WORDS OF CAUTION, WRITTEN IN LOVE

Don Atkin

We conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God. – II Corinthians 1:12

In all my years, I have never before seen or heard so many radical, even preposterous
distractions from the simplicity that is in Christ.

I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. – II Corinthians 11:3

I want to appeal to you with all the gentleness and kindness that the Holy Spirit
provides. I am prayerfully calling us to attention, not to look for something new, create
some new formula, or attempt to be prophetically provocative.

The drive for novelty and spiritual mysteries/ecstasies is somehow deeply embedded in
the human psyche. It often unknowingly partners with religious spirits that are eager to
manifest. It seems to thrust itself to the surface whenever and wherever there is an
unfulfilled spiritual hunger, a lack of the reality of Jesus. The enemy of our souls
eagerly deceives and corrupts our minds, and – unless we have a viable standard of
measure – we don’t even know that it is happening!

Historical accounts of the early church, along with the apostolic instruction of the
epistles, provide the only viable standard by which we are to measure. Unfortunately,
many hold their personal “experiences” above the New Covenant writings as their
standard of measure, thus being subject to deception, delusion and distraction.

It is increasingly common for dear brethren with what I will call “prophetic tendencies” to
resonate with one another much like folks in another day, who excitedly set out to build
a tower to heaven. In another historical setting, Jesus, spoke of the events that were
soon to come upon Jerusalem:
 “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ Do not believe it. For
false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible, even the elect.” – Matthew 24:23-24

Human nature has not changed since the days of Babylon or the days of Jerusalem.
The very void that only Jesus can fill is still the foothold of the serpent. As believers, we
know that Satan has no place within us unless we give him that place. That human
hankering for something beyond ourselves (as was the vulnerability of Eve) sets us up
for the serpent’s deceiving “revelations.” Such temptations continue until our entire lives
are solidly built upon the Rock, and we are rightly “hidden” in the midst of the body of
Christ.

For the past thirty years or so, the prophetic movement – prophets, gifts of prophecy
and words of knowledge – has been very popular. Unfortunately, we have been short
on words of wisdom and the discerning of spirits. Integrity would call us all into
agreement that there are vast differences within the prophetic community. Why is this
so? God is not the author of confusion.

“The tendency to determine what is or is not prophetic, or who is or is not a

prophet by charismatic endowment rather than inner alignment to kingdom truth
is unfortunate, with tragic results. The simplest definition of being prophetic is:
Hearing God and doing what He says!” – Steve Crosby

I am taking a risk in writing the following, particularly in this season of performing artists
and ecstatic experiences. But, here goes: The simplest definition of worship is:
Hearing God and doing what He says!

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me, and he
who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself
to him.” – (The Apostles’ Doctrine) – John 14:21

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. – (Apostle’s
doctrine) – James 1:22

• Prophets hear God and do what He says.

• Those who worship in Spirit and in truth hear God and do what He says.

I propose for your consideration that the church of Jesus Christ has pulled away from
her moorings and created a consumer-driven culture that has no New Covenant
precedent. And is no longer continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. Thus, she
has made herself vulnerable to distraction and deception. I cannot get away from the
timeliness of Paul’s concern. Let me repeat:

I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. – II Corinthians 11:3
The highest prophetic function is to make Jesus known, not “esoteric revelations.”
John, who did no miracles, was the best of the old order. His message was:

“Behold the Lamb!”

THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST

I was recently discussing with a friend, a genuine and mature prophet, the heartbreak of
reading something written by a precious and godly man who is several years my senior.
He had come up with some “revelation” about an obscure phrase deeply buried in the
Old Testament. My friend’s response:

“It's heart rending to be so far along in the faith, and side-tracked with this stuff.
There is a small amount of amazement in my heart as to why believers can't be
satisfied with the Lord in His person – in union with our hearts – living and loving
Him there, and (loving) others by His grace. Jesus – revealed and in our hearts
by the Spirit – is the last Word of God to humanity.”

The foundational basis for serving God is that, for us, Jesus (who is God, who is Spirit)
HAS returned and abides in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without Him we can do
nothing; we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens us. We are sons, led
and empowered by His Spirit.

