Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom P2

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom
Part Two

The Pillar of Fire

God's Provision, Protection and Leading (preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go. Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10

A First Look
When we look into this example of God's Supernatural intervention into the events of human history we are tempted to only see these obvious or stated truths.

1. The people were to make themselves clean before they left Egypt.

2. They had to be ready to go at all times.

3. The people were protected and comforted by the power of God made real by the Pillar’s majesty and by the visible demonstration of God presence of with them.

4. The people were organized by tribes but it was the priest-levities who watched for any changes in the status of the pillar and blew the Shofar to announce that God was on the move or that He was stopping.

There are facts that might escape us.

1. Moving approximately 3.5 million people took time and patience. Once the first tribe arrived at the new destination it would be a while before the last of the last tribe arrived. This is true of any new work that God does among His people. There are those who are aware and move quickly and those who get there at a latter time. The Leaders of God's people must lead as good shepherds, realizing that God may be leading but that we as leaders must allow the people to go through the same processes that have given us awareness that God is on the move. We must also be aware that people no matter how dedicated and committed move at different speeds in following the Lord. There are also some who will refuse to move at all and while we may be concerned for them and make every effort to encourage them to participate in what God is doing we cannot disobey God and refuse to follow Him if they will not.

2. Waiting at the appointed place may take more effort and strength than moving ahead to the next big or little thing God is doing for many people. It is the responsibility of leadership to minister to and train God's people when they have reached that next stopping place or plateau and help them to grow in God and be ready to go or stay as called on by God.

3. Miracles, Signs and Wonders are given as God directs and not as we might desire in the flesh. They are also not to be denied as a part of God's provision and direction either. Since he is a supernatural being we should expect Him to be and act supernaturally.

4. There is a purpose to the Supernatural manifestations of God and while they are not for entertainment or fleshly fulfillment of His people we must seek God who is supernatural and expect Him to work supernaturally. If we fail to seek the whole counsel of God for His people we will never attain the full level of maturity He desires. Eph 4:12-14.

5. Teaching that He is and works supernaturally must be ongoing. We must not shrink back from teaching the wondrous and glorious ways in which God has and does work when we are waiting for a long season for the pillar of Glory to move again, or for a fresh outpouring to be given. As we shall see in the book of Acts, there were many fresh outpourings or moves of God's Spirit among His people then and throughout Church History. We may not hear about them because their impact may have been limited geographically. We also may not have heard about them because those who wrote the history may have not understood or have been threatened by them. There are many times when God has poured out His Spirit on people only to have that outpouring of fresh fire hindered by the church, the ineffectiveness or corruption of the people involved or the lack of favor a particular movement had during a certain historic period. History after all is written by the victors.

6. There is a danger in wanting to camp out or constantly be in the glory or experiencing a fresh outpouring of God's presence. There is work to be done. These times of God's manifest presence are meant to change and motivate us as we shall see when we examine Isaiah 6:1 and the verses that follow and the mount of transfigured experience recorded in (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

Questions we need to answer.

1. Are you seeking the majesty and wonder of God?

2. Is your walk with God blessed with fresh manna or stale bread?

3. Have you tried to store up manna or hoard it so that you do not have to seek it daily only to find it rotten?

4. Do you proclaim or say you believe in a supernatural God without having a fresh and supernatural relationship with Him?

5. Are you seeking the signs and wonders or the giver of the wonder?

6. Has the pillar been stationary at you church or in your life for a while?

7. When the Pillar is in one location for a longer period of time are you getting mended (made whole) and helping others to get mended as well? Are you growing in your relationship and knowledge of Him so that when the pillar moves, His work among you will be accomplished?

8. Are you seeking the fresh and living water that flows from His presence?
Artwork: http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today P1

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today
Part One

What do we need to understand to have ‘Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with The King and His Kingdom Today?' When we examine the history of revival movements and the outpourings of the Holy Spirit in Church History we see that God has poured out His Spirit and moved among His people continually in every generation since He began to pour out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.

