- 1. Introduction: We have a remarkable and amazing season in front of us. It is essential for each one of us to enter into it. This is a time where the church is becoming what it should be. The world may predict doom and gloom, but I got tremendous hope for the future. There is a bright future for the church and we can bring it in when we cooperate with God and what His Spirit is doing. By doing this we will make a difference in South Africa.
We are entering into a season of remarkable fulfilment of God’s desire for His people. We are not there yet, we are only entering! I am excited by the church coming back to to what we really should be and do. I am excited because the Bible says we are dwelling or are seated in heavenly places. (Eph.1:20+2:6) If you believe in a bleak future you will have it! If you believe there is a bright future with God and if you give yourself to it, YOU WILL SEE IT COME TO PASS! Read (Hebr. 11:1+6). God’s desire is for His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
We will see the most remarkable time in church. You need to see yourself as a REPAIRER OF THE BREACH BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH! This will happen as we understand who we are, what we are called to and the Godly resources available to us. God doesn’t want you to cruise through live on a inferior level!!!
Read (Eph. 5:15-18 Ampl.) L.W.Where do you see yourself/church in five yrs? Sitting on the stoep on pension? Or do you see a person who is dynamic in the kingdom-healing sick, involved in people giving their lives to God, worshipping God, living in God’s manifest presence? Do you see yourself as an explorer (serving God in new ways, songs of worship, business, moving in prophetic power, demolishing demons, pulling down strongholds and excite possibilities.) Do you (as a businessman) see yourself as a wealth transform machine, as a person with a Holy Spirit anointing on you? Do you see yourself as a person breaking through in new and unknown areas, getting filfikllment so much that you can’t stop giving it away?
Read (1 Tim. 3:15.) This letter is an instruction for local churches. Paul says I am writing this so that you can know how to conduct yourself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay of the truth!
There is a certain conduct (optrede, wyse) in God’s house. There is a certain conduct or an attitude that people need to have in God’s house and for God’s house! All outward conduct starts with an inward attitude of the heart. So your conduct in church shows your attitude towards God’s house. Paul says, “I want you to have the right attitude so that your conduct may be appropriate towards the house of God. Why? Because there were people in their day and age, as today, who’s conduct were not appropriate in the house of God.
2. Principles that will help us to have the right attitude in the house of God:
a. This is the church of the Living God. It is very important to see the word used to describe God is LIVING! We serve a living God. God is real, He is alive and therefore His house should be alive. His house is not this building. We are the temple of the living God (1Cor. 3:16), He lives in us. So we should be alive-vibrant with the live of Jesus amongst us! ARE YOU?
His house is where life takes place. His house is where life transformation takes place-from dead in sin to alive in Christ! His house is the place where miracles take place, it is the place where the supernatural happens. The house of God is the place where amazing things happen because the Living God is here amongst us. HALLELUJA!
Jesus said, “Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my Name, there I AM in the midst of them.” My friends, sometimes we loose the right attitude towards God and his house. We get up on a Sunday and think we are going to church again. It is like a familiarity happens and we loose the heart and attitude of: This is the house of the living God. Jesus is here and I am going to meet with Him!
In God’s house you are going to see amazing things happen. God says that He is going to do some amazing things in the lives of people (fact). He is going to do it in business, relationships, finances, etc. The reason why we don’t see or experience the amazing things of God is because we don’t have the right attitude when we come into God’s house.
Every time when you see Jesus in the gospels in towns, hills, in a boat or gatherings of people it is a shadow or a type of God’s house. Jesus went to one place where He couldn’t do many miracles because of the people’s unbelief (Matt. 13:58). So the problem wasn’t with Jesus-He was willing to do miracles. The problem was with the heart attitude of the people. Clear on this: Jesus had the power to do miracles, but the people were not receptive to what He wanted to do! This was in Jesus hometown and the people were saying: This is the reason we don’t believe. He is only the son of Joseph the carpenter, we saw him in diapers, when He was crawling on the floor-this is just Jesus. They have gotten familiar with his humanity side. They failed to have the right heart attitude. They couldn’t recognize this is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God!
They failed to see that this is God Who wants to do the most amazing miracles in their lives. If we are not careful the same thing can happen in church today! We can get so caught up in the humanity side of church, in the usual people doing the worship, old Manie preaching again, Frank, Mike prophesying etc…My friends, this is the HOUSE OF THE LIVING GOD!
b. God’s house is a Spirit-filled house. Being a Spirit filled church. By Spirit filled Church I mean a place where you can experience Spirit filled worship, Spirit filled BIBLE teaching, Christ centered, Spirit lead church of excellence. We fully expect God to do great things in our ministry together because of His Spirit, because Jesus is the King amongst us, because of the love, forgiveness and life-changing power of God! We expect Him to lead us into new things (John 16:13-15).
We must INCREASE our capacity for more of God!
The early Church walked in Pentecostal power. Church services were vibrant and Spirit-filled, and they featured spiritual worship, anointed preaching/teaching, and the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, godly relationships and sharing. Anything less than that in church is not God’s will.
Hebrew word Ruach (Spirit) is a picture- word with a vivid and precise meaning. It always carries the idea of breath being blown out — as when we blow up a balloon, or blow out a candle, or pant heavily during a hard race.
