The Blessed Hope

By Nicholas Jackson

The Prophetic Ministry

“Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words” Acts 15:32. The prophetic ministry exhorts and strengthens with many words. But what were the words that were used by these New Testament prophets? Many so-called prophets in the church today have used many words but they have not been truly exhorting and strengthening the brethren in the will and purpose of God according to His word.

God wants us to receive the grace given through the ministry of the prophet so that we can be built up into the mature body of Christ (Eph.4:7-16). We need to have more understanding concerning the role of prophets and what words they are to be using.

 

Giving false hope

In Jeremiah’s day, many self-named prophets spoke in the name of the LORD (“I AM”) however Jeremiah lamented them and God said of them “They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of I AM. They continually say to those who despise ME, “I AM has said, ‘You shall have peace’”; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran, I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” Jer.23:16-17, 21.

Many today would speak in the name of Jesus to the people of God but what is the message? These “prophets” in Jeremiah’s time were encouraging the brethren in their rebellion against God, prophesying from their own heart, not giving the word of the Lord. They were implanting false hope in the people instead of revealing the hope that comes from and is in Jesus!

 

Building the Wall

God said through Ezekiel “Say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of I AM…You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of I AM. They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says I AM’, but I AM has not sent them, yet they hope that the word may be confirmed” Ezek.13:2, 5-6.

These men were not strengthening the brethren nor were they going up to fix the breach in the wall. When Peter saw Jesus transfigured he said that it confirmed the prophetic word of Scripture (2Pet.1:19-21). These men had not heard from God; therefore, they had no assurance their word would be confirmed. So, in Jeremiah’s day and Ezekiel’s, the people of God were not able to stand in the day of judgement; not able to stand in battle. They were taken captive and lost their lives and their hope.

 

 

 

To Stand

True prophetic ministry is to build a wall for the house, so that in the Day of the Lord, the house can stand. “The house of God is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” 1Tim.3:15. The house of God is built upon and with truth! The apostle Paul said to the Ephesians that they were to put on the whole armour of God so that in the evil day they could stand (Eph.6:10-18).

The entire armour speaks of the truth of God’s word covering us completely, guarding our whole person and strengthening our stand against the lies of the evil one. God said through Ezekiel that there shall be “no more false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel” Ezek.12:24. No more personal prophecies that simply yield to a person’s selfish desires; no more prophecies that teach the people to escape tribulation; no more prophecies that promise the world but yield no lasting fruit. This is building a wall with “untempered mortar” which when the flooding rain, hail and wind come against it, it falls and those in it are consumed (Ezek.13:10-14).

The house that Jesus is building has foundations and the prophetic ministry is one of the foundation ministries (Eph.2:20). The prophets are required to build a wall for the house so that the house will stand the test and stand in battle on the Day of Jesus.

 

Considering our Destiny

In the book of Lamentations Jeremiah is mourning the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity and exile to Babylon of its inhabitants. He says the reason that she has fallen is that “She did not consider her destiny; therefore her collapse was awesome” Lam.1:9.

 

The City of God

Jerusalem in the Old Testament was the physical city where God chose to put His Name and Presence. He says of her in Isaiah that His delight is in her and that God rejoices over her as a bridegroom (62:4-5).

But there is a city which Abraham saw “which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb.11:10. This is talking of the Jerusalem which is above (Gal.4:26), the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22), the New Jerusalem adorned as a Bride coming down from heaven (Rev.21:2-3); it is talking of the church, His Bride (Eph.5:22-33).

The church has been ruined, ravaged and taken captive in Babylon – the world system. She has gone after worldly philosophies, business principles, methods and means to make herself more attractive to the world – to build numbers in a congregation instead of bringing true worshippers to maturity in Christ. She has not considered her destiny.

 

Prophetic Vision

“Where there is no prophetic vision (revelation), the people cast off restraint” Prov.29:18. There has not generally been a true prophetic vision given to the church. Therefore, she has cast off restraint; she has not been confined by the word of God, nor labouring or travailing in the word to bring forth the Perfect Man, the Man Child who is to rule all nations (Gal.4:19, Rev.12:5)! She has been led astray by false teachers and prophets and allowed herself to be moved away from the ‘hope of the gospel’ (Col.1:23).

As the prophetic vision given through the word of God is trumpeted forth it will release the body of Christ to be built up, to mature and to accomplish His will. God has not called us to fall short of His glory; He has called us to be a Perfect Man (corporately), built to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph.4:13), “able to comprehend the width and length, the height and depth – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph.3:18-19). We have been called to be filled with all of God’s fullness! The fullness of the Godhead once again dwelling bodily in the earth! HO!! (Col.2:9-10)

 

The Hope of the Gospel

Faith and hope

The apostle Paul exhorts us to continue in the faith, not being moved away from the hope of the gospel which was preached (Col.1:23). “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Heb.11:3. In Romans, Paul says “but if we hope for what we do not see we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” Rom.8:25.

We have hope in God’s purpose; His plan to be fulfilled; His outcome to be achieved. We hope in God’s destiny for us. Our faith is in God’s promise that He will get us there. Faith gives us the substance of what we hope for. Faith is now and it is in His word to us that His destiny for us will be fulfilled! Hallelujah! We have an awesome hope in the gospel and we know it will happen because we believe God according to His Word!

