Where is the Lord?

Brother Burgess opens Revelation 1, where John sees Jesus walking among seven golden candlesticks, which the Bible explains are the seven churches. The seven stars in Christ’s right hand are the angels, or messengers, of the churches — meaning the pastors. God’s plan for His church involves delegated authority: Jesus walks in the midst of His people, and He holds His messengers in His right hand, giving them positional anointing. Just as a husband is the spiritual head of a home, a pastor is God’s delegated overseer for the local congregation. When the pastor steps into that office, God gives him spiritual authority and insight he did not have before — a positional anointing different from personal anointing. Brother Burgess emphasizes that the church must honor the office, because God honors His own order. He also notes that Jesus changed the Jewish requirement of ten men for a synagogue, saying that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in their midst — meaning a New Testament church requires at least a pastor and a saint. Verbal gifts like tongues and interpretation must be exercised only in a lawful assembly, under recognized spiritual authority, so they can be judged. Brother Burgess urges the congregation to cling by faith to past prophecies spoken over the church, and to ‘war according to the prophecies’ as Paul instructed Timothy. The measure of God’s favor is not material wealth but spiritual power, even in poverty. True revival will come when pastor and church together honor the heavenly vision and obey God’s appointed leadership.