The One great Theme of this Blog is, "The Transformation of the Nations." God's great purpose for this earth is to establish His kingdom on the earth. This was His purpose in creation, and it remains His purpose until it is fully accomplished. God is A God of Purpose. He must have had a purpose when He created the earth, and created mankind to inhabit the earth. But when we consider the rest of Scripture, it becomes clear that God's eternal purpose for creating the earth is to set up His kingdom here.
1. The Purpose of God
Why did God create mankind? He ceated Male and Female in His image and likeness. Why? Because that is how it is in His kingdom. In the kingdom of God, mankind is in the image and likeness of God. God sees Himself in man. After His baptism by John, God said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Mt. 3: 17. In the human Jesus, God saw Himself, and was well pleased.
The term 'kingdom of God' or 'kingdom of heaven' is not mentioned in Genesis, but it is certainly in the rest of the Old Testament. A powerful reference is Ps. 22: 22-28. "The ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all kindreds of nations shall worship before thee...For the kingdom is the Lord's and He is the govenor among all nations."
In the New Testament, John the Baptist begins His ministry by announcing. "Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mt. 3: 1-2. Jesus began His ministry by announcing, " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel." Mk. 1: 15. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "...Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Mt. 6: 10. Pray that earth shall become like heaven.
The Kingdom of God is Community - The Family
According to Genesis 2: 7, God created the man first, then the woman after. "And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." So God created the woman from a rib taken out of the man. The Lord brought the woman to the man. The man gladly approved, and said, "This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman for she was taken out of man." God united them together, saying, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh." Gen. 2: 18-24.
God created marriage as the foundation of the family. Marriage is the union by God of a male and a female who are in His image and likeness.
In Gen. 1: 28, "God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth; and subdue it, and have dominion over..." God commanded them to bring forth others like themselves in His image and likeness. He gave them power to rule in the earth.
The family is the core of the nation. Nations are built from families. In Gen. 9: 18-10: 32 we are shown that the nations of the world were created from the families of the sons of Noah. "These are the three sons of Noah: and by them was the whole earth overspread...9: 19...The sons of Japhet..."by these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." The same thing is said of the sons of Ham and the sons of Shem; 10:5, 20,31. Chapter 10 ends thus: "These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood." 10: 32.
Satan Seeks to Destroy the Purpose of God.
From the beginning, Satan launched a campaign to destroy the purpose of God, and that campaign continues today. He deceived the woman and the man; got them to disobey God, and to obey him instead. Actually, Satan's objective was to destroy more than the two individuals, but to destroy the family. Destroy the family and you destroy the nation. We are seeing that today.
God's Purpose Continues to Fulfilment
But God cannot be defeated, and He is still at work, and His purpose will be fulfilled. It is for this reason that He created Israel to be a peculiar people, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests; a light to the Gentiles. Out of this nation God incarnated His eternal Son to be Redeemer, Savior, and Lord, and through Him to create a New Humanity.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus, like John before Him, announced that the kingdom of God is at hand, and called on men to Repent, and Believe the Gospel. In His preaching and teaching, the kingdom of God was central. He demonstrated the powers of the kingdom of God in His many miracles, delivering people for the power of Satan.
In the great prayer He taught His disciples, he taught them to pray for the coming of the kingdom of God on this earth. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." God's purpose is, not only that men and women should be like Him, but that earth should be like heaven.
Jesus is building a New People for the accomplishment of God's purpose. He said, "I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." However, throughout its history, the Church of Jesus Christ has failed to be the "One Body, with One Spirit, One Hope; with One Lord, One Faith, One baptism, One God and Father of all." Eph.4: 4-6. It often grows cold, lukewarm, worldly, corrupt, with false doctrine instead of the Truth; even dead. Rev. 2-3
Form time to time God has had to intervene; revive His people, and thrust them forth again to be the witness of His kingdom in the earth, and to transform the nations into His kingdom. We are at such a point in the history of the Church.
Most certainly we are at such a point in the Church in the Caribbean. We have become a very worldly church. We are scandalously divided. We have opened the door to Satan in some parts of the church, and Satan is carrying out his own destructive agenda in the church. We have for a long time been a double-minded people in the church, trying to serve God and the devil at the same time. We cannot condemn nations as being corrupt when we fail to be to the nations, and in the nations, what God raised us up to be. Judgement must begin at the House of God. We are at a very critical point where God may have to judge us very severely, before He raises up A New Church in the Caribbean.
God will no doubt Resurrect a New Church, An Exceeding Great Army in the Caribbean, something that has never been seen in the world before. It will be An Exceeding Great Miracle, but Nothing, Absolutely Nothing is Impossible with God. For this to happen, God's Faithful Remnant in the Caribbean may have to give themselves faithfully to Sacrificial Praying, Intercession and Spiritual Warfare. And, as always, God may need to Raise Up A Man For This Hour in the Caribbean.
The day is coming when the seventh angel will sound his trumpet, and there will be great voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever, and ever." Rev. 11: 15.
Please make this Your Vision, and let it be a Driving Force to Sacrificial Prayer, Intercession, and Spiritual Wafrare, so that the Caribbean Nations will see the Manifestation of the Fulness of the Kingdom of God.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Resurrected Church and the Transformation of the Nations
The Purpose of God:
The purpose of God, and what is called here The Greatest Vision, is the Transformation of the Nations. This is taken from Rev. 11: 15. Among the many visions that the Apostle John had is a vision of Seven Angels with Trumpets. In 11:15, And the Seventh Angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." This is the Lord's Purpose, or His Vision; that the Nations of this world be Transformed and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He, Christ shall reign forever and ever. John has a vision of the final fulfilment of that vision.
The Need.
It is for this purpose that God raises up His Church as an Exceeding Great Army. God works through a Resurrected Church, to Transform the Nations. In the Old Testament, God raised His people for this purpose. The Lord God called Abraham and made a covenant with Abraham. In Gen 12: 3-4, the Lord said to Abraham, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great...and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The history of Israel is one of unfaithfulness to that covenant, and of God raising them up again. In Ezekiel 37, the Lord showed The prophet a picture of His people Israel. They were like a valley of very dry bones; But God showed Ezekiel his purpose to Raise up His people; make them An exceeding Great Army, and how He would accomplish that.
In the New Testament, the Lord raised up A New People - "A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" 1 Pt. 2:9
It is through that people that God accomplishes His purpose in the world. Like Israel of old, the Church has from thime to time been unfaithful, disobedient,worldly, and disqualified itself to accomplish God's purpose. But the Lord has been merciful and has from time to time raised up His Church to move forward with the Lord's vision for the Nations. We are at such a point today. Certainly in the Caribbean, the Church is like a valley of dry bones. Only a Resurrected Church can impact the nations of the Caribbean to transform them into the kingdom of God.
The Task
The Task facing the Resurrected Church is awesome, but it is God at work through the Church. Here are some of the areas in national life upon which the Church must make a major impact.
1. Sex and Marriage
As has been said before, there is widespread sexual lawlessness in the Caribbean. This is the order of the day, and it is getting worse. There appear to be no values governing our sexual conduct. Worse still children are brought forth in this kind of situation. Mothers and grand mothers have to bring up the children because fathers are not there. Many children do not know who their fathers are.
Marriage is not the norm, and many get married for the wrong reasons. In some parts of the Caribbean men and women live together and call themselves husband and wife, though they have not been legally married and cannot produce a marriage certificate. Some men will tell you that there is nothing wrong with having a wife, and having another woman with whom he can spend the night somewhere. The 'living home' sithuation is often blamed by some on what happened in slavery. Slaves were not encouraged to marry. Their families were broken up. Some of the women had illicit relationships with the slave masters and their sons. So it continues. But that is no excuse. This is one area in which the church has failed, and which under God, it must correct.
2. The Family.
The breakdown of the family is a widespread phenomenon. It is so in the Caribbean. Not many stable family units have existed in the Caribbean over the years. We speak of 'family patterns' in the Caribbean, not the 'family.' It is perhaps better to use the term 'household' rather than 'family' for our Caribbean situation. A common thing is to find a household with a mother, and children belonging to several men. Sometimes, not one of the men is there. Some women fall into these traps for economic reasons, others just following the loose trend.
The breakdown of the family leads to other ills. There is no stable parenting of children; hence the quality of life especially among youth deteriorates. The crime rate increases. Domestic violence increases. There is a widespread lack of moral values governing the conduct of people. Children, who themselves need proper education and training, become parents. So children are expected to bring up children.
3. Community
In some of our Caribbean territories, there is a poor sense of community. There is little sense that 'I am my brother's keeper.' Respect for the other as a person; respect or human dignity; thoughtfulness for others; working together for the common good; these values are sadly lacking. There is a pervasive selfishness. Hence, many communities cannot move forward.
4. Culture
The culture in the Caribbean, the general way of life of the people is under attack. There seems to be a deliberate plan afoot to currupt the culture. We are made by our culture. To corrupt the culture is to currupt the people. To destoy the culture is to destroy the people. There is a foreign invasion of Caribbean culture which can only get worse, unless there is a powerful opposing force. The music and lyrics; language; manner of dress; sexuality; education; values; the family; the church; and more, are all experiencing the power of invading, godless forces.
