Separation - A Sign Of The Times
Submitted by Clay Sikes
July 17th, 2004

There are significant physical signs happening in the earth today. Are these events truly signs or simply part of the global landscape? If one is susceptible to the belief that certain happenings in the earth are indeed a part of Biblical prophecy, then likely what is written here will prick some level of spiritual conscience. If not, this will appear as more mumbo jumbo from the often-weird prophetic community. In looking at the New Testament prophet, ONLY those issues pertaining to the foundation of the Church have prophetic relevance, simply because those with prophetic inclination have little authority to speak to anything else (Ephesians 2:20). Any entity formed for God's work that is not connected to the prophetic ministry will end up under the foot of man. I make no apologies for the previous statement, as it is my deepest conviction of order and truth!

If these signs mean anything, and I think they do, what are the significances of certain current events with respect to the times in which we live? God chose the times and places in which we live (Acts 17:26), and He made us spiritual beings with spiritual understanding; so like the sons of Issachar who understood the times, we too should pray to understand the events of our day.

Let us examine one such event in context to what Jesus called the "End of the Age." As we examine this event, let us be careful that our traditional thoughts not block God's ability to speak. Let us search the word that it may plow the hard ground of our hearts with prophetic truth. When 'truth' faces opposition, man's traditional thinking is not far behind. "The traditions of men make the word of God to no effect" (Matthew 15:6). What must we embrace to fight our own inbred traditions? The answer is simple - an openness and willingness to take another view! Anything growing will change; it is both a natural and spiritual phenomenon, so let us be willing to embrace a changing mindset in our view toward what is happening in the Church right now, particularly with respect to the fact that all judgment has BEGUN in the house of the Lord (I Peter 4:17) - Past tense! We can escape judgment when we hear and embrace truth.

God's word says there will be a great separation among His people at the "End of the Age." I know this contradicts the traditional thoughts of many, but let us examine the word of God for truth. There has always been a remnant (Romans 11:5), a people set apart, but as we approach the time of Jesus' return this remnant "will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). They will be a light to a dark world as they walk in the Kingdom of their Father upon this earth. This set apart remnant is the real church, the ecclesia, which means "called out ones" or the literal words, "out called ones." All who carry the seed of God have been "called out" of something as we are all being "called out" of various states of Babylon in our lives, but do we all take that deeper step into God's Kingdom?

The remnant, by grace and choice, is beginning to gather as a separate entity or group apart from what we corporately call the Church. This gathering is not in big buildings, denominations, or even large groups, but gathering as Sons (and Daughters) of God, who in unity, are hearing God say the same thing. This gathering is not nearly as much physical as it is spiritual, yet it is definitely set apart in the eyes of God. When people begin to spiritually think alike, have singleness of purpose and alignment, it matters NOT whether they are physically gathered, but from a spiritual perspective, they are united in God's sight. Let us not attach our human tendency to 'group' only what we can see with our naked eye, for in the eyes of the Spirit a great worldwide gathering is now taking place.

While there is obviously a separation between the saved and unsaved, let us further examine a different perspective as we also see yet another separation between God's people, particularly between the spirit filled and the spirit led. Separation within the Church is nothing new, for during much of the last 30 years we have seen a great move of Pentecost as the Spirit-filled separated from the non-Spirit filled. Many left main line denominations for the sanctuary of Spirit-filled churches, and it was in these environs that we cut our teeth on the gifts of the Spirit, Word of Faith teaching, laying on of hands, healing, etc., but now, for many there is a deeper stirring of the Spirit and a yearning for much more. Many are no longer satisfied with the simple wonders of Pentecost, initially thinking something must be wrong with them, only to find that they are in much company. This company cries out, "I want more and this is not cutting it!" This is due in part to the fact that many today have reached a Laodicean like state of contentment in being spirit filled. Many have stopped their journey with God in being satisfied with simply being spirit filled. This is called "being stuck in Pentecost," which most of the current day Church is.

This false state of contentment can present more of a hindrance to our journey into destiny than the devil himself. We will never find true Sonship in this state (Romans 8:14), nor will we attain the full purpose of our destiny. "Those that are led by the Spirit of God ARE the Sons of God." Recognize the correlation between a true "Son" and being led of God's Spirit. Recognize the vast difference between being Spirit filled and being Spirit led. Spirit led means intimacy with God, time with God, communication with God, direction and purpose with God - DESTINY!

Here is where the rubber meets the road. WE HAVE A CHOICE! We can go deeper, or we can remain the same - spiritual stagnancy being the greatest alarm or barometer in man's inventory of spiritual self-analysis. We know who we are and we know who we aren't - spiritual stagnancy or lack thereof is our indicator! Are we stagnant or are we moving? Do we have a choice? Absolutely! "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God." We are given the power to become sons, but are we using it? THE POWER IS CHOICE, which ushers in the grace. Choice reveals humility, and humility draws the grace of God like nothing else. Our choices dictate the path we take (Deuteronomy 30:19). While I cannot argue that our lives ARE predestined for His purpose and plan, choice plays an important role in getting there. God orders our steps, but do we always take them? These 'called out ones' "will be without spot or wrinkle."

