BISHOP ROGERS - The Call

July 7, 2007

THE CALL  7-7-07

Forty years ago a cultural revolution began with a summer called the summer of love.

My generation had gathered to say that what they had been offered for a future was not working. They wanted 4 main things to change.

1. The Establishment – a new way of doing things that was not based on materialism, status seeking and greed.

2. A New Relationship – They formed what became known as communes. A place where they hoped people would truly relate to one another based on who they were and the intrinsic value they possessed.

3. A Drug – That could expand their thinking and creativity

4. Free Love – Embracing anyone with full acceptance

They opened some frightening doors that have devastated America. The doors to Eastern religion – drugs – and sexually transmitted diseases. They wanted change but did not know how to get true and lasting change. The “Call” brings us to a similar “Kairos moment” but with the right motive and methods. Our Church joined in a simulcast with Nashville and the Call and we began decreeing these truths. Please read the following and take whatever steps you deem appropriate.

Recently I was praying about joining a very good Apostolic network – thinking that this might be the new OS system the Lord was talking about. I was checked in my spirit – and wondered why. Perhaps the reason is that most of the Apostolic Networks that exist today are an improvement over de-nominationalism but are not yet fully what the Lord is looking for.

In the dream the new OS system would cost me $15.00 the number of the complete measure of grace. Today we do not know how to become affiliated without some measure of positional control. Either through hierarchy or finances.

The question is can we exist without these two foundational pillars of today’s affiliations? The message from Rick Joyner and Shawn Boltz both speak of a new move of God. The summer of love that is being talked so much about was a rebellion against the “establishment”. It hoped that “love sweet love – all you need is love” would change the world. The world is often ahead of the Church in recognizing what is needed. But of course the only real and lasting love is that which Jesus Christ pours out and is maintained by abiding in Him.

The summer of love was bound to fail in great disillusionment without the source of love even our God. Forty years ago my generation said enough is enough and dropped out of the established way of doing things seeking for a new OS system.

Today’s Prophetic and Apostolic community is saying that now forty years later God is indeed going to give us a new OS system that is based on love – His Love. And this time it will not end up in dis-illusionment.

The 1967 summer of love opened the door to eastern religion, drugs, community living and so called free love.

The 2007 Call in Nashville opened the door to even greater creativity. True faith in a God who is love, a relationship with the Holy Spirit that is better than any drug, a community of relationship based on opening the door to Jesus Christ (not the door of salvation but the door of relationship of Revelation)

Rev 3:20-4:1 20 "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. 21 I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches."  NLT

And finally we will find out that love is not free – it is the most costly thing on Earth. But because of our deeper relationship with the Lord we will be able to give our love freely to all.

I see at least two great giants that will have to be slain before these things can be established as an ongoing lifestyle.

ONE – How we relate too money. Money is still the major issue when it comes to organizing something. Who will control it – who will give it – how much will be given. The ultimate New Testament pattern was seen in the book of Acts –

Acts 4:33-5:1 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. NKJV

In many ways this is what happened in 1967. People shared whatever they had with each other. Yet without the grace of Jesus Christ this could not continue. Only when we recognize the wealth we have in Christ will we be able to walk in this kind of generosity. Only when we believe and maintain that belief will we be able to continue in it.

I remember one day while in communion with the Lord I was carried into this realm. Giving all I had without fear seemed to be the most natural thing in the world and the most freeing. Only while this grace was upon me was I able to see it clearly. After a while the grace was lifted and little by little the blindness we all live in today regarding money returned.

The key word here is “fear”. Perfect love casts out all fear. That is what this generation must walk in. Perfect love that is absent of fear.

Very few Christians today walk in this freedom. If we did, we could give all over and over again without it ever bothering us. This could happen because our trust is totally in Jesus Christ. Knowing that even if we only have a tiny lunch our faith in Him could and would multiply into whatever is needed.

THE SECOND GIANT – that must fall during the “Call” is that of Positional leadership that is based in the control spirit. This system has a basis of rewards and punishment. If you follow the system we have the power to reward you. If you fail we will find a way to punish you. This system works when men are living below their God given privileges. The power of this system is that men have forgotten that only God can promote you. When we begin to forget that it is God who called us and it is God who rewards and promotes we are in great trouble. The door to bitterness swings wide open and envy and jealousy flood all that is done.

Ps 75:6-7  6 For promotion cometh neither from the east , nor from the west, nor from the south.  7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. KJV

One of the great flaws of this system is that it determines what a reward is. If positional leadership could honor only that which honors God it could work effectively until those it is leading mature to follow relational leadership. In fact positional leadership is necessary to bring to maturity to the young in the Lord.

Positional leadership reminds me of the Old Testament. It’s purpose was to show us our need of the New Testament. But when it becomes an end to itself it becomes the “establishment” that was rejected in the so-called summer of love.

The Church that is hungering for revival today is hungering for more than Positional leadership can deliver. Unless Positional leadership can say – look we are only a temporary guide to what is best. You must not settle for what we have to offer. You must go on to leadership that is based solely upon your ability to value the Christ-like nature in someone.

I believe we are headed for a baptism of love that will lead us into the grace to bring some of these things to pass.

Bishop Robert Rogers

 

Copyright 2007 - One Million Voices, Oak Crest Church of God, Muskegon, Michigan