THE CANDLESTICK
A very beloved pastor, asked me to please preach the message for the first Sunday of 2016, at his church, saying that he wanted me to speak as a Voice from God and of God, to his church in that first Sunday of the year. The message the Lord gave me for them is titled "THE CANDLESTICK" (taken from, as you know, the first chapter of the book of Revelation, where John talks of seeing Jesus on the Island of Patmos, where he saw Him "in the midst of the seven (golden) candlesticks," and how the Lord had said, "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
I felt that this message might also be helpful to you my dear friends, so I'm kind of reproducing the main points here.
First, let me say that every "congregation" (a body of believers regularly meeting together to honour the name of Christ and under the tutelage of a God-appointed/anointed servant of God, is a "candlestick" before the Father. A golden candlestick. That does not mean that they are perfect. Usually, God would still have a lot of things about them that He does not like, but yet keeps working on them with the hope that they would respond to His chastisement, and repent and receive more of the glory of God in their lives.
One significant thing about the golden candlesticks that John saw in that Revelation, was that "in the midst of the seven candlesticks (representing the seven churches that that message was meant for), (there was) one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
First, as a 'slight' digression (although it is not really a digression), let me say here (prophetically), that as the world entered into the 1st of January, 2016, the Lord showed me something in the realm of the Spirit (and I'm saying this with all sense of responsibility); he showed me the fact that, in that realm of the Spirit, the "final" days (the "last" days) had indeed begun for the present planet Earth and this present Worldly System. From what He showed me, brethren, I dare say, with all sense of responsibility, that I'm not sure if Mankind still has more than 1,000 years on this Planet. I'm not sure. The BOTTOM LINE is this: BRETHREN, TIME IS RUNNING OUT! You might think that 1,000 years is a whole lot of time! But, really, in the matters of salvation, it's a fleeting instant. Don't misquote me. I did not say Jesus is coming in a thousand years' time! What I said is, from what God showed me, I'M NOT SURE if Mankind still has more than 1,000 years on this present Planet Earth. It could be much less.
Now, back to what we were saying, concerning the "Son of Man," Whom John saw, walking (or working) in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. This shows me that THE SON WALKS (moves, communicates, 'engineers' His doings) IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS. That is, HE WALKS IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCHES (as well as THE CHURCH); He walks in the midst of the churches in every generation. He also walks in the midst of the CHURCHES OF ALL GENERATIONS. He's the Lord of His Churches - - the churches that make up "The Church" in each generation, as well as the various "CHURCHES" (each generation as a "CHURCH") of all the generations - - from Pentecost to the Coming of Christ - - put together.
"THE CHURCH" is the entire church of JESUS CHRIST - - the Redeemed - - from Pentecost to the Second Coming.
Each "CHURCH GENERATION" has got a mandate. And each CHURCH congregation, in each generation, has got a MANDATE.
To fulfill our MANDATE (as a church congregation in a given CHURCH generation), is to do THE WILL OF GOD. That is, THE WILL OF GOD (and which we must do in order to please Him and to be pleasing to Him), that "will" is the MANDATE that God has given to us (that is, whatever that MANDATE is, is the Will of God for us), first as a "church generation," and secondly, as a church congregation (or ministry) in that generation.
To be unaware of our mandate as a church generation, and as a church congregation in that generation, is to be truly IGNORANT!
The ignorant church shall not go unpunished!
In the business of the Kingdom, ignorance is no excuse.
That's why, as a 'church,' we must SEEK God!
We must know our MISSION; we must know our MANDATE!
The primary mandate of the church (of all generations) is to make DISCIPLES of all NATIONS (ethnic groups). [The primary word translated in the English New Testament as "nation" is the Greek word "ethnos" (from where we have 'ethnicity')].
Each 'church generation' must know its own mandate in this overall commission.
Also, each 'church congregation' must know its own mandate within the overall mandate of its own generation.
This is where THE PULPIT of that congregation comes in. ['THE PULPIT,' in this context, is more than that physical desk from where your pastor ministers; although it may be said to be represented by it. 'THE PULPIT,' as a spiritual reality before God, is "the platform of delivery, the platform of expression, of the Mind of God."]. THE PULPIT can be said to be the angel of the church - - the one who gives the church its direction.
