Before there was a Flag

Note: This message was delivered on September 3, 2022, during the 19th Annual General Assembly.

​We owe a great deal to our illustrative fathers and mothers in our tradition of the faith. They were sincere and honest and made great sacrifices to bequeath to us a great and “goodly heritage” (Jer. 3.19). We will be forever grateful and indebted to them.

It may be helpful here to point out some of the important biblical teachings and principles that our pioneers handed down to us. For in recognizing Jesus’ and the apostles’ teachings over against the erroneous doctrines and fanatical ideas that crept into the church down through the years, we will be able as we go forward in this great restoration work and perfection venture, to purge the gold and silver, and cast away the dross (Mal 3.2-3; 1 Cor. 3.12-15; 2 Tim. 2.20-21; Eph. 5.26-32), or, under another metaphor, to winnow [purify] the wheat and cast away the chaff (Mt. 3.10-12).

In pursuing this course of action—that is, to critique the great heritage handed down to us—we are in accord with the counsel of God’s Word to praise our forefathers for the great heritage they bequeathed to us but also to mark the errors so that we do not repeat and perpetuate them (Ps. 78.1-72; 1 Cor. 10.1-12; see also Deut. 4.5-24; et al).

Heirs of a Rich Biblical Heritage
First, our illustrious fathers and mothers in the faith handed down to us the apostolic order of salvation that had been covered over with darkness during the apostasy of the Early Church and the ensuing Dark Ages. The divine order of salvation is as follows: that all men are born in sin (Rom. 3.9, 23) and must be redeemed through faith and the blood of Christ to avoid the eternal consequences of God’s wrath (Jn. 3.36; Eph. 2.2-3, 7-8). This “so great salvation” began to be restored with the “morning stars” of the Reformation—John Wycliffe, John Hus, Girolamo Savonarola, et al. and afterward with Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, et al. and continued through the Anabaptists, Quakers, Mennonites, et al. and from thence to John Wesley and George Whitfield, culminating in our fathers and mothers and other leaders of the holiness-Pentecostal movement in the nineteenth- and early twentieth century.

This biblical ordo salutis included conviction of sin [the revelation of the righteous judgment of God], true repentance [forsaking of sin], the new birth [born again/ regeneration], instantaneous and entire sanctification [popularly known as the “second blessing”] subsequent to the new birth, which included a lifestyle of practical holiness. Then all culminated with the baptism with the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues and the manifestations of spiritual and charismatic gifts.

Second, they handed down to us a prophetic vision of the Bible church, namely, that the church is visible [not spiritual or “invisible”]; it is distinct from the kingdom of God, which in this present age is invisible (Lk. 17.20-21; Jn. 18.36). In this sense individual believers and the church embody and manifest the kingdom. The church is thus, like the human body, the incorporation of many members in one divine organization and organism. This visible union is formed by a church covenant—a sacred pledge to believe in and walk by the same rule of faith, government, and discipline (Ex. 19.5-8; 2 Kg. 23.1-3; Is. 62.5; Jn. 17.6,8, 14; 2 Cor. 11.2-3; 1 Pet. 2.9). The church is thus universal, made up of local churches throughout the world, all coordinated and operating under this same rule of faith and discipline (Acts 15.1–16.5; Phil. 3.16).
​
The government and discipline of the church is theocratic in nature and function in contrast with democratic, republican, oligarchical, Presbyterian, episcopalian, monarchical, dictatorships, fascism, and other forms of human government. Its laws and order of discipline come down from God and are revealed in the Scriptures. Its highest authority on earth under God is the General Assembly. As such, the General Assembly is a “judicial body only” in contrast to legislative and executive bodies.

​The theocratic government of the church functions on the practical level [day by day] through an ordained and appointed hierarchy of elders [pastors, presbyters/ overseers] which culminates in a central authority of elders appointed by a Presiding Bishop, who in turn is selected and appointed by the General Assembly.

Third, our highly esteemed fathers in the faith also handed down to us a rich heritage of evangelism and revivalism and a worldwide mission vision. We could go on magnifying the rich heritage of faith, government, and discipline that our illustrious pioneers handed down to us, but all was not well.

