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June 2005 Newsletter

 

THE APOSTOLIC REVELATION

Saved, baptised and the gift of the Spirit

I am rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks to His name for the wonderful grace that He has made known to us through the apostolic revelation that He has been unfolding to His church. I have been saved, water baptised and Spirit filled since mid 1974. Salvation for me was an enormous life changing experience. From the day I was saved, I knew I was; I knew I had met Jesus Christ; I had been born again of the Spirit of God. It was amazing! It was the Lord who led me to water baptism as nobody was speaking of water baptism in the charismatic group through which I was saved. (Mark 16:16) It was the Lord Jesus who appeared to me some weeks later and released His Spirit within me, manifest in the release of a heavenly language, enabling me to pray in the Spirit to God ever since, building myself up (1 Cor.14:2,4).

 

Discipleship and servanthood

From the moment I was saved I desired to be a preacher and I willingly entered into every opportunity to be discipled in the word. I sought out people who would share the word with me. I desired to go to Bible College but there were no open doors in those days. As I grew up in Christ I quickly took every opportunity to serve in the local fellowship, initially doing all the practical jobs in the building and helping out with ushering type duties. Very quickly I was drawn into leadership and began to lead a cell group in my home. At the time that was very challenging as I was largely untrained. We had young pastors at the time and no fathers, no apostles, no one really to mentor and train us for the ministry.

 

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit

In late 1994, I was serving on the staff of a successful denominational church in our city and a few of us involved in the ministry became very challenged by the testimony of the church in the book of Acts. Even though we were ‘charismatic’ in our ministry, we knew that we had only a very small portion of the “power” of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised in Acts 1:8. We began to diligently seek God and in January 1995, I called some meetings wherein we simply worshiped and waited upon the Lord. The Holy Spirit came upon us in a mighty way and many of us had life changing experiences. It is probably true that most of us were speaking in tongues and ministering in other gifts of the Spirit for many years previously but in this season we received an empowerment and began to walk in the Spirit in a remarkable way. Along with others, I often did not sleep at night but would be caught up in the Spirit, receiving revelations, living in a realm that was more heavenly than earthly. I would go to work the next day fully refreshed and energetic. As a result of this awesome experience, we began to host many meetings at this local church centre and then travelled out around Australia, holding revival meetings and witnessing salvation, healings, the infilling of the Holy Spirit and amazing signs and wonders. This season lasted for four years, including the first year of Revival Ministries Australia [RMA began ministry in January 1998].

 

The grace of a true apostle

In August 2001, I first had the privilege of meeting apostle John Alley [of Rockhampton, Australia] and in September he came to SHILOH [our centre in Toowoomba] to teach us. John was the only other apostle I had met. I knew I had been called to be an apostle. [The Lord Jesus had appeared to me in January 1998, commissioning me and the word He gave me was Joshua 1:1-9.] When John came among us he spoke about grace and in an amazing and tangible way he released the grace of God to us. We all knew we had been saved by grace; we knew that the charismatic gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace at work [‘charis’ is the Greek word for grace] but now we were experiencing grace in a new and profound way. We deduced that one of the delineating features of an apostle is the grace that the apostle walks in, ministers out of, and is able to impart.  It is important to note that from the first time brother John came among us, we received him as an apostle, knowing what Jesus says in Matt.10:40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” It was no wonder that we all received more grace than ever before because we received an apostle of Jesus Christ.

 

The apostolic revelation

It was in late October 2002 that John Alley released his book, ‘The Apostolic Revelation’ and it is that term, the apostolic revelation, that captures in essence what God has given to the last days church. It is the apostolic revelation that has brought us into a profound, life-changing, transforming experience that continues to unfold day by day and is able to be ministered to others far and wide. As a result of receiving the grace of God to believe the apostolic revelation, which is the grace-filled and anointed ministry of the word, we have been empowered to release that grace to many and witness them receive profound, life-changing, transforming experiences.

 

Adoption as sons

Every day we are thanking God for His grace. We know from the word that this is ‘walking in sonship’, having received the predestined “adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” Eph.1:5. It is at the end of the age that the Lord is calling His church to walk in maturity. The children of God are heirs and joint heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17) but as Gal.4:1-2 teaches us “a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the fathers.”  The church throughout this age has not yet grown up into maturity. We may have graduated from childhood to become servants, that is, ministers, but we have not walked in our inheritance as sons. But now God is restoring fathers and it is the fathers [apostles] that God is raising, who at the appointed time are releasing the children who have become servants into sonship.

I testify that the Lord has brought me into a revelation of His grace and has made known to me the spirit of adoption, revealing to me the reality of becoming a son of God. [John 1:12, Heb.2:10, Rom.8:19] This grace enables me and the brethren who are with me in SHILOH apostolic company and many brethren across the nations to walk in maturity. We now know that God’s word is going to be fulfilled. We understand that Jesus will “present to Himself a glorious church” Eph.5:27. We bear witness that the five-fold ministry of Eph.4:11-13 is being raised up to do “the work of the ministry, for the perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come … to a perfect man.”

 

Being led by the Spirit

The effect of this greater grace working in our lives is experienced in walking in the spirit with the fruit of the spirit evident in our lives. Furthermore, many ministers who have received the grace and revelation of sonship are reporting demonstrable change in their ministries. A number have reported a much greater release of the power of the Holy Spirit; others have experienced being Spirit-led in powerful ways (Rom.8:14). For example a brother, John Bitan of West Kenya, dreamed that he was to go to Kampala, Uganda, to preach. He had never been there before – he is a humble village pastor. He went in obedience; he spoke to the Christian fellowship in Parliament House, was called up by the High Commissioner from Kenya, for supposedly being an unauthorised speaker and attracting a crowd in a suburban area, but the High Commissioner ended up promising to generously support an orphanage in Uganda that John had come into contact with. Finally he had an audience with the King of Buganda [a traditional king].