Many classes of technologies exist which can be used for evil purposes. Satanic powers use advances in technology for their evil plans. Financial institutions, newspapers, internet, television, are coming under the control of evil powers for their own agenda. Satanic organizations are increasing in numbers and in their membership, in the Caribbean. Churches are not exempt from the satanic invasion of Caribbean culture. Greed for power and for money, are leading to widespread corruption in our Caribbean nations.
Only God, through A Resurrected Church, can arrest and reverse the trend in the Caribbean.
5. Leadership
For any nation to prosper, it needs sound, godly leadership. Leadership in the Bible is very instructive in its power for good or ill. After the death of Solomon, Rehoboam became king. He rejected the appeal to make things easier for the people than his faher had done. Under the leadership of Jeroboam ten tribes went their own way, and left only two tribes loyal to Rehoboam. Jeroboam became known, and is often referred to as "Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin."
King Mannaseh is perhaps the one who did most to lead the people of God astray. He returned to the worship of pagan gods. He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah had destroyed, for pagan worship,
and the immorality that usually acompanied it. He built altars to foreign gods, even in the temple. He made his sons to pass through the fire, a form of pagan sacrifice, and much more. On one occasion, the Lord showed Ezekiel the satanic practices that were being carried out in the temple in secret. All of this took place after the outstanding reforms carried out by King Josiah.
Satan has a special interest in the leadership of any nation. In the book of Daniel, when Daniel discovered that the time had arrived for his people to return home from captivity, Daniel set himself to pray. God answered Daniel's prayer the very first day he set out to `pray. The Lord sent the angel Gabriel to take to Daniel, the answer to his prayer. It took Gabriel 21 days before he could arrive. Why? Because Gabriel was delayed. He encountered, and was engaged with fierce opposition, by a satanic being called 'the Prince of Persia.' The encounter was so severe that Gabriel had to ask for the Archangel Michael to be sent to assist him.
'The Prince of Persia' is a satanic being assigned to influence the ruler of Persia in every way possible. We must understand that Satan assigns demonic beings to influence the leaders of nations. Obviously, he wants to turn these leaders and their peoples away from God and His righteousness. No Nation is exempt from this satanic plan. That is why the Scripture tells us to pray for those in authority. Let us be aware then, that the leaders of the Caribbean nations are targets of the devil, to get them to do what he wants, not what God wants.
Leaders of churches and other institutions are likewise under satanic attack. This includes parents, leaders of the family. If the church fails to pray for leaders, and to engage and defeat the satanic powers assigned against them, leaders will fail. Nations will be led astray, and miss God's purpose for them.
In the Caribbean today, We Need New Leadership to reclaim these nations for God.
6. Separation of Church and State.
In the Caribbean we have adopted the satanic deception that religion and politics don't mix. Let the parsons keep to their pulpits, and we politicians will keep to out platforms. There is only One God. Politicians and parsons are accountable to that One God. According to our Scripture, Political leaders are ministers of God for good and not for evil; to promote good and punish evil. That is usually reversed. They promote evil and punish good.
It does not follow that parsons and priest should actively engage in political exercises as they are in the Caribbean today. They should not by any means adopt and practice the lifestyle of the world. They should bring kingdom principles and practices to bear on political affairs.
There is a hughe fallacy that we usually hear from politicians. "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Rubbish! In these times, the voice of the people may be more accurately described as the vice of the devil. This fallacy needs to be corrected.
7. Division/Disunity
In our Caribbean nations, we have different types of disunity, all of which need to be addressed and corrected in a Resurrected Church. There is racial/ethnic disunity. There is disunity based on socio-economic status. There is disunity based on colour, There is disunity among people of different denominations. There is fierce disunity based on political allegience. Let's face it. Disunity is not of God. Some people seem to be proud of the disunity which they stand for. It seems, therefore that they are proud of carrying out Satan's agenda. There is a common saying, "Unity is strength." The fact that we can continue in our divisions, shows the extent to which we are influenced by the enemy.
There Cannot Be Disunity in A Resurrected Church. The Lord gave Ezekiel a lesson on this. He gave Ezekiel two sticks and had the prophet join them together as one stick. The two sticks represented the two kingdoms into which His people had been divided. Hear what the Lord said. "I will make them One Nation...One king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations...Ez. 37: 16-28.
8. God of the Nation
Some nations have it written in their constitution that they acknowledge the sovereignty of God. But that is all. It is on paper, not on the hearts and minds of the people. Some don't even know that it is there. The Resurrected Church will impact the nation in such a way that leaders and people alike will acknowledge and confess their acknowledgement of God Alone as the Sovereign and Ruler of the Nation, and will commit themselves to seek His kingdom and His righteousness.
9. Learning From The Fiji Revival.
Perhaps the most astonishing event in the Church in recent times is The Fiji Revival. There are important lessons we can learn from it.
For some time the Fiji Islands had been going through some trials - some of their water had been poisoned. The land was had gone dry and was not producing much. There was not much fish from the sea. The condition in the prisons had deteriorated, and there was much concern. The condition among the tribes was also one of serious concern. It seemed as if God was showing His displeasure in judgement.
But serious, constant prayer for a visitation of God, and for revival was being made. Then in 2000, Revival broke out in Fiji. That Revival is continuing, and is spreading to other nations. God has truly visited this nation. The water has been healed, and is now usable. The land has been restored to fertility, and is producing abundantly. The sea is bringing forth fish in great abundance. Nearly all prisoneers have been converted to Jesus Christ. Whole tribes have been turning to Christ. There has been tremendous impact upon the government. The President, the Prime Minister, and nearly all members of Government have been converted to Jesus. You should hear their personal, public testimony. The spread of the gospel is phenomenal.
Nevertheless, that which is visualized for the Caribbean by the working of God through His Resurrected Church, is far greater than what is taking place in Fiji. Yes, before that Resurrection comes, God may have to judge the Caribbean nations severely. We have rejected Him too often. We have persistently hardened our hearts towards the gospel. We have been unthankful to God for His goodness toward us in these islands. We have been double-minded, trying to serve God and the devil at the same time. That is equal to throwing out God. Some churches have opened their doors wide to Satan. We have practically slapped God in the face.
Nevertheless, if we humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear, and forgive our sins, and heal our land. We have a big problem in our islands. The change must start with the church. Judgement must begin at the house of God. But too many of us think we are too big, too high and mighty, too important, to humble ourselves before God, and confess and repent of our sins. Too many leaders think that the people must repent, but not them.
It must begin with the leadership, whatever their names or titles. Church leaders should read Ezekiel 34. Rev. 2 and 3. are addressed to the leader of each congregation. The 'you' throughout those letters is singular - you pastor; you reverend; you bishop; you prophet; you apostle; you evangelist, you... If you will humble yourself, fall on your face before God; repent of your sins, and cry out to God, the congregation will follow.
May The Lord God Almighty Raise Up A New Church, His Church, the Churh of the Lord Jesus Christ in these Caribbean Islands, and Transform these Island Nations into His Kingdom.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
The purpose of God, and what is called here The Greatest Vision, is the Transformation of the Nations. This is taken from Rev. 11: 15. Among the many visions that the Apostle John had is a vision of Seven Angels with Trumpets. In 11:15, And the Seventh Angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." This is the Lord's Purpose, or His Vision; that the Nations of this world be Transformed and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He, Christ shall reign forever and ever. John has a vision of the final fulfilment of that vision.
The Need.
It is for this purpose that God raises up His Church as an Exceeding Great Army. God works through a Resurrected Church, to Transform the Nations. In the Old Testament, God raised His people for this purpose. The Lord God called Abraham and made a covenant with Abraham. In Gen 12: 3-4, the Lord said to Abraham, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great...and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The history of Israel is one of unfaithfulness to that covenant, and of God raising them up again. In Ezekiel 37, the Lord showed The prophet a picture of His people Israel. They were like a valley of very dry bones; But God showed Ezekiel his purpose to Raise up His people; make them An exceeding Great Army, and how He would accomplish that.
In the New Testament, the Lord raised up A New People - "A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" 1 Pt. 2:9
It is through that people that God accomplishes His purpose in the world. Like Israel of old, the Church has from thime to time been unfaithful, disobedient,worldly, and disqualified itself to accomplish God's purpose. But the Lord has been merciful and has from time to time raised up His Church to move forward with the Lord's vision for the Nations. We are at such a point today. Certainly in the Caribbean, the Church is like a valley of dry bones. Only a Resurrected Church can impact the nations of the Caribbean to transform them into the kingdom of God.
The Task
The Task facing the Resurrected Church is awesome, but it is God at work through the Church. Here are some of the areas in national life upon which the Church must make a major impact.
1. Sex and Marriage
As has been said before, there is widespread sexual lawlessness in the Caribbean. This is the order of the day, and it is getting worse. There appear to be no values governing our sexual conduct. Worse still children are brought forth in this kind of situation. Mothers and grand mothers have to bring up the children because fathers are not there. Many children do not know who their fathers are.
