The Jesus Connection

The Jesus Connection gives us the Power to Turn the World Upside Down. When we examine the New Testament we find a world very much like our own. There was a mixture of cultures, values, religions and beliefs. The demonic spirits which had lied to each culture were at war to gain dominance as the peoples of the world mixed with each other. Demonic principalities and powers did all they could to stop the spread of the Good News. The demonic powers used fear, magic, politics and racial hatred to stop the Gospel and all who were apart of the Way.

(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When we study the NT we also find the wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit’s power allowed the believers in the Early Church to transform their world despite all of these elements which were aligned against them and the Good News they carried. It is obvious that the Gospel or Good News which Jesus brought engaged every level of society, culture and spirituality. Many see the message of Jesus as a weak and useless outdated philosophy; others see it as a threat to their chosen path, beliefs or culture. It is however God’s Good News to all people groups and has the power to transform lives, families, and nations!

Word Study Note: When you look up the word power in a concordance you will find that it occurs 250 times in NT

The Jesus Connection, Power and Life in the Kingdom of God (Transfer, adoption, death to self and training in the exercise of divine authority)

Col 1:13-14 Transfer

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Gal 3:26-29 Adoption
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV

ADOPTION
Among oriental nations it was extended to slaves (as Moses) who thereby gained their freedom, but in Greece and Rome it was, with rare exceptions, limited to citizens.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

SONS OF GOD
1. New Testament Terms: John, who lays special emphasis on sonship by birth, uses teknon, while Paul, in emphasizing sonship from the legal side, as referring to adoption, which was current among the Romans but scarcely if at all known to, or if known, practiced by, the Jews, uses the word huios (John 1:12; Rom 8:14,16,19; Gal 4:6-7; 1 John 3:1-2).

2. New Testament Doctrine: Men are not by nature the sons of God, at least not in the sense in which believers in Christ are so called. By nature those outside of Jesus Christ are "children of wrath" (Eph 2:3), "of disobedience" (2:2), controlled not by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14), but by the spirit of disobedience (Eph 2:2-4). Men become sons of God in the regenerative and adoptive sense by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (John 1:12 f; Gal 3:26).

The universal brotherhood which the New Testament teaches is that brotherhood which is based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine and only Saviour of the world. And the same is true of the universal Fatherhood of God. It is true that all men are "his offspring" (Acts 17:28 f) in the sense that they are God's created children; but that the New Testament makes a very clear and striking distinction between sonship by virtue of creation and sonship by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no reasonable doubt.

Sonship is the present possession of the believer in Christ (1 John 3:2). It will be completed at the second coming of our Lord (Rom 8:23), at which time the believer will throw off his incognito, by reason of which the world may not have recognized his sonship (1 John 3:1-2), and be fully and gloriously revealed as the son of God (2 Cor 5:10). It doth not yet appear, it hath not yet appeared, what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of God is reserved for a coming day of manifestation.

The blessings of sonship are too numerous to mention, save in the briefest way. His sons are objects of God's peculiar love (John 17:23), and His Fatherly care (Luke 12:27-33). They have the family name (Eph 3:14 f; 1 John 3:1); the family likeness (Rom 8:29); family love (John 13:35; 1 John 3:14); a filial spirit (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6); a family service (John 14:23 f; 15:8). They receive fatherly chastisement (Heb 12:5-11); fatherly comfort (2 Cor 1:4), and an inheritance (Rom 8:17; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Among the evidences of sonship are: being led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18); having a childlike confidence in God (Gal 4:5); having liberty of access (Eph 3:12); having love for the brethren (1 John 2:9-11; 5:1), and obedience (1 John 5:1-3).

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Col 1:13-22
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. 15[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). [Prov 8:22-31.] 18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. 19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. 20 And God purposed that through ( by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. 21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, 22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. AMP

UNDERSTANDING THE SETTING

We can see the priority Jesus gave the receiving of the Holy Spirits power which would be necessary if the believers were to continue ‘to do and teach all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:1-8.’

To gain a good comprehension of the world into which the Gospel (Good News) came after the death and resurrection of Jesus we can read Romans 1:1-32.

We also see that for the Jew who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, Christians or the people of the Way, were seen as turning their world upside down, Acts 17:1-10.

