Series: Angels;  As It Was In The Days of Noah

Sun am 6 May 2012 – Kobus Swart

Heb. 1:7, 14; Ps. 34:7; (Judges 7:1-24); Ps. 51:16-17; Isa. 66:1-2; Dan. 1:8;

Dan. 3:11-18, 23-28; Dan. 6:19-22;Dan. 12:3-4, 10; Dan. 11:32-35

Angels are ministering spirits who come alongside those who are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:7, 14). The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him (Ps. 34:7). Fear in that verse means, reverence, respect, bowing down, worship. There is something the Lord wants to highlight in this regard.  What God is looking for is a quality of spirit that the Lord calls a contrite spirit and a broken heart. Humility of spirit attracts ministering spirits. Arrogance has a way of chasing them away.

David was a broken man. He committed adultery; he had a child with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. Yet David was a man after God’s heart only because of what you read in Psalm 51; he walked with a repentant spirit. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise Cross references:

1. Psalm 51:16 : 1 Sam 15:22; Ps 40:6
2. Psalm 51:17 : Ps 34:18

(Ps. 51:16-17). These are the ingredients that God will look at to bring together the remnant for the final battle.

Remember it was not the whole army that took Mount Hebron where the giants lived. It was Caleb and his sons. They had to be a brave group but they must have had this quality, a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. David too, was a brave man, a warrior, but in his heart he had this quality. Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?  “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word (Isa. 66:1-2). God’s ministering spirits don’t need a lot of encouragement to go where God looks. If you treat the living word that is coming only as sermons, all you will get from it is a good sermon, but if you tremble at His Word, it has all the potential to transform you and renew your mind; to arrest false opinions and fortresses in the mind, to break down mindsets. God is going to do some sifting and come to the humble and contrite of heart and to those who tremble at His Word.

Daniel was a man who was assisted numerous times by angels. One of the reasons is that he had a quality in his spirit. In a world that was falling apart, God found a man Noah. In the midst of the situation where Nebuchadnezzar took Israel captive and brought the sons of Israel into the Babylonian kingdom, among them was Daniel and his 3 Hebrew friends. From the very outset, Daniel refused to compromise. It is something to watch out for with the disappearing of moral standards in our world. Where is the prophetic voice of the Church? How can the church change the course of a nation? The example is in the book of Daniel. God is looking for those who will not bow down to the gods of this world (Dan. 3:11-17). Something strange happened. When they were thrown in the fiery furnace, what they were tied with was destroyed in the fire and they came out without the smell of smoke (Dan. 3:18-28). Angels are there to help those who have the quality of spirit that will attract these ministering spirits.

Many of us are waiting for answers from God.  An angel of the Lord was talking to Daniel: He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future” (Dan. 10:11-14). Satan once was one of the chief princes in God’s kingdom. Then he fell and brought a third of the angels with him. So Satan knows a lot of things, but there are more angels of light than angels of darkness. This passage of Scripture tells us that countries have angels; nations have angels. God has released the answer the moment we pray, so the way to pray in the Kingdom is, whatever you ask; ask with thanksgiving, because it has already been released. There are instances where those answers are being withheld by fallen angels – demonic warfare. But the good news is that the answer will come to you, it will reach you. Humble your heart, and you will not be disappointed.

Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” (Dan. 12:3-4). Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand (Dan. 12:10). By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many;  …..  Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time(Dan. 11:32-33, 35).

Humble your heart, tremble at His word, have a contrite spirit and you are a candidate because His angels are given as ministering spirits to assist us on our way to full salvation.

