With the Apostle Paul, may each of us pray,
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect.
“But I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10-12 NAS
I, like all of you, have sensed grief and compassion watching the countless thousands that have lost their lives in Houston, and the thousands more that lost home and property.
God is not mad at His creation. He is not punishing His creation. He has already punished creation in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 53:10-11. The Father is totally satisfied with the punishment endured by Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Natural disasters and tragedy are most often a component of several factors: scientific weather patterns, geographical climate changes, and the sovereignty of God. This is no exception. It is easy for those who reside in “flood safe zones” to be critical of the faith of those in the strike zone. I assure you that is wholly inappropriate. This tragedy was not caused by a lack of faith and could not have been prevented by more faith.
God is not mad at His creation. He is not punishing His creation. He has already punished creation in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 53:10-11. The Father is totally satisfied with the punishment endured by Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The sky is not falling and the world is not coming to an end. This is a tragedy but it is not unique in history.
On December 28, 1908 123,000 were killed in an earthquake in Italy. December 16, 1920 in Gansu China 200,000 people were killed by an 8.6 earthquake. On September 1,1923 one third of Tokyo and most of Yokohama Japan was destroyed as 140,000 people died in an 8.3 magnitude temblor. An earthquake hit Xining China on May 22, 1927 and killed 200,000. Over 110,000 were killed in Turkmenistan on October 5, 1948 by a 7.3 earthquake. 60,000 people lost their lives in Peru on May 31, 1970, when an earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.9 struck the South American country. A cyclone hit Bangladesh and killed at least 300,000 on November 13, 1970. On July 28, 1976 China was hit by an earthquake that left more than 240,000 dead in Tangshan. As recent as last year on the same day as this most recent flood, December 26, 2003 26,000 were killed when an earthquake struck the ancient city of Bam in Iran. These are only a few of the dozens of other examples in the past one hundred years.
These tragedys are not new and they are not any more frequent than in the past. This is not a sign of the end of time. This is a sign of creation groaning as it has for hundreds of years. Romans 8:19.
God did not use a flood to call thousands of people home at once. He did however receive thousands of saints home at once. To accuse Him of calling them home is to lay blame for the disaster at His hands. A loving Father received home thousands of His people but He did not call them home. Our concept of God will determine the level of comfort that we can receive from Him.
Several years ago I taught a course in our Bible School on Proper Paradigms for Ministerial Excellence. In that course I used Flood’s as a pattern for what I saw coming in the Spirit. A part of that which is three years old I share for your consideration today.
“We are approaching moments of monumental change. Change must occur. There is coming a Flood of the Spirit. A Flood is a harbor wave and is used as the scientific term for seismic sea waves generated by an undersea earthquake or possibly an undersea landslide or volcanic eruption.
A Flood can be most devastating. I do not know if we have ever experienced a serious flood in my lifetime but we probably will because first the natural and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46. I know in my heart that a Spiritual Flood is beginning.
You may say how do you know a Flood is coming? I have read the seismographs. Seismographs are instruments that detect vibrations that the undersea earthquakes send through the ROCK beneath the ground.
There is a stirring below the surface of the sea of humanity. Something is beginning to vibrate and resonate in the hearts of mankind. Change has changed. There is a difference between change and transition.
Transition is the passage from one place or condition to another; change. Change is incremental and situational. Change is when you have to do better what you already know how to do. Transition is supersonic change.
Transition goes from incremental to exponential. Transition is when change changes. Transition is the pyschological process people go through to come to terms with a new situation. Transition is when you have to do what you don’t know how to do.
1 Corinthians 15:51. You cannot stop it from coming, be wise don’t even try. There is a Spiritual Flood coming. I can feel the vibrations. I detect something moving in the Rock. I would not be at all surprised if we don’t hear about some natural occurences that wash away landscapes and structures. A Flood of the spirit is on the way.
When it strikes, the landscape of religion and the structures that are authoritarian instead of relational will be removed forever. This spiritual flood like it’s natural counterpart will hit today’s culture and remove whatever does not embrace it’s coming. We are in the transition of it at this very moment.
The Flood I see will have a wave crest that will build without breaking for decades to come. It will cause Azusa Street to look like a Saturday afternoon surfers wave. This Flood will be both great and terrible. Joel 2:11. We are a walk on the water type of people.
This flood will create many problems but remember God’s answers are as big as our problems. There has always been a connection between the move of God and the move of water. Genesis 1:2.
Moses put his rod in the water and it rolled back. Joshua was required to put his feet in the water before it rolled back. We are a New Covenant Joshua Ministry and Church.
It is time to create some waves of our own. No greater wave has ever been created than the one made by the Morning Star, Jesus Christ, whose death, burial and resurrection created a tidal wave that has not crested yet. I am convinced that the comprehension of this three dimensional truth will be the Flood that sweeps a generation.
The challenge of our times is how to stay true to who you are while changing who you are. We must underpromise and overdeliver. For where we are going, there are no roads. The roads will be made from walking. Joshua 3:4.
This Flood will bring great cultural changes. These changes will require changes in the ministry approach and outreach. Hebrews 7:12. We must stop making faces at those who face the future.
We must think seriously and substantively about the long term of our life and ministry. We must be willing to let go of whatever no longer works or is irrelevant. We will either write new history (His story) or become history. If we remain comfortable we will not change.