A “Goodly Heritage” Corrupted
Notwithstanding the rich heritage of faith and discipline bequeathed to us, some unfortunate mistakes were made along the way. Sadly, the rich heritage that we have just noticed and magnified became riddled and cluttered with some strange ideas and fanatical tendencies. The good seed was mixed with corrupt seeds. Indeed, the church of our fathers was at times like a great ship chartered for a certain destiny in a distant land but then was blown off course by winds and storms. Again, our church tradition has been like a mighty train on the main line of a railroad headed for a certain destination but became sidetracked because someone threw a switch that sent it down the wrong track.

The following is a common scenario I have observed through the years, both by personal experience and as a student of history. Whenever Christians unite themselves together in a church union or some type of association, they inevitably adopt certain forms and religious rituals and practices to help them fulfill their ministry and mission. But often the saints’ intimacy with God wanes and they become lukewarm, while the visible forms and rituals remain. Still again, on a few occasions, we have been like the shells of ocean snails and clams that have been washed upon shores [beaches]: the shells testify that life once existed in them but had been extinguished by death and the forces of nature—like the “dry bones” in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 37.1-14).

Dead Forms and Empty Rituals
Dead forms and empty rituals substituted in lieu of praise, rejoicing, and manifestations of the Spirit is a dismal sight, grievous to behold. For churches leave their “first love,” and the fires go out. They become a self-contradiction: Christless bodies [communions] designed to be inhabited by Christ and the Holy Spirit but then corrupted and broken (Ps. 2.9; 31.12; Is. 12- 14; Jer. 18.1-6). They profess to be representatives of the City of God but have not the River of God flowing through them! (Ps. 46.4; 65.9). They were once “a noble vine,” having germinated and emerged from a “wholly right [true] seed” planted by the Lord, but through the mystery of iniquity was “turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine” (Jer. 2.21). “How is the faithful city become a harlot!” (Is. 1.21).

It has been said, “Christianity without Christ is like chicken soup with no chicken in it!” So also, churches without the active, dynamic power, and manifestations of the Holy Ghost are misnomers, disappointments, empty vessels.

Sadly, the scenario of evil just mentioned has been played out hundreds of times in Christian history: first among the Jews, then among the early Christians, and in every century since that time. It is a grievous historical fact that can be traced to the very beginning of man— to the fall of mankind through Adam in the Garden of Eden. Dead forms of worship and formalistic rituals replace dynamic Spirit-filled worship and holy living! The symbols and signs of faith lose their meaning and spiritual substance; all that remain are the types and shadows. Indeed, the signs become the substance!
​
The church of God under the Old Covenant, that is, the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7.38), succumbed to this evil pattern. The Ark of the Covenant was given to the Israelites as a symbol of God’s presence and glory. Gradually, however, the people backslid in their hearts and in their walk with God. Yet they kept the symbol! (1 Sam. 4.1-21). But for what purpose? For the symbol without the substance is nothing! See, if God goes the glory goes! You can’t contain God in a 2’ x 3’ box! They did the same with circumcision. This rite represented regeneration and heart purity. But again, they backslid in their hearts but perpetuated the ritual. But what good is the form without the substance? Thus, God moved the prophet to exclaim: “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your hearts . . .” (Jer. 4.4). For ritual circumcision of the flesh, says the apostle, “is nothing!” (1 Cor. 7.19; Gal. 5.6, 11; 6.15; Eph. 2.11; Phil. 3.3).

Again, the Jews did the same thing with the Temple. They backslid and gloried in the physical structure rather than in the God of the temple (Mt. 24.1; Mk. 13.1-2). It was a stench in the nostrils of God (Jer. 7.4; Is. 1.13-14; Amos. 5.21-24). Backslidden Israel accepted “lying words” that negated truth (Mt. 15.9; Col. 2.18-22; Titus 1.14). They knew the temple of the Lord but not the Lord of the temple”. Jesus condemns the “traditions of men” that supplant the commandments of God (Mt. 15.2-6, 9; 23.16-33; Mk. 7.3-9, 13; Col. 2.6-23).

