While we are being led by the Holy Spirit into God’s predestined truth, spiritually challenging circumstances for us as God’s people are bound to arise. These circumstances can come with a certain kind of absence of authority in the form of leadership that means that it requires us as an ecclesia to exercise patience and wait for the return of authority.
Especially in times when the LORD has planned the increase of His presence and power, it is crucial that we remember the statements made by the LORD and wait patiently for the time of His visitation.
From Exodus 24:12-18 we can see that Moses went to Mount Horeb on God’s behalf over a period of forty days to receive from God His value system for the people of Israel in the form of the two tablets of stone.
Exodus 24:12-18:
12 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.’
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
14 He said to the elders, ‘Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.’
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.
17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
12 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.’
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
14 He said to the elders, ‘Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.’
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.
17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
The Ascension of Salvation and the Seventy Elders
The ascent of Moses and Joshua can be seen as an ascent of ‘salvation/redemption’, because the name ‘Moses’ means ‘The one drawn out of the water’ and the meaning of the name ‘Joshua’ is ‘YAHWEH is help’. When we speak of a spiritual ascent, this includes a greater dynamic of God’s presence in the respective area.
The ascension of salvation/redemption was supported by the ‘thermic’ of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, because the seventy elders were on a certain height of the mountain on a hammered sapphire pavement in the presence of God (cf. Exodus 24:9-10).
Exodus 24:9-10:
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli [Note: Sapphire], as bright blue as the sky.
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli [Note: Sapphire], as bright blue as the sky.
The number ‘70’ as the named number of elders on the mountain, is to be equated with the sixteenth Hebrew letter ‘Ayin’, which means, among other things, ‘eye, well’.
This prophetic gathering in the form of wisdom (Note: elders) and revelation (Note: 70 => ayin/eye) can be equated with the use of prophetic intercession for leadership, so that there is an increase in quality within the ecclesia (cf Ephesians 6:18-19).
This prophetic gathering in the form of wisdom (Note: elders) and revelation (Note: 70 => ayin/eye) can be equated with the use of prophetic intercession for leadership, so that there is an increase in quality within the ecclesia (cf Ephesians 6:18-19).
Ephesians 6:18-19:
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, …
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, …
=> Prophetic intercession includes the word breathed by God into the spirit of the prophet or prophetess. It is the Word of God that is life (cf. John 6:63).
Prophetic intercession is a certain kind of spiritual pregnancy in which the prophet or prophetic vessel becomes pregnant in the spirit with the Word of God and can have his or her experience much like a pregnant woman.
When the Word of God, which has come to maturity as seed in the prophetic vessel over a period of time, is brought to birth in the Spirit. This can make itself felt through spiritual birth pangs.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of such an event during a time of prophesying (cf. 1. Kings 18:42; Isaiah 21:3; Isaiah 26:17-18; Isaiah 37:3; Isaiah 66:7-8; Hosea 13:12-13; Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 5:7; John 11:33 = The Greek word for ‘groaning’ means ‘embrimaomai/ enebrimésato, from enebrimaomai’, which is explained as follows: ‘to snort with anger, like horses; harsh, loud noise caused by violent inhalation through the nostrils’). <= (The text set in ‘=>’ is a part excerpt from the ‘Prophet’s Dictionary’ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 95.)
Prophetic intercession is a certain kind of spiritual pregnancy in which the prophet or prophetic vessel becomes pregnant in the spirit with the Word of God and can have his or her experience much like a pregnant woman.
When the Word of God, which has come to maturity as seed in the prophetic vessel over a period of time, is brought to birth in the Spirit. This can make itself felt through spiritual birth pangs.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of such an event during a time of prophesying (cf. 1. Kings 18:42; Isaiah 21:3; Isaiah 26:17-18; Isaiah 37:3; Isaiah 66:7-8; Hosea 13:12-13; Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 5:7; John 11:33 = The Greek word for ‘groaning’ means ‘embrimaomai/ enebrimésato, from enebrimaomai’, which is explained as follows: ‘to snort with anger, like horses; harsh, loud noise caused by violent inhalation through the nostrils’). <= (The text set in ‘=>’ is a part excerpt from the ‘Prophet’s Dictionary’ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 95.)
It is the spirit of prophecy, which can also be described as ‘the wings of the great eagle’, which gave Moses and Joshua spiritual wings and enabled them in firm confidence to soar higher into the presence of God (cf. Exodus 24:13 i.c.w. Revelation 19:10e; Revelation 12:14a).
Exodus 24:13:
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
Revelation 19:10e:
‘… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.’
‘… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.’
Revelation 12:14a:
14a The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, …
14a The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, …
In addition, we can speak of a prophetic thermic or prophetic updraft that took Moses and Joshua to a higher level of the mountain, with Moses entering deeper into the veiling presence of God in the form of the dark cloud.
Exodus 24:18:
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
The Warning and the Right Attitude of Heart
During this time, the people of Israel waited down at the mountain and became impatient. As a result, they called on Aaron to make and get them a god who would accompany them on their journey (cf. Exodus 32:1).
Exodus 32:1:
1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered round Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’
1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered round Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’
Herein lies a warning for all times.
We should ask ourselves with what attitude of heart we dwell in the Levitical structure that includes the royal priesthood in Christ.
We should ask ourselves with what attitude of heart we dwell in the Levitical structure that includes the royal priesthood in Christ.
