God is attentive to the groaning
of His people. When God communed with Moses at the burning bush He said:
"I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I
have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now
come, I will send you into Egypt." Acts 7:34 By the inspiration
of the Spirit we have become responsive to the cry of the present age.
God has prepared us and is preparing us to minister His deliverance and
glory. God is calling a people who will (on this earth) be partakers
of His divine nature. Romans 8:19-23 " The
earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the
sons of God.
The creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know
that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, meaning, the redemption of our body." The challenges are
great and we live in a time of testing; but throughout the ages the consistent
response to the cry of the people is the preaching of the Gospel and a
revival by the Spirit. God will enable us to minister the answer that
He has prepared.
Many feel overwhelmed by the
frustration that is present today when everywhere one looks there are
valid needs and corruption appears to be reigning. But we know that the
message that we have received is God's answer. Revival by the Spirit and
transformation is the only answer. In the brief history of our own country
every time the people have called out for justice, for deliverance, for
equity for help, or for mercy and after the government did what it could
or what it would we saw Revival. Our confidence is that God in this
day will show even greater favor to His people and strengthen our calling
as kings and priests before Him. It is evident that the message of the
kingdom and sonship is the answer for this present age.
I grew up in the 60's when
a great cry arose and people called out to the Lord for help. The born-again
movement and the Charismatic Revival of the 60's and 70's followed that
cry. 150 years ago the cry for equity and freedom was followed in the
1880's and 1890's by some of the greatest revival preachers in America.
At the time when the ills of the Industrial Revolution were being experienced
the Azusa Street revival manifested within the Church the Baptism and
gifts of the Spirit in a manner that was fresh and powerful. Lives were
dramatically changed. Great Tent revivals and the Latter Day Rain movement
followed the World Wars and the Depression.
You are called for the manifestation
of the Sons of God. You are called to put on Christ. We have one goal,
which is a work of transformation; that the Kingdom may be fully manifest
on earth. Whosoever we can reach with the message will be changed. We
have a vision and that vision brings responsibility; "for to whom much
is given much is required." Responsibility is not a burden but a privilege
emerging out of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We have a fellowship
that we are capable of sharing with others. "That which we have seen
and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with
us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ. 1John 1:3
We pursue the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:14-16 "I press toward the goal for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are
mature have this mind; in anything you think otherwise God will
reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already
attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
Even as we seek to attain that
which eye has not seen each of us can be engaged in a productive work
given to us by the Spirit:
Romans 12:5-13 "So we, being many, are
one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith, Or ministry, let
us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that
exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity;
he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor acknowledging
one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the
Lord, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in
prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
We are called to be the evidence
of God's plan for the ages. We are saved and are being transformed by
manifesting in life and in deed our faith, in the finished work of
Jesus Christ. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of
God.
*For more information on this topic simply E-mail Michael Brod at: michaelbrod@hotmail.com
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HEARING THE CRY: BY MICHAEL BROD