The idea behind Ruach is vigorously moving air — even violently moving air. Ruach suggests a release of energy, an invading force, the exercise of power, dynamic activity evidencing life. Read (Acts 2: Message!) this was a noisy, chaotic meeting (sinodesitting daarmee aanvang?) In some places ruach describes a wind which is immensely powerful, even destructive. But it is always under God’s control and it always effects his will.
This is why some people have called him ‘the breath of God’. Jesus said (John 20:22) L.W
In (Gen. 8:1; Ex. 10:13—19; 14:21; 15:10; Numbers 11:31;1 Kings 19:11; Job 1:19; 37:21; Psalm 1:4;48:7; 107:25; 135:7; 147:18; 148:8; Isaiah 7:2; 12:15; 27:8; 41:16; Jer.10:13; 49:36; 51:1; Ez. 5:2—12; 13:11—13; 27:26; 37:9; Dan. 7:2; Hosea 13:15; Jonah 1:4; 4:8 and Zech. 2:6.)
These ruach passages suggest that the Spirit of God is a HURRICANE whom we cannot control or predict. He is an INVADING FORCE who TRANSFORMS wherever he blows. He is GOD’s POWER IN ACTION!
Ruach literally means breathing out with GREAT VIOLENCE. This is not a picture of a gentle breeze. Instead, it is a picture of God taking a deep breath and blowing as hard as he can! In Ezekiel 37:1—14 the Spirit, God’s breath, brings dead bones to life and moulds them into a powerful army. Blow over us Lord, over our dead bones-some is so dead it smells. Breathe your breath of life on us!!!A spirit filled church has:
· Spirit filled members (Eph. 5:18). If God’s Spirit is in and on you you will have the life of the Holy Spirit. (B.J.) God’s Spirit is in you for yourself and on you for others.
· Spirit filled worship. Means we are not singing songs on Sunday morning-we are entering God’s presence with a sacrifice of praise where all of my heart, soul, emotions, voice, body and my intellect is involved in. It is impossible to really worship God unless we have had a revelation of God. Worship as an extremely valuable tool to connect you with God, so we need to minimize distractions and create an environment that lets you engage God safely and comfortably - at your own pace. Once we have had a revelation of Him, I believe it is impossible not to worship.
· Peole filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22.)
c. God’s house is a holy place. The Creator of the universe is here! Get to grips with that. The One that has the power over life and death is here. Almighty God Himself is amongst us. The One who loves you to the uttermost is here! In a certain sense this is holy ground. You are allowed to take of your shoes, not compulsory-expression of the holy ground we are on. We need to give expression to the fact that this is a holy place. God I am excited about being here, about meeting with you. This is a meeting place with God. We come to give Him thanks and praise, worship Him because we’ve been given the gift of salvation. We have forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ and we are coming to honour Him for it.
The church is sometimes a messy place because of the life in it.
d. God’s house is a happy place. Remember the story about the prodical som coming home to a great party, celebrating his return. God likes parties because there is so much to celebrate. God says through this parabell that My house is a place of celebration of the lost coming home!
When you think of the goodness of God in your life there is so much reason to celebrate. It is a place of celebration, it is about God, all about Him. (Ps. 8:2) says, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…to silence the foe and avenger.” When you praise god He gives strength. Bible says, “In His presence is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11.) So when He is present there may be expressions of joy, laughter!
The house of God is a reprieve (begenadiging, kwytskelding, grasie verleen) of the pain and trouble of the world. Most of us sitting here are facing trials, pains or difficult circumstances, but it is only temporary! God is inviting you saying, “Come into my house, I want to hug you. He says, come on let’s party because you are free.” I want to heal you, love you, teach you-I want to fill you up with joy, give you strength to face this world!
Bible says, “Serve the Lord with gladness. “ (Ps. 100:2). Even as we give our offerings. God says He loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).
God wants a cheerfull, happy attitude in His house. You can come with your problems and trust God to do amazing things in your life. Come and meet with God so that He can change your life! (Ps. 84:10) N.I.V. says, “Better is ONE DAY in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” So much can happen in a small amount of time when you are in God’s house. (Ps.84:4) (Frank) says, Blessed are those who dwell in your house ; they are ever praising you.” God’s house is a place of mercy, of kindness. (Ps. 89:1) “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever…” When you make house of God your priority, you may have problems; But when you come in here with the right attitude you will be still praising God as you go out, because He is going to give you the strtength to endure a multitude of mercies. I need God’s mercy every single week. Read (Ps. 26: ,23:6, 118:26). It’s a precious privilege to go to the house of the Lord. (Ps. 122) says, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. Read (Ps. 36:6-8).
e. God’s house is hungry place. If you are born again God births in you a supernatural hunger for Him. Don’t settle for cheap substitutes. Come to the house of God for more of Jesus, Spirit, Fatherheart. Come because the awesome living God is amongst us. Have you ever noticed that when you ate not really hungry you become picky and complaing? When you are hungry you eat!!! Receive God’s Word (bread alone Matt.4:4.)
Friday, September 4, 2009
The house of God
Monday, July 20, 2009
Confidence in God
1. Introduction. It is possible to be confident in God. Read (Is. 30:15). (Hebr. 10:35) says, " do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." It is the accuser's work to tell you there is no hope (Rev. 12:10).