We can also see in scripture that God has supernaturally interacted with His people throughout history and that we have many examples in the scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments. The interactions of God with His people throughout scripture serve as both examples and wisdom for us as we seek to be apart of what God is doing in the earth today.

Recommended Reading :
Encounters with God have been well documented in Church history both within Charismatic Movements and within what many would call Revival Movements. How has God encountered His people in the Old Testament, the New Testament and Church history and what were the results?

The list of books below will give you a good start at understanding these encounters:
1. Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics by John Crowder, Destiny Image
2. 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity by Eddie L Hyatt, Strang Communications Company 3. Dynamics of Spiritual Life, an Evangelical Theology of Revival by Richard Lovelace, IVP
4. Revival by Winkie Pratney, Whitaker House
5. Rivers of Revival by Neil T. Anderson and Elmer L. Towns, Regal

Personal Experience:
I have had the privilege of experiencing the supernatural work of God among His people several times in my 39 years as a believer and know that every new supernatural outpouring of God's Spirit carries with it great blessings and challenges for those who are blessed to be a part of it. Some of these moves of God had local, while others had national and international impact.

This study is designed to provide Biblical truths that will allow us to chart a course during these times when the river of life runs both deep and often fast. A course that will take us into greater growth and helps us to allow the deeper encounters with God to produce good fruit for His kingdom among the people we live around and minister His life to.

Church History:
There are has many examples of those who allowed the fresh outpouring of God's Spirit to grow His kingdom and them and those who were shipwrecked when an outpouring of His Spirit was mishandled and produced error and destruction. Since history tends to be written by the victors, those who were shipwrecked were often seen as heretics and the work God began in them is seen as error and not attributed to God and His goodness.

Key Biblical Examples of God’s supernatural encounters with people.
1. Pillar of Fire (preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go. Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10
2. Isaiah in the Temple (Fresh fire, fresh revelation, fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call) Note Isaiah’s state of mind. Isa 6:1-9
3. The Mount of transfiguration (Let’s build three tents and camp out here)

Does the experience lead to deeper call and greater commitment as well as new power for ministry? Matt 17:1-9

4. The Baptism, Fillings and Outpourings of the Spirit; Starting in the Upper Room (baptidzo: pickling something or dyeing a garment takes more than a single dip)

The baptism in the Holy Spirit brings us to a new level. Fresh (fillings) make us more continually useful as vessels of His Spirit and Glory. Luke notes that people were “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 9:17), that “they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17), that “the Holy Spirit fell upon (them)” (Acts 10:44), that “the Holy Spirit had been poured out on (them)” (Acts 10:45), and that “the Holy Spirit came upon them” (Acts 19:6). These quotes are from the Spirit Filled life Bible.

Finally, (every supernatural encounter of God with people has certain elements).
1. Do you know what those elements are? I have listed some below.
2. What else do you see in the book of Acts?
3. Is there a formula and pattern to follow or are they not always in a set sequence?
4. Is there a pattern to follow or common elements to note?

Preparation for Gods Spirit to Work or the results of His working can include: Cleansing, Repentance, Holiness, Revelation of man’s imperfect state in light of God’s majestic nature and holiness, a willingness to die to self and serve God, or making ourselves available for His call.

Please read the scriptural accounts listed and ask your self these questions during the coming week.
1. What lessons or truths can you discern or observe from each passage?
2. How do these truths apply to outpourings of God that you have heard about or been a part of?

ARTWORK: Power of Prayer Art Print by Danny Hahlbohm http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today
Prelude

What is it that happens during an encounter with the Most High God that causes such an impact in our lives? This is but one of the questions I was asking after attending three days of meetings held at Bridgeway Church in Denver some time ago. These meetings were led by a lady named Leslie Ann. During these meetings there was a significant work of God accomplished and a very intense anointing present throughout the meetings.

