Lampstands. Eph.4:12-13 speaks of this, "His intention was the PERFECTING and full equipping of the saints.. unto the PERFECT MAN...". Of utmost importance is the fact that, "...its base and its shaft, its cups, its knobs, its flowers (the branches) shall be OF ONE PIECE..."(verse 31); the entire Lampstand was to be of ONE PIECE of gold (gold is symbolic of divine nature). The Branches are of the same divine nature (gold) as the Shaft in the midst... they were ONE with the Shaft. Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:21-23, "...that they also may be ONE IN US... that they may be ONE even AS WE ARE ONE: I in them and You in Me in order that they may be ONE...". So the picture we have here is NOT a separate Christ in the middle of separate Lampstands, but rather ONE Golden Lampstand expressed in sevenfold completeness; six Branches representing MAN, the seventh SHAFT representing Christ in the midst of the Lampstand, the Branches and Shaft all of the same (gold) divine nature. "And you are IN Him... you too are filled with the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and reach full spiritual stature..."(Col.2:10). I believe this is a picture of the Perfect Man spoken of in Eph.4:13 of which WE are the Body and Christ is the Head "...that in all things HE may have the preeminence...". "When Christ Who IS OUR LIFE appears, then YOU ALSO will APPEAR with Him in the splendor of His glory..."(Col.3:4). Let us earnestly desire His appearing! Let His Voice, speaking words of Light and Life, go forth in the earth through His Lampstand proclaiming that He is indeed "...Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last..."! Didn't Jesus say "...YOU are the Light of the World... A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a LAMPSTAND, and it gives Light to all in the house. Let your Light so shine before men..."(Matt. 5:14-16).

THIS is the REVEALation of Jesus Christ!... Christ APPEARING in the MIDST OF the Lampstand, shining forth His glory, His Light, His Voice speaking words of Light and Life! Let the REVEALation of Christ fill the earth!

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