Zola Levitt discovered an amazing correlation between Biblical (Jewish) Holy Days and the gestation of a human baby, from conception to birth. While preparing for writing a book for new parents, Zola contacted a gynaecologist for some help in understanding gestation.

During that session, the gynaecologist showed him a series of pictures, pointed to the first one (an egg and a sperm) and said, “On the fourteenth day of the first month, the egg appears.”

The statement struck a chord in his Jewish mind because that was the date of Passover. He remembered the roasted egg on his family table every Passover. Now, for the first time, he knew what it meant! Not wanting to lead the gynaecologist off from the subject at hand, he didn’t say anything, but continued to listen.

The gynaecologist continued: “The egg must be fertilized within 24 hours, or it will pass on.” This reminded Zola of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the seed or grain that “fell into the ground and died” in order to produce a harvest, the firstfruits of which was presented to God.

Next, the gynaecologist said, “Within two to six days, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the womb and begins to grow.” And, sure enough, the Jewish evangelist thought, “The Feast of Firstfruits is observed anywhere from two to six days after Passover!”

Next, he was shown a photo of an embryo showing arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, a head, eyes, etc. The caption said, “Fifty days.” The gynaecologist continued, “Around the fiftieth day, the embryo takes on the form of a human being. Until then, we don’t know if we have a duck or a tadpole.” Zola thought, “That’s Pentecost!”

The next picture showed the embryo at seven months. The gynaecologist said, “On the first day of the seventh month, the baby’s hearing is developed. For the first time, it can hear and distinguish sounds outside the womb.” Zola knew that was the date for the Jewish Festival of Trumpets.

The gynaecologist continued, “On the tenth day of the seventh month, the haemoglobin of the blood changes from that of the mother, to a self-sustaining baby.” Zola thought, “That’s the Day of Atonement, when the blood was taken into the Holy of holies!”

Next, the gynaecologist said, “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the lungs become fully developed. If born before then, the baby would have a hard time breathing.” And Zola thought, “That’s the festival of Tabernacles, a time of celebrating the Temple, home of the Shekinah glory or Spirit of God.” In the New Testament, the Greek term pneuma, normally translated as “breath,” is applied to the “Holy Spirit.”

Birth takes place on the tenth day of the ninth month. Eight days after birth, in Jewish families, a son is circumcised. Zola noted that the eight days of Hanukkah are celebrated right on schedule, nine months and ten days after Passover.

No human being could have understood the gestation period 3,500 years ago. The establishment of the Jewish Holy Days was given to Moses by Jehovah, Himself. Its correlation with the human gestation period is not only remarkable; it proves “Intelligent Design.” It proves the existence of an intelligence beyond this world. It proves that there is a Creator God that guides the affairs of man.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2006, Zola Levitt went home to be with the Lord after a battle with lung cancer. The announcement on his website added: “What a soldier’s testimonial — to stay at his post until called away by Yeshua! Happy is the man whose work is his play.”

In giving his testimony, Zola wrote:

“I came to the Lord on March 14, 1971, through the urgings of Campus Crusaders at Indiana University. They challenged me to read the Scriptures, particularly the Book of John. I went by night, like Nicodemus, to the campus director’s home and brought a New Testament bound by itself (what Dr. McCall, our ministry senior theologian refers to as ‘The Amputated Bible’).

“When I read John’s cosmic views of the Lord and the plan of salvation, I realized that I was reading Jewish writing about a Jewish Messiah, and a Jewish way to God. All the Campus Crusaders might have been Gentiles, but I knew Jewish thought when I read it. My prayer of 28 years ago was extremely simple. I said to God, ‘If You’re there, show me.’ An open-minded look at the life I have led since that moment would have to conclude that He has indeed shown me wonders.”

The correlation between the Jewish festivals and the birthing of a baby was just one of those “wonders.”

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…..Peter McArthur

…..The Issachar Ministry

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1. THE PRINCIPLE OF LEADERSHIP – MINISTRY

• Ministry isn’t just about actions and words. It’s an impartation of life. This should be the one aim of all leadership ministries.
• What we “have” goes out from us to another person.
• Godly character originates in the Presence (literally = “face”) of God.
• It’s from the “secret place” that true leadership and motivation spring. Our unction to lead arises out of abiding in this place. Anything that substitutes this will bring death! Don’t feed them knowledge (Gen. 2:17), people need, and want, Life!
• When others submit to our leadership, when they receive “ministry” from us it can effect their spirit, soul, body or a combination of 2 or 3 of these.
• This is why leadership is an act of Serving. You are giving of yourself to others. You actually “serve them up” a portion of yourself! Do you really want to give someone else a part of what you’re really like inside?
• Who we are in the Secret Place with God determines our ministry destiny. People subconsciously (or consciously!) are looking to see Jesus in us.

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2. TOUCHING THE HEART

• Our leadership must touch the heart if it is to bring life to others. Leadership is not about “leading” people; it’s about bringing them to a place of life in Christ ( = life in the Anointing).
• The quality of our leadership is determined by what deposit of spiritual life we leave behind after we’ve gone. It isn’t always the case we’ll be recognised as good leaders while we’re still in the position of Leader!
• God’s life flows between people in the realm of our spirit man. If there’s no such flow happening between hearts, even though there might be a genuine impartation of help and assistance to the recipient’s body or soul, there has been no spiritual life imparted.
• Aim always to do this. No matter how often you fail in it, aim for it. See it as your goal; to be remembered as a leader who imparted life to others.
• Like it or not, our ministry will reproduce itself in the life of others! A sobering thought. Each ministry tends to reproduce itself in others.
• Some ministries and leaders actually try to duplicate themselves in others; they knowingly or unknowingly produce clones.
• Always be on guard that you’re not out to duplicate yourself in others. Reproducing what life you have in others is acceptable, but don’t clone yourself.

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3. IT IS GOD’S HOUSE

• As we lead God’s people we must realise that the House of God is being built in the Heavens.
• It’s expression will be manifest on the earth, but the reality of it is in the Heavenlies.
• We are to learn to minister from a position of being seated with Christ. We must have a perspective, authority and a sense of destiny established in the heavens if we are to build successfully on the earth. (1 Cor. 3:10 – let each one take heed how he builds ).
• We are servants and builders. Our heart attitude is vital. A sign of Godly leadership is when we see lives built and joined together through the Holy Spirit.
• Man’s ability to lead will bring people into bondage and eventually destroy them. Godly leadership builds and strengthens. This can be used as a thermometer to check the validity of our leadership.
• As we are faithful and obedient to God’s call on our lives, He will extend our sphere of leadership. Recognise your boundaries at each stage of growth as a Leader. Do not go beyond them until God has released you into that new level. One sign of mature leadership is practical wisdom!
• Aim for quality of leadership; avoid the desire to want to be recognised as someone who is important, has a calling, is a good leader, etc.
• Sadly, it’s pride or the lack of recognition that’s the greatest fault of Christian leadership today.

