2008 01 Hobby Christianity 36vp

The Eternal

Headship

of the Lord Jesus Christ

AN Everyday Life Reality

(Hobby Christianity? - Not Approved!)

This is a temporary web version for reading on line (it will eventually be replaced with our 'book' version). The page numbers in the text cross-reference to the offline versions.

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Paul A Norman
Auckland, New Zealand
March 2008

To the Glory of God through the Lord Jesus Christ

Online Bible http://www.onlinebible.net/

Quotes unless otherwise stated are from the NIV

Other Translations used

The Eternal Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ – An Everyday Life Reality

Hobby Christianity? – Not Approved!

Published: Auckland New Zealand © March 2008

Paul A Norman

ISBN 978–1–877464–02–7

paul@paulanorman.com

Ph (+64 or 0) 21 782 433

http://PaulANorman.com

Downloadable Copies: http://headship.paulanorman.com

Please distribute freely.

P.O. Box 1005
Nelson

New Zealand

Cover Picture: Westend, Roatan, An Island in the Caribbean, Honduras.
Cover preparation and proof reading kindly done by M.F.T., thanks to C.K.W. for his Christian hospitality – done in the fullness of what that means.

Matthew 25

¶ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ "Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. "‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Acts 4

¶ “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No–one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

5:1¶ “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

“Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

“Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

“Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
¶ “The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No–one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

“As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.”

Ecclesiastes 5

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

¶ “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands.”

A Recent Email From Overseas

“On a separate issue I’m wondering about tithing and giving to charity.

“Is it a minimum of 10% and what you like over and above it or can you give less or do you give what you like when you like.

“Do you give to church or charity.

“I’m just wondering as I’ve not given anything for a while now and while I’m not rich I have a few quid.”

There are many wonderful things that can be spoken and written about the glorious acts of our great God, the eternal love of our Father in Heaven, the incredible sacrifice His Son our Lord Jesus Christ made for our Salvation, and the mighty works of the Holy Spirit in our midst to this present day.

This piece of writing however is not given to explore those aspects of God’s relationship toward us so much. Instead I believe God wants the things that we should consider in our relationship towards God written up. Things that we are often overlooking or not pausing to consider how much they touch the heart of God. Some are making casual decisions which dramatically impact other people’s and their own futures. Most sadly though many are forgetting the One Who they are called to serve.

In a hedonistic age where more and more focus is on people’s own desires, wants and lusts, the concepts of holiness, servanthood, genuine free giving, freely putting oneself out humbly for others, and love and grace and genuine mercy and selfless forgiveness, and the needs of the poor, are all but forgotten, and seem very strange to some, even foreign and perhaps ‘wrong’.

Recent decades have seen a tremendous tide change from duty, to selfish ambition, from care more for others to outright self centeredness. Doctrinally the people of God are being attacked by politically correct sugar coated social engineering Marxism, and the self–centeredness of the prosperity and feelywheely ‘strange spiritual blessings’ movements.

And in the midst of it all, few do meaningfully ask What should I, What should we, be doing to live in a way pleasing to God? This then is not so much about what God can do for you, but more about what God can achieve through a more fully surrendered you. Its about recognising that there are things that may seem subtle or unimportant to us fallen human beings, which are important enough to God that He is willing to shake us up to get our attention and lives back on Christ and His ways.

The Eternal Headship of Jesus Christ

“Jesus is Lord of All or He is not your Lord at all”

For some decades now the Lord Jesus has been prophetically talking to us about how as a people we are losing sight of His headship–His being boss–and more, in all situations, both in our personal lives, together, in outreach, fellowship, assembling, and ministry teams.

The Lord Jesus’ headship in our lives is an essential part of the Salvation that we signed on for when we were baptised into Christ.

It is a great mistake to try and separate God’s salvation and Lordship in thinking and teaching.

For if you do not walk daily, and long–term, in the Lordship of Christ, then you do not fully believe in Him. And a life ending up without belief personally in the Lord Jesus and what He has done for you by dying on the cross, and being raised from the dead – leads only to certain judgement and eternal punishment. Such a life is lived in the flesh, and the warnings of scripture for those who do that are very clear.

