#396 Kingdom: Restoration Of the Church
The coming of the Messiah about 2000 years ago has changed the history of mankind in this earth dimension. This tremendous event signaled the transformation of the race of Adam into a totally new species of man upon the earth. The prophets had been announcing this cataclysmic event for hundreds of years. They had announced that God was going to enact a New Covenant in which man would become the dwelling place of God and He would be in them and walk in them. They would no longer need to have men teach them because they would be taught by the indwelling God. God would forgive their sin and their iniquity and their rebellious and lawless lives would be remembered no more. God was going to establish His Kingdom on earth and the Messiah of Israel would be the King of the Kingdom. His government would be an everlasting government established upon an everlasting covenant.
It was NOT that He was going to overlook or ignore their fallen and rebellious lives but He would CAUSE them to walk in His ways, that they would be careful to keep His statutes and ordinances and do them. In other words; God within them, would transform them from what they were into totally new creations who could do the complete will of God.
Even though all this announcement was very clear and the Messiah came and died exactly according to what the prophets has said, many still rejected the whole event. The tragedy today is that many “churches” ignore the provision that came into the history of man at Calvary. Mankind was given the opportunity to be birthed into that New Covenant dimension. Many have denied the new creation ( a new Genesis) that began at Calvary with the Last Adam and the Second Man, who originated from heaven. Therefore, they are ignorant of the New Species of man that God has created to fulfill His Eternal Purpose and bring joy to His heart.
The old creation and the species of first Adam was created to administrate the affairs of God in the earth dimension. The new creation and the species of the Last Adam has been birthed into a different and higher dimension to administrate and legislate the affairs of the Kingdom of God both in the Millennium and in the next New Creation in the eternal dimensions that we see in Revelation 21:1-3. The “New Creation” now, in this church realm, must grow, develop and be perfected here to be part of the “New Creation” in the eternal realm when ALL things will be made new.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them,
Rev 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
When we transition from the old creation to the “new creation” in Christ, we are just in preparation for the next “New Creation” when God makes ALL things new. In that dimension there will be a completely New Earth, a completely New Heaven and a New Jerusalem, the City of The Great King.
It is at that Eternal Time when the Tabernacle of God will be among men. This is precisely why we must be, while still in this dimension, very clear and conscious of the revelation contained in the Tabernacle of Moses because it is a copy and shadow of the True Tabernacle in Heaven.
The very short dispensation of the earthly ministry of the Messiah was just about 3 ½ years but so much provision of God was released during Calvary that men are still discovering new blessings and provisions today. Multitudes among the nations and millions within the visible church system are still uninformed and therefore ignorant of this provision and why each provision of Calvary is essential for the church to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose. Some groups have just focused upon one provision of Calvary which is the “forgiveness of sins.”
Jer 31:31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
Jer 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 “And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD , “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Eze 36:26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Some have believed that if they have received the “new Spirit” and are “born again” that is all they need. Therefore they ignore the next provision of “and I will put My Spirit within you.” The New Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and the My Spirit is the Holy Spirit. Both of these Spirits are part of the provision of Calvary but they came to the believers at different times, about 50 days apart. Jesus breathed His Spirit (the Word of God; the Holy Spirit of Christ) into the disciples in John 20:21 immediately following the resurrection but they were baptized with the Holy Spirit of God and “filled with the Holy Spirit” on the 50th day following the First Fruits Resurrection.
Following the resurrection, the Spirit of Christ is the “Life Giving Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the “Power Giving Spirit.”
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
1Co 15:45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead {the Holy Spirit} dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Resurrection!” He was also seen incarnated in Melchizedek as King / Priest. He is the “Spirit of Power” that was seen coming upon certain men in the Old Testament causing them to be able to do great exploits. He came upon some as the “Spirit of Prophesy.” His very diverse ministry is revealed from Genesis to Revelation. However, within the New Covenant His ministry is magnified and universalized and now inward because He that was with us shall be “IN US.” What a MIGHTY difference Calvary has made in the lives of ALL mankind.
