SERMON TITLE: The Works of God: The Pattern of Ascended Glory 

.

SYNOPSIS:

The end-time mission is patterned after Christ’s ascended glory, demanding believers be agents of His rule over nations through personal, communal, and global works. 

.

TRANSCRIPTS 

 We stand at the last course of the five-course meal of this divine convocation, having been blessed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with wonderful visitation, fresh anointing, and empowerment for the end-time mission. 

We began with the fresh identification and empowerment as the end-time army. We were then raised in status in the vision of the Abundant Life, defined by redemption, restoration of glory, and the spirit of faith and creativity in Jesus Christ. The Victory Life, the third course, introduced us to the glory land of the resurrection power and the divine supernatural highway. Yesterday, we took the fourth course, The Voice of God, where we were equipped with the basic weapon of our warfare: faith in Jesus Christ, which is tantamount to faith in the Word of God. This voice is crucial for life, service, and the fullness of God in our new spiritual standing. 

We were reminded that our new spiritual standing in Christ is maintained only through continued faith in Jesus Christ. Just as we were saved by grace through faith, we must hold to the new status through the same faith. Any departure from this faith can lead to a fall in status and rejection from the divine glory system, as happened to Lucifer and Adam and Eve. Even a rising spiritual status, which brings authority and power, must not lead to haughtiness and pride that ignores the counsel of the clergy, for their preaching and teaching is also the Voice of God. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last. He is the key and the be-all and end-all of the new man. 

The Works of God for the church in the end-time mission are determined by and patterned upon Christ in ascended glory, His reign and rule of the world. This is a new pattern of operation. 

We must differentiate between the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the work of Jesus Christ in ascended glory. The work of Christ the Savior tells of the Lamb of God who died for our sins, providing healing and redemption. This work, providing salvation, healing, and deliverance for individuals born in sin, is still necessary. 

However, the new pattern for the end-time church is that of Christ in Ascended Glory, seated on the right hand of the Father’s power. His present position is to reign and rule the world as Governor of the Nations. Therefore, the ministry level shifts from merely performing miracles to demonstrating Jesus Christ on the throne of glory, where one walks in a new authority and power. 

In this higher realm, the mission is the salvation of nations, confronting the spirits of power that control nations and liberating whole peoples. The goal is to bring the kingdoms of the world under subjection at the feet of Jesus Christ, so that He may gather all things and hand them over to the Father. 

If Jesus Christ, in ascended glory and reign, has called us to this end-time mission, it is critical that we stand in heavenly places in Him, speaking with authority and power. Operating in this realm is not a matter of human mind or understanding, but a place where spirits and angels operate and must obey your word. 

The works of God in this end-time mission demand both the acknowledgment and proclamation of the Deity, the Kingship, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ to the whole world. The entire mission is aimed primarily at presenting and proclaiming Jesus Christ as God, King, Lord, and Governor of the nations, and as the coming King and Judge of the world. 

The works of the end-time church will be entirely subject to the commandments, inspiration, direction, and control of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. If you lose your connection with Jesus Christ, you lose your standing, as you are operating in a spiritual realm that demands absolute conviction that Jesus Christ is God. Your preaching, teaching, and standing must be controlled by Jesus Christ. 

The work of God has three fundamental areas of operation for every believer. This is the work of God within yourself, the beginning of your journey. It is the process of Him coming to mold, fashion, and prepare you. The Holy Spirit works internally to conform you and transform you into the likeness of the Son of God. The believer must give way to this vision, developing a taste, desire, and hope of glory in the new man, as this personal work is essential for the equipping process. 

The work of God also takes place within the church, the household of God. This is the relational aspect, where the growth taking place in you is mirrored and supported in another believer, and you, in turn, help that person to grow. The purpose of the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and all ministry is to build you up into the fullness of the stature of Christ. The race is not for who gets there first, but that all of us get there and make it. Therefore, believers must love the brethren and be an instrument of blessing, holding hands in unity. 

This is the active engagement with the world. We are the agents and ambassadors of Jesus Christ in the world. The pattern for this work is how the disciples walked, worked, and lived with Jesus Christ. The principles are: obedience, cooperation, and diligence with the Holy Spirit. This involves an army posture on the battleground, engaging with the deception and domination of Satan. The power operating in this realm is often corporate, as the anointing can be so high that others are required to stand with you for protection and support. 

To operate in this ascended glory, you must understand the requirements for promotion in the spiritual realm: you must be elected; there must be righteousness, without which you cannot operate; there must be faithfulness in your walk; there will be promotion tests, trials, and occasions to die to yourself; and finally, if there is an opportunity to die, there will come an opportunity for resurrection and a rise in glory through the pain of discipleship. 

You must pass the test of Christian character, which demands that you die to yourself. If you are not prepared to die to yourself, you cannot go to the next stage; otherwise, you will become proud, thinking the gift is yours, when in fact, the work is Christ’s. The Lord will build you up, but you must know your part, your role, and your position. 

May the Lord richly bless you and perfect your desire to be a man or woman of God.