Unfolding the Secret of Perth “the Sovereign Lord does nothing until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets” (Am 3:7)
Introduction
Why does Perth exist? Often boastful of residing in the most isolated city in the world, viewed “in the Spirit” of mission (Acts 1:8; Rev 1:10), our location on the Indian Ocean rim with the same time zone as 60 percent of the world’s population gives us a sovereignly aligned pivot towards Asia and Africa unique for a Western city. We are a poised to become an Antioch missional hub releasing vast material and spiritual wealth for the salvation of the world. Coming down to earth, I first heard this vision from global gospel entrepreneur Ed Silvoso in the late 90’s, since then our booming economy, fine climate and laid-back lifestyle have been effectively used by the powers of darkness (Eph 6:12) to hold back the unfolding of the progress of God’s kingdom. This is about to change, not through the setting up of organisations, but through Spirit-led and empowered Christ-centred relationships of prayer (Acts 1:13-14).
City Elders April 2023
“Who are these elders, and how will they be recognised?” The question of recognition, NOT authorisation, is important spiritually. As the Church in Antioch was “worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2). The perfect tense used here indicates Barnabas and Saul had been called for some time before their public acknowledgement. I believe there is a group in this city endued with divine grace to fulfil an apostolic call to the nations (Acts 13:47). They are not chosen by the Spirit because they pastor the largest churches in Perth, or for their many international missions’ trips, but by the sole criterion of faithfulness to Jesus through pain and hardship in illness, temptation, savage personal attacks, near fatal accidents and massive marriage trials. They are not a capping hierarchy, nor unbiblical “covering”, but fellow servants of the Lord exercising gentle fatherly care. “I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Pet 5:1-3).
The New Wineskin 20/6/23
The “new wineskin” is alone able to hold “new wine” (Matt 9:17). If the “new wine” is ultimately Christ’s glorified humanity, the “new wineskin” is a set of relationships matured and able to hold this glory without “jealousy and selfish ambition” (James 3:16 cf. Mark 15:10; Acts 5:17). As grapes or olives must be crushed to release wine/oil so the eldership God appoints are a body who with Jesus are “crushed for our iniquities” (Isa 53:5; 2 Cor 1:8). They are incredibly humble persons supernaturally enabled to “count others more significant than themselves.” (Phil 2:3). Though respectful of godly institutions, they will not be bounded by congregational, denominational or spiritual distinctions e.g., Evangelical/Pentecostal. They will be recognised as eminently trustworthy across the Body of Christ (Tit 1:9). In time as the Church in Jerusalem brought gifts from Christ to the apostles for gospel expansion to the world, laying them at the “at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:35), this will become a regular event in Perth. E.g., for the construction and maintenance of a 24-7 prayer, worship, and mission centre. Such a centre will be served by gospel entrepreneurs drawn from the whole city-Church, with vision to penetrate all the spheres of life and culture (arts, education, politics, law, business, NGO’s, sport, creative arts/entertainment etc.) through deeply biblical relational strategies, such as spiritual mentoring (1 Cor 4:15). The one united Church in Perth (Acts 8:1; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1; Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14) will increasingly mirror and share in the one heavenly assembly around Christ as Lord. This naturally leads into our next revelation.
Opening the Heavenly Scroll 21/6/23
Perth Prayer gathers in the middle of the day in the middle of the working week in the most centralised church location in the CBD (Wesley U.C.). Last Wednesday the Spirit directed me to two deeply connected passages in Revelation which illuminate the relationship between the ascended heavenly Jesus and his Bride on earth. Revelation 5 contains a vision of “scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals” in “the right hand” of God the ruler of all (Rev 4:2ff.). What follows is an exposition of the claims of the crucified and resurrected human Jesus, who earlier proclaimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” (Matt 28:18). If the scroll stands for God’s eternal saving plan for nations, the seals speak of the hiddenness of this plan (Rom 1:5; 16:25-27; Eph 1:9; 3:3ff; Col 1:26). Hidden, until opened up to apostles and prophets through the ages (Am 3:7; Eph 2:20; 3:5; Rev 10:7; 19:10). The heavenly scroll is shut until someone is found worthy to open it, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”, he only was willingly crucified and raised to accomplish his Father’s universal plan (Luke 24:26; Rev 5:4-6). Later in Revelation the language of victory is repeated about the Church, “And they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:11). The suffering saints are “counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name” of Jesus (Acts 5:41; cf. Phil 1:29), so that at his appointed time God might pour out on them his blessed “Spirit of glory” (1 Pet 4:14). I sense the Church in Perth’s period of seemingly fruitless suffering is coming to an end (Isa 40:1ff.) and that the suffering for Jesus symbolised by the assembling city eldership us trustworthy before her Lord for a release of his “wave of glory” (WPA): mission mobilisation to the nations through a rapidly maturing Church committed to suffer for Jesus. (“Doing whatever it takes for revival.”)
Kingdom Multiplication 23/6/23
Jesus promised his devoted disciples “the secret of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11), as to how the same seed can be rejected and multiply “30, sixty and 100-fold” (Mark 4:8). The opening of the heavenly scroll and the revelation of the mystery of kingdom multiplication are one secret of limitless sacrificial love. The era of the farmer who sows the seed that grows “he knows not how” (Mark 4:27) no longer applies in the light of the reign of the Lamb “standing as slaughtered” (Rev 5:6). By the grace of the Lamb we will witness the emergence of a genuinely apostolic-prophetic Church in Perth coloured by much agony in prayer and witness (Col 4:12) receiving revelation from heaven to spread Christ’s gospel to the ends of the earth (1 Pet 1:12).
Conclusion 24/6/23
Presently, only a spiritual remnant know the secret of the great dignity of sharing in suffering with Jesus for a revelation of the righteousness of God’s rule (Matt 5:10; 2 Cor 5:21). Presently, most Perth Christians are more threatened by “mystery Babylon” (Rev 17:5) than moved by the “profound mystery” of our glorious identity in Christ (Eph 5:23). This deficit of revelation is going to shift as the period of seemingly fruitless suffering will be transformed by a time of visible kingdom growth. Those who receive this time of revival with shallow joy (Mark 4:16-17) will later be deceived and fall away, but for those “bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15) this time of kingdom abundance will endure. “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” (Rev 14:2).