John 17:26 and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.
John 14:20 “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
John 17:23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.
I in them, You in Me, I in You and THEY IS US is another wonderful provisions of Calvary. He that was “with you” shall be “in you” is one of the wonderful provisions of Pentecost that was made possible by Calvary. The purpose of the Trinity being “in us” is to complete His work in this “church dispensation” on earth and to perfect us for eternity to fulfill His Eternal Purpose. This church age is so unique that it is clear that NOTHING like this “incarnation in man” was ever seen before Calvary and nothing as great as this will be surpassed during this dispensation. “I will dwell in them and I will walk in them” is one of the provisions of the New Covenant that MUST NOT be ignored because it is part of the Gospel of the Kingdom and the very provision for its effectiveness.
With ALL this wonderful and powerful provision of God for the resurrected church, how is it possible that this current church system is in such a sorry and pitiful state? It is obvious that the dynamics, the illumination and zeal of the early church is dreadfully lacking today. The power of Pentecost is nearly unknown today in the “church converts” or those who have just been converted to an “earth church system.”
We could say that the present visible church system, compared to the early church is pathetic, generic, apathetic, indifferent, lukewarm, wretched, poor, miserable, blind, naked and ignorant. They may have a name that they are alive but they are dead.
Why is this situation so tragic? Because of ALL the promises and provision that God has poured out upon the church to sustain her and sanctify her to fulfill His Eternal Purpose. But what is the result of God’s abundant grace that was poured out upon the church through Calvary? The majority of believers today only want to live for themselves and have God bless their lives and prosper them in the earth dimension. The “church” has become totally self centered and selfish and has attempted to use God for their own purposes. However, for this selfish generation, becoming partakes of the divine nature and growing up in all things into Christ has been postponed until we arrive in heaven.
2Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Rom 14:7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
2Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
We must conclude that the apathy and indifference, that is common in the generic dirt church, is not normal Christianity. If we listen to what the “Prophets” are saying it seems that all of a sudden God is going to work wonders and change the “dirt church” into a raging bastion of holiness, power and aggressive evangelism. My theory is the church didn’t fall into this miserable state in one giant fall and it will not be restored in one giant step! God will rebuild the church in the degree that He is permitted to reverse the downward spiral by imparting the experiences of the ascending Life. It is my opinion that the “visible church” has been molded into this “dirt structure” over several generations and it not likely to ever change.
It we could divide the “visible church” into two categorizes between the “living church” and the “dead church” we could understand that the “living church” is barely living. It certainly is not very similar to the first church. Today we could say that even the “living church” is still sub-Christian.
Rev 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
We wonder what the Lord would write to the visible church today. Would He say “You are a wonderful manifestation of what I had in mind when I gave myself as a sacrifice on Calvary!” “You have become a beautiful bride, full grown, without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless and are arrayed in fine linen, bright and clean. All your defects have been surrendered and healed and you have grown to My measure and My stature.” Of course this is just fantasy because the visible church is nothing like this today.
Eph 5:25----- just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
Christ gave himself up “for the church” and not just to save sinners from hell. However, the church still must be cleansed and perfected. Christ died to gain for himself a perfected bride. My theory is this; it might be helpful if we could see how far the church has fallen from the Eternal Purpose of God and how that happened. However, we must NOT stop there but learn what is required to restore the church and establish her back into the process of coming to perfection.
We might point out every step in the downward spiral that began with or before Constantine in the 4th century AD up until God began the restoration with Martin Luther in 1517. Even before Constantine, who was “converted” in 312 AD, the Bishop of Rome had declared his leadership over the church and established his position of honor and supremacy and took universal authority over all “Christian lands.” When Constantine became Emperor he introduced the “church / state” relationship where both were integrated into the other. The Empire became a “church / state.” Because of this the church became more and more political and earthly rather than spiritual and heavenly. Constantine, himself, retained some of his pagan gods and retained the pagan high priest title of Pontifex Maximus. Constantine continued to worship the Sun God called “The Unconquered Sun.”
