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Friday, May 21, 2004
 GREATER
WORKS
Isaiah 60:2
"For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the
people; but the Lord will arise over you. And His glory will be seen
upon you."
Recently, during a time of prayer, the Lord began to speak to me about
the many characteristics that will mark the Glory of God on the Last
Day's Church. So many times we read the book of Acts and marvel at what
the early church walked and lived in. The level of supernatural activity
seems to far surpass what we see in the church today. As I was pondering
this the Lord challenged my heart with the prophecy Jesus shared in John
14:12:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who
believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works
than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Jesus prophesied that the church would not only do the works He did,
which includes healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting our
demons, and raising the dead, but even GREATER works. The works of the
Holy Spirit through the early church are only the beginning of the
wonders God wants to do in the earth. We are still writing the book of
Acts today. The greatest signs and wonders are still to be seen!
Haggai 2:9 prophesies:
"The glory of this latter temple shall be
greater than the former."
2 Corinthians 3:18 declares:
"But we all,
with an unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as
by the Spirit of the Lord."
KEEP MOVING TO HIGHER REALMS OF HIS GLORY
Throughout the ages God has called the
church to keep moving to higher realms of His glory. Not only does this
scripture refer to our personal journeys in Christ of being continually
more conformed to His image, but it also refers to the corporate Body
being conformed to His image as a whole. With each passing generation
the Church should be more closely conformed to the Lord in both
character and power. Jesus is returning for a Church without spot or
wrinkle (Eph. 5:27). With each generation the Holy Spirit is bringing us
deeper into the fullness of the revelation of truth found in the Word,
as well as experiencing and walking in that revelation. We can see this
restoration of the fullness of Christ and His word throughout church
history, from the Reformation under Luther with the 95 Thesis, to the
faith movement with the truth of faith being brought forth in the
church, to the prophetic movement with the restoration of the prophetic
office, and now the apostolic movement. With each generation more of the
fullness of Christ is restored to the church.
As we look at the world around us today we can become alarmed at the
increasing darkness that is prevailing in society. But we must remember
that when the darkness gets darker, the light and glory in the church
will become more radiant!
Isaiah 60:2 "For behold, the darkness shall
cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise
over you. And His glory will be seen upon you."
The best way to expel the darkness is by turning on the light. We have
Christians today trying to gain victory over spiritual darkness by
expending energy fighting the darkness. Rather, they should focus on
getting their spirits, souls, bodies and minds so filled with the light
of God's glory and word that spiritual darkness wouldn't even have a
place to hang around. The more we allow God's glory to consume our
lives, the more radiant we will become and the less warfare we will have
with spiritual darkness within our own minds and souls. Our light will
so shine that, when we walk into an area that is dark, the light of the
glory of God will cause demonic power to flee! We'll be like Peter whose
very shadow healed the sick. That's the measure of the glory I want on
my life and even more!
"IT'S FOR US TO
EXPERIENCE AND WALK IN NOW"
Paul shared in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the goal for the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus." This is an upward call! That means more
glory with each passing day we walk with God. We keep going higher and
higher and higher in character, revelation, truth, and power.
There will be tremendous glory on the Last Day's Church. And WE are part
of the Last Day's Church. The Last Days began when Jesus was taken off
the earth. What the Lord showed me through His word was not something
for 20, 50 or 100 years down the road. It's for us to experience and
walk in NOW. "The just shall live by faith." By faith and walking with
God in a lifestyle of intimacy, holiness, obedience, and truth we can
access the fullness of all God has for us now.
As I waited on the Lord He brought me through the Book of Acts and gave
me 30 characteristics of the Glory of God that will rest on the Church
in these last days. As we meditate on these characteristics may your
heart be filled with faith to experience the fullness of all God has for
you!
1. THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE
Acts 2:1 "When the
Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place."
We will see specific geographic locations
visited and transformed by the Glory of God. This type of visitation
will occur among believers who are unified in heart and mind.
2. EVERY NATION AND ALL FLESH
Acts 2:5, 17
"And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every
nation under heaven...And it shall come to pass in the last days, says
God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh."
