Vol.95/8


Rapturing Faith (Part 12)


Introduction:

Rapture is a supernatural occurrence! Therefore believers need this kind of "faith for the supernatural" to be one of those going in the rapture!

Our God is a supernatural God, therefore we must believe for the impossible and seek for more of him to be like Enoch of old who pleased God and disappeared, "for God took him", that he should not see death.

May your eyes be opened and your heart set on fire to seek more of our supernatural God. AMEN!

Gospel Distribution Ministry

TRANSLATIVE WAY

(From a recorded sermon of Bro. Julius Adewumi, Night Vigil, 4/28/95)

Our God is a supernatural God, therefore we must believe for the impossible and seek for more of him to be like Enoch of old who pleased God and disappeared, "for God took him", that he should not see death.

Remember in Revelations chapter 3, when the Lord sent message to the Laodecian church: they said they have no need of nothing, whereas he said they are poor, wretched, and blind; When the body of Christ ever gives up the desire for "more of God's power", that will be the state -- Laodecian church!

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"Because thou saith that I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (Rev.3:17-18).

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That is the problem of the body of Christ in this generation. As long as people think, all they need is just wait for the Lord's return, and they are no more seeking for more of God's power, they are no more aspiring to be as supernaturally powerful as the Lord demonstrated, then they are not climbing the mountain, they can only go downwards.

But if we constantly ask for his power to do wonders, the Lord will look at us, and say "you are asking me for this? look at you, your temperament, your bitterness against others, get rid of those; you cannot use my power with those in you!" As we get those hinderances out of the way, very soon, we'll be as humble as he wants, as patient as he wants, and as gentle as he wants. He is going to help us to shed some of those weights from us.

Some power cannot come to some people because they are not humble enough. Some gifts cannot come to some people because they are not quiet enough; they may be too forward, quick to speak, and quick to act. If they have the power they most likely will run to show it off and demonstrate on stage that they have the power. And that will be wrong. The power of God is not for "show and tell". That was the first temptation the devil brought against the Lord Jesus Christ: "If you are the son of God, command these stones to become bread". That means, if you have this power, show us! Let's see you turn stone into bread -- the devil even gave a reason, which is that the Messiah was currently hungry. But Christ refused.

When the Lord points out our short-comings and we get rid of them, only then are we ready vessels for the outpouring of his power.

Panic Response:

To go in the rapture it is our faith that must be built up to the level of translative faith. There is something we call "panic response" which the Lord had recently brought to my understanding. In talking about faith, remember Samson in the bible. Samson got an anointing. But watch how the anointing manifested in Samson. The first recorded manifestation was that "a lion roared at him when he was passing by". Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he got hold of the lion and rent the lion into pieces. That is called "panic response!" The anointing was there, already resident in him, but it takes a panicky situation to make our human spirit respond in supernatural power. There is a story I heard about the eagle birds. I have not witnessed it myself. It is reported that when the baby eagles are growing up and they have never used their wings. The potential is there! They can fly but they had never exercised the wings. The mother eagle will carry the baby eagles upon her arms and say unto them "come on, I will carry you out for a ride!" They will ride upon the wings of their parent into the winds. They might say "Waoh, isn't it fun to fly high up in the sky?" Then what happen? It was reported that the mother eagle will drop the wings and allow them to fall off from high up in the sky. When those eaglets tumble and fall, the panic response will make them flap their own wings. In their struggle for survival, they will realize that they can fly because they begin to flap their wings and it pulled them up instead of going down. That is panic response. Amen!

When God put the heavy anointing on believers especially for translative faith - even the anointing to appear and to disappear, the first manifestation of it will be in a panic response! If you have read my literatures, in one of the rapturing faith series, I related that the angel who took me up into Space to ride in the inter-galactic whirlpool said unto me: "I don't need to carry you up, you can ride in this vehicle by yourself. You must believe your God to carry you." When I ponder on that statement, I realize the Lord's anointing has been granted. However it will take a panic response to first trigger it. Now you can understand why the Lord will descend with a SHOUT during the rapture. (1 Thes.4:16). The shout is not only to ressurrect the dead saints, but also to call our spirits into panic response if need be. (But only those who already have the anointing will respond.) "Deep calleth unto deep!" (Psa.42:7).

