What did you come to see?

by Rev. Peter Tuchyna

 

Matthew 11:7-12
John 5:35

The motto of this Conference is : the moment of opportunity.

Our lives are constantly surrounded with ever flowing opportunities.

• What one individual may discard, another may see as a lifetime opportunity.
• What one may be oblivious too, another would seize it and act upon it.
• What one may see as annoyance or disadvantage, another would hop on & ride high on it.
• What one would consider a wind blowing against, another would see as an opportunity to adjust the sails accordingly and gain momentum and speed.

Mark 1, captured events surrounding the life and ministry of John the Baptist, where he declared that John was the voice crying in the wilderness and proclaiming: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John called people and preached in the wilderness the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and baptised them in the river Jordan.

Mark 1:5 "and there went out unto him all the land of Judae and they of Jerusalem and were all baptised of him in the river Jordan confessing their sins."

And Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordan...and immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness forty days being tempted of Satan.

Mark 1:14 "now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God."

It appears that John the Baptist did not engage in the long term ministry.

Shortly after he baptized Jesus, he was arrested by Herod and placed into prison.

It was at that time, being in prison and hearing testimonies about the deeds and ministry of Jesus, that John took an opportunity and sent 2 of his disciples to Jesus asking: Are you the one, or should we look for another?

Jesus plainly stated: the blind are receiving their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised up ,and the poor have the gospel preached unto them. Jesus then turned immediately towards the multitude of people with a question:

What went ye out into the wilderness to see?

• A reed shaken with the wind? What went ye out for to see?
• A man clothed in soft raiment?
• A prophet? He was more than prophet. He was a messenger preparing the way of the Lord!

 

The same question is echoing throughout the generations reaching our lives right now.

What did you come to see and to hear?

● A human vessel of limitation?

● The words of comfort and assurance of God’s presence?

● To see some new action and the demonstration and manifestation of God’s majesty?

● To get a satisfaction from self-made effort and thus justify the self apathy, for the curiosity was not met with the expectation of novelty?

What did you come to see taking this opportunity?

 

John the Baptist said that One mightier than I comes after me, he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost (HG) and fire.

 

So many today need the fire. The fire of the HG.

 

The first Apostolic church didn’t ask for changed circumstances to stop the persecution.
They were not asking for ideal or more favourable circumstances.
They had the fire, they had the zeal, they had the love for Jesus. So they asked for boldness.

 

Boldness to stand

● To preach

● To go and reach the lost souls

● To face the hindrances, opposition, persecution, rebellion.

● To deal with sin

● To deal with the unclean – religious – self righteous - opposing & deceiving spirits.

 

What did you come to see, asked Jesus?

● To see an increased intellect and eloquence?

● Superior knowledge?

● Well refined men and women skilled in public relationship?

● To hear the prediction of the future?

● The prediction of the development in economy, politics, environment?

● To hear about the future and imminent cataclysmic events?

 

Some are saying that the Conference is expensive. Jesus said about John the Baptist

John 5:35 "He was a burning and shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light."

His life was consumed while ministering the Word!

 

To give your entire life.....to give up a work, established fellowship and to relocate from one city to another to reach the lost souls for Jesus is more costly.

Your life is consumed by it as was John the Baptist’s.

 

We were invited to be in our Father’s business! To be His witnesses, and to condition ourselves to such and extend, that the fulfilment of the Word of God may take place in our individual lives as well as in the local fellowships and the organization, that the mystery of unsearchable riches of Christ may be seen by all men what is the fellowship of the mystery, which was hid in God to the intend that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be know by the church the manifold wisdom of God ( Eph. 3:10).

 

The flesh cannot do it.

The will power cannot do it.

The talents and abilities cannot do it. We must die daily for the flesh!

 

The only avenue is revealed by Jesus that the corn must die in order to spring into new life.

The avenue for relationship with Jesus is to be led by His Spirit. Continue life of prayer and fasting to subdue the flesh.

 

Wherever there are victims and survivors whether stranded or buried under the rubbles of collapsed buildings or injured and they are unable to help themselves, they call out for help.

● If anybody would like to abduct your child, you would call out for help

● If someone would like to rob you, violate you, you call out for help.

Regardless of culture, age, personality, education and social status – people call out for help being in distress and unable to help or protect themselves.

 

Deuteronomy 22:23 "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;"

Deuteronomy 22:24 "Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you."

 

What would be a reason for a woman who is going to be violated not to cry out? Would she want to have an experience out of curiosity but not the consequences?