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4. THE PRICE!

• Everything that we do as leaders will be tested by God. He will do this to see whether our work is good or bad, fruitful or barren. He does this for our benefit, so we can see if we’ve built properly or not.
• God wants something that will stand. There is darkness ahead of us, so He will test and refine what we do as leaders. Only what He approves of will stand in that day (Heb. 12:26-27 – “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.)
• So there is a price to pay. No-one should even think of becoming a leader of God’s people unless they’re willing to lay down their own ambition and pay the price. If you don’t it will catch up with you and haunt your ministry all the days of your life!
• In the end there is one basic, eternal and life imparting truth that stands out above all other leadership qualities and principles; we can only pass on to others what we have experienced in our own lives through the grace of God.
• We can only pass on to others what we have experienced in our own lives through the grace of God.

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Teaching by Peter McArthur

www.issachar.org.au

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“His coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and miraculous signs and lying wonders, and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. And because of this, God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe the lie, that all may be judged, those not believing the truth, but who have delighted in unrighteousness”. 2 Thess. 2: 9-12

Note the phrase “love of the truth” mentioned in verse 10.

In His own time and way the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

There are two requirements laid on us if we would come into all truth.

We must become yielded to God’s Spirit as Teacher, and, we must love His written Word with a passion.

A strong conviction is also needed, that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim 3:16 and 2 Pet. 1:21). There is a parallel between what we find in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and what happened in Eden when the Satan beguiled Eve. It was there in the Garden that “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess 2:7) began its work that has continued through the ages till this day.

“Mystery” is from the Greek mustérion which means “a secret” known only to the initiated, or that will remain under cover until its time of revelation has come.

“Iniquity” is from he anomía, which means “the lawlessness” and has reference directly to the utter disregard for God’s Law. The small word he (pronounced “hay”) is a Greek Definite Article meaning “the.” It specifies the word it precedes as distinct. Hence it is “the mystery of THE iniquity” which is an attitude toward God that denies He has any right to rule.

The iniquity began with an assault on the mind of Eve in Eden. It has continued through the ages with its hold on all humanity. This will continue till its final work when all its poison will be released toward the minds of those who have found redemption through the Seed of the Woman (Gen 3:15) — those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ. “The wicked one” (Mtt 13:19) will fix his strategic gaze on us who are set in the earth to “withstand” him (Eph 6:13). As the age winds down, he is working to throw our minds off kilter with the goal of disabling us for function with Christ in His Kingdom.

In 2 Cor 10:4-5 Paul makes it clear what will come in our counter strategy when we realize that the main end-time battlefield is our mind. See some of the powerful insights of the following passage in 2 Thess 2: 1-2. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

Paul’s exhortation was with regard to the “coming” of the Lord. This word “coming” is from the Greek word parousía, meaning Christ’s return to earth to reign. At that time all true believers will be gathered together unto Him with no walls or divisions. This grand appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ is the end toward which this age is now moving. Paul’s concern for this was that believers “be not soon shaken in mind.”

Note where the attack is aimed! The deception of the enemy, coupled with the trauma of the age ending, could throw the mind of even a true believer into turmoil so that it lacks all sound judgment or understanding. It was Paul’s concern that this not be so. There are 3 ways by which spiritual revelation may come by spirit, by spoken word, or by written word. True and pure revelation comes by the Holy Spirit, but there are also other spirits at work mimicking God’s Spirit. It is here we need that operation of the Holy Spirit called discerning of spirits (1 Cor 12:10). This is the ability given to us by God’s Spirit through which we put spiritual revelation to the test and discern whether it’s from the Lord or not.

There are three fundamental criteria by which we seek to judge any revelation that comes to us.

1. Is it in line with God’s Word?

2. Does it bring exaltation to the Lord Jesus Christ?

3. Is the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon it?

Our concern should be that no matter what happens or how it happens or when it happens, believers will not be thrown into tumult, drowned by discouragement, or lost to Christ’s Kingdom because they lose the stability of their minds. Teaching mixed with error can cause this, but revelation that is pure always brings stability. One is holy; the other is not. The following verses (2 Thess 2:3-4) are heavy with revelation as Paul writes to the saints he loved dearly. “Let no man deceive you (beguile you from the path) by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away (THE apostasy) first, and that man of sin (that man of THE sin) be revealed, the son of (THE) perdition (the one who wastes all things; the one who is set in the earth to mastermind a final great destruction); Who opposes (sets himself in opposition to) and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God (a god).”

The Lord Jesus referred to this same thing in Mtt 23:11-12. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (lead many down the path of falsehood). And because iniquity shall abound (the iniquity shall be multiplied), the love of many shall grow cold”. That we may abide in the truth in this trying time is our desire and the purpose of any true Berean! Paul used the word náos for Temple in the above Thessalonian passage. It means the Most Holy Place in the Temple. Another word hiéron also means “temple,” but it always signifies the Temple as a building. Paul was clear in his conviction that it was not a building of stones, but of living members, redeemed people, believers.(See Acts 17:24; 1 Cor 3:16-17; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 3:21).

The anti-Christ’s scheme is to spoil this Temple so it cannot be useful in Christ’s Kingdom. But this activity will only push us to learn more of what is called prevailing grace! The grace and power of God will far exceed the determination of anti-Christ to ruin us for the Kingdom. Take note of the statement “he as God sits in the Temple”. The little word in comes from the Greek eis, which means “into, or unto”. This presents a picture of the “son of perdition” pushing in toward the Temple, contending for the Holy of Holies. But it does not say he becomes seated in it.

At the very instant it seems the enemy might accomplish this grand feat and make his parousía on the world’s scene, the Lord Jesus makes His glorious appearing and consumes Satan. Paul was clear in warning the people that spirits of deception would keep an eye on believers to get them away from the Lord and His purpose for them. 2 Thess 2:5 “Don’t you remember that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

The Greek word in this verse from which we get “I told” is a Greek phrase spelled in a way to let us know it was Paul’s practice to speak time and time again of these important matters. The energy of the wicked one has been in operation in the world as “the mystery of iniquity” ever since the deception in Eden. But there has remained a restraint on the iniquity until the antichrist himself, not just his spirit, is on the scene. “And then shall that Wicked (the wicked one) be revealed (uncovered; disclosed), whom the Lord shall consume (use up; destroy) with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy (render powerless) with the brightness of His coming (the glorious manifestation of His presence)” 2 Thess 2:8

Following the long period while iniquity has been under restraint, it will make a final breakout on earth. The destruction to which this verse points comes when sin has come to its full. Then, a final act of rebellion against God calls for the return of the Lord Jesus. The wicked one will determine to take the Throne of Christ’s Kingdom by mimicking the Lord Jesus, and will attempt a glorious burst on the scene to make his presence known in all the earth. He will be energized in his own parousía by Satan himself.

