Francis Frangipane: "Obtaining the Endorsement of God"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

Francis Frangipane is a true teacher and is alway releasing solid, biblical messages for the Body of Christ.

This is an intriguing message Francis Frangipane shares in his article: Obtaining the Endorsement of God. Have you thought of what that means?

Francis gives us this insight to ponder:

I want to underscore that we have peace with God through Christ's sacrifice. We are not looking for divine acceptance, but divine endorsement. The question is not one of salvation, but of power in this life to change our world. How then can we truly know that we have found God's highest purposes for us? How can we, like Moses, obtain the endorsement of Almighty God?

As you read the rest of this NOW word from Francis, be encouraged that God wants to change the world...through you! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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If we will gain God's greatest blessings, we must embrace His highest purpose.

The Workmanship of God: Christlikeness

In the last days, God's Word promises that the "...mountain of the house of the LORD will be established..." (Isaiah 2:2). Our sincere conviction is that if this dwelling place of God truly emerges in our cities, it will transform entire regions and great revival will emerge. However, I would make it clear from the beginning: If our goal is anything other than becoming a home for Jesus, this truth will simply become another "wind of doctrine"; we will again be blown off course. Without the abiding fullness of Christ in the Church, we will have no more impact in the world than a political party, whose strength rests in numbers and not God.

Consequently, there are two priorities every serious Christian should recognize: We need to return to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, and we desperately need divine intervention, or our nation will perish.

In the ninetieth Psalm, Moses uttered a prayer that everyone who has had enough of their feeble efforts should also pray. In somber and earnest supplication, he implored, "Let Thy work appear to Thy servants, and Thy majesty to their children. And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:16-17).

This is a heartfelt prayer, full of deep thought and candid reflection. Moses was not willing to "try something" and ask the Lord to bless it. He prayed, "Let Thy work appear..." He appealed to God to confirm (establish) the works of his hands. What is divine confirmation? It is where the Lord works through your efforts and backs up your words with His power (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:4). God identifies Himself fully with what you are doing. Moses was praying for the endorsement of the Almighty upon his life.

I want to underscore that we have peace with God through Christ's sacrifice. We are not looking for divine acceptance, but divine endorsement. The question is not one of salvation, but of power in this life to change our world. How then can we truly know that we have found God's highest purposes for us? How can we, like Moses, obtain the endorsement of Almighty God? (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

If we would find permanence to our works, they must be the eternal works of God and not more of man's ideas. Jesus said, "...for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me" (John 5:36). Ultimately, we only glorify God when we, like Jesus, accomplish the work which He has given us to do (John 17:4).

You may question, "Does God have eternal, enduring assignments for me?" Yes, but the first "work of God" that is accomplished in us is not our work but His – that we "...believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29). We cannot find true spiritual success apart from dependent, steadfast faith in the person and power of Jesus Christ.

This forsaking of our ideas to embrace simple obedience to Christ is the "work of God." We cannot attain the works of God unless we become the "workmanship" of God. As Paul wrote, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

At this very moment, there are eternal, powerful works prepared for each of us. Yet, until we see that the Father's highest purpose is to reveal in us the nature of Christ, we will not qualify for the power of Christ, which is God's full endorsement upon our lives.

The Mystery of God's Will

If we will find the eternal works of God, we must know His eternal plan. The ultimate plan of God is stated clearly in the Scriptures. Paul wrote, "He made known to us the mystery of His will...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth..." (Ephesians 1:9-10).

The eternal purpose of God is to sum up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. He desires to bring the living Christ into each of us as individuals; then, as Christ-filled individuals, we can transform the Church. Finally, from the launching pad of a Christ-filled Church, we will see "things in the heavens" impacted and cleansed with the Spirit of His Son.

In this unfolding of the Father's plan, it is important to note that the expanse of Christ must be accomplished in sequence. That is, we cannot see Christ corporately manifested in the Church until we, as individuals, embrace true Christlikeness; nor can we plunder the heavenly places until we unite with other congregations as Christ's Church. (Photo via Pxfuel)

God's will is that the Church should not be divided, but united as a glorious temple, a living house for His Son. Concerning the heavenly places, God has blessed the Church with "...every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3)! This realm does not belong to satan, but is part of our inheritance in Christ. It is the eternal wisdom and purpose of God to reveal Christ "through the Church"; not only to the world, but unto the "...rulers and authorities [principalities and powers] in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:10, emphasis mine)!

Satan has continually sought to hinder and delay this "summing up of all things in Christ." Yet, such is our mission; and in knowing the plan of God, such is our victory. Therefore, in spiritual warfare, in battling for the soul of our cities and our nation, our victory is not in knowing how to command demons, but in knowing the Commander Himself. We triumph in being rightly aligned with the supreme plan of God, which is to fill all things with Christ.

Thus, if we would obtain the endorsement of God upon our lives, Jesus must become as real to us as the world was when we were sinners. He must become our mind and we His obedient Body. Throughout our lives, the Holy Spirit will continue to establish this vision, which is the Father's singular goal in creation. As we press toward this upward call of Christlikeness, our lives will begin to manifest and attain the prepared, eternal works of God. We will attain the quality of life which God Himself backs with power.

Let's pray: Lord Jesus, we recognize our desperate and total need of You. Lord, how we cry for the restoration of Your fullness to the Church! Forgive us for trusting in our programs and ideas; especially pardon us for avoiding You. O God, let Your works appear to Your servants, and Your majesty to our children; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands. Amen.

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Francis Frangipane 
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: info@frangipane.org
Website: www.frangipane.org

Francis Frangipane has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. Francis' heartfelt prayer is to see established in every city, Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the love of Christ to their communities. He is the author of several books, including The Three Battlegrounds and Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God, as well as several others. He founded an online training course called In Christ's Image Training, which has trained thousands of Believers around the world in Christlikeness, humility, prayer and unity.

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