 

The apostolic church is like a woman engaged to her husband. If the wicked one wants to steal your child and set it on the path of iniquity, cry out! If he wants to rob you of your faith in God or your love for the brethren, if he wants to steal your marriage, or your health or your finances, or your holiness and righteousness in offer for temptation and experience, cry out! Cry loud!

If he wants to steal your joy or the Holy Spirit from you, call out loud!

When the enemy wants to steal your confidence and your call even as a leader or minister and replace it with discouragement, or bring division and disunity into your fellowship, cry out unto the Lord!

Cry out until the help arrives and your purity will be preserved.

Isaiah 55:6 "seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."

As the woman who does not cry out in the time of violation conceive illegitimate child called bastard and is guilty, so is the church who “forgets” in the time of distress and violation to call upon the Lord, begets spiritually illegitimate children called bastards and is guilty.

 

Look at many spiritual movements of the past who did not cry out loud in the time of violation of their holiness. Their lives and “households” are defiled with spiritual and moral wickedness.

They bore and delivered spiritually illegitimate children into their households who bear the image of their father. Many became spiritual leaders with the lifestyle and deeds contrary to the holiness and purity of God attracting the wrath of God and the judgment of the society for their perverted actions.

 

Do not ignore the prayer meetings in your church, even intercessory prayers. Jesus said that the house of the Lord will be called the house of prayer.

I wonder, why then the “Prayer rooms” in most churches are the smallest rooms? Why the concerts and other activities like fellowship and so on are more attended than the prayers?

Why the prayers are not a part of the regular services but rather something put aside attended just by a few?

 

Is it possible that the spiritual violation is taking place and the church does not cry out?

Do not stand motionless, prayer less, cry less, gazing into the floor while others are calling upon Jesus for his intervention.

Your silence has nothing to do with your shyness, or your culture or your age or upbringing, but it has much to do with your apathy and carelessness to the consequences.

As the violated woman will conceive the child, but not of the husband, so would be the life of such a church fellowship if you allow it to be violated.

Therefore the Word of God was very clear in the O.T.

 

Cry out or you are guilty!

Genesis 4:10, "the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground."

Exodus 2:23; God did not respond to the ”wish” of Israel, but to their cry.

Exodus 3:7; I heard their cry.

Mark 10:47, Blind Bartimaeus, he began to cry out…

Luke 18:7, and shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him…?

Galatians 4:6, …God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father

 

The flesh and pride will tell you to be dignified, and well behaved and it would hold you ransom not to give in and call loud upon the Lord with your brothers and sisters.

 

Call out and call loud until your flesh gets the message that you mean serious business with God and you will not surrender, either yourself or your child or your spouse or your call and ministry or family members or friends.

Your cry out is a feed back to your faith. Get “wild” and learn from importune widow, what it means not to accept defeat.

 

Allow the Lord Jesus to reveal his presence during your prayer meetings. You will experience the assurance of His presence, the prayers being answered, and the faith increased in taking spiritual authority over the wicked one and his devices.

 

Claim with boldness and faith your backslidden children or spouse or the move of God upon the household or church fellowship as such with mighty revival following.

Expect the unexpected in every service and make room for the move of the Holy Spirit upon your heart.

The absence of many in the prayer room is a declaration that they do not believe that God will answer.

The presence of some but their silence is a declaration that they lost the zeal, the first love and the fire of the HS.

 

If there would be someone who does not know how to talk to Jesus about the lost souls, let me tell you that such a soul surely does not know how to talk to the lost souls about Jesus, for the Lord Jesus is much more receptive audience.

 

Do not allow yourself to be lullaby into the spiritual slumber!

Sin is transgression against the law. The law of God. One of the greatest law is “ Thou shall love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength”.

 

If we would love the Lord less than with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength – we would live in sin. If you love me obey my commandments.

We know that the power and anointing is not in shouting, but when I love the lord with all my heart, and all my soul, and all my mind and all my strength, it shows it somewhere and somehow.

 

What did you come to see?

The widow with the blood issue didn’t go as far as possible from the “altar”.

She did not cross her arms and declared: “ O, well, if Jesus wants to do something with me or for me, let Him find me, let Him touch me.

Let me declare unto you church by the inspiration of the HG.

 

The time when Jesus was touching you over and over again is over.

● He touched you so many times.

● He cleansed you.

● He delivered you.

● He healed you.

● He provided for you.

● He called you – anointed you – sent you.

 

The time is here right now that only they who unfold their arms and open their mouth and call and make effort to touch Jesus as the woman with the issue of blood will experience the virtue of Jesus flowing into their lives.

What are you waiting for?

 

Run! – Run fast!

While Jesus spoke and ministered to others – she touched Him.

While Jesus is ministering to others – you run and touch Him. The pastors and ministers are ready to run with you and to pray with you and for you.