DIRECTION is very important.
For a church to be truly successful, direction (of/for the church) must NOT come from the congregation.
Don't minister according to the needs/expectations of the church. Minister as God DIRECTS, according to your MANDATE.
There were many impotent folk at the Pool of Bethesda; but Jesus healed only ONE of them; for that was the mandate He had for/in that very hour.
He could have used the opportunity of that circumstance to launch a "massive" healing ministry that would reverberate throughout all generations - - but He didn't, as that would have truncated His overall mandate of being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
His mandate in His earthly walk, was to be the Lamb of God! - - the Sacrificial Lamb for the sin of Mankind. He couldn't have done anything that would take away from His effectiveness in that Mandate; or that would sidetrack him from it. It was for the same reason that He refused to be made King when the people wanted to forcefully make Him King - - the price would have been too costly; for it would have meant relinquishing His Mandate; and thus refusing to go to, or AVOIDING, the Cross! Which would have meant NO SALVATION for Mankind. He couldn't have become, also, a popular Miracle Worker, at the expense of that Mandate! He didn't even minister, for the most part, to non-Jews! That was NOT his mandate; regardless of the fact that His Sacrifice on the Cross was for all Mankind. (What a God of precision!)
We must know our mandate.
Your church (by whatever name it is known in the courts of Heaven), must know its mandate. What is YOUR MANDATE? Are you fulfilling that MANDATE? or are you just going by what is POPULAR?
It's so easy to go by what is popular, while neglecting your real MANDATE!
The pulpit (of your church) must become CIRCUMCISED! To be circumcised is to be rid of the flesh! - - to be rid of EXCESS BAGGAGE! God, by Deliberate Design, left an "excess baggage" of foreskin (un-needed and unnecessary) on the most important part of a male man (his 'penis,' - - his 'manhood'), knowing that a time would come when He (God) would require Abraham to rid himself of that excess "flesh." Yes, we still live in the flesh (the physical), but there's an "EXCESS" FLESH (the inhibitant to a truly spiritual life) that we must get rid of, if our ministry is to honour Heaven, honour God, and fulfill our REAL MANDATE!
You cannot get your mandate from what is POPULAR! No!
You cannot get your mandate from what is CONVENIENT! No!
You cannot even get your mandate from what is SACRIFICIAL, but which may not be commanded of God!
For a church to fulfill its real mandate, the pulpit must first be circumcised!
The pulpit must not be a place for frivolity!
The pulpit must not be a place for the immature!
The pulpit must not be a place for jesters!
The pulpit must not be a place for human sympathy!
The pulpit must not be a place for human expression!
It must be a place for DIVINE EXPRESSION! It must be a place from where we hear the mind of God! Not a place from where we hear what we want to hear! Not a place for serving human need! But a place for serving the NEED of God! This may seem contradictory, since it is generally "taken" for granted that church/God exists to serve human need! But, this is an error! Yes, it is true that God has provided an answer to HUMAN NEED.! But, that answer is not as dictated by man, but, as dictated by God! We must preach His Gospel, and not our Gospel! We must preach it in the way He gives it to us (as a generation, and as a congregation in that generation).
Where are the Reformers? We must be the Reformer, where need be, in our own Generation! We must lead the Way, (that is, the pulpit must lead the Way for the congregation to follow, and not the other way round!
Every congregation is a reflection of its PULPIT! Every congregation will manifest what its pulpit gives to her! Give them IGNORANCE, and they will be ignorant! Give them chaff to eat, instead of real food, and they will manifest their MAL-NOURISHMENT! Make them babies, and they will exhibit their childishness.! Every congregation is a manifestation of the quality/lack of quality of its pulpit!
In the final analysis (take it or leave it), God will not adjudge/commend you as a "good and faithful servant," because of how many "testimonies of breakthrough" you've had through your pastor (I'm talking of "breakthroughs" in carnal matters, for carnal purposes!) He will only certify you a "good and faithful servant" based on your fulfilling your own part of God's Mandate!
