INTRODUCTION
It has been supposed by many that the church of Laodicea in
the book of Revelation represents the church in our own age.
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:I would
thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art luke warm and
neither cold not hot I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because
thou sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and
poor , and blind, and naked:" Rev. 3:15-17
Whether or not Laodicea forecasts a modern dispensation, we
are somehow aware of our similarity. We are alarmed at the rising
tide of evil sweeping the land. We feel stirred deeply in our
spirit to cry to the Lord for revival and change. Movements such
as Vision 2000 are challenging the church to rise to the need of
the hour. We know a great turning back to God is the answer, we
hope for a day of tremendous evangelism, signs and wonders. Much
effort is being made to produce this, but a great burden grips me
and others. We are being entirely too superficial. What is needed
is great repentance in the church.
REPENTANCE, RESTORATION, REVIVAL - A Biblical Pattern
It is time for the church in Canada to recognize a clear
biblical pattern: that the corporate sin of God's people results
in corporate and even national judgement. Refering to the Old
Testament St. Paul said:
" ...they drank from the supernatural rock which followed
them, and the rock was Christ. Never the less with most of them
God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things are warnings to us not to desire evil as they
did... these things happened to them as a warning, but they were
written down for our instruction..." (1 Cor. 10:4-6,11)
I have read the prophets many times, but then God opened my
eyes to see the obvious. The difficulties of Israel and Judah,
even the attacks of the enemy were not the problem, God had
allowed these afflictions, and even sent them to stir his people
to repent. The issue wasn't an "unrighteous king", for the
people had unrighteously asked for a king. The issue wasn't
(spiritual) warfare to break the power of the enemy, for God had
given the enemy jurisdiction! The issue was repentance. How often
we have quoted the most well known revival scripture and left out
the first half of the sentence. I have shown this to some
Christians and they are often incredulous.
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or
command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my
people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face , and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal
their land." (1 Chron. 7:13,14 )
It is clear that the affliction on the land is from God,
and the solution is repentance. Without going into detail I would
suggest the biblical pattern we see is that God's grace and
restoration is poured upon a righteous generation. Grace continues
into the next generation. Even though it may be a wicked
generation God gives grace to lead to repentance. Eventually the
Lord relents and allows affliction and wicked government. He sends
preachers and prophets to call His people to faithfulness, and
declare His intent. If there is yet no response the Lord
eventually allows captivity. This is essentially the message of
every biblical prophet.
SIN IN THE CHURCH:
INDIVIDUAL, CONGREGATIONAL & NATIONAL REPENTANCE
I pray that the Holy Spirit may convince us of the finality
of this issue. We are afraid to take hold of it. Canada's pain and
Canada's restoration rests squarely on the shoulders of the body
of Christ. God will surely restore the land if He finds us to be
Holy vessels He can flow through. Nothing is impossible to Him. It
is not our evangelism and programs he needs, but vessels He can
fill and overflow. But if we close our hearts, captivity will
just as surely come. That is why it is repeated to us in Hebrews:
"Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as
in the rebellion." (Heb. 3:7,15, 4:7)
Is there significant sin in the church? The two main areas God
dealt with in Israel were immorality, and idolatry. Again and again
the Lord pleaded with them to repent, but they did not. In fact
they could not see it, they listened to the prophets of blessing.
They practiced syncretism and worshipped other Gods alongside
Jehova and could not see the sin in it.
"Thus says the Lord God, "Woe to the foolish prophets who
follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!" Your prophets
have been like foxes among ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up
into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel,
that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord."...Because ,
yea, because they have misled my people, saying "peace" when there
is no peace; and because when the people build a wall these
prophets daub it with whitewash." (Ez. 13:3-6,10)
There is immorality named among us, in pastors and leaders in
the church. Many incidents have come and gone and been
tolerated. It is time for corporate repentance. Even worse,
perhaps, has been the idolatry in church and ministry. We cannot
even see it. In Ezekiel 14:7 God condemned those who took idols
into their hearts. In the New Testament covetousness is idolatry.
(Eph. 5:5; Col.3:5)
IDOLS IN THE HEART
A few years ago the Holy Spirit confronted me and showed me I
had taken idols into my heart. I served an image of ministry and
church in my heart. The image was one of success, a large church,
the power of God. I couldn't see the sin in it until the Lord
showed me how I served this image through my own efforts, agendas,
and methods. He showed me that I had adopted the "practices of the
people round about", just as Israel did. Then the Lord showed me
how I responded whenever the ministry failed to live up to the
image. My flesh served the idol with depression, envy, and
competition. As the Lord unveiled my heart He showed me my image
of a home, and the image of what I coveted my wife to be.
