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Vision of the Present and Coming Western ChurchPosted: by: Gary Dagazz
Introduction by David Nelson
Here are just a few points in the writing below I would like you to notice. The two errors which Gary Dagazz (the author) saw, there will be leaders in what God is now doing as He prepares His Bride but they will be totally equal with everyone else, only that they have a different gift. Also, they will be much different than many of the leaders we see today. God will have leaders that are after His own heart, their only concern being that they want people to be close to God and know God for themselves, and come into the fullness of what God is preparing for us. If they can do this they are happy to disappear into the background. These leaders are only different from others in the gift they have, they are not a higher breed or a higher category. (there is to be no clergy/laity distinctions) The second error has to do with becoming too satisfied or set on some of the things God is about to do, as though we have it, or we’ve got it. God does not want us to try and “can” or “keep” something going without total dependence on Him and His leading at all times. What was good yesterday may not be good tomorrow, don’t try to keep manna for two days, always be ready to stop or go only as He leads every day. Always be looking to the Lord and saying, what does the Lord want, we will not rest in one thing or another, we always want to be hungry for everything the Lord wants, and to desire only what He wants. Finally, I want to warn people, as Gary Dagazz did, there may be “good” churches that seem to be right on target and that are very encouraging to those who attend their meetings. But I believe there are many churches that people will get stuck in for a time and may lose their discernment that what that church is doing is not what God wants. God wants something radical that few churches are willing to pay the price for, and though there may seem to be some encouragement in some churches, God is not with them and they are not doing what God is now wanting to do. This may seem strong but there must be strong words to uproot what is not acceptable to God and to plant what God wants to do. If a church will not hear what God is saying, God will not compromise, His word is now going forth to say what He wants for His church.
VISION - ESCAPING the SPIRIT of THE AGE
-by Gary/Dagazz. Vision of the Present and Coming Western Church - 06-05-11: I saw the people of God scattered in dark foreboding waters. They were broadly scattered and mostly trapped into an apathy of the status quo. As I looked I could see that many were comfortable being scattered and overcome by the spirit of the age, but I sensed a storm was about to shake many out of their apathy and awaken them to repentance and revival. As the sea began to roar in the coming storm I was able to see that many individuals were alone, discouraged and struggling as the waves and wind began to beat upon them. Some began to realize the bondage and danger they were in and call out to God, seeking a way of escape, many had begun to seek out others in the tossing waves and together they had managed to keep their heads above the swelling storm and encourage each other to hope and trust in Christ. I was fascinated and moved with empathy and compassion as I saw my brothers and sisters struggle and endure; what I saw happen next amazed me. Those who began to seek a way out of this ocean of bondage were lifting their heads, seeking their Lord, seeing a glimmer of the revelation of His kingdom, power and glory and beginning to move towards the brightening land that was visible on the horizon of the dawning day. Those that did this were for a time fighting for their lives as the waves tried to push them down, crashed over their heads as the wind stung their faces and sought to blind them to the hopeful vision they were beginning to see. Those who didn’t struggle had no such drama and were carried along by the storm, spared the battle that these others were going through. Some struggled for a time, became discouraged that things seemed to get worse and lay back, defeated in the dark waters. As I watched those that refused to quit, it was as if these persevering, praying, struggling saints suddenly became vessels, like small fishing skiffs, or mullet boats as we call them. The wind and waves tried to sink these vessels but as they got their bearings and began to steer the course towards the growing glory, the bows of the boats rose above the waves and the wind filled the sails and sped them towards their destination. Because they had persevered and not been thrown off course these people began to rejoice in the stability and freedom they were experiencing now they had escaped the clutches of the raging sea. I was excited as I saw that this was God’s church that was being raised up, those in the vessels were of one heart and mind, focused on the Lord, His kingdom and glory and filled with hope and joy. Some of these vessels would rescue others as they sailed along and had soon grown into a great multitude. As I saw what I believe the Spirit told me was the end time church, I was impressed that they were what could best be described as a powerhouse of encouragement, unity of purpose, prayer, proclamation and exhortation. I saw one of these vessels cutting through huge waves that were seeking to drown a group caught in the storm. A cry of intercession came forth from the body of believers in the ship that had a power like holy violence, it was as though the darkness was in an instant driven back and the roaring waves scattered. The sacrifice of these vessels, in seeking to save those lost in the worst of the storm meant they had to turn aside from their straight path and the comfort of rising above the waves, and again be for a time be beaten and tossed by the storm, but love enabled them to endure this for the joy of seeing captives set free. I was weeping as I saw this great love and sacrifice for the sake of others being expressed by the church. I then made two errors in comprehending what I was seeing, both ideas were met with the rebuke of the Lord as they rose from my heart. The first was that this church seemed to be free from leaders as we know them in the church today and just seemed to be made up of ordinary everyday people doing extraordinary things. I was asked a question. “Have I not set in my church leaders, teachers, prophets, evangelists and shepherds; for what purpose are they given to the church?” I instantly knew my heart was wrong, this end time church was not against leadership, but was in fact the product of ministry gifts that are focused on maturing and mobilizing the saints to be God’s people. There were prophets in the Spirit of Elijah, convicting, challenging and proclaiming holiness. As I looked closer I saw such people uniting families, diverse cultures and age groups on the vessels they served on. I also saw teachers, evangelists and other gifted leaders, all were giving glory to God and proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ. He was their head, their vision and their treasure. None were elevating themselves above the people, they were lifting up Christ and enabling people to truly know and walk with God for themselves. One crucial characteristic of these groups was that they were all extremely sensitive to, and empowered by the wind of the Spirit, and were no longer fearful of the storm or its power. The other error I made was in determining in my heart to devote myself to becoming part of the glorious church that I had just seen. I was shocked that such a goal was subject to correction as I saw it as a noble and valuable pursuit. I was encouraged to, “Seek first the Lord and His righteousness,” and warned of the danger of settling for any experience, movement or ministry along my journey that would cause me to camp at a certain place of progress and lead me to not continue in the upward call of God in Christ. I knew that my carnal, religious heart could easily settle for less than the fullness that God desires to bring to His church. One tragic part of the vision was that in the dark stormy sea I could see large crowds of people gathering together but seeming to be at ease in this environment. As I looked closer I saw that these groups of people were gathering around gifted and charismatic people who held these storm tossed but united believers together with their words, slick presentations and dynamic personalities. I thought that they also would acknowledge that they were trapped in worldly, satanic or other enslavements in this storm and find freedom as others around them had begun to. As I considered this I saw that during this time these groups would also gather new- comers who were drawn to the big crowds and the bold encouraging words that the leaders spoke. I heard many of the people trapped in these groups encouraging each other that their church was growing and that this was a sign of God’s blessing upon them. They were also questioning the authority of these other believers sailing past them to freedom, feeling they were not in proper submission to church leadership. They were sadly comforted in their blindness. Some leaders did realize the deception they were living under and turned from being the centre of these groups and began to humble themselves and lift up and turn the eyes of their followers to Christ. Soon many of these groups were becoming like the others that I had seen, escaping the storms, being mobilized in their true gifts and callings and finding liberty and victory in their lives, with Christ as their head. I pray this will encourage everyone in the storms they are facing or about to face. |