See the following revealing statement in 2 Thess. 2:9-10. “Even him (the anti-Christ himself), whose coming is according to the working (energetic power) of Satan with all power (dynamic power) and signs and lying wonders (terrifying lies), and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (them that are perishing); because they received not (laid not hold on) the love of the truth, that they might be saved”.

The word parousía occurs 18 times in the Greek New Testament. Every time it is with reference to the Lord Jesus. This word describes the appearance on the scene of a majestic ruler. What a brazen insubordination the devil will attempt this with his man, the antichrist! Let us stress this again: antichrist’s plan is to win the throne belonging to the Lord Jesus. His only hope is to deceive the followers of Jesus as he deceived our parents in Eden. His aim is to capture our minds and our hearts. According to the teaching of Scripture those who would lose their way in the final days would be those who received not the love of the truth.

Let’s not be deceived; let’s be the ones who receive a love for the Truth. There’s a powerful statement in 2 Cor 10:4-5 that lays out the very principle of renouncing THE LIE and releasing our minds for the Truth that is in Christ. “…for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God to the demolishing of strongholds, the demolishing of arguments and every high thing lifting up itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ…”

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to usher truth into your inward parts. This is a strategy by which we bring our own minds under subjection to Christ. It is very effective as hearts become open to the Word of God’s Kingdom.

Now let these things of prime importance be settled with us:

• We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Lord
• We choose to believe the Word of God
• That it is inspired by the Holy Spirit
• That its truth abides
• That the Holy Spirit is ready to bear witness to it, and
• That we must neither add to it nor take from it.

Let us be committed to these things above all!

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1. THE FORMATION OF OUR CHARACTER

• Jesus is the exact “representation” (= character) of the Father’s nature according to Hebrews 1:3.
• The meaning of the word is “a tool used to engrave”. So if we’re going to be conformed unto Jesus we need to let God engraven our soul and life so that it will become just like His Son’s.
• God uses the circumstances of life to form us into His shape: He is the potter we are the clay. This begins when we are Born Again and made “holy”. The word “holy” simply means “to be set apart”.
• God takes us and sets us apart to make us into the form or shape He desires.
• This is why the formation of our character is important. We need to cooperate with the Lord in becoming more like Jesus.
• Read what Paul says in 2 Cor. 7:1

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2. THE HEART

• In Scripture the heart is linked to our inner-man, our spirit-life. This is why we are told to guard our heart. Prov. 4:23
• Our human character is formed by our upbringing, education, experiences of life, etc. But our Christian character is moulded by the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual union with God brings forth holy (=“separated”) fruit in our lives.
• So it can be said that our Christian character is grown and nurtured within our spirit-man, the heart. Therefore, whatever is in our heart will determine our character. What comes out of our heart will reveal to others what our character is really like!
• We need to control what goes into the heart. Self-discipline, spiritual regulation and guarding our inner life are ways of protecting the development of the inner man.
• There is a need to re-order our life so that:

The spirit is king
The soul is servant
The body is slave

• The formation of the Christian life is a lost art in modern Christianity. The Hebrews, the early Christians and even those at the time of the Reformation, all had a sense of “developing the Inner Life”. John Wesley had such a method of it that his followers were even called “Methodists”. His early assembly of Christian friends called themselves “The Holy Club” (= the separated ones).
• The attitudes needed to bring about this Christian Formation of the inner man can be found in the Beatitudes (Matt 5: 3-8) and in the list of the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22).

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3. REVELATION IS NEEDED

• Revelation is needed in order for us to see we need change. Without God showing us our needs we are lost. So many of us try to keep on pleasing Him by reverting to religion and works.
• Once revelation comes and we see the need to be changed and revived our next step is to obey. It is here that so many Christians fail.
• They don’t fail because of insincerity or lack of zeal; they fail because they look to “works” rather than to the person of Jesus.
• When revelation does its convicting work, our part is to look away to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, not to some method, work or religious thing that will bring us into further bondage.
• We will grow in character by learning to look upon Jesus and to behold Him. The better we know Jesus the more our spirit-man will yearn to be like Him. This is an automatic process based on God’s spiritual laws.
• Remember that the work of change going on within us is not our work, it’s God’s work! Our work is to bend and to be pliable to Him.
• The Adamic nature that fights for control over our life has already been put to death on the Cross. The life that is now within us is the Seed that the Father placed there through the New Birth.
• It is our duty, privilege and even joy, to cooperate with our Father as He brings this seed to full maturity in us!

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4. BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND Eph. 4:22-24

• Throughout the centuries, but particularly in the 20th, Christians have tried to renew their minds using all sorts of spiritual disciplines and methods. Most have failed – because they were based on man’s works to try to improve himself.
• God doesn’t want to improve us, He wants to transform us!
• Therefore the only place we can find such change is before His throne. Certainly, there are things we have to do and habits we have to confront and put away. But the most vital aspect of circumcising the heart and becoming more like Jesus is to spend time with God, sitting in His presence and allowing His quiet but steady work to act upon our hearts.
• This will require a measure of humility Rom. 12:1-3
• Currently the Holy Spirit is calling the Lord’s people to “come in” and sit with the Father. Many ministries are finding they’re being called to put aside unnecessary issues and to be single-minded.
• We will not stand in what is coming unless we have aligned ourselves with the Father and allowed Him to do His work in the inner man of our heart. Our ministry anointing might be wonderful and good, but it alone will not see us through the days that lie ahead.
• The more we guard and nurture the heart the more we will conform to the image of Christ Jesus our pattern.

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…..Teaching by
…..Peter McArthur

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Biblical Numbers e-Book

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A teaching by Peter McArthur

One of the most insidious attacks against the Body of Christ comes from those who are
disaffected. This refers to those who feel they are not appreciated, recognised in their calling,
or simply have a rebellious attitude towards eldership.

This attitude has plagued the Body of Christ from its earthly inception, and was even at work in
Old Testament times in one of King David’s sons, hence the term. We shall look briefly at the
Biblical account as it highlights some important principles for us.

Absalom was David’s third son. We read how his sister Tamar was raped by her brother
Amnon (2 Sam. 13: 8-14), and when Absalom perceived this all he said was; Hold your peace
my sister…do not take this thing to heart (2 Sam. 13: 20).

Such was the heart of Absalom. He was grossly insensitive and acted unjustly. To Amnon his
brother he spoke neither good nor bad (2 Sam. 13: 22). The consequence of this incest
brought forth foolishness and hatred in Amnon (verses 13-15), which then resulted in anger
and hatred within the family (verses 21-22).

Festering guilt mixed with anger led Absalom to plan his brother’s death, after which he fled
the scene and hid for three years. (chapter 13). Eventually upon returning to Jerusalem he was
banned from approaching his father, David (2 Sam. 14: 24).