When something is about to happen and the anointing is in you, it will trigger panic response and you may disappear from the scene of tragedy. That is why I'm saying when you begin to seek more of the Lord and he gives you the anointing, you will not die in a bomb explosion or any such evil. (Read "Faith for the supernatural"). Even, he has given his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. But you have to believe it and let your faith grow higher even unto rapturing anointing.

I remember the testimony of a man who was involved in a motor accident. In fact, It was my daddy. I just came back from college. The police came by to get more eye witness information from him about the accident which happened many days before. He told them all that transpired. A friend of his asked him about the accident afterwards:

"Oh you were in an accident?"

"Yes" he replied.

"Were you alright? what happened?"

He said, "Yes, I was alright!"

"Was anybody injured?"

He said,"Yes of course; some people broke necks, some people broke arms!"

"But how did you escape?"

"I don't know. Something just lifted me up, and landed me on my feet outside the vehicle. I don't know how!"

His friend said "Whaoh!"

I thought about the testimony after I became a minister and was seeking more of God. The anointing of God upon you, like the great Eagle, will just lift you up and you may disappear from a bomb blast or from an earthquake scene, where thousands may perish. Panic Response! That 's what we call it! Amen!

Yea, "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked." (Psa 91:8-10).

Who will not like to have such power and protection? That is why we invite you to come and have fellowship with this man from Galilee -- Jesus! "His going forth has been from of old, from everlasting." He only has immortality! He was the one that walked with patriach Enoch and Enoch disappeared without seeing death. This same God is still looking for more folks among the sons of Enoch to give them the same immortality. We are the sons of Enoch according to bible chronology. We all came through Noah who was a great-grandson of Enoch.

The panic response was what got Samson started. He was already a nazarite unto God, but has never really used his power until a lion roared at him.Then the panic response kicked in! (Judges 14:5). Yea, It is faith that will get us out of here. Faith for the supernatural! It takes faith for the supernatural for men like Shedrach, Meshach and Abednigo to walk out of the fiery furnace. You may say they didn't know that God would do that thing for them. It just happened. Yes God just did it for them. But God is saying He wants sons at the end of time to be built up in faith and in power to the point that we will even know. We will be like warriors unto him. That is what he is calling us unto. When we heard about the calling of God in the seventies, we aspired. We heard about Elijah the prophet, and about Enoch who disappeared and we wondered and said who was that Spirit that was with them. Then He manifested to us in his messages saying "I am here. It's Jesus Christ the Almighty God that did it for Enoch and for Elijah." That is why he told the Jews with his own mouth that, "verily, verily I say unto you; if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death!" It means he has the power of immortality and can keep you and me alive. (Jn. 8: 51). He also said, "As the Father has life in himself, so has he given to the son to have life in himself." (Jn.5:26) Yea "He only has immortality!"

When Samson was arrested and his hands were tied. He was brought before the Philistine's army. When the Philistines shouted on him, the anointing came upon Samson and he broke the ropes like stubble. The shout created "the panic response" which triggered the anointing upon Samson. (Judges 15:14).

Apostle John was saying "that which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you. that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ." The body of Christ needs to seek more of God's power! More of God!

