New Reformation

God is reforming His Church. He is at war with denominational thinking and man-made programs. We have been receiving much prophecy in this regard over the past few years. What seems to be emerging is a unity that Jesus prayed for before He faced the cross. Each of us must face our own crosses if we are to catch His vision. We must be willing to give up some of our cherished beliefs while gaining new understandings that we have long resisted.

From time to time in this blog we will be addressing what seems to us to be some of the several elements of the “New Reformation Church.” Nevertheless, the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. The parts will be integrated into the Church and not competing with one another.

This much is clear: Christ will be central in His Church. Signs and wonders will take a back seat. The Holy Communion will be restored as Jesus instituted it and be central to worship. There will be a tangible manifested presence of God in His Church. Holiness and righteousness will be evident. Healing and deliverance will flow from the altar because Jesus will be lifted up. People will both flock to and flee from the reformed churches. Repentance and rejoicing will mingle together.

We offer several teachings on the need for radical transformation of the church on our web site Revival Outreach Center. We also invite you to follow our insights concerning church reformation and share yours on our blog New Reformation Church and our twitter site: NewReformation.

The Anointing Part 1

Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.  2 Kings 2:7-14

Let us examine the anointing of Elisha compared to that of Elijah. Clearly, Elisha sought the power of Elijah. In fact, he sought a double portion of his power. But he did not seek God for this power. Rather, he sought Elijah. Nevertheless, from the scripture it is clear that there was some sort of transfer of power before Elijah was taken up in the whirlwind. But we are lead to wonder what type of relationship Elisha had with God based on the question that he asked: “Where is the God of Elijah.” We might wonder: “Who was the God of Elisha?”

Surely there is noting wrong with doing ministry under the power of the anointing. In fact, that is the way to do ministry. Elijah had a powerful anointing. We remember that he defeated all the prophets of Baal on the same day. Jesus had an anointing:

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.  Acts 10:38

So what could be wrong with an anointing from God? We could ask this question a different way. Is it possible to misuse a gift from God? Let us examine one of the first acts of Elisha after he received his anointing:

Then he (Elisha) went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number. 2 Kings 2:23-24

It is clear that Elisha did not have the same character of Elijah even though he possessed a portion of Elijah’s anointing. A certain anointing is apparently transferable. But a Godly relationship and Godly character are not directly transferable.

Jesus foretold of a day when people would be looking everywhere for signs and wonders and the power of God:

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  Luke 17:20-21

People are seeking the power of God today, but are they seeking a deeper relationship with Him?

Read: The Anointng Part II

The Upward Call

Psalm 24:3-10

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Jesus completed His work of atonement for the sins of humankind. From the cross He said: “It is finished.” By His death he has destroyed death and by His rising to life has won for us everlasting life. However, His earthly witness was not complete. He did not finish His witness that the Kingdom of God has come among us. We are called to do that. We are called, as the body of Christ on earth today, to complete His witness.

In order to manifest the glory of God in the earth we must first allow God to cleanse us. We must dare to approach Him boldly, covered by the blood of Jesus. We must ascend to God and seek His holiness, setting aside those sins that so easily beset us. Do we hear the call? Are we willing to respond?

We are to become the Church without spot or wrinkle. But that is God’s doing. Let us not hide from Him. Let us not become distracted. Let us not seek His hand without seeking His face. Let us not look to shortcuts offered by “apostles,” “prophets,” or even angels. We must get up and go to God. Jesus has prepared the way. He is the way.