Five-Fold Today

Doctrines That Divide and Truth That Unites – Part 1 - In Time - Why Bankers Love War - Spiritual Childbirth - The Making of a Prophet - I Want to Refresh You - Take Heart

March 30, 2010

Doctrines That Divide and Truth That Unites – Part 1

by Jim Sayles

I have been concerned for many years about the divisiveness and religious in-fighting of the professing church of Jesus Christ. It should be evident that our contentious separatism from others in the body of Christ is proof that we are not following the Lord´s directions in that regard, and our pitiful witness to the world must grieve Him.

I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, …(Why?)…so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity,…(Why?)… so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23 NASB (emphasis and inserts are the author´s)

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV (emphasis is the author´s)

Our defensive excuse for dividing ourselves from others in the body is, of course, that “we’ are right and “they’ are wrong, and, though we maintain somewhat of an ecumenical spirit regarding the primary tenets of our faith, we are truly divided in regard to various conflicting doctrines, practices, and interpretations of scripture.

It is impossible not to acknowledge our situation, but we cannot compromise what we believe to be “truth’, either.

But what can we do, and what is the cause of all this division?

Consider this: the Holy Spirit authored all scripture, and, as the Spirit of Truth, He does not guide us into contradictory truth. Therefore, if any two disagree concerning doctine, practice or the interpretation of scripture, one must be wrong, and, possibly, both are wrong.

But who is to say which ones are right and which ones are wrong? Who or what is the authority that can unite us? I cannot personally accept the Pope as my authority on matters of doctrine, practice, and the interpretation of scripture, and I cannot accept any other denominational, ministry, or expert authority, either.

Yet, according to most in the church, prophets, pastors, and teachers, most of whom adhere closely to the doctrines and truths they themselves have been taught to believe in seminary, in their denomination, or elsewhere, are supposedly the disciple´s authority in all theological matters. But what does the Spirit of Truth have to say about that? Who is our teacher? Whom are we to believe? And how can we finally arrive at a knowledge of the truth when there are so many authoritative voices clamoring to be believed?

“But you are not to be called rabbi …(teacher)…, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.’ Matthew 23:8-11 ESV (inserts and emphasis are the author´s)

In this passage the Lord specifically contradicts authoritarian human control over what Christians are to believe, such as the Pope´s authority over Roman Catholic Christians or the Southern Baptist Convention´s control over what will or will not be taught in Southern Baptist Sunday Schools, in spite of their insistence that they believe in the doctrine of the priesthood of believers.

What the Lord tells us is that we, individually and corporately, are to receive truth (instruction) and commands from Him through the process that He explained to His disciples in John 13-17, and is now explaining to us.

Therefore, if the disciple is asked, “What is your authority (source) for believing this doctrine or that doctrine or this interpretation or that interpretation or following this practice or that practice?’, there is only one correct answer.

It is not “the Pope.’ It is not “my pastor.’ It is not “the prophet.’ It is not “my denomination.’ And it is not “the Holy Bible.’

The only correct answer is, “My authority is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, who is the Spirit of Truth and my Counselor, and who speaks His living word into my heart as I rightly divide the scriptures by thorough inductive study (exegesis) and meditation, waiting on Him to guide me into all truth appropriately as He pleases.’

All else is hearsay, and, sometimes, heresy.

The problem for many, who may earnestly desire to know the truth, even if it earns them the left hand of fellowship from the denomination they currently belong to, is that they find the Bible difficult to understand.

An easy solution for them is to lean on the Bible “experts’, their pastors, or study Bibles (all of whom, along with the author, have at least some erroneous bias and unconfirmed assumptive beliefs).

This “solution’ is in reality a problem,  By encouraging believers to lean on these “teachers’ for their understanding we are telling disciples what to believe without teaching them how, not only understand what the written text is actually saying, but also how to receive supernaturally revealed truth from the Spirit of Truth.

It is important for those in the body of Christ who fill the offices of prophet, pastor, or teacher, and all elders and mature disciples who teach other disciples to obey everything He has commanded us to obey, to not do so in an authoritarian manner, but to do so in a manner that inspires those being taught to receive truth directly from the Teacher.

To do otherwise inspires the same Phariseeical attitude of religiosity that opposed the Lord in His earthly ministry and divides the church today. Matthew 23:8-11 does not negate the four-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, but those whom we call “teacher’ and “instructor’ are, at best, good facilitators of His gift, and, at worst, teaching divisive, erroneous, assumed doctrines, even, doctrines of demons.