Written to believers: “ ¼ I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ” Gal 5:21.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Many Christians in the western world, and particularly in countries and states under liberal parliamentary policies and laws, are becoming slack in their approach to God, His ways, His ministries, and their fellow believers, and the unsaved world’s greatest need.

In the Pacific region Christians in places like Victoria Australia, Oregon USA, and New Zealand, and in cities like San Francisco and Wellington, are at particular risk of a political correctness dumbing down.

And end up accepting and living out lies that God hates.

All too many Christians are failing to grow to become disciples of Christ, and settle instead for the false promises of the world, TV so–called ministeries, and glossy Sunday preachers. Some now believe that just ‘feeling good’ about God is enough.

There is good news for you, God has much better plans for you than just lining the pockets of clever righteous sounding people, or living for your own selfish fleshly indulgence, ¾ no matter how well dressed up to look holy and virtuous it all is.

God wants you growing in your faith to be not like a child but a son ready to be adopted by Him at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God wants you living a life fully surrendered to Him¾involved in the wonder of Himself, His projects and the outworking of His great Salvation, His healing to this needy world. Having you participate in things that He can actively reward you for when the Lord Jesus bodily returns to this planet to rule and reign, with you sharing His inheritance.

As a great number of God’s ministeries, perhaps a majority of them now, operate outside the four walls of denominational approaches to churchie life, God’s children need to be very careful that they do earnestly seek to know God’s mind in supporting, and actually being part, of activities that might otherwise look unimportant¾not as glossy as TV or denominational carry ons.

God may call you to something, and you may think it is a nothing, because it does not look like what happens in systemised churches on Sundays. But to God it is very important that you do it, whether by yourself or with others. The key to success is developing and maintaining a genuine fear of God and a love for Him and His ways, people, and projects.

God is not willing that any should perish, and we as His believers/servants have been called into a great and noble task – to participate with God in His saving of mankind.

Are we doing that, and helping the saved be established and go on into worthwhile and meaningful lives in Christ, or are we bogged down in fleshly pursuits and ourselves lost to the grander purposes of God?

We need to reestablish our close walks with God and actually listen to what He says He wants done, and how He says He wants it all done.

“ ¼ So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself of His own accord; but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way in His turn. ”

John 5:19, Amplified Bible

God has established ministeries, described in Ephesians four and other parts of the New Testament, to prepare you as God’s servant for the works that He actually set you aside for before you were born, or the foundations of this earth were even laid.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

God wants you to experience His wonder and splendour and power. And through perseverance, and when necessary even suffering, show His wonder, splendour, and glory to a needy world though the gifts and empowering of the Holy Spirit¾ in what ever capacity and calling He graces you with.

He wants you to stick to that purpose, for Him.
¾Only a life in the Holy Spirit, led by God Himself can fulfill that great and honourable calling of our Heavenly Father.

And that is essential to the Eternal Headship of Christ being outworked in your life. A life led of the Holy Spirit, not yielded to fleshly approaches. For as Paul writes to us ¼

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

¶ “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8

“But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.”
Isaiah 32:8

“While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside.

“As for what was sown on thin rocky soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy; Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary inconstant, lasts but a little while; and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble, he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey and he falls away.

“As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit.

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.” Mark 4, Amplified Bible

The Wonder of the Word of the Lord

In the early 1980s The Lord crossed my path with numerous stories of how He had led His people in various countries with revelations He gave prior to major national disasters of one sort or another, often involving severe persecution or even annihilation. The first of these accounts was about the Armenian people. Written up in Demos Shakarian’s testimony about the roots and origins of the Full Gospel Mens Fellowship International, it described how God had prepared the Armenian Christians for one of the worst national disasters that any people could ever face – planned genocide by another nation.

Demos related how the Armenian people had been a Christian kingdom since the 4th century AD. And how in the 18th century his family had been restored to the gifts and empowering of the Holy Spirit. The book is called the “The Happiest People on Earth”¹ .

I won’t share too much of what it has in it incase you get to read it for yourself!

What was important there for God’s purposes here, was how the Lord had raised up a young village boy to draw pictures while fasting for a week. The pictures turned out to be maps of a migration route that God was saying the Armenian Christians would have to follow one day.