So, there's a mandate for the church of (or, throughout) ALL GENERATIONS!
there's a mandate for the church of "EACH" GENERATION!
there's a mandate for a church (every church) in each GENERATION!
That mandate (for a church, every church, in each GENERATION) flows from the PULPIT of that church congregation, to the people of the congregation, for them to RECEIVE, BELIEVE, ACTUALISE and MANIFEST, thus reproducing after their (own) KIND; and there's, also, a mandate for each INDIVIDUAL believer in every generation!
At the end of the Day, God is going to have an ULTIMATE church (THE ULTIMATE CHURCH, the church that would fully ACTUALISE and MANIFEST Christ, in all of His ENTIRETY, in glory, love, power, LIFE and IMMORTALITY! That's the church that will COMPEL CHRIST to Return to this Earth, and to ignite it with His glory, in JUDGMENT and in RENEWAL, bringing in the NEW CREATION, the NEW EARTH wherein shall be the TABERNACLE of God!
That church (that shall produce/usher in that glory) shall NOT have been nurtured on the morality of academic CRK (Christian Religious Knowledge); it shall NOT have been nurtured, either, on the morality of Made-In-Nigeria Holiness; or any human type of holiness for that matter; rather, it would be a church that had DIED on the CROSS with CHRIST; the Old Man of that Church (and of individuals therein) being CRUCIFIED with CHRIST! It will be a CHURCH illumined by the REVELATION of its own REDEMPTION from SIN, through the BLOOD of the Lamb of the EVERLASTING COVENANT!
How prepared is (your church) to be a part of this CHURCH? How prepared is the pulpit (of your church) to fulfill God's own Mandate on Her (the church) and on Her People?
The church of Jesus is the BRIDE of CHRIST - - eventually so. But, for now, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but, we know that when He (Jesus) shall appear (again in all His glory), we shall be as Him - - because we would have (prior to that time) SEEN Him as HE IS !!! May we SEE Him as He is! That must be the prayer, the desire and the PURSUIT of the church henceforth!
A very beloved pastor, asked me to please preach the message for the first Sunday of 2016, at his church, saying that he wanted me to speak as a Voice from God and of God, to his church in that first Sunday of the year. The message the Lord gave me for them is titled "THE CANDLESTICK" (taken from, as you know, the first chapter of the book of Revelation, where John talks of seeing Jesus on the Island of Patmos, where he saw Him "in the midst of the seven (golden) candlesticks," and how the Lord had said, "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
I felt that this message might also be helpful to you my dear friends, so I'm kind of reproducing the main points here.
First, let me say that every "congregation" (a body of believers regularly meeting together to honour the name of Christ and under the tutelage of a God-appointed/anointed servant of God, is a "candlestick" before the Father. A golden candlestick. That does not mean that they are perfect. Usually, God would still have a lot of things about them that He does not like, but yet keeps working on them with the hope that they would respond to His chastisement, and repent and receive more of the glory of God in their lives.
One significant thing about the golden candlesticks that John saw in that Revelation, was that "in the midst of the seven candlesticks (representing the seven churches that that message was meant for), (there was) one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
First, as a 'slight' digression (although it is not really a digression), let me say here (prophetically), that as the world entered into the 1st of January, 2016, the Lord showed me something in the realm of the Spirit (and I'm saying this with all sense of responsibility); he showed me the fact that, in that realm of the Spirit, the "final" days (the "last" days) had indeed begun for the present planet Earth and this present Worldly System. From what He showed me, brethren, I dare say, with all sense of responsibility, that I'm not sure if Mankind still has more than 1,000 years on this Planet. I'm not sure. The BOTTOM LINE is this: BRETHREN, TIME IS RUNNING OUT! You might think that 1,000 years is a whole lot of time! But, really, in the matters of salvation, it's a fleeting instant. Don't misquote me. I did not say Jesus is coming in a thousand years' time! What I said is, from what God showed me, I'M NOT SURE if Mankind still has more than 1,000 years on this present Planet Earth. It could be much less.
