THE KING SPEAKS ABOUT HIS GATHERED ASSEMBLY
"I AM above all rule, authority, power, dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. My Father has placed all things beneath My feat and appointed Me the universal Head of My church. No Pope, no Preachers, no Vicars, no Pastors, no Bishops or Archbishops, but I alone am Head of My church. All others are interlopers and usurpers. Know My brothers that My Headship is not exercised through one or two so-called “ordained” clergy members but is exercised throughout My assembled gathering, which is My body, the fullness of My Presence that fills, and is filling, ALL IN ALL—for in My body lives My full measure, not a partial measure, but My full measure as I express Myself through each member. In this way, I make everything everywhere complete; nobody gets left out (Eph. 1:22-23).
If two or three gather in My name, there I will be in the midst of you. It is My purpose that My Spirit, who comes in My name, will remain constantly with you and will dwell in each one of you (John 14:16-17). The Father will send Him to you in My name and He will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you (John 14:26). I will send Him to you, the Great Helper, from the Father, even the Spirit of truth. He comes from the Father and will point to the truth as it concerns Me (John 16:26). He will come and guide you in all truth. He will not speak His own words to you; He will speak what He hears, revealing to you the things to come and bringing glory to Me. He has unlimited access to Me, to all that I possess and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. He will guide you “into” the reality of the truth of My church apostolic. His anointing is on you. You are not lacking any teaching. But as His anointing teaches you all things, His teaching to you is this: “Remain connected to Me and My Headship over you.” You can also be sure of the fact that He has come and given you a mind so that you may know Me who is true. You live in this truth, in My life given to you (I John 5:20).
But know this: Wolves have crept in among you not sparing My flock. My emissary Paul warned about them. He gathered the elders of Ephesus together and said to them: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you ravaging the flock. And from among you yourselves men will rise up to the front speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). (See "The Social Order of Wolves:
http://alphawolfsabrina.webs.com/socialorderandvisual.htm)
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In the name of preventing heresy in the church, Ignatius and other contemporaries of My apostles, brought in the Nicolaitan heresy which I hate (see:
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why-does-god-hate-practices-of-the-nicolaitans.html or
http://latter-rain.com/eschae/nicola.htm) Rather than My body holding to My Headship as Sovereign and Supreme, the Nicolaitan heresy traded My Headship for the rule and traditions of men. And rather than all of My saints being equal members of My body, joint participants in My church, the Nicolaitan spirit raised themselves up in My place 'over" My flock:
“Be eager to do everything in godly harmony, the bishop presiding in the place of God and the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles and the deacons…” Ignatius
“It is not permissible either to baptize or to hold a love feast without the bishop.” Ignatius
“Do nothing without the bishop.” Ignatius
“…whoever does anything without the bishop and presbytery and deacons does not have a clean conscience.” Ignatius
“Be subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ.” Ignatius
My apostolic teaching was built on gold, silver and precious stones. This teaching, the teaching of the Nicolaitans, the division of My body into Clergy and Laity, I find detestable!
As Sovereign Head, the Only Head, My purpose for My church is that through My body, each and every member of my body, My complicated, many-sided wisdom in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities in the heavenly sphere (Eph. 3:10).
Now perhaps you are wondering how I purpose to do this? You see, when I ascended on high, I led captivity captive, and I bestowed My gifts on men. I ascended on high that I might fill all things, the whole universe, FROM THE LOWEST TO THE HIGHEST. Notice that last phrase again: “from the lowest to the highest.” I work from the bottom up, not the top down (Eph. 4:10-11). I turn the world’s notions of “hierarchy” upside down. “From the lowest to the highest.”
“You need some perspective here. My Kingdom is not run like the power-brokers of this world’s system. Their rulers have great power over the people, but My Father doesn’t play by their rules. This is the Kingdom’s logic: whoever wants to become great must first make himself a servant; whoever wants to be first must bind himself as a slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as the ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28)
“The kingdoms of this world love their hierarchical structures of power and prestige. You know that in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects and their great men make them feel the weight of their worldly authority; but this shall not be so with you. Among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant and whoever would be first must be the willing slave of all” Mat. 20:25-27).
