In a way, I think it’s terrible that God would choose someone like me to speak out on things others are just skirting around.

I fear God. If He uses me any way at all, it’s a miracle. The idea that He would allow me any part of His ministry is humbling, to say the least.

I worry about every word I say, knowing that I am standing, even breathing on His very mercies.

I’ve heard that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. I believe that. The fruit of the Spirit is the way He chooses to operate and wishes for us to do the same.

But we need to remember something we seldom talk about anymore. The Holy Spirit struck dead two people right in the door of the Church for lying to Him.

We think we can trifle with God and put ourselves on pedestals so that we can decide when He can move and when He cannot.

If not for the blood of Jesus Christ, God Almighty would have already allowed the earth to open up and swallow the whole bunch of us as He used to do with those who took it upon themselves to stand in His face and give directions.

Where are you, Prophets?

Okay, you’ve sat back and watched this whole authoritarian attitude develop, this declaration of one out of the five, declaring themselves next to Christ and the head above all others.

The Holy Ghost cannot move unless that one out of five, says so. This fear mongering that has been allowed and kept the saints of the living God on edge, less they offend some man who will bring down the wrath of The Ancient of Days upon them, is destructive and has left the body as a whole, powerless.

There are too many reports that much too often these one-fold people fail to even manifest the fruit of the Spirit in total, much less possess or operate the Gifts.

These one-folders have allowed the modern day Church to proclaim it is totally and fully apostolic.

They fill their sermons with scriptures that this Church, and anyone who has the Spirit, has the same promises and authority of what is written in Acts and the Epistles, but reserve the right to deny these manifestations and operations of these things within the body of believers.

These, more than organized brethren, somehow drafted into their own regulations the right to hinder anyone who threatened them by having something from God they did not, to include ministers of like faith who did not carry their particular identification.

Prophets, it seems it does not matter that these power hungry mortals would override the greatest Power of all, and drive away and scattered the flock, leaving many wounded, bereft and taking little responsibility for what they have done.

There were two other offices listed in the New Testament, the Bishop and the Presbyter, who were placed in the divine order of God’s Church, to watch over shepherds and other ministers in order that they did not mislead or do harm to the Saints of The Most High.

They were overseers of the entire Church, those with wisdom and experience to help guide our people on to perfection, as Christ intended.

Never were they to be only elected officials, who seemed more interested in politics and facilitating a ‘Who’s Who’ atmosphere.

This idea that each Church and pastor could make their own rules and treat one another any way they pleased, was a cop-out for not confronting sheep beating, and the misuse of the pulpit, no matter whether they got re-elected or not.

We’d better face something head-on. The 5-fold ministry is not relegated to one Organization.

That’s another one of our problems. Those called and chosen, most long before they know it, often do not fit in any particular organization.

Their field of operation is the entire Body of Christ, not just whatever name we post on the front of our building, or whose bylaws we carry in our pocket.

The New Testament Church and the ministry was already organized long before our little group came upon the horizon.

Lets make it plain as need be. An Apostle or Prophet within a particular organization could never step forward and give correction, reproof, rebuke or direction without fear of losing their license and credentials, much less a loss of financial help.

Nathan would likely never approach whomever God sent him to and declare “YOU, are the man.”

Allowing a few to operate gifts and stand in 5-fold ministry does not excuse the fact that most of those gifted with the very items we desperately need so badly, are denied the right or chance to use them, by the governance of the powers that be.

Those in leadership are responsible for the weakness of the Church of our day, our lack of performance in all the fullness of the New Testament Church that Christ and His Apostles gave their lives for.

The other 4 offices of the 5 are also responsible for not doing their job, because of fear of reprimand, for allowing themselves to be cheated out of the marvelous truth that was given unto them.

The Saints are responsible for not having a relationship with God’s Word and His Spirit that refuses to allow oppression of God’s people and a watered down version of what Pentecost and all the Acts following truly mean, settling for less and allowing their fruit to become sour.

We scoff and are chaffed when others leave our fellowships and churches and declare that they have found a deeper relationship with God than they ever knew before.

I heard a precious lady share here today, that not to speak up, is to speak, not to act, is to act.

If we had been holding to each other, following scripture for how we should love one another, and knowing for our own selves, that if we missed that, we had missed everything, taking up for one another, preferring one another and bearing one another’s burdens, we would never have allowed any one, any man or woman, to dominate our experience with God, or keep us from absolutely everything the Holiest Spirit of all, had for us.

I give honor to those in my life time who truly did fulfill all of the offices Christ set in His Church.

If I had not been exposed to these people, I may never in reality, have a clue to what I’m talking about today.

You see, when you have seen and tasted of the Supernatural power of the Spirit of God and seen it exercised and performed before your very eyes, you can never be satisfied with the ordinary.

When you’ve been mightily used by God, you are never the same.

Something in you remains stirred, forever moved and you feel it tugging at you no matter what you do or where you go.

I am not afraid to be honest about this. There have been times when I did not want to feel the pull of the supernatural, I did not want the gifts to compel me to minister to others, because I had failed Him so terribly.

I asked Him to let me go in peace, because of the bylaws my comrades had taught, and a church and society who never forget.

I talk openly to God. I reverence and fear Him, but I am not afraid of being honest with Him.

We brag about His Word never changing, but some of us have not followed His teachings from the start.

Those who have searched His Word and received the understanding that only the Spirit can give, have never been comfortable.

Those people thought we were going on forward to fullness, and seeing the return of all of the Gifts and Offices functioning as they were intended, resulting in the greatest outpouring ever known.

Those same people know we are no closer as a group than we were years ago. In fact, most of us are getting farther away.

God is raising up those from the byways and highways to answer His call to bring help and deliverance to this People.

He’s ringing the door of the forgotten, those thrown away and those who fell, but want one more chance to be a part of what He plans for this hour.

I close this with a personal appeal.

I have no desire to harm anyone today. I desire your prayers, that I too can find that place of restoration in my life.

My life swings in the balance. No matter how forceful I may speak at times, I tread very softly before the God of my understanding.

Because of much of our own harsh attitudes, our loss of what true love is all about, I am only today beginning to believe that God loves me, no matter what and He always did.

How could we take that from people?

When they left us, our love should have followed them out the door and that same love would have helped them find their way back home, to Him, wherever that was in their lives.

I feel there is a shift in God’s timing. Too many have almost given up for good.

He hears my cry, even when I don’t think He cares. The bleating of hurt sheep has become too loud in His ears.

First published: July 13, 2011.

~ Robert Blackburn

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Robert Blackburn

 

 

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