Marriage is not the norm, and many get married for the wrong reasons. In some parts of the Caribbean men and women live together and call themselves husband and wife, though they have not been legally married and cannot produce a marriage certificate. Some men will tell you that there is nothing wrong with having a wife, and having another woman with whom he can spend the night somewhere. The 'living home' sithuation is often blamed by some on what happened in slavery. Slaves were not encouraged to marry. Their families were broken up. Some of the women had illicit relationships with the slave masters and their sons. So it continues. But that is no excuse. This is one area in which the church has failed, and which under God, it must correct.
2. The Family.
The breakdown of the family is a widespread phenomenon. It is so in the Caribbean. Not many stable family units have existed in the Caribbean over the years. We speak of 'family patterns' in the Caribbean, not the 'family.' It is perhaps better to use the term 'household' rather than 'family' for our Caribbean situation. A common thing is to find a household with a mother, and children belonging to several men. Sometimes, not one of the men is there. Some women fall into these traps for economic reasons, others just following the loose trend.
The breakdown of the family leads to other ills. There is no stable parenting of children; hence the quality of life especially among youth deteriorates. The crime rate increases. Domestic violence increases. There is a widespread lack of moral values governing the conduct of people. Children, who themselves need proper education and training, become parents. So children are expected to bring up children.
3. Community
In some of our Caribbean territories, there is a poor sense of community. There is little sense that 'I am my brother's keeper.' Respect for the other as a person; respect or human dignity; thoughtfulness for others; working together for the common good; these values are sadly lacking. There is a pervasive selfishness. Hence, many communities cannot move forward.
4. Culture
The culture in the Caribbean, the general way of life of the people is under attack. There seems to be a deliberate plan afoot to currupt the culture. We are made by our culture. To corrupt the culture is to currupt the people. To destoy the culture is to destroy the people. There is a foreign invasion of Caribbean culture which can only get worse, unless there is a powerful opposing force. The music and lyrics; language; manner of dress; sexuality; education; values; the family; the church; and more, are all experiencing the power of invading, godless forces.
Many classes of technologies exist which can be used for evil purposes. Satanic powers use advances in technology for their evil plans. Financial institutions, newspapers, internet, television, are coming under the control of evil powers for their own agenda. Satanic organizations are increasing in numbers and in their membership, in the Caribbean. Churches are not exempt from the satanic invasion of Caribbean culture. Greed for power and for money, are leading to widespread corruption in our Caribbean nations.
Only God, through A Resurrected Church, can arrest and reverse the trend in the Caribbean.
5. Leadership
For any nation to prosper, it needs sound, godly leadership. Leadership in the Bible is very instructive in its power for good or ill. After the death of Solomon, Rehoboam became king. He rejected the appeal to make things easier for the people than his faher had done. Under the leadership of Jeroboam ten tribes went their own way, and left only two tribes loyal to Rehoboam. Jeroboam became known, and is often referred to as "Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin."
King Mannaseh is perhaps the one who did most to lead the people of God astray. He returned to the worship of pagan gods. He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah had destroyed, for pagan worship,
and the immorality that usually acompanied it. He built altars to foreign gods, even in the temple. He made his sons to pass through the fire, a form of pagan sacrifice, and much more. On one occasion, the Lord showed Ezekiel the satanic practices that were being carried out in the temple in secret. All of this took place after the outstanding reforms carried out by King Josiah.
Satan has a special interest in the leadership of any nation. In the book of Daniel, when Daniel discovered that the time had arrived for his people to return home from captivity, Daniel set himself to pray. God answered Daniel's prayer the very first day he set out to `pray. The Lord sent the angel Gabriel to take to Daniel, the answer to his prayer. It took Gabriel 21 days before he could arrive. Why? Because Gabriel was delayed. He encountered, and was engaged with fierce opposition, by a satanic being called 'the Prince of Persia.' The encounter was so severe that Gabriel had to ask for the Archangel Michael to be sent to assist him.
'The Prince of Persia' is a satanic being assigned to influence the ruler of Persia in every way possible. We must understand that Satan assigns demonic beings to influence the leaders of nations. Obviously, he wants to turn these leaders and their peoples away from God and His righteousness. No Nation is exempt from this satanic plan. That is why the Scripture tells us to pray for those in authority. Let us be aware then, that the leaders of the Caribbean nations are targets of the devil, to get them to do what he wants, not what God wants.
Leaders of churches and other institutions are likewise under satanic attack. This includes parents, leaders of the family. If the church fails to pray for leaders, and to engage and defeat the satanic powers assigned against them, leaders will fail. Nations will be led astray, and miss God's purpose for them.
In the Caribbean today, We Need New Leadership to reclaim these nations for God.
6. Separation of Church and State.
In the Caribbean we have adopted the satanic deception that religion and politics don't mix. Let the parsons keep to their pulpits, and we politicians will keep to out platforms. There is only One God. Politicians and parsons are accountable to that One God. According to our Scripture, Political leaders are ministers of God for good and not for evil; to promote good and punish evil. That is usually reversed. They promote evil and punish good.
It does not follow that parsons and priest should actively engage in political exercises as they are in the Caribbean today. They should not by any means adopt and practice the lifestyle of the world. They should bring kingdom principles and practices to bear on political affairs.
There is a hughe fallacy that we usually hear from politicians. "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Rubbish! In these times, the voice of the people may be more accurately described as the vice of the devil. This fallacy needs to be corrected.
7. Division/Disunity
In our Caribbean nations, we have different types of disunity, all of which need to be addressed and corrected in a Resurrected Church. There is racial/ethnic disunity. There is disunity based on socio-economic status. There is disunity based on colour, There is disunity among people of different denominations. There is fierce disunity based on political allegience. Let's face it. Disunity is not of God. Some people seem to be proud of the disunity which they stand for. It seems, therefore that they are proud of carrying out Satan's agenda. There is a common saying, "Unity is strength." The fact that we can continue in our divisions, shows the extent to which we are influenced by the enemy.
There Cannot Be Disunity in A Resurrected Church. The Lord gave Ezekiel a lesson on this. He gave Ezekiel two sticks and had the prophet join them together as one stick. The two sticks represented the two kingdoms into which His people had been divided. Hear what the Lord said. "I will make them One Nation...One king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations...Ez. 37: 16-28.
8. God of the Nation
Some nations have it written in their constitution that they acknowledge the sovereignty of God. But that is all. It is on paper, not on the hearts and minds of the people. Some don't even know that it is there. The Resurrected Church will impact the nation in such a way that leaders and people alike will acknowledge and confess their acknowledgement of God Alone as the Sovereign and Ruler of the Nation, and will commit themselves to seek His kingdom and His righteousness.
9. Learning From The Fiji Revival.
Perhaps the most astonishing event in the Church in recent times is The Fiji Revival. There are important lessons we can learn from it.
For some time the Fiji Islands had been going through some trials - some of their water had been poisoned. The land was had gone dry and was not producing much. There was not much fish from the sea. The condition in the prisons had deteriorated, and there was much concern. The condition among the tribes was also one of serious concern. It seemed as if God was showing His displeasure in judgement.
But serious, constant prayer for a visitation of God, and for revival was being made. Then in 2000, Revival broke out in Fiji. That Revival is continuing, and is spreading to other nations. God has truly visited this nation. The water has been healed, and is now usable. The land has been restored to fertility, and is producing abundantly. The sea is bringing forth fish in great abundance. Nearly all prisoneers have been converted to Jesus Christ. Whole tribes have been turning to Christ. There has been tremendous impact upon the government. The President, the Prime Minister, and nearly all members of Government have been converted to Jesus. You should hear their personal, public testimony. The spread of the gospel is phenomenal.
Nevertheless, that which is visualized for the Caribbean by the working of God through His Resurrected Church, is far greater than what is taking place in Fiji. Yes, before that Resurrection comes, God may have to judge the Caribbean nations severely. We have rejected Him too often. We have persistently hardened our hearts towards the gospel. We have been unthankful to God for His goodness toward us in these islands. We have been double-minded, trying to serve God and the devil at the same time. That is equal to throwing out God. Some churches have opened their doors wide to Satan. We have practically slapped God in the face.
Nevertheless, if we humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear, and forgive our sins, and heal our land. We have a big problem in our islands. The change must start with the church. Judgement must begin at the house of God. But too many of us think we are too big, too high and mighty, too important, to humble ourselves before God, and confess and repent of our sins. Too many leaders think that the people must repent, but not them.
It must begin with the leadership, whatever their names or titles. Church leaders should read Ezekiel 34. Rev. 2 and 3. are addressed to the leader of each congregation. The 'you' throughout those letters is singular - you pastor; you reverend; you bishop; you prophet; you apostle; you evangelist, you... If you will humble yourself, fall on your face before God; repent of your sins, and cry out to God, the congregation will follow.
May The Lord God Almighty Raise Up A New Church, His Church, the Churh of the Lord Jesus Christ in these Caribbean Islands, and Transform these Island Nations into His Kingdom.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Restoration of the Family
According to Genesis 2, God created the man. From the man He created the woman, and brought her to the man. The man responded with joyful satisfaction -"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man." Adam saw himself in the woman. There is a very important truth here.
Marriage, The Foundation of the Family.
