Written by Wendell E. Hutchins II, on Saturday, 14 April 2007

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The Church is designed to be a place of restoration, because restoration is a prelude to a manifested revival and revival is the change element of revolution – it’s the enginery by which the wheel becomes the middle of the wheel through apostolic order and apostolic government.

In the Book of Acts, we find these words: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” - Acts 3:19-21

While lesser men grovel at the feet of Laodicea’s couch, shackled in the irons of mediocrity and the puny politics of men – God continues His Kingdom business. He declared to us a restitution of all things. This restitution is not limited, but this restitution is to include all of those things lost by Adam’s sin. God is restoring to His Church those things that were lost to the Deceiver, Satan! In other words, God is restoring to His people His original intentions (designs) for His Church and nothing will stop Him in this purpose.

Restitution's truth leads one to understand the importance of true revolution, returning back to the original patterns and purpose God designed for His Church. It is in the context of restitution and revolution that we discover (meet) new things that are not new at all! In other words, we discover things we didn’t know were lost. God is restoring them to us, and yet from our limited “human” vantage point, that which is being given to us by God appears to be a “new” thing, when in actuality, it was part of the original pattern and plan of God’s government in Eden.

The difficulty for narrow-minded, intolerant, fear-filled people is this – when something is given to them that appears to be “new”; something that they did not recognize was lost in the first place, they reject it. They bog down the “thrust and movements” of God by politicizing that element of the “restitution” into a “divisive issue” and then sterilizing it with politically correct language that is non-offensive or of none affect to anyone. Thus, they set the course of their life’s work around tables of debate over all perceived “new” things, when God intends for these “restored” things to be nothing more than tools to implement His Kingdom now. In the final analysis, these issue-driven leaders have rejected the elemental components of what God has designed for world-wide revival.

Be assured, God is bringing the Church back to His design by restoring His order through His government, the five-fold ministry of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. This is the only government through which all of His blessings flow to His people. Apostles and Prophets are the legal instruments (vessels) through which He gives the Church revelation, wisdom, and understanding.

The mechanics of this “revelatory” transaction through the five-fold ministry stands in stark contrast to the libelous speech of droning committees and peer-influenced ministry models. This is exactly why organizations die, and Churches live. The Church of Jesus Christ is a living organism growing by the breath of God in it, while organizations are bureaucratic in nature and metallic in touch. Their hearts are the heart of a beast and they suffocate the living with the constricting conditions of analysis paralysis.

It is interesting to note that God has moved outside of the United States to raise up ministry models void of “western” democratized thinking to illustrate to us how millions of souls can be won, affected, and effective for Him.

In each of these ministry models, apostolic order and government are present. While each of these ministries do church differently, all of them exercise the five-fold ministry found in the Book of Acts. Interestingly, all of these ministry models function on the guiding principles of love and devotion to Jesus Christ found in the Book of Acts rather than a democratic form of government. Glaringly apparent in each case study of these apostolic church models is the absence of manipulating leadership and control-oriented mentalities. The difference between the “westernized” church models and those models found in China, Africa, and South America is quiet simple, theirs is based upon the practice and goal of “open fellowship” vs. the isolationist doctrine of “closed fellowship” which is predominate in many of America’s churches. These five-fold ministry models all practice the missional model of the Book of Acts which affects their world with the saving message of Jesus. Open-fellowship says “we are in the world” thus we must move among the world with our glorious message! It is the Jesus message practiced with the Jesus method. In fact, it was said of this new “Rabbi” that He teaches with a new kind of authority and He is always teaching and ministering among the worldly – in fact, He is a Friend to sinners! Did not this new Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth say, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent.” Luke 5:31-32

The Jesus method instantly judges any other method that prevents God’s ministers from becoming “known” among sinners. Jesus expects His disciples to be in the world, but not be of the world. We must rise up and go into the “world of harvest” with both hands available. The white, brittle grain is ready for harvesters whose hands of industry and effectiveness are not tied behind their backs!

Disciples of Jesus, The time is now – the season is here! Rise up and go without fear of man or the manipulation of metallic hands! For “He has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7

Last update: Thursday, 19 April 2007

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