2. Confidence in God.
a. God wants us to have confidence in Him (Phill. 4:13). If God wants us to do something, accomplish something, He weill give us the ability to do it!
b. God wants us to have confidence in His work in our life. Read (Phil. 4:6+1:6). Salvation rest in Christ and in His ability to carry it through.
c. God wants us to have confidence in His Word (2 Tim. 3:16).
d. God wants us to have confidence in His Spirit inside of us (John 16:13-15+John 14:16-17).
e. God wants us to take a confident stand (Eph. 6:13) "...having done all, to stand..."
2. Confidence in God.
a. God wants us to have confidence in Him (Phill. 4:13). If God wants us to do something, accomplish something, He weill give us the ability to do it!
b. God wants us to have confidence in His work in our life. Read (Phil. 4:6+1:6). Salvation rest in Christ and in His ability to carry it through.
c. God wants us to have confidence in His Word (2 Tim. 3:16).
d. God wants us to have confidence in His Spirit inside of us (John 16:13-15+John 14:16-17).
e. God wants us to take a confident stand (Eph. 6:13) "...having done all, to stand..."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Treasure Hunt in Pretoria
It is time for us to allow the Person of Jesus Christ to captivate us. We need to give up all claims to our lives. Become fascinated with Jesus and that will cause you to be willing to lose your life for Christ's sake. God's purpose for His church is that that we grow to full maturity. (Ephesians 4:13) says "...to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." God has planned for His children to think, talk and act like Jesus did. He intends for us to rise up in full maturity and to flow in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to show us what it is to live a life devoted to God. It means giving God all your preferences, goals, ambitions and dreams.
It is a new season for the church. He is calling forth a new breed of people through whom He will manifest Himself, His power and His glory. God wants to work in supernatural ways and He is looking for vessels through whom He can touch the world. Bill Johnson says, " At the heart of this great move of the Spirit is the total transformation of the people of God as they discover their true identity and purpose."
We have a great living God who wants to break through in new ways in His church. One of the
new things God is doing is Treasure Hunt. Treasure hunt is a evangelism method that is very successful but also challenging. It stretches your faith and helps you to hear the voice of God in a fresh way.
We as a congregation has been involved in Treasure Hunt and if there is enough interest we will
present this course on the 1st of August at Capital Park Christian Church at 180 Malherbestreet in Capital Park, Pretoria.
If you are interested in this course which will only be one morning (Saturday), please contact Manie Schoeman at email rom1@telkomsa.net
It is a new season for the church. He is calling forth a new breed of people through whom He will manifest Himself, His power and His glory. God wants to work in supernatural ways and He is looking for vessels through whom He can touch the world. Bill Johnson says, " At the heart of this great move of the Spirit is the total transformation of the people of God as they discover their true identity and purpose."
We have a great living God who wants to break through in new ways in His church. One of the
new things God is doing is Treasure Hunt. Treasure hunt is a evangelism method that is very successful but also challenging. It stretches your faith and helps you to hear the voice of God in a fresh way.
We as a congregation has been involved in Treasure Hunt and if there is enough interest we will
present this course on the 1st of August at Capital Park Christian Church at 180 Malherbestreet in Capital Park, Pretoria.
If you are interested in this course which will only be one morning (Saturday), please contact Manie Schoeman at email rom1@telkomsa.net
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Prepare the way of the Lord (Is. 40:3-4).
1. Introduction: Prepare the way literally means to make ready the way of the Lord. Eg. 2010 Preparation for big event - Stadions, roadworks, Gautrain. HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR CHRIST TO COME AMONGST US?
Obvious question is, “Is your life ready for the coming of the Lord?” We do not simply think of a Lord who came two thousand years ago or a Lord who will come at the end of history. We await a Lord who comes continuously into His world, among His people.
The Bible says of John the Baptist, "...I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple..." (Mal. 3:1). What did the forerunner (John the Baptist) do to prepare the way for the Lord? (Luke 3:4-5) What message was he sent ahead to bring concerning the one who was coming after him? He convinced his hearers that they were sinners, and that they needed to confess their sins and repent of them. He prepared the Messiah’s way by bringing people to the conviction of their sin and leading them to repentance. Repentance in the Bible, you know, means a turning away from a way of life that is displeasing to God and embracing for us his will for our living. It presupposes that our way of life needs to change, that we are lost, and need to salvation. It is a change of mind which leads to a change of lifestyle. Have you done it? (Act 2:38). This is how you start making the way ready for the Lord!
Before the second coming of Jesus Christ there will be a manifestation of Himself through His body here on earth. The challenge is: “How can I make ready the way of the Lord to come in my life?”
How can I and we as a church prepare the way for Him to come and show Him self, to reveal his holiness, His glory, His power and his love.
Therefore, give up all claims to your life. BECOME FASCINATED WITH JESUS and that will cause you to be willing to lose your life for Christ’s sake. Let the Person of Jesus uterly captivates you. Christ’s purpose for His church is that we grow to full maturity. (Eph. 4:13) says, “to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” God has planned for His sons and daughters to think, talk and act as Jesus did. He intends for us to rise up in full maturity and to flow in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. This transformation process cannot be accomplished in your own human strength or effort, but only by His Spirit living in you! .” Read (Matth. 16:24+ John 12:24-25).
Denying yourself is not for the weak or fainthearted-it will cost you everything. It means giving God all your preferences, goals, ambitions and dreams. Read (Rom. 8:29). Jesus came to show us what it is to live a life devoted to God. We can be a visible representation and manifestation of Christ to the people around us.
It is a new season for the church. He is calling forth a new breed of people through whom He will manifest His power and glory! It is a time where God will manifest Himself amongst His people in supernatural provision and blessing to the world; where He will open the windows of heaven and release abundance.
