Fellowship

On March 10, 2009 - I saw a man who was just born. I didn't see the birth, but I knew he had just been born, yet he was fully grown. Then the Lord spoke in a resounding way and said "His name is Fellowship." Then I woke up.

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Mature fellowship

When I read this word in March 2009, it became a confirmation of something the Lord had begun to whisper into my heart: that, as America's 4-year revival delay was about to end (on May 11, 2009), the remnant would transition out of their "Britannia" bunkers and be called to interact with and encourage each other in a much more open and direct way.

Due to the communications technology that is currently available, humans are communicating and fellowshipping with each other at a level never before seen in human history. However, since the world and the Church are soul-centric, this increased fellowship has been dominated by "childish" and "teenage-ish" paradigms and attitudes. As you may know, teenagers base their fellowships on "trendiness". They seek to interact with those who seem "cool" by the world's standards, standards that are based more on appearance and emotion than on substance and truth. In the same way, the fellowship that the world and the absolute majority of Christians engage in is a Canaanite fellowship based on emotionalism that goes with the flow of Canaanite trends in the air. The spirit behind this type of fellowship is a manipulative spirit that threatens you with loneliness and isolation if you do not submit to the trends and paradigms around you (by the way, this is the type of manipulation that the obama Democrats in America are trying to pull on Republicans, threatening them with becoming an "isolated" party if they refuse to yield to the liberal currents of the time). This is the spiritual manipulation that keeps many well-intentioned believers trapped within the Church's religious paradigms. The "warm and fuzzy" fellowship they experience at church is too good to pass up, and they remain trapped within the Church's structures, even when their inner selves perceive an utter emptiness and lack of true growth in the whole "church experience". They see no alternative --- no other large, visible group of believers to flock to, so they stay with their "herd", even if it means losing their eternal destiny.

True remnant believers, however, are not intimidated by the manipulative, emotional threats of the Canaanite-fellowship spirit. By their willingness to go into the black-horse desert, green-horse death, and 5th-seal bubble isolation, they have more than proven that they are willing to be all alone and friendless, because they are more "lovers of truth" than "lovers of soul fellowship". They understand that, as long as they abide by the truth, things will somehow "work out". They know that growth is more difficult when you are isolated (Matthew 5:29-30), since one of God's motivations for fellowship is mutual edification, but they know that this mutual edification is utterly impossible if it is not grounded on an inherent and impartial love for truth:

"¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Remnant believers know that, where there is no "speaking of truth (and judgements) in love" (v15), people become like immature children who are easily manipulated by "every wind of doctrine", by the "sleight of man" who harbour hidden, self-centred agendas (v14). Notice that, in verse 14, the Spirit of the Lord is focusing on the doctrinal deceit within the Church, not on the more obvious deceit that the world has to offer.

As remnant believers feel more and more trapped in a ship full of children who are not interested in growing, they know that the only alternative is the small life raft they see on the side of the ship. As they get on the life raft all by themselves, they don't know where they will end up, because they see nothing but water all around. They know, however, that, if they abide in the truth, things will "work out" somehow because they are aware that the truth is more than a collection of facts. The truth is a person, a person who will make everything eventually "balance out" at the end. Whether in life or in death, things will "even out", and those who were right will be vindicated, whilst those who were wrong will be sentenced.

Ironically, those who step onto the life raft and sail out into the unknown by themselves are more connected to the Body of Christ and have a deeper love for their brethren than those who stay behind in the comfortable "Norwegian cruise" ship. Such believers know that they can do much more for their brethren through their lonely journey at sea than by staying behind and engaging in fruitless fellowship. These lonely believers are far more aware of the inherent spiritual potential in their brethren than the very brethren they leave behind. It is this awareness of the God-potential within themselves and their brethren which drives them to do whatever it takes to see it manifested, for they know that God's purposes for man involve the manifestation of this potential. No amount of "church activity" will fulfil God's purposes for mankind and the Earth unless that potential is fully revealed; that is the reason why the last book of the Bible is called "Revelation".

"¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:17-28)

As you may have noticed, the reason why the Holy Spirit goes from talking about our "suffering with him" (v17) to talking about the "manifestation of the sons of God" is because that manifestation is the reason behind our suffering. Notice also how verse 27 establishes a connection between an intimate knowledge of God's will and our suffering. Those who are focused on the will of God will be willing to suffer so that the "manifestation of the sons of men" may take place, and they know that, despite all the uncertainty and loneliness, things will "work out" somehow (v28) in that "little old" life raft, for that raft is made with the wood of the Ark of the Covenant.

Those who love God will feel an irresistible need to get on that life raft and embark on their lonely journey, for they love God too much not to care for His will and purposes being fulfilled on Earth as they are in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).

All of the above explains why the "Fellowship" that was born in sister Wendy's vision was a full-grown man and not a baby. It speaks of the manifestation of mature fellowship, as opposed to the immature fellowship practiced by the Church and the world.

Male fellowship

The word used in the original Greek text of the New Testament to denote "fellowship" or "communion" is koinonia, which happens to be a "feminine" noun in the Greek (as evidenced by the letter "a" at the end of the word). The strong emotional component behind human fellowship also points to its "feminine" nature, given that women are biologically designed by God to be more "emotional" than men (this is not inherently good or bad; it is just a reflection of "functionality", not "worthiness"). Because of this, if you had asked me whether a person called "Fellowship" would be a male or a female, I would have initially guessed "female". Therefore, I was somewhat surprised when I realised that the "Fellowship" born in the vision was a man, not a woman. The Lord did this to emphasise a spiritual point.

As we have said before, the spirit is "male" and the soul is "female". Therefore, the fact that the "Fellowship" in the vision was a male points to its spirit-centric nature. The fellowship that the Church and the world engage in is soul-centric, and, as such, it is bitterly opposed to the making of judgements. By contrast, spirit-centric fellowship erects a firewall of judgements around it, ensuring that no intimate communion takes place unless the potential candidates for fellowship are first tested and purified by the fire of God's righteous judgements. This initial purifying process makes the whole fellowship process take longer, making it more unpleasant (at first) than it would otherwise be. It limits the number of people you can fellowship with, and it even limits the level of fellowship that you can have with those that you do have fellowship with, but it is the only type of fellowship possible when you operate in the Spirit as opposed to the soul. This is the reason why the Lord speaks of levels of glory (i.e.- intimacy with Him) in 1 Corinthians 15 and why God has had mankind going through this long and difficult 6,000-year period instead of simply "fixing the human condition" with one swing of "his magical wand" (false-prophet style). He placed a firewall around the tree of life because He was not about to have true, eternal fellowship with man until he had gone through the entire process (Genesis 3:23-24).

Prophetic fellowship

As we said above, there is an inherent "female" nature to "fellowship". Therefore, the fact that the "Fellowship" in the vision was a male points to another spiritual principle. Many years ago, as the Lord had me meditating on a passage in Scripture, He spoke the following words into my heart:

"The soul of a prophet is like the soul of a princess who knows that she has a special place in the heart of her daddy, the king. That is why she feels that she has special, direct access to Me at any time, even though I am the King of all."

Even though we have seen how the prophetic endowment is one of the 3 "male" ministry endowments (apostle, prophet, and evangelist), it is, in a sense, the most "feminine" of the three. The apostolic endowment can, at times, appear very "dry" and "to the point" because of its strong judgement nature, which often makes it more fitting of a "man" than a "woman". The evangelistic endowment is inherently strong and is geared towards "hunting down" and conquering all around it, which ones again makes it more in line with "male" behaviour. By contrast, the prophetic endowment is more "emotional" or "moodier". You cannot operate in the prophetic endowment of God unless you are willing to be "carried away" by rushes of emotion, and you cannot be a prophet of God unless you are willing to place your hope in "romantic" visions of the future that are too outrageous or unrealistic for the natural mind. Therefore, the fact that the "fellowship" in the vision was male despite having a strong female component points to prophetic fellowship.

