And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Revelation 4:2‭-‬3 KJV

The focus is not you and I. 

John was invited up to the heavenly places after discharging his earthly ministry by delivering the pinnacle letters of Jesus to the 7 Churches. 

Interesting that once the invitation was given to go up he was immediately in the Spirit. 

I believe God wants to speak to His Prophets and Apostles as it is time to discharge our focus on our earthly ministry because when God calls us up to heaven He shows us His Throne. 

However, as John had a revelation of Christ and was accustomed to being in the Spirit…it was not a big thing to transition into the heavenly realms. 

One thing I have discovered in my travels the last few weeks is that the main charismatic churches operate and work not paying attention to the long Church history where the mystics were accustomed to being in the Spirit. 

In my travels the question has been : could it be that because of the Reformation of Luther we have written off numerous saints and mystics because we only want to preach the Word? I am convinced I have been conditioned to believe the Church never existed before the 39 Theses on Witternburg Cathedral. 

In my research I was surprised that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost has been present in the Roman Catholic church for centuries. 

The mystics were often incoherent to this world as they were caught up to other realities. As John was immediately in the Spirit so should it not be a more common occurence?

So as ministry can somewhat be going from Church to church or conference to conference are we missing something?

Today we are seeing a technological age that communicates at light speed but knows NOTHING about meeting God.

It brings to mind my old youth group. We sought the Visitation and everyone was prostrate for hours because God was moving.

The power was so strong that I remember that digital watches were all the rage…went all confused under this divine Visitation.

So if it was normal to be immediately in Spirit is because there was a deep experience with God of deep love and devotion. 

The next thing to note that when God brings us into the heavenly places we are positioned to see that the centre of all things was the Throne of God.

May we seek to fall in love and devotion with God and may we seek to live where the Spirit can take us to show us eternal things. 

Shalom

Russell Durose

March 2017