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His Command Is Life!/The Given! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 10/ Issue 4 Prophecy: Why is it that over and over again you’ll see the one who loves Me the most, the one who is most serious about learning of Me, is the one I take out of the establishment churches? Why do I take them out if those churches are acceptable to Me? Why do I take the best and the good out of them? Isn’t it plain to see that these churches aren’t acceptable to Me; they aren’t good enough for My elect? And when one rises above the wickedness, and the corruption and the pollution in these false churches; and when one shows himself to be better than they, I choose that one and I pull him out and I bring him to My church. For that one is fit by his rejection of what is inferior, to receive what is superior, so I take him to My church that is acceptable to Me. Now isn’t it plain to see these churches around you aren’t acceptable to Me, and I’m not trying to make them acceptable. I’m receiving only those among them who are acceptable to Me and taking them to the place where they can be made even more acceptable, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: I love My Father and I honor My Father. My Father has given Me a job to do. He has given Me as a great King would give to a master craftsman his rare and precious stones so that craftsman may then forge, cut and polish those stones in such a way as the King can then wear them, display them and show forth his glorious gems. So He has given Me His sons, His children, the ones He has foreordained to be His own and I will give them back to Him; a glorious church, a beautiful bride, an awesome array of perfect children that are just like Me. And I will give them to honor My Father because I love My Father. The foolish ideas of those around you is that I will give you back to My Father in the Day of Judgment maimed, useless and ugly and simply say to My Father, “It’s the thought that counts.” I will by no means do this! I will give nothing to My Father that does not honor Him. I will give no gift that doesn’t honor the One I’m giving the gift to. So you must understand, and you must have in your heart that you will let Me make you a gift that honors My Father. And even as this is My heart, why is it not your heart? Also it isn’t the thought that counts but the thought only counts if the gift proves the thought. The thought only counts if the gift proves you’ve thought hard enough, you’ve set it in your heart long enough to show that you love the person you’re giving the gift to. Only then does the gift approve the thought. So bring a gift that proves you’ve thought well about My church, and bring a gift that proves you’ve thought well about Me, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) His Command Is Life! “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you’ll not hear, And if you’ll not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I’ll send a curse upon you, And I’ll curse your blessings. Yes, I’ve cursed them already, because you don’t take it to heart.” (Mal 2:1-2) The Lord gives commandments. To obey Him is life, to disobey, cursing and death. Is this not the same word God would speak to you today? If you don’t take it to heart to glorify His name is still a valid New Covenant command. (1Cor10:31) For I haven’t spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak. (Jn12:49-50) Everything Jesus speaks is spoken in obedience to the command of the Father. It’s coming from God and it’s coming for a good purpose. God doesn’t do anything except for a good and noble purpose. And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them. (Ezek20:11) In other words, His commands shall be life to them. And He’s given us commands that are life to us also. And this is one of the areas where the foolish churches and these wicked false “believers” who serve the antichrist do violence to the scriptures in almost every way they can. For example, once a person decides to believe “once saved always saved” he can’t accept anything that disagrees with it so he’ll ignore or twist every scripture that seems incompatible and find some rationalization to make any contrary scripture seem to mean something different from what it really means. He does this in hopes that his “once saved always saved” idol will stand if he can prevent any other scripture from disagreeing with it or exposing it as a lie. In a similar manner this same wicked bunch that follows “once saved always saved” has heretically come to believe that since we’ve been set free from “the law” we don’t need to keep God’s or even Jesus’ commands anymore. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Act1:1-2) Did Jesus stop giving commandments when He started the New Covenant? Of course not! Then disobeying or ignoring His commandments is not what’s being talked about when He says we’ve been set free from the law. We’ve been set free from obeying the dead Mosaic law, the written commandments of Moses in order that we may now obey the living commandments of Christ. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom8:2) In no way have we been set free from obeying Christ’s commandments. His commandments are life and if you disobey them it’s death to you. Consider the Revelation letters to the seven churches. What is Jesus telling these churches? He’s giving them commandments. What’s going to happen to them if they don’t obey the commandments? “If you don’t obey what I’m telling you I’ll remove your lampstand from its place.” (Rev2:5) “If you don’t repent and obey the command I’m giving you I’ll fight against you with the sword of My mouth.” (Rev2:16) “I’ll cast her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation and I’ll kill her children with death if they don’t repent and obey what I’m commanding you to do.” (Rev2:22-23) His commandment is life. If you disobey His command you die. If Jesus continued making commands even after He gave us the New Testament then He expects His commands to be obeyed. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Lk6:46) He’s the author and finisher of our faith. He’s the one who has ratified the New Testament with His blood and now we’re supposed to believe these wicked baptist-type theologians who tell us we’re set free from the law in such a way as we don’t need to obey Jesus’ commandments? Who knows better than Jesus what the New Covenant is? And if Jesus is still giving commandments and He’s still showing you that disobeying His commandments is death and obeying them is life then you better rethink your demonized theology. It isn’t “legal” to obey Jesus’ commands, it’s faith! His commands are life. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1Jn3:23) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (Jn13:34) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1Jn3:14) Are we to respond, “We’re not under the law Jesus, so we don’t have to obey Your command?” Because we’re under grace not law we don’t have to obey Jesus? Do you see how idiotic and antichrist these ridiculous Baptists are? If you don’t love your brother you don’t have eternal life in you. (1Jn3:14) So if you don’t obey Jesus’ commandment you don’t have salvation! And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1Jn3:22) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (1Jn5:2) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1Cor10:31) That’s a command. Get it into your heart to glorify God. If you will not hear and if you will not take it to heart to give glory to My name I will curse your blessings! In fact I’ve cursed them already. (Mal 2:2) How precisely the Old and New Testaments agree when it comes to the glory of God! “For all have sinned and fallen short of” what? The Glory of God! (Rom3:23) The most distinguishing virtue in Christ Jesus is His continual concern for the glory of His Father. All that He thinks or does has as its primary goal to glorify His Father. Now how can Christ be in you unless you too have that desire to be effectual in the glorifying of God? And if it’s not in your heart to glorify God, Malachi says God will even curse your blessings. He’ll take your blessings away from you. But if God would curse your blessings because you don’t take it to heart to give glory to His Name what happens if you do take it to heart? Of course He’ll bless you! “In blessing I will bless you.” (Gen22:17) This means He’ll even give you a double blessing! How hard is it for you to take it to heart to give glory to God? If you’d start your day praying, “Lord, help me to glorify You in everything I do today; in my work place, in my home and in the church service tonight.” Then if you’d listen to the Spirit through the day Christ would certainly guide you into good things you could do to His glory. Regarding church you shouldn’t wait to get to the service to pray about glorifying God. You should be praying for God to be glorified in the service well before you get there! Actually, you should be praying for the church service as soon as you get up in the morning! You must keep your participation in the church glorious before the Lord because the number one location, the primary and most important of all places to glorify God must be in His sanctuary. It’s His resting place; His dwelling place. It’s the main area where He can be found in the midst of His people. His glory must be manifested in the sanctuary even more powerfully than anywhere else. By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified. (Lev10:3) When the brethren and the children of God come to the true church they must see God being glorified. It must be on your heart to glorify God and it should be so much a part of you that it’s in the category of “praying without ceasing” (1Th5:17) that you’re always seeking new opportunities to glorify God. “Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you (to glorify My name), that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 2:4) Levi is the tribe that does all the work of the tabernacle and all the priests are of the family of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. As New Covenant saints we are to behave as “Priests and Levites.” And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev5:9-10) One important facet of the covenant with Levi is the Lord is their inheritance. (Num18:20-24) If God is our inheritance, we’re not looking for an inheritance in this world. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14) It must be in the heart of a Levite to glorify God or the Levite will fail terribly at his calling. Who’ll glorify God if the Levites don’t? So God’s given you this commandment, which is life to you if you obey it, death if you disobey it. I’ll curse you for disobeying or I’ll bless your blessings if you’ll bring glory to My Name. My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, and I gave them (My commandments of life and peace) to him that he might fear Me; so he feared Me and was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked before Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest shall keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. (Mal 2:5-7) That’s our calling too, to turn men away from iniquity. And if you do the job well, you’ll experience the grace Paul so often invokes in blessing the obedient saints; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph1:2) Peace from God is a very good blessing! A peaceful life and a peaceful death often accompany the good testimony of the righteous because there isn’t any peace for the wicked (Is48:22) also means the righteous will have peace! What’s the secret of having peace with God? Settle it in your heart to give glory to His Name. Get it in your heart that whenever you come into the sanctuary you’re there to bring glory to God and pray always for Him to help you obey Him and to give you the grace to live a life that glorifies Him. Do that and God will be at peace with you. His covenant is also with you for life and peace. Keep My commands and live! (Pr4:4) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1Jn5:3) Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. (Eph6:24) Prophecy: Is My Word a treasure to you? Examine yourself and look to the ones whom you can see glorify Me in all that they do. What’s the difference between them and you who don’t glorify Me in all that you do? I tell you the difference is I am their treasure; and the Word I speak to them is their treasure. Even more than that, My church is their treasure, and they do all things with the consideration of what the result will be in regard to My glory, in regard to things I have said and in regard to the effect upon their brethren. And because these things, Myself, My Word, and their brethren are their treasure it’s not a hard thing for them to take every thought into captivity. It’s not a hard thing for them to always be conscious of My glory and the repercussions of the actions they may take. For these things are always in their heart, and where their treasure is. And for you who continually suffer shame and are under reproach it’s because I’m not your treasure; My Word isn’t your treasure and My church isn’t your treasure. I say you must get your heart on things that matter and treasure My living Word especially above all things. For I’ve said, He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. And what is it that sanctifies you? It is My living Word. And when you allow My living Word to manifest in you then I’m not ashamed to call you My brethren; because truly you treasure My Word and that glorifies Me in all the things you do, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: You desire to glorify Me? My Word says whatever you do should be unto My glory. But My Word also says My church is My glory. The foremost way you can glorify Me is to glorify Me in My church. Also show forth My glory in glorifying My church, for everything concerning My church is to be unto My glory. Love her, intercede for her, labor for her that she may be a glory unto Me in every way. Seek Me on her behalf that I may show you what you can do to make your local church congregation a special glory unto Me. And this I also say to you who are little; little in your own sight, little in the sight of others, little in authority, stature, or reputation. Are you content to be little in the things that pertain to the operation and glory of My church? Do you think because you’re little you cannot do much? This I say to you, because you’re little if you look to Me I can use you in a way that’s so awesome everyone will know it’s Me. It’s because you are small and everyone knows you’re just a child that when I use you they’ll know, “That’s God! That didn’t come from the flesh, that came from the Spirit.” All I need from you, even the littlest among you, all I need is your faith! So trust Me to use you and I will use you mightily, saith the Lord. Prophecy: The church at large, the people who think they’re Mine but are not, they’ve come up with a saying that you see every December on every street and every place you go and what they say is, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But what I say to you is, “I’m not just the reason for the season, I’m to be the reason for everything you do!” The world has so fallen and the church around you is so fallen that they have to be reminded that I’m the reason they celebrate what they call “Christmas.” But I have to remind you that I should be the reason you get up in the morning. I should be the reason for everything you do throughout the day; that you should do nothing without considering, “Am I doing this for Christ? Is it His will that I do this? Am I doing this unto His glory?” Because that’s how I lived for My Father. He was the reason for every breath I took! I lived for Him. I lived to do His will and I lived to accomplish His glory and every thought of My mind and every thought of My heart was towards that purpose: that My Father is the reason I’m here and My Father, His glory and His pleasure is why I’m doing what I’m doing! And you, how often you’ve forgotten that I’m the reason you live and I’m the reason you’re here and it’s to do My good pleasure and to accomplish My purpose and to bring glory to Me that you live and have your being. Every thought of your heart and of your mind should be towards accomplishing My will. Every joy that you have should be in the fact that you have accomplished and done well according to My will. And you must not forget in whatever you do that I’m the reason not just for the season, but I’m the reason for everything you say and do, for I’m your life, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) The Given! Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion. (Is8:18) Are you among the children the Lord has given to Christ? Are you for signs and wonders? How many of the people who claim to be Christ’s can truly say they’re “for signs and wonders?” According to this verse, if you’re not doing signs and wonders you can’t be His! “Most assuredly,” I say to you, “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he’ll do also; and greater works than these he’ll do, because I go to My Father.” (Jn14:12) A lot of people claim to “believe” in Jesus, but if you really “believe” in Him by the definition of “believing” Jesus shows us you must do His works. If we’re the children the Lord has given to Christ we must do signs and wonders in Israel, the Israel of God which is composed of the true people of God. By signs and wonders we bring forth the manifest glory of God; proving His resurrection, demonstrating His power, showing that God is a present living God. You’re given to Christ to be used by Him to manifest the glory of God. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they’ve kept Your word. (Jn17:6) Jesus manifests God’s name to us that we may manifest it to others. And the things that you’ve heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who’ll be able to teach others also. (2Tim2:2) We’re given to Jesus and of course He’s teaching us, but there also must be men given to us that we may teach them. And the teaching that Jesus does isn’t in mere words but in demonstration of the Spirit and power. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Co2:4-5) In His ministry Jesus demonstrated the power and presence of God. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the one who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (Jn7:18) As Christ did we must be seeking the glory of the one who sent us. Therefore we’re also to be demonstrating the power and presence of God. We can’t be content to be merely doctrinal. We must be powerful in manifesting the life of God if we’re to fulfill our calling. Note how the Macedonian/Philippians gave themselves to God and God gave them to Paul. Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (an area that includes the Philippian church) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2Cor8:1-5) After God had given them to Paul they then gave themselves to Paul! God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. (Jn3:16) God gave Christ to the world. But Christ became a really good gift because after God gives Christ to the world Christ also gave Himself. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. (Gal 1:3-4) First Christ was given by God, but He so much agrees with what God is doing in giving Him, that He willingly gives Himself to that for which God has given Him. God, for example, in a very real sense gave my wife, Elie, to me! But she really became a wonderful wife because she cooperated with God’s will in also giving herself willingly to me. Are you one of the children God has given to the church? When do you become a real blessing to the church? Not just when God has given you but when you give yourself whole-heartedly to that for which God has given you. That’s where the true blessing manifests! Jesus is the foremost example of this. He gave Himself for our sins. (Gal 1:4) The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal 2:20) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Eph5:2) By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jn3:16) When God sees us laying down our lives for the brethren, He sees the pattern of Christ in us giving ourselves for each other as Jesus gave Himself for us; and that’s a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice to God. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom12:1-2) Christ has given Himself for you now you give yourself for Him. That’s your reasonable service. And in so doing you’ll demonstrate the good and acceptable and perfect will of God and be for signs and wonders in the Israel of God. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. (Eph5:25) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1Tim2:5-6) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Tit2:11-14) Although this passage defines “saving” grace, let’s look at what grace can be by reading it this way. The gift (in place of “grace” for grace is a gift) of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us… Next let’s read it this way, The Christ (in place of “grace” for Christ is God’s “indescribable gift” – 2Cor9:15) of God who brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us… Christ is our foremost teacher. But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi;’ for one is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. (Mt23:8) And we can also read it this way, The Spirit (in place of “grace” for He is the “Spirit of Grace” – Heb10:29) of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men… “Gift,” “Christ,” “Spirit” all fit in this verse accurately, because they’re all expressions of “God’s grace.” Jesus Himself is the grace of God. The Holy Spirit is the grace of God. Their coming was a gift of the grace of God. Both Christ’s giving of Himself and giving us the Spirit were gifts by the grace of God. And together they teach us all things pertaining to the knowledge of God and our common salvation. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (Jn14:26;16:13-14) I’ve manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they’ve kept Your word. (Jn17:6) By keeping God’s Word you prove that you were given to Christ and you belong to God. Everything in this so-called “christendom” around us that isn’t keeping God’s Word is disqualified. They aren’t Christ’s. God doesn’t give disobedient gifts. He gives faithful ones. “The Lord counted me faithful,” Paul says. (1Tim1:12) What did the Lord do? He gave Paul to the church; a trophy conquered by Christ. Paul was the church’s worst human enemy until he was conquered by Jesus and made a prisoner. What do you think Paul means when he calls himself the “prisoner of the Lord?” (Eph3:1) “I was captured by Jesus. I’m His prisoner of war. And now He uses me to help the church that I used to fight against.” And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” (Gal 1:22-23) What a trophy! A prisoner of war is an enemy who might have been killed, but Paul was captured and his life spared so that he might serve the gentile church. Jesus gave the apostle Paul as a gift to His church. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. (Eph4:8,11) But Paul was so grateful to Christ for sparing his life and saving his soul that Paul also gave himself to the church with all his heart. In doing that Paul justifies Jesus’ gift and becomes a great glory to Christ that Christ has given such an excellent gift as Paul to the church. Now they’ve known that all things which You’ve given Me are from You. (Jn17:7) Another mark of election is those who are the gifts that have been given to Christ know the things that come from God. Now we’ve received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who’s from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1Cor2:12) For I have given to them the words which You’ve given Me; and they’ve received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they’ve believed that You sent Me. (Jn17:8) These are the ones Christ is praying for. He ever liveth to make intercession for these, (Heb7:25) the elect ones who keep His Word because they know Jesus was sent by God. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I’m glorified in them. Now I’m no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You’ve given Me, that they may be one as We are. (Jn17:10-11) “Even though You’ve given them to Me they still belong to You because I belong to You so everything I am and have is Yours.” As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them. (v18) And that means we’re to be just like Him. We’re to do just what He did. And in that we become The church (in place of “grace” because the church is to be a “habitation for God in the Spirit” – Eph2:22 – and if she’s a habitation for God she must also be a habitation for His grace) of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us… He sent us just like He was sent so we’re also a manifestation of the grace of God towards the elect and towards this world. And we’re to give ourselves as we’ve been given to be a glory to God. And the glory which You gave Me I’ve given them, that they may be one just as We are one. (Jn17:22) “Everything I have is Yours but also everything I have is theirs including the glory which You’ve given Me. How could I send them as You sent Me unless I give them what You gave Me? I have to give them everything they need to do the work as You’ve given Me everything I’ve needed.” It’s because of Christ’s one-ness with the Father that He was able to perfectly complete the work His Father gave Him for, and it’s our one-ness with Him and all that He has and is that will enable us to fulfill the work He’s sent us to do. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Col 2:9-10) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor3:5-6) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph4:11-12) If you’ve been given by Christ to the church as one of the five fold ministries then it’s your duty to give yourself fully to the work for which you’ve been called which is to teach the saints how to build each other up in Christ. But the saints themselves also have all been given to Christ. So Christ has given special gifts of men to the church but the church is also completely composed of the saints that were given to Christ by the Father. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” (Jn17:6) The special five-fold ministries are given to teach the church how to become what they should be, how to perfect each other in Christ, how to fulfill the calling upon them, how to give themselves for what they’ve been given for. But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Phil 3:12b) In some manner we all enter into that. And that includes our being “for signs and wonders in Israel.” What is your particular calling? Are you aware that if God has given you to the church, you’ve been given to accomplish a supernatural purpose for God? We have a supernatural God. And we’re to be a supernatural people, who are manifesting the glory of our supernatural God. If our God is supernatural then His church must be supernatural. And Paul mightily demonstrates the glory of his supernatural God. