Volume 6 - Issue 1 - January 2002
 

A NEW SEASON OF VISITATION AND REWARD

By Bishop Gary S. Brooks
 

Hosea 9:7(a)

The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it:

A new season has come upon the Body of Christ and we need to know it! There has never been a day like this day. A new day (third day) has been prophesied for a number of years but now the day is dawning and the day star is arising in our hearts! In Luke’s gospel chapter 19:44 we read the account of the story where Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because they did not know, were not aware of, and neither did they understand the time of their visitation. So let us acknowledge these days of visitation and recompense for now is the set and proper time. It is “due season” as well as a great opportunity for the Body of Christ, His Church, for the days of recompense are come!

This word "visitation" is also defined in the Greek language as "the office of a bishop or bishopric". The Spirit of Christ is being welcomed and received, by His people, in His office as the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). The witness of this is being manifested in the earth as the true “office of a bishop” (1 Timothy 3:1-7) is being set forth more abundantly in the Body of Christ. The term “Bishopric” is new covenant terminology that defines “Apostolic Ministry and Apostleship”. Acts 1:20 records, “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take”, and Acts 1:25 connects this statement with, “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place”.

These days of visitation and recompense by the Spirit are beginning to appear, and will continue, as a result of our Lord Jesus Christ (The Shepherd and Bishop) receiving the charge, the rule over, and the subjected custody of His Apostolic ministers and ministries. This is the day that Christ (the Head of the Church) must be given true oversight of His Church with His people submitted to Him in obedience to the faith, flowing in covenant love with each other, and following after the due order of the Spirit.

These days are not a time to fear but rather to rejoice in! The Lord is not visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon their children. That is only true for their children that hate the Lord (Exodus 20:5). This visitation is that of His great love and mercy which brings to us great peace and joy! Our Father is recompensing His children! To recompense means, “to compensate for services given”. The Hebrew word for recompense comes from the word “shalam” which means; to be friendly, to reciprocate, make amends, finish, give again, make good, repay, make to be at peace, perform, make prosperous, recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, x surely. Surely the Lord is recompensing His people in this new season of visitation and reward!

As this season begins to unfold we can expect recompense, restoration and reward for our individual lives in Christ as well as in our corporate lives of the church and her ministries. The Lord shall prosper us and make us prosperous. He will make good and perform every word that He has promised us! We will now begin to see confirmations of prophetic utterances that we have held to for such a long while, having fought a good warfare with them, and having kept the faith by them.

It is now due season for Micah Chapter 4. "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem…In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem…Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth". (Micah 4:1-2, 6-8, 13)

The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit, Covenant reality with God and with His people, and the Apostolic and High Priestly Ministry of the Lord of the whole earth shall be established high above all else. The people of God shall see this and shall flow unto it. Then will families and nations begin to see this and say, “Come, let us go up” to the Lord of the whole earth! There the Lord shall consecrate their gain and their substance (wealth and resources) unto Himself for the building and the financing of the vision and the purpose of the Kingdom of God!

Finally, I also have received from the Lord that His hand is open to satisfy the desire of every living thing… for the eyes of all that are waiting in expectation and hope in Him. The Spirit of the Lord is set forth to do so. He shall renew the face of the earth in the image of Christ. In other words He shall renew, repair, and rebuild our presence, purpose, and our soul person along with the husbandmen (the ministries) that are upon the earth. This glory of the Lord shall endure forever!

"The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing". ( Psalms 145:15-16)

"These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works".  (Psalms 104:27-28, 30-31)