God decided to make a helper suitable for the man. The suitable woman was a woman taken out of the man. She was a woman in whom the man saw himself. As in chapter one, they were both in the image and likeness of God. Adam fully approved of the woman whom God provided for him. Then we have the foundation of marriage as God perceived it and determined that it should be. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."
This is the foundation of the family as God designed it. This is the family which, according to chapter 1: 28, God blesses. This is the family in which the children of the kingdom are to be brought up. This is the family that has dominion in the earth. The family as God designed it is based on marriage.
Marriage is the union by God, of a male and a female who, from God's perspective, are suitable for each other, and whose destiny is ordained by God. Both parties are of God. They are God-given. They are both suitable for each other. God blesses them. He ordains the good of this union. Both parties are in the image and likeness of God. The are to bring forth and bring up the children of the kingdom. They are to have dominion over God's earthly creation and to bring it into subjection; Not over each other.
It is not a male and a female living together. That is not God's design. Both the male and the female are of God. Both of whom are the image and likeness of God. God blesses the union of these two. To these two God Gave power to have dominion in the earth.
To these two God gave the charge to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. That is, these two are to bring up the children of the kingdom. These two were naked and not ashamed. That is, they were clothed in the righteousness of God. These two have the right to be in the garden of God. God is establishing His kingdom in the earth.
Perhaps the most devastating thing to have occurred in the world today, and certainly in the Caribbean is the destruction of the family. There is a widespread and unashamed lawlessness in sexual conduct. Then, increasing numbers of men and women live together, and call themselves man and wife without any legal recognition of their relationship.
Same sex mariages are increasing. Above all, God is left out or thrown out of our relationships, even when we go to the church to receive the blessing of the pastor. Certain organizations have an interest in the destruction of the family as part of their agenda. The destruction of the family is a major part of the destruction of the culture. The media, electronc and otherwise has been playing a major role.
The lack of suitability of many partners in marriage and outside of marriage plays a significant part. We have largely cast out the moral values which made the institutions of sex, marriage, and the famlily strong. In our Social Studies education in the Caribbean we speak of 'Family Patterns.' The ongoing destruction of the family continues to result in a poor quality of personal and social life.
Parenting
Godly Parenting includes far more that bringing forth children. It includes, most of all, bringing up children as children of the kingdom of God. Most children brought forth in the Caribbean are the result of lawless, godless sexuality. Many children are not wanted. Many are unloved. They grow up not knowing what love is. They have never experienced it. This is the root of domestic violence.
Godly parenting begins with children seeing God in their parents, and in the relationship between parents. Children begin learning before they are born. Have you ever noticed how babies keep steering at you? What are they looking at? What do they see? Do they become what they see? Some children want to be like their father or mother. Do they see the image of God in their parents?
That is the beginning of parenting. Children become what they see.
An important factor in parenting is the relationship between parents. What do they see in the relationship between their parents? Do they learn love? They will not be able to verbalize it, but they learn it, and will be able to describe it. Where do boys learn hatred for women? Where does domestic violence begin?
How do parents handle their children? How do they speak to their children? How do they correct their children? All of this goes a long way in shaping the children? Do parents discriminate in dealing with their children? Do they treat some more favorable than others? For instance are parents more fond of their girls than their boys? How do you show love for children?
Here is a survey you might like to do among boys. Ask boys if their father has ever said to them, "I love you." Ask boys, " has your father ever hugged you?" If you get 40% of boy in the Caribbean answering 'Yes' to both questions, that would be highly favourable reflecion on our Caribbean society. How do we expect our men to love, especially to love women, if they have not experienced love themselves?
There is a lot of talk about 'Parenting' these days. It seems to be more talk than anything else. What kind of people are we producing? This is extremely important, because it means 'what kind of nation are we creating.' The family is the womb of the nation. Parenting is about 'bringing up', 'training up' the children of the kingdom as a means of guaranteeing the men and women of the kingdom.
Parenting is about presenting a lifestyle which the children assimmilate, and will manifest. It is about imparting permanent values which will become the foundation of the lives of the people. The family acts as a kind of cell membrane, allowing in those things which are regarded as good and acceptable, and keeping out those things which are unacceptable. This approach is contrary to 'values clarification,' in which there are no permanent values. No permanent values mean no stable society, no stable culture, and no stable personalities.
Parenting is about imparting stable values, and shaping personalities around stable values. In the families of the men and women of the kingdom, parenting is about the shaping of personalities around the values of the kingdom of God, and transmitting those values to succeeding generations.
God, through The Resurrected Church, will Restore the Family as He created it to be, and to fulfil the purpose for which He created it.
Satan's Attack on the Family
There is the kingdom of God. There is also the kingdom of Satan. From the very beginning it has been Satan's plan and purpose to destroy God's purpose. So he attacks the woman, the helper for the man. His aim is to get at the man. Remove the helper and the man must fall. Both of them have disobeyed God and have open themselves up to the devil. Guilt, shame, sin, unrighteousness and all their consequences are brought into the family. From now on the family is a fallen entity that needs to be redeemed.
The First glaring manifestation of this is the murder of Abel by Cain, his brother. Cain became jealous of Abel because his offering to God was unacceptable, and Abel's was. Jealousy to hatred. Hatred is murder, according to the Scripture.
Disbedience of one means obedience of another. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they obeyed Satan instead. They gave Satan power over them. God, their Creator and Sovereign, gave them His law. They had the right to eat of every tree of the garden, except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The devil took advantage of Eve's inaccurate knowledge of God's word. God said, "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat..." Eve said, "of the tree which is in the midst of the garden we must not eat..." There were two trees in the middle of the garden, the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Which tree was Eve referring to?
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to make themselves like God. They were already in the image and likeness of God, what more was he tempting them to crave after? Was he tempting them to make themselves equal with God? Was he tempting them to elevate themselves to a position similar to God's? It seems he was tempting them to do the same thing that he had done, and for which he was thrown out on heaven. The important thing was to get them to cast aside God's commandment. Disobey God, and they would be like God. They fell for Satan's bait. They disobeyed God, and obeyed the devil instead. They thus gave Satan power over them.
This would become the essence of mankind's relationship with God. Always, mankind disobeys God's word, and obeys the devil's lies instead. Notice the devil's use of half truths and deception. these are still his strategies in our time. It is still Satan's plan to destroy the Family. The most effective plan is same sex relationships, including same sex marriage. It is not only a plan to destroy the family, but to destroy mankind as well. This, of course is disobedience of the most outrageous form. It is impossible to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth through same sex relationships. Indeed you rid the earth of mankind.
When pastors marry same sex couples, do they ask God to bless that union? How can God bless what is contrary to His plan? In Gen. 1: 31 we read, "And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good." That was at the end of the sixth day, and includes the creation of man and woman. Can He say the same thing about same sex reationships and same sex union? Are they 'Very Good' to Him?
The Resurrected Church and the Restoration of the Family
The Resurrected Church has a major task of Restoring the Family to its original God Design and Purpose. This means that it must first seek true conversation of men and women to Jesus Christ .
It must give them a vision of the purpose and plan of God to establish His kingdom on the earth. The Resurrected Church must give to men and women the revelation of the place of the Family in God's purpose for the Transformation of the Nations.
New Men and women in Christ, must believe that the family is God's creation, for His purpose, and that God created nations from families. What the nations become depends on the kind of families in them. The New Church must not fail to show from the word of God, that from the beginning and at all aspects of the family, It was God at work. Therefore, in the Restoration of the Family after God's Design, It Must Be So. It is God who must restore the family. It must be God working through His Resurrected church, and working in converted men and women, who must restore the family.
Restoration of the Family includes all aspects of Family. It includes restoration of sex and marriage in line with the righteousness of God. It includes readiness on the part of new men and new women to hear from God. They have to discern what God is saying concerning who is suitable for whom, and who is a suitable helper for whom. The apostolic injunction becomes more critical in this age: "do not be unequally yoked to unbelievers." Then, they must be aware of what is God's calling to each one. The matter of marriage and the family thus becomes a matter of frequent prayer, and a deep relatioship with God.
The Family is Central to the Resurrected Church, as it is to the Nation. Indeed, the Resurrected Church transforms the lifestyle of the culture as far as sex and marriage are concerned. These are seen as the creation of a Holy God for His Purpose. More and more people abandon the loose, lawless lifestyle in which they have lived, and bring their lives into conformity with, and bear witness of the will and purpose of God to the world, and the culture around them. The Church becomes a Church of transformed families.
The most critical thing that can happen in the Caribbean through a Resurrected Church is, The Transformation of the Family - a man who is the image and likeness of God, united by God to a woman who is the image and likeness of God, bringing forth and bringing up children in the image and likeness of God. This family becomes a powerful tool in God's hands to transform neighbourhoods, and communities, using all the means available.
This family is the core from which, under God, godly nations spring. It is from such families that the leaders of the nations come. It is from such families that all the workers, of all classes, in all institutions come. It is such families that experience the blessing of God in abundance. It is such families that can exercise dominion in the earth, and bring all things in subjection. They are indwelt by the Holy Trinity. This is where love is.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Marriage, The Foundation of the Family.