With some of the pictures and symbols proving to be instructions from the Lord . Quoting form the FGBMFI web site²:

“In 1855, an eleven–year–old Russian boy who lived in Armenia received a wonderful, supernatural visitation. For seven days and seven nights he was under the power of God writing prophecy of things to come. He neither ate, drank nor slept during the seven days and seven nights. Although he was an illiterate boy, he wrote in beautiful handwriting and drew pictures and maps and charts. He foretold that peace would be taken from the earth and that Armenia would be overrun by the Turks and that the Armenian Christians would be massacred unless they went to a land across the ocean, which the pictures and charts and maps showed to be America. God promised to bless and prosper everyone who would heed His warning and go to the country where they would be free from persecution. ¼ ”

Not surprisingly the boy became known as the “Boy Prophet”. When he was in late mid life, the Lord spoke to him to announce that the time had come for the Armenian Christians to leave for the land indicated on the maps. The Lord also gave the man further revelation that was to be sealed up and taken to the new land not to be opened until the Lord said so. Quoting again form the FGBMFI web site:

“Exodus To America

“FORTY–FIVE YEARS had passed since the eleven–year–old Russian boy had written the prophecy from God. He was now fifty–six years of age and still lived in the community. Four and a half decades had passed without his prophecy coming true and he apparently was to be considered as a false prophet. Then, without any advance indication, the Lord instructed the prophet to warn the Armenians that the time had come for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Consequently, he began telling the people:

‘The time has come! Now is the time to leave this country!’

“The word quickly spread among the Armenian Pentecostal Christians, and some of them and some of the Russian Pentecostals began their exodus to America. The year was 1900. They took the written prophecy with them and preserved it in a church they built in Los Angeles, California. Demos Shakarian did not leave Armenia for America until five years later. Then he took his wife and five daughters and thirteen–year–old son, Isaac, first going to New York and then to Los Angeles. As each Pentecostal family departed from Armenia, unbelievers mocked them just as Noah and his family were mocked before the Flood, yet the Armenians knew that Noah’s Ark finally rested upon the mountains of Ararat which were in Armenia. The Armenian Pentecostal exodus to America continued until 1912, when the last Pentecostal family left Kara Kala where the prophecy was delivered.

“Two years later, the great World War I broke out, and in the terrible onslaught, when Turkey overran Armenia, every soul in Kara Kala was wiped out. The mockers and scoffers and unbelieving Christians were destroyed. The prophecy given in 1855 and reaffirmed in 1900 was fulfilled in 1914 and the years that have followed.”

Christians who had not sought the empowering and gifting of the Holy Spirit rubbished the whole thing. However a great number of Spirit filled followers of the Lord Jesus who had taken the prophecy seriously and bothered to test it before the Lord, sold up and packed up what they could carry, and set off for the distant land that the accurate maps showed they should go to.

They were to head for California in the Continent of North America.

So many left at once that land prices dropped. And the “Christians” who bought their land up thought they were making a killing.

Then some time after the last of the Spirit filled Christians had left, the Turkish army occupied Armenia, and by one means and another killed millions of Armenians. Hitler was to later use this “program”, or genocide, as an example of how he could kill millions of Jewish descendants. Hitler reasoned that if the world stood aside while the Islamics wiped out the Christian nation of Armenia, so too the world would stand aside while Hitler endeavoured to wipe out the Jewish people.

Russia was later to basically repopulate Armenia with other ethnic groups when it seized it as part of the USSR.

The early parts of Demos’ book covering these points had a profound effect on me. Then shortly afterwards I got to read the testimony of Polish Christians and how God warned them to leave before the full rise of communism. Russian Holy Spirit filled Christians before the October Revolution, and Czechoslovakian and Chinese Christians in similar circumstances.

The story of the Russian Christians has a direct impact on New Zealand and Australia. As mentioned earlier, before the October Revolution God started speaking by His Spirit to Holy Spirit filled Christians all over Russia telling them to prepare to leave. And then led them to the border of China where they were to wait for a long time to gain permission to enter and settle.

Then while living in China, God warned them again before communism to get ready to leave and to go to Australia and New Zealand where it would be “safe” for a time.

Knowing a little of the history of these Christians, I have been blessed to be able to witness to the descendants of the original families at times, and remind them of their rich Christian heritage.