We've got to get ourselves into the the anointing. We need to have the zeal for more of God. "He that seek me early shall find me", saith the Lord. We are going to pray and ask God for that same power which men of old have told us they got from the Almighty God to do wonders. God is the creator of all power. In fact that is what Christ meant when he said "all power in heaven and in earth is given unto me". The power to perform wonders is in the hand of Jesus. The power that can deliver in the day of atomic bomb is in the hand of Jesus! The power that can deliver and even make you vanish from the epicenter of an earthquake is in the hand of Jesus! We want to walk with Jesus to get that same power and get that same anointing like Elijah got, to disappear from this planet without seeing death; without being bombed by any evil doer; without being afraid of any drive-by shooting. They may shoot, but we shall pass through without being hurt. They may shoot, but the arrows will just be diverting away from us. As the word of God has said, "We shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrows that flieth by day" (Psa.91:5-6). I didn't write this verse there! They are promises for those that will abide under the shadows of the almighty. Those words have been in the bible. A friend said, You can say those words forever and it will not happen, unless you have the anointing! Unless you have that same Spirit which gave power to them in those days! That same Spirit is Jesus. Unless you are fellowshipping with him like he wants, you will not be able to claim those promises. The bible verses are just "words" to those who do not walk with the Spirit which authored the words. The Lord is that Spirit! Someone said "I thought I am fellowshipping with him already". But set your heart on heaven - wanting more of God, aspiring to be as powerful as the Lord Jesus manifested, praying and fasting, and desiring more of Jesus. Don't be like the church of the Laodecia which said they are rich and have need of nothing whereas the Lord said they are "wretched, poor, blind, miserable" and He counsels you to "buy of me gold tried in the fire that ye may be rich". (Rev. 3:17-19).

Let's pray and ask the Lord to set our hearts right, that we may continually desire for more of Jesus. "His going forth has been from of old, from everlasting". Saints have got to disappear from this planet as the bible said before the destruction occurred. The days are becoming more and more evil. Bomb blast is occurring in many corners. Just this morning it was in the news that a package was discovered at the Phoenix civic plaza, and the police surrounded the place suspecting it was a bomb; because of the fear that the men who bombed Oklahoma City few weeks ago planned to bomb Phoenix also. Who knows what else is ahead? The days are evil. It is time for the saints of the most high God to be more supernatural. It is time for us to cry unto God and say "Lord, turn our hearts, O Lord, unto desiring for more of thee". These are the days when we should demonstrate the supernatural deliverance hand of our supernatural God! We walk with a supernatural God! But God said "buy of me gold tried in the fire that you may be rich". We want that supernatural wealth of power so that we won't be afraid of the evils that are prevalent in the streets. Faith , Oh Faith! God loves it! Men died for it! It is time for the body of Christ to seek for higher faith by seeking more of God.

Saith the Lord, " ..and you shall find me, when ye shall seek me with all of your heart". AMEN!

Prophecies to watch:

97-99, Look for great outpouring of God's anointing according to a discussion I heard recently in a vision. [ Dated June 1995]

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Early in April, One man killed by a "basket-ball" bullet, will be healed by God. Doctors will confirm it is a miracle. The man's name initialized like P.M. [Dated June 1995]

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In my vision, one fellow prophezied concerning a federal building that "I will give this house over unto holocaust". Another bomb blast I presume. The building has covered driveway at the main entrance as used by hotels. (Ohio?) [Dated June 22, 1995]

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FAITH OF ENOCH

(From a sermon of Bro. Julius Adewumi, night vigil 6/24/95 )

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1)

I want to talk about the faith of Enoch. This is a teaching series on faith from Hebrew chapter 11.

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and he was not for God has translated him. And before his translation he has this testimony that he pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him"

The bible said Enoch was translated that he should not see death. I believe that is the highest level of faith (or rather highest reward for faith). We want to go and meet the Lord in the air! We want to go without seeing death! That has to be greater faith than just "praying for our bodies to be well", or praying for our needs to be met, or many other things we use faith for. This has to be greater because this seems like "impossible". You can say that even it is now possible because human beings already have space ships - space shuttle, which America has built and even the Russians have one. You get into it and they shoot you up into space by rockets. So you might say it's no more a big deal. Yet it's still a big deal because it's not going to be a metallic ship like those space shuttles, which still took billions of dollars to build one. This is going to be for individual who will go away . Jesus is building something for us that will take individual of us out of here in a blast of supernatural fire. It is going to be remarkable. It looks like impossible but it will happen. God has done it before. Now he is going to do it not just for one guy called Enoch but for a multitude of believers. Believing this in itself is faith. That is what we want to examine about Enoch.