Yet again, they abused the symbol of the Serpent on the Pole. The symbol originally represented the crucified Christ (Numb. 21.5-9; Jn. 3.14), but they did not discern Christ as the one who crushed sin and the serpent’s head. They rather looked to the serpent image itself for healing and deliverance! Not discerning the significance, the serpent was just Nehushtan--“a bronze thing.” Without the presence of Christ and His power, “Christianity” is empty and meaningless (2 Kg. 18.4).

Backslidden Israel corrupted their sacrifices. They kept the best lambs and bullocks for themselves and offered deformed and corrupted “gifts” on the altar to God. Their “sacrifices” were hypocritical and offered up only half-heartedly. It was slick religion (Mal. 1.6- 14) and robbed God of His glory! That was the sin of Cain: his offering was not given with sincerity and adoration. He did not give his best to the Lord (Gen. 4.2-6; Heb. 11.4; 1 Jn. 3.12). So too, the fastings of the Jews were corrupted by insincerity and self-serving motives (Is. 58.1-12). The Lord hated their solemn assemblies and their fastings and the celebrations of their feast days (Is. 13-14; Amos 5.21-24) because their minds were corrupt and their hearts unclean. They assembled merely as a pretense of fidelity and righteousness.

Intriguingly, when men begin to fall away from God, they often tend to magnify “the church” or some religious system or tradition, using religion as a cloak to conceal their sins and hypocrisy (Zeph. 3.11). “Holy mountain” in Zephaniah’s prophecy here signifies the church or a religious group’s peculiar or superior identity. So the Jews are identified with Mount Zion/Jerusalem (Ps. 87.2-3; 132.13-14; 133.3) and the Samaritans with Mount Gerizim (Jn. 4.5-23). Joseph Smith claimed he had gotten his vision in New York, part of which was that the “angel” Moroni— the son of Mormon—appeared and directed him to a mountain in which were hidden mysterious golden plates revealing the Book of Mormon. Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have holy mountains and holy places—Mecca, Medina, Ganges River/human and animal gods, holy cities, holy shrines, and holy relics. Professing Christians groups have exalted “holy” places and traditions—Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Calvary [Golgotha], Garden Tomb, Via dela Rosa, Jordan River, baptisms, etc. Millions perhaps billions of dollars are spent every year traveling to these holy sites. Roman Catholics have literally a thousand “sacred” places, dead relics, spiritually empty ceremonies, and “holy”celebrations. The Jews white-washed in vain the “tombs of the prophets” and “garnished [adorned] the sepulchers.” Roman Catholics do the same to those whom they have deemed to be “saints” [Mt. 23.27-29]. They pretend to honor the prophets of the Bible who say what men should be, but they despise the living ones who tell them what they are! They teach salvation through the so-called Eucharist and make outrageous claims about transubstantiation. It is a system that in a thousand ways corrupts the Gospel of the living Christ!

Corrupt traditions and empty rituals observed in hypocrisy were “the leaven” of the Pharisees and scribes that Jesus so much despised (Mt. 23.1-7, 13- 33; Mk. 12.15; Lk. 12.1; Col. 2.6-23). The same have, since the first century, marked the way of apostate religion and hypocritical professors of Christianity.
​
In the Early Church following the passing of the apostles, symbols and traditions gradually replaced the simplicity of salvation and plain heartfelt worship. Priestcraft, sacramentalism, empty forms, relics, candles, bells, incense, rosaries, statues, images and the like supplanted the true preaching of the Gospel and spiritually transforming experiences throughfaith—heartfelt regeneration, sanctification, and Spirit-baptism. Church government and discipline became a man-handled system of religion—a pretense of theocracy. Gradually, the God of the government and discipline of the church disappeared and all that was left were the forms and rituals. Ichabod--“the glory hath departed” (1 Sam. 4.21).

The traditions just mentioned became full-blown in the Roman Catholic Church in the fourth through the nineteenth centuries. Layers upon layers of tradition, religious rites, and empty ceremonies corrupted the apostolic faith; like the traditions of the Pharisees and scribes under the old Jewish system, they stood in place of regeneration, sanctification, and spiritual transformation. True righteousness and holiness, and pure and undefiled religion were supplanted by men- made traditions and religious practices (Mt. 15.3, 6; 1 Tim. 4.1-5; 2 Tim. 3.1-8).

