APOSTOLIC MOVEMENT &MANIFESTATIONS or EXPERIENCE HAPPENS, EPHESIANS 5:14, ENJOY GOD 26

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ENJOY GOD 26: APOSTOLIC MOVEMENT &

MANIFESTATIONS; or EXPERIENCE HAPPENS

 Real Kingdom living can never be reduced to a series of principles or a set formula for success in life or ministry.  Kingdom reality is found in rightly relating to Holy Spirit, who is always looking for ways to creatively minister, imaginatively mess up religious attitudes and inventively find way to intrude into our existence and bring His presence.

phenomenon: Signs of the Lord’s Presence

God is Shaking Us to Wake Us Up!

In Ephesians 5:14 Paul says, “Awake sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This command precedes the exhortation to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit. We are to wake up and seek to be continually filled with the wine of God’s Spirit.

 Symbol of Fire—Purifying Work of the Spirit of God—Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  The blood of Jesus washes our sins away, but the fire of the Spirit of God burns out the wood, hay and stubble. The Spirit of God sanctifies our lives in God. Jesus saves us from sin, The Spirit saves us from our self or the Adamic nature.

Anointing

The filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeatable experience and one we are commanded to continually experience – And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5:18.

God will sovereignly move on us to impart supernatural ability to do certain things. 2 Tim. 1:6 I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Signs serve as pointers to a destination (like a Road Sign).  Signs are not the destination itself. We are to be a sign to a generation as we move toward our destiny. Our destiny is to become conformed into the image of His Son, as we point others to Jesus For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

When Holy Spirit comes in power, He come to make us like Jesus, to heal us and empower us for our particular roles in the mission. The results are what He’s after, not phenomena. If, under God’s sovereignty, He chooses, during seasons of divine visitation, to do His work without phenomena, that is His choice. So also, it is of no benefit to shake or fall and have no long lasting fruit. Ultimately, what God is after is a willing, humble heart. He decides how to sanctify, heal and empower.  This is not too serve as a disclaimer, however.

Sometimes we limit God by applying our standards and points of comfort to Him, expecting Him to be like us.  We see this especially in cultural adaptations concerning God and how He operates in the supernatural.  As relatively benign and stoic westerners, we like a sedate version of God and church.  However,  God isn’t always what we want Him to be.  God is Excessive and God is Demonstrative!  Think about the Scriptural record:

  • Mt. Sinai trembled – Ex. 19:16-18.
  • When God’s presence came, there were dramatic effects, then quiet rest – 1 Kings 19.
  • Jesus on the Cross – effects; the earth shook, darkness, audible voice, tombs opened up, dead saints walked into Jerusalem – Mt. 27.
  • Wind, fire, noise, energy, inebriation – Acts 2.
  • Place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 4.
  • The first time Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit it was for an anointing in power and prophecy, he was a changed man 1 Sam. 10.
  • Stripped naked and prophesied, a day and a half, this second filling was for humility – 1 Sam. 19.

Sometimes we get uncomfortable with noise.  If you are uncomfortable with noise, get over it. God is not upset when it comes to loudness! He is not offended by noise. Around his throne, there is so much shouting, the voices sound like the rushing of mighty waterfalls. It wouldn’t surprise me if God may just be offending everything respectable in our Western, rational religious system to raise up bold, pure, fearless believers who will overcome the evil one by loving not their lives even unto death.

When Randy Clark asked God why He was bringing all the phenomena of “the Toronto Blessing”, God replied that He was looking for people who were willing to look publicly foolish for the honor of His name. Paul Cain said, “God offends the mind to reveal the heart.”  Jesus preached the Kingdom of God and He did more than preach. Jesus demonstrated the reality of the Kingdom with signs and wonders. These are the evidentiary markers that serve as validating proof that the Kingdom has come with us.

What is excessive? We measure by our own experience. What is currently “normal” may or may not be normal to God.  1 Corinthians 1:26-30 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[. As His presence becomes real, the Lord captures us, constrains us, controls us, and transforms us for His glory.  These are works of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Here are some guidelines when you are dealing with manifestations that may make you uncomfortable:

  • Have historical revivals in the past contained these phenomena?
  • Check the fruit: interviews will reveal very positive influences and effects on people.

MANIFESTATIONS: RESPECTABILITY VERSUS EXTRAVAGANCE (THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEGRITY AND RESPECTABILITY)

In the war between extravagance and respectability, God always, without exception in the Scriptures, judges respectability and exonerates or justifies extravagance.

The ointment poured on Jesus feet is one example. This extravagant expression of love was worth one year’s salary. The disciples said they could have fed the poor with the money. Feeding the poor was a biblical, respectable activity. Jesus, however, blessed the extravagance.

David wildly danced before the Ark of the Lord wearing a priestly, linen garment rather than his royal robes. Michal, his wife, rebuked him for not being respectable. David replied, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” David was blessed of God for his extravagance; Michal, the one who esteemed respectability, was cursed by God with barrenness.

The one hundred and twenty people who appeared from the upper room on the day of Pentecost, were accused of drunkenness. Yet, God vindicated them by filling them with power and using them to carry out the purposes of God in the earth.

The evangelical church only sees the first century church and the twenty first century church. Unfortunately, we have amnesia when it comes to church history. We act like God has done nothing, taught nothing, showed us nothing in 2000 years. Much church history teaches us wisdom, reveals God’s activity, and teaches us his ways. These kinds of things occur in every great awakening. Such weird things happened during the past moving of God’s Spirit like jerking, barking, falling, dancing, shouting. All of these manifestations are in Wesley’s ministry as well as, Whitefield’s, Edward’s, Finney’s, the awakening in Wales, and other revivals.