The world's and the Church's fellowship is eminently pastoral fellowship. As such, it easily degrades into Canaanite fellowship that relishes fellowship for fellowship's sake. By contrast, prophetic fellowship is purpose-driven due to the direct linkage between the "prophetic" and "spiritual purpose". People in prophetic fellowship come together to further a cause or purpose, and, because of their prophetic nature, they are willing to make great sacrifices on behalf of each other, all in an effort to further the cause. People in prophetic fellowship also tend to worry more about each other's callings and ultimate purpose, and they are quick to sense when one of the members is falling away from his or her "divine calling". Prophetic fellowship leads to people worrying about each other's futures; by contrast, pastoral fellowship leads to people who simply want to enjoy the present delights of the fellowship. Because of the pastoral endowment's natural inclination to "please", the focus of pastoral fellowship becomes "pleasure", even if the other person's future slowly dies away. That is why pastors who turn Canaanite turn their wicked kingdoms into spiritual black holes, into spiritual cemeteries where the sheep's prophetic callings die and are buried, just like the man's calling in 1 Kings 13. Canaanite pastors would rather have a person's calling die than let go of the person so that his or her calling may be fulfilled.

In short, pastoral fellowship is eminently female. Prophetic fellowship is basically male, but with very strong "female" components. Pastoral fellowship unites people around the delight of the social interaction. Prophetic fellowship unites people around a "romantic" cause or purpose. Pastoral fellowship is focused on the joys of the "now". Prophetic fellowship is focused on the joys of a future "utopia". Even though pastoral fellowship is not inherently wrong, it must not be the predominant type of fellowship, as has been the case in the Church and the world. The remnant come to change the unrighteous predominance of pastoral fellowship. Because of their spirit-centredness, they will forge a fellowship that is eminently prophetic, a fellowship that is eminently male whilst retaining its strong "female" components.

In an odd and surprising way, the Lord brought to my attention three songs immediately after I finished typing the words above. The first song is a song I was familiar with from 22 years ago, but which I would have never recalled had the Lord not brought it to my attention now; the second song is a song whose lyrics I am only discovering now; the third song is a song that the Lord "made me fall in love with" 23 years ago; He sent me that song as a "prophetic picture" warning me of the long sequence of heartbreaks and disappointments He was sending me to experience over the 17 years that followed (after these things happened, I looked back and understood the warning, and I realised that God had sent me this song so that I would understand 17 years later that it had all been part of His plan). As you read the lyrics of these 3 songs, it will become evident how these songs are spiritually related to everything the Lord has had us say above.

{This 1987 song is entitled "Here I go again", and it is from the album "Saints and Sinners" by a British group}

{Lyrics adapted from lirama.net}

I don't know where I'm going
But I sure know where I've been
Hanging to the promises and the songs of yesterday
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
So here I go again
Here I go again

Though I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

[REFRAIN]
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time

I'm just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on Love's sweet charity
And I'm gonna hold on
For the rest of my days
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

{This 1989 song is entitled "Higher ground", and it is by a group from Los Angeles, California called "Red Hot Chili Peppers"; the song is from the album "Mother's Milk"}

{Lyrics adapted from lirama.net}

People ... keep on learning
Soldiers ... keep on warring
World ... keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long

Powers ... keep on lying
While your people ... keep on dying
World ... keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long

[REFRAIN]
I'm so darn glad He let me try it again
'Cause my last time on Earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on trying till I reach the highest ground

Teachers ... keep on teaching
Preachers ... keep on preaching
World ... keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long
Oh no!

Lovers ... keep on loving
While believers ... keep on believing
Sleepers ... just stop sleeping
'Cause it won't be too long
Oh no!

[Refrain]

And Stevie knows that, uh, nobody's gonna bring me down
'Til I reach the highest ground
'Cause me and Stevie, see, we're gonna be a' sailing on the funky, funky sound
'Til I reach the highest ground
Busting out, and breaking ground, 'cause I'm sailing on
'Til I reach the highest ground
Just, uh, sailing on, sailing on the higher ground
'Til I reach the highest ground

{This 1986 song is entitled "Holding back the years", and it is by British band "Simply Red"; the song is from the album "Picture Book"}

{Lyrics adapted from lirama.net}

Holding back the years
Thinking of the fear I've had so long
When somebody hears
Listen to the fear that's gone

Strangled by the wishes of Pater ["father" in Latin]
Hoping for the arms of Mater ["mother" in Latin]
Get to me the sooner or later

Holding back the years
Chance for me to escape from all I've known
Holding back the tears
'Cause nothing here has grown

I've wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could

[REFRAIN]
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on

So tight

That's all I have today
That's all I have to say