God decided to make a helper suitable for the man. The suitable woman was a woman taken out of the man. She was a woman in whom the man saw himself. As in chapter one, they were both in the image and likeness of God. Adam fully approved of the woman whom God provided for him. Then we have the foundation of marriage as God perceived it and determined that it should be. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."
This is the foundation of the family as God designed it. This is the family which, according to chapter 1: 28, God blesses. This is the family in which the children of the kingdom are to be brought up. This is the family that has dominion in the earth. The family as God designed it is based on marriage.
Marriage is the union by God, of a male and a female who, from God's perspective, are suitable for each other, and whose destiny is ordained by God. Both parties are of God. They are God-given. They are both suitable for each other. God blesses them. He ordains the good of this union. Both parties are in the image and likeness of God. The are to bring forth and bring up the children of the kingdom. They are to have dominion over God's earthly creation and to bring it into subjection; Not over each other.
It is not a male and a female living together. That is not God's design. Both the male and the female are of God. Both of whom are the image and likeness of God. God blesses the union of these two. To these two God Gave power to have dominion in the earth.
To these two God gave the charge to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. That is, these two are to bring up the children of the kingdom. These two were naked and not ashamed. That is, they were clothed in the righteousness of God. These two have the right to be in the garden of God. God is establishing His kingdom in the earth.
Perhaps the most devastating thing to have occurred in the world today, and certainly in the Caribbean is the destruction of the family. There is a widespread and unashamed lawlessness in sexual conduct. Then, increasing numbers of men and women live together, and call themselves man and wife without any legal recognition of their relationship.
Same sex mariages are increasing. Above all, God is left out or thrown out of our relationships, even when we go to the church to receive the blessing of the pastor. Certain organizations have an interest in the destruction of the family as part of their agenda. The destruction of the family is a major part of the destruction of the culture. The media, electronc and otherwise has been playing a major role.
The lack of suitability of many partners in marriage and outside of marriage plays a significant part. We have largely cast out the moral values which made the institutions of sex, marriage, and the famlily strong. In our Social Studies education in the Caribbean we speak of 'Family Patterns.' The ongoing destruction of the family continues to result in a poor quality of personal and social life.
Parenting
Godly Parenting includes far more that bringing forth children. It includes, most of all, bringing up children as children of the kingdom of God. Most children brought forth in the Caribbean are the result of lawless, godless sexuality. Many children are not wanted. Many are unloved. They grow up not knowing what love is. They have never experienced it. This is the root of domestic violence.
Godly parenting begins with children seeing God in their parents, and in the relationship between parents. Children begin learning before they are born. Have you ever noticed how babies keep steering at you? What are they looking at? What do they see? Do they become what they see? Some children want to be like their father or mother. Do they see the image of God in their parents?
That is the beginning of parenting. Children become what they see.
An important factor in parenting is the relationship between parents. What do they see in the relationship between their parents? Do they learn love? They will not be able to verbalize it, but they learn it, and will be able to describe it. Where do boys learn hatred for women? Where does domestic violence begin?
How do parents handle their children? How do they speak to their children? How do they correct their children? All of this goes a long way in shaping the children? Do parents discriminate in dealing with their children? Do they treat some more favorable than others? For instance are parents more fond of their girls than their boys? How do you show love for children?
Here is a survey you might like to do among boys. Ask boys if their father has ever said to them, "I love you." Ask boys, " has your father ever hugged you?" If you get 40% of boy in the Caribbean answering 'Yes' to both questions, that would be highly favourable reflecion on our Caribbean society. How do we expect our men to love, especially to love women, if they have not experienced love themselves?
There is a lot of talk about 'Parenting' these days. It seems to be more talk than anything else. What kind of people are we producing? This is extremely important, because it means 'what kind of nation are we creating.' The family is the womb of the nation. Parenting is about 'bringing up', 'training up' the children of the kingdom as a means of guaranteeing the men and women of the kingdom.
Parenting is about presenting a lifestyle which the children assimmilate, and will manifest. It is about imparting permanent values which will become the foundation of the lives of the people. The family acts as a kind of cell membrane, allowing in those things which are regarded as good and acceptable, and keeping out those things which are unacceptable. This approach is contrary to 'values clarification,' in which there are no permanent values. No permanent values mean no stable society, no stable culture, and no stable personalities.
Parenting is about imparting stable values, and shaping personalities around stable values. In the families of the men and women of the kingdom, parenting is about the shaping of personalities around the values of the kingdom of God, and transmitting those values to succeeding generations.
God, through The Resurrected Church, will Restore the Family as He created it to be, and to fulfil the purpose for which He created it.
Satan's Attack on the Family
There is the kingdom of God. There is also the kingdom of Satan. From the very beginning it has been Satan's plan and purpose to destroy God's purpose. So he attacks the woman, the helper for the man. His aim is to get at the man. Remove the helper and the man must fall. Both of them have disobeyed God and have open themselves up to the devil. Guilt, shame, sin, unrighteousness and all their consequences are brought into the family. From now on the family is a fallen entity that needs to be redeemed.
The First glaring manifestation of this is the murder of Abel by Cain, his brother. Cain became jealous of Abel because his offering to God was unacceptable, and Abel's was. Jealousy to hatred. Hatred is murder, according to the Scripture.
Disbedience of one means obedience of another. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they obeyed Satan instead. They gave Satan power over them. God, their Creator and Sovereign, gave them His law. They had the right to eat of every tree of the garden, except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The devil took advantage of Eve's inaccurate knowledge of God's word. God said, "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat..." Eve said, "of the tree which is in the midst of the garden we must not eat..." There were two trees in the middle of the garden, the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Which tree was Eve referring to?
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to make themselves like God. They were already in the image and likeness of God, what more was he tempting them to crave after? Was he tempting them to make themselves equal with God? Was he tempting them to elevate themselves to a position similar to God's? It seems he was tempting them to do the same thing that he had done, and for which he was thrown out on heaven. The important thing was to get them to cast aside God's commandment. Disobey God, and they would be like God. They fell for Satan's bait. They disobeyed God, and obeyed the devil instead. They thus gave Satan power over them.
This would become the essence of mankind's relationship with God. Always, mankind disobeys God's word, and obeys the devil's lies instead. Notice the devil's use of half truths and deception. these are still his strategies in our time. It is still Satan's plan to destroy the Family. The most effective plan is same sex relationships, including same sex marriage. It is not only a plan to destroy the family, but to destroy mankind as well. This, of course is disobedience of the most outrageous form. It is impossible to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth through same sex relationships. Indeed you rid the earth of mankind.
When pastors marry same sex couples, do they ask God to bless that union? How can God bless what is contrary to His plan? In Gen. 1: 31 we read, "And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good." That was at the end of the sixth day, and includes the creation of man and woman. Can He say the same thing about same sex reationships and same sex union? Are they 'Very Good' to Him?
The Resurrected Church and the Restoration of the Family
The Resurrected Church has a major task of Restoring the Family to its original God Design and Purpose. This means that it must first seek true conversation of men and women to Jesus Christ .
It must give them a vision of the purpose and plan of God to establish His kingdom on the earth. The Resurrected Church must give to men and women the revelation of the place of the Family in God's purpose for the Transformation of the Nations.
New Men and women in Christ, must believe that the family is God's creation, for His purpose, and that God created nations from families. What the nations become depends on the kind of families in them. The New Church must not fail to show from the word of God, that from the beginning and at all aspects of the family, It was God at work. Therefore, in the Restoration of the Family after God's Design, It Must Be So. It is God who must restore the family. It must be God working through His Resurrected church, and working in converted men and women, who must restore the family.
Restoration of the Family includes all aspects of Family. It includes restoration of sex and marriage in line with the righteousness of God. It includes readiness on the part of new men and new women to hear from God. They have to discern what God is saying concerning who is suitable for whom, and who is a suitable helper for whom. The apostolic injunction becomes more critical in this age: "do not be unequally yoked to unbelievers." Then, they must be aware of what is God's calling to each one. The matter of marriage and the family thus becomes a matter of frequent prayer, and a deep relatioship with God.
The Family is Central to the Resurrected Church, as it is to the Nation. Indeed, the Resurrected Church transforms the lifestyle of the culture as far as sex and marriage are concerned. These are seen as the creation of a Holy God for His Purpose. More and more people abandon the loose, lawless lifestyle in which they have lived, and bring their lives into conformity with, and bear witness of the will and purpose of God to the world, and the culture around them. The Church becomes a Church of transformed families.
The most critical thing that can happen in the Caribbean through a Resurrected Church is, The Transformation of the Family - a man who is the image and likeness of God, united by God to a woman who is the image and likeness of God, bringing forth and bringing up children in the image and likeness of God. This family becomes a powerful tool in God's hands to transform neighbourhoods, and communities, using all the means available.
This family is the core from which, under God, godly nations spring. It is from such families that the leaders of the nations come. It is from such families that all the workers, of all classes, in all institutions come. It is such families that experience the blessing of God in abundance. It is such families that can exercise dominion in the earth, and bring all things in subjection. They are indwelt by the Holy Trinity. This is where love is.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
The New Creation
The Resurrected Church is now able to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God with new power. The first direct target struck by this preaching is individual human beings.