When, by another act of treachery, Absalom does get to see his father again (14: 28-33) he
immediately sets about to draw attention to himself by providing for himself chariots and fifty
men to run before him (15: 1).

The working out of this mind-set causes Absalom to not only draw attention to himself, but
also to draw people to himself (15: 2-6). This of course is the basic pattern of the Absalom spirit .

There is a definite plan to all this. Let’s note the sequence of how it is enacted:
1. Absalom chooses to rise early (2 Sam. 15: 2)
2. He deliberately stands at the gate to the City, where much traffic passes by.
3. He focuses in on issues the people have (in Heb. lit =controversies).
4. He also seemingly approves of their dissatisfaction (15: 3), thus cunningly aligning
himself to their concern, and vice versa.
5. Then he sows seeds of discontent by declaring that only he has the ability to make wise
decisions (15: 4).
6. The result is that people are duped and pay him homage when they should be going to
their God-appointed leader, in this case, King David (15: 5-6).
7. Absalom then uses a religious ploy to prepare the next stage of the deceit (15: 7-8).
8. This brings about an uprising against the legitimate God-appointed leadership (15: 10)
by drawing others into the web to act deceitfully (the spies of verse 10a).
9. The final working out of all this is the setting up of a competitive seat of power (15: 10b).

So, we see the treachery that is acted out by one close to leadership. Sadly, this pattern still runs its
course today and we find churches and fellowships undermined by this very same spirit .
Based on this Biblical account, what then are some of the factors to watch for?

THOSE WITH AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
Clearly we are to look for those who have an attitude that betrays an independent spirit. Such a
person no longer wants to serve the Body but seeks recognition and reputation for itself. It may
well have been that the person initially did serve others, but often this is only short-lived.

THOSE WHO SUBTLY SEEK SELF-PROMOTION
The next step is when such a person begins to manoeuvre to receive the praise of others. We
have already seen in 2 Samuel chapter 15 how Absalom stood by the gate of the city and stole
the hearts of the people .

SPIRITUAL PRIDE RISES UP
It’s usually those who lack clear discernment who give accolades and praise to the
Absalom-type among them. As this takes root in the heart of the perpetrator he begins to believe
that he’s more spiritual than others, and certainly wiser than the current leadership. He becomes unteachable.

AN OFFENDED SPIRIT COMES TO THE FORE
The spiritual pride that resides deep in the heart of the Absalom-type turns into Offence. Almost
anything begins to cause offence because his spiritual insight isn t appreciated. All the time he
works to have his ideas, doctrines and plans promoted. When it’s clear his suggestions are not
being accepted, he is greatly offended and seeks out others to back him – and to get them to
agree with him about the great offence caused. Disaffected people can so easily seek after
others of like spirits, who in turn are drawn to him.

A CRITICAL SPIRIT BEGINS TO OPERATE OPENLY
Once the pattern gets this far it ‘s not too long before a critical attitude toward leadership begins
to operate openly. This will soon result in nearly every decision, major and minor, being
questioned by the disaffected ones.

About the same time that this begins to operate openly, the Absalom-type feels he can no
longer receive any spiritual input or guidance from leadership. He begins to distance himself
from leadership, and complains that they’re the ones who are causing all this. He is reinforced
in his thinking that only he has the wisdom to carry the group further spiritually. Because there’s
no balance in his thinking he hears only those voices that approve of him, and he can even
begin to find Biblical texts in support of this. He has entered very dangerous territory at this
stage.

A SPIRIT OF COMPETITION ENTERS THE FRAY
What now emerges is a direct confrontation, which will ultimately lead to more and more
confusion. The Absalom-type will set himself up in competition to the leadership by deliberately
throwing innuendo and doubt into even casual conversation with the disaffected ones.
Because they too feel unloved they will readily nod their agreement. All the while their
conscience tries to alert them to the fact that something s not quite true – yet they ignore this
alarm bell and continue in aligning themselves to one of like-spirit.

Later the Absalom will begin to distort some of the teaching given by leadership, and
misrepresent certain facts and decisions they make. Thus it moves from a sense of emotional
hurt and lack of appreciation, to challenging doctrine. By this stage there’s now occurred a
major crisis in the pattern.

THE DELIBERATE SOWING OF STRIFE INCREASES
Now Absalom begins to take the strife to a wider plane, often contacting other individuals in the
church to spread the dissatisfaction; always of course making sure the hearer understands that
this isn’t gossip, but truth that needs airing!

When it’s something that occurs through a chance meeting with another disaffected person, it’s
one thing; but when it becomes more organised it’s quite another. By the use of phone calls,
invitations to a cuppa or a meal, and even through clandestine gatherings such as home
fellowships, the strife spreads like a cancer. Absalom is keen to seemingly promote God, the
teachings of the Bible, etc, to validate the reason for speaking against the leadership.

Invitations to attend a cuppa, a meal or gathering are given out to selected ones, who Absalom
knows will readily accept. At the outset of such gatherings Absalom makes sure that the
attention isn’t drawn to him – it is God who is our focus, he readily announces! This soon
changes however, and gradually the gathering turns into a meeting of bruised souls expressing
their sense of hurt.

ACCUSATIONS FLY
The greatest accusation any believer will have to face is; You don’t love me enough! We all
know in our hearts we fail at this point, and the poisoned arrow of accusation can go deep. This
becomes the one great area of faultfinding, especially directed at leadership. Usually its not
Biblical love that’s the issue here, but emotional love .

While the disaffected ones are giving voice to their hurt, Absalom waits (somewhat impatiently)
for an opportunity to turn it in a certain direction. He isn’t really interested at all in their
grievances; he wants to air his own feelings.

A Bible text is usually flung about, as if to legitimise the gossip. It doesn’t take too long before
Absalom speaks forthrightly against faults that he’s noticed in the leadership. Topping the list
will be lack of love , followed by an accusation that the current leaders are grieving the Holy
Spirit .

Close behind these accusations will often come a comforter . In the Bible Absalom was keen
to evidence loyalty to both God and David (2 Sam. 15: 7-9), yet his actions showed otherwise.
This use of Biblical quotes or principles, especially that we should still love the leaders whom
we’ve left brings a kind of comfort to the disaffected. They feel they’re not really attacking
God’s leaders at all, because they, at least, still love them! So they think.

Attacks are often related to the spiritual qualifications required of leadership as set down in the
Bible, and how the current leaders fail to measure up to them. Even minor failures in this regard
will be made to be seen as major flaws.

OPEN DISLOYALTY FOLLOWED BY DIVISION
Once this has reached a certain point, it’s not too long before open division rears it’s head.
Absalom doesn’t necessarily need a large group to implement his next move; even a small
band of followers will be sufficient. He knows he has them, he has stolen their hearts (2 Sam.
15: 6) and they have unwittingly given themselves over to him. They have come under bondage
(see 2 Pet. 2: 19).