2. How do we as an individual/church prepare the way for Him to come amongst us? All of us are in need of correcting attitudes that are out of alignment with God's Word.
We must prepare a straight path for the Lord, removing all obstacles which stand in the Lord’s way preventing Him from coming. All the crooked ways in our life need to be straightened out. Every mountain and hill should be brought low and every valley be lifted up.
a. Prepare the way by having a changed mind. Old mindsets is a hindrance to the power of God! The church needs to change. That means we have to change, which means our mindsets have to change!
(Rom. 12:2) says, 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.” To prove the will of God, to show other people what He is like. Our job is to demonstrate that the reality that exists in heaven can be manifested right here and now! Not only believing the right things about God, but people who put the will of God on display! We are here to give people a demonstration of whom God is. We tell people how great God is-now it is time to prove and demonstrate it. Jesus taught and demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is a present-tense reality!
b. Prepare the way by excercising faith! (Eph. 3:20).”Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
Are you using your energy to worry or to trust God? This is a time where you shouldn’t activate your fear, but activate your faith in God. Quit expecting the worse and start to expect God’s favour. God is a good God and He wants to bless you!
Say, “God I am expecting a good year (family, job, finances, church, S.A.)” It is time to take heavy doses of faith-a time to have lots of hope. The devil wants you to despair. You are able to do what God has called you to do! It is time to activate your faith instead of your fears!
Every Christian should be looking to the future with great faith and hope. It does not matter what comes upon the world, our King has prevailed, His kingdom is going to come, and His will is going to be done, right here on earth as it is in heaven. When you read the end of this Book, we win!” Consider this great promise in (2 Cor.2:14)
c. By welcoming His presence, inviting Him to come through our praise and worship. I think the church as the body of Christ is going to be glorious, I think this is the greatest time to be alive, cause I feel like we are about to enter an age of great glory for the church, where the church and the nations will be in awe of God.
d. Prepare the way by becoming part of the light. Be a light carrier-let your light shine. Life is made up of pain. Disappointments. Pressure. Doubts. Trials. We are all sapped of strength by these dark, ominous clouds. The gospel is the answer to all of this. Get those dark areas in your light sorted out!
(2 Cor.2:14) “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Do people smell Jesus when they come near you? Do they sense His presence, love and caring heart? Do they see a life dedicated to God, a life filled with the Spirit of the living God?
Rick Joyner says :
“It is obvious that 2009 will be one of the most significant years in history, and whether the outcome is good or bad will depend on many factors. For those who are on the right path, there is but one inevitable outcome—this year will be one of ever increasing light and clarity. Proverbs 4:18 promises: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
Therefore, if we are on the right path, the light that we are walking in should increase continually until we are walking in the fullness of the light. Light is what we can look forward to. In the times that are filled with darkness and confusion, the promise of light is one of the greatest promises we could have, and we can be sure that it is coming. The promise of this light is that it will shine on our paths, giving us the clarity to move forward with boldness. This will become an increasing hallmark of those who are walking with God.
e. Prepare the way by living in the joy of the Lord. The Bible says,
(Ps. 16:11) "In His presence is fullness of joy, and in His right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
When Jesus came to the earth, the angels announced, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come. I bring you glad tidings of a great joy, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
f. Prepare the way by loving Him above all. Living a life that loves God. (Mark 12:30) Love for God is without question the most significant characteristic of every great woman or man of God.
Jesus had a abiding relationship with the Father, He maintained an intimate relationship with Father. He didn’t run to the Father now and then when He had a need- it was a constant relationship with Father. Jesus showed His disciples that intimacy with Father was the key to everything He did. Read (John 15:7). It is essential for us to maintain intimacy with God on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis. We cannot produce the fruit that God is looking for out of ourselves, we have to abide in Him. Read amazing verse (1 John 2:6). If you want to be used of God, want to grow spiritually, you need to love what God loves and hate what God hates!
There needs to be that “first love relationship” where Jesus is more important to us than anything else in this world! Read (Ps. 73:25).
g. Prepare the way by praying. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says,
“Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God” (Lloyd-Jones.)
We live in a time that requires extraordinary prayer! For Jesus praying wasn’t optional. It was essential. It wasn’t just some daily routine for Him. He lived to pray and He prayed in order to live. If Jesus did it, how much more do we need to do so!
Pray for God’s guidance, for strength and protection, for loved ones, for wisdom, for government leaders, for salvation. Pray for the Church in S.A. Some of the lecturers in theology in our universities don’t believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, they teach that only certain parts of the Bible is truth, etc. I believe this is the time for the church to stand up. Taking a stand against the watering down of the Word of God.
( Pray to pray better, pray that God wil help us to pray with greater effectiveness. In (Luke 11:1) the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray! They never asked Jesus, “teach us to preach, testify, walk on water, cast out devils, heal the sick.” Because if their prayer lives were sorted out, these other things will follow automatically!!!! When they couldn’t drive out a demon, Jesus said to them, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
(Luke 11:1) that “when He stopped praying” that was when they asked Him. Hearing Him praying, seeing His boldness with FatherGod, taking note of the way He prayed -they asked Him to teach them to pray. They saw that the key to life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ lay in the relationship He had with His Father. They saw Jesus tapping into the resources of heaven, making contact with God, drawing the heavenly down to earth. TOUCHING HEAVEN CHANGING EARTH! My friends we have a generous and good God who always has an ample supply of whatever we need.
h. By having the right revelation, the correct picture of Whom God is! Before a person can be used to work miracles in Jesus’ name, he must first have a revelation of God the Father and His love, power and glory, and a revelation of his personal calling to manifest that love, power and glory to the world.