1. Transformation of Men
The first significant impact is The Rebirth of Men. In many parts of the Caribbean, men are conspicuous by their absence from the church. For many men, church is something for women and children. Succeeding generations of boys swallow this bait, so that more and more men have become famous by their absence. The Resurrected Church reverses this trend. There will be a massive return of men to the Church.
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5: 17. The impact of the Resurrected Church on men will not be an increase of men attending church services. It will be in the large number of men who are genuinely converted by the power of the gospel. This will be A New Creation. The total man will undergo a total transformation, body, soul, and spirit. This will be nothing less than miraculous.
God must have had a purpose for creating the man first, according to Genesis 2. This is not a matter of superiority of the male to the female. They both are created in the image and likeness of God. Is it that the man has a position of leadership, responsibility, and accountability? 'Adam, Where are you?' Here, it is not so much a matter that the man is first in conversion, but that the man has abandoned his place in the purpose of God, and must be fully restored to that role.
It is a matter of the restoration of men to all that God created them to be, and to do. It seems that the enemy is fully aware of the purpose for which God created the man, and he is determined to keep men away from that divine purpose. What the enemy was doing in the temptation of Eve was to get at the man through the woman. God will reverse all the enemy's plan to defeat the man.
The restoration of men in the image and likeness of God is essential for the realization of His kindgom on the earth. St. Paul in Rom. 3:23 say, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Through the Resurrected Church, God will restore mankind to the fulness of the glory of God in which he was created. God will look at men and be well pleased. God will see His righteousness in man.
2. Emergence of A New Womanhood.
God working through the Resurrected Church will bring about A New Womanhood.
This will be a woman of equal standing before God as the man. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Gen. 1: 27. the Lord God formed the woman out of the man. Gen. 2: 18, 21-23. So the woman is of the same nature as the man, and of the same dignity.
Notice that God blessed them both and gave them both dominion in the earth. There is no biblical justification for treating women as inferior to men, or for assigning to women positions or tasks which are 'inferior' to those given to men. The concept of inferiority seems foreign to the creative purpose of God. Nor does it seem acceptable in the kingdom of God. St. Paul points out that the common cultural distinctions which we make between male and female do not apply with those who are in Christ Jesus. Gal.3:28.
But God has given to woman a unique and awesome responsibility - to be helper for the man. We in the Caribbean who grow bananas are accustomed with the practice of using props to hold up plants which would otherwise fall. Take away the prop; the plant falls, and the fruits are no doubt destroyed. Take away a man's God given woman, and the man falls. That is what Satan tried to do in the Genesis story. His plan was to take away man's helper and so bring about man's downfall. And he succeeded. Now God has to redeem, and restore both male and female.
In what way is woman made to be helper for man? Briefly put, it means that
the woman must help the man to be and to become all that God wants him to be. It also means that the woman must help the man to do all that God wants him to do. Now this is awesome. It means that the woman must know what God wants the man to be, and she must know what God wants the man to do. But the woman cannot do these things unless she herself is the image and likeness of God.
So God, through the Resurrected Church so transforms the woman, and restores the fulness of His image in her,that she is able to perform this awesome task. She can only be helper for the man if the image and likeness of God are restored in her. Otherwise she cannot be helper for man. Otherwise, the man must fall.
Men and women can only have the fulness of the image and likeness of God restored in them if they are in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in them. This depends on their response to the gospel proclaimed by the Resurrected Church, and the ministry of the Church equipping them for their calling.
Through the Resurrected Church, God transforms men and women as a new creation in Christ Jesus; filled with the fulness of God; holy as He is holy; complete in Christ Jesus. Everything else depends on this, whether it has to do with the family, the community, the culture, the nation and above all, to the kingdom of God.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
1. Transformation of Men
The first significant impact is The Rebirth of Men. In many parts of the Caribbean, men are conspicuous by their absence from the church. For many men, church is something for women and children. Succeeding generations of boys swallow this bait, so that more and more men have become famous by their absence. The Resurrected Church reverses this trend. There will be a massive return of men to the Church.
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5: 17. The impact of the Resurrected Church on men will not be an increase of men attending church services. It will be in the large number of men who are genuinely converted by the power of the gospel. This will be A New Creation. The total man will undergo a total transformation, body, soul, and spirit. This will be nothing less than miraculous.
God must have had a purpose for creating the man first, according to Genesis 2. This is not a matter of superiority of the male to the female. They both are created in the image and likeness of God. Is it that the man has a position of leadership, responsibility, and accountability? 'Adam, Where are you?' Here, it is not so much a matter that the man is first in conversion, but that the man has abandoned his place in the purpose of God, and must be fully restored to that role.
It is a matter of the restoration of men to all that God created them to be, and to do. It seems that the enemy is fully aware of the purpose for which God created the man, and he is determined to keep men away from that divine purpose. What the enemy was doing in the temptation of Eve was to get at the man through the woman. God will reverse all the enemy's plan to defeat the man.
The restoration of men in the image and likeness of God is essential for the realization of His kindgom on the earth. St. Paul in Rom. 3:23 say, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Through the Resurrected Church, God will restore mankind to the fulness of the glory of God in which he was created. God will look at men and be well pleased. God will see His righteousness in man.
2. Emergence of A New Womanhood.
God working through the Resurrected Church will bring about A New Womanhood.
This will be a woman of equal standing before God as the man. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Gen. 1: 27. the Lord God formed the woman out of the man. Gen. 2: 18, 21-23. So the woman is of the same nature as the man, and of the same dignity.
Notice that God blessed them both and gave them both dominion in the earth. There is no biblical justification for treating women as inferior to men, or for assigning to women positions or tasks which are 'inferior' to those given to men. The concept of inferiority seems foreign to the creative purpose of God. Nor does it seem acceptable in the kingdom of God. St. Paul points out that the common cultural distinctions which we make between male and female do not apply with those who are in Christ Jesus. Gal.3:28.
But God has given to woman a unique and awesome responsibility - to be helper for the man. We in the Caribbean who grow bananas are accustomed with the practice of using props to hold up plants which would otherwise fall. Take away the prop; the plant falls, and the fruits are no doubt destroyed. Take away a man's God given woman, and the man falls. That is what Satan tried to do in the Genesis story. His plan was to take away man's helper and so bring about man's downfall. And he succeeded. Now God has to redeem, and restore both male and female.
In what way is woman made to be helper for man? Briefly put, it means that
the woman must help the man to be and to become all that God wants him to be. It also means that the woman must help the man to do all that God wants him to do. Now this is awesome. It means that the woman must know what God wants the man to be, and she must know what God wants the man to do. But the woman cannot do these things unless she herself is the image and likeness of God.
So God, through the Resurrected Church so transforms the woman, and restores the fulness of His image in her,that she is able to perform this awesome task. She can only be helper for the man if the image and likeness of God are restored in her. Otherwise she cannot be helper for man. Otherwise, the man must fall.
Men and women can only have the fulness of the image and likeness of God restored in them if they are in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in them. This depends on their response to the gospel proclaimed by the Resurrected Church, and the ministry of the Church equipping them for their calling.
Through the Resurrected Church, God transforms men and women as a new creation in Christ Jesus; filled with the fulness of God; holy as He is holy; complete in Christ Jesus. Everything else depends on this, whether it has to do with the family, the community, the culture, the nation and above all, to the kingdom of God.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Resurrection of The Caribbean Church
If we go back to the arrival of Chrisopher Columbus, we may say that the Church has been in the Caribbean for over 500 years. For about half of that time there have been Protestant and Evangelical churches in the region.
I. The State of the Church in the Caribbean Today.
What is the state of that church today? How Does God see the Church in our region today? How does the church in our area stand up to the New Testament Expectations of the Church?
1. The Church in the Caribbean is Sadly Divided. There are so many names; so many denominations; so many varieties of Doctrine; so many unrelated ministries, and, so many authorities, that the idea of One Church seems far-retched and unreal. Can we describe what we have in the Caribbean today as the Church which the Lord Jesus Christ is building, against which the gates of hell cannot pervail? Is the Lord well pleased, or is He grieved with what exists in our area?
2. Many of the members of the 'churches' in our area are unsaved. They know nothing of the saving grace of God. And there is scarcely any challenge to them to be saved.
3. Many members are part-saved, and are content that they are part-saved. They are born again, they can testify. Their spirits which were dead in trespasses and sins have been brought to life. But their souls, their personalities have not been transformed by the renewing of their minds. And
their bodies have not been offered up to God as a living sacrifice. This is bound to give rise to nany problems in the Church.
4. Some churches have opened the door to Satan. Witchcraft has been in churches in the Caribbean for generations, and it is more so now. Satanic, secret societies can be found in some churches. Double-mindedness by which people try to serve God and serve the devil at the same time persists.
5. It is often difficult to tell the difference between the church and the world. Not that the world is like the church, but that the church is like the world.
6. There is too much self-interest and self-glorification in some churches. Ministries exist in some churches more to serve the desire of men for glory, than to serve the purpose for which ministries are given to the church.
7. There is too much shallowness in our Caribbean Christianity. We do not come anywhere near to being filled with all the fulness of God, or growing up to a perfect man.