Soon the disloyalty is shown by the making some sort of declaration (2 Sam. 15: 10), either in
public or in private. It’s remarkable how often those who seek to break away, declare their
intention by any means rather than a face-to-face meeting! A hurried phone call or a short letter
announces their intent; it is curt, to the point and there is no entering into further dialogue. A
final parting dart is flung at leadership when it’s announced, “Others feel the same way I do!”
(compare 2 Sam. 15: 10-13). This of course makes the leader wilt and perhaps feel guilty.

Often  it’s only at this point that the leadership actually becomes aware of the division. How
necessary it is then that leadership should pay attention to God’s warnings via prophetic words
and dreams!

Now the awful truth has come into the open: and the people must make a choice between their
current leaders and the Absalom who has deceived them all by treachery. Usually the larger
group are not swayed by the Absalom-type, but he has caused enough division to foster doubt
in the remainder of the congregation. A un-ease now hovers over the people.

A CONGREGATION TORN APART
Amongst those whom Absalom has beguiled are the naïve ones (2 Sam. 15: 11). These are
those who “only wanted the best of church life , those who wanted to move into something
greater , those who truly did desire the deeper things”  and “who wanted the freedom of the
Spirit”. Sadly these ones don’t see the truth until much later, and they become confused, and
some ultimately leave fellowship altogether.

Both sides are now in a flurry to re-establish and establish their respective groups. At this point
the leadership may try to encourage the remnant through all sorts of ways, in an attempt to
stabilise them. Sadly there’s often a great over-reaction in this and the people sense the
leaders are trying too hard to keep them. This can actually cause further unease.

Absalom however will begin to gloat, all the time making certain this isn’t seen publicly. But the
signs will be there, and sooner or later, what’s in his heart will overflow in his words and
actions.

One thing the Absalom-type cannot fail to do is to speak against what he’s left behind. He will
actively seek out teachings that will seemingly approve of his actions.

Those who align themselves with him will find some comfort in these teachings, as it seems to
validate their choice. However the instruction they receive from him will be un-balanced and its
source is often other Absaloms. He has now set himself up as a wise one , subtly imposing
upon his group the view that he can lead them into something more spiritual , unlike the
previous leadership.

When the Absalom sees something go wrong in the church, he’s quick to say that God’s
judgement has fallen upon the leadership. Sadly, even insignificant events will be seen as
signs that God has approved of the split. Spiritual discernment cannot possibly function in the
breakaway group because of the bitterness and pride that’s taken hold there.

THE JUDGMENT THAT WILL SURELY FOLLOW
There’s a Biblical principle that states: If the root is evil then the fruit shall also be evil. This
simply means that a group birthed from the workings of an Absalom will suffer the same fate
in due time. Disloyalty, gossip, and eventually rebellion will follow as sure as night follows day.

Note that in Scripture, Absalom died in a most revealing way; his head got caught in trees and
he was left dangling until he was executed. Caught by the head! In Biblical typology the head
stands for authority and leadership.

Absalom set himself up as head and by his head he was judged! (2 Sam. 18: 9-18).

May the Lord and His teaching Spirit guide us into ALL of His wondrous ways and increasingly
deliver us from the spirit of Absalom : may MATURITY be the hall-mark of today’s church!

Blessings and grace to you,

Peter McArthur

The Issachar Ministry

________________________________________________________________________________

The maturity of the Inner Man is vital if we are to pray like the Apostles. While this
maturity can take many years to attain we need to start the journey as soon as
possible. In one sense this begins at salvation, but in another sense we come to this
point again and again in our walk with the Lord.

Developing the ‘Spiritual Man’ is probably a major desire of most Christians, even
though they mightn’t use that precise term. However, for most of us it’s been an ad
hoc thing.

We have spurts of interest in the deeper things of God, work at perfecting our interior
life, then for various reasons, let it lapse. Some time later the stirring starts again and
we begin to focus on it once more, usually going through seasons of such interest,
but rarely committing long periods to it, and so our progress is haphazard.

However it’s evident from Scripture that the development and nurture of the Inner
Man is an ordered and disciplined lifestyle. Sometimes because of that very idea,
modern Christians reject it as a traditional religious practice akin to ritualism and
formalism.

How wrong we’d be to think like that. John and Charles Wesley gathered like-minded
Christians around them in a group called “The Holy Club”. They regularly met to
encourage one another (Prov. 27:17) and out of this came the movement we know
as the Methodists .

Note the name: Methodists! They had a method, a disciplined order of lifestyle.
We shouldn’t think that simply because discipline, method and order are required, it’s
necessarily wrong or like Catholicism.

It can be strongly argued that early Jews used such method and order in their
spiritual education and instruction.

The life of a Rabbi revolved around such a concept, as we see with Jesus and the
twelve disciples. Remember that the word “disciple” comes from the word
“discipline”! The three and a half years the disciples shared with Jesus were far from
experiences that ‘just happened’. Jesus the Rabbi was using a well-known way of
nurturing, challenging and testing those who were committed to Him.

As the Father spoke to Jesus, He would lead the disciples along the next stage of the
path, revealing new truths to them, opening up new vistas, and deliberately bringing
them closer and closer to maturity.

Today we would do well to reconsider such a disciplined lifestyle. Naturally I’m not
talking about being rigid, controlled or legalistic in this, but free and receptive to the
Spirit as He “blows where He wills ” (John 3: 8).

We won’t grow in the Lord unless we re consistent and disciplined in our walk.
However, the discipline we’re talking about here is not sticking to a programme, like
ACTS, but being open to what the Spirit tells you, and having a willing heart, ready to
obey.

A disciplined prayer life doesn’t necessarily mean you pray at the same time each
day, in the same place, and in the same way. You may do these things, but you
shouldn’t feel guilty if you break the pattern.

The best example of a disciplined (read “obedient”) prayer life is found in Jesus. He
never spoke out of His own mind or will. He deliberately chose to listen to the Father.
Some Christians think that Jesus somehow just received messages from His Father
and churned them out like a computer, so to speak. Rather, Jesus chose to submit
His will, emotions and mind to Abba. In doing this He was able to act solely on the
Father’s will, either by doing what the Father was showing Him or speaking what the
Father had already spoken to Him (John 5: 19).

That is the pattern we need to follow and imitate. His prayer life was an example for
us. It was, and still is, the perfect pattern of prayer.

Developing our Inner Man brings us closer and closer to living in the Spirit, and
praying the prayers of the Spirit.

Think about that for a moment.

” Praying the prayers of the Spirit.” Wouldn’t you like to be so attuned to the Father
that you only pray what the Father by the Spirit shows you to pray? What freedom
there is in that!

In order to live such a spiritual life we will need to exercise our Inner Man, learning
how to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and attentive to Him.

