I’ve been writing a lot and producing videos recently on the supernatural church of love, power and authority. It is something God is emphasizing in this hour to bring divine order to His body.
It is a gigantic, mushrooming move of God to separate the Spirit churches from flesh churches. If the emphasis is not local, though, you are missing the primary work the Lord is doing today. I can hear many pastors clapping right now.
But pastors, and I say this with all honor and respect—especially you micromanagers and in-the-conventional-box church leaders and control freaks (forgive me)—please hear me, you are going to have to die many deaths to allow the Lord to do what He longs to do in our local communities. Tried and true (hard to find these days) leaders with Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts who possess a true revelation and spiritual understanding of the local body’s expression will be adorned with a new glory that will be more interested in truly building up local communities than the building and marketing of their own ministries.
By no means does this take away from body-wide callings that ministries have, both nationally and internationally, but if they are not an integral part of the local family of God, it’s a big-time miss for the hour we are living in, because we have no grid for what God is going to do in these last days. If it’s all about the marketing of your own ministry and getting ahead that way, you are off God’s frequency.
Love Is God’s Frequency
Please hear me out and gain wisdom and understanding. God’s frequency is love. If you’re self-centered, you can’t be trusted. Think about this: Why should God, or why would God, share His wisdom with self-centered ministers, laypeople and even shepherds who are only concerned about the church they lead and personal kingdom-building? We’ve got to think bigger in this hour! God is merging Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts as one to equip the saints and enlarge the glory of His kingdom. Practically speaking, local pastors must be willing to allow greater access and influence of Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts into their local body.
God doesn’t share His wisdom with selfish people! This is why we cannot put novices in positions of authority. They would quickly be puffed up in pride and use the advantages of their position for their own gain. Even older ministers have a tendency to do that. Some simply do not possess the leadership characteristics outlined in 1 Timothy 3 to even serve.
I’ve been sharing a lot on this recently. There must be a restoration of true love and character in the body of Christ, especially in ministers and church leaders, for us to move forward in greater glory, power and strength.
Those who know me know that I’m a big Spirit and power guy, but the Spirit of God has been pointing me back to the foundation of love and character that must be found first in church leaders/ministers and in the local expression of His body. Everything else tends to be out of order when that foundation is not set, and we become a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1-3), especially to the weak and to the world.
But again, it’s going to require that we die more to our own self-interests and self-gain.
Get ready!
Biblical ‘One-Anothering’ is Local
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold” (Matt. 24:12, NASB).
We, in our respective cities and regions, are colonies of heaven on earth, living stones, being built up as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5) where we live. The local church and community are a mini- expression of the universal body of Christ. We all minister out from there as we go, preaching the gospel, healing the sick, casting out devils and so forth.
As anti-Christ governments increase in the earth, taking control of everything in the natural realm—even cyberspace—it will become increasingly clear that we need one another. Go through the New Testament epistles and look at all the “one anothering” Scriptures. It’s a fascinating study and eye-opener to the importance of living out local community. Too many believers are not part of a local assembly, especially, and sadly, ministers. Don’t wait until it is too late. Don’t let your love grow cold!
I leave you with this beautiful Scripture that sums up the apostolic grace that keeps moving in my heart these days:
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:1-2).
Note: If these last few articles on the church have been a blessing to you, don’t forget to subscribe to our Holy Fire Ministries YouTube channel under the playlist HEARTBURN to receive more of this kind of fresh manna via video. {eoa}
Bert Farias’ books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and turning away from the truth we are seeing today. The Tumultuous 2020s and Beyond is his latest release to help believers navigate through the new decade and emerge as an authentic remnant. Other materials/resources are available on his website, Holy Fire Ministries. You can follow him personally on Facebook, his Facebook ministry page or Twitter.
Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.
See an error in this article?
To contact us or to submit an article