Every nation will experience the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I believe this even speaks of a worldwide
awakening of the Holy Spirit that will sweep around the globe touching
every nation, tribe, and tongue. No one will be left out. All flesh will
encounter His glory, including every race, tribe, tongue, gender, and
age group.
3.
SONS AND DAUGHTERS,
ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS
Acts 2:17
"Your sons and your daughters..."
Acts 16:15 "And when she and her
household were baptized..."
Acts 16:33-34 "Having believed in
God with all his household..."
Entire households will be saved. Now is
the time to aggressively pray for household salvation. The moving of the
Lord upon unsaved family members will become so irresistible that, where
they have been able to fight and push away the promptings of the Spirit
before, they won't be able to escape.
4. DREAMS, VISIONS, AND TRANCES
Acts 2:17 "Your
young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams."
Acts 10:3 "He saw clearly in a vision an angel of God."
Acts 10:9-10 "He fell into a trance..."
Acts 16:9-10 "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night."
There will be an increase in the
prophetic. Both the old and young will receive divine revelations from
the Lord through prophecy, dreams, visions, and trances. We will walk
and live in the revelation of the heart and mind of God.
5. SIGNS AND WONDERS IN THE
HEAVENLIES AND ON THE EARTH
Acts 2:19-20 "I
will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath."
There will be physical signs in the
heavenlies, not just miracles and healings, but in the very physical
elements of nature.
6. MASS SALVATION AND HARVEST
Acts 2:21, 41 "That
whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
There will be mass salvations as
multitudes turn to the Lord and call upon Him for salvation, including
the nation of Israel.
7, 8. WE WILL BE A CHURCH OF THE WORD AND
PRAYER
Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to
the ministry of the word."
We will be a praying church who is
solidly grounded in the Word of God, not easily moved by passing
doctrines, fables and teachings. There will be a great balance between
the life found in the Word and the life found in Prayer. They are like
two wings of an airplane that will keep the church on course and in
balance.
9. INCREASE OF CREATIVE MIRACLES
Acts 2:43 "And many
wonders and signs were done through the apostles."
There will be an INCREASE OF CREATIVE
MIRACLES as they church walks in power.
10. HOLY FEAR
Acts 2:43
"Then fear came upon every soul."
There will be a HOLY FEAR that rests on
the Church, causing many to walk in holiness.
11. DIVINE FAVOR
Acts 2:47
"...praising God and having favor with all the people."
There will be a DIVINE FAVOR placed on
the church, not only with God, but with man.
12. GIVING THAT RELEASES SUPERNATURAL PROVISION
Acts 2:45 "...and
sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among
all, as anyone had need."
The church will walk in the truth and
revelation of GENEROUS GIVING THAT RELEASES DIVINE, SUPERNATURAL
PROVISION.
13. LIVING STONES BUILT TOGETHER
Acts 2:46 "So
continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house."
The move of God will be both in the
TEMPLE (Church buildings) AND HOMES for we know that the true temple of
God is wherever living stones are built together, including individual
believers and groups of believers. God's glory won't be
compartmentalized into "church life" and "regular home life." Even the
homes will be filled with His presence and glory and will be places
where Christians gather to share their faith with one another.
14. "CONTINUING" RELATIONSHIPS
Acts 2:42
"Continuing in fellowship..."
"CONTINUING" RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE THE
STRUCTURE THAT HOLDS AND MAINTAINS THE MOVE OF GOD. God moves in the
midst of community. We are a living temple built together stone upon
stone, life upon life. There will be divine relationships established
that will form a network that will be able to hold, maintain, and pour
out the Glory of God into the earth.
15. OPERATE IN GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY AND POWER
Acts 3:6 "What I do
have I give you."
The Church will walk and operate in their
God-given authority and power. We will know what we have and give it
away.
16. THE CHURCH WILL BE A PLACE OF WONDER AND
AMAZEMENT
Acts 3:10 "They
were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
God is restoring His wonder to the
church.
17. PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS
Acts 4:31, 33 "They
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with
boldness. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus."
The Church will walk in a supernatural
boldness to proclaim the gospel with signs and wonders backing them up.
