The Quality goes in before the name goes on!
Word For Today: January 5, 2020 THE QUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON" Becoming mature Fathers and Mothers in the Kingdom age. Beloved,
Today in the Body of Christ there seems to be great importance about people being under apostolic and prophetic leadership as spiritual mothers and fathers in the Lord.
I am not going to write about those merits specially when those truths are being spoken from the wineskin of the church age and the church age wine verses the Kingdom age winskin and the new wine of the Kingdom.
The purpose of this post is about "spiritual substance" that must be developed in true kingdom mothers and fathers in the Lord. I was greatly blessed to have two spiritual men who carried that substance of Christ in them that greatly impacted my life.
I have been also blessed and reminded tonight by brother who sent me an email, that when it came to truly knowing Him the Lord told me not to listen to or read the modern day preachers.
His instruction was for me to learn of the men and woman of old who had a true deep abiding relationship with him. I was just a pup a year old in the Lord when he told me that. Honestly, I didn't even know what that meant, but I went to the bookstore and prayed for God to show me men and woman that had that spiritual substance of the work of God in knowing him intimately.
God led me to A.W Tozer, Andrew Murray, Brother Lawrence, Madom Guyonne, Watchman Nee, Smith Wigglesworth, Walter Beutler, Hanna Hannard, Ruth and Gloria Heflin (in her early days) and others.
I began to read one author at a time starting with Andrew Murray. That man's relationship was so deep with God, I read every one of his books several times.
I was and still so hungry for God to know him and his ways. If I never did a ministry again and just spend my life seeking his face, most would call my life out of balance and a waste. But for me, it would not be a waste, because I will find the love of my soul, the one who made me for himself. The one who saved me, healed me, delivered me, and like Mary I would run to that tomb to find him who my soul loves.
I am not concerned about working or doing ministry first, I am concerned about finding and knowing God first. Why? Because the works God created me to do will come forth out of that abiding relationship with him.
He has already ordered my steps to do them, my job is to be with him and then his plans become my plans and he does the work in me to do them.
Many of those books were to deep for my natural brain to understand so I had to pray for God to open my heart and teach me as he did Him, and the Lord did.
I was very blessed to read most of every book these men and women of old wrote, even if they were to hard for my natural mind to comprehend. I had to trust God to reveal himself to me as he did to them if I was to know them like they did.
Shortly after that God introduced me to a living "man of old" who knew the ways of God intimately Wade E. Taylor." When I met that man, I had never seen such a "quality of the spirit" of God in man ever like that. He carried the continual abiding presence of the Lord in him.
When he taught, I had no desire to speak, share what I know about God, I wanted to be taught by the Lord who has so dealt with this man that carried this substance.
So deep and rich was his relationship to God, that I bought all his books and tapes, read all his articles now over 30 years later. I eat from the life of Jesus in him and the words he wrote even 30 years ago are coming to pass now.
I personally got to meet with him and I don't have time to explain what that was like, but I was immediately caught up in the spirit just in a prayer meeting with him and God ministered through him to me that he spoke into the depth of my innermost being and I was changed forever.
Another Spiritual Father and forerunner of the Kingdom age is Ron McGatlin from Open heaven. After Brother Taylor went home with the Lord, I did not know anyone else that had that kind of spiritual substance of the kingdom in the until I met Brother Ron.
Again when meeting with him, that substance and quality of Kingdom life lifted my spirit into a deeper realm of God. The ministry I received from Ron was the life of Jesus worked in him that God's glory was manifested. I didn't see Ron or Wade, but in that spiritual substance I met the Lord in them.
This is what I have craved to be worked in my own life and those God entrust me to share with and my family as well.
I remember Brother Wade when speaking about our walk and relationship with God as being first developed before we try to do the work of God.
He used the saying from the old Zenith TV commercial from the 60's some of you may remember. He said in our walk with God, "the quality must go in, before the NAME goes on." I have never forgotten that, I said Lord, "don't send me until you know I am ready with that quality life in you."
There is a difference between spiritual mothers and fathers in the 2nd day church age, a difference between 2nd day church age apostles and prophets then those in the 3rd day. I am not comparing these things to say one person is better than another, but what I am writing tonight about is "spiritual substance" from two different ages. One functions from the 2nd day church age and is ending.
Their words touch the surface of men, can bring healing and deliverance through ministry by the anointing of a spiritual gift or office.
In contrast with that is the work and ministry of the spiritual fathers and mothers, apostles and prophets of the 3rd day kingdom age.
Their words touch the depths of men and transform them by the glory of God they carry. Their words and speach are must weightier then the church age counterparts because of the deeper work of Glory they have experienced.
These kingdom age fathers and mothers and church age ones both have a degree or brokenness through much suffering.