Series:  Angels/Eschatology

Sun am 29 April 2012 – Kobus Swart

(Rev. 12:1-4); Matt. 24:37-39; Heb. 1:7-8, 13-14; Ex. 23:20-21; (Gen. 22:9-12); Gen. 18:1-12; (Dan. 3:25); 

Dan. 12:1; Matt. 1:19-20; Matt. 2:13; Luke 1:26; Luke 1:5-13; (Acts 12:7-15); (2 Kings 6:15-17);

Matt. 13:36-43; Ps. 34:1-7; Ps. 91:1-12; (Matt. 4:5-6); Matt. 25:31-32, 41;

(Heb. 11:7); (1 Pet. 4:17); (Isa. 4:1-6)

Let us briefly look at some of the functions that angels will have and always had in God’s plan of action – some of which have not always been recognized. The good news is that not all angels fell; only a third were swept to the earth (Rev 12:1-4). Two thirds are still fulfilling the function that is highlighted in Heb. 1:7-8, 13-14. And of the angels He says “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”  … Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (vs. 7 & 14).

The word “angel” comes from the word “aggelos” which means “messenger”. Angels are known to be servants, helpers that brought guidance to leaders of nations and to the Body of Christ. They have also been known to bring protection to individuals.

Where people have gone wrong is when they pray to angels and ask them to do things. That is unbiblical. God gives the orders; nowhere in Scripture does it say we should pray to angels.

God has sent angels to guide nations. God said to Moses, “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him (Ex. 23:20-21).

Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent expecting something. It says the Lord appeared to him, but he saw three men. This is clear that Abraham was visited by three angels, one of which, in the ancient writings, is said to be Michael. Now these angels materialized; they ate what Abraham prepared for them (Gen. 18:1-12). Often times we could have entertained angels without knowing (Heb 13:2).

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued (Dan. 12:1). Nations have been affected by these angels, directing God’s leaders, bringing words of direction, bringing protection.

When Mary conceived and was pregnant with the Messiah, Joseph had plans to put her away secretly but then the angels cautioned him in a dream (Matt. 1:19-20). After the discovery (of the birth of the Messiah) and they wanted to kill the child (Matt. 2:13) an angel interfered. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth (Luke 1:26). An angel saved the Messiah. Angels were very active at this point. The name Gabriel means “God is my strength”. He is one of the two highest ranking angels in Judeo-Christian and Mohammedan religious lore. He is the angel of annunciation, resurrection, mercy, vengeance, death, revelation.

What happened to Zechariah? (Luke 1:5-13). I believe with the assignments that angels carry, especially in the final harvest, the Church will experience angels participating, and God has them ready on standby (See Matt 13:41).

They prayed for Peter when he was in prison, and he did not realize that he was being rescued by an angel, thinking he was seeing a vision. When he appeared at the door of those who were praying for him to be released, they said, “it is his angel” (Acts 12:7-15). It was common for them to believe that everybody had an angel. I know God has assigned ministering spirits to each one destined to receive full salvation.

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the enemy. Elisha was in rest in what seemed to be a troubled situation (remember Noah), but his servant was in fear. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open his eyes, and then the servant saw a host of armies from heaven (2 Kings 6:15-17). God is positioning heavenly hosts to participate in the final wrapping up of history.

The parable of the tares and the wheat in Matthew 13 is talking about the two seed lines that run from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation.  The explanation of the parables was not given to the crowds. He told the parable to the crowds, but the explanation he told in the house. Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us…” And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire…” (Matt. 13:36-43).

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them (Ps. 34:7). This is for those who dwell in the shelter of the Almighty: For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone (Ps. 91:1, 11-12). Satan quoted this verse when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:5-6). Make these verses your own. Let’s become aware of what God has made available.

God had a plan from eternity, He was not caught unawares. He is the omniscient One, He sees the end from the beginning and He is waiting for the Church to participate in the final wrapping up of history. He has made available to us a host of angelic participation. The angels are probably getting overanxious to materialize, if necessary, to get involved in this final chapter, but God will restrain them until the time is right. He is going to send the angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom, which is on earth, all the stumbling blocks. Noah built an ark, by which he condemned the disobedient world (Heb. 11:7). Noah obeyed and by faith established a ‘vehicle’ with eight people (8 is the number of new beginnings). That was God’s new beginning in a whole new age. God made a promise to Noah, that He would never again destroy the world by a flood, and gave the sign of the rainbow.

