BE THE BRANCH HE MADE YOU TO BE

Exodus 3:1-10; Revelation 1:9-13, 18; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Every one of these references have one thing in common.

There is a note of turning and seeing God's glory.

Moses turned and saw God's glory in the burning bush, and received word from God.

John turned and saw Christ in the midst of the candlesticks and heard word from God.

Paul spoke of our hearts turning to Jesus and seeing glory and being changed into that same image.

Moses had long forsaken the thoughts of delivering Israel from Egypt after his attempt and failure forty years previous.

He knew God called him to do so, according to Acts 7:25.

But he failed in not realizing he must be an instrument in God's hands rather than orchestrate the whole thing according to his plans.

But when he turned and saw the glory of God, God let him know He still wanted to use Moses.

God had not forgotten the calling on his life.

Moses had to see the glory of God in order to understand what was going on.

And he received word to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of Israel.

God would back him up.

And Israel also received direction and guidance from Moses.

Moses saw the glory and heard from God.
Moses would therefore guide Israel in the ways of God.

John likewise turned and saw Christ in the burning tree (candlesticks were shaped like a branched almond tree).

And he received Word from Jesus to give to the Churches as well.

This word would guide and direct the churches.

Now, Paul noted that seeing God's Glory causes us to be changed into that same image.

He called it a looking into a glass.

This is actually meant to be understood as a mirror.

Think about it.

How can we look in a mirror and see God's glory?

Man is indeed the glory of God (1 Cor 11:7), but that is not the issue here.

This is the message this night.

Jesus said the branches/candlesticks are the seven churches.

And he listed them to John in Rev 1.

Jesus showed that He is connected to the churches.

That is the reason John 15 says He is the Vine and we are the Branches.

You have to realize that the seven candlesticks John saw were the sevenbranched menorah or candelabra of the tabernacle and temple, that were shaped like an almond tree with seven branches.

So the picture is of branches from Jesus, since He is in the midst of the candlesticks.

And these branches/candlesticks were made of solid gold.

God showed both Moses and John that He is connected to the people of God.

The burning bush of Moses was a network of branches.

God was in the midst.

He is connected to us.

That is the reason He told Moses He heard their cry and saw their oppression.

Jesus could not speak of Himself without showing His connection to His church.

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

(John 12:21-24)

They wanted to see Jesus, and notice they came to Philip.

When people come to you, church, they want to see Jesus.

Do they see Jesus when they see you?

And When Jesus responded to their inquiry, He spoke of Himself as a seed planted and buried to rise again with many more seeds.

This entire picture is what we actually see in Revelation 1.

Jesus even said He was resurrected from the dead in the vision John saw.

A tree with branches and many more people connected to Him.

And the fruit of the tree in Revelation 1 was LIGHT!

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

(Mat 5:14-15)

Jesus said we are the Light!

This brings us to the mirror.

The reason Paul said we look in a mirror and see the glory of God is the fact that we are connected to Jesus.

You cannot see Him without see your connection to Him.

And we are seeing a vision of ourselves.

This is a mirror.

You are connected to Jesus!

So when you really see yourself as God sees you, in this special mirror of REVELATION, you see Christ intrinsically connected to you.

But its more than that.

If its a reflection of who we are, then why did Paul say we are CHANGED into that image?

When you normally look in a mirror, you see what you are, and not what you will be changed into.

But in this case you are seeing the part of you that is of God since your new birth, without all the present trappings of carnality that we may also have!

John saw the church as GOLDEN.

That is the part of us that is of God since our new birth.

But we have a whole lot of trappings and baggage that we carried along with us from our old lives as sinners.

Incorrect assessment of ourselves.

Ignorance of who we are in Christ.

Carnal traits.

The picture is sort of like 1 Cor 3.

Paul speaks of wood, hay and stubble that comprise our lives in very carnal states.

And then he speaks of lives comprised of gold, silver and precious stones.

The things of God are the precious metals and stones.

The carnal things of the flesh (organic) are wood, hay and stubble.

The fire distinguishes the two classes by burning up the organic and purifying the precious.

And the parts of our lives that are fleshly must fall off or be burned away.

So Jesus showed John what the Church really is in Him, like a mirror of the church, without the carnality they presently had, though.

And His words to those very churches who were His branches in the vision would PURGE THE CHURCHES!

And it would make the churches align themselves to what John saw in the vision -- pure golden branches to shine Christ's light.

When Jesus spoke of us as the light, He also said no man lights a candle to cover it up with a bushel.

But that is exactly the state with so many Christians.

They are candles covered with obstructions that hinder the light from shining.

