NEW FOUNDATIONS

by Bill Burns

We are in a spiritual time of “announcements” that will produce hidden (unknown) treasure – gems of wisdom.
1. Concerning ourselves – wrong attitudes, motives, judgments. Sin!
2. Revelation of kingdom purposes, times and seasons and directives for the church.
3. Personal wisdom, direction, guidance and fellowship with God.

All of these hidden treasures are for the purpose of establishing new foundations in our personal and corporate lives.

New Foundations

The new foundations that I am speaking of will be foundations that are restored by the hidden treasures – announcements – wisdom given by the Spirit of the Lord!

In a recent message, Marsha revealed the meanings of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:19 “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones.” (hidden treasure)

The foundations of our spiritual lives must first be swept clean of the things that are not right in our lives.

1 Corinthians 3:
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We cannot bring our own spiritual foundation to restoration until we allow the fire of the Spirit to burn up the wood, hay and straw that has been placed over the pure foundation of Christ – gold, silver, precious stones.

Wood – wrong attitudes
Hay – wrong motives
Straw – wrong judgments

Gold – Divine nature
Silver – redemptive quality
Precious stones – treasures from God.

2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

The announcements will produce precious gems (wisdom) to build on the foundations swept clean.

Ephesians 2:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We are being restored through prophetic and apostolic announcement:
Prophetic vision – insight
Apostolic – direction and guidance

Mysteries Revealed

Ephesians 3:
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles––
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

To reveal the mysteries (announcements)
V9 to all people
V10 by the Church to Satan’s kingdom

The new foundations adorned with precious stones (treasure/wisdom) will establish the Church in a place of purity, and thus power to demonstrate the kingdom of God to “all people” and to Satan’s rulers the “manifold wisdom” of God that reveals true prophetic and apostolic ministry.

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com