Then the Lord told me I must smash each image, and come to a
complete inward death. As I smashed these images in prayer a deep
shudder went through me. I knew there was a significant cleansing
of this temple going on. I presented myself to Jesus as a living
sacrifice. While I knew I was to put to death what was earthly
within me, I also knew that only He could bring to reality my
death with Christ. What followed was three years of painful dying
to every hope of success until one day I found myself on the floor
crying "I am dead, I am dead. This calling is yours, Oh God only
you can answer it in me, I can't. The ministry is yours, only you
can minister through me, I can't. The church is yours, do what you
want, my efforts are wood , hay and stubble. I'm dead."
O dear God how we need to be broken, humble and repentant of
our idols. How I am grieved when I hear of some new program to
awaken the church or land. It seems like we've forgotten that the
Spirit of God is well able to do it all with mighty power. He will
awaken the people, fill the church, perform signs and wonders,
turn back the tide of wickedness, and set captives free. We must
become desperate enough to repent. Repentance leads to cleansing.
Cleansing leads to holiness. Holiness leads to usefulness.
"If anyone purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he
will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the
master of the house, ready for any good work." 2 Tim.2:21
RESTORATION OF HOLINESS
There are many things God is restoring to the church in these
days, but holiness is the foundation of them all. Holiness opens
the way for the fulness of God's presence. By holiness I do
not simply mean forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus,
though anything that is holy is cleansed this way. By holiness I
mean the distinction of things called out, dedicated and separated
unto God. In the old dispensation the temple (or tabernacle), the
priests, and the ark (the presence) were distinctly holy in this
way. A major portion of the Old Testament is devoted to the
regulations concerning holiness. Every major restoration and
revival of the Old Testament was concerned with restoring
integrity and holiness in these areas. What is God saying to us
today since these things are written for our instruction?
Hebrews chapters nine and ten tell us that these are but
shadows of the heavenly and spiritual realities. The New Testament
distinguishes three major areas of holiness corresponding to the
old dispensation.
1. OUR BODIES - TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's
Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys (defiles) God's temple ,
God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy and that temple you
are." 1 Cor 3:16,17
So much New Testament instruction is dedicated to keeping our
temple free from defilement. We lift holy hands, take a wife in
holiness, speak holy speech.
2. OUR CALLING - A HOLY ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
"like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to
be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
God through Jesus Christ... But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,God's own people, that you may declare
the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light. "1 Peter 2 :5,9
We are called out as a Royal priesthood. This priesthood is
through Jesus and after the order of Melchizedek rather than
Aaron. This means we are priests of righteousness and peace,
rather than the law. We are called to minister to the Lord by
worship and sacrifice in the inner room of our heart and mind. We
are Royally related to Jesus and are to rule and reign with Him in
life. Praise God! We have not begun to comprehend all that we are
set apart for in spiritual worship and sacrifice.
3. GOD IN US - THE HOLY SPIRIT
The third area of holiness in the New Testament is the Holy
Spirit. Like the ark, this concerns the Holy presence of God in
our midst. As the Shekina Glory was above the ark in the Most Holy
Place, the Holy Spirit dwells in our born again spirit, which is
our innermost self.
"...it is the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we
are children of God" Romans 8:16
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's
Spirit dwells in you?" 1 Cor 3:16
Just as the priests were to carefully handle the ark, we are
given commands on how to handle the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We are to be careful not to grieve or resist Him or even sin
against Him. Oh how we have missed this. We've taken His presence
lightly, even made merchandise of His power. Who has not been
guilty of this? God help us. Restore to us what is Holy.
DISTINGUISHING WHAT IS HOLY AND WHAT IS DEFILED
Our need is to truly see what is Holy and what is defiled. We
need the salve for our eyes that we may see, along with white
garments of His righteousness and the true riches purified by
fire. (Rev. 3:18) We hardly see our defilement. This was the very
thing the prophet Haggai prophesied saying God's intention was to
restore the former glory and exceed its splendor! How does
holiness and defilement pass on? Here is a lesson for us.
"If one carries holy flesh in the skirt of his garment and
touches with his skirt bread or wine, or pottage or oil or any
kind of food, does it become holy?"The priests answered "no".Then
said Haggai,"If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body
touches any of these does it become unclean?" The priests answered
"it does become unclean." Then Haggai said "So it is with this
people and with this nation before me, says the LORD; and so with
every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean."