In order to let your light shine, in this case, you must remove the obstruction.

So by seeing the glory of God connected to us, and seeing what He made us, without the carnal trappings, we see what does not belong in our lives that presently is in them.

Just remove so much of what is not in the vision, and you will be left with what is in the vision!

What a mirror!

And that is exactly what the letters to the churches would accomplish.

Peter also saw Jesus' glory.

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(Mat 16:14-19)

Peter knew that Jesus was the Son of the Living God.

That was a revelation of Jesus Christ!

(And notice that the CHURCH was connected to that revelation in verse 18.)

And Peter was informed that humanity did not reveal that to him.

He got a revelation.

This is in fact what the church is to be built upon -- direct revelations from God that establish our lives as though on a rock.

(When you are settled on the direct word from God, nobody can remove you, and you're solid!)

And Peter was therefore able to take responsibility!

Jesus told Peter he would give him the keys of the kingdom.

This is not talking about the tradition that made its way into the JOKE WORLD, where Peter stands at the gates of Heaven letting some in and forbidding others from entering.

Jesus explained what the keys meant.

Peter would BIND and LOOSE.

Binding and Loosing is an ancient Jewish set of terms that indicate FORBIDDING and ALLOWING.

For example, Moses BOUND the eating of pork under Law.

That meant he disallowed it due to word from God concerning such.

But He LOOSED rest on the sabbath, or said this was what was to be done.

It is not even speaking about binding the devil and loosing angels as so many think it is.

It's talking about Peter's responsibility to GUIDE THE CHURCH AND DIRECT IT.

But it was not only Peter who would bind and loose.

The other disciples were given the keys as well (See Matthew 18:18).

Why was Peter given responsibility to inform saints as to what is allowed and what is not?

It was because he was apt to receiving revelation from God!

The church needs people who can hear from God and inform the people what is right and what is not to be done.

This is not some dictatorial issue, but is God's directions through ministry to the church.

Moses also directed Israel since he could hear from God.

God gave him instruction to the people.

Was Moses a dictator?

Of course not.

We must ensure we do not get this popular worldly idea in our heads that nobody can tell us what is supposed to be right or wrong.

That is hellish thinking!

The world doesn't want anyone telling them what to do.

But we must NEVER let that get hold of us.

Let's say "Yes" to whatever God's will is.

And this is exactly what John's words to the seven churches were!

Revelations from God to the churches telling them they were doing well in such and such an area of their lives, but had to get rid of other things in other areas.

And those words would PURGE THE CHURCHES TO BE WHAT CHRIST CALLED US TO BE!

In the chapter about Jesus as the Vine and we the Branches, look what He said.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

(John 15:1-3)

The branch that bears fruit will be PURGED to bring forth more fruit.

And verse 3 tells us what the purging method is.

THE WORD.

The revelations from God to the church.

And it makes us bear the fruit of LIGHT more and more as we obey the word and correct our lives.

If we receive the Word of God given by true men and women of God, even prophecies from saints in the church who have the gift of prophecy, we will be purged and experience carnality drop off our lives, to end up as the purely golden branches shining light we were meant to be!

Some will leave the church and others will remain and never heed.

But as we taught in our bible studies about offenses, never leave.

I am talking about TRUE CHURCHES.

God knows there are preachers everywhere who don't hear anything from God.

I am talking about true ministers who get revelation from God to direct the believers.

(But don't think the preacher cannot hear from God just because he steps on your toes and preaches something that your flesh doesn't want to hear).

And heed the Word.

Let God purge the branches.

See what is of God in your life when you see His glory.

Realize what is not of God.

You'll get revelation of God's directions for your life when you see a revelation of Jesus.

There may be a lot of problems in your lives, but beneath it is a golden element that connects you to God.

And the MINISTRY will help you drop off what is not of God -- the wood, hay and stubble -- and leave you left with true gold.

(NOTE: As the sermon closed this night, Pastor Blume felt in the Spirit to ask if anyone was talking about this very issue at home and in fellowship with others. He noted that God has been moving in such a way that every week saints are telling him that the sermon was just what they were discussing before they even heard it! Two families raised their hands, and two other individuals came and said they were actually meditating upon these very thoughts before service! Pastor Blume indicated that is the gold in their lives that is actually indicative of a GIFT OF THE SPIRIT trying to come forth, and they need to recognize that. And development of these gifts will cause God to move so powerfully in our services when people come for help, and find the congregation ministering about the very things for which these people came for help.)

GOD IS MOVING!

If you receive this sermon, and have also been urged about these very things, then be not surprised. God is moving across the land in a very special way this very hour! His true church is going to SHINE!.