During the “dark ages,” outrageous practices were adopted. They pickled the tongue of the eloquent John Chrysostom (c. 349-407) after he deceased, so also the hand of an acclaimed healer and miracle worker, so that following generations could marvel and admire their bodily remains. They filled their cathedrals with many superstitions. They enshrined splinters that were said to have been derived from the Cross of Christ; declared the “Shroud of Turin” to have been the very burial cloth of Christ; made mannequins of Jesus and the saints and displayed them in their cathedrals throughout Europe and Latin America [so the “faithful” could touch and adore them]; painted and sold pretentious pictures of saints, crafted trinkets and jeweled-studded necklaces and bracelets in honor of Mary and the “saints, etc.

The so-called “Eucharist” was [and continues today] to be elevated above all in worship. During the observance of the Mass, the officiating priest lifts the “host” toward heaven and exclaims, Hoc est corpus meum [“This is My body”] and as such “calls down” the Holy Spirit, and presto, the bread and wine are turned into the “real” [substantive] body and blood of Christ so that the faithful participants are declared to be eating and drinking the real flesh and blood of Christ. And they twist and misapply the sacred Scriptures to justify this outrageous practice, e.g., Jn. 6.51-59. This is the heresy of “transubstantiation!” As such, every Mass is said to be a sacrifice!

Evangelicals and Pentecostals have not been immune to fanatical, corrupt, and superstitious practices. They have elevated “miracle water,” “holy relics,” “Holy Ghost sweat,” “Holy Ghost shoes” and handkerchiefs, “holy waterspouts,” images of Jesus and the cross in the form of tattoos, dangling trinkets, necklaces, and bracelets worn as jewelry under the pretense of exalting the Lord. Men and women, too numerous to mention, have been “vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds!”

Yes, and our own “Church of God” tradition was tainted with similar corruptions and aberrations of the faith down through the years. Switches were thrown that sent us down the wrong track, not just in the 1990s but more especially in the 1930s through the 1950s, and even earlier. So, when we speak of being a Restoration Movement, we mean going back to 1886 in modern times and back past the “dark ages” to the second century in earlier times, and in the final analysis going back to the model of the church in the days of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament.

We noticed in Section III some aberrations of the faith that developed between 1886, after the church was restored under the leadership of R. G. Spurling, and before it disrupted and divided under Tomlinson’s leadership in 1923. The two most significant mistakes were (1) after Tomlinson took the helm of leadership in 1903, he changed Spurling’s view of the church as something-in-the-making to his static institutional view of the church, and (2) in 1912-1914 he guided the church in transforming the office of General Overseer into a popish-like position and made the office a lifetime appointment.

These two very different views of the church and the office of General Overseer radically modified the church going forward under Tomlinson. The exaltation of the office of General Overseer was perhaps the primary source of the contentions that developed between 1914 and 1921, which led to the adoption of the intrusive Constitution in 1921 and the fleshly-inspired amendments to the Constitution in 1922, both of which in turn caused the disruption of the church in 1923.
​
Following the disruption of the church, Tomlinson and his followers developed a stricter view of their exclusiveness which was further entrenched by the adoption of a church flag in 1933. In February 1937, Tomlinson suffered a severe stroke which impaired his ability to think and function normally. Significantly, however, he continued to hold office and make strategic decisions for the church until his death in October 1943.

Accordingly, some bazaar ideas and programs were set forth in 1937-1943. Beginning in 1939, under the influence of his delusional son, Homer, his son-in-law, Avery D. Evans, and the apocalyptic-minded, Grady R. Kent, Tomlinson rewrote the history of the church, making outrageous claims. He even rewrote his own account of the history of the church [see his The Last Great Conflict published in 1913, pp. 205-220 and compare with his later claims] to support his revisionist view of the Church of God’s origin and historical development, which made him the primary founder of the church and virtually the head and savior of the body. Accordingly, Bible prophecies were flagrantly twisted and misinterpreted to exalt Tomlinson and his part in the restoration of the church and the fulfillment of the church’s mission in the world. For example, he claimed that Is. 66.2 and Jer. 30.21 were prophecies identifying him as the “humble servant” and “governor” of the church (Avery D. Evans, ed., A.J. Tomlinson: God’s Anointed—Prophet of Wisdom (Cleveland, TN: WWPH, 1943, pp. 10-13; C. T. Davidson, Fields of the Wood, Cleveland, TN: WWPH, 1948, pp. 124-134).