This time it will be different. For seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach!”  …When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning,God has released the spirit of burning in the earth. Judgment will begin in the household of God (1 Pet. 4:17). God is busy purging the Church at the moment because the Church has been invaded by the spirit of the age. Then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain (Isa. 4:1-6). As Noah built an ark by which the earth was condemned, here God has found Mount Zion and all of her assemblies, the Church of the overcomers. God always raises a model or standard. We are given the opportunity to become part of that standard.

I challenge you to become a little more sensitive about what is happening around you. Waiting on the Lord and spending time in His presence will sharpen your spirit. Make time to sit in His presence and listen to His voice; make time to meditate on the Word. Sharpen your spiritual faculties.

This word will become a point of reference in the days to come…

Series: The Rest of God; Eschatology

Sun am 22^nd April 2012 – Kobus Swart

Matt. 24:27-28, 37-39; Heb. 11:1-7; Gen. 4; Gen. 5:28-29; Gen. 6:1-9; (Luke 17:20);

(Acts 1:11); (Matt. 8:20); (Gen. 9:11-17)

As it was in the days of Noah! So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:37-39). I believe that refers to the final phases of this unfolding event called the ‘parousia’ (one of the 6 words in the original language, usually translated as the ‘second coming’ of Christ). For just as the lightning comes from the East and flashes even to the West, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:27-28). This lightning which flashes from the East to the West is talking about a brightness coming from the East and spreading to the West. It is an unfolding brightness, becoming evident, just like the sun rising in the East, and gradually unfolding to the West. This presence (parousia) of Christ is an unfolding reality. Yes, in the final analyses there is going to be the fullness and visible glory on display as on the mount of transfiguration!

The name “Noah” means “rest”. The days leading to the flood must have been extremely wicked if God reached a place where He’d had enough and decided to wipe out mankind. God grieved for man. As wicked as this world is today, deserving something worse than the flood, God said “I will never again repeat the flood” and gave the rainbow as the sign of His covenant (Gen. 9:11-17). This time the spirit of judgment and the spirit burning is in the earth (Is 4:4).

Take note, moral standards are crumbling; views of God are changing; many doubt the very existence of God. The thing we need more than anything else, and more than at any other time is, “he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Heb. 11:6). The Kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed (Luke 17:20). Faith is a very present thing, it’s a now thing. Faith is not past tense, it is not future; faith is now. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval (Heb. 11:1-2). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through God’s grace carriers and the Word activates faith. The moment you begin to postpone, you miss it. The men of old were men who died without receiving what was promised. So by human evaluation, they died as failures. They did not receive the things they believed for, yet they never stopped believing. Questions are being stimulated in people’s thinking about the reality of God. And it’s not a new thing; it was also in the early Church and in the house churches of John who said, “Everyone who does not believe that Jesus has come in the flesh is the spirit of antichrist” (2 John 1:7).

By faith we understand … (Heb. 11:3). What does it mean “we understand by faith”? It does not mean the rational mind can understand it, but by faith I can understand. It means that my inner man, the subconscious, the spiritual man inside of me understands all these things. It has to be reached by faith. The intellect is full of cynicism. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible (Heb. 11:3). In God matter is spirit. The rational mind says it is only matter if you can feel it. Nothing that we see has been created by that which is visible.

The Old Testament is full of types and shadows, it is not just a history book, but it has prophetic and spiritual significance. God called Noah who was preaching righteousness while he was building the Ark. He built the Ark by faith and obedience, by which the world of that day was condemned.  God is looking for such a model, a Noah company. Cain was the man who loved the field and was a tiller of the ground. Remember the curse, “you will eat bread by the sweat of your brow” (Gen. 3:19). When they left the garden, rest was gone as far as they were concerned. Cain represents the spirit of the anti-Christ, the culture of religion, the culture of works and sweat. Abel represents the culture of relationship, worship and rest. Then, in the midst of extreme wickedness, there was a man who walked with God, called Noah…

Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. (Gen. 6:1-9). In the midst of a corrupt, depraved mankind, God found a man. It was not easy to walk righteously.