Christian writers spoke of Christ as the Light of the world and the Sun of Righteousness which seem to support Constantine’s understanding of the Sun God. Therefore, the religion of Constantine was a confused mixture of Christianity and paganism. It is little wonder that such a downward spiral began in the visible church that lasted for about 1000 years. During this time the “Christian Church” accepted and included many pagan ideas and set up images from the worship of the sun. the “Sun Day” was observed weekly! Christmas was just included in the December 25th worship and celebration of the birthday of the sun.
Using the Virgin Mary as another symbolism of some pagan ritual or an Egyptian goddess was another example of the downward spiral that took the church into the dark ages. Many examples could be given of how paganism had invaded the church structure during that time. This is sufficient to show how far the “dirt church” fell into “dirt darkness.” This was more ignorant, severe and a greater departure from God than what Adam and Eve did in the garden.
During this time the relationship between Christ and God and Jesus was being confused and some believed that Christ was first created by God and THEN became the Creator of other things etc. All kinds of strange doctrines soon emerged. Constantine’s three sons divided up the Kingdom after their father’s death and attempted to remove paganism from the church and to close the heathen temples. Constantius, Constantine’s second son, carried on his father’s efforts to unite the church under one head but because unity was the goal, doctrine, truth and liberty was sacrificed. Another Emperor introduced Hellenistic concepts and Greek mythology into the church and the downward spiral continued.
The point I am making is that too much of what we accept today as pure Christianity is still polluted with too much that is not Christian. Then there is that element that is sub-Christian. Therefore, in trying to find a solution to this miserable condition in the church, we must do more than study church history and introduce “one rectification” for each step downward. This might require another 1000 years to reverse the condition of the church.
My theory is that all we need to do is revisit the tremendous transition that took place between Calvary and the Feast of Pentecost in Acts 2 and discover how centuries of dead religion in Israel was corrected in a few months. Of course the “system” didn’t change but many were delivered from the “system.” This was AFTER the Holy Spirit arrived as the Promise of the Father. None of us will live long enough to correct anything by some mechanical means of reversing the hundreds of steps downward. We must enter into the elevator upward in the ascending Life and participate in the fulness of the Holy Spirit and His work of preparing a bride for Jesus.
We Are Searching For The Solution; Not Just More Criticism!
Calvary alone didn’t change the religious system in Israel. Even the resurrection or the ascension didn’t change the religious system. However, Calvary, the resurrection and the ascension was necessary for Christ Jesus to receive from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit and begin a new realm of relationship of a New Covenant with the Father.
Act 2:32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
This is how the early church began. Jesus warned His disciples NOT to go out and do anything until they had received the Holy Spirit. THEN they were to begin in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and on to the uttermost parts of the earth. Without Pentecost none of this would have been possible.
Act 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit {the Seven Spirits of God} is the key to the restoration of the church and to the church fulfilling God’s Eternal Purpose. Too many of the earth bound programs and carnal devices the church has used over the past 100 years to promote itself have been substitutes for the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.
We must learn from church history and not continue to make these same mistakes year after year. Ignoring the Holy Spirit as the Sovereign God over the church and its sole authority and administrator has been the problem and the cause of the downward spiral into this pitiful condition the church is in today.
Therefore, we MUST begin with the solution and forget about asking God for a new revival IN this corrupt church system. It is dead, so let the dead bury the dead but let us go on to follow the Lord into a real and total restoration. My theory is this; There will be NO restoration of the church until the church is restored to her identity in the Holy Spirit and He is recognized as the Sovereign God and administrator over the Church.
Of course “dirt men” have always coveted HIS position of authority and that is part of the problem. It was the “dirt ministries” that caused the church to return to the dirt dimension when it was designed to be raised up and seated with Christ in the next dimension.
Definition; “Dirt Church System” means the system that readily accepts “dirt men” who are of the species of the first Adam into membership and which establishes “ministries” that have NOT made the transition to the new species.