The purpose of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, according to Ephesians 4:11-14, is to prepare God´s people for works of service, and this not by dictating doctrine, practice, and interpretation of scripture, but by teaching them how to hear the voice of the Lord that they may glorify Him through living works of faith.

The result, then, would be the body being built up (not in numbers but in stature) until we all reach unity in the faith and in our relationship knowledge of the Son of God and become mature (as opposed to our current immaturity evidenced by “winds of doctrine’) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

jsayles7@yahoo.com

In Time

 Debra & Marvin Westbrook

"For I have placed you IN TIME for such a TIME as this. Do not seek to be wise in your own eyes! For who shall know the things of God except they be revealed to you by My Spirit.  Seek Me for understanding of the time that I have placed you in.

This time is like no other for you for I have placed you in it for My purpose and for My glory. Capture the sound of heaven and bring it into time. All time belongs to Me and Me alone. Invade and impact the atmosphere around you with eternal words, word of the Spirit, words of Truth, words of Life!

Time was created for My Son and for you. You were not created for time. You were created for Me, born of My Spirit, living in the Spirit, in the world but not of the world, in time but not of time. You are mine, says the Lord.

Look around. Discern carefully. Act wisely.

Time will distract you, hurry you, consume you, unless you see time in light of eternity. For I have formed you. I know you and I alone know the places I have for you IN TIME.

This day I would ask of you to discern the time but do not submit to its pressures, its inherent anxiety, or its fears. Look to Me for I have formed you to be IN TIME but not bound by its constraints."

Chronos time - A space of time whether long or short; quantity; expresses the duration of a period of time

Kairos - An opportune time; a season; quantity; stresses time as marked by certain features unique and distinct.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:4-8 NKJV
 

In Christ
Debra & Marvin Westbrook
Rivers of Eden
riversofeden1@yahoo.com

Why Bankers Love War

By Scott Baker

Bankers have ample money to fund wars. War is profitable for Bankers. It's the best investment they can make.

Henry George recognized this 130 years ago (indeed, it was WWI that sapped the strength of the Georgist movement). Other writers, such as Mason Gaffney, and Stephen Zarlenga, and many,
many others, recognize it today.

Think about it from the point of view of a business that exists solely to sell debt (banks). What could be better than to loan money that:

1. Is strictly to the best debtor in the land: the U.S. Government

2. Will continue to be borrowed until the war is "won" (or, better yet, in modern times, to fund an endless series of wars on terror, in different lands, needing different - and expensive - weapon systems)

3. Will be spent on things that go BOOM, and then have to be replaced, over and over and over.

4. Has virtually no limit on upward costs, due to technological advancements. Almost every major country is developing drones of its own, (see here, here, here, here) meaning we could soon be embroiled in drone wars, without all those "messy" dead and shattered young people cluttering up the airwaves and discouraging further war-making. Of course there'll continue to be dead civilians, but that's just collateral damage, you know. Then, there's the Terminator scenario, whereby the newly self-aware machines turn on their creators as they come to realize their creators are the truly violent ones...they will be right.

So, banks love war, unless it's their buildings and personnel that get hit, but maybe, just maybe, even that doesn't matter, since the Supreme Court tells us, in Citizens United, that Corporations are people too. So, why not have a war without any human involvement at all? Just faceless corporations, launching drone wars by proxy governments safely sheltered in underground bunkers, laying waste to the Earth, where the Expendables (my term for the 99% of humanity that takes no part in making wars) are just sitting there, waiting to be obliterated? Sounds like a plan.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Bankers-Love-War-by-Scott-Baker-100228-838.html

Spiritual Childbirth

Steve Bliss

Do not be surprised, for I can accomplish much from what you sense as chaos. Open yourself to the possibilities that I have set before you. Know that what I am about to accomplish will come after what you feel is the darkest time; just as daylight follows the night sky.

Do not be weary and do not give up, for My light shines brightest in the darkness. I was present before the first evening set upon the horizon, and ever since, there has always been a new day after the dark.

I am always as work in your life and I am yet creating. I am birthing new things in you. And just like childbirth in the natural, it does not come without turmoil of thoughts and physical exertion. There are two ways struggling within you--the natural way and My supernatural way. They coincide, yet often seem to war with one another.

I am bringing forth those who will stand firm in Me. They will see into the chaos and sense the pain of others. They will speak forth the word of truth, and everlasting life will blossom. It will flow forth as fountains of water erupting from beneath a crusty ground.

