Power and wisdom are directly and proportionately related to innocence.

We may have read many times Mat 10:16 NIV, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Or in the KJV, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. I have always noticed the contrast of being as wise or shrewd as a snake and as innocent or harmless as a dove and never before understood the relationship of these things.

Power and wisdom of God come to the innocent.

The harmless and innocent ones will hear and receive wisdom and revelation to function powerfully (shrewdly) in this perverse world. Only the innocent and harmless can be trusted with the great secrets of power and strategy from God. Only the innocent sheep can have the shrewd wisdom to deal with the wolves of this world and not become contaminated by the ways of the wicked.

The Body of Christ is now beginning to awaken to the potential power of purity. Our innocence will become the source of power to fuel the great revolution bringing an end to man centered and devil enhanced religious systems of the world.

Now is the time to seek Him with our whole heart and to lay down quickly those things He brings to our attention. We must enter collectively in the power of all in unity corporately to experience the glorious presence of God that changes us from glory to glory. We are becoming more like Him and He shall roar out of Zion in the unlimited power of innocence. The world is waiting and groaning for you and me and an army of young people to become innocent and harmless that we may be wise and shrewd -- the innocent army of God bringing a revolution of reformation establishing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

From positional righteousness to real purity of innocence.

My heart was broken because of my sinful condition when as a young man of twenty one I encountered the saving grace of our Lord Jesus. My heart's desire was to be different, to be like Him and to be pleasing in His sight. Some things about me did change very quickly. I felt very bad every time a curse word leaked out of my mouth from my not yet renewed mind and soon I was mostly free of that profane habit. Yet many other things within and about me were not like Him.

My concerns about my debauchery were greatly eased by theological teachings of positional righteousness. Basically I was taught that my depravity was normal and that my disgraceful unholy inner life was covered by the blood of Jesus. Everyone was a sinner and now I was a saved sinner and would be in heaven because of what Jesus had done on the cross for me. My position was that of now being seated at the right hand of God with Christ, redeemed by the blood. When God looked at me He did not see my sinfulness but the righteousness of Christ. Certainly, I was to try to do my best but I could never expect to overcome sin in this life because of my sin nature. We all are sinners only some are saved sinners and some are lost sinners.

According to this teaching I was positionally innocent before God because Jesus had died for me and my sins past, present, and future were under the blood of Jesus. Because I believed in Jesus as the Son of God and had received Him as saviour I was secure and could not be plucked from His hand. Yet, my experience continued to be a roller coaster type of spiritual ups and sinful downs. Although I sought diligently to hide my lust and to overcome sinful habits and addictions my life was a battle of bitter frustration. Zealousness characterized my life. I fought hard against my own inner impurities and was severely harsh against sin in others.

I taught Sunday School, became an elder in the church, attended Bible College, began preaching, witnessed in the streets, and visited for the church. Yet, in all my zealousness, impurities remained within my own heart. I was not innocent and harmless as a dove and often wondered how and why most everyone close to me seemed to get hurt or offended by me. The intent of my heart was pure but it is from the abundance of the heart that the life speaks. (Luke 6:45)

Like many others around the world, My soul cried out, "there must be more."

 The "more" has now come. The outpouring of the Spirit has brought power from God to change our inner being to eradicate our sinful ways and fill us with His purity and power. No longer must we suffer in frustration as sin takes its toll upon the strength and glory of God within our souls. Freedom is upon us as the spiritual outpouring of God is bringing revival to our souls and reformation to the blessed Body of Christ who is becoming His purified Bride. No longer must we attempt to replace our lack of spiritual power with soulish zealousness. (Rom 10:2-3)

We can now be filled with the power of His presence cleansing our hearts and destroying our desire for the old ways. No longer are we focused upon our own lives and filled with needs. His love flowing in and through us is making us innocent and harmless. His presence has so filled us that we have no frustrating needs but are filled with abundant life to flow to others.

No longer must we devise doctrines to make room for our sinful hearts. Christ is not just a covering for our sin filled heart. Now, when God looks at us He can look directly into a pure heart filled with the innocence and glory of Christ Himself. The reality of God has come and the shadows are passing away.

The army of God is being formed. Pure hearts of ordinary believers have become the temple of God on earth and the attributes of God are becoming a reality in the innocent and harmless people of God's army. Truly nothing is impossible as pure hearts are filled with great faith and ability to know God and discern His will. Clearly receiving His instruction and having the faith to act upon it provides unlimited power to accomplish the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.

The outpouring of God coming forth in spots around the world in this time is not just for the purpose of our having a Holy Ghost party. The joy of the Lord is real and the excitement of miracles and manifestations along with the awesome praise and worship music are indeed producing many occasions of gloriously wonderful gatherings. The many testimonies of miracles and healing of bodies and lives is exciting. The stories told by those being saved and delivered as well as those returning to the Lord after straying away are uplifting. All of this is joyful and is indeed a part of the purpose for the great outpouring of God in the world today. But, if it does not lead to inner purity and innocence, God's purpose is not fulfilled. If we can experience God and His blessings and still leave the gathering to return to our old thought patterns and our old ways of doing and being, God's purpose is not yet fulfilled. If our lifestyle continues to be mixed with the spirit of the world, we are missing the purpose of God.

This is a new day for the church. The church that taught us self improvement, self love, prosperity for the sake of our blessing and tolerance for our sinful lifestyles is now over. The twelve o'clock whistle has blown, the final amen has been said and the entire church has gone to lunch. We must come to the realization that church as usual is over and is not coming back. Yes, many will hang on to the man centered gospel and the old ways of the church until they themselves pass away in the wilderness. Many will continue to carry forth the empty traditions of the past until they breathe their last natural breath. They have already breathed their last spiritual breath and are only waiting to die in their wilderness experience while seeking to prevent others from entering the promised land.

These are our spiritual mothers and fathers and there is a reality of honor for them. Yet, we must hate their ways and the ungodly part of the things they have taught us and demanded that we continue. Is this a part of what Jesus meant when He said in Luke 14:26 that we could not be His disciple if we did not hate our father and mother? We know that we are not to hate the church or our parents. But we must hate what they are saying to us that prevents us from going on with Jesus and being a part of what He is doing in this day. We must hate the encouragement to continue in our mixed ways of inner impurity and tolerance for sin. We must hate the thing that continues to tell us that we are doing well when inside we are filled with death and are not concerned about living a truly consecrated life unto the Lord.

Just as long as we are reasonably healthy and doing well financially we tend to be satisfied and don't really mind our immoral lifestyles and lack of the true presence of God in our midst. Much of the church today is yet saying, as long as we have really nice cars, the finest church buildings ever, time for the golf course, and plenty of entertainment why rock the boat. Why start a revolution bringing reformation and revival.

Only when the true presence of God shows up and begins to expose the bankrupt spiritual condition of the powerless church does it become obvious that something is terribly wrong. The lukewarm half hearted people who are mixed with the ways of the world will either be changed or deny the work of God and flee from His presence.

Ron McGatlin
http://www.basileiapublishing.com
 

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