We are in a new day of GRACE, God’s Righteousness And Corresponding Empowerment. We are equipped for this Flood of the Spirit.
I am not making predictions, I am just reading the signs of the promise. The Bible is a book of promises and potentials not predictions. Promises are fulfilled and potentials are realized in ways that could not have been imagined at the time by those making the promise or seeing the potential. There is a promise of a coming Flood of the Spirit. Haggai 2:9. I see the potential in the groaning creation. Even nature is crying out to be free. The vibrations below the surface declare a Flood is on the way, brace for it as it will be great and terrible.
You are called and chosen to change the world but to do so you must have a new and constantly forming paradigm that is proper and produces service that is excellent.
Now Go make a wave!”
The class that night concluded but the truth is still unfolding. I encourage us all to act with compassion and generosity to aide those most in need from the natural flood, and to prepare for what is upon us just as severe in the spirit but it will be great. Severe for those clinging to bondage and false teachings and great for those swimming in the grace and truth of the finished work of Calvary.
Sincerely,
David Huskins
www.clccnet.org
dhuskins@clccnet.org
CHURCH AS WE
KNOW IT IS OVER
By Don Nori
www.DestinyImage.com
Don Nori is the founder and CEO of Destiny Image Publishers. He is also a prolific writer and has authored nine books including Romancing the Divine, Secrets of the Most Holy Place and the Power of Brokenness. Don has worked in the publishing industry and traveled internationally over the past 20 years working with people of all races and nationalities. Don and his wife, Cathy, live in Pennsylvania at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains.
Several years ago, Don felt the Lord leading him to fan the flame in Italy. God opened many doors in the months to come and paved a path to the Italian countryside. Since then Pastor Don has been traveling there two to three times a year. Churches all over the country have accepted him and continue to invite him to deliver the proceeding work of God. He also launched DI Europe which is based in Italy.
As we begin 2005, the Church is at a major crossroads in her multi-millennial sojourn through time upon this earth. She has some very big decisions to make. But most of us are not aware of the change that is in the Wind. For church, as we know it, is over.
The church, (the one being built by Jesus, not this monstrosity of a system we incorrectly call the Church), will move on with the gentle sound of His voice. The Church He is building will not need an earthquake, a hurricane, or pixie dust floating in the air to get her attention. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him because they follow His voice. This will be a big test of who we really are and whose kingdom we are really building. If it is His Kingdom, we will leap at the sound of His voice and go where he leads us. If we are building the counterfeit, we will not be so inclined to move very quickly. For there is much to lose and much to risk in responding to Him whilst building anything of our own.
The charismatics, the Pentecostals and the revivalists are all crowding at the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit is urging, calling, leading them to cross, but few have the faith to cross because few have the faith to risk what they have built. Maybe that is the problem…we have built it and it is OURS. We must protect what is ours at all costs, even at the cost of moving on with the Lord. It is always so easy to camp along the river rather than risk the dangers of fording the rapids, even when you have the voice of the Lord drawing you on..
So we invent, discover and imagine all kinds of histrionics to keep everyone satisfied where they are… on the wrong side of the river. We go around the things He has shown us again and again. We devise newer and more complicated ways of saying and doing the things we have know for years. Oh, we will occasionally look longingly across the river, wondering if there really is more over there, but the safety is always here. Few will admit that we have lost the faith, the daring and the adventure of our earlier days. Although denominationalism is anathema to us, we gather around the same things and build the same walls and defend our position with the same conviction and piety as all those who have gone before us.
But those who do not cross the river do not change the world. It is true, they do not rock the boat, but they do not see anything new, experience anything deeper than what has been “felt and telt” many, many times and for many, many years.
God does not talk in circles. He has a definite destination in mind and He fully intends to have a people that will be willing to be lead to the deepest reservoirs of Hid love and the very fullness of His Life.
Church as we know it is over. He is about wrestle control of His own church from the carnal hands of insecure, angry, controlling and legalistic men and women, build His own church, just as He promised He would.
Church as we know it is passing away. The thing we have called church is but a dim shadow of the life-giving, empowering wholeness of that for which Jesus died, rather, rose from the dead to lavish upon mere mortal men.
We have asked for wealth when He wanted to give us nations. We focused on our healing when He wanted to make us healers. We have searched for mercy and compassion when He had called us to carry those same treasures to a dying world. We are self-examining when He wants us to be pouring ourselves out so others can find Him.
There is no doubt. The self-centered, need-oriented, program-driven, growth-addicted destiny-snatching, dream-killing counterfeit is about to be replaced by His church; a company of loosely connected people held together only by the bonds of love. This people is the Christ-centered, Kingdom-declaring, light-shining heart throb of God Himself. His people hear His voice and respond with joy and anticipation, not fear and uncertainty. They are a devil-ignoring, life-giving, God-honoring group of worshipers whose greatest fulfillment in life is to be called to His service by the gentle sound of His voice.
This church understands that the hands Jesus will stretch out to heal will be her hands. They know they are His hug, His smile, His encouraging word and the world’s only hope of glory.
The solution is clear…You are the church that Jesus Himself, is building!
Destiny Image publishers:
www.destinyimage.com