The Gospel was Good news for all who would believe, but for those who made their living from the demonically inspired religions of the day it caused a great disturbance, Acts 19:1-20:1!

You Shall Receive Power Acts 1:1-8 There are two related and key truths in this passage.7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV

Mankind takes a rebellious path from which the Gospel alone has the power to deliver.

The Path of Rebellion
Rom 1:1-32
16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." NIV

Power to Turn the Way People Think Upside Down

Acts 17:1-10 6: These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; KJV

The Gospel (the Way of Christ) causes a great disturbance to the world’s way of thinking and doing things!

Power to Cause a Great Disturbance
Acts 19:1-20:1 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. NIV

People who have connected with Jesus by recieving and believing in Him as God's only Son and Way to the father are people of the Way. In the New Testament as today these people of the Way or followers of Jesus are also called Christians and have the power to turn the world upside down and they did!

Let's humble ourselves before God and ask Him once again to turn the world upside down!

Artwork by Danny Hahlbohm

http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Christian Art

" For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,... ." Hebrews 4:12

A Great site for Christian art is http://www.majesticartworks.com/

The Fullness of God

Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] —
21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). amp Bible

Head of God Art by Michelangelo Buonarroti
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?CID=6C50AE27DB0C4B4982F11A6CC6661D6F&startat=http%3A//www.allposters.com/gallery

Making Disciples:The Forgotten Secret

Making Disciples:

The Forgotten Secret for accomplishing 'what Jesus began to do and teach.'
Ac 1:1-2: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. NIV

What were those instructions that Jesus gave through the Holy Spirit?
Mt 28:18-2018: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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

The Apostle Paul expands on this command and the responsibility of leadership in Ephesians. Eph 4:10-13 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

In these verses we see greater insight into 'the making Disciples and the teaching of all that Jesus commanded', and what it means to continue what Jesus began to do and teach. There are three leadership responsibilities spelled out in these verses that tell us what the church should be doing once people have believed in and recieved Jesus as the Messiah or Christ.

Equipping the saints (people who have believed in and received Jesus as savior);
1. To do the work of the ministry or work of service (serving God by doing what He commands in His Word).
2. To the building up (mending, encouraging, instructing and giving hope according to the Word of God) of the body of Christ(those who have received and believed in Jesus).
3. To help believers in Jesus the Christ to come into maturity as measured by Jesus Himself.

Where do we start?
We must be saints, people made clean or holy by the Messiah.
Many churches have stopped procaliming Jesus as the only way to God as we see in John 14:6, calling themselves Christians without believing in and receiving Jesus as the promised Messiah and only way to God the father.
Jn 14:6-7: 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." NIV

Without believing in and receiving of Jesus as the Messiah there is no Christianity! Until this happens we can not continue to do all that Jesus began to do and teach, nor can we call ourselves Christians.

Where do we go from here? Check back soon or sign up to get automatic updates on the right above my profile.

Check @ http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com for a list of suggested reading.

The Blog Make Over is Complete

Over the last week and one half I have been adapting my Blogs to the New Blogger-beta Software. I thought it was also a great opportunity to remake several elements in my blog. So here is a list of what has been reworked. Please take some time and check out the new features.

1. New fonts available throughout the Blog.
2. Expanded hot-linked Table of Contents.
(Click any part of the Table of Contents and it will take you to that part of the Blog.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS The hot linking may not work from this article but will work on the site.
Equipper Links( Equippers Edge, Tool Box and Resume)
Favored Links (Sites to people who are doing inique things in the Kingdom.)
The Market Place (Christians in the Business world.)
Study Tools (Places where you can research the Bible to see if the things in my articles agree with scripture.)
Voices in the Public Square (Observations and commentary on the world today.)
Find Out For Yourself ( Look at what our government and political parties are saying.)
News and Analysis (Center Right News and Analysis.)
Previous Articles (Things I have posted previously.)
Language Translator ( Allows you to trand late the site into different languages.)
Equippers Network Store (A New way to buy books etc through Amazone .)
Focused reading (Books on a specific area of Christian study.) Click on a book to learn more.
Inspiring Music and Video ( New materials to Inspire and encourage.)
Donate to The Network ( An opportunity for you to help this ministry which is read an many countries continue.)
Art and Daily Devotional ( a changing photo from a Christian Artist and a daily devotional from faith writers.com.)
Christian Bloggers Blogroll ( A variety of other Christian Blogs.)
Google Adds & Search ( Google adds and search engine)
Blogosphere Connections ( Links and Buttons to various Blog Tool and Blog centers)
Christian Blog Connections ( Christian Blog connections)
3. Additional Subheadings and rearraged categories.
Equipper Links
Favored Links
The Market Place
Study Tools
Voices in The Public Square
Find Out for Yourself
News and Analysis
Previous Articles
Click on a Flag to Translate
Equippers Network Store
FOCUSED READING
Inspiring Music & Video
DONATE ONLINE TO SUPPORT THE EQUIPPERS NETWORK.
Art and Devotionals
Faith Writers Daily Devotional
Christian Bloggers Blogroll
GOOGLE Adds and search engine
BLOGOSPHERE
Christian Blog Connections
Only Christian Sites ( a Blog connection to Christian only sites.) In the footer