After God had given me the original stories of the powerful way in which He had warned these various groups to leave their countries, and the sometimes dire consequences for those who remained against His will, I was starting to get really excited about the wonder of it all.

Yet another side of it was also entertaining and I actually asked the Lord when the next testimony of this nature wold be brought along by Him.

The Lord Jesus rebuked me and said that it all was not for my entertainment. That He had spoken in as powerful a way as these various testimonies, to His Church in New Zealand.

As yet unknown to me, back in 1952 the Lord had a powerful prophecy brought for New Zealand and particularly His Church. The background to this prophecy is important as there are many claims made so casually about prophecy now–a–days that the notion of God speaking accurately to His people is pretty much rubbished in many people’s minds.

The word was brought by a medical doctor who was president of the Apostolic denomination in New Zealand.

The denomination had started in Wales / Scotland / England through revelations granted to individuals there about God’s desire to restore the truth of the ministry of apostles and prophets to the wider Body of Christ.

The Turnballs in Scotland, D.P. Williams in Penygroes, Llanelli, Wales and others were granted clear revelation with powerful signs following to confirm the importance to the Lord of His means of governing His Church.

The founder president D.P Williams pled with the movement for it not to form a denomination, fearing the message would be strangled, and the rest of the Body of Christ would miss out on the restoration of the ministry of apostles and prophets.

However as time went on the movement did degenerate into a denomination and some consider that, perhaps with the exception of countries like Nigeria, it never really came to as much as it could have. In New Zealand presently the denomination is yet to fully respond to messages that Lord had brought through visiting ministeries at ‘pastors’ conferences, and from among their own ‘recognised’ prophets like Wilfred Frater; where God has told them to get back under His Eternal Headship. Now like many previously generally sound groups, it even appoints women to teaching and eldership (pastor) activities, and inappropriate men to positions God has often not even called for or created.

But in 1952 God was moving in great power with the movement, particularly in the ministries of the prophets, and there were many signs and wonders.

Assembling as many as could get to a different main centre for each conference, the movement waited in the national gathering for the word of the Lord to come. Visiting prophets from overseas even would prophesy where the preachers were to spend their next two year periods. Families came all packed up from their last posting waiting to hear from the Lord Jesus where they were to go to next. It was signs and wonders as sometimes the prophets had neither met nor knew even the names of the men they spoke from God for.

An early prophet visiting New Zealand, McCabe, was gifted by God to call people into their gifts and callings by first, middle and last names. A brother now passed on, Harold Kuchen, related personally to this writer how early last century at the Star Picture theatre in Wellington South, God through His servant McCabe had called him by name into the ministry of Deacon in the Body of Christ. McCabe had arrived in the country off a steamship, and the meeting was an open one advertised in the paper with no one knowing who would respond to the newspaper advertisements.

God was moving in power with such movements from the days of Smiths Wigglesworth’s visit to Wellington in 1922, right through to the early seventies and eighties.

Till then the ‘Apostolics’ denomination had more real prophets moving amongst them, and in those days appeared to certainly know how to test such things.

In 1952 the ‘Apostolics’ assembled for their national conference in the Auckland town hall.

Their president, Dr. J. D Eynon brought a prophecy reproduced at the end of this booklet. In it it God strongly addresses the issues of where New Zealand was headed and what He was going to do about it. The prophecy is particularly concerned with the Lord Jesus’ church in New Zealand, but has much in it which would relate to the Western World generally now.

When you read the prophecy you will be struck by the fact that it is not particularly describing the days in which it was brought, but the days in which we now live. And there is a strong warning from God in it.

Part of the prophecy declares that God in judgement of the church in New Zealand is going to geographically shake the nation.

And the Lord Jesus shook the town hall. On the day everyone assumed it was just a coincidental earthquake.
That was until the next day, it was found out, that there had been no earthquake. We must therefore take all of this very seriously.

Now the prophecy also stated that even their own movement was, in God’s intentions, to be absorbed along with every other group in New Zealand, into one flock under one Shepherd.

I suppose you would have to be the president of a denomination to be able to get away with prophesying its end in God’s purposes!