Noah was at rest in a troubled world. He was surrounded by wickedness and depravity but he was at rest because he had a walk with God. There is a Noah company needed today, because as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be before the final apocalypse and unveiling of Jesus Christ in the earth. Do you believe God can find a Noah company, a people who walk with him? Let that be your desire. Add to your desire a commitment to spend more time at the feet of the Lord.

Series: Visiting Speakers; Sonship.

Sun am 15 April 2012 – Mitch Clay (USA)

Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 1:1-3; John 5:17-18; John 10:30; John 14:5-12; Rom. 8-14-17

The Lord is raising the water level. I saw the waters knee deep but the Lord wants to bring us waters to swim in, waters that will take us off our feet, where we will float and lose our own control; where we lose our ability to keep things in our order. It means we must release our order so we can contain the order of the Lord.

All creation is groaning and waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. They are groaning and travailing to receive the glorious liberty that the children of God have already received. That’s us! There’s a glorious liberty we have received although we have not fully manifested it yet. We are walking through a process that is bringing us from just tasting something to the full banquet.

The context determines the meaning. When God talks to us, if we do not understand the context, the scenario and if we do not understand where God is coming from, we can hear the right words but receive a different message than was intended. Many people take the Scriptures and they bring it into their own context, whether it be their nation, their home or their personal needs, their congregation and denominational mindsets; they receive the Word of God through that filter and the application of it looks different from the intention of the Lord. We are to be children of the light and understand these mysteries. Mysteries are not hidden to be hidden; they are hidden to be found.

The family of God is the primary context, it is the foundation, and fundamental of all God is doing. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit(Eph. 2:19-22). A household has to do with family; family has to do with intimate relationships, where there is protection and safety, a place to come back to. God has a house and the house has a foundation. In the foundation are apostles and prophets, but in the standard of all standards is the Son. It all begins and ends with the Son. He’s in the foundation, He’s in the cornerstone.

In the past God has spoken and released His intention through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us in His Son (Heb. 1:1-3). When you have a message to communicate, the messenger is a very important part of the communication of the message. His job as the communicator is to communicate the heart of the one who sent him to bring the message. God is intentional, He chose to present Himself as Father, and He brings His Son go speak on His behalf. The Son is the visible expression, He is the manifestation. The Son who has come out of the Father, is the exact image of the Father.

We want to get down where we can put legs on this. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:17-18). The Father and the Son are one. They understood it in that culture. “You made God your father? That means you make yourself one with God; that means you are God” (John 10:30).

He begins to prepare the hearts of the disciples for what is coming. The concept is if you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father (John 14:1-12). This concept did not stop with Jesus. Jesus who was the only begotten Son, now became the first born Son, with many to follow. You and I were in Adam when he chose to sin; his decision affected us. However, when Jesus was raised from the dead, we were also raised from the dead with Him. He is the first born of many sons.

We must know that as children of God we are the extension of Him in the earth; our life has come from His loins. He has birthed us. Because I am a son of God, I do the works of my Father. It did not end with Jesus. Acts 1:1 talks about all that Jesus beganboth to do and teach. We are the body of Christ, still on the earth doing the works of Jesus, and still greater works. We are now multiplied. We enter into the glorious liberty of the children of God and we will be released to walk in the earth in glory, and represent our Father. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world (John 17:18). There is an authority from being sent. Who is your Father? If He is your Father, then you are His son, you have been extended from Him.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Rom. 8:14-17). That’s where we are at. We have been trying to do these things without knowledge, without a revelation and without a platform of understanding to stand on. Those things will not only release us, but will empower us to do it.

We wanted to do the works of Jesus, but we did not know who we were. We do not know how to do them because we do not know who we are. But this is the day; the Holy Spirit is with us, confirming to us who we are and whose we are. We are His, His offspring, He is our Father and we are His children.

We have reduced salvation to having our sins forgiven and getting a ticket to heaven. Father’s plan is to fill the earth with SON! We are not church members, we are sons in Father’s house. It’s a day of awakening. Begin to enjoy the glorious liberty that is Yours.