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, (but through His own name) in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient – in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Rom15:17-19) So the Macedonians/Philippians certainly have a share in Paul’s work and calling. The Macedonians’ purpose is they were given to help Paul. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (Phil 4:15-16) Now you may have been given especially to help the pastor in this church but for sure you’ve all been given to help the brethren. I’ve been given to equip you in your calling of helping each other to be conformed to the image of the supernatural Christ and for doing the ministry of building each other up. First God gives people to Jesus. Then Jesus gives men to the church. Next the Spirit gives gifts and the gifts of the Spirit very much relate to “We are for signs and wonders in Israel.” There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:4,7-11) If we’re given for signs and wonders, we must operate abundantly in the gifts of the Spirit. So it’s right for us to pray that God would bless us with a generous supply of His gifts of the Spirit that we may awesomely fulfill His calling and that each of us may be edifying the others in a glorious way. But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. Now you’re the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (1Cor12:18,27-28) Though Paul doesn’t use the word “given” here but the word “appointed,” the meaning is the same. These appointments are all gifts to Christ’s church. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. (Act13:20) Couldn’t we say He “appointed” judges? And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul. (v21) God “appointed” Saul. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David. (v22) In raising him up, God gave David to the people. God gave His people leaders for their good. But Saul wasn’t as good a leader as David because what didn’t Saul do? He didn’t give himself. He kept himself. But what did David do? He gave himself. And you can see this also in Solomon when he asks God to give him wisdom so he can rule the people rightly. In his noble request Solomon is giving himself for the people. In scriptural language what God appoints, He gives! And today whatever God appoints or gives is always for the benefit and the blessings of Christ’s church. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that’s given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let’s prophesy in proportion to our faith; (Rom12:6) Let’s use what God has given us, for what? But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. (1Cor12:7) God has given each of us a gift or gifts so we can be a blessing to our brethren. Then whatever gifts or graces God has given us we must use them or the brethren will be “cheated” out of the blessing we owe them and God desires for them! Then he who had received the one talent came and said, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.” But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt25:24-26,28,30) If you hide your gift you are “wicked.” He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom12:8) The more fully you utilize God’s gifts on behalf of your brethren the more God is glorified. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1Pet4:11) Have you been given to Christ by God? Have you then given yourself to Christ fully? He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2Cor5:15) He gave Himself for us that we should give ourselves for Him. Have you recognized that in being given to Christ, Christ also has given you to the church? Over and over again in the prayers of Paul we see him saying, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you.” (Phil 1:3) Why, because you’re a gift, a blessing to me. God gave you to me to bless me in the work that I’m doing for Him, even as the Levites were given to Aaron and the priests so the priests could do the work that God assigned to them. (Nu18:6) Whoever God calls to do a great work for Him He must fully equip to complete that work. And that includes God supplying helpers to us in the work we’re doing for God. God has given us particular callings to help others fulfill their callings. That’s what we’re here for. The wife has been given to the husband to be a helpmate. That’s what she’s here for. For Adam to fulfill his calling he needed a helper and when a godly wife sees her place and gives herself to what God has given her for she becomes a very great blessing to a godly man. Every one of us in some manner should be like the godly wife. We’re the bride of Christ. We’ve been given as blessings and helpmates to one another. In some manner we all have a calling to be a gift to help the brethren. We have different talents, different graces, but we’re all gifts. And we’re all going to stand before Jesus and answer for how well we’ve used the gifts He’s given us to actually help the brethren. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom14:12) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Cor5:10) We’re not just going to answer in that day with our own mouths because if we’ve been faithful those who know us will be thanking God for the gift we were to them and that will be to God’s glory as well as to our glory. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day – and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. (2Tim1:16-18) Even as I thank Jesus daily that Elia is such a wonderful gift, Dave is a great gift, Kimmy is a precious gift, Brenda is a gift, that every one of the brethren is a valuable gift to us and we can thank God for each of them. And I pray God that every one of us can be the best possible gift to each other by giving ourselves as Christ did to do whole-heartedly all that Christ has given us for, in Jesus’ name. Amen! Prophecy: I’ve chosen you that you should bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain. And you’ve seen in the Word even here that you’re a gift given by the Father to Me, and I, Christ, have given you as a gift to My people. And I affirm to you I give no bad gifts. If you’ll take hold of the fact that you’re a gift and if you’ll give yourself whole-heartedly to those to whom I’ve given you and if you’ll depend upon Me with all your heart to make you a blessing, I’ll be glorified in you and glorified in the thankfulness those who receive the gift I’ve given them in you will have towards both Me and you. And I’ll equip you bountifully with everything you need to perform all I’ve called you to do. I can withhold no good thing from those I call but I will mightily provide all you could possibly need in order to perform fully your calling that you may indeed become a fine, a wonderful, a glorious gift to those to whom I’ve given you, saith the Lord. Prophecy: I’ve given you a command and that is to love one another as I have loved you. I’ve given that command and it’s been shown that at times and in some of you, you’ve ignored that command, you’ve disobeyed that command. That doesn’t honor Me. In disobeying and disregarding a direct command that I’ve given you, your disobedience hasn’t brought Me honor and it doesn’t bring honor to My Father who’s the One who gave Me to you! And would you not listen to the words that I speak, the One who My Father has given for you? I say to you, you haven’t recognized and you haven’t taken to heart that to obey the command I’ve given you, to love one another the way I’ve loved you, would be life. For that’s what I say that My command is; it’s eternal life to you! Take this to heart My children! And not only is it life to you but it’s life giving to those who you show My love to; your brethren. “Turn to Me whole heartedly even now!” I say. For showing forth the obedience to the command I’ve given you is the evidence that you’ve been given. For you’ve heard here that those who are given are gifts; are good gifts. Those who’ve been given will love as I have loved you; will lay down their lives as I have laid down My life for you. That’s the evidence, My people, that you’ve been given to Me by My Father and that I’ve given you to each other – to the church. And when you show forth My love in everything in which I’ve shown My love to you, as you show My love forth to others, that’s the evidence that you are My given, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: The greatest gift I’ve given the church is Christ Himself; and I say, it’s Christ living in you that makes you a gift to the church and that only happens when you let Him manifest Himself through you because you have faith for Him to live and move through you. Thus it takes great faith for you to be a great gift because only by faith can Christ live in you. And the so-called churches around you which aren’t churches at all have themselves appointed men who mislead them, but in this place I appoint apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to lead you mightily! And I have placed the brethren here to minister to one another because it’s Christ in you hearing the Spirit and moving by the Spirit and letting My Spirit be free to lead you in My ways that makes you good gifts to one another. And that’s how you excel when by faith you let My Spirit move through you freely, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: My presence is found, My Spirit is found in My temple. And when you are a temple and I live in you and I dwell in you, you are the presence of God in the earth. And where you go I go. And those who come to you do not only meet you, they meet Me because I am in you; and they get to know Me because I am in you. And everyone of you becomes a holy place, a habitation for Me that I may introduce Myself and show Myself to the lost and to those who need to know Me and to those who want to know Me. And I have made you My dwelling place that I may manifest through you and bring others into My Kingdom even as I have brought you into My Kingdom, saith the Lord. Prophecy: Do not fear little flock, it’s your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. I’ve said in My Word that if you desire to do My will you’ll know My will. When your heart cries out to Me to love Me rightly, to serve Me rightly, to glorify Me rightly, I’ll respond. I’ll surely answer you, saith the Lord. I’ll give you what you desire. And I’ll make you a glory to Me and I’ll take away your reproach and I’ll take away your shame. I’ll lift you up and I’ll show all peoples that I’ve loved you even as you’ve loved Christ, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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