Although somewhat opposed by some, the prophecy was typed up and officially issued from the ‘Apostolics’ national church office.

But was left hidden in church filing cabinets.

In the early eighties when the Lord spoke to me, as I described above, of the existence of a powerful word for the Christians in New Zealand, I asked around, and was told by many people that no such thing was known to exist! I came to realise from what I learnt later, that some of those people must have deliberately not spoken the truth to me.

At the time I prayed and prayed (and I think even fasted) to find out about this word which God said He had already given. In the late eighties I learnt of what one old gentleman called the ‘Eynon prophecy’¾ but he did not have a copy.

One man I found later on did, but he was apparently bound over by his previously given word to denominational authorities, to not release it.

Then I was blessed by God to meet an early principal of a pre Te Nikau Bible Training Centre run by then ‘Apostolics’ in Hamilton. This old gentleman not only knew about the ‘Eynon prophecy’ but also knew that his son (in his fifties) was holding copies of it.

Finally I had obtained a copy of the prophecy. It was in the form of a photocopied impression of what looked like an original gestetner made print.

I took it to people still alive then who had been in the 1952 meeting and asked them to verify it. Not only were various couples able to do that, they were also able to tell me, and others with me (including Michael To’o), about how the Lord shook the town hall while the prophecy was being brought.

I strongly encourage all Christians in New Zealand to read and pray about the words in that prophecy. It is, I believe, near to being fulfilled in some measure.

And the measure to which it is fulfilled may well depend only on how we as a people respond to what God is concerned about enough, to warn us over in it, and other like prophecies that have been brought since.

Other important prophecies since 1952 have identified that as a part of the Eternal Headship of Christ issue - (i.e. The Church is supposed to respond to God in how He ought run EVERYTHING) God has clearly warned that finances and resources and how the Body of Christ handles them is extremely important.

When I say Body of Christ and how it handles finances - that does not simply mean some committees or seemingly important people somewhere.

In God’s sight it first means, you, and me.

So you can see why I believe that it is an important time to reflect on how the rest of the Body of Christ can work together to support the works and His workers that the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained. How we can all remain under His leadership in the ways that He provides.

And quite simply a lot of that comes down to daily living, what we do with our time, resources, and money, how we fellowship, how our church gatherings are run, and whether we follow God’s ordained ways of appointing leadership — and who the leaders are who get recognised as being appointed, and how they behave.

Let me say quite boldly that the New Testament generally clearly portrays the Church being led by godly men called Elders, with Deacons, interacting and responding to Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists in their respective roles. Elders and Apostles pastoring and teaching.

In life generally, that wives submit to their husbands, children obey their parents in the Lord, and workers work for their bosses as unto the Lord Jesus Himself. And everyone does everything in life directly for the Lord Jesus, to His standards of excellence, not the sloppiness of the present world around us.

And that we all love and lay down our lives for each other, as Christ has done already for us¾really living in the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I do not believe before God that anything in the New Testament writings may change until the Lord Jesus Christ personally and bodily comes back in the clouds for every eye to see.

And on the ground - the most important thing is love of God and fellow man, how you respond to the work and instructions of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Its not simply a matter of this or that group or ‘church’ is right or wrong. For the Church essentially is you and me and everybody else in Christ.

And once we have found God’s freedom from false systems or other types of false religious experiences, the rest of it is about being focussed on our Lord Jesus Christ and out working faith and hope and love and truth in holiness in daily life. Truly living to honour God in word and actions.

To do that we must avail ourselves of the help of the Holy Spirt in all things, at all times.

There are I believe many Christians who have left what might be called “false systemanity”, and many still in “system” ‘churches’ who are not actually living for the Lord Jesus Christ - some have let their ‘church life’ replace their life with God. While many who have believed to leave what they have perceived as ‘false’ groups, have not gone on as followers of Christ. Many just follow their own appetites and impulses, and are in fact living in the flesh - such does not lead to the Salvation of God.

In the testimonies that follow later on, two types of reactions to Christ’s headship are portrayed, which of the two types you end up being is the issue that is going to impact your eternity – enormously.

Some names and details have been changed to protect people, and to give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. The testimonies show how important each of our relationships to the Lord Jesus are, and how crucial the contribution of the life of each child of God is to God’s overall plans and purposes.

