The Chief Musician

Feb21
by Michael King on February 21, 2013 at 10:52 am
Posted In: revelation
chief musician

The Chief Musician

I believe our current world often times echoes a greater and more real existence, which is the spiritual realm.  That is, events and circumstances which reveal themselves in this world are reflections of Heaven.  For instance, the temples of the Israelites starting with the tabernacle in the wilderness, to the temple of Solomon, and finally to the future temple of Ezekiel are but shadows of the true heavenly temple shown in Revelation 11:19,

“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

Earthly things testify of heavenly realities.

There is war in Heaven and this conflict between God and His angels and Satan and her demons reveals themselves in earthly wars.

Gods says,

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven”

Revelation 12:7,8,

The war that currently rages in heaven manifests or reveals itself in the wars that have been fought, are being fought, and will be fought here on earth. The struggle is for the eternal souls of men.

Demons walk among us

Criminals who do terrible things to innocent victims are motivated by demons who posses and control them.  Devils are waging war upon mankind through these agents of Satan that yield their minds and bodies as they carry out the will of evil spirits.

Different types of media, depicting graphic scenes of violence, are another way in which demons reveal what is in their mind to do to the helpless.  Remember, the people who make these graphically violent visual programs have to actually sit down and imagine what will be more shocking and evil to their viewing audience than last week.  Where do you think they get the inspiration to create such utterly evil scenarios? Yes, people are clever, but those at the pinnacle of their craft are anointed and spirit led by dark forces that channel through them.

The Chief Musician: I write the songs

God says,

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.”

Ezekiel 28:11-13

Although the prophet Ezekiel speaks about the King of Tyrus his words go well beyond describing a mere man when he declares, “Thou has been in Eden…” In fact, Ezekiel begins to talk about Lucifer, son of the morning, and describes her perfect beauty and pride.

God says,

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

And again,

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit”

Isaiah 14:12-15

Many prophecies and revelations do have first application to real people and events such as the king of Tyre.  Yet, this kingdoms reflects the power actually behind it, i.e. Satan.  Therefore, what is said about them is also true about Lucifer. Ungodly dominions on earth are shadows of the demonic principalities and powers in heavenly places that control and empower them.

Comfortably Numb

I happened upon a televised concert of a rock and roll legend the other day.  I saw one person, surrounded by a golden stage, bathed in fantastical light effects with tens of thousands of people cheering and screaming as he played.  I saw, in that performance, an echo of what is left of the chief musician of God.  You see Lucifer still loves to be the center of attention.  In such situations she receives worship from those who marvel at her beauty and skill with music.

The spirit behind such music is none other than the “bright and shining one” herself and it is she who energizes those whom we call “Rock Legends” and grants them their inspiration.  Lucifer possesses many musicians when they perform, and it is she who receives worship through adoring masses of people moved by her music. Here are the lyrics from “I Write The Songs”.  The words and Music are by Bruce Johnston and sung by Barry Manilow.

Verse 1

“I’ve been alive forever, and I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs

Chorus

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Verse 2

My home lies deep within you
And I’ve got my own place in your soul
Now, when I look out through your eyes
I’m young again, even though I’m very old

Chorus

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Bridge

Oh my music makes you dance
And gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock ‘n’ roll so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well, that’s a real fine place to start
It’s from me it’s for you
It’s from you, it’s for me
It’s a worldwide symphony

Chorus

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Chorus

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Tab

I am Music  and I write the songs”

If you substitute “Lucifer” for the word “Music” in the last line of the song then you have the complete picture.

“I am Lucifer and I write the songs”

(Music is capitalized in the lyrics denoting person, place, or thing.)

I Write The Songs by Barry Manilow

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Until…The Future of the Five Fold Ministry

Jan15
by Michael King on January 15, 2013 at 9:29 am
Posted In: spiritual leadership
until

Until We All Come To A Unity Of The Faith

Brothers and Sisters, I have something to say to you. It is a present truth and a revelation for this very hour. I pray this word penetrates the innermost parts of your being. I ask that it birth within you a resolution to render to God the fruits of the increase of His Church in due season.