We’re so used to using our minds when praying that we often unwittingly block out
the still small voice. A basic spiritual principle is this:

It’s in the mind that you hear the Logos,
but it’s in the spirit that you hear the Rhema.

We need to cultivate the sensitivity of our spirit so we can tune in to the Rhema Word
of the Lord. Of course the Rhema can come at any time; during a counselling
session, as a Word of Knowledge, during ministry time, etc. But generally these
Words come while we’re actively engaged in something, while we’re busy.

However there’s another level of the Rhema that comes when you’re quiet, in a
receptive attitude, and focussed almost totally on the Lord. It’s this level of the
Rhema that ‘s developed within as you learn to sit quietly in His presence, looking
away unto Jesus, and seeking Him and Him alone, and for no other reason than to
be with Him!

This can be hard for us. We’re so used to seeking ‘something’ from the Lord, asking
Him for an answer to prayer, etc, that we can easily ignore HIM!

Even having said this, there are times when we seek to ‘experience’ Him. But stop for
a moment. What are we saying when we want to ‘experience Him’ ?

It sounds right enough. But once more we’re seeking ‘something’ from Him, an
experience but still not HIM for Himself !

It really is surprising how greedy and self-seeking we can be. Even when we desire
to be wholly devoted to God, somehow the flesh creeps in and taints our endeavour.
It’s a bit like people who want to worship the Lord so much that they focus more on
the act of worship than Him. In the end they end up worshipping ‘worship’.

It’s so easy and can happen to any of us. However, don’t despair about it. God knows our
intentions and His mercy will override the weakest attempt and bring it to fulfilment.
That’s why He’s the God of grace and kindness!

The Hebrews who had a willing heart were the ones that contributed to the building of
the Tabernacle. A willing heart, despite its own carnality, is still what God desires.
The carnality of man can be dealt with by grace and mercy. The hardness of heart is
a great offence to the Lord. It usually requires chastisement, and even judgement – sometimes severe.

Get a willing heart even though you might have mixed motives to begin with. Tell God
you want to be wholly devoted to Him, but there’s still a mixture within you. Since He
knows this already He will overlook the taint and accept the heart-felt attitude. The
mixture can be separated as He works on you later, but the willingness of heart is the
prime thing He’s seeking.

Another way of saying this is: God wants you to be single minded about Him, and
that’s a heart condition.

The consistent nurturing of your Inner Man will gradually bring you to the point of
willingness, obedience and transformation. It could be said that God isn’t all that
interested in ‘ changing ‘ us. Rather His intention is that we be transformed!

A lot of Christians use their prayer and devotional life as a pathway for change. They
want to be changed on the inside; to become more spiritual; to live a holy life. All of
which is good and fine, but do you notice that the focus is till on ME, I, MYSELF?

If we’re honest, this attempt to be inwardly changed often ends up
becoming a religious work. It saps our energy and because it’s ‘work ‘ it will
ultimately bring frustration and despair. Even worse, it can deceive you into thinking
you’re spiritually progressing when in fact the spirit of religion has blinded you from
seeing the true state of your soul.

One of the saddest things I ‘ve seen is when believers spend years cultivating their
interior life, but which, unknown to them, is actually devoid of true spiritual anointing.
The wasted time, energy and application makes me shudder. Having spent six years
living in a monastery proved this to me.

And don’t be proud! It can happen to Bible-believing, Spirit-filled people too. Think of
all those Christians who have a certain doctrine or teaching that becomes more
important than God Himself. Some denominations and movements have even named
themselves after their favourite doctrine, belief or experience.

So it’s not necessarily the amount of time you spend in prayer that s the key, it’s what
your heart is like as you do.

I’ve been thinking lately how great men of God like Martin Luther and John Wesley
spent considerable amounts of time in the presence of the Lord yet still failed to
identify wrong teachings they believed in.

For example, Luther was a man who spent hours in prayer each day and long
arduous hours in studying the Word. Yet he failed to see that his anti-Semitism could
not at all be supported by Scripture (see Rom. 8: 23) and that eventually it would be
one of the motivations for Hitler’s slaughter of six million Jews.

Likewise, John Wesley loved the presence of the Lord and gave many, many hours
to his devotions with Him. He gave up his life to study the Word of God, wrote
thousands of hymns, preached twice a day even up to the age of 80. Yet despite all
this he couldn’t see that the doctrine of the Baptism of Infants was un-Biblical.

These examples should ring warning bells for us. You can be wholly devoted to God,
spend hours and hours in worship, study and ministry and yet still be blind to some
truth that’s staring you in the face.

It only goes to show that even the most anointed, God-called, and devoted servant of
God is not immune from error.

So, it’s not the amount of time we give in prayer that’s so important but that our heart
be totally open to Him ready to accept correction and change if needed.

Blessings and the Lord’s favour upon you,

Peter McArthur
The ISSACHAR Ministry

_______________________________________________________________________

Often when we enter into some new Biblical revelation we might think we are beginning
to get a fairly good hold on what the purpose of God really is about. Even if we think we
do have a handle on it, there is always more.

It’s not enough to have an understanding of the Grand Purpose, we also need to know
HOW we are to participate in it, and also HOW God is working all this to its appointed
end.

Correct vision of this purpose and right “seeing” is important, but do we understand the
ways in which God will bring all this to pass? There are certain spiritual principles (“laws”
if you like) that God uses in order to bring things to their appointed end.

When we can truly say in our hearts that we not only “know” the vision but also what in
us is likely to stymie it, only then can we have a valued testimony and stand before the
brethren to speak it. Then they will say about us; “This one knows the vision and can
even alert me to the pitfalls along the way – to this one will I listen, for he has heard from
heaven”.

So God will use men and women of Heavenly Vision who are able to state what it is, to
disclose the ways in which God will bring it to pass, and who are able to adjust the
thinking of those who might be prone to hasten or even short-circuit the prescribed way.
We dare not entertain doing this unless we have first “seen the Lord”. From the
Beginning of the gospel period to its End we find those who have “seen the Lord”. The
apostles saw Him in His resurrected state, and in John’s grand revelation he saw Him in
His glorified state. The whole New Testament from start to finish is a collection of
writings that cry out “We have seen Him!” There is literally no greater vision than this.

Everyone from that first point on who has lived out the gospel has also “seen Him”. It’s
this vision of Him and Who He is and our part in it, that glues the whole story together.
When we get the right vision it will stay firm within us despite all the daily grind, the
times of fleeting doubt or soulish fretting, even the illnesses and seeming injustices of
life.

When we can stand in “a broad place” (Psalm 18:19) and see things as they are
eternally meant to be, then we can proclaim from the very depths of our inner man and
say “I know this to be true despite what the circumstances of life might otherwise say”.
We will stand firm in our conviction.

This is one reason why correct vision is so important. True heaven-sent vision that has
engaged one’s heart and become a foundation deep within, will bring us through. Recall
that it was Joshua as a young man who remained faithful at the door of the Tent of
Meeting to keep his focus and vision centred (Exodus 33: 11).