The prophecies that God has given for each part of His body in New Zealand are crucial. And the right reaction of each of His children to His Word to them is what He is looking for.

We must each realise that we each are part of one Body and that God looks for the loving obedience of each individual, each family, and fellowship, and ministry team. Both in small and great things.

For the Lord Jesus it is extremely important that we each, in whatever capacity He has called us, humbly accept our roles whether they seem great or small in our own eyes, and through faith and love continue and complete the call and purpose that God has for each of us, helping each other to do so, to the glory of God.

On the Wider Scale

The New Zealand Church has often been badly served by those who have put themselves forward as Christian leaders in the past.

Hind sight will show that many have only been pursuing their own egos, even only desiring to line their own pockets with money. Others have enjoyed centralising power in their own hands - setting themselves up under the old heresies of centralist and bishop type government of the Church. Something neither Christ nor His first apostles ever taught.

And while there have been many worthy ministries (perhaps truly more correctly identifiable as teachers, or evangelists, or prophets or apostles) holding the title of pastor - generally the whole pastorship system /setup had suppressed and crushed the development of genuine country, district, and suburban elder-pastor-bishop-overseers across the Body of Christ.

For God has placed the earthly government of the Church not in the hands of a man made hierarchy ‘pastor system’, but in the hands of elders who are told in the New Testament to direct His Church. As Peter writes, as one of Christ’s first apostles, that the elders are to shepherd (pastor - the same word) - the flock.

¶ To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow–elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds/pastors [Gk] of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd/Pastor [Gk] appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

¶ Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:1–

These are some of the details that Lord Jesus is still addressing the Church today which are practical outworkings of His Eternal Headship. That means as the Son of God, the Church (us) is to obey Him to His Father’s glory and not set up its own ways of doing things¾often in direct contradiction or in opposition of what He has actually said.

Paul another of Christ’s earliest apostles commands:

¶ “ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching”.
1Ti 5:17

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church ¼”

God’s Patience

God is generally very patient, and waits a long time often before doing anything drastic–looking for our repentance. For example God gave the Canaanite people in Palestine hundreds of years to repent of their awful sin–religion, before sending Moses to lead Israel back to the promised land and remove them. (Gen 15:16)
But God’s patience must never be misinterpreted, for meaning that God is not actually concerned about any situation, whether in an individual’s life, or with the wider Body of Christ,or in any place.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?” Rom 2:4

The Lord will eventually move on things as He thinks is necessary, and only waits in patient hope that we will repent. And that is what the prophecy reprinted again at the back of this booklet is warning us of.

We need to be reminded from time to time that God’s previous dealings with the human race have often been irreversible. And yet there has always been some sort of build up during which God has had prophets and others warning people and calling them to turn again to God and His ways.

At the time that God had Noah build the Ark He also was having Noah preach warning the whole human race for 100 years! And when the flood waters came – there was no escape except through the means of Salvation God had provided – the Ark. It was God who finally closed the door on the Ark leaving the unrepentant behind to drown. (Gen 7:16)

Even the Scripture records that,

“ ¼ God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also
— not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 2 Peter 3:20

So too after the flood when God had told the human race to spread out filling the whole new world – and we stayed in Babel and set out to reach heaven by our own means – God came down and destroyed the unity of the human race, creating ethnic differences and languages that have kept us from falsely unifying against Him ever since. (Gen 11)

“ ¼ It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

The whole point of God warning that He is prepared to shake us up (1Pe 4:17) over the issues of His Eternal Headship – is that we have lost sight of the fact that although we do see the rebellion of the human race and the Devil against God still playing out here on Earth – the Lord Jesus is already at God’s right hand with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him.

And that we as humans still on Earth are called to voluntarily and lovingly continue to choose, wholeheartedly to submit by faith to Him Who we can not yet see plainly, now. Knowing also that the Day comes when He will return and things will very suddenly be very different. God will shake us now to get us ready for that Day and to accomplish His purposes of bringing His great Salvation to the world now, so that just as Noah preached to the world before the Flood was sent by God, so too people can be saved from this present world before it is too late. That is one of the main reasons God still leaves us here on Earth. Another is that God wants to prepare us for His Eternal future with Him. Are you ready for that yet?

