Reformation

By Greg Crawford Apostle

Acts 3:21 Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Reformation will be the next focus of the church and for some they are already catching on. We have been in this mindset now for almost a year. Reformation is different then revival (to revive or bring back to former state of life) or awakening (to cause to come out of slumber). Reformation means to reform what already has been in place. Webster’s defines reformation as the act or state of being reformed. Reformed is defined as to be changed for the better. From this simple definition we see we need a change (reformation) and not revivals (to go BACK to a former state of life, who wants that to live in the past. Awakening is the catalyst of reformation. The illumination of what was always there, but not always seen in times past. We see scripturally more reformers than revivalist in scripture. When the life of believers got complacent, is not revivalist but exhorters coming to remind them to not let things slip.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip .

But most of the time you see God bringing reformation and changing the container portraying His glory. The catalyst again is awakening expressed as supernatural manifestations causing the reformation. Revival touches the church and a few unbelievers possible, but reformation transforms a society to know that as a society or nation they have has an encounter with God. This begins with the awakening of a person’s spirit which touches both the church and the unbeliever. To me revivals only maintain what has been and awakening releases the future of what will be. What we are talking about is reaching towards the prize of finishing. The outcome of this is reformation!

Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD . 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD .

The reformers we see in scripture and history knew the revelation that God released would require every man to decide what that revelation meant to him personally and would require him to believe. The revelation God brought would eliminate all excuses men would give to not believe and would show His glory as well. This type of revelation was an issue of the heart and not of membership of a ?mother churches’ doctrinal statement!

Acts 19:28-30 And when they heard these sayings , they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians . 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre . 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not .

Paul had just confronted the belief system that was false. We see it as cultic and this is true, but the reality is Paul was not confronting cults in his ministry but belief systems. What we must understand like the Apostles of Acts reformation is confrontational with the belief system of people and will expose the belief system men had imposed on others. These things may or may not be cultic. The things that are false will come into conflict with what God is bringing as revelation. Without discernment and true spiritual understanding we could reject the revelation God desires to bring and only see it as conflicting and maybe even confusing. Yet most unbelievers will probably embrace the revelation because they have no preconceived ideas and belief systems.

So what needs to transpire to see reformation? The key is awakening the church into purpose, function and mandates. As I see it there are 3 parts that much be touched or awakened and then we will see reformation. Here they are briefly.

1. Theological transition
There is and has to be a Kingdom theology established. This is the main mandate now happening in the church. We are both returning to the basic foundation doctrines of the Christ and the Apostles of the early church. The self centered gospel we currently have will be set aside. Revelatory truth and mysteries of Christ is now bringing freshness to the church and should be bringing hope to unbelievers. If not then things need to be re-examined. In this area a new focus and understanding is coming concerning Eschatology – the doctrine of last things, and Ecclesiology – The doctrine of the church (ekklesia) as Jesus defined and meant to be. When these two finally merge or we have an alignment of heaven and earth we will see true awakening occur. We right now are at the beginning stage of the shifting in theology and for most leaders who do not “tune in” to the spirit this will be a hard, to almost impossible shift to happen.

2. Leadership transition
With awakened revelation, true leaders will begin to function differently. They will move from reactive (telling what wants to hear) to proactive (telling what needs to hear). This will begin to shift mindsets and paradigms away from self centeredness into Kingdom, (corporate Body of Christ). Leaders with true revelatory understanding will no longer be threatened to raise up those under them and also release them into function. Greater team dynamics of ownership of the vision and working together across boundaries is also a part of the shifting. Leaders will move away from being the source of jealousy causing division in the body of Christ to addressing false doctrine causing division in the society of nations.

3. Functioning Transition
The third will be a move from program driven church to Spirit led meetings. This comes from the first 2 transitions. People do not change how they function until the value systems changes. Values systems come from 2 sources Theology and leadership. As these 2 align people will be released to function. These means the true church will realize the Chronos (Natural seasons) and Kariso (divine moments) times of God. Gifts will be moving in people and services office restored to the Body. True biblical Apostolic Government in place and functioning. Environments for creativity to be released will also be formed thus releasing the prophetic, worship, arts and writing. Some of these are now occurring but not in the fullness by any means. As we function correctly we also will move in correct authority. We will realize we have a purpose, cause and will finish a destiny. Society will be effortless touched and sacrificial giving of lives will occur for the sake of souls again. The kingdom will be allowed to both change and participate in society!

Next week we will continue this teaching on reformation.

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Greg Crawford Apostle
J. I. M. Ministry Base
116 W. Burlington
Fairfield, Ia 52556
641-472-9916

J.I.M. Ministry Base
Iowa Alliance For Reformation
Jubilee School of Ministry
Jubilee on MYSPACE