Remember we have cases and examples we can refer to in the bible; and even in real life, people had gone into space and returned. It shouldn't be too strange for us to believe that Jesus will and can do this for believers. But in the old days like the days of Enoch, something remarkable about Enoch was that he was able to believe it when God revealed it to him that he can go away from here without physical death if he follow through in his faith. God said Enoch was translated that "he should not see death". I want to put emphazy on that phrase "he should not see death." That sounds almost like a reward of his faith, isn't it? Just meditate along with me in this sermon. That is, think about these things as we ponder upon individual man of God in this chapter eleven of Hebrews.

How did Enoch get this thing? What can I exercise my mind unto, which will help my walk with the Lord? The first point the Lord told me concerning the faith of Enoch is this:

Understanding:

1) God revealed it to Enoch that it is possible for man to get that immortality back from God. It's like any other sermon a preacher preaches before an audience such as "Jesus is the only saviour". You can be in a church among thousands of people when the message is preached. Every one of the people will believe it differently after hearing it. Like the parable of the sower: some seed fell on good ground, others fell on stony places. Even in the good ground, some still bring forth only thirty fold while some bring forth hundred fold and some, sixty.

In the first generation of men after Adam, they must have heard it preached or talked about or revealed somehow that Adam lost something, and that they can get the immortality back from God if they will come back to God. They were informed somehow that God didn't intend for Adam to die until the fall came to them.

"Because thou art dust, and unto dust shall thou return".

In Gen.4 it was recorded that when Seth began to have children, "then began men to call upon the name of the Lord". That is why I said they understood somehow that if they would come back to God, he is gracious and can give back that immortality, at least to individual that will please him. Men started to worship God. It must have been revealed to them by God because Abel also tried to do something differently to please God; And God said he accepted the offering of Abel, which caused Cain's jealousy.

There was a difference between Enoch and the rest of the people in his time. Enoch understood the message. The others may say "I hear you", which does not mean "I agree with you". Understanding the message is very important. The Lord himself said about the seed that fell on good ground: they understand. (Mat.13:23) "He that receiveth seed on the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it, and bringeth forth some an hundred fold some sixty and some thirty." Even though they all understood they still will not bring forth the same measure of fruits. Remember that.

The Lord said to Peter when he revealed who the messiah was that, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you but my father which is in heaven". "And upon this rock, I will build my church". Revelative understanding!

Enoch understood the message. Noah also understood and Noah was of the same generation. Noah might have been able to hear his grandfather, Methuselah, spoke about Enoch the great-grandfather of Noah. I am going to correllate this faith of Enoch to my message that "Christ has abolished death". I did not originate the message. The Lord simply made me to preach it as I have believed it. He has given me more revelation that help to give me better understanding of the truth. We are talking of "revelative understanding". It is not just understanding the grammar of the statement and deciding whether you will accept it or reject it. It is "revelative understanding" of the plan and purpose of God in the message. The word of God comes by revelation. However some people may understand the message that Christ has abolished death and that we can live till Christ comes and not go to the grave or that we can live and please God to the point that he will take an individual away like Enoch that he should not see death, even though the rapture is not here yet. But they may give excuses by saying: "well, I understand, but it is not easy, therefore it is not possible". It is the revelation of the word that will make another man say, "I understand it and there is a quickening of my spirit that made me to strongly believe that the Lord will give it to me if I try."

Believing:

The second point about Enoch is that he believes it. Firstly, he understood the message by revelation: revelative understanding. Secondly he believed it! What about the others? Didn't they believe it? There are two things to consider when it comes to believing:

1) Is it true and can I attain to it?

