Where is Jesus.

By Dave Howe 1/4/2003.

 

Where is Jesus ?

 

Today we see so many speaking about their ministries – About their fellowships/churches – About what they are doing to make the kingdom grow.

About their plans – But very little about Jesus.

 

Today we have made Christ’s church into what we want it to be – Made it in our image for we have taken it off him thinking we know better – Thinking we are helping him.

 

Many of our ministries/fellowships are Christ less – Where Christ is side lined and we cannot see it.

The other day I was thinking it should not be about Dave Howe – Living Waters Fellowship or Wellspring Prophetic Ministries, England but about Jesus.

I have this saying – I don’t know what I am doing here but Christ Does.

 

Some years ago I heard a preacher say – We make our plans and the Lord orders them using the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord to put forwards his plans.

 

( Psalms:37:23: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. )

 

That preacher later went on to speak about how his fellowship was going to be the biggest in the area and all others would follow them.

I thought to myself – I don’t think they will like to hear that.

 

A few days ago I was speaking to a pastor friend who lives in London who said – There is so much pride in many pastors – Saying things like I have 3,000 in my church how many have you got.

I don’t remember the apostles talking about how many they have got in the church in the places and homes where they meet.

 

Today we have this and that group/denominations competing and holding their corners on their truths.

We have people going around claiming to have Gods authority to be over/above others – Saying we have to be covered be them.

I have heard stories of these apostles going into fellowships and demanding that those fellowships submit to them bending the scriptures with clever words.

 

We have some meeting together saying the they wish to bring unity but in reality wanting to spread their rule and doctrines over others – Wanting to be tops dogs over their towns and cities – Any that will not submit to the senior city elders/pastors would be side lined or ignored – Branded as in rebellion against Gods true church.

 

Some years ago I was in a meeting where the speaker said – Leaders must be obeyed without question – We are above you – Also leaders hear God better than people in the congregation – That’s why we are in charge.

Again I don’t remember hearing the apostles saying this.

 

This is pride showing itself – Pride which can so easily slip up to us like a snake – Slip itself around us and slowly crush the life out of us while whispering in our ears – Your doing all right – God is pleased with you – You are in Gods will – Just look at what’s happening – Look at that nice building you have – Look at all those people in your fellowship all looking to you as their leader and teacher – All worshiping you without knowing it.

If all this is happening then everything you do must be right for you are Gods most favoured one.

 

Yet in all this it’s a constant battle to stay on top – To keep that mask on – To show the people that you are the leader – The one who is up the mountain hearing from God while the rest of the people stand afar off because they have been told that all this revelation is above their level – For what God tells you is for leaders -Your ears only and must be spoon fed to the people.

( Yes I have heard this said )

 

We should take our hands off his Church – Off his bride.

To put it this way – Husbands if your wife came and told you that another man was trying seduce her – Steal her away from you - You would be very upset and angry.

But how would you feel if it was happening in front of you in your own home - That’s what we have been doing in many ways.

 

The Lord Says – I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.

All of what we are trying to build in his name is on sandy soil – When the wind blows and the rivers rise then it will fall for it is has no foundations.

 

Just because our houses have many members living in them does not make it right.

It takes a lot maintenance to keep these houses standing – Lots of re-building programs – Lots of entertainment to keep the people indoors.

If this were to all to stop then the people would get board and leave – Soon bits would start falling off – For who would want to live in a house is falling down – Full of damp with drafts coming in.

 

But in Gods true house there is no need for maintenance and re- building programs for Christ has built it perfect – What ever happens outside will have no effect on Christ’s house.

 

There is a song called – When the music fades ( The heart of worship )

 

The singer sings about how he is coming back to the heart of worship – He sings about how he’s sorry for the way he’s has made it when its all about Jesus.

 

This spoke to me about how we have made the church in our own image – When it should be all about Jesus.

I started to cry when I saw this.

 

May we repent of what we have done – Repent and take our hands off his church – Off his bride.

Repent of thinking we know better than Christ – Repent of thinking we are better and above those around us – Repent of worshiping men – Repent of our idolatry.

 

Come let us reason together says the Lord – For even though your sins be as scarlet – they shall whiter than snow.

Come – Repent for I want non to perish but all to have true life in me – Repent and place yourselves on the Rock Christ Jesus.

 

May We repent putting ourselves/fellowships/ministries above Christ maybe without knowing what we have done – Repent of lording over each other – Repent of using the worlds ways – Repent of our pride – May we decrease and Christ increase.