When I began to reflect on these meetings and the magnificent and powerful presence of God which worked in and among the people attending, I began to look in scripture and back both at church history and my own experiences. Lots of questions arise after such encounters with God. How can I experience more of the majestic and wonderful presence of God? Why don’t we experience more of these outpourings? What is of God and what is of man during these encounters? When God does work so powerfully what are or should be the results?

In the Bible the last four chapters of Job and the first four chapters of Revelation came to mind, as well as, Genesis chapter one and John chapter one. In these scriptures we see the majesty, splendor and wonder of God revealed to people.

When we look at Church history both in and out of scripture it is this breaking forth of God’s majesty and power that has continued to capture the minds and hearts of people and kept each new generation crying out to Him and standing in awe of Him!

We also see in scripture that both individual and collective moves of God start with a realization of the greatness of God and a humility that comes from that realization. This awareness of God's majesty and holiness is an opportunity to choose His ways instead of our own. The choice to submit to Him leads us to consecrate ourselves so that He has a clean vessel to live in and work through. Below are three keys to personal and collective preparation for a fresh work of God.

Keys to Experiencing a Fresh Encounter with the King Every Day.
1. Remember: We have been transferred out of the Kingdom of darkness Col 1:13-14
A. When is the last time you remembered the joy of your salvation?
B. What are you doing with and about it?

2. Choose you this day whom you will serve Josh 24:13-16
A. Death to self and our ways, plans, goals etc.
B. Lay down His gifts, calling and assignment and submit to the masters direction each day. They are His gifts, calling and assignment. We must allow Him to manifest, direct and assign afresh each day.

3. Consecrate yourselves Josh 3:1-6
A. Every day and in every situation.
B. A clean soul and spirit is His greatest goal, because it provides good soil for Him to work in.

Each day is 'the day that the Lord has made.' If we are to rejoice in each day that He has made (In Him and what He is doing) we must submit all to him anew.

Parting the Waters, Art by Chiu @http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

A Kingdom Response to Disappointments and Hurts

You can choose to be 'Nursing and Rehearsing the things of the Past or Walking in the Wonder of New Life in God Right Now?' Bitterness is 'A Choice You Don't Have to Make.'

When we nurse and rehearse the disappointments and hurts of our past we miss what God has for us today. If we, like the man in the Gospels who had been forgiven much by the king are unwilling to forgive those who have hurt or disappointed us and who owe us comparatively little compared to what God forgave us, we are in
danger of losing the very freedom Christ died for.

Matt 18: 21-35 The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, _Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?_22 Jesus answered, _I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 _Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 _The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 _But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me_' he demanded. 29 _His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'30 _But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 _Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 _This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart._NIV

All of us experience hurt, disappointment and pain at the hands or because of the mouths of people who are acting out of what they believe to be the best intentions. These people may be passionately serving God and due to their own character weakness or lack of wisdom and understanding disappoint or hurt us. Sometimes the more passionate ones are the most harmful because they act with great force to do what is right. Although we do not want to stifle passion we do want to temper it with wisdom and Godly compassion.

I Corinthians 13 4:-7 states that love keeps no record of wrongs. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. NIV

The next time you get to talk to someone or a group of people ask them if they enjoy being around people who are angry, complaining and bitter all of the time. Most people will say NO.

Psalm 1:1-2 tells us about the person who sat in the seat of the scornful,
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,And in His law he meditates day and night. NKJV

This was a person who sat at the gate of the city and rehearsed to everyone who would come by his plight(circumstances or situation). They would nurse their wound by telling everyone how they were wronged and by doing this to gain favor so that their cause would be supported and they would be judged innocent and the one with whom they had complaint would have to act to make things right.

When we were transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of the son of God's love (Col 1:13-14) we had the penalty and the shame of sin removed from us.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.NIV

When we refuse to forgive others we sit in the seat of the scornful and bring our lives back into darkness because we shut ourselves off from God's life giving Spirit when we cling to the filthy rags of someone's sin against us. We cannot cling to death and darkness and walk in the light and life that God wants for us to have each day.

