The information stored on the disc of a computer is unavailable and hidden until one knows the correct command to type on the keyboard--the name of the program one wishes to retrieve.
God, the Creator of the world, has had a disc stored in His computer since the beginning of time. The prophets of the Bible all knew it was there to be used late in history, but their words have been the only clue to its existence. The name of the program is "THE GLORIOUS CHURCH".
Today God has typed the command for the program to be retrieved, and flashing upon the screen of the world we can see the first few lines of a great new RADIANT CHURCH WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH, BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS (Eph.5:27 NIV).
Within all Christian denominations, God is pouring out His Holy Spirit in a way unprecedented in human history. It was given to the disciples of Jesus at Pentecost and to the early church, but after that, doctrines denying the experience began to flourish. Early in the 20th century a group who called themselves 'Pentecostals' received a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit, but most people didn't pay much attention and considered them radical. Today, ever-increasing numbers of church members are receiving it in both Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. Jesus said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 11:16).
The outward sign of this baptism is the ability to pray in an unknown language or `tongue.' Love for one another is essential to accompany this baptism for, without love, the other gifts of the Spirit are useless (I Cor.13) and we cannot have a glorious church.
The gifts which follow this baptism such as healing, prophecy, spiritual discernment and words of wisdom, when used with love, create a body of people who become healthy in body, mind and spirit. These people are known for their kind and thoughtful deeds as they reach out to help others find their "pearl of great price" (Matt.13:26)--Jesus. They are not so much concerned with theological debates, but claim only the basic tenets of Christianity: Jesus, God's own Son, was born, lived, and died on a cross that all who repent and give their lives to him will receive eternal life and know His presence now in this world.
These people follow the commandments of Jesus through love, not fear of Him. They have a new and burning desire to learn more about holy things by reading God's Word, the Bible. They spend much time in prayer, both in praising God for who He is and what He has done for them, and also in praying for others. They desire only that others receive what they have received because of their love for everyone. As they become able to discern spiritual things, they recognize the powerful force of evil in the world which is working against God.
In a world filled with horoscopes, rock music, fortune- telling, witchcraft, and so on, the ancient evil powers (Deut.18:10-11) are gaining a foothold unknown in the Christian era. God's response to this is His creation of a strong and powerful church, a church with plenty of His power to overcome and destroy anything the Satanic world can conjure from the pit of hell. As human power cannot stop the rain from falling, neither can human power stop the flowing and flooding of God's Holy Spirit upon the earth.
God's computer continues to print His demonstration of power upon the screen of the world, and man shrinks back in awe as he watches the great and glorious church of God become a reality. "I WILL SHAKE ALL NATIONS, AND THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS WILL COME, AND I WILL FILL THIS HOUSE WITH GLORY, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY" (Hag.2:7 NIV).
© 1999, Doreen Palmer