Paul says,

“And he gave some, apostles; …some, prophets; and some, evangelists; …some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:11-13

From these passages of scripture, we know that the offices of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher were given TILL… The word “till” in the King James Version means “until” and is a scriptural time key relevant to the five-fold ministry. The question for all of us to ask is, UNTIL what?

The Five-Fold ministry has an endpoint

The underlying premise of this essay is that the five-fold ministry occupies a particular and limited time in church history. Therefore, the gift offices are transitory. They are but a phase in the maturation of the body of Christ. So, the answer to our question is that the five-fold ministry was given UNTIL the body of Christ matures.

For a time, God placed Israel under the Law of Moses. The types and shadows that they kept functioned as a schoolmaster to point them to Christ.  Likewise, the Church has been placed for a time under the tutelage of the five-fold ministry that it might mature into the fullness and stature of Christ. Those aspects of the law that prefigured Christ passed away when He fulfilled them. Likewise, those aspects of the five-fold ministry that are meant to complete the church pass away once the church is perfected.

We are the friend of the Bridegroom

As five-fold ministers, we are the friend of the Bridegroom. Our joy and purpose are to see that the bride is made ready to meet her Lord. Once this occurs, our purpose is fulfilled. While we do have a position of great importance and authority relative to our duties, once our course is run, we will fade into the background. This is the destiny of the five-fold ministry.

John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by calling the Children of Israel to repentance. He announced to the nation the coming of One greater than himself. The five-fold ministers are also preparing God’s people to receive One greater than they. Compared to the glory that shall be revealed in the manifested Sons of God, we will be unworthy to unlatch their shoes.

Workmen that need not be ashamed

As God anointed Bezaleel and Aholiab to build the tabernacle in the wilderness, God is anointing those of the five-fold ministry to build His spiritual house in this present age. He is filling us with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, so that we can build His spiritual tabernacle.

Through the apostles and prophets, our Father is continuing to reveal the divine blueprint for His glorious house. Through God’s plan, every facet of this living temple shows forth Christ. Yet, know this beloved, there shall come a day when the House of God is complete and we will have finished our work.

Is your identity wrapped up in your ministry?

For some of us, the completion of this task will be very traumatic, namely because our very identity is wrapped up in who we are in the ministry. God does not blame us. Many of us have suffered unspeakable hardships. We have toiled long and have given up much to answer the call of God on our lives. However, God is saying to you this day, the Spirit of ministry that is upon you is transitory, but His relationship with you is not. At some point in the future, the Spirit that empowers you shall decrease as it begins to increase upon the perfected body of Christ.

The Spirit and power of Elijah

For years, John the Baptist, clothed in camel’s-hair, lived alone with God in the wilderness. Perhaps the reason John was a voice crying in the desert was that no synagogue would let him in their doors. Yet, for one brief, shining moment, John rose above it all as the Spirit of Elijah came upon him. He said, “prepare ye the way of the Lord” as he baptized unto repentance in the River Jordan. The ministry that he had been preparing for from his mother’s womb was being fulfilled and his life’s purpose was being realized. Yet with all of his apparent success, John says,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30

Like John, we of the five-fold ministry will have our day. God’s Spirit will come upon us, and we too will prepare the way of the Lord in His people. We shall shine and we shall do mighty exploits. Yet, when the body of Christ reaches the fullness of His stature, we must decrease.

The Body of Christ will do the work of the ministry

There shall come a time, my friends, when the body of Christ will arise to perform the work of the ministry that we have carried upon our shoulders for so long. At that time, they must increase and we must decrease. This is because God does not want the focus to be on us any longer. Some of us, like John, may even be removed. God did not want the eyes of His people to be upon John but rather upon His son Jesus. This is why God allowed John to be put in prison and martyred.

