HOW THE SPIRIT FUNCTIONS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST by Roger Roth Sr.

“HOW THE SPIRIT FUNCTIONS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST” by Roger Roth Sr.

We desire to discover greater understanding on general insight of how the Spirit functions within the Body of Christ. As we look at vision, heavenly encounters and the transition of the age, it’s important that our relationship with the Father comes first. Developing, restoring and engaging in relationship with the Father is the ultimate instruction in the entire body of scripture.

We probably do not appreciate the desire of God to have relationship with us. We understand that He wants connection with mankind in general, but do we understand His desire to give to, and receive affection from, each of us? Do you understand the Father’s longing for intimacy with you? He is not looking for a servant to master relationship, but something greater, far greater – a heart to heart, mind to mind, spirit to Spirit, love relationship with you!

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not; 1 John 3:1 The Father has called us into special relationship with Him. We need God but we seldom think about what He desires. His very essence is love and therefore He desires us to give and to receive love.

What manner of love is it that we are to behold? What is the manner of God’s love? It is a love that has made us and then given to each of us part of His divine nature! In part, it is a total love without reservation and without condition. It is like us having the ability to design a living being and then giving that being part of our essence. It is a love that makes us His offspring.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device; Acts 17:19-31.

He has elevated us to the position of sons and daughters. What is your attitude toward a son or daughter? What do you think His attitude is toward us? He desires relationship. Relationship – the process of interaction building an increasing bond of affection and offering the opportunity to give, receive and grow in love.

You can see why those who are under the control of religious attitudes and doctrines have a difficult time in dwelling in the Father’s love. The world does not know Him or us but eventually they will know both. It’s hard to draw near to those that we keep at a distance. How we see Him is how we relate to Him. If we view His love as conditional on our actions or if we view Him as one ready to punish our failures, how then do we establish a lifestyle of being in the Father’s presence? You know it is impossible to have close relationship with anyone who judges you, how much more if we think that is the attitude of the Father toward us?

The Holy Spirit (God is holy and He is a spirit) in His relationship with us gives comfort, John 14:15-20; gives guidance, Romans 8:1-4; and He brings forth fruit into our lives, Galatians 5:22-23. All these are demonstrations of love and require our participation in order to receive them. Without our participation brought through relationship these cannot happen in our lives. It is not about what we do but about how we open our innermost self to Him.

The scripture also counsels us that we can deny, quench, resist, grieve and hinder the Holy Spirit. These are all actions that cause conflict and place barriers to receiving His love and our ability to remain in His presence. You will find that when you are engaged in any of these, it is because you have not allowed Him to perfect you in love. The answer to maintaining His presence is not self-condemnation or following religious rules but rather total surrender and acceptance.

As with all human relationships we have to create opportunity for divine affection and tenderness, in order for relationship to take root and grow. As I’ve mentioned before, the one common characteristic that I have found in all present and past Christians, that had or have intimacy with the Father is that they organized their lives to allow significant time with the Father, not for any purpose other than being in His presence.

This cannot be a religious operation where we say, “I’ve got to spend more time with God, or everyone needs to pray an hour a day.” This approach will never bring intimacy because it is formed in an attitude of obligation rather than in the free pursuit of love. Part of waking up is a desire to spend time with the Father, for no other reason than to just be with Him. It is not an effort to garner favor or get answers to our needs (although these happen in that atmosphere) but rather if it is an effort at all, it is an effort to know and grow in Him.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you; James 4:8. Notice it is not God who draws near to us, He is always willing, but it is when we draw near to Him. He proceeds this in an earlier verse with the empowerment to do this by saying, But He giveth more grace. Do you want to entertain the presence of the Lord in a greater manner? Then ask the Father for more grace to devote meaningful time to entertain His presence. Again, it must come freely from our will and desire and not from obligation or necessity.

God can do more in one instant than our efforts can produce through much labor. We don’t seek intimacy to get something but in desiring intimacy He gives us all things. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you; Matthew 6:31-33.