Today God has given you a wonderful opportunity to live for Him in freedom and experiencing the fullness of His love for you. I am not saying this is easy or that it might not take time and hard work, but we have a choice to make. Are you ready to become what God desires, to forgive, let go and move onto the life that God desires for you or are you going to rehearse your story and nurse your wounds for all to see that you are unwilling to move on to the new things God has waiting? Rejecting God's love for us and through us to others will not resolve our issues.

He is waiting for us to forgive others or ourselves as we have been forgiven by Him!
Artwork, 'Loaves and Fishes' by Graham Braddock http://www.majesticartworks.com/detail.aspx?ID=3960

Kingdom Fitness Training

Kingdom Fitness Training, It requires more than armor!

Today when we read about the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven we are often told we are to reign as kings and priest on the earth in the here and now.

Although I find this appealing, I wonder if we are willing to undergo the training necessary to rule and reign with Him. We also know that our inheritance will not be complete until the 2nd coming of Christ.

Understanding what parts of the Kingdom we have or to what degree we have Kingdom authority and power depends on our understanding of the King and the training undergone by someone who was being groomed to rule with the king.

It is said that in ancient times a prince or princess was to be in submission to the person or persons training them to one day become the king or queen of the land, until they reached a certain age or actually began their reign. The person training them was given authority over them to equip them to one day rule the people of the kingdom they lived in. There was no room for the undisciplined or rude or spoiled child. It required having a heart after God that was tested and tried to reveal the character of someone fit to rule in the authority of the king.

This training encompassed all of the elements necessary to rule under the authority of God. The character, skill and knowledge required were great. Perhaps the greatest training was to come face to face with the fierce trials of life for which dependence on God and confidence in God’s willingness and ability to bring them through the trial was more important than the king or queen’s abilities, wealth or perceived power and influence among people.

We know of the Father God's love for us, His ability to destroy our enemies with a single word and we also know about the authority of the believer. In order to truly become like the King we must look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and follow His example. Jesus humbled himself and gave up His authority and power so that we might do the will of the father empowered by the Holy Spirit just as he did. Paul said that he wanted to know Christ and the fellowship of His suffering.
_____________________________________________________
Question.
Have you given yourself to God and now wonder why trials and testing have come upon you?

Response.
You can stop wondering, It is true! You have entered into the King’s fitness training program.

Basic Training, advanced training and survival training will be looked at in future articles.
______________________________________________________
A few closing thoughts.
1. It can be said of testing ‘This too shall pass.’
2. Your life will not always be in the refiner’s fire.
3. You will have times of great joy and peace in your life.
4. Testing is for a season
5. His grace is more than enough
6. His mercy is new every morning.
7. His compassions do not fail.
8. He has made you to be more than a conquer through Christ Jesus.

Below are many of the scriptures supporting the material above.

1 Pe 1:1-7 1:1
PETER, AN apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts]. 3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. 6[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. AMP

Jas 1:1-4 1:1
JAMES, A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings ( rejoice)! 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. AMP

Jn 1:32-34 32
Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." NIV

Php 3:7-14
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
KJV

Php 2:5-8
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God, God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
AMP

Jn 17
17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
NIV

Heb 12:2-4 2
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps 110:1.] 3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. 4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. AMP

The Artwork above is from James' Goll's Ministry, The Encounters Network.
http://encountersnetwork.com/

Defining Success by Kingdom Standards

When you look at your church and its core values and vision how would you define success?

How would you compare the success of your church's core values and vision with the priorities of Jesus and the teachings of scripture?

When people meet you or the people that attend your church do they want to come and see what Jesus is doing among you?

Has your church gotten stuck in a cultural or generation version of the Christian life that is no longer appealing to those seeking Jesus?

One place to evaluate success in the local church is to examine the priorities of Jesus and the New Testament writers. Another way to evaluate Biblical success is to study the lives of people in the Old Testament who were considered pleasing and favored of God.

Scripture points to two specific areas that make a person pleasing to God in the Old Testament.
1. The first is having 'a heart after God' 1 Sa 13:14: But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command." NIV.