I am speculating that since it was the “dirt ministries” that failed to keep the church in the ascending mode it will be up to the “restored new species ministries” to reverse this fallen and failed condition of the church and get the “restoration church” back into the ascending Life. I am guessing that the “dirt ministries” in the visible church will be unable to make the transition to the “Spirit ministry” simply because of the fossilized “dirt church system” which will be unable to accept such a radical change.
If this is true, then any new restoration must take place outside the “current dirt church system.”
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.
Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Still Seeking For a Solution!
Question? Has the church today reached the maximum of illumination, glory, guidance and truth of the Holy Spirit that Jesus said is available to us in this dispensation? Of course not! It is clear that not even a small portion of the Promise of the Father is being manifested. Even if great messages are preached about the Holy Spirit and scriptural doctrines are taught about His coming and His work, precious little is experienced and manifested. There is certainly not much Pentecostal influence being felt in the universal church. In fact it is difficult to identify any difference between an Evangelical group and a Pentecostal group. Both groups seem to ignore His Administrative Sovereignty over the church and ALL its activities.
As we travel, it is clear, there is rising a great hunger, desire and anticipation of experiencing the Holy Spirit in a much greater measure. There really is a much greater desire for a comprehensive knowledge of Him and His work within the lives of true believers. While the last restoration presented to Holy Spirit in His objective work and outward manifestation, the present desire is for an inner change and to experience His subjective correction, discipline and illumination within the new species inner man.
We have established that the Kingdom Government of God MUST begin to be established and obeyed in the new inner man. Now we need to identify and confirm who is God’s agent to establish His Kingdom Government within us! Obviously, this is the Holy Spirit sent from heaven for this very purpose. Is the Kingdom then only subjective? No!
Mat 12:28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The Kingdom is demonstrated objectively by the ministry of the Holy Spirit subjectively. Most everyone I fellowship with senses a great inner need. They express an extreme desire to be more effective in ministry. Most have experienced the bankruptcy of human effort in ministry and seen so much of their ministry activity being ineffective and a waste of precious time, producing nothing eternal! However, most all have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and consider themselves “Pentecostal.” We conclude from this that being “Pentecostal” is NOT the solution so we must be missing something that is just very basic for ministry. Most all know and recognize their weakness and ineffective personal ability to carry on a ministry. Many feel lukewarm and full of diverse needs. Many have lost their confidence, enthusiasm, revelation and inspiration to carry on in their current ministry. Some Evangelicals have returned to college to earn their Masters and Doctor’s Degrees, thinking this will fix what is lacking. There is a tremendous amount of frustration among the forward looking ministries today and the “experts” are recommending new programs and “life style changes.” Making public and corporate “proclamations” of consecrations to Christ and commitments to try harder to become more effective for Christ is gaining popularity.
Having gone the Romans 7 way of trying harder myself for many years, it is clear to me that all this is just another exercise in futility. The death blow to Romans 7 human effort is “Without Me you can do nothing.” “Oh, wretched man that I am!” Or as Jesus said; “Don’t TRY TO DO any ministry until you be filled with the Holy Spirit and are endued with Power from on high.” This is MUCH more than the initial Pentecostal experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which is identified with speaking with tongues! How do I know that? Because I was “Baptized with the Holy Spirit” and spoke in tongues nearly 39 years ago and I have failed in all areas of ministry.
Does that mean the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not valid today or is unnecessary? Of course not! It just proves that once we ARE Baptized in the Holy Spirit that we are just beginning the rectification necessary to move into the New Covenant ministry of the Spirit. How do we know that? Because most of the Pentecostal ministries are still just ministering letter. That means more facts, scriptural data and Bible information in the dirt dimension. How am I aware of that? Because that is exactly what I did and I “ministered” in many conferences here and in different countries where ministering letter was the normal among the other “ministers.”
When we hear the “prophets” saying that we need to go again to the upper room to wait, pray, unify and long for the coming of the Holy Spirit, I recognize the frustration of another “dirt ministry” looking for a solution to the pitiful condition of the church. Other “dirt ministries” are very bold to say we must identify and bind the strong man over our area because he is hindering the church and causing this comatose condition. We probably need to bind the “dirt minister” and ask God to cause him to be speechless until he can escape the “dirt dimension.”
