Batten Down The Hatches Of The ‘-Ship’

The Holy Spirit gave me a word on November 23, 2023. He said, “it’s time for My people to batten down the hatches on the -ship.” If you are familiar with the Navy or Seafaring term “batten down the hatches”, you know it is a call to prepare for a storm because the ship is headed towards it and all the hatches must be secured to prevent water from getting below-decks that would cause severe damage to include the loss of cargo, loss of life, and/or the sinking of the ship.

He used this analogy as it pertains to the body of Christ and how it will behoove each of us to batten down the hatches that need securing in our own ‘-ship’ aka, our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in regards to Leadership, Discipleship, and Sonship. You’ll have to determine if and how this message applies to you personally. Take it before the Father in prayer and please feel free to share this with others as we are all called to be a voice that awakens others.

This word was given to me when I was reading a post from a well-known “leader” of a church/ministry.” I was taken back a bit by his venting about how those serving under leaders need to be more mindful of the price their leaders have had to pay to get there and basically warned them not to ride on their leader’s coattails or take their identity from whom they serve. It was a rebuke for them (quote) “to not be deceived into thinking they are right with God and paying a price themselves or thinking the leader’s notoriety makes them notable. This often manifests when those who have served successful leaders or sat underneath their ministries step out on their own and suddenly realize they are not ready nor do they walk in the kind of favor and anointing they thought they would…this being a direct result of assumption, deception, and entitlement.” (end quote)

The post ended with (quote): “It’s time for EVERYONE to give their finances sacrificially. It’s time for EVERYONE to fast and pray until God breaks open a region. It’s time for EVERYONE to walk in signs, wonders, and miracles. It’s time for EVERYONE to pay a price.”

I’ll address this below:

As I mentioned above, I was a little taken back by what was posted and that, my beloved, was when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “It’s time for My people to batten down the hatches on the ‘-ship’.” But guess who He was referring to? Leaders, the assistants, and the disciples equally! Like many of my posts, this may hit a nerve for some but the Truth can be convicting.

Where to begin:

When Jesus called His first disciples he said to Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, “Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men.” He was their leader, they were his students. They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:19-20

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid, From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:10-11

Jesus spent much of His ministry on, near, or around the sea of Galilee and on, near, or around boats so I find His analogy to “batten down the hatches” quite appropriate.

When we see ‘-ship’ at the end of a word, it is representative of a condition, character, office, and skill. It comes from the English suffix word ‘schip’ which means to shape.

Let us take this suffix word “schip” at biblical face value. God is and has been raising up a holy nation unto Himself, a royal priesthood. How is this accomplished? Through His leadership. He is shaping us through our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the Potter and we are His clay. He is the one who made us, molded us, breathed His Spirit into us and made (shaped) us in His and Jesus’ like image. 

Our life on this earth is not a random event nor is it by accident and there is a process by which we are being shaped. We are being refined and purified daily through the washing of the Word, the Holy Spirit, and baptism by fire based on each of our calls (purpose) in life. It’s called spiritual development. No different than the first disciples, we all begin our relationship with God the Father, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as a babe desiring milk. Without Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we have no access to the Father. We put our trust in our heavenly Father to guide us, teach us, encourage us, and discipline us when needed. He appointed us a True Leader, Jesus Christ, and His exemplary leadership skills for us to learn and walk in. With the help of the Holy Spirit of Truth, we can then grow into mature sons of God, walking in sonship. We are never to remain babes, but to continue to grow until we can mentor others through the call and gifts He has given us. Not everyone will be called to go to nations or be the next Paul, Peter, James, etc. but everyone is called to be a disciple of Jesus and into leadership of some form or another whether it is parenting, teaching, management, supervision, etc. and representing Him in all we do.

The original twelve disciples could not and did not step into their role as leaders of others until they had been mentored by Jesus and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus would not allow them to be released into their call until He knew they were ready. For three years, Jesus walked with them, taught them, revealed His deityship and demonstrated His character, His sound deeds, and how to use the spiritual gifts for His glory–under His headship. 