2. The second is obedience to God's Word. 1 Sam 15:22: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. NIV

Jesus also came 'to do the will of the Father' powered by the Holy Spirit.

1. In fact Phil 2:5-11 says that Jesus humbled or emptied Himself. 'Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASU'

2. He operated by the father’s authority and the Holy Spirit's power so that he would be the perfect model for us. Jn 17:4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. NASU

3. Mt 3:16-17: 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." NIV

The next two places we need to look are the command of Jesus and teaching of the Apostles.

1.First, to continue His work by making disciples of all nations. Mt 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."NIV

2. Second, to equip God’s people. Eph 4:11-13, And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. NASU

If you evaluate what we are doing and compare it with these verses, how is your church doing? Is the next generation of leaders flourishing among us or are they being driven away or held in captivity to our old ways of doing things?

We are commanded to be making, equipping and releasing into leadership the next group or generation of disciples on a continual basis.

We should follow the model of Paul and continue our relationship as partners and co-laborers with the next generation of leaders as we release them to lead and make disciples of all nations.

This will assure them of support and help them to continue the work that Jesus began to do and teach us about! We will need to allow them their vision and their God inspired methods. New wine needs new wineskins! God is raising up young Davids and Debras. They should be doing Great exploits for God and not starting God's work over again.

Can it be said of us that we are equipping the next generation to do great and mighty things and become men and women of valor as they do the will of the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit in our world today?

IF WE CAN SAY YES, THAT IS KiINGDOM SUCCESS!




You will hear Him say
'Well done you good and faithful servant!'

Copyright © 2008 Wayne Newcomb

The Priorities of The Kingdom

Our Primary Purpose Today as followers of Jesus of Nazareth is to have:

1. A Fresh understanding of Our Calling.
2. Participation in What Jesus Began to Do and Teach, Acts1:1."

All that Jesus did flowed out of His relationship with the father and His willingness to do the will of the Father powered by the Holy Spirit. We must have that same model if we are to please Him and be useful to Him. This model consist of:

1. Our active seeking first the Kingdom of God and Loving the Lord with all our mind and heart and strength.
a. To give Him pleasure and to esteem Him as our first love with a daily relationship that keeps Him first and our life in Him fresh and alive. The visions, plans and programs He has put within us to accomplish will fail without His life flowing freely each day. His life in us must be renewed by a daily relationship in His presence and His Word with times of deep worship and constant life giving prayer.
b. We must also have strategic encounters with Him if our zeal is to be kept properly focused and our spiritual health maintained.

2. Our participation as catalyst for proclamation and bringing forth the Kingdom of God in others. God has given us the gifts, experience, anointing and calling for:

a. Being a Catalyst in Making Disciples of All Nations

This calling has four key aspects:
1. Equipping believers to move from a life changing experience to living a life that is changed and growing in God's grace, His Word and Spirit.
2. Discipling those who have been changed to become life changers who's life in Jesus is a catalyst, which causes others to want a life changing relationship with God.
3. Training and Releasing a new generation of believers to live as passionate Spirit filled disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, so that, the proclamation of the Good News is made known to every people group throughout the Earth.
4. Mentoring and Coaching new and existing leaders to fulfill their calling to "Do What Jesus Began to do and Teach."

These key aspects are founded in having, the Heart of the Father, the Mind of Christ and the Power of the Spirit.

b. Being His messenger and vessel for the outflow of His majesty and grace and power requires that we remain sensitive and available to each opportunity the Lord provides for the expression of His life and truth toward others so that we do not miss the blessing and joy his work through us.

1. We must always remember that His ways are not our ways and that they are as far above our ways as the heavens are above the earth.
2. We must seek Him in every endeavor remembering that we cannot rely on yesterday's victory or anointing. We must seek His wisdom and walk in His presence with each new challenge.
3. He may reveal His ways to us with His power and might or the still small voice.