The kingdom age ones have a deeper work of suffering in them because they have known the scourging of the Lord to prepare them for such ministry that will establish the kingdom of God in men's hearts.
They have given God permission to work his dealings in them far beyond ministry use, or ministry building.
They have suffered things for the sake of others that they did not have to suffer for those who will need that spiritual substance of God's glory to do the deep work needed in their hearts.
They could have chosen the lesser suffering of ministry by the gifts of the spirit, or even function in a five fold ministry gift to people, but they did not.
These forerunners of the Kingdom wanted something more than gifts or offices, THEY WANTED GOD FULLY. Like Moses, their prayer is, "teach me your ways oh God, that I may know you, and if I have found favor in your sight, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY! Beloved, this is quality of the spirit the true mature spiritual mothers and fathers of the Kingdom age carry with them.
They have the spiritual limp of Jacob, and the dealings of God in them where they have decreased so Jesus can increase.
Beloved of the Lord, Mature Spiritual Fathers and Mothers in the Lord have a quality of substance of God's presence in them that transform your life beyond the present day preaching we listen to in church!
That quality comes from "being with Jesus" and not "working for Jesus." You can tell the difference of the kingdom age and the church age minister by the "substance of God's glory" they carry.
This is not to belittle anyone, but to cause those hungering and thirsting for God and the true Kingdom reality to recognize the difference between maturing church age men and women from mature kingdom age men and woman as spiritual fathers and mothers.
Most of the the spiritual Kingdom men and woman who function as spiritual fathers and mothers you would not even recognize as such, for there is no "driving" to do work mentality in them.
They live in the rest of God and move only as the Lord leads them in the peace, rest, power and authority of that abiding relationship with God.
There are different maturity levels of spiritual mothers and fathers in the Body of Christ in church age but even more in the kingdom age.
The spiritual substance that comes forth from their life goes beyond touching you on the surface of your heart. It goes beyond deliverance and healing ministries or gifts of the Spirit. The Spiritual substance is the "true life of Jesus" manifesting His pure holy love in them that draws you deeper and deeper to God. When you are in the presence of these kingdom mature men and woman it is not about everyone sharing together at all.
It is about "substance" of Christ who is speaking through those who have "truly been with Him." As you partake that spiritual substance of the life of Christ worked in them, you could sit all day listening to them as you would have sat and listened to Jesus in the flesh 2000 years ago.
In the days of Jesus ministry in his earthly ministry it was not about everyone having a turn to speak just to be heard. Jesus's life, words, actions were all the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Jesus was the exact representation of the Father on the earth. When Philip said, Jesus show us the Father? Jesus answered, "Philip have you have been with me this long, and not seen the Father? If you have seen me you have seen the Father...
That is what the spiritual substance of the Kingdom of God reality was in Jesus, "oneness with the Father."
Beloved, That is what the spiritual substance is in the mature Fathers and Mothers in the Lord of the kingdom age, oneness with Jesus in the Father through the Holy Spirit.
The words that these mature and maturing Fathers and Mothers in the Lord of the kingdom age will be the very words of Jesus spoken from a living reality in them.
Those who have the blessing and honor to be taught by God through these "shepherds outside the camp" (Song of Solomon 1: 8. ) are being taught by those who have "been with Jesus" in intimate fellowship with them.
Out of the intimate relationship they carry that spiritual substance that awakens and stirs the hunger and passion to know God for yourself, not just work for God, but knowing God. These precious mature Fathers and mothers, point you to him. They have tasted the kingdom age as forerunners and can now point you to Him, and show you the ancient paths to find him.
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.
Proverbs 8:21 and to those that I love, I cause them to inherit true riches, and I fill their treasuries.
This is the way to gain that spiritual substance in your own life and it is the 'way of the Lord." He is a "rewarder of those" who "diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
The true mature Kingdom Fathers and Mothers carry that spiritual substance because they inherited the true riches of living in the abiding presence of the Lord.
There words from God have a deeper substance and often reveal the hidden manna of the Word of God reserved for those who are truly hungering and thirsting after God.
The spiritual mature fathers and mothers are not building ministries or churches as we have done in the church age, they are with our Lord Jesus as one with his work of building you, "GOD'S LIVING STONES INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE.
The quality substance of God's pure holy love in them will impart to you the grace of God to mature into full grown sons, a royal priesthood and a holy nation.
The substance of Christ in them is a "message of Kingdom preparation" for God's end time purposes. They are actually spiritual forerunners who are preparing the way of the Lord, the King of Glory to manifest in your life.
This is quite different than the priority of the Spiritual Fathers and Mothers in the church age. Their mission is different, they can only minister to you from the outer courts and holy place ministries that can never complete you.
The ministry from those two places can get you saved, filled with Baptism of the Spirit, do all types of outreach ministries, and even try to bring the church together to do the works of the Lord.
