Great time at the Kingdom Revolution Comference in The Woodlands this weekend…

Due to a change of plans today and some spontaneous circumstances, I was able to meet face to face with my new young, prophetic friend this afternoon, Shane Hawkins! (At my age now, anyone under 50 is young, lol). Shane and I became friends earlier in the year here on Facebook and I had found out he lived in Houston, so it was great to connect. He and his sweet son Alex came to the Ekklesia ARISE! weekend before last, so it was great to get to visit after the meeting. I want to preface this about what I’m going to write about 9/11 because we talked alot about the spiritual implications of that day and what it represents for us today!

With all due respect to our great country and the almost 3000 lives that were lost that day, I would like to draw a contrast about what was referred to as “Ground Zero” after the fall of the twin towers. Sept. 11, 2001 represented another ground zero “spiritually” that day and since then concerning the “church as we know it!” America has never been the same and the church as we know it has never been the same! That first year of entering the new Millenium, 2001, brought about a dramatic change that “church as usual” would no longer suffice! Oh, I know a lot of big things have gone on, and the day of the “mega church” seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. However, spiritually, we have seen a sudden and swift judgment (discerning between) what our Father intends to have for His people.

Let me emphasize again, this is not an indictment and criticism on the church, we are witnessing the very hand of the Lord bringing discipline and chastisement to His people. And, He does that because he loves us and receives us as sons, and not illegitimate. So my observation on this day of the 17th anniversary since 9/11 is simply a reflection of what Father has desired to do with us since Ground Zero, or what we refer to as “Base Zero.”

After years of a “revival of truths”, that is, the Holy Spirit restoring back to the church the many facets of the doctrine of Christ and His ministries to the Church, His intent after ground zero was to begin the set the Ekklesia is order from the foundation up! For instance, the gifted doma ministries of Christ were restored basically in reverse order the last 50 years of the 20th century. (Eph. 4:11) These were never meant to be a top-heavy vertical covering, but a foundational, horizontal base so that the whole body of Christ could stand up!!!

In the 21st Century or the third day from Christ, the scripture in I. Co. 12:28 began to ring true. And God hath set in the church (ekklesia) first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that….in other words, FIRST THINGS FIRST!! NOT in order of importance as in an hierarchy, but in order of rank and importance of foundational things being set according to the chief cornerstone! (Eph. 2:20)

For years we have been teaching on apostolic reformation, the ministry of the saints, the restoration of present truth and then in the last few years, the distinction of the Ekklesia with “church as usual” or as we know it. It’s not that “church” and “revival” and pastors are wrong or bad, it’s that what we have made a “system” is now resisting the very work of God in our midst. Now we must talk about the government of God on earth through His kingdom Ekklesia (occupying till He comes), reformation and not revival of what we have had, with apostolic team ministry arising to help equip and establish the saints of God! Shane and I were talking about today how important it is to keep pressing into the kingdom of Christ and His Rule in the earth today!!

Since we came to ground or base zero in the first 17 years of this Millenium, we must see what has been broken, torn down, thrown away

and even destroyed, as Jeremiah spoke, was NOT for our destruction but for our restoration and reformation! The last generation of apostles and fathers were hearing it and began implementing some changes, but it was like putting “new wine in old wineskins!” It just wouldn’t work and it was still about men and performance!! Now, we have present truth apostles and prophets with pastors, evangelists and teachers beginning to function generationally as we see Father raising up and restoring the foundations of many generations! (Isa. 58:12) He is restoring sonship with His true sons today so that the identity and purpose of The Father might be seen in Us all!!

After Shane and I visited this afternoon and all the news concerning 9/11, I felt compelled in my spirit to present this to you and see what the Ekklesia is seeing and saying. We must return to the heart of the Father, to the love of Christ, and continuing in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship (koinonia), in breaking of bread, and in prayers….(Acts 2:42)

Let’s remember that now as Nehemiah, Zechariah and Haggai among others were commissioned to build, we must now “REALIGN, REBUILD, AND RECOVER ALL THAT HAS BEEN LOST AND SEE ALL THINGS RESTORED BACK TO THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE, CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD… LET THE WORSHIPERS ARISE AND THE SONS OF GOD RECOVER ALL!

J.B

I see the “body of Christ” how Paul the apostle described in I. Cor. 12:1-31 as the “corporate function” of “one body with many members!” For years I wondered why I cringed in my spirit when I heard of local assemblies being referred to as “we have many local “bodies” represented here in the city…” I understood the intent of the local assembly as a body, but not as the complete body of Christ in a given locale! That’s been the danger of the concept of the “local church” and the senior pastor with whomever is the most organised and has the most going concerning children’s ministry, music, education and preaching, etc. and they attract the largest crowd.

Then, the spirit of competition drives many pastors and churches who try to emulate or copy what others are doing and when not as successful, feel like failures! It is generally not the man or woman leading, it is the “system, or structure” that we have bought into that breeds contempt and familarity, thus jealousy, envy and strife. The scriptures say that “where envy and selfish ambition (strife) exist, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:16) What must we do to break this spirit in our cities and towns?