The Holy Spirit speaks with great power in Ephesians 4 where we see that the ministry offices are given to the church to continue what Jesus began to do and teach and that every believer is to be a part as described in Romans 12 of the things that Jesus began to do and teach.

Eph 4:11-14
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as
prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of
the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ. NASU

Ro 12:1-13
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. NASU

So let us boldly and passionately:

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God

2. Do the work of the Kingdom; Raise up, equip and release Disciples of all people groups and nations.

3. Build up one another

4. Seek to Become mature to the full measure of Christ!

It's all by His Grace and Power

Equipper
Copyright © 2008 Wayne Newcomb
http://www.equippersnetwork.com/

Kingdom Dynamics

The Kingdom of God is a relational Kingdom made possible by God the Father our creator and the Life, Death and Resurrection of the Jesus the Messiah. He has restored our relationship with the father through His shed blood and empowered us by His resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit of God into our lives.

This relationship has two primary functional elements, the vertical and the horizontal. In His presence daily we adore and cherish him and out of this adoration of Him naturally flows our ambassadorial or representative role in which we become kingdom catalyst in the lives of others.

All that Jesus did flowed out of His relationship with the father and His willingness to do the will of the Father as He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. We must operate out of that same model if we are to please Him and be useful to Him in doing all that Jesus began to do and teach. These two elements of our relationship with the King are described in more detail in the following sections.

1. Vertical: Seek first the Kingdom of God and Love the Lord with all our mind and heart and strength.
a. To give Him pleasure and to esteem Him as our first love with a daily relationship that keeps Him first and our life in Him fresh and alive. The visions plans and programs He has put within us to accomplish will fail without His life flowing freely each day. His life in us must be renewed by a daily relationship in His presence and His Word with times of worship and constant prayer. b. We must also have strategic encounters with Him if our zeal is to be kept properly focused and our spiritual health maintained.

2. Horizontal: To be a Catalyst for the proclamation and bringing forth of the Kingdom of God in others. Our role as an catalytic ambassador and witnesses is one in which we act as a stimulus to cause others to become partakers in the Kingdom of God and thus have this twofold relationship with Him and become;

a. Leaders in Making Disciples of All Nations This calling has four key aspects:
1. Equipping believers to move from a life changing experience to living a life that is changed and growing in God's grace, His word and spirit.
2. Discipling those who have been changed to become life changers who's life in Jesus is a catalyst, which causes others to want a life changing relationship with God.
3. Training and Releasing a new generation of believers to live as passionate disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, so that, the proclamation of the Good News is made known to every people group throughout the Earth.
4. Mentoring and Coaching new and existing leaders to fulfill their calling to "Do What Jesus Began to do and Teach."

b. Sensitive and Available to the King within each opportunity He provides for kingdom ministry so that we represent Him and His kingdom in such a way that others are motivated to come into relationship with the King, thereby expanding the Kingdom by making disciples of all nations.

Jesus ministry and instructional model was a relational one. He imparted truth by both teaching and doing what he taught. He had the disciples go with Him, walk with Him and be with Him daily. They experienced daily in the context of a relational model the coming of King and the Kingdom of God. It was not theory or speculation.

Jesus ministered to people in the context of their lives. His ministry and teaching made sense to the people on a practical level and to those whose heart was open to the Spirit and truth of God's Kingdom as He revealed it to their inner man.

Today, if we will seek to birth Kingdom life in every aspect of our daily life and our gatherings as believers it will be easier to be those who are Making Disciples of All Nations as outlined above.

Seek to be a Kingdom catalytic agent today, causing others to seek first the Kingdom of God! Copyright © 2008 Wayne Newcomb

Webster's Dictionary Define a catalyst as follows:

Catalyst cat·a·lyst
Pronunciation: \ˈka-tə-ləst\
Function: noun
Date: 1902
1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

Catalytic Cat·a·lyt·ic
Pronunciation: \ˌka-tə-ˈli-tik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1836 :
causing, involving, or relating to catalysis — cat·a·lyt·i·cal·ly \-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Artwork: The Power of Prayer by Danny Hahlbohm @http://www.allposters.com/gallery

Hunger for The Kingdom Of Heaven

Today people are turning away from many local churches and seeking new gatherings of believers where the presence, power and work of the Kingdom of Heaven is evident from the fresh presence and work of the Holy Spirit among them. People always prefer the new wine, the fresh oil and manna from God because there is life in it that begins life in everything it touches.