Those who tend to over emphasize grace are slow to grasp the importance of 'choice.' They tend to teach that it is all by grace, and to some extent that is true; the importance of grace can never be diminished, but grace generally follows decision, not the other way around. We have constantly been given a choice, even from the beginning of our salvation when we chose to say "yes" to His invitation (John 15:16). As we seek to go deeper into the things of God, we will continually have to say "yes Lord." We must, however, for discussion purposes, be careful to balance the scales between 'grace' and 'choice,' as one teeters on man having no responsibility in destiny's equation, the other teeting on 'works.' Only the Spirit can reveal this balance to us an individuals. In conclusion to our brief discussion on grace we know all are called to true Sonship (being led of the Spirit), BUT ONLY A FEW WILL WALK IN IT (Matthew 7:13/Matthew 22:14). Yes, it is by grace that the invitation is given, but yes again, we must accept the invitation - it is a matter of choice! The acceptance or 'choice' is the divider between the "few" and the "many."

As a sign of "The end of the Age" we are beginning to see a prophetic separation among God's people (Matthew 13:24-30/37-43 - Matthew 25:1-12). It is interesting to note in these scriptures that the ones with the "oil," symbolic of Spiritual anointing, are separated from those without the oil. It is also interesting to note in Matthew 13 the words "out of his kingdom" in verse 41. This gives us a clear indication that this SPECIFIC SEPARATION is from within the ranks of God's people. There are many other scriptures that reveal Jesus' prophetic words relative to this phenomenon and its relative place in time. Please do not conclude from this writing that I am advocating a division, or even saying that those on the other side of the 'remnant divide' will not see heaven. I am simply relating an event in time that signifies the times in which we are living.

We are presently experiencing what many are calling a mass exodus from the Institutional Church. This phenomenon is happening worldwide, and what was at first a trickle, is now an identifiable flow as significant numbers are now "coming out." Why is this exodus-taking place? What motivates it? And why is it happening now? These questions address a move of God that can no longer be deemed insignificant, not simply because of the numbers of persons leaving the Institutional Church, but of greater importance, the level of spiritual maturity in those leaving. It has become increasingly difficult for the spiritually mature to be led by the spiritually immature. Those who have never experienced true Sonship are placed in positions of being Spiritual Fathers when they themselves have never learned to be Sons (being led of the Spirit of God) - this is causing chaos and disorder, which will only increase with time.

As the separation continues, there is also a gathering as remnant saints begin to connect worldwide. What is the purpose of this separation you may ask? God has always had a remnant as an ensemble or example for the rest of the Body of Christ, and just as God has used individuals as examples in our lives, now is the time for A CORPORATE EXAMPLE for the corporate body. God is moving a remnant (Joshua/Caleb Company) into the Feast of Tabernacles, the Holy of Holies, whose purpose will be to lead those still living in Pentecost, the Holy Place, religious Babylon into the promises of God; but first they must have the goods to bring back as proof. God's favor coupled with an abiding spiritual anointing will provide this proof (Matthew 13:11,12).

As we lose our traditional mind-sets and allow God's Spirit to direct us, we will be first separated then joined to those we are called to be joined to. We must recognize God's Spirit as we are drawn away from some, and drawn to others. The true ecclesia is answering the Revelation 18:4 mandate, "Come out of her…".
As earlier stated, the separation now taking place is a sign of "the end of the age" (Matthew 13:39).

What exactly are we commanded to come out of? Obviously, the answer is Babylon, but what is Babylon? What is the distinguishing characteristic between those in Babylon and those who have come out? The great difference lay in the fact that one group continues to use intellect, logic, and reason, while the other has learned to hear God and obey. One partakes of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, confusing good works with God; the other eats from the tree of life in which there is a free flow of communication between man and God. One has great confidence in his ability, while the other has none (John 5:30). One pursues good works that garner the praise of men; the other does the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). One works for personal gain, the other for the glory of God. One builds with bricks and mortar, the other builds living stones.

When Jesus said, "I will build my church," he had something very different in mind from man's traditional mindset of bricks and mortar, organization, structure, denominationalism. He was speaking of building a people into Christ to be the habitation of God by the Spirit! "I will build my church" speaks of bringing forth spiritual maturity in the sons of God! The Body of Christ is "built up" by spiritual growth, not by adding more numbers to our membership roles. Oh how our traditional mindset misdirects God's real plan in our lives. A few years ago, in an attempt to awaken me from the slumber caused by my own traditions, the Lord said to me, "Ignorance often comes disguised as tradition." These profound words continue to reveal the spiritual ignorance caused by my own traditional preconceived mindset. In short, our traditions are often our enemy in escaping the world's system (Babylon), and hence, graduating into the ways of the Kingdom. In order to gain the Kingdom's Way in our lives we must forego the ways of the world. While there are a litany of contrast between the ways of the world and the Kingdom's Way, there is but one central focus, one simple step that will cause us to "come out of her" (Babylon) and settle ourselves into kingdom life.

While we will all acknowledge that we are "called out," to be a separated people, and that we are to be separated people from the ways of the world, we have lacked understanding of the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT STEP that separates us from the ways of men and places us into the ways of God. The answer, as always with the gospel, is simple - transformation from being spirit-filled to being spirit-led. Only "Sons" walk in the Kingdom, and no one is called "Son" lest the Spirit lead him. "Those that are led by the Spirit of God ARE the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).