I’m conflicted and warned by the story of Korah’annem’s rebellion, yet assuredly at peace.
“One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?” Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.””
Numbers 16:1-3, 13-14 NLT
On the one hand, I can see the reckless foolishness of him and the rest to incite a rebellion in a bid to come against Moses and Aaron for the reasons they did. I see the consequence they faced for their actions.
On the other hand, I look at the church and Body of Christ today. I look at how the Spirit has been poured out on all flesh — many are awakening by the second. I see how there’s a decentralisation happening in the church because God is revealing Himself to everyone, to and past the point where we’re experiencing true and intimate relationship with Him through His Word and Spirit. I see how the thick veil that long covered “men of God” and “religious leaders” to the point where people started worshipping and revering them instead of God has been torn. I see how doing things in the name of the Lord while doing other things that have nothing to do with Him is being exposed for what it really is. I see how the Father is by His Spirit, eliminating every middle man… every bridge… every go between… to just the One — Jesus Christ, the Way, Truth and Life. I see how the authority and anointing He gave Jesus has been given to all His followers and in calling us out, He is making us call our wrong deeds out.
Now, it’s like the more we’re enabled by the Spirit to unconform from the world and church’s status quos, renew in our thinking, divorce our flesh, grow in spirit; the more He quickens our inner man, helps us catch up to the Father, learn His will and stand in warfare as His agents on earth till He brings His will to pass; the more we realise that what we’ve been taught by “the church” and “men of God” is similar to an extent, yet quite largely different from what Holy Spirit daily reveals in the Word.
Maybe it’s attributed to the times we’re in, change that’s constant and the understanding of the Word that can be birthed as a result. Maybe it’s Jesus Christ, His finished works, justification and righteousness that make the difference. Maybe it’s due to Holy Spirit’s increased removal of our bias and resulting illumination of the true essence of the Word from the writer and Inspirer’s perspectives. Maybe it’s the Father’s intentionality;
one thing is definitely clear in these times. The Lord is calling us increasingly by His name from distant lands and enabling us to increasingly answer. We’re all increasingly being set apart by the Lord and He, Emmanuel, is with all of us — even those yet to receive, believe in and walk with Him by His Spirit. Through Jesus Christ the Head, all members (plus new intakes, those far off and even those yet to hear about Him) of His Body — though unique and blessed with varying special functions — can thrive and do their part in unity. It’s clear that the Spirit is on us. lt’s clear that the Spirit is One. And for all who refute this, for all who blaspheme the Spirit, there are eternal consequences.
Scripture for Further Reading
Acts 2:16-28
Ephesians 1:9-10; 2:4-7; 3:10-21; 4:4; 5:14; 6:10-18
Hosea 6:6
John 4:21-24; 14:6-7; 15:1-8,15; 17:3
Matthew 10:1,8; 28:18-20
Romans 5:1-2; 12:1-2
Mark 3:23-30; 4:11-12
Philippians 3:10
Colossians 1:26-29
Hebrews 11:6
Isaiah 43:1-13 61:1-2
1 Corinthians 6:17
THE LORD'S VESSEL 