|
God was his relentless confrontation with the Apostate King Ahab and his notorious wife Jezebel. It is no coincidence therefore that Jesus mentions a Jezebel in His indictment of the Church of "Thyatira" (Rev. 2 vs. 20-23). Merely tolerating her spirit in the church will bring great judgment, which Christ characterizes as "great tribulation". For us, this implies the fact that we sometimes must confront error and apostasy head on -- even as Stephen did in (Acts 7.) Apparently the Lord deems spiritual purity to be more important than works for he commended the church of "Thyatira" twice for works, but still cast her into a bed of great tribulation for her lack of spiritual purity and her compromise . Many glorying in their works today will be cast into the Tribulation for their worldly, ecclesiastical, ecumenical compromise.
Finally, in Acts (Chap 8, vs. 26-39), the story of Phillip confirms our conclusions regarding the qualifications to take part in the Firstfruits Rapture of the church elders before the Tribulation.
(1) Like Enoch and Elijah, Phillip was also personally spiritually tuned into this supernatural walking with God. He was personally directed by God to leave Samaria and to go towards Gaza, first by an angel, and second by the Holy Spirit, who told him to join a chariot that held one of the Ethiopian queens highest emissaries. Phillip preached the gospel to him and he was saved and baptized.
(2) Immediately after accomplishing this Spirit directed task, that God had chosen for him to perform, Phillip was translated -- a type of Rapture.
Beloved, these three men were not being motivated by their own religious good ideas as to how to fulfill the Great Commission. No!! They were being directed and led by God's Holy Spirit to perform specific tasks. God never told the apostles to go to Jerusalem, incorporate, write a church charter, start a building fund, and then withdraw from society. Instead He told them to tarry in Jerusalem "until ye be endued with power from on high." Too often the church tries to organize God into our own conceptualization. We turn the Holy Spirit into a force or doctrine we control rather than allowing Him to run the show. I believe the most pressing cry of the Spirit of God in these last hours (to the church) is a mandate for us to enter the supernatural Spirit directed life -- to walk with God -- to hear from Him, and then to obey Him; for then we will be one step closer to the Rapture.
Interestingly enough, the 24 elders viewed by John in heaven are seen prostrating themselves and casting down their crowns before the throne of God; contrast this scene with those left behind in Matt. (7 v. 21) where we see those believers boasting of their works. Inherently, it appears that those who were walking closest to the Lord (and thus were rewarded by Him) were those who were most humbled by Him. They are performing His tasks instead of their own and so they cannot glory in their accomplishments -- whereas those left behind are seen telling the Lord all the wonderful things they have done for Him, revealing a root defect of spiritual pride. Remember God "resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." This is a sobering indictment for us all. Finally, we are each responsible to God for ourselves. If we choose to let others play Holy Spirit to us, by allowing them to direct our lives, we will be held accountable for allowing such idolatry. On the other hand, those who play spiritual mentor and direct others to their own agenda rather than towards relationship with the Lordship of Jesus, will receive a harsher judgment (James 3 v.1).
|
|
