A posting on the Latter Rain List Newsletter
And answer by Clay Sikes

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The Bread of Life

Jesus calls Himself the bread of life and if we are truly part of His body, then we make up the ingredients of that bread. The Christian church has been compared to the grains of wheat that make up the flour. You have heard these analogies before, the enemy has sowed weeds among the wheat and we are allowed to grow together until the time of the harvest. The pain and tribulation that many of us are experiencing are a result of the growth and sifting process as we near the final harvest.

There are two primary thoughts from the responses this time that gives us direction toward healing the pain: understanding and endurance. Understanding, so that we may know why these things happen and have the wisdom to deal with them; endurance to be able to come through it with our faith and holiness intact. We endure the pain by trusting in Jesus who heals the pain and by understanding who we are in Jesus, we are able to rejoice in our infirmities, humble ourselves and forgive those who have afflicted us by loving them anyway and praying for them.

The source of all healing in the New Covenant is Jesus. Jesus sent His disciples out to heal the sick and spread the good news of the kingdom of God. If Jesus is truly in you, you also have the power to heal: sicknesses, pain, casting out of devils, raising the dead - whatever the affliction, we have the same power that Jesus has to heal them. We also have the power to heal ourselves but understanding is needed to do it right, in must be in spirit and truth. It must be the spirit of the risen Jesus operating through us.

What we are experiencing now is the sifting that must occur for the wheat to be gathered. It is proving to a painful process for some but it is essential that we come through it without getting swept away and burned up. The Bible gives the example of the way that the chaff is separated from the wheat, which is through fanning or exposing the wheat and chaff to the wind. We can easily understand the process if we think of the wheat being tossed up in the air and wind passing by and blowing away the chaff. Whatever has the substance and weight not to get blown away comes down and is fruit for the harvest, the rest is reserved for the fire.

A passage in Isaiah gives a good example of the criteria that God uses:

"And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err." Isaiah 30:28.

Pride is what keeps us from being the perfect church that Jesus will be wedded to. If we are slandered, reviled, persecuted, what is our reaction? If we humble ourselves and endure the suffering, will we not be victorious? If we let pride, anger and judgment rule and we end up condemning those that cause the pain, we become like them and we fail the test. If we love those that persecute us, we do what the Lord has taught us to do and have the substance to be gathered in. Why it is so hard for so many to understand this? Pride, pure and simple.

As usual, the Lord is guiding the discussion. Read the responses at http://latter-rain.com/archive2/7-16a-2002.htm

"Where do we go from here?" should be the subject of continuing discussion but we can certainly take some spiritual direction on this. We should also look at the elements of the church that cause the pain and discuss the reasons why they are there. Understanding and endurance may be key to getting through the fire but we do not want our loved ones to get burnt in the mean time, do we. True love warns of a fire in the midst of our families. Whatever it is, we must follow the love ourselves.

What do we need to do as a group and as individuals to sound the alarm? We are to face these giants in the land and overcome them, not be part of them. We may be able to denounce the sins but we must embrace the sinners and put away all of our self-righteousness, pride and false authority. Except for the grace of God, we are just like everyone else. Revival starts with us as individuals. Of course many of us are doing just that and may be the reason that we get hurt in the process but if we have the understanding and resolve to endure the pain, we have the courage to approach the fire.

So where does this pain come from? Blaming it on the devil is not good enough. Saying that we need more love and spiritual walk is too simple an answer but a good start. What are some of the specifics, the human emotions involved? What are the spiritual problems that cause so much hatred and false authority and condemnation of others in the church? The blame is shared among all branches of Christendom so we need to take any pride and accusations one over another but rather what are the symptoms of the problems?

And what are the solutions?

Jay

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Jay,

Your final question, "What are the solutions" perhaps invites another question. Can the Institutional Church system, as we know it, fulfill the plan of God? Could the system (government) that is found in most churches today precipitate many of the problems that we now see? These questions are cause for a search into deeper truth, and as such, cause us to understand the spiritual relevance of the (Church) structure that now serves most of Christianity.