I am releasing a new refreshing--My living water which brings forth a healing anointing. Those who bathe in what is released will flow as I lead them. They will serve the living-God and they will revel in My glory being released.

godsfire@msn.com

The Making of a Prophet

by T. Austin-Sparks

Prophetic ministry is not something that you can take up. It is something that you are. No academy can make you a prophet. Samuel instituted the schools of the prophets... But there is a great deal of difference between those academic prophets and the living, anointed prophets. The academic prophets became members of a profession and swiftly degenerated into something unworthy. All the false prophets came from schools of prophets, and were accepted publicly on that ground. They had been to college and were accepted. But they were false prophets. Going to a religious college does not of itself make you a prophet of God.

My point is this - the identity of the vessel with its ministry is the very heart of Divine thought. A man is called to represent the thoughts of God, to represent them in what he is, not in something that he takes up as a form or line of ministry, not in something that he does. The vessel itself is the ministry and you cannot divide between the two.

THE NECESSITY for SELF-EMPTYING

That explains everything in the life of the great prophets. It explains the life of Moses, the prophet whom the Lord God raised up from among his brethren (Deut. 18:15,18). Moses essayed to take up his life-work. He was a man of tremendous abilities, "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians " (Acts 7:22), with great natural qualifications and gifts, and then somehow he got some conception of a life-work for God. It was quite true; it was a true conception, a right idea; he was  very honest, there was no question at all about his motives; but he essayed to take up that work on the basis of what he was naturally, with his own ability, qualifications and zeal, and on that basis disaster was allowed to come upon the whole thing.

Not so are prophets made; not so can the prophetic office be exercised. Moses must go into the wilderness and for forty years be emptied out, until there is nothing left of all that as a basis upon which he can have confidence to do the work of God or fulfil any Divine commission. He was by nature a man "mighty in his words and works"; and yet now he says, "I am not eloquent... I am slow of speech..." (Exodus 4:10). There has been a tremendous undercutting of all natural facility and resource...

We go through times of trial and test under the hand of God, and it is so easy to get into that frame of mind which says in effect, 'The Lord does not want us, He need not have us!' We let everything go, we do not care about anything; we have gone down under our trials and we are rendered useless. I do not believe the Lord ever comes to a person like that to take them up. Elijah, dispirited, fled to the wilderness, and to a cave in the mountains; but he had to get somewhere else before the Lord could do anything with him. "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (I Kings 19:9). The Lord never comes to a man and recommissions him when he is in despair. 'God shall forgive thee all but thy despair' (F. W. H. Myers, 'St. Paul') -because despair is lost faith in God, and God can never do anything with one who has lost faith.

Moses was emptied to the last drop, and yet he was not angry or disagreeable with God. What was the Lord doing? He was making a prophet. Beforehand, the man would have taken up an office, he would have made the prophetic function serve him, he would have used it. There was no inward, vital relationship between the man and the work that he was to do; they were two separate things; the work was objective to the man. At the end of forty years in the wilderness he is in a state for this to become subjective; something has been done. There has been brought about a state which makes the man fit to be a living expression of the Divine thought. He has been emptied of his own thoughts to make room for God's thoughts; he has been emptied of his own strength, that all the energy should be of God... That was the great lesson this prophet had to learn. 'I cannot!' 'All right', said the Lord, 'but I AM.'

A great deal is made of the natural side of many of the Lord's servants, and usually with tragic results. A lot is made of Paul. ' What a great man Paul was naturally, what intellect he had, what training, what tremendous abilities!' That may all be true, but ask Paul what value it was to him when he was right up against a spiritual situation. He will cry, "Who is sufficient for these things?... Our sufficiency is from God" (II Cor. 2:16; 3:5). Paul was taken through experiences where he, like Moses, despaired of life. He said, "We... had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (II Cor. 1:9).

MESSAGE INWROUGHT by ACTUAL EXPERIENCE

You see, the principle is at work all the time, that God is going to make the ministry and the minister identical. You see it in all the prophets. The Lord stood at nothing. He took infinite pains. He worked even through domestic life, the closest relationships of life. Think of the tragedy of Hosea's domestic life. Think of Ezekiel, whose wife the Lord took away in death at a stroke. The Lord said, 'Get up in the morning, anoint your face, allow not the slightest suggestion of mourning or tragedy to be detected; go out as always before, as though nothing had happened; show yourself to the people, go about with a bright countenance, provoke them to enquire what you mean by such outrageous behaviour.' The Lord brought this heartbreak upon him and then required him to act thus. Why? Ezekiel was a prophet; he had got to embody his message, and the message was this: 'Israel, God's wife, has become lost to God, dead to God, and Israel takes no notice of it; she goes on the same as ever, as though nothing had happened.' The prophet must bring it home by his own experience. God is working the thing right in. He works it in in deep and terrible ways in the life of His servant to produce ministry.