I believe we must return to the simplicity of the gospel of Christ , and to the pattern that there is one corporate congregation (Ekklesia) in the city, with many local assemblies making up the Body of Christ!!! Each local assembly/fellowship has a facet or unique design and dimension of Christ, and each pastor is an elder of the city/church!! The apostles, prophets, and teachers that are set (appointed) in the church (ekklesia) make up an apostolic council and company that function with local shepherds/evangelists to help the “MANY members” (functioning members) become equipped for ministry in the body of Christ. (I. Co. 12:12,18-28; Eph. 4-11-13)

Then, when we all come together under the head of the body and the king of His kingdom, we will organically and of necessity function as the body should when connected to the head! Although as the body of Christ we pray, study, and interact with each other, we do not have to try to think what we’re going to do, we just act and stand in the grace that He provides us to. That is the “many-membered body” receiving the orders from the mind of Christ and then functioning as the “corporate Son” in the earth. Romans 8:14- For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

In this past Ekklesia ARISE!, I did have to concern myself of “how” the body would interact, and I had to know and understand the ‘why’ and the ‘when’ so that the Spirit of God could facilitate the anointing of Christ in the meeting! On the other hand, as an apostle in the city, I do not have to concern myself with how a local assembly functions or carries out its protocol, each local house is a “family” that has a “shepherd” who leads that assembly as the Holy Spirit leads.

When apostles and elders come together, as in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem council, which includes the prophets and teachers, along with the brethren, we can begin to see how the Ekklesia functions as the “General Assembly and congregation” of the First Born, Christ the firstborn from the dead and the firstborn among many brethren. Christ must have “preeminence” (first place) in everything… (Col. 1 16-18; Heb. 12:22-24)

I started this post out talking about the nature and function of the body of Christ in a given locale and how when the apostolic regional Ekklesia comes together as the governance of Heaven on earth, there is a transcendent grace and glory that carries us into the koinonia and agape of Fathers kingdom-…continuing in the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers…. Acts 2:42

We’re sending out the call once again, because of the magnitude of maturity and ministry in last weekend’s Convocation, especially to all that were there, does this help you understand where we are going and can you see that all facets of serving and speaking in the household of faith?

I. Peter 4:10,11- As each one has received a (true) gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold (many-sided, multi-faceted, much-colored) grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God. If anyone serves, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen!

J.B.

It is truly amazing that as of this August 12, 2018, Pam and I have lived in Houston for “15” years!! It’s hard to believe but we know that we are just now seeing a fulfillment of much of the word of the Lord over our lives as we complete these fifteen years!

As always, we give thanks to the Father for His goodness and His faithfulness for His work and Word in our lives! For the first ten years, we were traveling quite a bit back to Arkansas, Louisiana, and all across East Texas, as well as in our Area! We were steadily building relationships and sowing the seed of the Father through apostolic fathering relationships! We came with a Word in our heart to “release the sound of the Lord through the corporate anointing of Christ in His body…”

We have seen the ups and downs of facilitating relationships and especially of the apostolic mandate, but the Father has kept us here in the heart of the city and region! We have been able to be flexible and patient, as we’ve seen local assemblies, ministries, home fellowships, and leadership groups fluctuate and expand like leaven in the kingdom! We have built nothing unto ourselves and have never demanded anything of those we have been with! Our heart has been to serve and undergird and hold up the foundation of Jesus Christ as He builds His Ekklesia!

As we complete these 15 years here in greater Houston, We look forward to seeing the fruit of our labors being multiplied as we get ready to launch “Ekklesia ARISE!” A Convocation Of Eagles in just a little over two weeks! In fact, Labor Day Weekend, we will begin this celebration on Friday night, Aug. 31st at 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday evening meetings being at 6pm! We’re expecting a powerful time in the Father as we see a completion, repairing, and setting in order of His plans and purpose in our region!!

We know we’re a small part of what Father is doing in our region and city, and we rejoice with all those who are holding fast to the Head, even Christ Jesus our Lord! We believe He is reconciling all things to Himself and has committed to us the word of His reconciliation! He’s truly making all things new!!!

As we complete these fifteen years in Houston and 20 years of apostolic ministry and Apostleship since 1998, we rejoice that “we have just begun to see the apostolic grace and Glory manifested in our region! We would truly be honored if you would consider sowing an apostolic seed into His assignment and mandate on our lives as we continue to strategize and implement the things concerning the kingdom of God!! Pam and I have given our whole lives to the gospel of the kingdom and declaring the present day reality and Truth of the kingdom of Christ!

I will share in another post tomorrow concerning the call and commission of Holy Spirit in our lives and about our marriage and ministry! It has been quite a journey but we remember that the “joy is in the journey” and the journey completes the destiny! If you would like, just follow the link below and we will be so thankful and blessed for your love and blessing!!

Your for the heart of the Father,

Jim and Pam