We all have set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing God.
Your concept of God affects how you feel, how you perform, and how you interpret the past and the future. What you assume about God’s personality determines the way you see reality.
The paradigm we have of God and of ourselves is the most important thing of our lives. We must contend for a right biblical concept of who God is and who we are in Him.
The knowledge of God and the knowledge of His new creation will shape and renew the minds of the end time church.
The same goes for the beliefs about yourself…
Peter declares (1 Petr. 2:9) that you are chosen, royal, holy and special. . He is callling forth a holy, prophetic generation-a new breed of people through whom He will manifest His power and glory as a witness in this world that He is God Almighty and there is none other. The life that God created for you is larger than the one you are living. Long enough we’ve settled for a weak, powerless, lukewarm, defeated Christianity. Read (Is. 42:8-16)
We need freedom from lies, guilt and shame. Our wrong paradigms have caused enough emotional damage. When must know the truth that set us free (John 8:32). Each and every one of us, deep in our hearts, wants to know that we have value. That even as we behold the heavens, the stars and the moon, we matter to Him who set them in their place.
i. Prepare the way by having a life that:
(i.) A life that loves the lost. Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim. 1:15) that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Make use of every opportunity for the Gospel. We live in a time where people are open to the Gospel. Let the compassion of God for the lost manifest through you.
(ii). A life that loves the church. It is time for us to also promote a fervent love and vision for the church. Jesus said (Matth. 16:18) “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” If you say that you want to be like Jesus, part of your calling is to build His church. All of us need to understand that it is HIS CHURCH- not Manie’s, leaders, or F.M.I. It is His body, people that He bought with His blood.
But this speaks not of a weak and irrelevant church, but of a powerful and radiant church (Is. 60:1-5).!
Read (Eph. 5:25) God loves the church –Christ gave Himself up for her! Surely if the church is of such importance to Him, it should be something which is loved and cherised by those who follow Him. Read the Bible and you will see that He doesn’t speak of a perfect church-He loved people with all their hang-ups and problems.
The church is the instrument that God has chosen to use here on earth. If we want to see this church grow, we must commit to it.
A healthy church desires to see EVERYONE of its members being fully utilized in the kingdom of God, anointed, enabled by grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, ministering in the gifts, being servants in the kingdom, power of God manifesting, persevering, growing, being used of God.
j. Be being a pioneer. Some see life as a possession to be carefully guarded. No change, no adventure, nothing new, no reaching out, no growing, no stepping out in faith. Don’t rock the boat-want easy and plainsailing.
Others see life as a fantastic, wild, explosive gift. They are PIONEERS. Stepping out in faith and venturing into the unknown. These are people of risk and daring—they are hungry for more of God, new adventures with God, they want the new meaningfull life the Bible speaks about, the challenge of being on the cutting edge. They come from all different walks of life, but they are coming with a God consciousness!
THE CHURCH CANNOT RISE HIGHER THAN HER CONCEPT OF GOD!!!! Where is your faith level? Pioneers keep adjusting their faith level-higher, more, stronger! They surrender to Him and everything He brings! They are breaking new ground
k. Perseverance/Persistentence. I am talking to truly born again people! All those who are born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end. Read (Joh. 6:39-40) with me!!! Do you think Jesus is a liar? HE WILL RAISE YOU UP ON THAT DAY…Read (John 10:27-29). (v28) Greek says, “They shall certainly not perish FOREVER!”
(Rom. 8:1) says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So it would be unjust for God to give any kind of eternal punishment to those who are Christians. The entire penalty for their sins has been paid! (Rom. 8:31) says, “IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” You have to understand this before you can understand perseverance. Preoccupation with ourselves and our inadequacies must give way to a revelation of God as the GREAT I AM! I AM will go with you, will enable, empower you, He will do the work, He will handle the situations that are bigger than you.
l. Prepare the way by becoming humble. God is always compatible to humility-He gives grace to the humble. Humility is the crucible that releases God’s presence and power. God will only inhabit what is compatible with His presence. (Matth. 11:29) ‘…for I am gentle and humble…” His nature was one of humility. Read (Phil. 2:5). Attitude is one’s perspective or outlook of life-your state of mind. Being a Christian means having the heart and attitude of Jesus.
Humble people are free from the sense of superiority and eliteness. Humility is a hallmark of God’s divine nature. (Jam. 4:6) says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” I often think about this phrase, “God resists the proud.” To be resisted by God-what a terrible thing to happen to anyone. Don’t be foolish, don’t struggle with God - just do what He says! We must have a YES CULTURE to the Lord. We believe this is your way and we will do it. After all-He knows much better than you and I.
m. Seeking God. We need a bigger compassion for Jesus, a bigger and better desire for intimacy. We need a bigger desire for holiness and purity. You become a seeker of God when you realize your need for Him. Ps 34:8
m. Holy Spirit revelation. The walk of faith is one where reason and understanding must be preceded by trust from the heart. Spiritual revelation opens the heavens. It draws back a curtain and opens a whole new realm. THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE (the man of power for the hour).