If you seek God and the way He thinks and acts, all things are given to you automatically without pleading or long suffering or frustration. This is hard for some Christians to understand unless they learn it in the secret place – in the presence of the Lord. When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask; Matthew 6:7,8. In the secret place (being in the Father’s presence) it’s not about convincing Him to do anything but rather it becomes the joy of discovery – discovering who He is and what He is doing.

It is from this position (intimacy) that we will see its unfolding and impact. As a Body, we need to learn to bring the Vision He’s given to us before the Lord. He gave us a Vision which means He already sees its implementation so if we see as He sees (As Jesus said, I always do the will of my Father) then we know how to implement it. This is not just one person seeing but many so each may know their part.

How does the Spirit function? How does He dispense grace, perform the miraculous, answer needs, open understanding, recreate His nature in us, etc.?

There are many ways we could explain this inexhaustible subject but we will use one portion of scripture to hopefully shed light on this.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts! This often-quoted scripture speaks of the sovereignty of God in performing His will. His will is not accomplished by our power or strength but by His Spirit. Likewise, the Vision will be accomplished by His Spirit.

We realize that we are participants in this process so what is the mechanism of the Spirit performing His will through His church? The prophet Zechariah had a window on this process. He saw a vision whose interpretation reveals to us how the Spirit accomplishes all things.

And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it: Zechariah 4:1-6.

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth; Zechariah 4:7-14

Zechariah means, the Lord has Remembered. The Lord is reassembling the Body parts in an order necessary to bring forth His plan. In the scripture portion above we see what is happening to us. The angel woke Zechariah as we also are being awakened. If your sleeping you can’t see, many are sleeping and don’t really see but you see.

As with most heavenly encounters, they require understanding. There is usually a message inside the message, like a message in a bottle. If you see a corked bottle floating on the water you think, “someone has sent a message.” You have to uncork the bottle to discover the meaning. Someone is trying to tell something to whoever discovers the bottle. Many heavenly encounters can be just that way.

The angel says to Zechariah, “what do you see?” Then Zechariah describes two olive trees on either side of a bowl with pipes connecting the olive trees to the bowl that is on top of a golden candlestick. From that bowl come 7 pipes that flow to the seven lamps on top of the lampstand. Is Zechariah having a heavenly encounter? Yes. Does he see with great detail? Yes. Is he awake? Yes. Does he understand what he sees? No, he needs interpretation. We don’t always understand what we see at first.

How does he get interpretation? He asks; “what are these my lord?” We ask questions, that’s how we get understanding. Notice that he calls this angel, lord. This is not an angel but the angel of the lord (Zechariah 3:6). The angel of the lord responds, “don’t you know what these are?”

Don’t you understand what you are seeing? To which Zechariah responds, No! Then he is given the understanding, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Now if you saw the same thing would you ever get this, on your own, for the interpretation? Probably not but Zechariah seemed to understand it. This whole encounter has to do with the operation of God’s Spirit.

How do we gain revelation? As we discussed previously it is by comparing scripture with scripture and the old testament with the new since the new, in many ways, is the interpretation of the old.

Where do we find a golden candlestick in scripture? In the tabernacle, in the Apostle Paul’s writings, in Solomon’s temple and in the book of Revelation, to name a few. Where do we find two trees in scripture? In the garden and in Revelation chapter 11. Where do we find olive trees? In Moses’ writings in the Torah, the Apostle Paul’s writings in the book of Romans and in the Apostle John’s writing in Revelation, etc.

What about the oil? It was used to light the lamp in the tabernacle, Lev 24:2; as anointing oil Ex 30:23-25; to anoint Kings, 1 Sam 16:1; to sanctify the tabernacle, Ex 40:9; as a type of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 25:13; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18, etc.

Where might we find examples of seven lights or lamps or spirits? Isaiah 11:2-3; Revelation 1:4; 3:5; 4:5; 5:6. Romans 12:6-8 (seven Spirit operations); 7 opposing spirits, Luke 8:2; Mat 12:45. You will notice that all imagery found in Zechariah chapter 4 is also found in the book of Revelation. That should tell us that these two portions of scripture are directly related to each other.

