I have been sharing on our (new) apostolic commission for our assignment concerning this year! If you remember, I shared last time that this June 7, 2012, is “38” years since my car accident at the age of 17 that ushered me into a brand new life and experience! I was in a Shreveport, La. for 30 days, and the Lord appeared to me and made known my calling and things that I would experience upon embracing His call of ministry, or service, to the body of Christ! For many years I could not speak of these things, and only when Pam and I were “set apart” unto our apostolic work in 1998/99, did He begin to reveal the heart of the Father in things He showed me.
Since that time, every July begins an apostolic commission as it relates to the apostolic call, career, campaign, company, and commission for our assignment that overlaps two years, hence ,(NEW) Apostolic Commission 2012/2013!! Ironically, this past Sunday, June 3, we ministered in a fellowship in Deer Park that was founded in 1974, being “38” years ago. I was sharing on our apostolic commission going back to my call 38 years ago, and the Lord quickened me to go to Luke 5 to the story of the man who had an infirmity for “38” years!
Luke 5:1-5- After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalen by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
You know the story, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be made whole, or well?” It would seem like an obvious question, except the answer reveals his mindset of being there thirty-eight years! He begins to explain that he had no one to put him in the water when the angel came and stirred the waters, that everytime, someone would get in to the pool just before him. But in verse 5, Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
The key to the question and answer was, that he did not need any man to help him into the pool, because THE MAN, the Man Christ Jesus, had showed up to heal him. There was no need any longer for an angel to come down and stir up the waters! Now, verse 2 is interesting, because that the pool was by the “Sheep Gate” in Jerusalem, or the gate that pertains to sheep! Jesus was once again showing that He had compassion on those who were like “sheep without a shepherd!” It is a day for the sheep, or the saints, to be made whole, or well, healed, delivered, and totally set free from their past bondages and mindsets.
The pool was called “Bethesda”, which means “Place of Outpouring”, or “House of Grace.” The number “38” itself has connotations for “an opportunity for the glory of God, His glorious grace, to manifest!” The pool itself had “five porches”, five being the number for grace and representing the “fivefold ministry”, or five facets of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher of Eph. 4:11. As we shared this message, the Father began to reveal what He was doing in that fellowship, the pastor, who is the founder of the church, has been in the hospital for several weeks, and the elders and church have been continuing on, believing the Lord to fulfill their destiny in Him!
I believe the Father is desiring for us to have understanding of what is happening in this hour! It is important that we see that He is opening up a “door” or an opportunity for the word! He is ready to close the doors behind us, and bring about this ‘apostolic’ shift in those that can continue in Him. We are joining our hearts in agreement with all those who are coming into alignment with heaven and who are embracing the “heavenly vision” to reclaim full apostolic power and authority in the earth realm today. This is our commission for this new assignment and new alignment for what is coming forth! Are you ready to let go of all that is behind you, and press onward unto the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus?”
Rev. 3:8- “I know your works. See, I have this day set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied by name.”
BLESSINGS,
JIM & PAM BECTON