During a recent time of prayer I felt I heard the Lord say that the spirit of anti-Christ is not coming; he is already here! He has set himself up in the house of God in the form of the carnal church, led by carnal men who have taken God's (the Holy Spirit's) place; men who are led by their minds instead of God's Spirit. Many Church leaders have unwittingly substituted themselves and their thinking in place of God and God's Spirit, and in the process become Gods unto themselves and their flocks. Only God can occupy God's place in the temple (in us) in order that God's true destiny spawn in our lives individually and corporately.

The exodus we see in the Church worldwide is not made up of rebellious backsliders and quitters; to the contrary, many of those leaving are seeking more of God, hungry for a true form of worship and assembly. As is the center of much discussion these days, the Institutional Church is housed in a system (government) that man erected, which finds its support and structure in a system that has evolved since the pure structure of the First Century Church. This revolutionized system (structure) we see today has little scriptural basis for its existence - a one-fold pastor led form of leadership (devoid of the five fold ministry), enforcement of the tithe, and the laity clergy divide that tragically separates the body into two parts; none of which are evidenced in New Testament scripture.

This system operates through the efforts of men. Men working through men produce human results - Men working through God produce Godly results, and while there has been grace upon the Institutional Church for many years, it appears that this grace is lifting as God continues to reveal a true Godly structure (for His Church).

God's ordained structure for anything ignites and invites God's power (Isaiah 9:7). I do not think that many, outside of leadership, could reasonably debate the fact that the Church is powerless, ineffective and besieged with problems. Unfortunately, the Church is more like Saul's army assembled on the battlefield trembling at the taunts of Goliath, rather than the conquering David that God desires. It seems an injustice that we have the greatest power in the universe residing within us, yet we as a people have been powerless and ineffective to conquer this earth for our Lord. Could it be that our structure, the very foundation upon which we act as a Body, is wrong?

Prophetic men and women men are beginning to recognize that it is not God's plan for His people to live in the earth in this powerless and ineffective state much longer: He is now taking direct steps to implant His power and effectiveness in His true (Davidic) people for His destined purposes to be fulfilled in the earth. As the David's come forth, Goliath will fall! But where are the David's? They sit idly in a system that does not recognize the powerful gifts that reside in them; gifts and offices of ministry that will change the world. The most under used and recognized talent in the world lies dormant in church pews all over this world.

But be encouraged, in this hour in which we live it appears that God is much less prone to bless the works of men, all the while using those who truly know Him to create His works through them. Presumption that we all used to so routinely get away with now seems to bring sobering retribution. Acts in the church (and business) outside of the leading of the Spirit of God can now be seen for what they are - acts of men. "Except the Lord build a house its builders build in vain." If we believe these assessments, the facts beg the question; can God's authority truly operate in and through the works of men? Can God's people within this system ever find their appointed destiny? Can those who cling to the system do so and remain in God's will? Can any real peace be found within the current church structure?

Isaiah 9:6,7,8 is a prophetic reflection of God's view of government. It further evidences that the government, order, and structure of God rest upon the back of Jesus. These scriptures clearly reveal that God ordains government (structure) according to His plan.

Isaiah 9:6-8 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Almighty will accomplish this."

Another interpretation of Kingdom/government is God's perfect order - the hierarchy, position and placement of things according to God's will and plan. Godly structure (government) is evidenced by God's peace. In God, government precedes peace. Peace is a blessing that flows out of good government. If there is not peace in a situation, it is because there has been a breakdown in the government of that situation. Bad government produces confusion, dependency, and poverty whereas Godly government produces order, initiative, and productivity.

Could it be that God is about to radically change the Church as we know it to a structure more akin to the First Century Church which turned the world upside down for our Lord?

Clay Sikes

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