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The Purpose for Creating All Things – Art Katz: ‘Recognize the Influence’

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Paul is about to tell us what the intent is, and the purpose, for which reason, God has created all things. So how dare you just sit there, as if you’re hearing a mere sermon? How is it you’re not leaning forward in your seat, with your hand cupped at your ear, that you should not miss any syllable of this answer from the apostle who was given such grace to preach these riches?

– Art Katz, ‘Recognize the Influence’

On a Thursday night in January of 2001, an elderly Jewish man got up to speak a message out of the book of Ephesians to a small school of ministry and fellowship in Pensacola, Florida. As the night unfolded, the speaker (who some consider to be a modern-day prophet) delivered a message on the purpose for creating all things, and how that purpose (which, you’ll hear in the audio, has little to do with any direct benefit to man) affects every minute detail in our lives, not only with regard to what we do, but why we do it. The message would end up being disrupted multiple times by people that had to be escorted out of the building (one person claimed Art was ‘preaching his message’), and unfold in a manner that kept even those that had heard him speak hundreds of times before on the edge of their seat, sensing the weightiness of what was coming forth.

The message was entitled ‘Recognize the Influence’, and was brought forth by Art Katz ten years ago at FIRE School of Ministry & Fellowship. The message is below in audio form, but before you listen to it, I’d like to set the stage with the following accounts from those that were either there that night, or were impacted by it later upon hearing it.

Account from Michael L. Brown:

I recall being quite focused and almost pent-up with expectation; I remember having my eye on one guy, feeling that he might be disruptive, and sure enough, during a time of worship when I told everyone that we were going to wait before the Lord and be quiet, this guy tried to prophesy, ignoring my exhortation to be quiet twice before, the third time, I had the ushers deal with him.

Then, during Art’s message, which was one of his life messages, of profound spiritual import, yet one which he stumbled to deliver that night — another guy, whom Bob Gladstone had his eye on — just stood up while Art was preaching and asked if he could share his testimony, and I jumped off the platform and ran over to him telling him this was not the time to do so.

From Bob Gladstone:

The first guy yelled out at one point, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm!” because his buddy the second guy was told to be quiet.  This of course was after the worship period during which Michael Brown’s story of the first guy occurred.

During Art’s speech, the second guy stood up and said, “You’re preaching my message!”  Art did not hear him at first and stopped to try to hear what he said, trying to repeat what he said to understand him.  I’m sure that’s on the audio.  Other dialog occurred I don’t recall.  When the ushers escorted guy #2 out, he was praying in a fervent, persecuted sort of way.  Art made some comments about the powers getting stirred up (I think) which of course would be on the recording also.

Art’s message was a trademark, definitive prophetic piece from a foundational man to the church.  Simultaneously constructive and devastating.  A gift for us from the Lord from a key voice of his generation just 5 1/2 years before he died.

From Scott Volk:

It was at least a year after this message was preached that Mike Brown labeled it as ‘the most important message ever given at FIRE.’ I remember sitting at the edge of my seat through this entire message as I felt it penetrating me to my core. I’ve heard Art speak hundreds of messages live and this one had, by far, the most impact on me. There was enough going on in the room that evening to totally distract folks, however, the message was delivered fully and still affects me today! …  I will never forget that night as long as I live!

From Mark Harrell:

Oh Lord, I remember so many feelings…

I was in a mainline denominational church as a youth pastor at the time and, before this message, had been to conferences for the kids as well as the pastors.  I had been feeling chafed inwardly by these meetings and couldn’t piece together what was causing me to ache so badly.  When I heard this word…BOOM, it all just exploded in me.  “OH GOD, that’s what wrong with me!!” I felt as if I had been behind a curtain and suddenly saw it lift and saw the puppet masters behind the machines and dolls.  I understood so much of what was operating and motivating the strivings of this organization.  I saw words on my eyelids like, “status, prestige, power, honor” with the smug smiles and fake back pats that go with it.

This message ruined me.  …  To this day, this message remains as a stain on my mind, heart and soul.  It has colored the way I view everything.  I can’t look on the mere appearance of a thing anymore, I’m always painfully aware in certain places and circumstances of what lies beneath so many words and deeds and ministries.  I’m always checking my own soul as a result.

From Bryan Purtle:

I can see why Satan would try so hard to derail this word.

I will say that it had a profound impact on my life, and to this day it is one of the top ten most memorable messages I’ve heard. Years ago I played the whole message for a close friend of mine, and his response was something like this:

“Before this message I felt like my faith and my view of God were a factory where all the equipment was dormant, and all the gears were rusty or out of alignment. When I heard Art’s statement about the Church’s call to demonstrate God’s wisdom to the powers of the air, the gears were forced into alignment, and the power came on. It all made sense in a new and fresh way.”

He still refers back to the hearing of that cassette as constituting a major turning point in his life of faith.

I still go back once every year or two and listen to the message again, and each time I feel commissioned afresh to come into the simple, ultimate, whole-hearted reality that was expressed in the early apostolic church. “To God be glory in the Church…..”

The message is below. For those that may not be familiar with Art, who died in 2007, make sure to check out www.artkatzministries.org. You can also check out this article in the Washington Times, which ended with a great line: “He made many such statements that no doubt cost him dearly. As I stood in that grassy field, I realized why some men, like the Rev. Billy Graham, are lionized by the Christian world and others, like Art Katz, have a silent grave in the middle of the north woods.”

Below is the audio of ‘Recognize the Influence.’ As you listen, remember that you’re hearing a man of significant depth deliver his life message, unpacking, quite literally, the purpose of everything that exists, and the ultimate destiny of the church.

[Link to MP3]

Marcus French is Editor of Voice of Revolution, and also helps produce the daily radio show, The Line of Fire. Contact him at editor@voiceofrevolution.com.

© M. French for Voice of Revolution, 2011. | Permalink


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