04/08/2024
TOPIC: God's Warnings
Looking thus ahead with clear, unerring eye. God saw, and moreover prophesied through the prophet Joel, that the Church would not always retain this glorious state of power.
Joel saw that the palmerworm and the caterpillar were going to rob, strip, mutilate and destroy this perfect tree with its gifts and fruits. He saw that the Church, or tree, was going to gradually lose more and more, until it would be left desolate, barren and despairing (Joel 1:7).
Not only did Joel see this, but Jesus saw it and sent His servant John to warn the Church.
'Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
'Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent' (Rev 2:4,5).
The first works mentioned here refer to the supernatural works done by the Church. The Greek word is ergon. This word is used by Jesus repeatedly in reference to the miracles He did (see John 5:20,36; 6:28; 10:25).
He used this word when He promised, 'Verily, verily, .1 say unto you, He that believeth on me, the [supernatural] works that I do shall he do also; 'and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father' (John 14:12).
Jesus was clearly calling the Church back to the anointing, blessing and power in which it was birthed.
2. Perfect Fruit Destroyed
The Church did not heed this call. The falling away (backsliding) and destruction of the perfect tree did not occur in one day. It was a gradual deterioration accomplished day by day and stage by stage.
One day the palmerworm appeared, eating and destroying as it went, until as the years went by the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit began to disappear from view.
Not so many sick were healed as before, not so many miracles were performed.
Faith was on the wane. When someone in the assembly spoke in tongues, there was no one who interpreted. Prophecy was not so frequent