Leadership – Those who motivate a group to act toward a common goal by teaching and training with a heart to build a platform for success for those under them.

Ephesians 4:11 tells us that to some He gave to be apostles (sent with a specific mandate), some to be prophets (to put a seed (His Word) into the hands), some evangelists (support teaching with power and authority), some teachers (bring truth to the ears), and some pastors (have an authoritative understanding of covenant).

Jesus is our first and foremost leader who was sent to earth with a specific mandate, put His word into our hands, supported His teachings with power and authority, brought Truth to our ears, and not only had an authoritative understanding of covenant, He is our New Covenant. It is only under His leadership that we can become His disciples. He is the head of the body and though we are many members, we are one body with a diversity of spiritual gifts distributed to each person as He wills by His Spirit. His own words said that “none can come to the Father except through the Son.” 

Disciples Become Leaders:

The gift of Ruler or Administration is the same gift as Leadership depending on what version of bible you have. It is the sixth of seven gifts of ministerial functions. Just as there is a cost to pay for all seven gifts, there is a cost to pay for leadership. They are no better than any other person and should not exalt themselves. They are just wired differently and have been tested and approved by Yahweh to help the body of Christ grow. The cost is to give up the works of the flesh and be diligent in the call to lead others. It requires knowing the foundational biblical principles of repentance, faith toward God, the four baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection unto death, and eternal judgment. It requires knowledge and understanding of all the gifts spoken of in Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:1-8, and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. It requires an intimate relationship with the godhead of Yahweh, Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit. It requires being born again and having submitted oneself as a living sacrifice unto Yahweh. It requires walking in the sound doctrine, sound character, sound deeds, and gifts of Jesus Christ. It requires the ability to train and equip disciples placed under them in all of the above so as to release them to do that which they are called to be and do.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:1-8

Note that just because one walks in a strong spiritual gift, it does not make them a leader. They must be tested and approved by God. Too many man-appointed leaders’ fruit have not ripened or are rotten because they don’t understand the fullness of the authoritative covenant of Jesus. They call themselves leaders but have built little kingdoms to themselves instead of catching men and women, training and equipping them as true disciples of Christ, and letting the Holy Spirit release them at the appointed time.

We are all individually responsible to seek, search, and learn the Word and build our own relationship with the Godhead, but many are deceived into sitting in the same pews for years and still have no clue what their purpose is. They are told to give of their finances sacrificially and what do they gain in return? Their leaders have not built a platform for success under them and it is a shame. The ‘-ship’ is sinking and will either go under, lose precious cargo, or make sons of perdition with their Pharisaical ways (Matthew 23). 

The number one sacrifice Jesus requires of us is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto Him, holy, and acceptable to God, which is our ultimate form of worship. We are to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise unto Him.

One should never feel obligated to give finances sacrificially to a ministry under pressure or the feeling of condemnation. If the Holy Spirit is leading you to do so then you give with a cheerful heart and know it is the will of the Father. Some times the Holy Spirit would rather have you give to someone outside the church in need over a ministry and that is a blessing unto Yahweh. Many times the Holy Spirit will have you give of your time or other resources (talents) you have and that is a blessing. Whatever manner you give, always remember to give with a cheerful heart and expect nothing in exchange. Your reward is in heaven.

True leaders diligently pray and fast to make sure they know the will of the Father for whom they are to lead because they must give account to Yahweh. Just as all believers and followers of Christ Jesus are required to hear the Shepherd’s voice, so must those who lead. Jesus is the Head of the Body and every person in leadership who exalts him/herself above the Headship of the Godhead is not of His flock regardless of how spiritual they are or how prophetic they are. Remember Satan knows the bible and comes as an angel of light but is very deceptive and cunning. Leaders sometimes need correcting as well, because they too are just human beings and can get off the path if a little pride or deception sneaks in. We must always put Yahweh, Jesus and the Holy Spirit first and foremost and learn to test spirits.