Are we willing to let go and have God place the emphasis, anointing, and unction upon the body of Christ rather than upon us? Are we willing to step aside and watch as the manifested sons perform the ministry that we have labored so long in? Have we, as God’s husbandmen, been so long in God’s vineyard that we have begun to covet His land? Or, will we be faithful servants who will open wide the gates to God and say, “Look, Master, I’ve kept your vineyard, here it is, take it. My joy is that you have the increase.”

Until

The word is UNTIL, that is, until Christ comes to possess that which He has entrusted to us. The power of the Spirit and all that goes with the five-fold ministry, are only for a time and a season. They are just anointed offices given to men and women by the Holy Spirit and are not part of our own inherent abilities. We must realize that we are servants that, without the Holy Spirit’s anointing, will become like anyone else.

God says:

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Matthew 11:2-3

When revelation lifts

What happened? Didn’t John baptize Jesus in the River Jordan and didn’t he know He was the Christ then? Didn’t the heavens open up, and the Spirit of God descend as a dove and say, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Yet, in prison, John even doubted if Jesus truly was the Christ. The reason for John’s confusion was that his knowledge of who Jesus was did not come from intellect, but from the Spirit resting upon him. When the Spirit of God lifted, so did the revelation.

Thou art the Christ!

Another example of this type of heavenly knowledge is when Peter answered Jesus and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus answered him saying, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee.” Peter’s knowledge of who Christ was did not stem from what his eyes saw, but from whom his spirit knew.  John, in the same way, knew by revelation that Jesus is the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Therefore, as the Spirit decreased, so did the revelation upon him, and he became only John.

The day is coming when we must decrease

God says the office and power that is upon us will lift and be transferred to the greater Christ.  Christ’s body, when connected to his head, will be God manifest in the flesh. Emanuel again walks the Earth and we do greater works. God then asks ministers to make the sacrifice of John and decrease that the Body of Christ might increase.

A short work

Churches commonly teach that the return of Christ is imminent.  If this be the case, then it follows that the perfection of the church is also at hand. Furthermore, if the scriptures state that our ministries are given UNTIL the saints are perfected, then the duration of the five-fold ministry must necessarily be short. Therefore, how long do you suppose it will be UNTIL we are out of a job?

How many of us are prepared for this eventuality? Would we suffer a major identity crisis if stripped of our ministry like John? Most of us would find these circumstances a severe test of our faith.  Many peoples identity is wrapped up in their ministries. Our true worth to God, though, is our personal love relationship with Him. Confusion about the basis of our value to YHWH is a very real danger in the five-fold ministry.

Hard sayings…

God says,

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

Mark 6:17-18

God places us where He wills

If John thought about this hard saying, it might have occurred to him that such a course of action was not in the best interest of his ministry. As it was, he simply yielded to God (just he had always done) and let the consequences unfold as they always did. God knew what the result of John’s action would be. Yet John’s apparent ministerial suicide was part of God’s greater plan and justified Christ calling him the greatest born among women.

Some of us find that we moderate or even refuse to speak the word that God gives us for fear of damaging our ministry. Many of us live and die by our precious reputations.  We protect our image even at the cost of disobedience to our heavenly Father.  However, if we neglect to take the course of action that God clearly sets before us, fearing that it will harm our ministry, we are idolaters.  Compromising our calling we make our ministry an Isaac before God.  God may ask you to sacrifice the thing you think is most important.

The “until” is here, set God’s people free

The “UNTIL” which  God speaks of is coming sooner than we think. Herod removed John the Baptist at the very height of his ministry. Think about it: God is telling us these things in advance because He loves us. He does not want any of us to stumble when it is our time for the UNTIL to take effect.  Our joy is to present a holy and spotless bride to Jesus, then fade as Christ unites with His body.  Have faith that, together, the perfected saints will perform the work of the ministry.

…There hath not risen a greater…

Though John the Baptist died alone in a prison, Jesus says:

Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11

In conclusion, let our hearts be set upon Paul’s hope.

Paul says:

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness that is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (KJV)

Philippians 3:8-11

John’s Song by the Nashville Tribute Band

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