Laura Clark is one of the members of Great Eagle Ministries International Forums; the following article is one that she posted recently, and has been a source of many blessings to all of us. We hope that this will provoke us to examine carefully where we have been, where we are now, and where we are heading.
Love and Blessings Brother Robert
State of the Body
by Laura Clark
I used to fellowship with several home groups in Austin, Texas before the Lord moved us back to my small hometown in July 1999. Early in that year, when we told the pastor of one of those fellowships that we would be leaving, he asked me to "bring a word from the Lord on the state of the body" at the last meeting we would attend there on July 4th. That was a tall order for me! I sought the Lord earnestly for about a month for that word, and wrote down what the Lord gave me. This word has been the rudder of my spiritual life since then and it contained certain instructions that I haven't finished yet. I believe that the Lord led me to this forum to assist in accomplishing some of them. I feel led at this time to share that word with this body, and ask if you would help me in completing the task.
"I am pulling you away from tradition into truth. Tell the church that on July 4th. That's the state of this body. I want you to inventory every belief that you have and determine whether it was taught or revealed. If it was taught, it came from man and needs to be confirmed by revelation. By signs and wonders. Do not deny the power and have your own form of "godliness." If you won't let me participate in your ministry, it will fail. If you do, your preaching will be confirmed and approved by signs and wonders. This is my way. Why would I give you an example and then deviate from it?
You'd better know what you know because your faith in everything you believe will be tested to the utmost. Anything that is not thoroughly rooted and grounded will be toppled in the storms to come. Question your basic beliefs. Do it now before the hour of temptation comes. Do you know you are saved? Do you know you believe my Word? Do you know that you love me and would not deny me?
Be especially leery of men who have great followings. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way and few there be that find it. Men are not falling over themselves to enter the gates of truth. If you see a crowd, stand back and see if you can find me in it. What is the message men are flocking to hear? If their remarks are not prefaced with repent and concluded with death on the cross, be suspicious of the teaching, for they are not following my model. They are not following Paul's model, either. Look at the examples recorded in My word. My life, Paul's life -- those are examples of how your teachers' lives should be. Look at Hebrews Chapter 11 for examples -- heroes of the faith -- their lives exemplify the way of living by faith.
If you were talked into your beliefs, you can be talked out of them. If you had seen Santa Claus instead of hearing about him, you'd believe in him. If he'd taken you to the North Pole and shown you the elves, your belief in him would be unshakable. But as you grew older and saw that he had many faces and was always in the mall instead of the chimney, you began to see you were deceived about him. Your man-made beliefs are the same way. They have many faces and they are surrounded by commercialism.
Parents tell their children many things with good intentions. Some of your beliefs are Santa Clauses. Those who taught them to you may have had good intentions. But now it is time to grow up and find out who really brings you the gifts. It is the one who loved you and raised you -- the one who conceived you. Men love to perpetuate myths. But when the myths are gone, I am left. Take time now to find out what will fall away when the shaking comes. Go ahead and lose it now. Replace it with a solid foundation based on fact -- direct revelation from Me confirmed by my Word.
Your only security is obedience. Obedience proves you faith. If you trust me you will do the inventory of your beliefs now, before it's too late. Try writing your creed -- what you believe in. You will be surprised how much it varies within this small body. And yet it is evident you all know me. So then likewise it is evident that some of your beliefs are not from me -- because I never disagree with myself. I'm just talking about basic, foundational beliefs -- how are you saved -- can you lose your salvation -- do you have to be baptized. If you are not secure in these things, the enemy will rattle you and your house will fall around you. Try defining salvation in your little group and see how many answers you get. How can you know you are saved if you don't really know what it means? There are many misconceptions just in this area alone. It is not black and white, cut and dried. It is a big topic that you can only know through revelation and spiritual discernment. Man can't capture in words what I really mean by salvation. That is like answering -- where is the ocean? I am constantly amazed that man is conceited enough to think that he understands salvation when I haven't revealed it to him. And that he is arrogant enough to impose his own interpretations on others and condemn those to hell who don't agree.
Some of you are disappointed in the temple I have built because you are comparing it to Solomon's. Do not be deceived by looks - truly the glory of the latter house is greater than the former -- and a greater than Solomon is here in your midst. Please recognize me, even if the world doesn't. Forsake your own ideas and embrace mine. Take Maudie's constant prayer as an example -- when she says "I set my will to be your will." Set your hopes to be my hopes -- your dreams to be my dreams -- your ambitions to be my ambitions. For though you may imagine you want the best for Me, as did David, I have a greater vision for you and Me both."
Laura Clark
