I. Timothy 3:15-  I write to you that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house (hold) of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The only way for the household of God to be an ‘apostolic house’ is to consider and recognize Christ Jesus IS THE APOSTLE of the House!! And His authority is established and relational because He serves AS A SON over His own HOUSE, whose house we are… (He. 3:1-6)

How do we apply that today?

We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF being the chief cornerstone…(Eph. 2:20) And God has set in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…(I. Co. 12:28) An apostolic house is not only gifted with apostles and prophets, these ministry gifts are relational, having been established in Sonship and serve the house as true sons!

SCRIPTURES to ponder:

Isa. 62:1,2,6,7-

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, UNTIL her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.

The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD WILL NAME,…

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jersualem; They shall never hold their peace day nor night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest TILL HE ESTABLISHES AND TILL HE MAKES JERUSALEM A PRAISE IN THE EARTH…

1) NOT HOLDING OUR PEACE AND NOT RESTING UNTIL…. IS TO “CRY ALOUD AND SPARE NOT, LIFT UP YOUR VOICES LIKE A TRUMPET…” AWAKE, AWAKE!! PUT ON YOUR STRENGTH, O ZION; PUT ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS, O JERUSALEM, THE HOLY CITY! (ISA. 52:1)

TILL HE MAKES JERUSALEM A PRAISE IN THE EARTH….

2) GAL. 4:24-26- …FOR THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS: THE ONE FROM MOUNT SINAI IN ARABIA, AND CORRESPONDS TO JERUSALEM WHICH NOW IS, AND IS IN BANDAGE WITH HER CHILDREN– BUT THE JERUSALEM ABOVE IS FREE, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL.

3) PHIL. 3:3- For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4) Col. 1:11,12- giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the power (domain) of darkness and conveyed (translated/transferred) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,….

5) Heb. 12:22,23- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general Assembly and church (congregation) of the firstborn who are registered in heaven,….

6) Rev. 21:2,3;10,11a- Then I, John, saw the Holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down (as revelation) out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.” God Himself will be with them and be their God… And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, descending out of heaven from God, HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD….

7) 21:7- “He who overcomes shall inherit ALL THINGS, AND I WILL BE HIS GOD, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON….

What the Spirit is saying to the churches….

Blessings,

JB

It really doesn’t take much insight to see the parallel of the current church system and the political system. Think about it, no one wants anyone to break out of the box, or the “mold” if you will, people like to keep everyone equal! For instance, everyone loves to be called “pastor” because that’s a familiar, safe term! And, if you are a pastor, then so be it! I’ve found that when pastors honor and receive apostles, the people have no problem receiving them. Pastors, evangelists, and teachers are still needed because without them, apostolic leaders will not be balanced! Apostles and prophets do best when they are in relationship with and empowering each ministry gift to come forth!

Many still want to shy away from identifying apostles and prophets with the title, because they say “if they are one, they don’t need the title! And I agree somewhat with that, we don’t always need to go around using titles to address leaders. But if we’re going to do that, let’s at least be consistent with all fivefold ministry gifts. Pastors, or shepherds know their sheep, and sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Apostles have a different “sound”, they are not after more sheep or members just to increase the fold. Apostles desire to see “sons” birthed and raised up because they are fathers and fathers want to see sons and daughters nurtured!

Now, as to the political system, people want all candidates to be alike, part of the system, used to the perks and the high places! We certainly have a divided system in the democrats and republicans, but look at the church, as it has been, we are so divided that you can barely get leaders to come together in unity! The people in the country are so divided over race, religion, politics and worldly ideas and opinions because the church, as we have known it, has catered to the soulish realm and we haven’t “separated the precious from the vile.” We are divided over different truths that we were to “build upon”, but we have isolated over them and build monuments to men and doctrines!

I. Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen generation (race). a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (His own special people), that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Hosea 4:6-9- My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

As they were increased, so they sinned against Me; therefore I will change their glory into shame. They eat up (feed on) the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

And there shall be, LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE PRIEST: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.(deeds)

We ought to thank God that “judgment must ‘first’ begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel?” (I. Peter 4:18)

Let’s pray and decree that the “church will be the church!” And, that “MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT…” Then, we can once again be, “ONE NATION UNDER GOD…” The holy nation outshines the nation, and the kingdom transcends the church and the world…. Then we can become the true church of Jesus Christ!

Blessings,

JIM B.

Happy and blessed early Father’s Day and Father’s Day weekend! We pray that all of you, especially our father’s and spiritual fathers, have a great and awesome weekend!!!

I will be sharing some posts this weekend concerning father’s, of course, primarily “father’s in the faith” or “apostolic fathers”! For maturing sons and daughters who are growing in their son-ship and having their identity and gifting recognized, I believe we can move past the understanding of just having ‘spiritual fathers’. Spiritual fathering is what Paul was doing with the congregation at Corinth, they were ‘babies” and children who had to begin to grow up in Christ! He said like a command, “FOLLOW ME!” (be imitators of me.) (I. Co.4:16)

JB!