"Repairers of the Breach"

August 21, 2005
 

"Repairers of the Breach"
by Francis Frangipane
Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
www.frangipane.org
comments@frangipane.org



 

"And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the paths in which to dwell." Isaiah 58:12


The Gathering Together Of The Saints

Most of true Christianity shares a doctrine commonly called the "rapture" of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:16). And while study and debate surround the timing of this event, Scripture assures us that it will occur before Jesus Himself returns.

However, before we are "caught up" to meet the Lord, there will be a time of unusual grace in which the living church of Jesus Christ, like a bride, makes "herself ready" (Revelation 19:7). In this unparalleled season of preparation, while we will not become "perfect," we shall realize a new level of holiness of the quality in which Jesus Himself walked (I Thessalonians 3:11-13; Ephesians 5:26, 27; Philippians 1:9, 10).

The result of this new spiritual fullness will be a new level of unity. Fault-finding and gossip will disappear. In their place will be intercession and love. Wholeness will return to the Church. This also means that the ambition and division we see today between congregations will be identified as sins, which will be repented of before Jesus returns.

The truth of this message must be made clear, for most Christians consider oneness within the body inconceivable before Jesus returns. They have not discerned nor warred against the enemy's lies, which have conditioned believers to accept strife and sectarianism in the Church. It is my passionate conviction that the Church which will ultimately be raptured will be free of strife and carnal divisions -- it will be a bride "without spot or wrinkle" made ready for her bridegroom.

During the rapture, our bodies will be changed. But our character -- that is, the essence of who we have become -- will remain intact. There will be no regrets or wondering how "those from that church" made it, for the living bride will be a Church built together in love, meeting in separate buildings but serving the single Lord. These true disciples of the Lord Jesus will be known for their intense and holy love for one another -- not merely in their individual local assemblies, but within the context of a citywide church.

"One Flock with One Shepherd"

It is highly significant that the scriptural term for the rapture is called the "gathering together" (II Thessalonians 2:1; Matthew 24:31). What ultimately will be consummated in our gathering together physically to the Lord will be precipitated by a spiritual gathering together of His body on earth. Concerning the era known as the "end of the age," Jesus taught that the "good fish" shall be "gathered . . . into containers" (Matthew 13:48). And in the context of spiritual warfare, Jesus warned, "He who does not gather with Me, scatters" (Matthew 12:30).

This scattering, dividing process among the Lord's sheep has gone on long enough. Jesus has set His heart to bring healing and unity to His body. In this regard, through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord spoke a somber warning. He said, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" (Jeremiah 23:1). The Son of God is not pleased with the carnal divisions in His body! Indeed, the Lord promises to chasten those pastors who continue to build their kingdoms without laboring together to build His. To them He says, "I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds" (vs 2).

In the tenth chapter of John, the Lord makes His goal clear: there shall be "one flock with one shepherd" (vs 16). He reveals it is the wolf nature which "snatches [the sheep] and scatters them"; and it is the hireling nature which allows the scattering to occur. But His promise to His sheep says this: "Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock . . . and they will be fruitful and multiply. I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer . . . nor will any be missing" (Jeremiah 23:3, 4). The pastors of the last Christian church will be under-shepherds to the Lord Jesus; they will be anointed to gather together His remnant and, under that anointing, shall be "fruitful and multiply."

Indeed, right now, in the context of humbling ourselves and submitting our hearts to His will, we are participating in being "gathered together." This process will progressively increase until the barriers between brethren are melted by the overcoming nature of Christ's love. Before Jesus returns, we will truly be "one flock with one shepherd." We will be a holy and blameless sheepfold, meeting in different buildings, but baptized into one body.


Do Not Criticize The Breach, Repair It!

"Thus says the Lord God, woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. Oh Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord." Ezekiel 13:3-5

God needs people who, when they see a gap in the citywide Church wall, will go up into the breaches and rebuild the wall, so that the Church will stand in the day of battle. In every city, town, and village, each of us need the other churches if we are going to stand in the day of battle.

You may be thinking, "You don't understand, I have revelation of the end-time move of God. These churches barely believe in Jesus." The Word tells us that "without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater" (Hebrews 7:7). If you are truly "greater," without a hint of pride, you will seek ways to be a blessing to other churches. Your Christlike love will cast out fears. You will truly have a burden to see the entire body of Christ brought forth, not just your local assembly; you will respect the diversity of ways through which Christ reveals Himself in the Church. In truth, Jesus said that the greatest among us would become the "servant of all" (Mark 9:35; Matthew 23:11).

If a church in your city holds to and confesses Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then that church is needed to complete God's work in the city. As you join together for daily or weekly prayer, you will be blessed and surprised by God's preparation of others. Do not come with an attitude to teach or lead, but to love and serve. In this, God is not looking for leaders, but followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we do not adjust to His will, we will be unable to stand against the enemy. Indeed, the day in which we live is not a day of peace -- it is a time of war. God is gathering us together not only to Him and each other, but also against the spiritual forces of wickedness in every region. Therefore, the breaches between us must be filled, the walls built, and we must learn to stand together in the day of the Lord.


You Be The People

You do not have to go to college to find fault with the Church. In fact, if you remember, you could find fault with the Church even before you were a Christian. You do not need skill to find fault. But if you want to be like Christ, you have to be willing to lay your life down for people's sins. You have to be an intercessor who "stands in the gap." The "gap" is the distance between the way things are and the way things should be. You stand in that space, cast down the accuser of the brethren, and intercede! Have you seen something that is wrong? It is only because Jesus wants you to stand in the gap and pray to see it changed.

Some of us have cried for years, "Where are those who will lead us into Christ's fullness?" We have assumed that God had others in mind. What the Lord is saying, however, is: "You be the men and women that others are looking for." You be the peacemakers, the sons and daughters of God that bring healing and order to His Church.

The responsibility is upon each of us. There is a tremendous job ahead, but the Lord Himself has promised, "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the paths in which to dwell" (Isaiah 58:12).

Let us lay our lives down in committed faith that, in our lifetimes, on this earth and in our communities, the corporate Church of Jesus Christ will be restored, united, and made ready as a bride for her Beloved!


by Francis Frangipane
Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
www.frangipane.org
comments@frangipane.org

If you were blessed and/or challenged by this message, we recommend reading The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane.


A service of Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
Copyright (c) 2005
All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations
were taken from the NASB.

    ~~~~

Francis Frangipane's Upcoming Itinerary:

September 16-17, 2005
Many Nations, One Voice Conference
Lawton, OK
360-546-1867 or www.wiconi.com

October 11-13, 2005
Mission America Coalition (MAC) Annual Meeting
Chicago, IL
To register go to www.missionamerica.org 

October 21-22, 2005
Writer's Workshop
with Francis Frangipane
Visit www.frangipane.org for details

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