For this reason, it is my desire that no one be held above another. Those who elevate themselves above My brothers by the presumption of so-called ecclesiastical authority will be brought low, so very low. Hear Me now:
Do not let anyone call you “Rabbi” (teacher), for you are all brothers and you have only one Teacher. Indeed, do not call anyone on earth “Father,” for you have only one Father, and He is in heaven. Don’t let anyone call you “leader,” for you have one Leader—and I AM HE. If you seek recognition in My body, be recognized by your lowly service. Delight in the one who calls you servant. Delight in the one who does not notice you at all. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:8-12.
This is such a far cry from those who seek the highest places in My church, who dress the part of high-church officials dressed in such pomp and ceremony. I want you to understand what a serious matter this is for I hate the teaching and practices of the Nicolaitans who sought “power over My people, the so-called “laity.”
Now while I did hand down to My Church gifted men, they did not lord it over their brothers—they were My apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers—so that My people, would be thoroughly equipped to do the work of the ministry, to the building up of My body in love.
As you minister and build up My body as members one of another, you will no longer be like children, tossed around here and there upon ocean waves, picked up by every gust of religious teaching spoken by liars or swindlers or deceivers. Instead, as you speak the Truth in Love to each other, you will grow in every way into the fullest sense of My life—for I alone am the Head of My church, and it is from My Head that My whole body grows by the proper functioning of individual parts to its full maturity in love. Not apostles, prophets, evangelists, or pastor-teachers, but I alone am your Shepherd-Pastor, your Chief Apostle, your Prophet, Priest and King (Eph. 4:14-15). I must repeat Myself here: It is from My Headship that My body grows by the proper functioning of individual parts to its full maturity in love.”
I am the One, not self-named “apostles” or “prophets” or “bishops,” who join and hold together the whole body with its ligaments that provide the support needed to each part so that each part works to its proper design and function to form a healthy, growing and mature body that--now listen to Me--that “builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16). My apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers are not responsible for building up My body because, under My Headship, my body “builds itself up in love.” My "ligaments" in the body are invisible; they have such a low profile. But they know and glory in their function which is to facilitate movement in My body.
My prophet Ezekiel spoke of My Headship in this way:
“And I will raise up over them one Shepherd and He shall feed them, even My servant David. He shall feed them and be their Shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David shall be prince among them—I the Lord have spoken it.” (Ezekiel 34L23)
David had fallen asleep. I AM The King Shepherd over my flock. My sheep know My voice and they follow Me.
So, you might ask, “Lord, what are we to do in our gatherings unto You?”
So this I say: “Abide in Me and allow My words to Abide in You as you teach one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your hearts to My Headship and glory in your midst as your Shepherd, Prophet, Priest, and King. (Colossians 3:16).
And do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together as some have but encourage one another, be devoted to one another, teach and train one another, pray for one another, confess your sins to one another. (Hebrews 10:25).
Now I need to say something about the scriptures. I have inspired all scripture, and have breathed into them My thoughts and purposes. They are profitable for your teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right.” (2 Tim. 3:16). No one likes “rebuke,” but from time to time, it is necessary. I say this to your shame because many have set aside My inspired teaching regarding My church and have set up their own forms of godliness which deny the power of My sovereign Headship. My scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35), but sadly, the unfolding of my thoughts for My church have been set aside as no-longer profitable for teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right.” My letter to the Ephesians spoke of My exalted purpose for My church, but My letter to the Corinthians is the key that unlocks Ephesian’s truth in practical ways.
So let me turn to some issues about spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters. There’s so much you need to learn. Remember the way you used to live when you were pagans apart from Me? You were engrossed—enchanted with voiceless idols, led astray by mere images carved by human hands. Although they couldn’t move, they somehow moved you. With that in mind, I want you to understand that no one saying ”Jesus is cursed” is operating under My Spirit, and no one saying “Jesus is Lord” can do so without My Spirit’s inspiration. Now there are many kinds of grace-gifts, but they are all from My Spirit. There are many different ways to serve, but they’re all directed by My providence. There are many amazing working-gifts in the church, but it is the work of My Father who energizes them all in all who have the gifts.