God is not allowing us to take up things and subjects. If we are under the Holy Ghost, He is going to make us prophets; that is, He is going to make the prophecy a thing that has taken place in us, so that what we say is only making vocal something that has been going on, that has been done in us. God has been doing it through years in strange, deep, terrible ways in some lives, standing at nothing, touching everything; and the vessel, thus wrought upon, is the message. People do not come to hear what you have to teach. They have come to see what you are, to see that thing which has been wrought by God. What a price the prophetic instrument has to pay!

So Moses went into the wilderness, to the awful undoing of his natural life, his natural mentality; to be brought to zero; to have the thing wrought in him. And was God justified? - for after all it was a question of resource for the future. Oh, the strain that was going to bear down upon that life! Sometimes Moses well-nigh broke; at times he did crack under the strain. "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me" (Num. 11:14)...  A terrific strain was going to bear down upon him, and only a deep inwrought thing, something that had been done inside, would be enough to carry through...

With us, too, the strain may be terrific; oft-times there will come the very strong temptation - 'Let go a little, compromise a little, do not be so utter; you will get more open doors if you will only broaden out a bit; you can have a lot  more if you ease up!' What is going to save you in that hour of temptation? The only thing is that God has done this thing in you. It is part of your very being -not something you can give up; it is you, your very life. That is the only thing. God knew what He was doing with Moses. The thing had got to be so much one with the man that there was no dividing between them. The man was the prophetic ministry.

He was rejected by his brethren; they would not have him. "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" (Ex. 2:14). That is the human side of it. But there was the Divine side. It was of God that he went into the wilderness for forty years. It had to be, from God's side. It looked as though it was man's doing. But it was not so. These two things went together. Rejection by his brethren was all in line with the sovereign purpose of God. It was the only way in which God got the opportunity He needed to reconstitute this man. The real preparation of this prophet took place during the time that his brethren repudiated him. Oh, the sovereignty of God, the wonderful sovereignty of God! A dark time, a deep time; a breaking, crushing, grinding time; emptied out. It seems as if everything is going, that nothing will be left. Yet all that is God's way of making prophetic ministry.

-SOURCE: http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001004.html
Fwd by Revival List prophetic@revivalschool.com

I Want to Refresh You

Karyn Sartor

Come, I want to refresh you.  Come and sit with Me beside the streams and pools of living water.  Drink deeply of My fountains.  

Your soul will be restored – your mind renewed, your heart healed and strengthened.

Lay aside the burdens that have weighed you down.  The enemy of your soul would place heavy burdens upon you, to hinder your walk with Me.  The only burdens I mean for you to carry are you those I give you, and which I carry with you.  My yoke is easy and my burden light, because I give you My strength with which to carry it.  This is not to say you will not have struggles as you walk through this world, but that you will have victory because you walk in My strength.  

Come, let me refresh you with My waters.  Put down those things which have blocked the flow of My streams in your life.  Let me bear the weight of your cares,  as you allow me to take them upon My shoulders.  Let me take all of the shame, every hint of it, that the enemy keeps trying to place on you.  He knows that if he can keep you bowed down with worries or shame that you will not be able to fully receive the refreshing and strength which I desire to give you.

Come to me, and draw from my well, which I have placed within you.  Remove the blockages which hinder the flow, and the well will become a river in your life,  fed by deep underground springs, constantly being renewed,  providing cool, refreshing, life-giving water in a dry and dusty land.

Rejoice and be glad, My children!  Delight yourselves in the refreshing I have provided for you. Then you will be able to share it with those around you, and the flow of My living water will continue to increase in your life.

karynsartor@yahoo.com

Take Heart

Ann Richards
                    

People, you who are crushed and forsaken.......hear the word of the Lord!

Take heart!  I am raising up a new generation of followers that will chase after Me. They will run after Me with a new vengeance, they will mount their chariots like Jehu in view of the destruction of My enemies. They will not be afraid or back down. They will hunt their enemies down and I will arm and empower them to take the victory.

Those who have been bound in chains or trapped in dungeons, don't give up your hope in Me. Keep on hoping and praying, for I have not forgotten you; you are Mine and I will never leave or forsake you. I am raising up a new people, and I am raising up new shepherds. They will be shepherds that have seen My wrath, vengeance and authority against the enemy. They will shepherd My people with love and devotion; who are not unfamiliar with My people's suffering, who are not deaf to the cry of my people or dumb to speak forth healing and deliverance. There is still hope in Gilead, there are still doctors there.

Call on Me and I will give you rest, and deliver you from evil.

annrichards@live.co.za

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