GOOD JOB BLOGGER! THE TOOLS AND FEATURES MAKE WORKING MY BLOG SIMPLER AND MAKE IT LOOK BETTER!

The Kingdom of Heaven Today

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 reference 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 fathers authority. Phil 2:5-11 speak about him humbling himself. His water baptism with the Spirit coming on Him shows us that He did these mighty signs by the Spirit's power. In John 17 He 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 period between the Old and New Testaments leaders rose up who had as their primary purpose to see Israel a free nation again. God, however, had another plan. This plan was revealed in the Old Testament, but its 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 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 so 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 those who submit to Him today?

Read this article by George Barna about new forms of Believers gatherings.
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=202

Artwork: Keys to the Kingdom by William Hallmark
http://www.majesticartworks.com/ID17keystokingdom.htm

Great Material for You

Are you missing the great material at the Equippers Network other sites?

Leadership: The Power of a Creative Life by Rick Joyner.
A good look at this new book is given at Equippers Tool Box @

http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com




Rising to The Call by Os Guinness
What does it mean to be called of God? How does it happen? Does every believer have a calling? Can You discover your calling?How can you Fulfill God's calling?

More valuable insight can be found at the Equippers Edge

http://equippersedge.blogspot.com

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God P3

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God by His Spirit Today
Part Three

Let’s look at another Biblical example of God’s supernatural interaction with people.

Isaiah in the Temple
(Fresh fire, Fresh revelation, Fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call, Fresh Vision and Calling)

Isa 6:1-8
6:1 IN THE year that King Uzziah died, [in a vision] I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the [most holy part of the] temple. [John 12:41.]
2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two [each] covered his [own] face, and with two [each] covered his feet, and with two [each] flew.
3 And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!
6 Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar;
7 And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. AMP

Other Places where the Glory of God is revealed in some way.

Ex 33:21-34:1;
Job 38-41;
Rev 1-4.

Isaiah’s Encounter
Please note the following points.

The Circumstances

The Setting

The Reaction of man

The Response of God

The Call or Opportunity of God

The Opportunity and Response of man

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God P2

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God
Part 2

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

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?

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God Today P1

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God Today
Part One

What do we need to understand to have Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God by His Spirit 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 Research:
History of Charismatic Movements and History of Revival Movements:
How has God interacted with His people in history since the New Testament times and what were the results?
1. 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity by Eddie L Hyatt Strang Communications Company
2. Dynamics of Spiritual Life, An Evangelical Theology of Revival by Richard Lovelace, published by IVP
3. Revival by Winkie Pratney published by Whitaker House
4. Rivers of Revival by Neil T. Anderson and Elmer L. Towns published by Regal

Personal Experience:
I have had the privilege of experiencing the supernatural work of God among His people several times in my 36 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.

Biblical Examples of God’s supernatural interaction with people.

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
Isaiah in the Temple (Fresh fire, fresh revelation, fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call)
Note Isaiah’s state of mind. Isa 6:1-9
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
The Baptism, Fillings and Outpourings of the Spirit; Starting in the Upper Room (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). Do you know what those elements are? I have listed some below. What else do you see in the book of Acts? Is there a formula and pattern to follow or are they not always in a set sequence?
Is there 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. What lessons or truths can you discern or observe from each passage?

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