What is your current encounter with God all about? Are you seeing and understanding new things. God wants to take you into new country, into a new realm of the Holy Spirit
n. Unity. I am talking about a deliberate and disciplined unity that is focused on the Lord Jesus. With ecverything in you, you love God and the people around you-that is humility!
Ps. 133.
Obvious question is, “Is your life ready for the coming of the Lord?” We do not simply think of a Lord who came two thousand years ago or a Lord who will come at the end of history. We await a Lord who comes continuously into His world, among His people.
The Bible says of John the Baptist, "...I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple..." (Mal. 3:1). What did the forerunner (John the Baptist) do to prepare the way for the Lord? (Luke 3:4-5) What message was he sent ahead to bring concerning the one who was coming after him? He convinced his hearers that they were sinners, and that they needed to confess their sins and repent of them. He prepared the Messiah’s way by bringing people to the conviction of their sin and leading them to repentance. Repentance in the Bible, you know, means a turning away from a way of life that is displeasing to God and embracing for us his will for our living. It presupposes that our way of life needs to change, that we are lost, and need to salvation. It is a change of mind which leads to a change of lifestyle. Have you done it? (Act 2:38). This is how you start making the way ready for the Lord!
Before the second coming of Jesus Christ there will be a manifestation of Himself through His body here on earth. The challenge is: “How can I make ready the way of the Lord to come in my life?”
How can I and we as a church prepare the way for Him to come and show Him self, to reveal his holiness, His glory, His power and his love.
Therefore, give up all claims to your life. BECOME FASCINATED WITH JESUS and that will cause you to be willing to lose your life for Christ’s sake. Let the Person of Jesus uterly captivates you. Christ’s purpose for His church is that we grow to full maturity. (Eph. 4:13) says, “to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” God has planned for His sons and daughters to think, talk and act as Jesus did. He intends for us to rise up in full maturity and to flow in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. This transformation process cannot be accomplished in your own human strength or effort, but only by His Spirit living in you! .” Read (Matth. 16:24+ John 12:24-25).
Denying yourself is not for the weak or fainthearted-it will cost you everything. It means giving God all your preferences, goals, ambitions and dreams. Read (Rom. 8:29). Jesus came to show us what it is to live a life devoted to God. We can be a visible representation and manifestation of Christ to the people around us.
It is a new season for the church. He is calling forth a new breed of people through whom He will manifest His power and glory! It is a time where God will manifest Himself amongst His people in supernatural provision and blessing to the world; where He will open the windows of heaven and release abundance.
2. How do we as an individual/church prepare the way for Him to come amongst us? All of us are in need of correcting attitudes that are out of alignment with God's Word.
We must prepare a straight path for the Lord, removing all obstacles which stand in the Lord’s way preventing Him from coming. All the crooked ways in our life need to be straightened out. Every mountain and hill should be brought low and every valley be lifted up.
a. Prepare the way by having a changed mind. Old mindsets is a hindrance to the power of God! The church needs to change. That means we have to change, which means our mindsets have to change!
(Rom. 12:2) says, 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.” To prove the will of God, to show other people what He is like. Our job is to demonstrate that the reality that exists in heaven can be manifested right here and now! Not only believing the right things about God, but people who put the will of God on display! We are here to give people a demonstration of whom God is. We tell people how great God is-now it is time to prove and demonstrate it. Jesus taught and demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is a present-tense reality!
b. Prepare the way by excercising faith! (Eph. 3:20).”Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
Are you using your energy to worry or to trust God? This is a time where you shouldn’t activate your fear, but activate your faith in God. Quit expecting the worse and start to expect God’s favour. God is a good God and He wants to bless you!
Say, “God I am expecting a good year (family, job, finances, church, S.A.)” It is time to take heavy doses of faith-a time to have lots of hope. The devil wants you to despair. You are able to do what God has called you to do! It is time to activate your faith instead of your fears!
Every Christian should be looking to the future with great faith and hope. It does not matter what comes upon the world, our King has prevailed, His kingdom is going to come, and His will is going to be done, right here on earth as it is in heaven. When you read the end of this Book, we win!” Consider this great promise in (2 Cor.2:14)
c. By welcoming His presence, inviting Him to come through our praise and worship. I think the church as the body of Christ is going to be glorious, I think this is the greatest time to be alive, cause I feel like we are about to enter an age of great glory for the church, where the church and the nations will be in awe of God.
d. Prepare the way by becoming part of the light. Be a light carrier-let your light shine. Life is made up of pain. Disappointments. Pressure. Doubts. Trials. We are all sapped of strength by these dark, ominous clouds. The gospel is the answer to all of this. Get those dark areas in your light sorted out!
(2 Cor.2:14) “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Do people smell Jesus when they come near you? Do they sense His presence, love and caring heart? Do they see a life dedicated to God, a life filled with the Spirit of the living God?
Rick Joyner says :
“It is obvious that 2009 will be one of the most significant years in history, and whether the outcome is good or bad will depend on many factors. For those who are on the right path, there is but one inevitable outcome—this year will be one of ever increasing light and clarity. Proverbs 4:18 promises: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
Therefore, if we are on the right path, the light that we are walking in should increase continually until we are walking in the fullness of the light. Light is what we can look forward to. In the times that are filled with darkness and confusion, the promise of light is one of the greatest promises we could have, and we can be sure that it is coming. The promise of this light is that it will shine on our paths, giving us the clarity to move forward with boldness. This will become an increasing hallmark of those who are walking with God.
e. Prepare the way by living in the joy of the Lord. The Bible says,
(Ps. 16:11) "In His presence is fullness of joy, and in His right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
When Jesus came to the earth, the angels announced, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come. I bring you glad tidings of a great joy, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
f. Prepare the way by loving Him above all. Living a life that loves God. (Mark 12:30) Love for God is without question the most significant characteristic of every great woman or man of God.
