A great part of discerning the times takes place in recognizing the different ministries of Christ that can suddenly begin to operate in our midst. In the fullness of times, when the purpose of one season is complete, we frequently experience a sudden shift in our atmosphere. This is not always with people; it can also be a shift in direction and in purpose. New Jerusalem builds square and we likewise build our lives in the revelation of these truths. At times, we rise in stature through the gifts of Christ. At other times, we build community in how we appropriate these same truths into our daily lives. Once we recognize the function of the gifts and the parameters that they‘re operating through, we can easily see the purposes that God is moving to accomplish in our lives.
Building Community in the Knowledge of Truth
As the church, we should understand that we are all migrating towards restoration and reformation. Knowing this truth, we understand that even in our forward momentum, we will sometimes camp around certain truths for a time. In these times, building community in the knowledge of the truths we receive of is vital in our going forward. Much like the Israelites in the original Exodus, we will also understand what it is to break camp and build upon foundations of shared community in our going forward.
A Rising Priesthood, After the Order of Melchizedek
While we know how the ministry gifts operate within church government, the saints will begin learning to draw from the grace of these gifts to see them multiplied beyond the local church body. Beyond the parameters of local church ministry, the saints learn to draw from the grace of these gifts in partnership with the leaders that they’re joined to. In the expanded places, the saints learn to govern their lives through the grace that is multiplied through this relationship.
The grace that flows from the gifts will always reveal the greater works of Christ. Where community is built upon the works revealed through this grace, we begin discerning the order of the Kingdom of God. Knowing the order that God builds through is vital in our coming into the knowledge of Truth. (Eph 4:12-13) Fellowship with God (and man) is drawn to the stature that we rise to in Christ.
Ephesians 4:12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),
13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
Ascending Through the Times of Sending
In the times of sending, there will be times when the saints will suddenly find themselves contending for their faith. Knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God, we can rest in knowing that the ground that we contend for in these times will establish us in the faith that is needed. (Romans 8: 38-39) Where the Kingdom is not yet reaching specific areas of a believer’s life, the saints learn to contend for faith as they stand ground as sons and daughters.
From Disciples to Sons
Once the order of relationship changes in these times, the Priesthood also changes and we go forward in the dominion mandate of Genesis 1:28.
As in Psalm 133, where the saints receive of the anointing, ministry, and gifts that flow down, they also begin to rise and Kings and Priests, after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7: 26 [Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to our needs, as was fitting--holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.
27He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up.
28For the Law sets up men in their weakness [frail, sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the word of [God's] oath, which [was spoken later] after the institution of the Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One Whose appointment is complete and permanent], a Son Who has been made perfect forever.
Sonship -- Being Formed In Christ as He is Formed In Us!
The gifts of Christ birth us into the greater knowledge of Christ the Son. The grace that is multiplied from these same gifts also serve to birth us in the knowledge of our own sonship. Once we learn to govern our lives in the knowledge of our sonship, we begin seeing the Kingdom coming in tangible ways around us.
Hebrews 2: 10 For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.
In times of transition or adversity, it’s very important to remember that humility positions us to be built up upon the foundational ministries of the Apostles and Prophets. The opposite of humility is pride. While humility allows us to descend, or be humbled, pride will exalt us, especially in ignorance. Humility prepares us to receive of the discernment needed to make choices towards the Kingdom of God.
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
In times of transition or adversity, we should be watchful of lifting our authority above the order of God, as opposed to lifting our voice in the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God imparts the reverential fear of the Lord. When the Priesthood changes, there is a changing of the guard. (Hebrews 7:12)
In the changing of the guard, we want to lift the voice of our spirit life, as opposed to lifting our soul life. Where we blindly or ignorantly lift our soul life in challenging times, our lives become governed by the same. Vision and purpose is greatly affected by the works or the order that we’re joined to, whether it be light or dark. The knowledge and discernment of order comes out of the Apostles.
Building Upon the Foundations of the Apostles
Apostolic ministry (of the Apostles) releases us in liberty where personal faith becomes joined to leaders, purpose, and personal destiny. When this grace of stewardship is multiplied to greater lifestyle, the Kingdom will continue to establish sons in authority and empower them to rise in stature.
Building Upon the Foundations of the Prophets
Prophetic ministry is vital in the daily renewing of our minds. In humility, we receive of the discernment needed to rightly divide the word of truth as it applies to our daily lives. We must build daily upon the foundations of the Prophets in order to continually draw from the grace of this ministry. The apostolic (Apostles) is revealed from what is established in relationship to rightly dividing the word of Truth.
From what is born out of the Prophets, all that we build on is eternal and will serve to reveal the Apostles of Jesus Christ.
From the expanded places, prophetic ministry mobilizes us even as apostolic ministry (Apostles) establishes us on what is unmovable and unshakable. The Kingdom is eternal and all that is built upon the Kingdom will continue to prosper.
Build upon the Kingdom of God through the foundations of Christ and you will never miss the mark in all your going forth! From glory to glory and from faith to faith, we abide in God’s rest through Christ Jesus even as he abides in us.
Grace and peace,
Cindy Allen
http://www.eagleslandingnetwork.com/
http://www.elcf.us/
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