His prayer and “revelation moment” on Burger Mountain on June 13, 1903, and his subsequent union with the church on that same morning were interpreted and reconfigured [primarily under Homer’s fanciful mind and apocalyptic influence], beginning in 1939 to make Tomlinson the central figure and special agent of the Lord in the restoration of the Bible church and to lead her on to perfection and final victory (Homer A. Tomlinson, The Great Vision of the Church of God (New York: self- published, 1939, pp. 1-26; Evans, God’s Anointed, pp. 7-23; Davidson, Fields of the Wood, pp. 7-49).

To accomplish this, several myths were created and adopted as the official views of the church, namely, (1) the “June 13, 1903” myth which made Tomlinson the primary and key figure in the church’s restoration rather than Spurling, and the event that transpired on August 19, 1886 (See VOZ, Editorials, “Standing Between Two Extremes,” July 2022, pp. 2,7, 10- 11). Tomlinson’s personal “revelation” on June 13th was thereafter said to have fulfilled several biblical prophecies, including Ps. 132.1-6; Is. 25.6-7; 49.1- 23; 60.1-3; 66.2; Jer. 30.21; et al. (2) The place
where Tomlinson received his revelation was said to have fulfilled several biblical prophecies, including revealing the name of the place, “Fields of the Wood” (Ps. 132.4-6). (3) Tomlinson was thus said to have received “the first vision of the Church of God of the last days” and became the ‘first member of the church this side of the Dark Ages” (Davidson, Fields of the Wood, p. 47, 76). These false declarations were inscribed in marble stones in Fields of the Wood.

Numerous other myths and outrageous claims grew out of the basic three myths just mentioned: for example, Tomlinson proclaimed during the dedication program of Fields of the Wood in September 1941 that the church arose from the Dark Ages the moment he declared, “This is the Church of God” (Evans, God’s Anointed, pp. 10-13; Davidson, Fields of the Wood, p. 134-136), and thus Tomlinson further declared “You are all Church of God because I am”; and again, “Where would this [the church] have been if it hadn’t been for me?” (Evans, God’s Anointed, p. 13).

In the following decade, numerous hollow assertions were made and many passages of the Scripture flagrantly misapplied and misinterpreted to bolster and support these mythological claims and silly ideas. Burger Mountain in Fields of the Wood was ceremonially christened, “All Nations Mountain.” Where Tomlinson had prayed on June 13th was christened, “Prayer Mountain.” The springs in Fields of the Wood were said to have fulfilled Is. 49.10. Trees native to Palestine were brought in and transplanted in Fields of the Wood to fulfill certain prophecies, including Is. 60.13. The loudspeakers on the Fields of the Wood pavilion were said to have fulfilled the prophecy in Is. 13.2 “exalt [magnify] the voice.” A church flag was attached to a mountain in 1941 going up to where Tomlinson had prayed on June 13, 1903 and, as such, was said to have fulfilled Is. 13.2. Later the flagpoles erected on the “All Nations Mountain” were said to have fulfilled Num. 2.2. And the list goes on.
​
Purging and Restoring
Enough has been said here to prove the point, namely, that we have a downside in our history and heritage, which, in turn, should humble us and to teach us to walk more circumspectly before the Lord and our neighbors with sobriety and gravity. Further, it should teach us to be more understanding of the errors and mistakes of others, not “putting forth [pointing] of the finger” (Is. 58.9), and to get off our “high horse” and “condescend to men of low estate” (Rom. 12.16). For in being more understanding, more loving and forgiving of others, we are emulating the spirit and pattern of our Lord who has loved and forgiven us.

