Knowing God - Pt. 7 - A Generation for Christ
Ever since I got saved, my generation has had an identity crisis. Just from ME being saved, (only 6 years), I have been a part of a "Lazarus Generation", (resurrection of power), a "John the Baptist generation", (generation crying out before the return of Christ), and an "Elijah generation", (power manifested in the earth). I have a couple problems with this, and before you bash me, hear me out. I feel God has pressed and led me to speak this word to my generation.
1.) It nice to seek past for answers, its our doorway to the future, but only if we are seeking the right thing.
For example, the cry for the Lazarus Generation was for there to be a resurrection of power. My problem with that is how do you cry out for a resurrection of power that NEVER died, NEVER faded away, and NEVER laid dormant? Its not God's fault His people stopped doing what they were called to do. Just like satan, man has a pride issue, and doesn't like to admit when we are wrong. Now, let me put that into context for you, We will gladly point out what other people are doing wrong, but never look at what might be flawed in US. What does the Bible say about the power, and the spiritual gifts?
Acts 1:8, a verse every "Pentecostal" can quote, but few understand.
"But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in both Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
When does the Holy Spirit come upon us?
The Holy Spirit INDWELLS in us as soon as we receive salvation, through the confession of faith. That is, you accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit immediately indwells in you. Hence why the Scripture says your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God(1Cor 3:16,1Cor 6:19-20).
But, lets make something clear, that this indwelling is different from the "filling" of the Holy Spirit. We are filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, but it is the enduement of power, the outward manifestation of the Spirit in your life(the fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23), and the inward changing of the believer. The Spirit of God indwelling in you immediately causes conflict with the flesh nature of sin.(Gal 5:17)
It is something we are commanded to (Eph 5:18), and just like wine and alcohol takes control of your body when you continue consume it, so the Holy Spirit will take control of you if you allow Him to constantly be consumed by you.
2.) We must know why and what we shout for
The cry of the Elijah Generation was for the manifestation of power, signs, and miracles. Just like Elijah calling down fire on the prophets of ba'al, or upon the soldiers sent to kill him. That goes right back to needing to be with the Spirit of God, completely consumed in Him.
The cry of the John the Baptist generation was for this generation to be the ones who cried out to God, and proclaimed the gospel before the rapture and the coming return of Christ. "Prepare Ye the way of the Lord!!!"
But are we not supposed to be the very representations of Christ in the earth?
Yes, not only by words and actions, but by allowing Christ Himself to be shown through us. The Bible puts it this way, we are Christ's Ambassadors to the world.
The word ambassador means -an official envoy ; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank (Merriam-Webster dictionary)
2 Corinthians 5:20 declares us the ambassadors of God, His Holy and Appointed envoy's of the gospel, and the light that we are to represent.
So, whats difference between us and John the Baptist? We do not have to cry out the Lord is coming, He has already come. Yes, we wait on the return of Christ, the blessed hope, but as His people we are crying out to the people of the world to see God for who He is, to accept what Christ did, to believe and respond.
I am not John the Baptist, I am not Elijah, I am not Lazarus. I have my own name, I am Prince in the Kingdom of God, a son of the Most High. A joint heir with Jesus Christ, and a servant who will lay down his life for his God.
3.) We gotta actually be the generation God has called us to be.
The first thing that always comes to my mind about the Elijah, John, and Lazarus generations, is that they are gone. That generation is gone. We are seeking an old anointing, for a new time. We need a fresh anointing for a fresh time. God is always moving, we just have to allow ourselves to see it, and move with Him. Step by Step.
So, here is your generation name, ready for it? Oh yea, I'm defiantly giving you a name right after I got done talking about the other ones.
Here it is, a CHRIST GENERATION.
A GENERATION THAT SEEKS HIS FACE!
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Psalm 24: 1-10
<A Psalm of David.> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? and 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, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek after him, that seek thy face, O God of 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 the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; yea, 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
God want His people to seek His face!
Since Christ, He is calling for a generation that will be His ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20
"We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God."
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid"
Christ is not hidden, and if we do not shine the light in the darkness, we are hiding Christ. Christ died for Jew and Gentile alike.
My generation shall be the Lord's generation. A generation that shows Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
This is the cry of our generation, we are chosen, we are alive, we are ambassadors, and we are the dominant, victorious, blood bought, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, armed and dangerous, faith wielding, God fearing army that cannot be stopped by man, demon or devil.
We are, and must be, a generation that seeks the very face of God. Remember when I taught you that the veil of the tabernacle was torn? This is why, so that we could seek the presence of God. We must be a generation that spreads His Word, we have been chosen as a generation of these last days and have been anointed for His will and His eternal purpose. We must not relent, we must not back down. We must discern the spirits of the world, the words that we hear and the things that we see. We must be relevant to this world for Christ, for He really is the only thing that matters and that can save this world.
Do not be misled, you are a son and daughter of God. You are heavenly royalty! You are not a religion, but the manifestation of Christ's body in the Earth today. Want revival? SEEK HIS FACE! We want reformation? SEEK HIS FACE! Need forgiveness for your sins? SEEK HIS FACE! Need healing in your body? SEEK HIS FACE! Need to be the Christian you know you are called to be? SEEK HIS FACE!