“ I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.

¶ First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

¶ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

¶ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3

The Lord Jesus gives us the picture of Himself being seen as a king (and He is much more than that!). And like all kings, of even only worldly status, He rightly expects, as our Heavenly Ruler, for His Own Word to be obeyed. For His title Christ tells us that He is the One Who has been chosen by God the Father to have the Headship in all things.

That means that the Lord Jesus Christ is to be in charge of all situations in our lives, families, fellowships, and ministry teams, and at all times.

Headship means that God is the Head.

And that works in our lives now!

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. ¶ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

“You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” 2 Peter 3:10

Peter writes that we can speed the Day of the Lord’s coming – surprise?
Its right there in Scripture.

How can we speed the Day of the Lord’s coming?
Through our loving obedience to Him now!

As you read the following life examples, please ask yourself where you fit in to God’s plan. Which of the type of actions portrayed below are you doing, or going to keep on doing?

God is I believe raising up a new crop of young and older workers who He wants to be able to accomplish His will with a good clear run.

In many things the current generation of believers is as yet failing God. What are you going to do about it?

Is He calling you to service – in what way? How does He want it done?
Are you called to meaningfully and deeply support the Lord Jesus’ works and workers – in what way?
How does He want it done?

In general Michael To’o, Phil Keelan, and others who have been with me have been gratefully blessed by God through the warmth, kindness and concern that various Christian people have shown to us over the years of ministry that God has called us all to serve Him. We have received dramatic support and seen selfless giving from people who often can barely afford to do it — and then often witnessed God’s amazing provisions for those who have allowed God to put themselves out for Him.

What I have been witnessing in recent years though is the accumulative effect of the worldly pressures and attitudes already discussed here. The Body of Christ is moving far from the goals and general ways that God expects His people to hold to just as a normal matter of course. Some would now think that Christ’s hospitality is just giving a cup of tea or even a meal to someone – it might —— stretch to a bed on the lounge floor for one night.

God has granted us to meet young men who are coming into the work of the Lord of late. And strongly burdened my heart that He does not want these new deplorable worldly standards to apply to them. God wants them properly looked after, lacking for nothing financially, personally, and in ministry needs, and to be sent on their way in God in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Himself. (3John)

The new people, men and women, young and older, are not to be seen as cheap or free labour as they carry out their duties for the Lord, they should not be taken advantage of. They may pitch in and help as and where the Lord wants them to, but their main priority is to be the direct things that the Lord Jesus is calling them for, obvious gospel activities and any other thing by faith as led by the Holy Spirit. (1Co 16:10 )

We need a renewed understanding of God’s version of hospitality. It is more than giving accommodation or a meal to someone. It flows from the heart as an expression of the character of God being formed in us.

God has chosen to accommodate us, even though we were as enemies to Him. The Lord Jesus has literally gone away to prepare a place for us, telling us that in His Father’s house there are many rooms (John 14:2 ).

In biblical times hospitality was literally up to half your personal kingdom (e.g. Mark 6:23). Then the Lord Jesus laid down his life and told us to do likewise.

Christ upped the ante – our measure of commitment and support to Him and each other is now to be the tune of the cross and nothing is left out. The Lord Jesus does this with a few things. The Hebrew people thought that forgiving a person seven whole times was a virtuous thing to do. The Lord Jesus tells Peter His expectation of us is 70 times 70 – a Hebrew person’s expression for unlimited. (Mt 18:21-22 – Robertson)

We must keep our hearts open to the Holy Spirit concerning any possession, resource, finance, overdraft, asset or other thing or privilege, service – just anything at all that is at our disposal that we would use for our self — and what the Lord Jesus wants to achieve at any point in time. We were bought at a cost – the Lord Jesus blood, and you are not your own!

The following bad examples, from the (sadly) many available, are the ones which I believe the Lord has encouraged me to retell.

They show the developing dangerous trend that must be reversed.

They represent some of the kinds of things which we are not to repeat if we are to succeed as God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people separated to God and His purposes– and not our own.

Let us open our hearts to learn from God about mistakes which we could make ourselves, and if we have done such things, earnestly seek Him in repentance.