Imagine this for a moment. Moses had come down from the mount only to find another
“vision” had been placed before the people; the golden calf. After this idol was destroyed
we find young Joshua remaining at the Tabernacle, the meeting place of man with God,
the place of extraordinary heavenly vision. No doubt he wanted to keep close as
possible to God’s original vision for Israel. He stayed focussed. He didn’t let the sin of
false vision, as displayed by the golden calf, sway him off course.

Later this would happen again. At the entrance to Canaan, Joshua was excited to at last
see the Promised Land. He, along with Caleb and the other ten entered in according to
God’s command. They saw and they tasted the fruit of that Promise. Two grasped what
God’s intent was about; ten let the circumstances speak a different vision to their hearts.

The ten said, “We SAW the giants…we were like grasshoppers IN OUR OWN
SIGHT “(Numbers 13: 33). Take note of what their vision dictated to them. It was
strong enough to make them fear, doubt and rebel.

But when God forbade the people to enter into Canaan that first time, when they had to
endure the forty years of hardship, mumbling, fear and regret, Joshua kept his vision
focussed. He kept the vision sharpened. He undoubtedly reminded himself of what was
yet to come. This enabled him to be ready to go in when the Lord spoke the second
time. He wouldn’t let unbelieving hearts dictate to him now. He had accepted what
Heaven spoke to Moses and he held fast to it, not wavering in it, but letting it day by day
grow deeper and deeper in him, and yet at the same time, letting its truth rise to the
surface.

Joshua’s vision of “entering in” was always just below the surface. True, it had gone
deep in him at first, but when it had formed a solid foundation within, it began to rise
towards the surface. Day by day it must have grown within him, so much so that no
doubt he groaned waiting for its reality. When that day came and Heaven spoke to enter
in, he was ready. He was prepared. He was not slack. He was a man of the given vision
and he had not let it wither those forty long years.

There are many today amongst the brethren who are hearing this wonderful purpose
and vision extolled. Not near enough are hearing it, but at least more than in previous
generations. However unless the proclaimers of this Grand Purpose of Harmony are
also able to warn about the pitfalls, to alert the brethren of the subtle deceptions, and to
disclose God’s way of bringing it to pass, we will have “ten” more who will balk when the
“entering in” is at hand.

Those ten spies (note how they are described!) would’ve known the vision that Moses
had repeatedly spoken about the Promised Land. But when the crunch came they were
self-focussed. True vision actually means death to self-vision. We need to get that
straight in our thinking.

Joshua was not identifying himself so much with the vision of “entering in” as if it was
some “thing”, or some “purpose” to be fulfilled. Rather he was identifying with the Mover
of that purpose, God Himself. There’s a great difference between aligning with a
“movement or purpose”, and aligning with God who is the Mover of that purpose.

Some people will readily jump on the band-wagon of a new movement, they will clamber
to identify with a new church across town who has a great vision, and they will readily
give themselves to the “new work”. They speak of commitment, and maybe even
consecration to the new work, but when things become difficult and Satan or the soul
presses in, they cave in. What’s happened?

They have made the error of aligning with the “vision or purpose” rather than aligning
themselves to the Mover, the Lord God. Worse still they may be the type of people who
live off second-hand revelations rather than receiving the call direct from the Lord. Our
commitment or consecration must always come out of identification to the Lord, rather
than our identification with the vision. He must always take the priority.

As we allow the Lord to take His rightful place, we begin to see what He’s really about.
We glimpse the vision He has, and it’s out of seeing like He sees that we’re moved to
identify with that vision. In other words, commitment to a vision should come of out
seeing as the Vision-Giver sees, not just because we approve of the vision itself. We
need to see as God sees.

There’s a principle in the Word: “Seeing precedes entering in”.

Think about that for a moment. Abraham had to “see” the stars in the heavens before he
could move on in his journey. Moses was taken up the mount to “see” the Promised
Land before the people could enter in. The disciples had to “see” what the Kingdom was
about through signs and wonders, before Jesus could send them out to proclaim it.

A wise pastor or elder will not get too excited when people want to join their church
because they “like the vision”. He will be cautious, because such people often put the
vision before He who gives it. They’d never say that of course, but their words and works
will eventually betray that attitude. How important it is to make certain the flock under
one’s care know the Vision-Giver first before they sign up to the vision itself.

Without “seeing” the vision for ourselves we are prone to want to adjust it later as we tire
of, or get frustrated with, the outworking of the vision. Our own ideas may begin to
surface in an attempt to rescue the supposed decaying vision. Striving soon takes place,
and a spiritual battle will ensure. Sadly this often ends in spiritual depression for some
and usually results in a parting of ways for others.

So it is that we first need to get to know God’s great eternal purpose, as clearly as
possible in our heart. Once we have seen what He purposes then the next step falls into
place.

That next step is to be so close to Him that we know His heartbeat. We recall that Jesus
said the twelve were no longer servants but friends to Him (John 15:15). Servants
certainly know about their job description, they act according to given commands.
Friends on the other hand are closer and they know the mind and heart, and they are
even privy to certain issues not disclosed to others (Matthew 11: 13).

We need to know both the “outward” eternal purpose as well as the “inward” heartbeat
of our Divine Friend. When these two are harmonious in a person’s life then we’ll have
people who know the Vision-Giver well, and are equally clear about the vision itself. This
marrying of the inward and outward will bring about a consecration of a person’s will to
the task. Such a person becomes both a Knower and a Seer of the grand vision.

It’s this combination that enables a person to remain steadfast to see the vision through.
It will be tested, certainly, but the Knower-Seer will stand and wait, assured that the
outcome will truly come to pass.

How will God bring us to His desired end? What spiritual laws will He use in our
preparation? One of the most fundamental ways, which God uses to prepare us for our
destined role, is the New Birth. Just as Jesus was a Son from above, so we too, who are
Born Again from above (John 3: 3 margin note) are members of “the First Family.”

We are partakers of the Divine Nature of God (2 Peter 1: 4), a very real “next of kin” if
you like. In fact our association with and to the Lord Jesus enables us to be of one Spirit
with Him:
“The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him”
1 Cor. 6: 17

This is our starting point; our preparation for having right vision is the New Birth. It
propels us into a new order of being. This spiritual heredity enables us to perceive the
Eternal Vision of the heavens; our mindset can now know the Purpose, while the carnal
mindset cannot:
“The mind of the flesh is enmity towards God; for it is not being
subjected to the Law of God, and neither can it be.”
Rms. 8: 7

Jesus Christ is THE Son; He is the mould, the prototype, the “image” of what all other
Born Again ones are to be like. We are “spiritual blood-brothers” to Christ.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, but of God. ”
John 1: 12-13

This relationship with the great Son of God is not confined to being of “one family” but
extends to actually partaking of His glory. He said:
“…and I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they
may be one, as We are One.”
John 17:22

Thus the purpose of our being is unravelled even further with this understanding. Paul
prayed that his readers would begin to grasp this wonderful truth when he wrote:
“(I pray) that the eyes of your mind having been enlightened, for you to
know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints.”
Eph. 1: 18

Only by a divine revelation of God’s eternal purpose can we ever begin to know what
has been proposed for us. Only by the Holy Spirit enlightening our regenerated mindsets
can we see this truth, which begins with the New Birth. This then is the first spiritual law
that is enacted to bring about our “seeing” of the vision.