8. We cannot claim to be A Victorious Church. We cannot rejoice that the Glory of God is among us.
9. There is a serious lack of 'The Mind of Christ.' We cannot say with St. Paul, 'We Have the Mind o Christ.' Love, the Forgiving spirit, humility are woefully lacking.
10. We are afraid to look at ourselves. We are afraid to repent.
11. Some churches have virtually shut out the Holy Spirit and are operating by human skills, human abilities, and human ingenuities.
12. We cannot confidently confess that we are a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
13. We seem to be a people without vision. "Where there is no vision, the people, society and nations perish."
II. There is An Urgent Need for God to Intervene
The need for God to intervene in our Caribbean Situation is Exceedingly Urgent. Nothing else can save and transform Caribbean society and Caribbean nations. God needs to humble the Nebuchadnezzers exalting themselves in the Caribbean nations, until they learn that the Lord God rules in the kingdoms of men and give it to whomsoever He will.
The walls of Jericho which Caribbean peoples and nations have built up to enclose themselves in their systems and ideas must be broken down, and Caribbean nations and societies made open so that God can move freely among the people, instead of the godless elements which are invading our sosieties and destroying our people.
God may first have to teach us by severe judgement, that there is no other way to bring righteousness, peace, and joy to the people of the Caribbean but by raising up His Church, and by working through His Resurrected Church to Transform the Nations.
III. God Needs A Man For This Hour in the Caribbean
God needs to raise up a man for this hour, to speak His Word to the Caribbean people. Such a man must be a prophetic man, saturated with the Word of God. He must be filled with, and totally controlled by the Holy Spirit. He must be prepared to speak the word of God no matter what the response of the people. He must be prepared to come against a stubborn, stiff-necked, and heard-hearted people.
He must have no illusions about the condition to which the church has fallen, and he must have the faith that though, humanly speaking things look impossible, with God all things are possible. He must have Great Faith. He Must be a priestly man, given to prayer, intercession, and spiritual warfare for his people. He must be prepared to be a watchman for his people; who sees, and knows the great dangers coming at them and warns them.
He must faithfully proclaim the Gospel in all its fulness. He must be prepared to be uncompromising in his proclamation of Jesus Christ in all the fulness of His Deity and His Humanity. He does not seek his own glory, but like Jesus he takes the form a servant; humbles himself, and is obedient to God alone no matter what the cost.
Have you ever wondered how is it that there are great 'moves of God' jn different parts of the world, but nothing seems to be happening in the Caribbean? Is it that God's time to intervene has not yet come, or is it that we are delaying God's intervention?
God is looking for a man.
IV. What Will A Resurrected Caribbean Church Be Like?
1. It will be A United Church, Eph. 4:3-5. not the splintered, man-made denominations that exist today. Christ has One Body.
2. The Glory of the Lord will be permanently present within His Church.
3. The Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ will be greatly manifested. This Church will have and will manifest the Mind, and the nature of Christ, incarnate inits members.
4. It will be A People, Holy with the Holiness of God, manifesting the fulness of the nature of God, uncontaminated by the world. The Fulness of God will be manifested in the Church.
5. The Holy Spirit will be the power at work in the church. His Gifts and His Fruit will be abundantly manifested.
6. It will be a Victorious Church-A Mighty Army against which the gates of Hell will not prevail.
7. The Resurrected Church will operate by the Word of God,by the Spirit of God, by The will of God, and by the Authority of God. The will of God will be perfectly obeyed.
8. The Resurrected Church will be blessed by the Indwelling Holy Trinity.
9. The Resurrected Church will do the works of Christ, and Greater works than Jesus did.
10. God Power will flow from the Resurrected Church, bringing life to all it touches.
11. The world, the nations will run to this Church, drawn by the power of God at work in it. Multitudes of the enemies of Jesus Christ and of His Church will be converted.
12. The Family will be restored by the impact of the Resurrected Church, based on sex and marriage after God's design; and bringing up the children of the kingdom of God. The image and likeness of God will be seen.
13. The Resurrected Church will impact and Transform the Nations at all levels. It will Transform the culture into the culture of the kingdom of God. It will raise up New Leadership for the Nations.
14. Church and Nation will be subject to the Sovereignty of God. God will be All, and In All.
IV. How Can Such A Church Come Into Being?
Is there any part that we can play in bringing such a Church into Being?
True Christian Believers in the Caribbean Must:
1. Give themselves unceasingly to Prayer, Intercession, and Spiritual Warfare in the heavenlies against all the powers of darkness opposing the purpose of God, and bringing the will of God into manifestation.
2. True Christian Believers Must Give themselves to Saturating themselves with The Word of God and with God's Will and Vision for His Church given in the Bible.
3. True Christian believers in the Caribbean Must be prepared to make the Sacrifice of Fasting For This Cause.
Without the Resurrection of The Church in the Caribbean, and God working through that Resurrected Church to fulfil His Purpose, Caribbean Nations are Doomed.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
I. The State of the Church in the Caribbean Today.
What is the state of that church today? How Does God see the Church in our region today? How does the church in our area stand up to the New Testament Expectations of the Church?
1. The Church in the Caribbean is Sadly Divided. There are so many names; so many denominations; so many varieties of Doctrine; so many unrelated ministries, and, so many authorities, that the idea of One Church seems far-retched and unreal. Can we describe what we have in the Caribbean today as the Church which the Lord Jesus Christ is building, against which the gates of hell cannot pervail? Is the Lord well pleased, or is He grieved with what exists in our area?
2. Many of the members of the 'churches' in our area are unsaved. They know nothing of the saving grace of God. And there is scarcely any challenge to them to be saved.
3. Many members are part-saved, and are content that they are part-saved. They are born again, they can testify. Their spirits which were dead in trespasses and sins have been brought to life. But their souls, their personalities have not been transformed by the renewing of their minds. And
their bodies have not been offered up to God as a living sacrifice. This is bound to give rise to nany problems in the Church.
4. Some churches have opened the door to Satan. Witchcraft has been in churches in the Caribbean for generations, and it is more so now. Satanic, secret societies can be found in some churches. Double-mindedness by which people try to serve God and serve the devil at the same time persists.
5. It is often difficult to tell the difference between the church and the world. Not that the world is like the church, but that the church is like the world.
6. There is too much self-interest and self-glorification in some churches. Ministries exist in some churches more to serve the desire of men for glory, than to serve the purpose for which ministries are given to the church.
7. There is too much shallowness in our Caribbean Christianity. We do not come anywhere near to being filled with all the fulness of God, or growing up to a perfect man.
8. We cannot claim to be A Victorious Church. We cannot rejoice that the Glory of God is among us.
9. There is a serious lack of 'The Mind of Christ.' We cannot say with St. Paul, 'We Have the Mind o Christ.' Love, the Forgiving spirit, humility are woefully lacking.
10. We are afraid to look at ourselves. We are afraid to repent.
11. Some churches have virtually shut out the Holy Spirit and are operating by human skills, human abilities, and human ingenuities.
12. We cannot confidently confess that we are a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
13. We seem to be a people without vision. "Where there is no vision, the people, society and nations perish."
II. There is An Urgent Need for God to Intervene
The need for God to intervene in our Caribbean Situation is Exceedingly Urgent. Nothing else can save and transform Caribbean society and Caribbean nations. God needs to humble the Nebuchadnezzers exalting themselves in the Caribbean nations, until they learn that the Lord God rules in the kingdoms of men and give it to whomsoever He will.
The walls of Jericho which Caribbean peoples and nations have built up to enclose themselves in their systems and ideas must be broken down, and Caribbean nations and societies made open so that God can move freely among the people, instead of the godless elements which are invading our sosieties and destroying our people.
God may first have to teach us by severe judgement, that there is no other way to bring righteousness, peace, and joy to the people of the Caribbean but by raising up His Church, and by working through His Resurrected Church to Transform the Nations.
III. God Needs A Man For This Hour in the Caribbean
God needs to raise up a man for this hour, to speak His Word to the Caribbean people. Such a man must be a prophetic man, saturated with the Word of God. He must be filled with, and totally controlled by the Holy Spirit. He must be prepared to speak the word of God no matter what the response of the people. He must be prepared to come against a stubborn, stiff-necked, and heard-hearted people.
He must have no illusions about the condition to which the church has fallen, and he must have the faith that though, humanly speaking things look impossible, with God all things are possible. He must have Great Faith. He Must be a priestly man, given to prayer, intercession, and spiritual warfare for his people. He must be prepared to be a watchman for his people; who sees, and knows the great dangers coming at them and warns them.
He must faithfully proclaim the Gospel in all its fulness. He must be prepared to be uncompromising in his proclamation of Jesus Christ in all the fulness of His Deity and His Humanity. He does not seek his own glory, but like Jesus he takes the form a servant; humbles himself, and is obedient to God alone no matter what the cost.
Have you ever wondered how is it that there are great 'moves of God' jn different parts of the world, but nothing seems to be happening in the Caribbean? Is it that God's time to intervene has not yet come, or is it that we are delaying God's intervention?
God is looking for a man.
IV. What Will A Resurrected Caribbean Church Be Like?
1. It will be A United Church, Eph. 4:3-5. not the splintered, man-made denominations that exist today. Christ has One Body.