~Deuce
11/20/2013
Ever since I got saved, my generation has had an identity crisis. Just from ME being saved, (only 6 years), I have been a part of a "Lazarus Generation", (resurrection of power), a "John the Baptist generation", (generation crying out before the return of Christ), and an "Elijah generation", (power manifested in the earth). I have a couple problems with this, and before you bash me, hear me out. I feel God has pressed and led me to speak this word to my generation.
1.) It nice to seek past for answers, its our doorway to the future, but only if we are seeking the right thing.
For example, the cry for the Lazarus Generation was for there to be a resurrection of power. My problem with that is how do you cry out for a resurrection of power that NEVER died, NEVER faded away, and NEVER laid dormant? Its not God's fault His people stopped doing what they were called to do. Just like satan, man has a pride issue, and doesn't like to admit when we are wrong. Now, let me put that into context for you, We will gladly point out what other people are doing wrong, but never look at what might be flawed in US. What does the Bible say about the power, and the spiritual gifts?
Acts 1:8, a verse every "Pentecostal" can quote, but few understand.
"But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in both Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
When does the Holy Spirit come upon us?
The Holy Spirit INDWELLS in us as soon as we receive salvation, through the confession of faith. That is, you accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit immediately indwells in you. Hence why the Scripture says your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God(1Cor 3:16,1Cor 6:19-20).
But, lets make something clear, that this indwelling is different from the "filling" of the Holy Spirit. We are filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, but it is the enduement of power, the outward manifestation of the Spirit in your life(the fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23), and the inward changing of the believer. The Spirit of God indwelling in you immediately causes conflict with the flesh nature of sin.(Gal 5:17)
It is something we are commanded to (Eph 5:18), and just like wine and alcohol takes control of your body when you continue consume it, so the Holy Spirit will take control of you if you allow Him to constantly be consumed by you.
2.) We must know why and what we shout for
The cry of the Elijah Generation was for the manifestation of power, signs, and miracles. Just like Elijah calling down fire on the prophets of ba'al, or upon the soldiers sent to kill him. That goes right back to needing to be with the Spirit of God, completely consumed in Him.
The cry of the John the Baptist generation was for this generation to be the ones who cried out to God, and proclaimed the gospel before the rapture and the coming return of Christ. "Prepare Ye the way of the Lord!!!"
But are we not supposed to be the very representations of Christ in the earth?
Yes, not only by words and actions, but by allowing Christ Himself to be shown through us. The Bible puts it this way, we are Christ's Ambassadors to the world.
The word ambassador means -an official envoy ; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank (Merriam-Webster dictionary)
2 Corinthians 5:20 declares us the ambassadors of God, His Holy and Appointed envoy's of the gospel, and the light that we are to represent.
So, whats difference between us and John the Baptist? We do not have to cry out the Lord is coming, He has already come. Yes, we wait on the return of Christ, the blessed hope, but as His people we are crying out to the people of the world to see God for who He is, to accept what Christ did, to believe and respond.
I am not John the Baptist, I am not Elijah, I am not Lazarus. I have my own name, I am Prince in the Kingdom of God, a son of the Most High. A joint heir with Jesus Christ, and a servant who will lay down his life for his God.
3.) We gotta actually be the generation God has called us to be.
The first thing that always comes to my mind about the Elijah, John, and Lazarus generations, is that they are gone. That generation is gone. We are seeking an old anointing, for a new time. We need a fresh anointing for a fresh time. God is always moving, we just have to allow ourselves to see it, and move with Him. Step by Step.
So, here is your generation name, ready for it? Oh yea, I'm defiantly giving you a name right after I got done talking about the other ones.
Here it is, a CHRIST GENERATION.
A GENERATION THAT SEEKS HIS FACE!
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Psalm 24: 1-10
<A Psalm of David.> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? and 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, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek after him, that seek thy face, O God of 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 the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; yea, 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
God want His people to seek His face!
Since Christ, He is calling for a generation that will be His ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20
"We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God."
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid"
Christ is not hidden, and if we do not shine the light in the darkness, we are hiding Christ. Christ died for Jew and Gentile alike.
My generation shall be the Lord's generation. A generation that shows Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
This is the cry of our generation, we are chosen, we are alive, we are ambassadors, and we are the dominant, victorious, blood bought, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, armed and dangerous, faith wielding, God fearing army that cannot be stopped by man, demon or devil.
We are, and must be, a generation that seeks the very face of God. Remember when I taught you that the veil of the tabernacle was torn? This is why, so that we could seek the presence of God. We must be a generation that spreads His Word, we have been chosen as a generation of these last days and have been anointed for His will and His eternal purpose. We must not relent, we must not back down. We must discern the spirits of the world, the words that we hear and the things that we see. We must be relevant to this world for Christ, for He really is the only thing that matters and that can save this world.
Do not be misled, you are a son and daughter of God. You are heavenly royalty! You are not a religion, but the manifestation of Christ's body in the Earth today. Want revival? SEEK HIS FACE! We want reformation? SEEK HIS FACE! Need forgiveness for your sins? SEEK HIS FACE! Need healing in your body? SEEK HIS FACE! Need to be the Christian you know you are called to be? SEEK HIS FACE!
~Deuce
11/20/2013