Spring
1995
Restoration in the Church
Seeley D. Kinne
At times, God has worked mightily among the children of men.
Such a period is now at hand. In ancient days when these spiritual,
extraordinary activities of God occurred, the voice of the
Prophets announced them.
Jeremiah foretold the captivity and its duration. Isaiah
revealed that Messiah would be rejected and as a Lamb would
pay the penalty for sin. John the Baptist heralded the coming
forth of Jesus. From age to age, prophecies of Scripture are
like a most beautiful fabric, woven of threads of gold, purple,
and crimson, into one perfect mosaic to make known the plan
of God for His Church, and for mankind.
Events that are among the greatest this world has ever known
are at hand. There are increasing convulsions in nature and
the wicked are waxing worse and worse. These scenes have waited
"until the times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since
the world began" Acts 3:21. This is again being reiterated
through the prophetic word.
The governmental return of the Lord Jesus Christ is approaching.
There have been many visitations of the Lord God Jehovah to
Israel, to the Church, and to His hidden and scattered ones.
When darkness and superstition like a pall of midnight hung
heavily over a benighted people and it seemed there was no
hope, these times of intervention burst forth, laden with
grace, love, gifts, and the revelation of His saving power,
adapted to the needs of the times, bringing deliverance and
spiritual life.
Moses brought the Law to Israel. Elijah showed the true God
by calling fire from heaven. Jehovah hewed the nations by
Jeremiah, Isaiah, and other prophets; while they warned of
coming judgments and heralded the coming of Messiah.
The Lord has raised up many anointed ministries in this Holy
Spirit dispensation. Their messages are bringing great blessings
and mighty changes in the state of men. The next visitation
will be the most powerful, miraculous, and far-reaching of
any outpouring that has ever been given.
The past Pentecostal visitation at the turn of the century
was intermingled with deep humiliations and repentance. Prayers,
intercessions, travail, and heart cries to God were like incense
everywhere. These meetings were a foretaste of Heaven with
pure worship in the Spirit. Glory and unity characterized
this blessed work of God. Supernatural workings of the Spirit
came forth as never before. The cloud of His heavenly presence
hung over these assemblies. But alas, how the fine gold became
dim.
Through the Spirit, ancient prophets bemoaned with tears
in the most sorrow-smitten anguish, the tragic failure and
fall of God's people in their day. Are there no prophets to
take up lamentation in the Spirit for the lapse of God's people
today and seek again this deeper moving of His presence?
We have fallen from the transforming glory and mighty power
that was bestowed upon us. To an alarming extent, there is
a lack of discernment between the polish of education with
its exercise of soulish powers, and the true life and ministry
of Christ imparted by the Holy Spirit with an anointed and
blessed walk in the Spirit.
Worldliness, covetousness, jealousy, criticism, and many
sins are among us. This past outpouring was to be a precursor
of the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to take possession
of its affairs. But we have come short of becoming the people
that God intended. We are far from ready for His appearing.
Therefore, the Lord must move again to bring forth a people
who will be ready to meet Him at His coming. There must again
be a visitation that is intermingled with deep humiliations
and repentance.
Prayers, intercessions, and heart cries to God will again
become as incense everywhere. Pure worship in the Spirit,
glory, and an outpouring of joy in times of refreshing will
again characterize this blessed work of God. The cloud of
His heavenly presence will as never before, hang over this
visitation.
In preparation for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, this
great work of restoration has begun, and its initial work
in the saints is presently taking place. Three distinct preparatory
lines of restoration are now due.
The first concerns that which was given to the original Church,
afterwards lost, then restored to us in past outpourings,
and now has become shallow. Such as worship, repentance, and
heart devotion to God in a walk in the Spirit.
The second line of restoration is obtaining that which was
lost by the early Church and not yet recovered. Some of these
powers were so thoroughly lost that we are unaware of their
nature or existence. Gifts of wisdom, knowledge, dominion,
and other important Holy Spirit movings are partially, or
entirely unknown to us.
The third is the impartation of now due present day revelations
and gifts. At each new epoch, God adds to previous bestowals.
Gracious new things are to be given in this day of the coming
of the KING; Kingly and glorious things.
We must respond and prepare ourselves for this visitation.