18. HEALING IN THE STREETS
Acts 5:14-16 "They
brought the sick out in to the streets, and they were all healed."
There will be such a degree of power in
the church that ALL WILL BE HEALED WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS BEING
PERFORMED IN THE STREETS. God's glory will break outside the four walls
of a church building and will be demonstrated in the streets where the
lost, sick, and dying are.
19. ANGELIC ACTIVITY
Acts 5:17-19 "But
at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them
out."
ANGELIC ACTIVITY WILL BE COMMON FOR THE
CHURCH. The realm of the Spirit and supernatural activity will be
natural for the Last Day's Church. Visitations of angels will be
understood and experienced in a biblical way.
20. GREAT JOY IN THE CHURCH
Acts 8:4-8 "And
there was great joy in that city."
THERE WILL BE GREAT JOY IN THE CHURCH AS
GOD'S POWER IS DISPLAYED, despite the increase of darkness in the world,
along with possible persecution for our faith from those whose minds are
blinded by the god of this age. Christians will live in a supernatural
joy as they see the amazing miracles performed by the power of God.
21. SUPERNATURAL POWER AND ACTIVITY INCLUDING
TRANSLATION
Acts 8:39 "The
Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away."
Supernatural power and activity,
including translation, being supernaturally taken from one location to
another in bodily form by the power of the Spirit, will be experienced
by the Church.
22. VISIONS OF THE LORD HIMSELF
Acts 9:3-4 "And
suddenly a light shone around him from heaven."
These visions of Christ will even be
given to those in the deepest darkness and will be a way the Lord
reveals Himself. This will happen more and more in the Muslim world as
well.
23. THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED
Acts 9:36-37, 40
"And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up."
The dead will be raised as a supernatural
sign of the resurrection of Christ.
24. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE POURED OUT ON ENTIRE GROUPS OF PEOPLE
Acts 10:44-46 "The
Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word."
Including entire people groups, tribes,
congregations, and denominations.
25. SUPERNATURAL DELIVERANCE WITH THE ACTIVITY
OF ANGELS
Acts 12:5,7 "An
angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison, and his
chains fell off his hands."
There will be supernatural deliverance
with the activity of angels.
26. ONLY GOD WILL GET THE GLORY
Acts 12:23 "An
angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God."
God is jealous for the glory. He wants
ALL of it.
27. COMMISSIONED THROUGH FASTING AND PRAYER
Acts 13:2 "As they
ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said 'Now separate to
Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"
People will be commissioned into their
callings and destinies through fasting and prayer.
28. THERE WILL BE THE OPERATION OF GREAT
AUTHORITY FOR DELIVERANCE
Acts 16:18 "'I
command you in the name of Jesus to come out of her.' And he came out
that very hour."
Not only will the Church heal the sick
and see mighty miracles, but we will also move in deliverance seeing the
oppressed set free from demonic power.
29. UNUSUAL MIRACLES
Acts 19:11-12 "Now
God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul."
There will be UNUSUAL MIRACLES that God
works through His servants. Even prayer clothes will carry the tangible
anointing of the Holy Spirit.
30. HOLINESS AND PURITY WILL MARK THE CHURCH
Acts 5:4-5 "Then
Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great
fear came upon all those who heard these things."
Eph. 5:27 "That He
might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish."
There will be no inward toleration of sin
or hypocrisy. Ananias and Sapphira were judged for their hypocrisy,
setting a standard for God's holiness in the Church. Remember, with
great power and authority comes great responsibility. The greater the
glory and power God gives us, the purer we must be to hold that power.
God has given us the book of Acts as the standard for the operation of
the supernatural in the Church. In a way, we are still writing the book
of Acts as we move in the power of the Spirit and perform the works
Christ has called us to do. The glory on the Last Day's Church will be
even greater than that on the early church. There are still greater
works God has called us to do to see all the nations brought into His
Kingdom and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let's lay hold
of the fullness of the Spirit by faith, step out and walk on the water!
May God's glory fill your life with increasing power as you seek after
Him.
Matt Sorger
Web:
http://www.mattsorger.com
Email:
info@mattsorger.com
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