For me, this is experiential, not only doctrinal. I regularly find myself shedding His tears,
marveling over His creation, anticipating His fullness. I am convinced that "till He
comes" can be an excuse to not move forward in faith. My understanding is that Jesus
has not left us orphans, but has come to us. The world can't see Him, but we should
"see" Him. He is in us, the hope of glory.

“The Church is nothing which man can build by any resource in himself personally or
collectively.” – T. Austin-Sparks

Walking by faith in the experiential presence of the Godhead keeps us fresh and up-to-
date. Seeking signs and unique spiritual experiences and revelations causes us to walk
in a cloud rather than on the clouds.

THE CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE FOR APOSTLES

Many genuine believers are being distracted and/or deceived in their search for spiritual
reality. We cannot lay the blame at the feet of the prophets. Nor can we be critical of
those who respond to the tantalizing delicacies of the mystics or their counterfeits.
Filling that void, laying the foundation – the simplicity that is in Christ – is an apostolic
assignment.
 • Apostles carry the presence of Jesus in a uniquely apostolic way. (Prophets
carry His presence in a uniquely prophetic way, etc.) Ephesians 4:10 is the best
explanation of Ephesians 4:11: “. . . that He might fill all things.”
• Apostolic people, filling their assigned allotments, are the fruit of apostolic
ministry.
• Apostolic fruit (manifested in apostolically equipped people) fills cities, regions,
nations, and the world with Jesus’ presence.
• King Jesus’ presence in believers is to fill the earth with the glory of the Father.
• The glory of the Father is His kingdom – established by His sons through
relationships.

It's not about apostles. It's about people - sons of God - male and female - becoming
apostolic in all arenas of life. The sent ones are sent to impart Jesus. He is the
apostolic genius. We do so by living and communicating His kingdom on earth as it is in
heaven. The apostolic genius, the presence of Jesus, is contagious.

We don't begin by organizing or by challenging organizations. We begin by living the

abundant life of Christ in us, and doing so in the midst of those to whom we are sent.
Life will demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit of Him who said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw
all men unto Me."

INCARNATIONAL AND MISSIONAL MANDATES

We are being transformed into His image, and sent forth to pass on this apostolic
genius to others. The early church model was all about apostolic migration. Christian
faith is first incarnational, and then missional.

As He is (present tense), so are we (present tense) in this world. – I John 4:17b

Life in Christ, pursuing His mandates, will eventually deconstruct unrighteous

foundations by reconstituting the righteous foundations. Clearly, God intends the
church of the New Covenant to be incarnational and missional (as contrasted with
evangelical and attractional). We are to be discipled, and then to disciple others in the
same way that Jesus discipled the twelve, who were then sent to do likewise.

• Do we see Jesus or His disciples seeking “deeper” truth?

• Do we see Jesus or His disciples pursuing mystical sensationalism?
• Do we see Jesus or His disciples looking for gemstones or gold dust?
• Do we see Jesus or His disciples prophesying to creation?
• Do we see Jesus or His disciples making prophetic proclamations?

Do we see Paul doing any of these things? What are the New Testament examples of
such pursuits?
Hear the heartbeat of our faith as expressed by Paul:

• It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. – Galatians 2:20

• Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach. – Colossians 1:28-28a
• Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship
of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by
his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body,
nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that
is from God. – Colossians 2:18-19
• I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. – II Corinthians 11:3

Whatever you need is supplied through Christ in you. It will be practical. It will be alive.
It will work. It will be simple.

Apostles and prophets are to live in, and minister from, the realities of the New
Covenant. They are to build from a platform of internal ethics and accuracy of their
lives, not from the exercise of their gift.

Therefore I also, after hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all
the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of
His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and
what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according
to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised
Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to
the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

And you He made alive! – Ephesians 1:15 – 2:1a

P. S. My heart is toward you, dear reader. I share Paul’s prayer for you. I believe in
you because of the Christ who is in you. Seek Him. Seek His kingdom. Seek His
righteousness.

Behold the Lamb!