The Heart Of Elysia…

Jul12
by Michael King on July 12, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Posted In: fundamental truths
Heart of Elysia

…Is The Heart Of A Servant

John F. Kennedy once gave a very famous speech. In one section of it, he said,

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Our president advanced the idea that we should seek to serve, rather than to be served. Truly, if everyone seeks to give from their heart, then everyone is blessed.

So it is with Elysia (The Tabernacles Center), when we seek to serve, everyone receives. To have the heart of a servant is what Jesus encouraged us to do, too.

Jesus says,

“But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

Mark 10:43,44

In order for Elysia to function smoothly, we must prefer one another above ourselves. While there should be an equitable division of responsibilities, what will cause us all to live well is each one of us having the attitude of a servant. Moreover, not just a servant of Christ, but a servant to all.

The Tabernacle Way

Elysia is our home. It is a place governed by the guiding principle of “Whatever is not of agape love, is not of God.” We seek each others’ well being before our own, thus everyone is preferred by someone. It is a place where our service, both to God and each other, affords us the opportunity to grow spiritually. As we experience what it is like to be Spirit-led in all things, we come to know Christ in deeper and more meaningful ways.

In reality, Elysia is like an updated idea of an open monastery, where those who visit do so because they wish to have a deeper experience with their Lord. Most people come for short stays, where they participate in daily life and learn from those who know the Tabernacle Way. Others may prefer to stay longer to work on their own walk before God. However, whether you stay a short or long time, we all agree that rolling up our sleeves and serving Christ in one another is a very good idea.

Our Mission is to articulate God’s love

Those who live at Elysia will dedicate themselves to the Tabernacle Vision. They will seek to help articulate God’s divine love to each other and the world around them. This can be through the morning or evening revelation, or through something as simple as mowing the lawn. The point is, that however you end up contributing, you maintain a servant’s heart so that we can all focus on what God is doing.

Moreover, people should not sell all they have and give it to Elysia. Individuals who live there should contribute, but they should also keep enough for themselves and for what they need for their future. I believe that having all things in common is not appropriate for the immediate future. Those who desire to should freely give, but not to the extent that they have nothing for themselves.

A laboratory of the Holy Spirit

Elysia is a laboratory for the Holy Spirit. It is a safe place to love and be loved. We gather together because the Holy Spirit has led us to be with one another. Sometimes that is for a short time and sometimes it is more permanent, but the focus is on growing into the fullness and stature of Christ through our experience.

While we promote loving one another, it is only as God leads. The line is whatever the Holy Spirit draws in any given circumstance. However, for those who are novices, there will be some rules and guidelines to observe until we see how well you handle God’s freedom. For instance, just because you might assert that you have a “revelation” to be with a certain woman, if she doesn’t agree, or feels pressured, we would have to ask you to refrain. We would expect you, out of agape love, to consider her feelings more than your own, and not pursue her.

The heart of Elysia

Christ in us is the heart of Elysia. To the extent that we allow Jesus to be seen in us and move through us we are successful. We are a demonstration of the world to come. When people walk through our gates, they pass from this world to a representation of the New Heavens and New Earth. That is the vision, and that is something worth putting our whole hearts into. Amen.

Big hugs and lots of love,

Michael

Come To The Quiet by John Michael Talbot

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The Evening Revelation

Jul11
by Michael King on July 11, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Posted In: fundamental truths
evening revelation

It’s Not About Doctrine, It’s About Revelation

I have been thinking about how Elysia functions in a Tabernacles environment. As I listen to the Holy Spirit, what comes to mind is how necessary discipleship is for Tabernacles. What the Tabernacle Blessing is, is a further revelation of the good news. Just as the original good news spread through disciples, so too discipleship is the best way to share this beautiful message.

Another facet of the Tabernacle Blessing is that it is a revelation, not a doctrine. We seek to achieve individual communication between believers and God. In this, we become one spirit through listening to “His Spirit“. Our unity flows from a shared spiritual experience with our Father and that informs our agreement.

A time for revelation

Therefore, instead of daily Bible Studies, I envision a once daily revelation session. This is where people gather together, in the evening, to listen to what God is saying. Revelations are shared in the form of a person speaking, or another sharing a dream or vision. Others would be free, in an ordered way, to share what they believe the Holy Spirit is showing them. The goal of the evening revelation is to hear God’s voice and know His current will for that day.

The question then becomes, what position does the Bible take in these type of revelatory meetings? Do such meetings replace the scriptures or do these meeting enhance them?

Understanding where the Bible came from

The answer to this question is found in the understanding of God’s Rhema. The Rhema of God is His whole spoken word, from Genesis to our current day. The Bible is a subset of this revelation. The scripture was literally given to Israel because they were too afraid to hear God’s voice from Mount Horeb. Later, in the New Testament, the Gospels, Epistles, and the book of Revelation are further Rhema.

While these old and new testaments are inspired of God, they do not contain all the Rhema there is.

John says,

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

John 21:25

Rhema is a much broader term than many people realize. Rhema includes the spoken word, His actions, and even the creation itself.

And David writes,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

Psalm 19:1-3

All these expressions of God are valid forms of Rhema, and they all speak of His glory.

Therefore, when we speak, we honor God’s written word, and we also recognize His spoken words. What our Lord speaks today, to the degree it’s His current word, is as valid as any the apostles penned.

The evening revelation

When we have the evening revelation, we listen for His voice. We seek to speak His revelation, just as you would a tongues and interpretation, for the edification of His body.

Moreover, Elysia is a lab of the Holy Spirit. We desire to learn to hear and accurately represent His Rhema in all its forms. Thus, even if we make a mistake, because we have teachable hearts and spirits, Jesus will correct us.

Become explorers of the faith

In Elysia, we are not “defenders” of the faith, we see ourselves as “explorers” of the faith. We seek to understand what God is saying today, right now, this very moment. It’s important for us to understand what YHWH says in the context of everything else He’s said. Like beloved children, we play freely before our Father’s feet, completely secure in His love. We know that if we need correction, He will give it lovingly, for we are the apple of His eye.

Apple of His Eye by Annie herring

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