Jesus had a abiding relationship with the Father, He maintained an intimate relationship with Father. He didn’t run to the Father now and then when He had a need- it was a constant relationship with Father. Jesus showed His disciples that intimacy with Father was the key to everything He did. Read (John 15:7). It is essential for us to maintain intimacy with God on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis. We cannot produce the fruit that God is looking for out of ourselves, we have to abide in Him. Read amazing verse (1 John 2:6). If you want to be used of God, want to grow spiritually, you need to love what God loves and hate what God hates!
There needs to be that “first love relationship” where Jesus is more important to us than anything else in this world! Read (Ps. 73:25).
g. Prepare the way by praying. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says,
“Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God” (Lloyd-Jones.)
We live in a time that requires extraordinary prayer! For Jesus praying wasn’t optional. It was essential. It wasn’t just some daily routine for Him. He lived to pray and He prayed in order to live. If Jesus did it, how much more do we need to do so!
Pray for God’s guidance, for strength and protection, for loved ones, for wisdom, for government leaders, for salvation. Pray for the Church in S.A. Some of the lecturers in theology in our universities don’t believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, they teach that only certain parts of the Bible is truth, etc. I believe this is the time for the church to stand up. Taking a stand against the watering down of the Word of God.
( Pray to pray better, pray that God wil help us to pray with greater effectiveness. In (Luke 11:1) the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray! They never asked Jesus, “teach us to preach, testify, walk on water, cast out devils, heal the sick.” Because if their prayer lives were sorted out, these other things will follow automatically!!!! When they couldn’t drive out a demon, Jesus said to them, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
(Luke 11:1) that “when He stopped praying” that was when they asked Him. Hearing Him praying, seeing His boldness with FatherGod, taking note of the way He prayed -they asked Him to teach them to pray. They saw that the key to life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ lay in the relationship He had with His Father. They saw Jesus tapping into the resources of heaven, making contact with God, drawing the heavenly down to earth. TOUCHING HEAVEN CHANGING EARTH! My friends we have a generous and good God who always has an ample supply of whatever we need.
h. By having the right revelation, the correct picture of Whom God is! Before a person can be used to work miracles in Jesus’ name, he must first have a revelation of God the Father and His love, power and glory, and a revelation of his personal calling to manifest that love, power and glory to the world.
We all have set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing God.
Your concept of God affects how you feel, how you perform, and how you interpret the past and the future. What you assume about God’s personality determines the way you see reality.
The paradigm we have of God and of ourselves is the most important thing of our lives. We must contend for a right biblical concept of who God is and who we are in Him.
The knowledge of God and the knowledge of His new creation will shape and renew the minds of the end time church.
The same goes for the beliefs about yourself…
Peter declares (1 Petr. 2:9) that you are chosen, royal, holy and special. . He is callling forth a holy, prophetic generation-a new breed of people through whom He will manifest His power and glory as a witness in this world that He is God Almighty and there is none other. The life that God created for you is larger than the one you are living. Long enough we’ve settled for a weak, powerless, lukewarm, defeated Christianity. Read (Is. 42:8-16)
We need freedom from lies, guilt and shame. Our wrong paradigms have caused enough emotional damage. When must know the truth that set us free (John 8:32). Each and every one of us, deep in our hearts, wants to know that we have value. That even as we behold the heavens, the stars and the moon, we matter to Him who set them in their place.
i. Prepare the way by having a life that:
(i.) A life that loves the lost. Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim. 1:15) that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Make use of every opportunity for the Gospel. We live in a time where people are open to the Gospel. Let the compassion of God for the lost manifest through you.
(ii). A life that loves the church. It is time for us to also promote a fervent love and vision for the church. Jesus said (Matth. 16:18) “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” If you say that you want to be like Jesus, part of your calling is to build His church. All of us need to understand that it is HIS CHURCH- not Manie’s, leaders, or F.M.I. It is His body, people that He bought with His blood.
But this speaks not of a weak and irrelevant church, but of a powerful and radiant church (Is. 60:1-5).!
Read (Eph. 5:25) God loves the church –Christ gave Himself up for her! Surely if the church is of such importance to Him, it should be something which is loved and cherised by those who follow Him. Read the Bible and you will see that He doesn’t speak of a perfect church-He loved people with all their hang-ups and problems.
The church is the instrument that God has chosen to use here on earth. If we want to see this church grow, we must commit to it.
A healthy church desires to see EVERYONE of its members being fully utilized in the kingdom of God, anointed, enabled by grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, ministering in the gifts, being servants in the kingdom, power of God manifesting, persevering, growing, being used of God.
j. Be being a pioneer. Some see life as a possession to be carefully guarded. No change, no adventure, nothing new, no reaching out, no growing, no stepping out in faith. Don’t rock the boat-want easy and plainsailing.
Others see life as a fantastic, wild, explosive gift. They are PIONEERS. Stepping out in faith and venturing into the unknown. These are people of risk and daring—they are hungry for more of God, new adventures with God, they want the new meaningfull life the Bible speaks about, the challenge of being on the cutting edge. They come from all different walks of life, but they are coming with a God consciousness!