Zachariah was a priest with a dirt ministry but God shut his mouth until John was born so he couldn’t spread unbelief and false doctrine to his wife, Elizabeth.
In my opinion the church system that we are now using is NOT an authorized system and was never ordained by God. How do we know that? Because the dirt church, functioning by that system, is not growing or going on to perfection. Spiritual maturity is NOT the goal of that system but just maintaining the status quo and increasing the membership. Some are building bigger storehouses to house more dirt men. This is what we refer to as “seeking more clean fill dirt” to enhance the property and increase the tithe.
The Holy Spirit who was sent to be “almighty God” to the church and the Sovereign Administrator in the church is not the same Spirit that is generally preached to the church. What is preached is “another spirit” which is part of this “another gospel that promotes “another Jesus.” “Another Jesus, another Spirit and another gospel” points to some counterfeit message devised by dirt men that were the predecessors of today’s modernism. Modernism teaches that the Holy Spirit is an influence, a dynamic impersonal energy, without a real substance but functioning by inspiration. This is not just “another spirit” but a “seducing spirit.” We wonder what is available to “save” such a perverted, deceived, God dishonoring, unbelieving splinter of Christianity that is barren of any spiritual perception. It may be that God has given them over to a depraved mind. Still, that kind of influence has infiltrated and motivates the “dirt church system.”
It seems important to me that we quit searching for what others say about the Holy Spirit, His personality and His work, and begin to seek for first hand TRUTH from the Spirit of Truth, Himself.
I began with the Charismatic Movement in 1970 and the “doctrine of the Holy Spirit” was one of the predominate themes of the conferences, meetings and books. Hundreds of books, tapes, magazines and reams of literature was written and distributed during that 15 years. I read a lot of what was made available. Still, I was no closer to a dynamic experience of the Holy Spirit as the Subjective God in my life, establishing His Government over my Life. I thank God for what little I did experience but that no longer is adequate to participate in the dimensions that are available to us today. Specifically, the dimensions of the Seven Spirits of God designed to be attached to the Lampstand Church illuminating the Priesthood function in the Holy Place Life and Ministry. Thank God that we did receive the “earnest or down payment” but now my hunger and search is for the fulness of the Spirit or the Spirit without measure.
The time to trust human teachers of the dirt dimension to guide us into ultimate Truth has passed. In fact a new dimension of “teaching” came with the New Covenant. However, that dimension of teaching has become a great secret among the celebrity ministries while human teachers maintain their egos and position of importance and relevance in the development of the church.
The best and most relevant thing we can learn about the Holy Spirit is simply what Jesus taught in the Gospels. He told us every thing that was needed to respect, honor and receive the Holy Spirit. We are so limited by the natural mind that the brain can only receive a limited amount of teaching by men. After that it is better for the “teachers” to go away so the Holy Spirit can come and lead the church into All truth.
Under the Old Covenant God appointed the Priesthood after the Order of Aaron to teach Israel the Law, the Statutes and the Ordinances. Under the New Covenant God has appointed the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek- The Holy Spirit- to teach us All things and to lead us into All truth. He is here and He is willing to take Truth and Reality from the Word of God and then to reveal All Things to us.
The summation of this document is to point out that God’s solution to the dead religious system of Israel was to introduce the New Covenant as an essential and living experience! This total provision was designed to construct in us a new inner man that is of a different species from all the former species of the first creation. It is the New Covenant provision that will transform this new species man into a minister of the New Covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit.
My theory is that all we need to do to escape this dead religious system {which we are calling the dirt church} is to revisit the New Covenant and to experience the full provision and the fulness of the Holy Spirit. This means to experience the Holy Spirit as the Sovereign God over our lives and the Administrator of the Kingdom of God in this church age. He has come as the King of Righteousness and as a the Priest of the Most High God. When He Is permitted to acquire that position in our Life, we can soon make the transition into the Holy Place Life and Ministry.