Haggai 2:12,13
Simply put, defilement spreads by contact, holiness does not.
Holiness comes from God via cleansing and dedication. Sin, unclean
things and idolatry lead to defilement. Some sins led to the death
penalty, immorality for instance. Other sins required cleansing and
a period of separation from the presence of God. Some objects
could never be cleansed or were dedicated to destruction. Jericho
for instance or unclean creatures. Yet other kinds of defilement
were permitted, with separation from God and cleansing for a period
of time. Burying a dead relative for instance.
DEFILEMENT OF THE TEMPLE AND THE PRIESTHOOD
God is restoring our sensitivity to what is holy and what is
defiled. We all contact that dead relative, our flesh, from time
to time. That is allowed, but do we notice how a period of
separation and cleansing follows? It does. But defilement is all
around. God is calling us to guard our eye gates and our ear gates
and admit nothing unclean into our temple. We turn on the
television and our spirit says no. We watch a program anyway and
wonder why our fellowship with God is broken for a while. We've
been defiled. We set our mind on unclean things with the same
effect. We are occupied with vain imaginations, the vile images
portrayed on the walls of our temple. (See Ez.8) The root of
bitterness has sprung up and many are defiled. (Heb. 12:15) Filthy
dreamers have defiled the flesh.(Jude 8) We have not paid
attention to the temple and priesthood we are. Should there be any
doubt here is what God said was the result.
"Now therefore says the LORD of hosts, consider how you have
fared. You have sown much and have harvested little, you eat but
you never have enough, you drink, but you never have your fill;
you clothe yourself, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages,
earns wages to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the LORD
of hosts, consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and
bring wood and build the house that I may take pleasure in it, and
that I may appear in my glory says the LORD. You have looked for
much, and lo it came to little; and when you brought it home, I
blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that
lies in ruins, while you busy yourself each with his own house."
Haggai 1:5-9
What a description of church in Canada. Yet what God wants to
do is very like He did in Solomon's time, when everything in the
temple and priesthood was in order.
"the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the
priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the
Glory of the Lord filled the house of God." 2 Chron 5:13,14
"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves of every defilement of body and spirit and make holiness
perfect in the fear of God." 2 Cor.7:1
THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH
To bring the restoration I've been speaking of there has
been an unusual move of the Spirit in the last few years. God has
been setting His people free from deep inner wounds and bondage
that hold us to patterns of sin. This freedom enables us to walk
in holiness. This has been particularly focused on the restoration
of the heart especially in father - child relationships. This has
increased to powerful visitations of the Spirit with physical
manifestations. Prophetically this has been characterized as the
"Spirit and power of Elijah" and fits with the call to repentance.
" Behold I will send Elijah the prophet before the great and
terrible day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their
fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse."
Malachi 4:5,6
The purpose of the restoration is clear, to spare the land
from judgement. John the Baptist carried out this ministry in
preparation for the first coming of the Lord (Matt.11:10) He gave
a clear call to make straight paths for the Lord.
"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand... prepare the way
of the Lord, make His paths straight...bear fruit that befits
repentance." Matt. 3:2,3,8
The outpouring of the spirit, at times such as this, is
to sift out and gather what is His. Increased discernment between
holiness and defilement is part of this sifting.
"He will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire and His
winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing
floor, and gather His wheat into His granary, but the chaff He
will burn with unquenchable fire. " Matt. 4:11,12
A conspicuous increase in the office of prophet has been
called forth with the spirit and power of Elijah. God is
declaring His plan for His people, and calling them to come into
line with it. (Some definitions of prophet have been very
unsatisfying since they are based in foretelling or power rather
than the ministry, which is always restoration and preparation.
Any predictions involve what God will do if they respond, and what
He will do if they don't respond. Miracles only attest to the
message and aren't the sign of a prophet.)
While the ministry being carried out today
demonstrates similarities with John the baptist, it also will have
the characteristics of Elijah's ministry. Elijah confronted
Jezebel and Baal, and restored the true worship and priesthood
to the land. This is what the lord is doing today. The Jezebel
spirit is the major strongman opposing restoration of true worship
and those with a prophetic call will have experienced its wrath. What
are it's characteristics?