Now, back to what we were saying, concerning the "Son of Man," Whom John saw, walking (or working) in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. This shows me that THE SON WALKS (moves, communicates, 'engineers' His doings) IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS. That is, HE WALKS IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCHES (as well as THE CHURCH); He walks in the midst of the churches in every generation. He also walks in the midst of the CHURCHES OF ALL GENERATIONS. He's the Lord of His Churches - - the churches that make up "The Church" in each generation, as well as the various "CHURCHES" (each generation as a "CHURCH") of all the generations - - from Pentecost to the Coming of Christ - - put together.
"THE CHURCH" is the entire church of JESUS CHRIST - - the Redeemed - - from Pentecost to the Second Coming.
Each "CHURCH GENERATION" has got a mandate. And each CHURCH congregation, in each generation, has got a MANDATE.
To fulfill our MANDATE (as a church congregation in a given CHURCH generation), is to do THE WILL OF GOD. That is, THE WILL OF GOD (and which we must do in order to please Him and to be pleasing to Him), that "will" is the MANDATE that God has given to us (that is, whatever that MANDATE is, is the Will of God for us), first as a "church generation," and secondly, as a church congregation (or ministry) in that generation.
To be unaware of our mandate as a church generation, and as a church congregation in that generation, is to be truly IGNORANT!
The ignorant church shall not go unpunished!
In the business of the Kingdom, ignorance is no excuse.
That's why, as a 'church,' we must SEEK God!
We must know our MISSION; we must know our MANDATE!
The primary mandate of the church (of all generations) is to make DISCIPLES of all NATIONS (ethnic groups). [The primary word translated in the English New Testament as "nation" is the Greek word "ethnos" (from where we have 'ethnicity')].
Each 'church generation' must know its own mandate in this overall commission.
Also, each 'church congregation' must know its own mandate within the overall mandate of its own generation.
This is where THE PULPIT of that congregation comes in. ['THE PULPIT,' in this context, is more than that physical desk from where your pastor ministers; although it may be said to be represented by it. 'THE PULPIT,' as a spiritual reality before God, is "the platform of delivery, the platform of expression, of the Mind of God."]. THE PULPIT can be said to be the angel of the church - - the one who gives the church its direction.
DIRECTION is very important.
For a church to be truly successful, direction (of/for the church) must NOT come from the congregation.
Don't minister according to the needs/expectations of the church. Minister as God DIRECTS, according to your MANDATE.
There were many impotent folk at the Pool of Bethesda; but Jesus healed only ONE of them; for that was the mandate He had for/in that very hour.
He could have used the opportunity of that circumstance to launch a "massive" healing ministry that would reverberate throughout all generations - - but He didn't, as that would have truncated His overall mandate of being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
His mandate in His earthly walk, was to be the Lamb of God! - - the Sacrificial Lamb for the sin of Mankind. He couldn't have done anything that would take away from His effectiveness in that Mandate; or that would sidetrack him from it. It was for the same reason that He refused to be made King when the people wanted to forcefully make Him King - - the price would have been too costly; for it would have meant relinquishing His Mandate; and thus refusing to go to, or AVOIDING, the Cross! Which would have meant NO SALVATION for Mankind. He couldn't have become, also, a popular Miracle Worker, at the expense of that Mandate! He didn't even minister, for the most part, to non-Jews! That was NOT his mandate; regardless of the fact that His Sacrifice on the Cross was for all Mankind. (What a God of precision!)
We must know our mandate.
Your church (by whatever name it is known in the courts of Heaven), must know its mandate. What is YOUR MANDATE? Are you fulfilling that MANDATE? or are you just going by what is POPULAR?
It's so easy to go by what is popular, while neglecting your real MANDATE!
The pulpit (of your church) must become CIRCUMCISED! To be circumcised is to be rid of the flesh! - - to be rid of EXCESS BAGGAGE! God, by Deliberate Design, left an "excess baggage" of foreskin (un-needed and unnecessary) on the most important part of a male man (his 'penis,' - - his 'manhood'), knowing that a time would come when He (God) would require Abraham to rid himself of that excess "flesh." Yes, we still live in the flesh (the physical), but there's an "EXCESS" FLESH (the inhibitant to a truly spiritual life) that we must get rid of, if our ministry is to honour Heaven, honour God, and fulfill our REAL MANDATE!
