Spring 1995
Restoration in the Church
Seeley D. Kinne

At times, God has worked mightily among the children of men. Such a period is now at hand. In ancient days when these spiritual, extraordinary activities of God occurred, the voice of the Prophets announced them.

Jeremiah foretold the captivity and its duration. Isaiah revealed that Messiah would be rejected and as a Lamb would pay the penalty for sin. John the Baptist heralded the coming forth of Jesus. From age to age, prophecies of Scripture are like a most beautiful fabric, woven of threads of gold, purple, and crimson, into one perfect mosaic to make known the plan of God for His Church, and for mankind.

Events that are among the greatest this world has ever known are at hand. There are increasing convulsions in nature and the wicked are waxing worse and worse. These scenes have waited "until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" Acts 3:21. This is again being reiterated through the prophetic word.

The governmental return of the Lord Jesus Christ is approaching. There have been many visitations of the Lord God Jehovah to Israel, to the Church, and to His hidden and scattered ones. When darkness and superstition like a pall of midnight hung heavily over a benighted people and it seemed there was no hope, these times of intervention burst forth, laden with grace, love, gifts, and the revelation of His saving power, adapted to the needs of the times, bringing deliverance and spiritual life.

Moses brought the Law to Israel. Elijah showed the true God by calling fire from heaven. Jehovah hewed the nations by Jeremiah, Isaiah, and other prophets; while they warned of coming judgments and heralded the coming of Messiah.

The Lord has raised up many anointed ministries in this Holy Spirit dispensation. Their messages are bringing great blessings and mighty changes in the state of men. The next visitation will be the most powerful, miraculous, and far-reaching of any outpouring that has ever been given.

The past Pentecostal visitation at the turn of the century was intermingled with deep humiliations and repentance. Prayers, intercessions, travail, and heart cries to God were like incense everywhere. These meetings were a foretaste of Heaven with pure worship in the Spirit. Glory and unity characterized this blessed work of God. Supernatural workings of the Spirit came forth as never before. The cloud of His heavenly presence hung over these assemblies. But alas, how the fine gold became dim.

Through the Spirit, ancient prophets bemoaned with tears in the most sorrow-smitten anguish, the tragic failure and fall of God's people in their day. Are there no prophets to take up lamentation in the Spirit for the lapse of God's people today and seek again this deeper moving of His presence?

We have fallen from the transforming glory and mighty power that was bestowed upon us. To an alarming extent, there is a lack of discernment between the polish of education with its exercise of soulish powers, and the true life and ministry of Christ imparted by the Holy Spirit with an anointed and blessed walk in the Spirit.

Worldliness, covetousness, jealousy, criticism, and many sins are among us. This past outpouring was to be a precursor of the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to take possession of its affairs. But we have come short of becoming the people that God intended. We are far from ready for His appearing.

Therefore, the Lord must move again to bring forth a people who will be ready to meet Him at His coming. There must again be a visitation that is intermingled with deep humiliations and repentance.

Prayers, intercessions, and heart cries to God will again become as incense everywhere. Pure worship in the Spirit, glory, and an outpouring of joy in times of refreshing will again characterize this blessed work of God. The cloud of His heavenly presence will as never before, hang over this visitation.

In preparation for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, this great work of restoration has begun, and its initial work in the saints is presently taking place. Three distinct preparatory lines of restoration are now due.

The first concerns that which was given to the original Church, afterwards lost, then restored to us in past outpourings, and now has become shallow. Such as worship, repentance, and heart devotion to God in a walk in the Spirit.

The second line of restoration is obtaining that which was lost by the early Church and not yet recovered. Some of these powers were so thoroughly lost that we are unaware of their nature or existence. Gifts of wisdom, knowledge, dominion, and other important Holy Spirit movings are partially, or entirely unknown to us.

The third is the impartation of now due present day revelations and gifts. At each new epoch, God adds to previous bestowals. Gracious new things are to be given in this day of the coming of the KING; Kingly and glorious things.

We must respond and prepare ourselves for this visitation.