The JEZEBEL Spirit
1. Just as Jezebel dominated her husband King Ahab without taking
his place, so the spirit of Jezebel tries to control rather than
displace leaders. The mark of the spirit of Jezebel is control.
2. Just as Jezebel set up false worship through the prophets and
priests of Baal, so the spirit of Jezebel is a religious spirit
which empowers counterfeit prophecy and worship. There is a
counterfeit spiritual power moving through the church today that
looks like the real thing, but it has the power of witchcraft on
it. The people in Elijahs time could not discern which was true
and which was counterfeit.
3. Just as Jezebel killed the prophets and priests of God, so the
spirit of Jezebel opposes men of the Spirit, prophets and true
worship. It will greatly restrict freedom of the Spirit and cause
religious domination.
4. Just as God sent a great draught upon the land in Jezebels
time, so God may send a spiritual draught upon a church dominated
by the spirit of Jezebel.
5. Just as Elijah had great despair after great victory so
those with prophetic callings will find they must battle severe
depression and hopelessness after they confront this spirit.
6. Just as Jezebel made Eunuchs of the men around her, so the
spirit of Jezebel will make impotent the men of God dominated and
serving this spirit. Their gifts will cease to flow. This spirit
also drives the homosexual and lesbian - feminist perversion.
7. Just as God raised up Jehu through words from the prophet, and
rid the land of Jezebel and her religion, so todays prophets will
speak forth callings and anointings upon those God will use to
break the power of this spirit in the church.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND RESTORATION
Understandably such spiritual warfare has drawn increased
attention. Part of restoration is that the "strongman" is
overthrown and his goods are plundered. Those with discernment of
spirits ask how we are to resist something like the spirit of
Jezebel, and the territorial spirits that dominated their areas.
Several major positions have emerged:
CONFLICTING THEOLOGY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1. Christian Have ALL power over Satan
"Behold I have given you power over all the power of the
enemy." Luke 10:19
Those of us who have prayed in this realm know there is a
problem. It doesn't always work. There seem to be levels where the
authority is simply there and the enemy is thrown out, and other
levels where the enemy does not move, or even retaliates. This has
led to another position, that says we don't do territorial warfare
only personal deliverance.
2. Christians Don't Engage In Territorial Warfare
On the face of it this is unscriptural but even major church
leaders are denying Ephesians 6 and saying we do
NOT wrestle with powers and principalities. What is going on?
Until a few years ago I was committed to the first position
and believed our need was simply more vigorous prayer. Then as I
experienced the tremendous breaking and death experience I
described earlier, I discerned that God had given the enemy
authority to break me. Like Job I was helpless before the demonic
assaults which had definite limits. I could not understand. Then
God showed me my idols, and brought me to repentance. He showed me
in scripture how He gives the enemy authority when His people are
in sin. In short, the key issue in spiritual warfare is not power,
but jurisdiction, and God decides that.
WE WAR IN OUR GIVEN JURISTICTION
"For in Him were all things created, in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or
principalities or authorities, all were created through Him and
for Him." Colossians 1:16
"...there is no authority except from God and those that
exist have been instituted by God." Rom. 13:1
This does not mean we are passive in spiritual warfare, but
that we war within our jurisdiction. How often we have practiced
this in personal level ministry. When a Christian refuses to turn
from some sin we are not surprised that a demon has authority over
that area of their life. If they repent, they are easily set
free. The same thing is true of territorial spirits. The Hebrews
entering the promised land is a good model for us.
For instance, up until the Exodus, the Caananites and their
gods had jurisdiction in Caanan. God had given it the land to
their ancestors mentioned in Genesis. Then God said to Moses
they were to go up and posses the land for He was casting them out
because of their idolatry and giving it to the Hebrews .
"When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Caanan, then
you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you,
and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten
images and demolish all their high places; and you shall take
possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land
to you to possess." Numbers 33:51-53
God had given them jurisdiction saying "I have given you the
land". There was definitely warfare, and as long as the people
walked with God they had victory. The jursdiction slipped at Ai
because of Achan's sin, then after repentance and cleansing it was
restored. God specifically identified people in the land over whom
they had no jurisdiction, even though they were idolators. As God's
people drifted into unfaithfulness, God allowed the enemy to come
against them and gain jurisdiction over them. How did they
respond? They responded "religiously". Instead of repentance they
would do all sorts of things, they even though the authority
resided in the ark itself.