Is it the heart attitude of Moses and the Levitical structure on the spiritual level of Moses or are we dwelling with a wrong heart attitude in the Levitical structure of Aaron which includes a soulish level to live according to the desires of men or to be influenced by them?
Because of the desire of the people of Israel, Aaron commanded the people to give them gold for the coming deity of their flesh, which he brought into existence for them along with an altar, resulting in false worship of devastating dimensions (cf. Exodus 32:2-6).
Exodus 32:2-6:
2 Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.’
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, ‘Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.’
6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterwards they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
2 Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.’
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, ‘Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.’
6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterwards they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
This shows that fear and impatience lead to premature action outside of God’s will, which has disastrous consequences for us and others.
Waiting in Patience for the Presence of God
Even at the time of Saul, who was instructed by the prophet Samuel to wait for him for a full seven days, he allowed himself to be driven by the fear of the people, so that he acted prematurely by offering sacrifices to the LORD too early or without justification, instead of waiting for the prophetic presence of God in the form of the prophet Samuel (cf. 1 Samuel 13:6-13).
1 Samuel 13:6-13:
6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
8 He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
9 So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 ‘What have you done?’ asked Samuel. Saul replied, ‘When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 I thought, “Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favour.” So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.’
13 ‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
8 He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
9 So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 ‘What have you done?’ asked Samuel. Saul replied, ‘When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 I thought, “Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favour.” So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.’
13 ‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
We can clearly see in the Word of God in 1 Samuel 13 that Saul did not truly trust in Samuel and was a man, who was in himself not honest and reliable and who looked more to earthly circumstances than listening to and obeying spiritual instructions.
Saul was not looking at the situation with spiritual eyes. Because of this fact, he began to produce offerings from his flesh. It was an offering of impatience and not trusting God.
It is impatience that causes us to enter spiritual realms prematurely.
It is impatience that causes us to enter spiritual realms prematurely.
Such steps can lead to the destruction of a ministry or to great difficulties. Even if our intention may look good and spiritual before people, but if it is realized out of impatience, it will not result in blessing. For example, they are ‘premature births’ that carry a great risk of dying or not reaching the required maturity and end up living in a limited life.
It is therefore crucial that we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit in the truth of God’s Word and pay attention to His instruction and put it into practice in our lives. Jesus did not act according to what men demanded of him but did what He saw the Father do (cf. John 5:19).
John 5:19:
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. …’
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. …’
This is revealed by the sickness of His friend Lazarus, who was dying and Jesus stayed where He was for another two days despite the request of men, without going to Lazarus’ house immediately (cf. John 11:1-4.6-7).
John 11:1-4.6-7:
1 Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ …
6 So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’
1 Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ …
6 So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’
Meanwhile Lazarus was dying but Jesus knew that the Heavenly Father would show His glory in the life of Lazarus and glorify Him (Note: Jesus) as His Son (cf. John 11:11-14.17.39-45).
John 11:11-14.17.39-45:
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’
12 His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, …
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. …
39 ‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’
40 Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’ 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’
12 His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, …
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. …
39 ‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’
40 Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’ 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
Because Jesus waited for the Father’s timing, it followed that Lazarus became the sign of Jesus’ resurrection power, causing many Jews to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, with the religious leaders wanting to kill Jesus and Lazarus (cf. John 12:9-11).
John 12:9-11:
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
These biblical passages reveal to us that it is necessary to wait patiently for the time predetermined by God. It is about being in the right place with the right saints in order to experience the visitation of God and His intervention in abundance and to be led (cf. Luke 24:49 i.c.w. Acts 2:1-4).
Luke 24:49:
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay [Note: wait.] in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay [Note: wait.] in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
Acts 2:1-4:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The Waiting of the Holy Spirit and the Measure of the Apostolic Order
The Holy Spirit also waited with His manifestation at Shavuot until the apostolic order among the disciples of Jesus was restored, since Judas left the place of apostleship due to betrayal. This betrayal resulted in a so-called apostolic void or gap, which had to be filled by a new apostle (cf. Acts 1:15-17.26).
Acts 1:15-17.26:
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.’ …
26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.’ …
26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
It was only after this apostolic ‘filling of space’ that the power of God fell at Shavuot in the upper room in a similar way as the LORD came down with His presence on the high place, Mount Horeb/Sinai, and covered Moses.
Peter, the rock, brought the revelatory truth for the moment of the imminent outpouring of the Holy Spirit through the order written down by God and put it into practice by the cause for the election of a new apostle. In the same way, he also applied the Word of God when the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 saints in Jerusalem to bring peace to the confused hearts of the God-fearing Jews with the written order of the Word of God (cf. Acts 2:12-16).
Acts 2:12-16:
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (cf. Joel 2:28-29): …
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (cf. Joel 2:28-29): …
The apostolic order previously arranged by Peter (Note: election of Matthias according to Psalm 69:25 i.c.w. Psalm 109:8) helped to bring about an important spiritual government after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring peace in the hearts of the Jews present in Jerusalem who were witnesses to the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:14).
Here we can see the confirmation of 1 Corinthians 14:33.
1 Corinthians 14:33:
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
It is the order of the Word of God, communicated through revelation, that establishes peace in the hearts of men and secures the future of the movement of the Holy Spirit, while we do not act hastily and out of lack of patience. God tests us in this!
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