So how are we to understand Zechariah’s encounter in light of the interpretation of the angel of the lord that said what Zechariah saw was not about might nor power but by the Spirit? This is about the Spirit and how the Spirit brings restoration of the temple, God’s residence (house) on earth. This is the conclusion of that Vision, “the manifestation of the Body of Christ.” Jesus manifesting Himself in and through the Body!

The two olive trees are trees produce olive oil (Spirit). In Genesis there are two specific trees mentioned in the garden; the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We could say the tree that produces what is the word of God and the tree that produces what is not the word of God. One tree on the left side (the earthly side) and one tree on the right side (the spiritual side).

One tree is indicative of the Old Covenant and the other the New Covenant. The branches that connect to it, one is the anointed word of the old testament prophets; Zech 4:14; Rev 11:-4 and the other, the new testament prophetic word; Rev 19:10.

These connect as the bowl; the prophetic word of the old and new testaments mix in this bowl; Matthew 13:52. The bowl is connected to seven pipes each leading to seven lamps. These seven pipes are the seven messengers (angels) of Rev. 1:20, 8:2,6. They connect the bowl to the seven lamps, which are the churches, Rev. 1:20. There were 7 messages given to the 7 churches in chapter two and three of Revelation.

The light given by these lamps that fills the whole world is the light of the seven-fold Spirit of God, Revelation 1:4; that dispenses the light of the gospel into all the earth; 2 Cor. 4:1-6. It goes out throughout the entire earth and metaphorically sees everything.

Zechariah’s encounter explains the process of the operation of the Spirit of God in restoring the temple (the house of God). Zerubbabel (pressed or birthed out of babel – confusion) the son of Shealtiel (asked for of God) is sent back from captivity to rebuild the temple (the house of God). In Zechariah 4:9 we are told that he laid the foundation and that he would also finish it.

“Do not despise the day of small things.” Zech 4:10, we are like Zerubbabel. We’ve been pressed or birthed out of religious confusion (babel) because we have asked for this of God. Not many understand what’s happening, so some look on us as doing a small thing. They do not understand the significance and purpose of God in the Body, some may even despise, as quoted above, what they view as a day of “small things.” The important thing is do we understand?

The olive trees (the word of the old and new covenants) produce oil (Spirit). That oil flows into a bowl (a place of revelation where the word of both covenants is distilled. From that revelation, messages are sent to the churches, (this is the ministry to the church). Each church has distinct message. Together they form the complete message of God to the earth. The oil (Spirit) flows into the churches (the lamps) and is lit to bring light to the entire world. The light of Jesus, John 8:12; becomes the light of the world (you and I), Matthew 5:14.

There is one more verse that we need to consider. It is the explanation as to how we cast worldly mountains (corrupted authority) into the sea (ignorance) and establish the Lord’s mountain (the Kingdom of His authority).

Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it; Zech 4:7. There was a great mountain of opposition formed against Zerubbabel’s authority and his rebuilding of the house of God. For truth to rise, ignorance must fall.

The usual response to evil is to combat it with force. Even in Christianity we have been conditioned to shout down the enemy, “take the Kingdom by force,” Mat 11:12, which I think is a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words. Spiritual warfare is not understood by many as the Lord fighting for us but often as saints using worldly tactics to fight our enemies.

If it is not by might nor by power, then how do we bring victory through the Spirit? How do we bring down the mountains of opposition to the manifestation of the coming Kingdom? It is by crying, “grace, grace.” (The ‘Double Annunciation of Deity’ as taught by Dr. Hanby.)

The old religious ways do not work. Forcing and adherence to rules and pouring guilt out on people who miss the mark has not brought restoration. The key to the transition of the ages from the wilderness of the Church into the Kingdom will be by living and pronouncing and disseminating Grace.

A Grace mindset is the opposite of a rule-based works mentality. Grace dispenses only love, desires only love, influences only through love and seeks only the rule of love. We have a great position among our awakened brothers and sisters throughout the world. The Spirit through us can establish a foundation that can be given to others to bring restoration, to provide God-intended connection, reestablish Divine order and bring forth a glorious Body that houses the Amazing God of the Universe!

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Roger Roth Sr. is a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. Together with his wife Karen, they are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin, and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”

Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com