RUN!

 

Daniel 11:32

Declared: and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries, but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.

 

What exploits?

 

When I see the technological advancement in our days

● Planes flying over 3000 km per hour

● Spacecrafts reaching further planets and places than moon

● Other crafts moving deep under water and on the water

● Communication through radios, phones, TV, computers etc.

● The advancement in medical and other science

We can see that men do great exploits in the physical realm.

 

God said in the beginning: subdue the earth!

 

The Word of God declares in Daniel 11:32; but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.

What exploits?

What exploits do we do in the spiritual realm?

 

One of the greatest kingdoms Israel ever had was under the kingship of David.

The Bible is revealing unto us some of the greatest men of valour – courage – boldness - who made great exploits.

● They knew their God

● They trusted their God

● They counted on God’s presence, His intervention and help to accompany them.

They have done deeds nobody ever have done before.

They could not copy someone, they could not follow men.

 

2 Samuel 23:8 speaks of the Tachomite – Adino Eznite. .

He is described as the chief among the captains. He alone attacked 800 men ( obviously warriors) and slew them at one time.

One minute, one man – 800 minutes – 13 hrs. 20 minutes.

30 seconds one man – 6 hrs. 40 minutes.

 

That required a supernatural strength. Try to worship and dance before the Lord for 10 minutes nonstop.

We are talking about men who knew their God and were strong and did exploits.

 

Another was Eleazar – the son of Dodo the Ahohite.

He defied the Philistines that were gathered together to battle and arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand clave unto the sword and the Lord wrought a great victory that day and the people returned after him only to spoil.

 

What about Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite?

He single handily defeated the troops of Philistines and the Lord wrought a great victory.

 

Abishai and other two brought water from Bethlehem surrounded by Philistines and he alone slew 300 Philistines.

 

Beniah – done many mighty deeds. He slew 2 lion like men of Moab.

He jump into the pit in the winter time and slew lion.

He attacked an Egyptian and used his own spear to kill him.

 

There were others like Asahel – Joab – Uriah the Hittite.

When the enemy came as a flood and lifted their banners against the people of God, they fought valiantly.

 

We are exposed today to greater activities inspired by the wicked one than previously, in the life of people who are giving themselves into various spiritual and moral:

● Uncleanness

● Harry Potter and other witchcraft influences

● Sexual promiscuity

● Sexually perverted lifestyle

● Alcohol – drugs – tobacco – and other addictions

● Pornography

● Filthy language

● Increased violence, rapes, murders, suicides, attacks against Christianity, family unit and so on.

 

Where are the men of God? The mighty men of valour, willing to step into the spiritual arena and warfare, being equipped with the spiritual armour of God ( Eph.6.) and not only protect their own families and households from the influence of the devil, but willing to fight the spiritual battles and to defeat the influence of the wicked one in the lives of those placed into their spiritual care?

 

Where are the men of God who under the anointing of the H S and with the unceasing prayers and fasting step into the arena of spiritual wolves and lions and continue in the ministry of Jesus destroying the evil works of the devil by:

● Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and

● Casting out the devils

● Healing the sick

● Glorifying Jesus by bringing hope and victory into the lives of many?

 

Where are the women of God recognizing the purpose of their life and existence to be helpmeet to their husbands doing spiritual exploits and reaching lost souls for Jesus?

 

Where are the families willing to defy the comfort of the flesh, building deeper relationship with Jesus and knowing His ways also, not only His deeds, being aware of, and to hear the cry of entire creation awaiting the manifestation of the children of God?

 

Man can choose to become a self imposed slave and to take every available overtime and extra jobs just to maintain the rent of home paying $ 500 or 700 or $1,000 and more rent per week or he can recognize that there is a time to go out from the rut of life and spiritual Egypt and to take the message of hope to the lost souls in new villages, towns and cities in this land.

 

Some have done! Still not enough!

Jesus said that the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are just a few.

 

What did you come to see and to hear?

To get excited and to get inspired for a moment? To feel good in the presence of the burning candles for a moment and later to return back into the life of customs and habits?

 

Much more could be said. Much deeper could we go.

It is impossible not to hear, when God speaks directly to the heart.

Where is your heart right now?

Lot’s wife was physically delivered from the place of Sodom and Gomorrah but her heart was still there.

Where your treasurer is right now there is also the focus of your attention.

 

Let us not be called the Pentecostals by the name only.

Let it be our daily experience and life sustained by the presence and the fire of the HG.

 

We declare with the OT Moses on the brink of time departing from Egypt.

We will all go. Not some. We’ll all go.

 

Let’s talk to Jesus and place our lives a fresh upon his altar and into His hands.