Church thinking and religion are one thing, but the family spirit in the Body of Christ is something else. We will be overwhelmed by what God does through family. It is the anointing that God is seeking of family living together, working together, worshipping together, and seeking God together. It is part of what God has been raising up as preparation for these days. I bless this revelation of family to be like leaven that is infused into the Body of Christ until this anointing of family grows and flows out like rivers of living water that encompass the world of Christianity.
When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He said, “I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring My people out of Egypt” (see Exodus 3:10). Moses responded, “‘Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”’” (Exodus 3:13–14).[1] God introduced Himself, but then He added, “Tell them I am the LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations” (see Exodus 3:15). The Exodus was all about family as they left Egypt, traveled through the wilderness, and entered Canaan (Numbers 2:34). Part of the identity of God Himself is found in the context of family (Matthew 17:5).
One of the biggest things missing right now in the Body of Christ is this root of family. It has been displaced by Church mentality. But remember, we are called the sons of God, which keeps with this idea of family (Romans 8:14). Paul is careful to teach that through Christ we are grafted into being children of Abraham—not replacing, not displacing, not usurping, but grafted into this family experience (Galatians 3:29). There is no way to overemphasize it. The Spirit’s moving today will not happen devoid of the family spirit. God is saying, “My identity is I AM the God of Abraham. If you want to find a relationship with Me, find it in being children of Abraham.” It is all based on this idea of family.
God is raising up a mighty people. He is getting ready again to bring His presence, but His blessing will not remain outside of this context of family. As the Body of Christ comes forth in a global manifestation, it will find itself moving in family anointings among its many members (1 Corinthians 12:12). We will see the release of God’s power and authority as this anointing of the family is restored to us. If we are not contending for this, we are missing the picture.
We have seen fantastic things like the outpouring of the Spirit at Azusa Street in Los Angeles. But if we are going to see something that is global and permanent in ushering in the Kingdom of God, then we must see something that is founded in family first. We are going to see the end of religion by the introduction of the family anointing. Then we will see the greatest signs and wonders, authority, power, and miracles—not simply because we have the Holy Spirit but because we are connected to the Father’s family. Then all that God has given us is going to work.
[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).