I have given to each believer a gift that manifests My power and presence. That gift is given for the good of the whole community. I give one person a word of wisdom but to the next person a word of knowledge. To another I give the gift of faith, and still another gifts of healing—all from My one and the same Spirit. One person is enabled by My Spirit to perform miracles, another to prophesy, while another is enabled to distinguish those prophetic spirits. The next one speaks in various kinds of unknown languages, while another is able to interpret those languages. I work all these things in each person as I see fit.
Just as I made your body a single whole made up of many diffident parts, and all the different parts comprise the one body, so it is with My Presence among you. You were all baptized together into My body by My Spirit. No matter your heritage—Jew or Greek, Catholic or Protestant, Evangelical or Pentecostal, high church or low church, insider or outsider—no matter your status—oppressed or free—you were all given My Spirit to drink. So drop your sectarian claims to be followers of a Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, or Popes and celebrity preachers but rather do this: Come to Me that You might have real life.
Now My body is not made of one large part but of many different parts. Would it seem right for My foot to cry, “I am not a hand, so I couldn’t be part of My body?” Even if it did, it wouldn’t be any less joined to My body. And what about an ear? If an ear started to whine, “I am not an eye; I shouldn’t be attached to this body,” in all its pouting, it is still part of My body. Imagine if My entire body was just an eye. How would a giant eye have the sense to hear? And if My entire body were an ear, how would I have the sense to smell?
This is where I come in. I have meticulously put My body together; I placed each part in the exact place to perform the exact function I want. If all My members were a single part, where would My body be? Why is it that many churches claim to be “the body of Christ” but focus on just one member who they call “the preacher?” How can My body be a single part? I designed My body so that many members function within My one body. My eye cannot wail at the hand, “I have no need for you!” nor could My head bellow at the feet, “I won’t go one more step with you!” It’s actually the opposite. My members who seem to have the weaker functions are necessary to keep My body moving. Remember, I work from the bottom up. My body parts that seem less important you should treat as some of the most valuable, and those unfit, untamed, unpresentable members you should treat with an even greater modesty and honor. That’s something My more presentable members don’t need. But I designed My body in such a way that greater significance is given to My seemingly insignificant parts. That way there should be no division in My body; instead, all My parts mutually depend on and care for one another. If one part is suffering then all the members suffer alongside it. If one member is honored, then all the members celebrate alongside it, so honor the lowly among you. You are My body; each and every one of you is a vital member.
I have appointed gifts in My assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and then those who speak with various unknown languages. Are all My members gifted as emissaries? Are all gifted with prophetic utterances? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Or are all gifted in healing arts? Do all speak or interpret unknown languages. The answer to each of these questions, of course, is "no". Pursue the greater gifts…especially the gift of prophecy. You see, a person speaking in an unknown langue is not addressing the church because he is really talking to Me—those who overhear don’t understand because he is speaking in the Spirit the depths of My mysteries, depths which no man has ever searched out. But a person who has the gift of prophecy teaches in a way that builds up the community, draws them near, and comforts them. Those who speak in an unknown language only strengthen themselves, but those who prophesy strengthen the community. While I’d like for you all to be able to speak by My Spirit in unknown languages, my preference would be for you all to prophesy by the Spirit. Those who speak prophetically are My mouthpieces and are far more useful to My church than those who speak in exotic languages—unless there is another who interprets so that the community may be strengthened.
Now if I dropped down into your midst talking in unknown languages, what good would that be for any of you? What service to the community would that provide? You receive no benefit unless I speak to you some word of revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or instruction in your own language through My multi-splendored members. Look, if inanimate objects, musical instruments like a pipe or harp don’t make a clear, distinct sound, how would you know whether you’re listening to someone blow a pipe or strum a harp? If the bugle blares more like a clank, who would know to prepare for battle? It’s the same with you. Unless you speak a message in a language everyone understand, they won’t know what you’re talking about. You’ll be talking into the wind. This world is full of languages, each and every one of them having meaning, but if I don’t understand the meaning of some sound, then I become like a foreigner to the person speaking and the person speaking will be like a foreigner to me. It’s the same with you; in your passion for spiritual gifts, seek to strengthen the community of believers and you will all be better off.
So anyone who speaks in an unknown language should pray for the ability to interpret because if one prays in such a language, although their spirit prays, their mind isn’t productive. What should you do then? Pray yes. Pray with your spirit but also with your mind engaged; sing with your spirit but also with your mind engaged. If you speak a word of blessing in the spirit only, then how will an uninformed person who can’t understand your prayer say “Amen” when you are done giving thanks? Even though you give thanks to Me well, the unknowing person doesn’t benefit.