What they can't bring you yet is that spiritual substance from the tree of life in the midst of the garden that causes you to mature in the deep abiding relationship with God.
The church age mothers and fathers can equip you to work more and do more outreach ministries to reach men and get them saved, but they can not bring you to the depths of God's heart because they don't live there or minister from there themselves.
The Kingdom age mature fathers and mothers are working together with the Lord in a different and more fuller way. Their work with God is to take your hand lift your hand firmly into the Lord's hand to know him for yourselves and then let go and get out of the way.
Their desire is to see you grow into true father and motherhood in the kingdom reality with that true spiritual substance of life of abiding in the vine is your portion as well.
When that happens they see themselves more as perhaps an older brother and sister instead of a spiritual mother and father because now you are one yourself.
These men and women were rare to find in the last 30 years. There have been a few verses the many of the church age.
These kingdom pioneers paid a great price for the substance and reality of the Kingdom of God message worked in them.
They labored much in prayer longing to see this hour come upon the earth, when many are now coming into the kingdom of God reality.
They are not threatened by others growing to maturity as many were in the church age, they are encouraged by it. They actually get underneath those who are growing to encourage them to further than even where they have been.
They are the "great cloud of witnesses" on this earth that still remain for us to hear the words of encouragement to continue to run the race toward knowing Jesus intimately and being one with him until you capture the crown.
These spiritual mature fathers and mothers of the kingdom age will be able to say like the Apostle Paul, I have run the race, I have finished my course, now I will receive my victors crown,
Beloved, these kingdom mature fathers and mother lives were totally emptied of that spiritual substance of Jesus life given to us and others as Jesus did in his earthly body. Some of these spiritual mature pioneers are now home with the Lord, others are still here until they see the fruition of what God has given them released on the earth and then God make take them home.
I am writing this post tonight to help those hungering for the reality of true kingdom life to discern and to pray for that spiritual substance of true kingdom life to be their portion that can feed others from the life of Jesus worked in them.
The world is going to need those who can "feed the spiritual substance of the word" to those who are hungering for God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
May we all desire to come into that maturity of oneness with the Lord to be filled with his pure holy love that can nourish his people in this hour.
May we pray Isaiah 50:4-5 become the reality in our own lives. "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned (one taught by God) that I MAY KNOW HOW... HOW TO SPEAK... A WORD IN SEASON... TO THOSE WHO ARE WEARY.
How do we hear the Lord as one being taught by God, by spending quality time alone with Him. We must seek him as our vital need. By ministering to His needs first as we seek His kingdom first and his righteousness.
Verse 5: morning by morning he awakens my ear, (this is the place of receiving true spiritual substance from God) he awakens my ear to hear as the learned, "one that is taught by God."
What does that look like in reality in God's kingdom mature Fathers and Mothers and what he desires us to be as such? It is Jesus testimony in John chapter 5:20-30
This testimony speaks of what an "awakened ear" is so that we have the "tongue of one" taught by the Lord.
Beloved, this abiding relationship with the Lord to have an awakened ear does not come 20 minutes in your car for a devotional. It does not come by an hour with the Lord and 20 hrs working for him.
It comes by a burning desire to know him, love him, be with him, and live only for him as your first love.
It is out of the abiding fellowship of God's pure holy within us, can we be truly taught by the Lord, and then be able to speak with that spiritual substance from the Lord.
Unless we abide continually in the vine Jesus Christ, we will never have words that come that are that quality of substance of being with Jesus that transforms hearts instantly. From that abiding deep relationship with God, God will give you the tongue of the learned that you may know how to speak a word in season to those who are weary.
This was the key to Jesus life on this earth, his oneness with the Father. That oneness required him to live continually in the love the father had for him.
He could only speak from that love, move from that love. Everything he did and said came from that abiding substance of the Father's love.
Out of that love bond relationship between the father and the son, the kingdom of God was at hand.
Beloved, so shall it be now in his full grown sons and daughters who become mature fathers and mothers in the Lord to point the hungry and thirsty one to the Lord Himself. John 5:20, 30 AMPC speak of this abiding relationship between the Father and The Son, and it is the secret of the hidden manna of how Jesus walked as one with the Father. Jesus said, as the Father sent me into the world, so do I send you. The works I do, you shall also do and even greater works.
20 The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (shows) Him everything that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things yet than these, so that you may marvel and be full of wonder and astonishment.
30 I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord—but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.
This testimony is the spiritual substance of the Kingdom of God, the mature Fathers and Mothers have this substance within them that cause your hearts to burn like the two men on the road to Emmaus.
May we press on to the mark of the high calling of God and become men and woman of God matured who can carry that spiritual substance of Jesus glory as He carried the substance of the Father's glory in him.
John 17:22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
May this word become our life's portion and God's glory be seen risen upon us all. In Jesus name.