2) Is the giver true and will he give it if I attain to it?

Let me give an example of what I mean: There is in America what is called "sweepstakes". The advertizers will say, if you buy this magazine or this product, your name will be included in a lottery drawing for you to win ten million dollars. It sounds too good to be true many times. This is different from the usual lottery. The first thought from many folks is that it is an advertizement gimmick. The first doubt in people is: can your name be drawn out of millions of people who will enter the sweepstakes? Many people who want to exercise faith do not have problem with this point. The second doubt is: are the sweepstakes organizers really faithful to give away ten million dollars? That is the biggest question!

Now correllating that to the faith of Enoch, some people may understand the message when Christ said "verily verily I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death". (Jn.8:51). They believe he was talking about physical death. But many may have problem with the first doubt. That is, they do not believe they can attain to it even if they try. Others believe they can attain to it if they try but they doubt God's faithfulness to that promise, as if to say even after they have tried so much, the Lord may find a flimpsy excuse to disqualify them and still let them die. However many others will rather say he did not mean physical death, and they spiritualize every bible doctrine.

Now Enoch believed the message but what about the rest of the people? Did they believe it? Did they believe it is possible to walk with God and overcome death? Some of them would say: "Ah, Adam died! God created Adam; he was the fresh handmade from God Himself. He was the direct creation, closest to perfection. If Adam could die, are you greater than Adam?" That will knock off a lot of people from even trying to believe that they could please God to the point of being granted immortality. They had already made up their mind that it is impossible.

The greeks in Athens manifested the same doubt when they heard apostle Paul preached, on Mars hill, about Christ's resurrection. (Acts.17:32). "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again on this matter." Their Philosophers and scientists had already concluded and closed their books on the topic, that when a man dies he is not coming back. So they had made up their minds before Paul came.

The same thing the Jews told Jesus. When the Lord Jesus told the Jews: "Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death", the Jews replied: "Now we know that you have a devil, Abraham is dead and all the prophets; and you say if a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death; Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: Whom makest thou thyself?" (Jn.8:51-52).

Concerning this message that Christ has abolished death, do you understand it? It is "revelative" understanding I am talking about. People have argued that "Peter died, Apostle Paul died and all the apostles, do you think this thing is possible?"

It is the same question. Do you believe it is possible? Enoch must have believed that it is possible. That is the key issue about faith. First, do you believe God can heal you? Do you believe your prayer can get hold of God to do it for you? That is, do you believe you can move close enough to God to get supernatural things done for you by God? If you say "yes, if I try, with His help I might be able to get close enough to the goal to get what I desire (as in immortality)". The next question is "do you believe God will give it?" A lot of people has problem with that. They do not know the will of God or they have been wrongly taught so that they can not believe God will do such thing for mankind. Therefore they never try. A lot of churches don't believe God will heal the sick, so they don't even try to pray and if they pray they do not pray right.

Enoch believed it! (1) He believed that it is possible. (2) He believed that he could get to the goal of overcomers if he tried. (3) He also believed that God will do it. These are the issues to consider about "believing".

Some people had the problem with the third point. They might have said "Yea, it is possible to attain to that goal; but no, it's God that is killing mankind." That is how they have been taught. They have learned that it was God who cursed mankind because of the sin of Adam. Many nowadays still think it is God that put diseases upon people. Such mindset will have problem believing that God will give out immortality to any man who tried to walk with God. But Enoch was able to believe that God will give it, because he had "revelative understanding" of the message. That is what I am pointing out to you. Pray for revelative understanding of the word of God!

After you have the understanding and you believe it, the next thing is to walk the walk. This principle applies to anything in life. If you really believe it, strong enough, you will pursue it and try to get it. You will not give up but will try and try again asking for help from whatever source you can get help.

Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Enoch practised the walk with God. After you have believed, you must do it! You must pursue it. God usually gives a general word. To those who believe and decide to follow the word, He will reveal more to them. He must have showed to Enoch, and to Elijah, the narrow road they are to walk, that "if you get to the end of this road or go thus far, I will take you away without seeing death". It is now the doing of it you have to do. "Many are called but few are chosen!" A lot of people in this generation also will believe the rapture and every thing about the rapture, but they are not doing the deeds and are not walking the walk. That will separate the true hearers from the lukewarm. Enoch pleased God by practising and fulfilling his own side of the bargain. "Convenant of life" is what I called it! Remember Elijah tried to give up one time and prayed for himself to die. (1Kgs.19:4). But God will not break covenant. The angel woke him up and asked Elijah to eat and to keep on going.

Abraham had the similar covenant with God but not the same content. The revelation is different for each type of person. You must remember that! If you have a revelation, don't throw it away just because somebody respectable in the church does not have the same revelation. King David wrote that "I have more understanding than all my teachers" (Psa.119:99). God gives revelation to individual follower as he purposed in your life.

For instance people will think Elisha the prophet should also have gone in a chariot of fire if he received double portion of Elijah's anointing. But he died! God gives revelation as he foreordained. If He had foreordained us in this generation to know better and enjoy the greatest promise of God than the first apostles, so that we will go in the rapture like Enoch disappeared, who can argue with God? Didn't the Lord Jesus said that "the first shall be last and the last first?" (Mat.19:30).

Abraham received a promise that his seed will inherit the land of Canaan. He believed it. For believing it, it was counted to him as righteousness. God has revealed to mankind that immortality is possible by walking with God. (Jn.8:51, 2Tim.1:10). I believe it. Do you also believe it? What we need to do henceforth is to walk with God to the pleasing mark.

Obstacles:

While you are practising what you believe, there will be obstacles in the way. The fourth point about the faith of Enoch is that Enoch was not shaken by circumstances. Obstacles are the circumstances. He was not shaken by circumstances. One of the circumstances could be "mockers saying to his face that it's not possible". Mockers would ask him: "how do you think you can escape death when Adam died, your father died, your grand father died?" That didnot shake his faith. He had revelation. Revelation is what will make you to be able to say "No. Everybody may be dieing around me but the bible says, if I walk in this narrow road and keep his saying, He will take me in the rapture and I shall never see death." (Jn.8:51).

Circumstances may also be that great men whom Enoch respected doubted the message. But Enoch was not shaken by them.

I don't care who preached against it. One big prophet somewhere may say it is wrong to believe that way. God didn't reveal it to that prophet! When God has given you a revelation of the word, hold on to it. Your part is to walk the walk. "Let God be true and every man a liar."

Similar revelation was given to Elijah the prophet which I called covenant of life with God. God does not have to sign a paper with him. He simply throw the revelation of his word into your heart. If you believe it and say to him "Lord I'm going to do it and walk the walk to please you if you will help me", it becomes a covenant. God will say, "if he is walking the walk, I am going to wait and help him on the way to take him away in translation that he should not see death". That was what Elijah received from God.

Get the revelative understanding of the word. The Lord has given enough bible verses to make me understand that he wants to give immortality to mankind. The rapture is the manifestation of it to the band of believers who will attain to the goal of overcomers at this end time. "Christ only has immortality" and he has brought immortality to light through the gospel. (2Tim.1:10).

Yea, walk the walk which the prophets walk and please the Lord so that you can receive the immortality and go in the rapture. The rapture is not a lazy escape of death. Those who are caught up to the throne of God really overcame death and the dragon as it is written : And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony;and they loved not their lives unto the death". (Rev.12:11). They knew Christ has abolished death!

I pray that your eyes of understanding be enlightened to be able to comprehend with the saints and to aspire to the goal of the overcomers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bro. Julius Adewumi, Gospel Distribution

USA.

{ If you are blessed by this literature, write and let us know. As the Lord has said, "to him that hear shall more be given."}