(another prophetic interchange from the House of Bishops in New York.)
Bishop Jones Begins recounting a vision he had many years ago concerning a beautiful Clipper Ship. He saw a magnificent clipper ship that was sitting in dock. It was beautiful and the woodwork was polished. It was grand and amazing, but it had become like a museum. There were sails but they were not raised. But the structure was amazing and everyone went to see the beauty of the ship. The Lord told Bishop that this was like the Liturgy. The Liturgy is the structure. The structure is meant to hold and contain the Holy Spirit. That is the point of its existence. It keeps us Christocentric. The ship was made to have the sails raised; to go out and catch the wind. We are going after this; we are going after Jesus. We are going after the river of God’s Anointing. This is the “secret sauce”; what brings to completion and perfection, or to its perfect and intended end; Teleios.
Bishop Brett mentions what we are going after is this is the Book of Acts: The Holy Spirit being released at Pentecost, and apostles’ understanding of fullness of this and what it meant. This is what we are going after. Also mentioning how interesting it is that the boat needs the sails unfurled to catch the wind, otherwise it is anchored; not moving. What we have been seeing in the past is that people in the church have been pushing against the wind. And the sense he has now is that as leadership, God is moving us back to where it has always been but with a renewed spirit and fire of revival. In that, as leadership, we (the bishops) must learn to steward God’s presence on an individual and corporate level to release this revival in the churches This is essential and it begins with us (the bishops), and in our personal lives and flows to our churches, our dioceses and communities. I ask myself if I am living my life, or am I hosting the Holy Spirit, am I living my life as Peter and John did, with Jesus with me? They lived with Jesus with them. AM I living like he is truly present with me?
I have been praying about what God is releasing on earth. What He is releasing right now is divine. And it isn’t that it is just for some and not for others. It is meant for all. SO, I ask myself, Am I willing to tarry? Am I willing to host? Am I willing to chase after it? BUT not chase after miracles. Am I willing to host His presence? Hosting His presence means that and miracles happen. If you are looking for the method by which God will pour out, it’s in the surrender, the waiting, trusting, and in hosting God’s presence and what God is doing; then He will be poured out.
Bishop Jones remarks: We are or should be chasing Christlikeness. And Christlikeness looks like the fruits and gifts of the spirit. So, we are no longer chasing miracles. We are not chasing the fruit of the spirit or the gift of the spirit. We are chasing Jesus. And when we are chasing Jesus, He is Himself. Therefore, He produces purity and power. That is normal Christianity. The Book of Acts is Normal, not supernatural. Miracles are normal, not supernatural. The fruit of the spirit is normal. This is true, individually and corporately. So, what do we do? We walk in the spirit. We pursue Him. If we walk in the spirit, then we walk in the Book of Acts. We will have the fruit and gifts of the spirit. We will have miracles.