As we have considered in one of our previous studies, there are a number of scriptures that illuminate a progressive walk and maturity in the Lord. One of these is II Peter 1:2-7:

We have been discussing that there is a nation within all nations beginning to emerge, which is God’s “holy nation.” This is where our true citizenship lies. If we are growing in the Lord, our identity will grow more in relationship to our fellow citizens of the holy nation than any other national, cultural, or even racial identity. Also, our hope will be more in the emerging holy nation than in any other human government.

Leadership comes on different levels. Armies tend to have ranks; Moses broke it down into leaders of tens, hundreds, and thousands. In Exodus12:38, we are told that Israel left Egypt as a "mixed multitude," but then they were quickly formed into "martial array" (see Exodus 13:18), which means military order. This was the first thing the Lord did to prepare Israel for making it through the wilderness and to possess their Promised Land. We can soon expect this to also happen in the church.

     As we have covered in part, young prophetic ministries often become confused because they do not understand that many things they feel are not their own problems, but they are picking up on other people’s problems. For example, you might go into a store and suddenly start feeling lust. The immature often start repenting for this when what they are feeling may be the problem of a person nearby, or even something that is gaining entry into the store, or being imparted at the store.

     This week we will continue with Revelation 5:1-5:

     An often quoted Barna study revealed that more than 90 percent of Americans believe in God and about 80 percent consider themselves Christians. That is encouraging, but what has to be a challenge is that only 6 percent who claim to be Christians have a biblical worldview. The obvious conclusion we must draw from this is that we may have done well making converts, but we are not making disciples. The Great Commission is to make disciples, and this is defined as teaching them to observe everything that He commanded.

         As we have been covering, the church at Pergamos faced one of the greatest trials of all—going from one of the worst periods of persecution to being elevated to the highest position of authority in the empire. It also dwelt at the place of “Satan’s throne.” As the church and state “married” during this period, the church took on many of the ways of the world and adopted the Empire’s hierarchal form of government.

Each morning as I pray over the different ministries in MorningStar, I am confronted by the truth that what we are doing is far beyond my ability to control. I could spend all of my time with any one of the eight major ministry divisions and it would not be enough, yet I can only give each one a tiny fraction of my time. I am also challenged by the fact that each of these ministries can have an impact on Christians around the world because of the influence that we have.

     “There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” James Madison