The reason the Lord has raised up Zion Assembly is therefore plain: (1) to carry-on the restoration venture that our fathers and mothers handed down to us, namely, to rebuild God’s house on its apostolic foundation (1 Cor. 3.9-11; Acts 2.42; 15.13-18; Amos 9.11; Eph. 2.20; Jude 3; (2) to purge the church of the errors and estrangements that were adopted through the years, which time and circumstances have enabled us to see more clearly (1 Cor. 3.12-15; Eph. 4.11-16; 5.26-32; Col. 1.28; Rev. 19.7-8; Ps. 102.16-18; et al); (3) and to proclaim “this Gospel” in every nation, baptize believers, and disciple them in the “all things whatsoever” message that Jesus taught and commissioned us to teach and practice (Mt. 24.14; 28.18-20; Mk. 16.15-20; Eph. 4.11-16; Phil. 1.27; 3.16; 1 Cor. 1.10; Jn. 17.20-23; 2 Tim. 2.2; et al).

Recapturing the Original Vision of the Church
It is indeed unfortunate that the church was distracted and blown off course in the 1930s through 1950s from her original vision and divine charter. As pointed out earlier, this happened only because Tomlinson had been struck down with a severe stroke in February 1937—a blow from which he never fully recovered. It is almost certain that the mythological revision would not have been articulated [at least to the extent that it was] had he not been mentally and emotionallyafflicted by the stroke. It is certain he would have been ashamed in the presence of Spurling to have made the claim that the church had started on June 13, 1903 and that he was the first member this side of the Dark Ages. But as it was, Spurling died on May 24, 1935, opening the door for such a mythological tale.

It was during Tomlinson’s stroke years [1937-1943] that Homer, Evans, Kent, and others took advantage of his affliction, magnifying him and his ministry beyond the bar of truth and Christian respectability; for each of the men mentioned [most especially Homer] imagined that he might succeed Tomlinson in the exalted office of General Overseer and be the beneficiary of such an enchanting fairy tale.

Again, Tomlinson’s part in the miscarriage of justice against Spurling and the revised view of the origin and early development of the church may be excused for the most part on the basis of the debilitating stroke that left him less than clear-headed and sober-minded, and much dependent upon others, most particularly the delusional Homer. Again, this is regrettable, for, otherwise, our illustrious pioneers had removed the covering of darkness that had swept the Early Churchand plunged her into the Dark Ages (Is. 25.6-7; 60.2; Jude 3); and they were also zealously pressing forward to evangelize the world with the glory and power of the holiness-Pentecostal Gospel and the “prophetic vision of one church for all of God’s people” (Is. 60.1-5; Jer. 3.12-19; Jn. 10.16; 11.49-52; 17.20-23; Eph. 1.10; 2.14-16; 3.6; 4.11-16; 5.26-32; Phil. 1.27; 3.16; Rev. 19.7-8; et al.)

It has fallen our lot in Zion Assembly since 2004, therefore, to restore the church over against the compromises and defections of our former fellowship on one hand, and the misinterpretations and misguided ideas that developed in the 1930s through 1950s on the other, most of which are being perpetuated today by the ever-increasing number of splinter groups now being scattered over the landscape. Included among the misinterpretations of the Scriptures and aberrations of the faith being heralded by heretics and schismatics are those associated with the “church banner,” “marking program,” “White Angel Fleet,” and “Honor Stone program,” besides the myths mentioned above associated with June 13, 1903, and Fields of the Wood.

May the Lord help us to restore the original message and prophetic vision of the church, with all its glory and power and spiritual gifts, and fulfill the great commission assigned to us by our Lord! Notwithstanding the errors and misguided ideas of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, our blessed forefathers bequeathed to us a “goodly heritage” (Jer. 3.19). May the Lord help us to be, nothing more or nothing less, than the “city of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3.15).
​
Recapturing the Original Power of the Church
The present urgency in the church is to get back to being “a habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2.22), a body through which the invisible God is manifested! (1 Cor. 12.12-31; 2 Cor. 3.2-3; Col. 1.17-27). We must get so close to God that we will be able to say to the world what Jesus said to Philip in His day: “Philip, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (Jn. 14.9-11, and compare with 17.20-23; 2 Cor. 3.2-3; 5.18-20; Eph. 4.11-15; 5.27; Phil. 2.15; 1 Thess. 2.14).
So, the whole episode of the Galatian church is applicable to us and our historical journey in seeking for the city of God and its perfection.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you . . . having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect [that is, fully clothed and spiritually equipped] by the flesh?” (Gal. 3.1-3). “You did run well,” what happened? (5.7). The answer is somebody threw a switch, and, as such, perfection was sought through things material and carnal—flags, stones, concretemarkers, airplanes, properties, buildings, bread and wine, water, etc., rather than through the Spirit and His wisdom and strength. The principle was no different than the errors committed by the old “church in the wilderness” in seeking for spiritual fulfillment in the ark of the covenant, circumcision, the tabernacle, temple, serpent on the pole, outward ceremonies, etc.