Be thankful if you speak in unknown languages, but when the church gathers, I would rather you speak five words with your mind so others can understand and be trained by your words rather than utter 10,000 exotic words.
Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. Be innocent of malice but mature in understanding. This is what I spoke through Isaiah:
“I will send my message to this people
With strange languages and
Foreign lips,
And even when that happens,
They will not listen to Me,”
So speaking in unknown languages is not a sign to the believing but a miracle to the unbelieving; prophecy, though, is not a sign to the unbelieving but for the believing. Imagine what would happen if My entire church gathered together speaking in different languages, one foreign to the next. Then people who have never heard of such a thing or unbelieving people walk up on all that’s going on. Would they not think each and every one of you were raving lunatics? But let’s say an outsider or unbeliever walks in on a different scene; all are speaking of My glory with great power and insight in a language they know. What then? Well, the outsider would come under the conviction of his own sins and be called to accountability by the words of all My members. The very secrets of his heart would be revealed by all, and right there—mystified—he would fall on his face and worship Me, proclaiming all the while that I, God of very God, am most certainly dwelling among you and speaking through you.
So, do you want meetings like this where my Presence is known in Your very midst? Well then, here’s the right course of meeting in My Name. When you come together, each person should come knowing they have a vital role because I have given to each one some gift for the edification of all. One person might have a song, another a teaching, still another a revelation from My heart. One person might speak in an unknown language, another will offer the interpretation, but all of this should be done to strengthen My life and Presence in My community. But if any do speak in an exotic language, limit it to two or three people at a time, and have them speak one at a time, while another interprets for the rest. If there is not an interpreter present, then the one should stay silent during the gathering, speaking only to Me under his breath. And do let two to three of My prophets speak in your meetings, and let others with discerning gifts evaluate the messages they hear. Now if in the course of things I give a message to another who is seated, then the first one speaking should be silent until this new message can be spoken. To avoid confusion and create a space where all can learn and be encouraged, let only one prophet speak at a time without interruption. You see, the prophetic spirits are under the control of the prophets. This is because I Am the author of order, not confusion. What I am telling you is to be in all the gatherings of the saints, not just those in Corinth… If you are reading this as the "clergy class" and thinking that My words come to the world by you alone, you are sadly mistaken. Do you think that you alone are My mouthpiece in My church? If you think that you are a spiritual person who alone deserves to be in the front of My church feeding it your great pearls of wisdom, know Oh prophet that these things I have written here are not options for My church gatherings; they are My commands. Whoever chooses to be ignorant of this will be treated as ignorant. So, my dear brothers and sisters, I speak to each one of you: passionately desire to prophesy in My meetings to build up My church, to speak the very oracles of God, but don’t ban the gift of speaking in unknown languages but follow the rules I have so plainly laid out and you will then maintain the proper order in all things.
I desire that none of you think of yourselves as being more important that you actually are, for I have given to each one of you a measure of faith. For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions, you, too--the many--are different parts that form My one body. Each one of you is joined with one another, mutually benefiting and mutually dependant, and you become together what you could not be alone. Since My gifts vary depending on the My grace poured out on each of you, it is important that you exercise the gifts I have given you to build up My body. If I have given you the excelling gift of prophecy, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith. If I have given you the helpful gift of service, then serve well. If I have given you the eye-opening gift of teaching, then teach well. If I have given you the gift of encouragement, which is priceless, then use it often. If I have given you the gift of giving, then be generous. If I have given you the gift of leading My body to a fuller revelation of Myself, then be eager to get started. If I have gien you the gift of mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it.
Finally, you are coming to the end of all things, so be serious and keep your wits about you in order to pray more forecefully. Most of all, love each other steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults. Show hospitality to each other without complaint. Use whatever gifts I have given you for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of My grace in all of its multi-splendored varieties. If I call on you to speak in the meeting, open your mouth and I will fill it. If I call on you to serve others, serve through My strength in you. In these ways, our Father will be glorified in all of you through My working in you. This will redound to My glory and power, now and forever through My church. I Peter 4:7-11).
