Latter Rain Update - January 1997

MAN OF GOD ARRIVES IN TOWN

The streets of Jerusalem were filled with infirmed people who eagerly awaited their arrival. The had heard of the mighty miracles and wonders done through the hands of these apostles (Acts 5:12-16). It was even reported that one man who was born lame had been healed of his infirmity when he encountered them.

Peter and John were the names of two of these men, but the entire group of believers in Jesus grew in number each day. They spoke boldly in the name and authority of Jesus, and God moved in response to their words. Peter spoke to the Sanhedrin saying, "Let it be known to you all and to all the people that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him, this man stands before you whole," (Acts 4:10).

God confirmed the words of these apostles through signs and wonders, and it is clear that these men were truly from God since only He could authenticate their words supernaturally. So why then were the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees persecuting them? Weren’t they supposed to be on the same side?

They had been brought to trial, thrown in jail, and even beaten for testifying of Jesus and for using His name to bless others. For what mighty work were they persecuted? Healing the sick? Drawing a bigger crowd than they could? Proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Messiah? If He were not the Messiah, how could these mighty works be done through His name? If God indeed bears witness to this Jesus and His name, then who is man to fight against them?

COUPLE DIES FOR LYING

You just can’t lie to God.

Ananias along with his wife Sapphira found this out when they conspired to lie to the Holy Spirit in the face of the Man of God (Acts 5:1-10).

Peter, by manifestation of the Word of Knowledge, knew that they were lying to him when they told him that they had sold their entire possessions and gave them all of their increase. It was only part of the proceeds of their sale, and God knew it.

Peter gave the two of them an opportunity to come clean of their folly, but they both gave their word that the amount of money that they brought to the Apostle Peter was the sum total of their profit.

Immediately after this admission, Peter called them on it, and they both, at separate times in the day, fell over dead.

You don’t want to lie to the Man of God. When you do, you just may be lying to the Holy Spirit, and He won’t accept that.

Be very careful that when you bring your tithe to the ministry that you are truly giving the tenth part of your increase, of the first fruits. God is not mocked; you can’t lie to Him.

A WORD OF PROPHECY AND EXHORTATION

From Brother Sunday P. Obazuaye

1997 will be the year of knowing the love of Christ which passes knowledge. There will be much talk about love in the Church and among the unbelievers this year, but the people of God must beware that they are not duped by words without the corresponding God-kind of love that glorifies the Lord God (the Creator) and not humanity (the creation).

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must discern true love and pursue true love, which is the love of Christ which passes knowledge by loving one another, even as Christ has loved us; by abiding (continuing) in the love of Christ; by having the love of God in us, the same love with which the Father loved the Son, Jesus Christ, being poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us; by yielding to the love of Christ to constrain us to lay down our lives for one another; and by sharing the love of Christ with all the Saints, that we all become ONE IN CHRIST.

The Lord is calling His people, who are called by His Name, to make a distinction from the world by true love and not to seek to be loved by the world. Believers in Christ Jesus must begin to love one another with such love that is beyond human emotion and explanation - the love of Christ which passes knowledge. It is only by this love that the world will believe our testimony and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that God loved the world and sent His Son to save the world (I John 3:16; John 17:20-26; Ephesians 3:14-21).

IN REFLECTION

Signs and wonders play an integral part in arresting people’s attention to the gospel. Every Man of God that we read about in the Bible has some supernatural sign or signs that are performed through him to authenticate the gospel which he preaches. Why then has the Church today thrown-out the signs and wonders from the gospel? God has never turned them off! Has the mighty life-changing message of the gospel been reduced to mere homiletics by the will of God?

From Tables to Miracles. Jesus said that he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10). Stephen and Philip both found this to be true when they were appointed to wait tables in Acts 6:1-4. After they had received this administration, we learned that both of them were later used mightily to perform signs and wonders among the people and led many to the Lord. They were entrusted with the Anointing of God upon being found faithful with the not-so-glamorous job of waiting tables.

A Man of God is Born. In Acts 13:1-3 we have the perfect example of how Men of God come into their ministry. These men, Barnabas and Saul, were appointed and separated out by the Holy Spirit for the work of ministry. The church in Antioch laid hands on them, commissioning them, for the ministry that God had called them to. They were sent out from among them to do God’s will. Notice what is conspicuous in its absence? They didn’t go to seminary! Nor did they proclaim themselves to be "called" of God. He called and equipped them, and their ministry began.

Back to Shekinah Home Page