 

Sons become fathers

The amazing thing about the apostolic revelation and this ministry of grace and anointing that brings the servants of God into sonship is that it is able to be ministered by anyone who has become a son. In the days of the Charismatic movement and to this time, any saint who is baptised in the Holy Spirit is able to minister that baptism through the laying on of hands to others. Likewise, any born again believer can lead another person to Christ. So it is in these days that God is raising up sons who then become ‘fathers’, releasing the grace and anointing through the word.

 

It is two and a half years now since I personally experienced this life-changing grace of sonship coming into my own life. My personal life has changed dramatically. I am so blessed to be ‘out of the wilderness’ and living in ‘the land of inheritance’. The wilderness years for the Christian are those years in which life is not easy despite the knowledge of God that we have had and the gifts of the Spirit operating in our ministry. It is a time of longing for maturity in Christ; of longing for victory in areas of the soul that seem to remain the same year after year. When the grace of sonship was first released in my heart, by the Holy Spirit, the immediate response was one of feeling secure deep in my soul and the way that I described the experience was ‘I have come home’. I now understand that becoming a son is coming home to the Father’s house and it can be understood powerfully from Luke 15:18-23 when the prodigal son came home. While this son had lost his natural inheritance, his father now bestowed upon him his spiritual inheritance. In v22 the father said “bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” The robe is the robe of righteousness and speaks of the full covering of Christ, enabling us to walk in His anointing, His grace. The ring is the authority of Christ, and the sandals are put on our feet, enabling us to walk in our inheritance. The inheritance is “His inheritance” Eph.1:18, and it is walking in the glory: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col.1:27.

 

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TRIP REPORTS: During the last month teams have ministered in an apostolic Conference in Ipswich; a team of five travelled 2700kms ministering in house meetings in Gladstone, Mackay and Proserpine. The meetings in Proserpine were held on a farm with 22 people staying on the property and others coming each day from Thursday evening to Sunday lunchtime. This was a time of teaching and “setting the church in order, and appointing an elder” Titus 1:5. That is what we did!

The following week Ps. Peter De Bressac led a team into NSW visiting saints in house churches at Tamworth, Dorrigo and Mullumbimby. Two young sisters from South Korea who have come to stay in SHILOH Community for a year went on their first ministry trip, testifying in each place and Ps. Peter testified as to the fruitfulness of their ministry.

Ps. Jean Manning has led a team to Inglewood on the last two Fridays to minister in a new house church that is forming there.

This last weekend Paul and a team visited a new house church in Kingaroy, teaching the word on Friday night and Saturday.

Everywhere the apostolic revelation is being received and the grace of sonship is being experienced.

 

Trained & equipped, sent out! Two weeks ago we sent Glynn and Lara Browne out from SHILOH into a ministry situation based at Killarney. Ps. Ros Fraser of Restoration and Revival Ministries, Killarney, had asked for help as many doors have opened in Killarney and in other towns roundabout for ministry. The main area of ministry that Glynn and Lara are working in is going into local schools to minister in Religious Education classes. Ps. Ros and a team have been doing this for some time and seeing awesome fruit in the lives of the school students. Glynn and Lara are a young couple [married one year] who have grown up quickly in the apostolic company, understanding the apostolic and walking in sonship.

 

 

CALENDAR

 

9^th to 12^th June Apostolic Summit, Rockhampton, with John Alley and Chuck Clayton; some of the

                         leaders from SHILOH are attending

 

 

20^th June to July 2^nd mid-year SHILOH APOSTOLIC SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

                         Please let us know if you are planning to come and especially if you need a billet.

                        

We know of a number of folk coming for the first time and we know that the Lord

will be working mightily in our midst, causing us to grow and that His word will

“grow mightily and prevail”

 

Mini-Bible School – term three Thursdays 9am to 4.30pm – teacher trainer Ps. Peter De Bressac

                                        Commences Thursday 21^st July through to 25^th August [6 Thursdays]

                                        Some of the teaching manuals are studied in tutorial style with different ones

                                        preparing and teaching sessions. This is an excellent opportunity to “continue

                                        steadfastly in the apostles doctrine” and to come to know “the faith once

                                        and for all delivered to the saints” Jude 3

 

 

Second semester training days:

July 30^th                   Saturday training day at SHILOH

October 8^th               Saturday training day at SHILOH

November 26^th         Saturday training day at SHILOH

Pastors & Ministers please note that the Friday before each of these training days is a ministers meeting from 9.30-1.30 including lunch. Your opportunity to fellowship with brethren involved in the apostolic restoration of the last days.

 

Apostolic Conference at SHILOH:

Friday August 26^th 9.30 – 5pm & 7.30pm Saturday 27^th 9.30 – 5pm

An excellent opportunity for you to hear and experience the awesome depth of teaching and the unfolding revelation of the apostolic

and to experience the release of God’s grace in your life,

bringing you into the fullness of His last days purposes.

 

 

INDIA/PAKISTAN: A trip is planned into Chennai, India and to Lahore and Faisalabad, Pakistan. This trip will be from September 8^th to October 4^th. Our hosts have come to know us through the internet and Paul’s book has been widely read by ministers in both areas. [2900 copies of the book have been distributed free of charge in Pakistan in the Urdu language] This will be an historic trip as God is preparing the way for many to receive the apostolic revelation and enter into the walk of sonship.

Any contributions to support this trip for fares, or for subsidising costs for pastors and leaders in those countries to attend conferences will be greatly appreciated.