The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,…(John 10:12-14)

Discipleship- The act of learning, receiving, and following the teaching of and modeling one’s life after someone else.

True disciples of Jesus Christ follow Him, His precepts, and make the time to earnestly seek His face, His truth, and His way. There is a cost to pay for discipleship. The cost is to give up the works of the flesh and walk by the fruit of the Spirit. The road of a disciple is bumpy and curvy until it becomes a straight path which is too narrow to turn back on. It’s a discipline of daily picking up one’s cross and carrying it as a reminder our Salvation comes from the One who bore our sins upon a cross.

Discipleship without leadership will result in not learning the word of God, not learning to walk in and by the Spirit of God, and being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Jesus is the way, the truth, and life. If a disciple is not being taught, trained and equipped in the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ, they will remain babes and not skilled in the word of Yahweh and His righteousness. 

If you find that you are the same person you were five, three, two years ago and have not grown spiritually in your relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, then you need to batten down the hatches and start earnestly seeking through prayer and the Word where you are and where you need to get to so as to prevent your ‘-ship’ from losing precious cargo (time, resources, money etc.) and worse case sinking (discouragement and/or falling from the faith).

Disciples of Christ Jesus is a discipline and it requires you learning to worship in Spirit and in Truth 24/7. Most Christians have no idea what that really means. Do you? Church only on Sundays doesn’t cut it. Bible studies on Wednesdays doesn’t cut it. Social events doesn’t cut it. They have a part but if within 3 to 4 years you are not walking more in the fruit of the Spirit vs works of the flesh, hearing the voice of the Lord in some form, nor able to teach or share the gospel to others in the sound doctrine, then you have not learned the elementary principles that should have been taught to you so as to move you on to the perfectional doctrine of Jesus Christ and maturity towards sonship.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

Sonship – Birth or Adoption into the family of Yahweh and having the same attitude that was in Christ– having the heart of a son in reverence of His Father. This is a heart of love, acceptance and total obedience under the leading of the Father. He did nothing His father didn’t tell Him to do, or say anything his Father didn’t tell Him to say.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)

As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have become adopted into His family. Like any adoption, there is an orphan spirit that comes attached to us because we have lived without our heavenly Father and family in Christ for so long. Discipleship is the process by which an orphan becomes a son. Proper leadership via the headship of Jesus Christ is the pure example of leadership. 

Traits of Sonship:

1) They are bendable – Of a poor and contrite spirit. They have a sincere fear of the Lord and know they are nothing without Him.

2) They are abidable – willing to wait patiently and endure in Christ so as to be in the right relationship with God bearing much fruit. Walk in the right timing of God, the right place of God, wearing the right garments of God, which is abiding in His righteousness.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4)

3) They are teachable – willing to learn and able to receive truth. Slow to speak and quick to listen to what the Spirit is saying. Able to accept, receive and walk in the love of the Father, through the Son and Holy Spirit. They are not legalistic or harden their hearts when they hear the voice of the Lord.

4) They walk in faith – living in joy of the Lord and in His presence and can find comfort in knowing He is always with them and will not forsake them. They are not double-minded, seeking things of the world for comfort which are temporal.

5) They desire to serve – willing to be led by the Spirit of God so as to bring glory to His name and bless the kingdom of heaven here on earth, serving God out of a sense of divine acceptance and favor. They don’t use or control people but rather serve to assist people to fulfill their destiny in Christ.

6) They are sendable – willing to go where sent, and only say and do what the Father says to say and do. “Yes Lord, not my will but Your will be done.” Not through selfish ambitions or personal gain.

7) They will be persecuted – understanding that there will be mockers and scoffers and those who want to prevent them from furthering the gospel. However, they know the glory that awaits.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  Romans 8:12-19

If you find that you are still living life as an orphan or you have not been raised up out of slavery into the making of sonship, this is definitely a hatch in your ‘-ship’ that you will need to batten down. Not doing so will prevent you from walking and living in complete freedom and wholeness of who you are in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit said, “It’s time for My people to batten down the hatches of the

-ship.”

The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.