Series: Angels; The Finishing Generation; Cloud of Witnesses

Sun am 20 January 2019 – Kobus Swart

Eph. 3:14-15; Eph. 1:10; Heb. 11:5, 13-14, 39-40; Heb. 12:1 Matt. 16:27-28 (Msg); Matt. 17:1-3; Ps. 91:1, 11; (Heb. 5:12); (1 John 2:13-14); Mark 1:13 (Amp); 1 Kings 17:4; Job 12:7-10; Isa. 11:7-9; (Luke 22:41-43); Acts 12:5-16

We have to have a solid foundation in every heart. There is a family above (the cloud of witnesses) and a family on earth (Eph. 3:14-15). In the fullness of time He will gather together in one all things in Christ, those in heaven and on earth in Him (Eph. 1:10). All things both in heaven and on earth will be consummated in Christ; that is the final chapter. There are those who died believing not having received what was promised. Without us they will not be made perfect (Heb. 11:39-40). Since we have a great cloud of witnesses we must run the race with endurance (Heb. 12:1). We are part of the finishing generation.

Jesus said: Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory (Matthew 16:27-28 – Msg). Six days later it happened as Jesus said, giving us a glimpse of what will happen to the Corporate Son (Matt. 17:1-3). Sunlight poured from His face. Moses and Elijah (from the Cloud of Witnesses!) were there in deep conversation with Jesus. Let our hearts be open in our intimate relationship with God through His Son Jesus, who is the Gateway. Enoch is called the seventh generation from Adam. Seven is the number of completeness, the final picture. I am expecting interaction between the cloud of witnesses and the finishing generation. Enoch walked with God and he was not because God took him (Heb. 11:5). He pleased God by his faith and he did not see death; he bypassed death. That is also a hint about the final and finishing generation. There will be a generation that will go from life to life without going through death.

God is looking for co-authors to write history with Him. In order to bring the image of heaven to earth, we have to become that mature corporate son functioning out of heaven. In order to accomplish this and live out of heaven on earth, we have divine assistance. God has made provision. But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (Heb. 1:13-14). This means there will be an interaction with angels. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways (Ps. 91:11). Here is the Key: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91:1). There has to be intimacy with God. God wants you and me to spend intimate time with Him.

We have to grow towards maturity and in order to grow we cannot continue to feed on milk. We need solid food (Heb. 5:12). You have the three levels of spiritual growth. Children are those who are glad their sins are forgiven; the young men have overcome the evil one; then there are fathers who know Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2:13-14).

Many Christians are afraid of the word ‘mysticism’. Here is a proper definition: “Mysticism can be defined as the quest to experience the presence of God directly. It is the desire to see the invisible God and the goal is to become one with the infinite God”. There is a warning, however – there are false mystics. Unfortunately many with spiritual sensitivity have bypassed the Church as irrelevant and powerless and sought expression and development of their gifting in eastern and ‘new age’ mystic schools. Many psychics and clairvoyants are simply so-called ‘seer prophets’ who have embraced false teaching because of the Church’s abdication of the supernatural”. The definition of ‘abdication’ is ‘to fail to fulfil or undertake a responsibility or duty; or to renounce the throne’. So people look for answers in the Church and they do not find it so they look in the wrong direction. They are a counterfeit of the real thing using occult methods to enter the eternal realms. Any teaching that does not recognize the incarnation of Christ and the worth of His shed blood as the only door to enter the heavenlies, is anti-Christ. Rather than bringing true mysticism into question, the fact that a counterfeit exists endorses the fact that the genuine exists. When you see a counterfeit, then you see the true exists. The enemy has muddied the waters at a critical point.

What happened to Jesus when He was led into the wilderness for forty days? He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted [to do evil] by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered continually to Him (Mark 1:13 – Amp). He was among wild beasts. There are other examples of animals close to the called ones of God (Elijah – 1 Kings 17:4; Job – Job 12:7-10; Isa. 11:7-9). There is going to be a new heaven and a new earth.

What happened in Gethsemane? And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him (Luke 22:41-43). There is a strong indication that each of us has a personal angel guarding us.

So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed (Acts 12:5-16). Seeing angels was normal for them. They were more amazed to see Peter than they would have been seeing his angel! Expect this to happen more and more in the days ahead.

God is calling us to be progenitors, co-creators, co-authors with Him of the final chapters of history. We are never alone!