He Will Lift Up A Standard! part 2

God will set apart (sanctify) and identify as His the believers in His Kingdom. How is that going to happen? God will, by His Spirit, lift His Standard and His obedient followers will flow to it, when the enemy comes in like a flood. We are currently living in the time Isaiah described in chapter 59. In verses 16-21, Isaiah writes by the inspiration of the Spirit of God concerning the last days restoration of the nation of Israel. God brought salvation at the first Advent of Christ but Israel rejected Him. At His second Advent or second coming He will judge His enemies and restore salvation to Israel. The word “Redeemer” means kinsman redeemer, one who is related by blood to those he redeems. The restoration of Israel is at hand. The deliverance of the Body of Christ is even at the door.

The enemy has come in like a river over running its banks and causing great destruction and distress where ever it flows. The flood gates are open and just as Aaron and the priesthood were responsible for the disobedience and idol worship of the Israelites at Sinai, the leadership in Christianity must share the responsibility for where we are today. The strong emphasis placed on the doctrine of inclusion in the religious world has lead to a departure from the faith which was delivered to the saints of the New Testament. This doctrine must be reversed in the churches. Instead of inclusion, separation of the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world must be preached again from our pulpits. Although the gospel message is one of inclusion and is to all men, there always has been and always will be the Divine standard to be achieved. His holy standard can still be achieved in the heart of the submissive, obedient believer through the work of the Holy Spirit living within us. Jesus said that He (Holy Spirit) will lead and guide into all truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Truth is the standard but can not be achieved apart

from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the heart of the professed Christian.

Difficulty has arisen because of a departure from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. How can we be lead by Him if we are not first possessed by Him? How can we be possessed by Him unless we believe that He exists as the third person of the Godhead fulfilling Jesus' promise to be our comforter? John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The promise of the Comforter was as such to provide a Paraclete to lead and guide the Church as Christ's Advocate or on His behalf. The Holy Spirit is to lead the Church just as God lead Israel and Jesus led the New Testament Church.

The Hebrews writer tells us that if we are to please God we must first believe that He exists and secondly believe that He will reward us as we seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Consequently, we must believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-existing and co-equal with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Those who reject the Person and work of the Holy Spirit reject the whole of God's plan and that is the root of the confusion. When this basic scriptural truth is denied, every doctrine built upon that foundation is at risk of dilution or discarding altogether.

The doctrine of inclusion came into existence because religious leaders wanted to accommodate people. It began with local congregations accepting individuals in various situations and circumstances. As public opinion became increasing more liberal, societal pressure expanded to include entire groups of people and lifestyles. Although the Word of God strongly condemns carnal, fleshly thought and lifestyles, the moral climate of our world demands that such behavior be accepted and embraced by the populace of the world including Christianity and the Church.

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual entity and as such has a spiritual administration. True, we all are mortal beings but God uses mortal beings in His Kingdom if they are subject to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit must be embraced in submission and obedience. The tension comes with conflict between the carnal leadership of man and the administration of the Holy Spirit. Religious leadership has succumbed to the collusion of ambition, greed and pride. Therefore the door is thrown open wide for governance by man and the Holy Spirit has been expelled. Hence our present dilemma.

The question today is, “Am I going to follow a religious movement or the Holy Spirit?” The answer to that question will determine my affiliation with a religious group or being a part of the Kingdom of God. And the answer to that question will determine our eternity. My prayer is that we will allow the Holy Spirit to open our ears to hear what He is saying in this late hour!