2. The Glory of the Lord will be permanently present within His Church.
3. The Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ will be greatly manifested. This Church will have and will manifest the Mind, and the nature of Christ, incarnate inits members.
4. It will be A People, Holy with the Holiness of God, manifesting the fulness of the nature of God, uncontaminated by the world. The Fulness of God will be manifested in the Church.
5. The Holy Spirit will be the power at work in the church. His Gifts and His Fruit will be abundantly manifested.
6. It will be a Victorious Church-A Mighty Army against which the gates of Hell will not prevail.
7. The Resurrected Church will operate by the Word of God,by the Spirit of God, by The will of God, and by the Authority of God. The will of God will be perfectly obeyed.
8. The Resurrected Church will be blessed by the Indwelling Holy Trinity.
9. The Resurrected Church will do the works of Christ, and Greater works than Jesus did.
10. God Power will flow from the Resurrected Church, bringing life to all it touches.
11. The world, the nations will run to this Church, drawn by the power of God at work in it. Multitudes of the enemies of Jesus Christ and of His Church will be converted.
12. The Family will be restored by the impact of the Resurrected Church, based on sex and marriage after God's design; and bringing up the children of the kingdom of God. The image and likeness of God will be seen.
13. The Resurrected Church will impact and Transform the Nations at all levels. It will Transform the culture into the culture of the kingdom of God. It will raise up New Leadership for the Nations.
14. Church and Nation will be subject to the Sovereignty of God. God will be All, and In All.
IV. How Can Such A Church Come Into Being?
Is there any part that we can play in bringing such a Church into Being?
True Christian Believers in the Caribbean Must:
1. Give themselves unceasingly to Prayer, Intercession, and Spiritual Warfare in the heavenlies against all the powers of darkness opposing the purpose of God, and bringing the will of God into manifestation.
2. True Christian Believers Must Give themselves to Saturating themselves with The Word of God and with God's Will and Vision for His Church given in the Bible.
3. True Christian believers in the Caribbean Must be prepared to make the Sacrifice of Fasting For This Cause.
Without the Resurrection of The Church in the Caribbean, and God working through that Resurrected Church to fulfil His Purpose, Caribbean Nations are Doomed.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Resurrected Church
Throughout its history, the Church has gone through periods of 'death and resurrection.' The prophet Ezekiel presents a dramaic picture of God's fallen people, The Old Testament Church, and of God's plan to Resurrect His defeated people as An Exceeding Great Army.
Why Had God's People Been Defeated?
God's people had been defeated because of their outrageous disobedience. They had fallen back into paganism of the worst kind. They had gone back into idolatry, worshipping many pagan gods. They built again high places for pagan worship. They built pagan altars. They worshipped the hosts of heaven. Pagan altars were built in the house of the Lord. They made sacrifices to pagan gods. They practiced witchcraft. Under king Manasseh, God's people fell lower than they had ever been, into paganism and idolatry. Moreover, they had become hard-hearted, stiff-necked, and stubborn, and would not respond to God's appeal.
God's Judgement on His People
As a result of all this, The Lord brought the Babylonians against His people. The great city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed. The walls were destroyed. The Temple was destroyed. The palace and all the notable buildings were destroyed. The king and all the royal household; all the important people, and most of the population were carried away into Babylon as captives. Only a few were left behind. In Babylon, many of them developed a sense of hopelessness. 'How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' They asked.
The Resurrection of God's People
Ezekiel, God's Man for the Hour
God had a purpose that could not fail. For that purpose to succeed, God must Raise up His people again. To Raise up His people, God must have a man through whom He could work. God chose Ezekiel. He was a man of extraordinary faith. He was filled with, and controlled by the Holy Spiit.
He was conscious of the awesome presence of God, and had seen the Glory of God. He was filled with the word of God. He was fearless; a watchman for the people. He was a priest, and a prophet; a man among the people.
The Valley of Dry Bones Ez. 37.
The Lord took Ezekiel down into a valley. It was full of bones. The Lord caused Ezekiel to pass by them, no doubt to take a good look at them. Ezekiel observed that there were many in the open valley, and they were very dry. The Lord was showing Ezekiel the condition of His people. In verse 11, the Lord tells Ezekiel, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel..." Spiritually, they had been long dead.
Then the Lord asked Ezekiel "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel answered, "O Lord God, thou knowest." Who has ever heard of dead, dry bones coming to life? Humanly speaking, that is impossible. But with You, Lord, nothing is impossible.
The Lord now proceeds to show Ezekiel how those dead, dry bones could be brought to life, and raised up, An Exceeding Great Army. So the Lord said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord...vv. 3-8. So Ezekiel, prophesied. He spoke the word of the Lord. Notice, the Lord Himself did not speak to the bones. He commanded Ezekiel to do so, and He gave Ezekiel the words he should speak. So Ezekiel spoke, and as he spoke, there was noise and shaking in the valley. Bones came together; the sinews, and the flesh came upon them; and skin covered them. There were bodies, but there was no breath in them, Bodies without Life!
Next, the Lord said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, prophesy to the wind... and say...Thus saith the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live." So Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, An Exceeding Great Army."
God's dead people were Resurrected as a great Army, by his Creative Word and by the power of the Omnipotent Holy Spirit, spoken by a man filled with that word and empowered by that Spirit.
What Kind of People Was This?
When we read through the rest of the book of Ezekiel, from chapter 37 to chapter 48, we find a number of characteristics of the Resurrected People of God, which are important as we consider the Church today.
They were: a United people; a Holy people; a Covenant People; A Life-giving People; a People to Whom the Nations Came; the Glory of the Lord was among them; they had New Leadership; they had a New Temple and a New Priesthood; The City was given A New Name - Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There. They were an entirely new people. The old ways had vanished. All things had become new.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
Why Had God's People Been Defeated?
God's people had been defeated because of their outrageous disobedience. They had fallen back into paganism of the worst kind. They had gone back into idolatry, worshipping many pagan gods. They built again high places for pagan worship. They built pagan altars. They worshipped the hosts of heaven. Pagan altars were built in the house of the Lord. They made sacrifices to pagan gods. They practiced witchcraft. Under king Manasseh, God's people fell lower than they had ever been, into paganism and idolatry. Moreover, they had become hard-hearted, stiff-necked, and stubborn, and would not respond to God's appeal.
God's Judgement on His People
As a result of all this, The Lord brought the Babylonians against His people. The great city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed. The walls were destroyed. The Temple was destroyed. The palace and all the notable buildings were destroyed. The king and all the royal household; all the important people, and most of the population were carried away into Babylon as captives. Only a few were left behind. In Babylon, many of them developed a sense of hopelessness. 'How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' They asked.
The Resurrection of God's People
Ezekiel, God's Man for the Hour
God had a purpose that could not fail. For that purpose to succeed, God must Raise up His people again. To Raise up His people, God must have a man through whom He could work. God chose Ezekiel. He was a man of extraordinary faith. He was filled with, and controlled by the Holy Spiit.
He was conscious of the awesome presence of God, and had seen the Glory of God. He was filled with the word of God. He was fearless; a watchman for the people. He was a priest, and a prophet; a man among the people.
The Valley of Dry Bones Ez. 37.
The Lord took Ezekiel down into a valley. It was full of bones. The Lord caused Ezekiel to pass by them, no doubt to take a good look at them. Ezekiel observed that there were many in the open valley, and they were very dry. The Lord was showing Ezekiel the condition of His people. In verse 11, the Lord tells Ezekiel, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel..." Spiritually, they had been long dead.
Then the Lord asked Ezekiel "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel answered, "O Lord God, thou knowest." Who has ever heard of dead, dry bones coming to life? Humanly speaking, that is impossible. But with You, Lord, nothing is impossible.
The Lord now proceeds to show Ezekiel how those dead, dry bones could be brought to life, and raised up, An Exceeding Great Army. So the Lord said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord...vv. 3-8. So Ezekiel, prophesied. He spoke the word of the Lord. Notice, the Lord Himself did not speak to the bones. He commanded Ezekiel to do so, and He gave Ezekiel the words he should speak. So Ezekiel spoke, and as he spoke, there was noise and shaking in the valley. Bones came together; the sinews, and the flesh came upon them; and skin covered them. There were bodies, but there was no breath in them, Bodies without Life!
Next, the Lord said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, prophesy to the wind... and say...Thus saith the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live." So Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, An Exceeding Great Army."
God's dead people were Resurrected as a great Army, by his Creative Word and by the power of the Omnipotent Holy Spirit, spoken by a man filled with that word and empowered by that Spirit.
What Kind of People Was This?
When we read through the rest of the book of Ezekiel, from chapter 37 to chapter 48, we find a number of characteristics of the Resurrected People of God, which are important as we consider the Church today.
They were: a United people; a Holy people; a Covenant People; A Life-giving People; a People to Whom the Nations Came; the Glory of the Lord was among them; they had New Leadership; they had a New Temple and a New Priesthood; The City was given A New Name - Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There. They were an entirely new people. The old ways had vanished. All things had become new.
Contact: Martin C. Roberts
Rose Hill, Marigot, Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Tel. 1-767-613-2201
Email: sendlight@hotmail.com
Copyright@Martin Roberts, Transformation of the Nations
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