 

What is our hope?

The hope many of us have preached and adhered to is a diluted false vision. We have preached a ticket to an imaginary heaven; a rapture to take the church out of any trouble; a mansion in the sky and so we have given the church a false hope without the substance of the word of God to base our faith on.

Christians are divided and have even killed each other over very carnal issues because they have not seen the “one hope of our calling” (Eph.4:4). When tribulation comes, the church has found itself collapsing because we have not known the “hope which anchors our souls, sure and steadfast, in the Presence, behind the veil” (Heb.6:19).

           

Rejoicing in hope of the glory

Paul says that “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” Rom.5:2. Our hope is in the glory! It is anchored to Jesus our forerunner who has entered eternal glory (Heb.6:19-20). Jesus the Person, His life and His words are our hope. We have faith in Jesus and we believe He is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. Our hope is that we also shall follow Him in like manner! We will be raised just as Jesus was. Paul said that it was “concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead” that he was being judged and persecuted (Acts23:6).

 Our hope is in God’s glory! That He is conforming us to the image of His Son (Rom.8:29); that we are being changed by the Spirit to be transformed more into His likeness (2Cor.3:18). Our hope is that “when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1Jn.3:2). It is “Christ in us; the hope of glory!” Col.1:27

           

A sure hope

This is no vague, dim hope or wishful thinking. It is God’s predestined plan; it will happen! The real hope is not based on a fable nor on a ‘science fiction’ version of end-time events. God has not predestined us to be good ministers or successful businessman, even though there is nothing wrong with these things; He has predestined us to be sons (Eph.1:5), to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory (Hab.2:14). We are to be completely like Jesus in the earth. His life being completely outlived through His body, the called out ones!

            Jesus has a body for His Spirit in the earth! It is His Church, His Bride. She is to be glorious and perfect, without any spot or blemish (Eph.5:27). “And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1Thess.5:23. God is forming His Perfect Man in the earth that will fully manifest Jesus in the world and to the world.

            Our hope is in the glory which is to be revealed through the sons of God being manifest and delivering all of creation (Rom.8:18-19).  

 

This hope restrains us

“He who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure” 1Jn.3:3. Peter, speaking in the context of Jesus’ coming and all the wicked works being burned up, says, “since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the Coming of the Day of God” 2Pet.3:11-12. This hope is in His Coming! We are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” Tit.2:13.

            Jesus’ coming is our hope and because of this hope we are restrained, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly in this present age” Tit.2:12. This hope set before us helps us to submit to God’s discipline because we understand our Father’s plan and allow Him to correct and rebuke us. We are willing to go through anything if by any means we can attain to this hope (Phil.3:8-14).

           

Hope in tribulation

The hope of the gospel helps us endure tribulation because “tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character, hope!” Rom.5:3-4. When our eyes are enlightened to understand the hope of His calling (Eph.1:17), it enables us to persevere and eagerly wait for the hope to be fulfilled. Hope fulfilled is the plan accomplished and it is a tree of life (Prov.13:12). 

 

What hope do you preach?

We need to consider our ways. It is time to lay hold of the hope of the gospel according to the word of God, to build a wall that will stand in the day of battle, in the day of the Lord. It will restrain us, keep us on target and produce the purpose of God in our lives individually and as His Body. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” Rom.5:5.

            God is calling for preachers to herald the hope! To give the body of Christ a true prophetic vision so that she can be restrained to accomplish His will. If we allow false vision, we will give the brethren false hope. When Peter saw Jesus transfigured on the mount, he said that he was able to make known to the brethren the “power and coming of our Lord” and he had the “prophetic word confirmed which we do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” 2Pet.1:19.

            New Testament prophets are to exhort and strengthen the brethren with sound words concerning the hope. Body of Christ, consider your destiny and fulfill the hope that is set before you!

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CALENDAR

October:

Community weekend 24^th to 26^th at SHILOH

Fri 24^th – Worship and waiting on Holy Spirit 7pm, plus street outreach

Sat. 25^th – Training day at SHILOH: sessions – 10.30-12.30

                                                                              1.30 – 4pm

Sun. 26^th  COMMUNITY SUNDAY at SHILOH – 9.30am Teaching

                 10.30am Worship/Communion/Preaching followed by fellowship lunch

 

Oct 28^th – 31^st Apostolic Conference in Clearwater, Florida.

Ps. Arend Tibben is currently in Myanmar on mission – keep him in your prayers

 

November:

Myanmar/Thailand trip – Jean & Bruce Manning and Margaret Hooper on 10^th Nov.

Community Weekend  at SHILOH - 21^st – 23^rd

 

Family Camp: A Family Camp has been proposed for 29^th/30^th Nov. Venue to be arranged

                        

JANUARY TRAINING SCHOOL

Three weeks training in apostolic doctrine and practice; understanding and experiencing the spirit of sonship; becoming part of the emerging body of Christ – the global communion of saints.                       From Monday 5^th January to Saturday 24^th January

 

February – trip to India and Myanmar

April – trip to West Africa