You cannot get your mandate from what is POPULAR! No!
You cannot get your mandate from what is CONVENIENT! No!
You cannot even get your mandate from what is SACRIFICIAL, but which may not be commanded of God!
For a church to fulfill its real mandate, the pulpit must first be circumcised!
The pulpit must not be a place for frivolity!
The pulpit must not be a place for the immature!
The pulpit must not be a place for jesters!
The pulpit must not be a place for human sympathy!
The pulpit must not be a place for human expression!
It must be a place for DIVINE EXPRESSION! It must be a place from where we hear the mind of God! Not a place from where we hear what we want to hear! Not a place for serving human need! But a place for serving the NEED of God! This may seem contradictory, since it is generally "taken" for granted that church/God exists to serve human need! But, this is an error! Yes, it is true that God has provided an answer to HUMAN NEED.! But, that answer is not as dictated by man, but, as dictated by God! We must preach His Gospel, and not our Gospel! We must preach it in the way He gives it to us (as a generation, and as a congregation in that generation).
Where are the Reformers? We must be the Reformer, where need be, in our own Generation! We must lead the Way, (that is, the pulpit must lead the Way for the congregation to follow, and not the other way round!
Every congregation is a reflection of its PULPIT! Every congregation will manifest what its pulpit gives to her! Give them IGNORANCE, and they will be ignorant! Give them chaff to eat, instead of real food, and they will manifest their MAL-NOURISHMENT! Make them babies, and they will exhibit their childishness.! Every congregation is a manifestation of the quality/lack of quality of its pulpit!
In the final analysis (take it or leave it), God will not adjudge/commend you as a "good and faithful servant," because of how many "testimonies of breakthrough" you've had through your pastor (I'm talking of "breakthroughs" in carnal matters, for carnal purposes!) He will only certify you a "good and faithful servant" based on your fulfilling your own part of God's Mandate!
So, there's a mandate for the church of (or, throughout) ALL GENERATIONS!
there's a mandate for the church of "EACH" GENERATION!
there's a mandate for a church (every church) in each GENERATION!
That mandate (for a church, every church, in each GENERATION) flows from the PULPIT of that church congregation, to the people of the congregation, for them to RECEIVE, BELIEVE, ACTUALISE and MANIFEST, thus reproducing after their (own) KIND; and there's, also, a mandate for each INDIVIDUAL believer in every generation!
At the end of the Day, God is going to have an ULTIMATE church (THE ULTIMATE CHURCH, the church that would fully ACTUALISE and MANIFEST Christ, in all of His ENTIRETY, in glory, love, power, LIFE and IMMORTALITY! That's the church that will COMPEL CHRIST to Return to this Earth, and to ignite it with His glory, in JUDGMENT and in RENEWAL, bringing in the NEW CREATION, the NEW EARTH wherein shall be the TABERNACLE of God!
That church (that shall produce/usher in that glory) shall NOT have been nurtured on the morality of academic CRK (Christian Religious Knowledge); it shall NOT have been nurtured, either, on the morality of Made-In-Nigeria Holiness; or any human type of holiness for that matter; rather, it would be a church that had DIED on the CROSS with CHRIST; the Old Man of that Church (and of individuals therein) being CRUCIFIED with CHRIST! It will be a CHURCH illumined by the REVELATION of its own REDEMPTION from SIN, through the BLOOD of the Lamb of the EVERLASTING COVENANT!
How prepared is (your church) to be a part of this CHURCH? How prepared is the pulpit (of your church) to fulfill God's own Mandate on Her (the church) and on Her People?
The church of Jesus is the BRIDE of CHRIST - - eventually so. But, for now, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but, we know that when He (Jesus) shall appear (again in all His glory), we shall be as Him - - because we would have (prior to that time) SEEN Him as HE IS !!! May we SEE Him as He is! That must be the prayer, the desire and the PURSUIT of the church henceforth!
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