A second spiritual law that soon follows is that governing time. “Time” is a fundamental
characteristic of those who are coming to maturity. Saints who begin to appreciate the
seasons and times of God, particularly in relation to waiting, are on that road.

The outworking of any vision requires the obvious passage of time. Time must elapse
before the vision becomes a concrete reality. This is so in the natural realm and it’s even
more so in the spiritual. Rarely if at all, do we see an “incarnation” of a vision come
about quickly. We must wait, expectantly, yet with an increasing desire of yearning for
the vision to come to pass. Patience is of paramount consideration. It’s a testing.
As God is still seasoning our flesh and mind in this waiting period, but we’re prone to
want to hasten the day. This can occur in various ways.

A practical sort of person, like a pastor for instance, might want to use some method or
programme to help the vision become a reality. He may attempt to “prime the pump” and
help the spiritual flow come forth. He may even subconsciously misread events around
him to try to convince either himself or others that “something is moving in God; can you
sense it?” Discernment is displaced by undue haste. Confusion begins to take root and
wrong decisions soon follow.

Or there might be a prophet who was initially used by God to prophesy the vision, which
may become impatient and start to prophesy slight alterations to God’s programme. The
prophet who at first spoke boldly about the coming Move might cautiously add to the
original word as time seems to pass by rather more slowly than expected. The prophet
who first saw what God revealed tends to live in that future realm and often finds the
waiting hard. This is particularly so with immature prophets. If they’ve been so foolish as
to prophesy a date or time they inwardly panic as the day draws near with no sign of the
Move breaking forth. Right at this point they “add” some later “revelation” to save face.
Of course it’s all done subconsciously, and they would never think it’s them – but it
usually is.

Little “excuses” creep in; subtle changes to the original vision take place; and impatience
comes into the mind. The excitement of first grasping the vision, of seeing it and being
thrilled by its grandeur, begins to fade as we await the hour of its fulfilment. But it’s this
very passing of time that the Lord can use to adjust our thinking.

It’s a truth that we usually don’t comprehend the full nature of the initial vision until much
time has elapsed. Only then do we truly see what it’s about. This “blind spot” is done by
the Lord in an attempt to increase our faith. It also quickly sorts out those who have
really appreciated the given vision from those who have put their hand up without
considering the responsibility it requires.

Now a third spiritual law comes into play; that of the adjustment period. We’re not
expected to simply get the vision, and then wait around until one day it comes to pass.
No, there’s a requirement for us to be corrected, adjusted and transformed during this
time. More often than not it requires suffering!

The suffering is of course the challenging of our mindset by the Lord. How often do we
see or hear of saints who leap into fervent action when a vision is prophesied or first
presented. They might even appreciate the need for a waiting period, much like a
pregnancy, before seeing the fruit. After all, they concede, that’s Biblical enough.

But they’re not ready for the transformation of the mind that MUST take place if the
vision is to change them. The suffering it will entail brings all the dross of their inner life
to the surface and they can’t cope with it. Hurts, regrets and unresolved issues quickly
surface as the Spirit stirs the depths within.

It’s at this vulnerable point that the vision they were once so excited about takes a dive
while they focus on the mess that’s floated to the surface of their mind. Over and over
we see such people consumed, no longer by the God-given vision, but by the sewage of
the past.

At this moment God’s wonderful grace and mercy can cleanse and restore them, but
more often than not the process of adjustment is too much to bear. In order to find some
relief from their inner woes they begin to attack the Keepers of the Vision to divert
attention. A displacement of purpose and vision takes place, and unless there are wise
men and women of God to help restore such ones, the outcome is often tragic.

As painful as this is, it’s nevertheless one of the ways which God uses to purify the
outcome of His vision. He yearns for the vision to remain pure and intact. Inevitably there
will be some “deaths” along the way. Some may “die” in the early stages of the vision,
only to find a wonderful opportunity of restoration later. Others may well “die” and never
see a resurrection from their inner struggles that would enable them to be part of the
vision.

At this stage a rather wonderful thing happens. The initial vision, which could only have
been in embryonic form, begins to expand outward. The very core of the vision, coming
from God Himself, does not alter, but it does take on a new shape as it were.

As we yield to the correcting, adjusting and patience needed to see the vision unfold, our
spiritual eyes begin to take in a grander panorama than first envisaged. Our spiritual
horizon expands quite markedly, and in some cases very rapidly. What we saw from one
perspective is now seen from another, and the scenery is breathtaking. From this new
vantage point, that of submitting to God’s ways, the view encompasses so much more
than we first thought.

When this begins to take place, the former vision is not abandoned, but actually
enhanced; it becomes broader. Right at this point others who were not aligned with the
earlier vision begin to line up with this new “seeing”. The new blood brings a great
thrusting forward of intensity, and it can be a very exciting time.

But some who initially refused the earlier vision may now try to jump on the wagon and
be part of the new move. Sometimes the Lord allows this; other times He resists the
resisters for not moving on in faith earlier. It will require wisdom to know just who is
approved by the Lord in this and who is not. No one should think they can simply “get”
the fresh vision and join the parade. This vision is not “got” – rather it is “given”.

This is precisely where the maturity of apostles and prophets comes into play. The
mature prophetic voices will herald the broadening horizon, and encourage the saints to
go with it, while at the same time warning people to have a right heart in their motives for
wanting to be part of all this.

There’s also likely to be a marked increase in dreams, visions and prophetic words at
this time. However the words of the prophets will not be enough to stabilise the ship. The
spiritual fathers, the apostles, will need to know how and when to apply the truths that
will cause the vision to become a reality. Generally they will do so in tandem with local
eldership.

The prophets will proclaim the fresh vision to the Body, the apostles apply its truths for
the Body, while the local elders administer these within the Body.

One sees the vision and speaks it; one applies these truths to the here and now, and the
other facilitates it locally.

Of course it’s not as clear cut as that, for there will inevitably be some overlap as each
ministry works in harmony with the others to bring the saints into greater maturity.
This exciting marrying of ministries will set the church on a new course of life. Currently
this is where the Body of Christ is heading, but there’ll be many labour pangs yet to
come before we see the birth.

Blessings and the Lord’s favour upon you,
Peter McArthur

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