“There is therefore now no more condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit . . . For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit . . . But if the Spirit of him [the Father] that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, [the Father] that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8.1, 5, 9-11).

The perfection of the church and the fulfillment of her mission in the world are almost altogether dependent upon the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and the manifestations of His gifts operating through the church. This is the reason Jesus said, “It is expedient that I go away” (Jn. 16.7) and “But when the Comforter [the HolySpirit]iscome...Hewill...teachandguide and testify” (Jn. 14.26; 15.26), for, see, everything depended upon His arrival and indwelling. His presence and power judges sin; regenerates new life in believers; transforms believers in holiness and righteousness; glorifies and magnifies Christ; reveals the very thoughts and desires of the Father and the Son (16.7-9, 13-15).

He guides, leads, directs, illuminates, empowers, anoints, sustains, heals, administrates spiritual and charismatics gifts, and show things to come!

The success of our mission depends altogether on our relationship and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. For He “doeth the work!” that is, He does His work through us. Notwithstanding that they were thrown off course from time to time along our journey, our great pioneers in the faith handed down this message to us and urged us to always depend upon the Holy Ghost to succeed in our mission. Let us then . . .
​
“Walk in the Spirit . . . Talk in the Spirit . . . Preach/ Prophesy in the Spirit . . . [Lk. 1.41-42, 67; Joel 2.28; Acts 1.8; 2.4; 4.30-31]: for sons, daughters, servants, handmaids, preachers, prophets, apostles all spoke under the anointing and inspiration of the Spirit. “Teach in the Spirit [Jn. 14.26; 15.26; 1Cor. 2.2-6] in “words which the Holy Ghost teacheth . . . Sing in the Spirit and with understanding [1 Cor. 14.15] . . . Sing in tongues (a glorious and beautiful thing to behold). Speak in the Spirit (for he that “speaketh in the Spirit . . . speaketh mysteries.) Dance in the Spirit [Ex. 15.20; 1 Sa. 18.6; 2 Sam. 6.14-16; Ps. 149.3; Jer. 31.13-14]; Run in the Spirit [Acts 8.30]; Play musical instruments (piano, drums, guitars, harps, cymbals, etc.,) in the Spirit [1 Chron. 15.16; Ps. 150.3-6; Is. 38.20] . . . Rejoice in the Spirit . . . Live in the Spirit . . . Be led/guided by the Spirit [Jn. 14.26; 15.26; Acts 8.29]; Make a Joyful Noise in the Spirit [Ps. 100.1]; Love, Forgive, Pray, Groan, Ask, Seek, Knock in the Spirit [Mt. 7.7-8; Rom. 8.14-16, 26- 27; 1 Cor. 13.1-13]; Shake, Quake, Bake, Drink [Acts. 2.1-4, 15; 4.32-33; 1 Cor. 12.13; Hos. 7-8], Discern, Judge [1 Cor. 2.15; 5.12; 6.2-3]; Think [Rom. 8.5; 1 Cor. 2.16]; See [1 Cor. 2.7-10]; Hear “what the Spirit saith . . . (For “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit”) . . . Feel, Dream [Joel 2.28-32]; Envision [1 Cor. 2.9-10], Transcend (Get “caught up in the Spirit”)[Rev. 21.2, 9-10], Translate [Col. 1.13]. Philip led by the Spirit to the Eunuch was afterward “caught away” to Azotus [Acts 8.39-40]; Elevate/Levitate in the Spirit [Eph. 1.3-4, 2.6]; Jump/Leap in the Spirit [Lk. 1.41; 6.23; Acts 14.10]; Shout in the Spirit (“all ye people”); Clap in the Spirit (“all ye people”).
May the Lord help us to be the habitation of God through which His Spirit might live and move and enable us to fulfill our mission in the world!