What a picture of spiritual warfare today. He has said he has
given us power over all the power of the enemy. He has commanded
us to go into all the world. But our efforts meet with great
failure. Our jurisdiction has slipped. . How have we responded? We've gotten
religious! Christian politics, pressure groups, programs, and even
warfare prayer groups are getting no where. It is so much
effort without authority. We need spiritual jurisdiction in our
homes, churches and country. This is why men like John Knox prayed
"Give me Scotland or I'll die." He was praying for spiritual
jurisdiction. God has said He wants to pour out revival in Canada
The key to jurisdiction is our relationship to God. We must
repent. We must turn. We must be holy and restored. Jesus must
actually be Lord of the church. Then we will receive jurisdiction.
Then the enemy will flee. Then revival will pour onto this country
like a river of fire.
REVIVAL IN THE LAND
Revival is surely coming. It is written on the hearts of
Christians by the Holy Spirit. What will it be like? Again we have
the shadow of these heavenly things demonstrated in the Old
Testament. When God's temple is prepared, and His priesthood is
serving in worship and sacrifice and all is sanctified, then the
fire of God comes down.
"...fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offer
and the sacrifices and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because
the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house." 2 Chron. 7:1,2
We are His temple, we are His priesthood. Revival will flow
when His Spirit is poured out upon us. What effect does this have
in the land? A few years ago God directed me to Ezekiel 47 in a
dream.
"Then he brought me back to the door of the temple and
behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the
temple...and water was coming out on the south side. Going on
eastward with a line in his hand the man measured a thousand
cubits, he led me through the water; and it was ankle deep. Again
he measured a thousand, and led me through the water and it was
knee deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the
water, and it was up to the loins. Again he measured a thousand,
and it was a river I could not pass through, for the water had
risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be
passed through. And he said to me "Son of man, have you seen
this?"
Then he led me back upon the bank of the river. As I went
back, I saw upon the bank of the river very many trees on the one
side and on the other. And he said to me "This water flows toward
the easter region, and goes down into the Arabah, and when it
enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become
fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature which
swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, for this water
flows there that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so
everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand
beside the sea; from En-gedi to En-eglaim it will be a place for
the spreading of nets, it's fish will be very many kinds, like the
fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become
fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both
sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will
bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows
from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their
leaves for healing." Ezekiel 47:1-12
The Lord showed me that this is a picture of the revival we
will see. The river of life will flow from his throne (Rev. 22) in
the midst of His people. We are His temple. This river will pour
forth into the land, the more it flows, the deeper it will be. As
it flows it will transform the desert places and bring life. The
spiritual wastelands will bloom with life. The sea represents the
multitudes that will no longer be stagnant but team with life in
every kind of race and ethnic group. Nets will be set and sweep
souls into the kingdom. Wherever the river flows there will be
life, and fresh fruit of the spirit in every season.
CONCLUSION - A WARNING
We know that this outpouring will be great beyond compare.
The Holy Spirit tells us again and again that it will be beyond our
comprehension. He has also shown many of us that the church in
Canada is in the balance. There must be great repentance and
restoration or there will be judgement and captivity come on the
land. Counterfeit signs and wonders and apparent spiritual
awakening will come as the enemy tires to sidetrack the saints
from repentance and restoration. God is allowing this to bring
forth what is His in preparation for this outpouring.
Just as the ark was returned to Israel, so God will be
conspicuously present with great rejoicing. We must be careful not
to mishandle the glory of the Lord as the priests did the ark. We
must not engineer some contrivance to handle it. He will not come
on our cart and let us walk along beside it. He will strike down
all presumption. We,the priests, are called to be under the
presence and the anointing of the Lord. We are under His under
influence at all time..
God is calling every believer to be a fountain of living
water from God. But we are not like that.
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken
me, the fountain of living water, and hewed out cisterns for
themselves. Broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jer.2:13
Let us forsake our man made cisterns, with all our running
about seeking to fill the leaky vessel. We are called to bubble
and over flow.
We must come to the plumbline, of the word of God and the
blood of Jesus. We must live with Jesus as Lord of all and cease
from our labors. The church is His, our calling is His, our
ministries are His. Salvation is His, healing is His. He alone is
worthy, He alone is the minister, He alone receives the glory.
Jesus is taking back His church and making us His temple, His
fountain,His priesthood, His bride, His church.
TOTAL CHANGE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES - TERRY SOMERVILLE
100 JONES RD. CAMPBELL RIVER B.C. CANADA V9W-2V1
(250) 287-7420
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