Repent and be truly free in Christ’s name.

Yes let us Repent for We are all so far from as it should be.

 

In the coming days there are going to be some very hard lessons – If we do not learn them we shall be washed away.

 

For its all about Jesus. 

 

Dave Howe 1/4/2001.             Below is a word that came in October 2001.

 

 

HUMILITY OF THE APOSTLES. For the body.

 

My people consider the 12 whom I called to follow me – None were worthy – None were of noble birth – None could speak with wise and persuasive words - None were any good in the eyes of world around them.

But I called to them “follow me” and they obeyed – Leaving all that was behind them For they heard the call of the I AM among them – Heard the call within their hearts.

 

They were a rough and ready band – Ready for the potter to start moulding them into pots he would have them be – Pots fit for the masters use – Pots to use for what ever purpose he sees fit to use them for.

 

At the beginning of their walk with me they argued about who was greatest among themselves  – At first some wanted to be above others because they did not understand servant hood – Did not understand about taking up the cross – For the cross was yet to come.

 

So I sat them down and said to them “If anyone wants to be the first, He must be the very last, Must be the servant of all”.

 

Taking a child in my arms, I said to them “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name  Welcomes me;  And whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

For he who is least among you all – He is the greatest”.

 

As they walked with me and I taught them they became more and more humble as I moulded them with my Word – Moulded them by my hands.

 

But the greatest test was yet to come - My crucifixion on the cross for the sins of the world – I knew all would leave me for fear of man – Because of the fear of death.

 

For the fear of man is a snare – Death and the fear of death is greatest and last enemy to overcome.

For to be a servant one must not love his own life even unto death – For humility and fear of man – Fear of death cannot be one.

 

Peter said that he would not leave me - But I told him that he would deny me three times before the cockle crowed to bring in the dawn – For he was still speaking out of the flesh – Speaking out of the old man.

 

The hour of crucifixion came and they all ran from me – My father turned away from me for he could not look upon the sin that I took upon myself to save you all.

 

For what was thought to be the biggest defeat became the mightiest victory as I said  “IT IS FINISHED”

 

My people thought it was finished but not in the way they thought.

 

For I rose on the third day –  I was risen from the dead - Visited my people – Forgave them and set them free from the fear of death - Told them to wait in Jerusalem for My Spirit to empower them.

 For I was still moulding them into my army – Moulding them into unity – Moulding them to be filled with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

The day came when I sent the Holy Spirit to fill them – They went forth free from the fear of man and death preaching My Word with signs following.

 

As my Church grew they did not fear their lives even unto death – They did not seek position over each other or try to lord it over others – Did not stop others from preaching the Gospel but considered others better than themselves - For I call whom I call – Empower whom I Empower.

They did not seek to build their own kingdoms but only sought to build the Kingdom Of God and to Glorify the Son.

 

They had truly taken up their cross – Had truly become humble even unto death – For they feared no man or devil but only feared God.

 

Yet today I see many men who say they are humble but only want position – Want to lord it over men and to look good in the eyes of man – Wanting titles to be above others – Yes even stopping ignoring and trampling underfoot those whom I call and empower from preaching the Gospel.

 

Many are wanting to build big churches for themselves using mans programs and entertainment to keep the people happy thinking that they are doing Gods will.

They have a form of godliness but deny the power – Binding up the people with chains using many clever words that blind the people – Blind guides leading the blind.

 

Woe to such as these I say – Woe to these shepherds who only fatten the sheep so that they may keep their belles full.

 

Repent – Repent – I say Repent before I come.

Repent – Humble yourselves before I come and humble you – For I want none to perish but all to have Life through the Son.

 

Consider the humility of my apostles who did not lord in over others – Who set people free in Christ Jesus – Who did not love their lives even unto death – Who made themselves of no reputation.

For they did not come with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on Gods power.

 

For I chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise – Chose the weak and lowly ones – Chose those whom the world despised and rejected to nullify the things that are – So that no one may boast before God of their own greatness.

For it is through such as these that I will show my Glory as I did with my apostles in days of old – For their hearts were truly humble before me.

 

Consider the Humility my apostles – Yes Look in My Word for it is there that you will find the answers – For My Word is All Truth - For by my Spirit I will teach you all things.

 

Dave Howe – 22 October 2001 – Living Waters Fellowship - Wellspring Prophetic Ministries England.