Why does God do it this way? I don’t know. He offends us, tests us, and humbles us. God delivers us from inhibitions. The Spirit fills us with joy, faith, love, and power. I don’t know why He does it this way, through spiritual phenomenon, but I do know why he is doing it: to make us like Jesus.

Check the fruit. Interview those people so affected by the Spirit. If you ask around and question people who have experienced phenomena,  you will find that almost without exception the experience is good for people. In these encounters, God reveals His presence, power, and love. The awareness of God’s presence and awesome power becomes real to these seekers. The reality of His presence will accomplish many things in our lives: destroy bondages; deliver from habitual sins; heal cultural infections (rationalism, materialism, faithlessness).

Here are some guidelines when you are dealing with manifestations that may make you uncomfortable:

  • Have historical revivals in the past contained these phenomena?
  • Check the fruit: interviews will reveal very positive influences and effects on people.

Symbolic Acts of the Prophet

This is taken from the book, Developing The Prophetic Ministry by Frank Damazio.

  1. Jeremiah wore a yoke around his neck through the streets to depict the impending Babylonian bondage – Jeremiah 27-28.
  2. Hosea was commanded to marry a harlot, symbolizing Israel’s unfaithfulness – Hosea 1-3.
  3. Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years, symbolizing that Egypt and Ethiopia were at the hands of Assyria – Isaiah 20:1-6.
  4. Prophetic Art: Ezekiel was commanded to lay mock siege to Jerusalem by portraying it upon a tile – Ezekiel 4:1-3.
  5. Ezekiel was commanded to be upon his left side for 390 days and upon his right side for 40 days. The number of days represented the number of years that Israel had disobeyed and forsaken God throughout their history – Ezekiel 4:4-8.
  6. Ezekiel was commanded to eat different unclean kinds of food for 390 days, symbolizing the ceremonial defilement that would come to the Israelites in being forced to partake of Gentile food during their captivity – Ezekiel 4:9-17.
  7. Ezekiel was commanded to burn a portion of his hair, foretelling the coming destruction of Jerusalem and its inhabitants – Ezekiel 5:1-4.
  8. Ezekiel was commanded to shave his hair and beard, and then scatter some of the hair, symbolizing the scattering of a portion of the Jewish people to various parts of the earth – Ezekiel 5:1-4.
  9. Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy to a dry bone yard, symbolizing Israel’s spiritual dryness and death. This prophecy foretells the promised blessing upon Israel in and through the New Covenant – Ezekiel 37.
  10. When Ahijah, met Jeroboam, he tore his garment into twelve pieces, symbolizing the division of his formerly united kingdom – 1 Kings 11:30-31.
  11. Jeremiah symbolically gave signs to Israel by:
  12. A marred girdle (symbolizing the negative effect the seventy-year captivity in Babylon would have upon the house of Judah – Jeremiah 13:1.
  13. A potter and the clay (speaking of the judgment of God coming to the house of Judah and the resulting in a blessing upon them in and through the New Covenant – Jeremiah 18:1.
  14. A cup of the wine of wrath (speaking of the judgment of God being stored up for ungodly nations) – Jeremiah 25:15.

Some of the prophets were commanded to give prophetic, symbolic names to their children:

Isaiah’s children­

i.Shear jashub: “A remnant shall return” – Isaiah 7:3.

ii.Maher-shalah-hash-baz: “Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey” – Isaiah 8:1.

  1. Hosea’s children­

i.Jezreel: “It will be sown of God” – Hosea 1:4.

ii.Lo-Ruhamah: “No mercy” – Hosea 1:6.

iii.Lo-Ammi: “Not my people” – Hosea 1:9.

 

  1. Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy to the mountains. Mountains in scripture represent various kingdoms and nations of the earth – Ezekiel 6:1-3.

 

  1. Ezekiel was commanded to move by digging through a wall, representing Judah’s being removed into exile in Babylon – Ezekiel 12:1-6.

 

  1. Jeremiah was commanded to buy a linen girdle, to put it on but not wash it, and then to go the Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock. Then he was commanded to dig it up, even though it was marred and good for nothing, symbolizing what God was going to do to the pride of Jerusalem and Judah – Jeremiah 13:1-11.
  2. Jeremiah was commanded to take an earthen vessel in front of the ancients of the people and the ancients of the priests, symbolizing the soon destruction of the city of Jerusalem – Jeremiah 19:1-9.
  3. Ezekiel remained dumb for seven days after his call, representing his identification with the miseries and trials of those to whom he would minister – Ezekiel 3:15.
  4. Agabus bound the Apostle Paul with his girdle, symbolizing what the Jews were going to do to him in Jerusalem – Acts 21:10-14.

Work of Holy Spirit in our lives:

  • power to witness Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
  • boldness to preach Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness
  • special gifts 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
  • spiritual fruit Galatians 5:22-23

Names expressing work of Holy Spirit Comforter John 14:26

  • Spirit of God Ephesians 4:30
  • Spirit of Truth John 14:17
  • Advocate -legal term-Lawyer John 14:16
  • Teacher John 14:26
  • Helper Romans 8:26

 Seal Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14  The Spirit of God working in our lives is God’s seal on our lives. As we operate in the Spirit of God, it is the sign to the unbeliever of God in our lives.

Guarantee Ephesians 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. God gives us the infilling of the Spirit of God—as earnest on the rest of the inheritance.

 

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