Notes from Shaun Smit, Tuesday evening, June 17, 2008
We are pressing for something. We have an Apostolic Encampment because I don’t like conferences.
Jesus sets the pace as Chief Apostle. We love Him as the Friend of sinners, Savior, and Healer, but He’s also the Apostle.
What is first shall be last; what is last shall be first. God is releasing “the apostle” today. But I have seen what has been done in the name of apostle that is sickening. The true apostle is a man of war. They set free and bring people to full measure. We need this dimension of Jesus’ ministry.
For those who went camping this weekend, I don’t like resorts. The idea of camping was as an army of God encamped. To begin to declare the atmosphere of the region. The message last night was not “feel good” stuff. It was meaty stuff. I love to talk about business strategy and vision, but I like to sit with people and help them work it out. In the church there is still stuff going on that messes up the Church. In the home, the dad needs to rise and set boundaries. In New York city, Governor Juliani stopped jaywalking, etc., and crime dropped! The apostle sets the boundaries of the Church. “Come out and be ye separate,” says the Lord. The Greek word means to come out and be marked with boundaries.
The theme God gave me for these meetings was “Rebuilding the Walls”. I asked God why this. Rebuilding is to restore. In Isaiah the walls are salvation and praise. A diamond goes through tremendous heat and pressure to become a gemstone. Sometimes I wish I had been easier on my kids when they were younger. But I’m not sorry because they will be trained to face the future. But what are we doing in the Church? Are they equipped to handle persecution?
Revelation 1:1.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants,
It’s a book about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation is about who Christ is. Salvation doesn’t come on knowledge, but on the revelation of who Christ is.
We have to bring this generation to an encounter of who He is! People will run to seek God, not another message and more knowledge. It makes you want to not continue. I say to ministers, “It’s not about you. When you show the nation who Jesus is, they’ll meet Him.” We want to advertise all over the city when a healing happens, but Paul didn’t share his revelation for 14 years! Gospels show Jesus as Savior, and we need Him as such.
The other dimension of Jesus in Revelation is as King. A king has dominion in his territory. A king owns real estate. The queen of England could actually kick everyone out. All land is leased to the people. A king rules in his kingdom.
Jesus as Savior shows love, as King He shows majesty.
In the gospels He is dressed in a seamless garment;
In Revelation He is dressed in a robe to His feet, speaking of Kingly majesty.
in the gospel He is girded with a servants towel.
In Revelation he is revealed as one girded with a band of gold about the chest, signifying a king going to war.
In the gospels, Jesus’ mild eyes melted Peter’s heart.
In Revelation His eyes were flames of fire.
In the gospels, His gentle voice calls the sheep.
In Revelation His tongue is a two-edged sword that brings down enemies.
In the gospels, Jesus’ feet were washed with tears and dried with hair.
In the gospels his feet are washed with tears and dried with the hair of Mary;
In Revelation His feet are glowing as in a furnace and bringing judgment.
In the gospels He looks like any other man.
In Revelation He looks like the sun shining at its brightest.
In the gospels the disciple leans on his breast.
In Revelation they fall as dead men.
We like Him as the Shepherd with two lambs under Him arms.
But Revelation says He’s dressed for war. He’s mild and gentle when we need Him like that, but we haven’t learned to adapt to Him as a King! As King He brings the government of God into our lives. Jesus is pulling out the sword. But we’re thanking Him for the great life! He’s asking if we will have His government!
Christ, The Apostle, removes things that get in the way of His rule. In 27 years in leadership, I’ve seen people get saved and some things just don’t change. As Jesus reveals Himself to all the churches in Revelation, I think, we see Him in all eras of the Church in each message to the churches. When we see Jesus as King, the fear of God will come into our lives and not this buddy-buddy stuff. Try telling President Bush what you think! In Revelation there are elders casting crowns, lightnings, thunders. When I see Him like that, I say, “What do You want?”
The Church in Pergamum, verse 12.
And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.
Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Is it possible there are things going on in church Jesus doesn’t like? The word here hold to, comes from root word meaning dominion with strength. These people were holding onto with might and dominion, not relinquishing at any cost. Some people’s opinions about spiritual things are more important to them than the Word. Jesus will “fight” them in this.
Apostolic warfare is demolishing imaginations and strongholds in our minds that set themselves above Christ. Satan uses thoughts in your mind to set up citadels to destroy your life. Some people’s strongholds are so entrenched that they hold onto them with all their might. Christ cannot confront them. We need to relinquish the old ways of unbelief and put on the new image of Christ. How?
Be transformed and changed in your minds!
Repent! Greek word means to change or adjust your thinking and imaginations. We need this revolution in our thinking because the wicked one had control and now we have a new King. God sent Jesus, and we had better obey. Don’t get set in our concept of who Jesus is. He wants us to make the adjustment. What do we do if a stronghold is so entrenched in someone? If we bring the King to one person at a time, a city changes, governments topple. Roman rule toppled, but they had built roads, thank God, to spread the Gospel.
We have a King who rules in kingdoms of men. What does He do when we hold to our thinking? Christ will become the confronter in our lives. He will not relent until all is His! Allan said last night the Scripture about repenting for the Kingdom of God is at hand. I thought, that’s it! We have to end one and bring the other form of thinking.
God is lover of our souls, but we need His severity. I love my boys more than anything in the world, but they’ve come under my correcting hand many times. Jesus won’t leave us either. Jesus will not come the same in this next revival! He’s coming as King! I want my kids to maintain the culture of my home. The King on His throne wants His people to do the same. People should know something changed when we’ve been in a room. Our words need to represent something more…His Kingdom, His rule. This is not an easy message. It cuts a little harder. It’s the sword! We’ll be having more encampments to bring the apostolic, but we leave this one understanding that Jesus owns it all! No one owns his church. He didn’t buy it. His name’s not on it. The Church is Christ’s real estate.
Christ wants people, not lands. People are the real estate Jesus purchased with His blood.