They are also hungering for the restoration of relationships with God and other believers. The people of this generation want more than nice people with a form of religion just as those in the New Testament did. 2 Tim 3:4-5 ...Rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV

In the book of Acts there are repeated references of the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit? These references are in two basic categories:
1. The baptism of the Holy Spirit or initial experience
2. Fresh fillings of the Spirit as the believers gathered and God worked in and through them by His Spirit.
These fresh fillings were the proof that the Spirit and life of God were present and at work. The "Kingdom of Heaven" or "Kingdom of God" is at the very heart of all Jesus did and said. In fact, you could say that His teaching was the proclamation and His actions or works were the doing or demonstration of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus did His signs and wonders by the Spirits Power and the Father’s authority.
Phil 2:5-11 speak about him humbling himself. His water baptism with the Spirit coming on Him shows us that He did theses mighty signs by the Spirit's power.
John 17 Jesus proclaims that He has done all that the father commanded.

When we read the Gospels and the New Testament, we repeatedly see the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" used 32 times in Matthew and "Kingdom of God" used 70 times from Matthew to II Thessalonians. This concept, more than any other, depicts the impact and purpose of Jesus coming.
The Jewish people longed for Messiah to come and to restore Israel as an independent state with God ruling over His people. Throughout the intertestamental period or that period between the Old and New Testaments leaders rose up who had as their primary purpose to see to it that Israel would be a free nation again.

God, however, had another plan. This plan was revealed in the Old Testament, but the true meaning was hidden from most. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. In Acts 28:23-30 Paul teaches about the Kingdom of God and Jesus from the five books of Moses and the prophets. We know that the Old Testament law, sacrifices, and prophecies are but a shadow of what Jesus the Messiah (or the Christ) came to do and teach.

This Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus came to proclaim was not what many expected, an earthly Kingdom; it was instead the completion or fulfillment of what they should have expected, and because of this, it was even greater than their expectations.

Let’s look at few key verses in order to understand more about this Kingdom of God.
1. In Mk 1:15 we see Jesus telling us the time is fulfilled (there is no more waiting needed); the kingdom of God is near; turn from your sins and believe the good news (Gospel).
2. In I Cor. 15:50 Paul tells those to whom he is writing that flesh and blood cannot inherit this kingdom because the flesh does not last forever.
3. In Acts 28:23-30 it says that if the people hear and obey the good news, they would be cured or mended by God. He would cause them to be well again. This would be healing for the whole person; this would include the body, the soul, and the spirit.

"The Gospel is more than asbestos underwear for the soul." It is about the restoration and freedom of people under the rule or reign of God as their savior and king or lord. The Kingdom of God as made evident in the New Testament is a Kingdom of people being moved by Holy Spirit of God.

If we are to have truly New Testament Church that can once again turn the world upside down and reach this generation with Gospel message of life, it must be one in the power of the Spirit. Let me repeat what I said earlier. The people of this generation want more than nice people with a form of religion just as those in the New Testament did. 2 Tim 3:4-5 ...Rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV They hunger for the life giving Spirit of the one true God to be present and at work in and around their lives, just like God planned when He created them! They desire relationship with God that is alive and vibrant not stale.

Will you join me in asking God to give us Spirit filled Churches and leaders who will never be the same because of their own encounters with God, which will result that this generation can taste and see that Lord is good and they can discover Him in all His splendor, majesty and be in awe that He chooses to work through and with us?

The Kingdom of Heaven requires the Spirit of the King working in us and through us to others.!

To you it has been granted ...

To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,

NASU

Mt 13:11a