THE CHURCH CANNOT RISE HIGHER THAN HER CONCEPT OF GOD!!!! Where is your faith level? Pioneers keep adjusting their faith level-higher, more, stronger! They surrender to Him and everything He brings! They are breaking new ground
k. Perseverance/Persistentence. I am talking to truly born again people! All those who are born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end. Read (Joh. 6:39-40) with me!!! Do you think Jesus is a liar? HE WILL RAISE YOU UP ON THAT DAY…Read (John 10:27-29). (v28) Greek says, “They shall certainly not perish FOREVER!”
(Rom. 8:1) says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So it would be unjust for God to give any kind of eternal punishment to those who are Christians. The entire penalty for their sins has been paid! (Rom. 8:31) says, “IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” You have to understand this before you can understand perseverance. Preoccupation with ourselves and our inadequacies must give way to a revelation of God as the GREAT I AM! I AM will go with you, will enable, empower you, He will do the work, He will handle the situations that are bigger than you.
l. Prepare the way by becoming humble. God is always compatible to humility-He gives grace to the humble. Humility is the crucible that releases God’s presence and power. God will only inhabit what is compatible with His presence. (Matth. 11:29) ‘…for I am gentle and humble…” His nature was one of humility. Read (Phil. 2:5). Attitude is one’s perspective or outlook of life-your state of mind. Being a Christian means having the heart and attitude of Jesus.
Humble people are free from the sense of superiority and eliteness. Humility is a hallmark of God’s divine nature. (Jam. 4:6) says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” I often think about this phrase, “God resists the proud.” To be resisted by God-what a terrible thing to happen to anyone. Don’t be foolish, don’t struggle with God - just do what He says! We must have a YES CULTURE to the Lord. We believe this is your way and we will do it. After all-He knows much better than you and I.
m. Seeking God. We need a bigger compassion for Jesus, a bigger and better desire for intimacy. We need a bigger desire for holiness and purity. You become a seeker of God when you realize your need for Him. Ps 34:8
m. Holy Spirit revelation. The walk of faith is one where reason and understanding must be preceded by trust from the heart. Spiritual revelation opens the heavens. It draws back a curtain and opens a whole new realm. THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE (the man of power for the hour).
What is your current encounter with God all about? Are you seeing and understanding new things. God wants to take you into new country, into a new realm of the Holy Spirit
n. Unity. I am talking about a deliberate and disciplined unity that is focused on the Lord Jesus. With ecverything in you, you love God and the people around you-that is humility!
Ps. 133.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Pour out Your Spirit (Act 1:1-8).
1. The need of our time. The Church is becoming aware of its own desperate condition and the even more critical needs of our time. We long for revival and the life of Jesus amongst us and we experience it but only for certain periods and not as an ongoing lifestyle.
We can blame many things:
We see people’s lack of involvement.
We see the lack of dedication to the Body of Christ.
It is because people come to church with an “Entertain Me” attitude.
Many still lack the fundamental hunger that is needful in a revival.
We can say there is no fear of God and respect for the ministry.
We can say it is not enough prayer, lack of commitment.
People don’t read the Bible-doers of the Word.
Follow and serve God no matter what you may be going through! Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and HE will add all other things…
Christians around the world are praying for revival. What exactly is meant by "revival"? Some think in terms of great meetings or tremendous evangelistic outreach. Others think more in terms of Christians who are encouraged and brought to a new level of commitment in their faith. But what is it?
Revival is ultimately Christ Himself being seen, felt, heard, living, active, moving in and through His Body on earth. True revival is not man-centered but Christ-centered. It is not about a type of music or special experience, but a fresh revelation of Christ in the midst of His people.
REVIVAL HAPPENS WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP FOR CHURCH. The Lord is always present when His people gather in His Name- but now we are talking about His manifest presence- feel it, see it. Move in it.
When the people of God become aware of the Presence of the Lord, everything changes. Our worship services, our family lives, our evangelistic efforts, and our individual devotional lives will all be different when God shows up for church.
When He shows up anything can happen! He can save, fill, change, restore, touch, heal, deliver, motivate, bring purpose, lead, provide, use people, change priorities, bring commitment, evangelistic zeal, lives are transformed, joy is evident, the powers of darkness are forced to retreat. Biblical truths that had perhaps grown stale are suddenly infused with new life. The love and life of Jesus are lived out in fresh new ways as the Church gathers.
Endless list! DO YOU WANT IT?
The early church had a revival in prison. We can hardly get the saints to worship in the church on a Sunday with our heaters, fans, fancy equipment.
The early saints walked by a cripple man at the gate beautiful and lifted him up to his feet – healed in Jesus name. For us it is hard to go to someone who’s life is falling apart and ask them if we could minister to them.
The N.T. Christians turned their world upside down in two years (Acts. 17:6).
Devils left screaming from the New Testament church-The N.T Church was bold people who walked into the market places and into kings throne rooms and declared the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That Church grew because of God’s favour and because the world looked at it as something that offered a refuge from the sinful lifestyles.
The early church would hold an all night all church prayer meeting to get Peter out of jail. The early church would go from house to house fellowshipping and praying.
We promote programs and agendas but how many souls will be won by our church and by our use of time, energy and money?
The cares of life, the politics, economy, elements of this world and the evil powers at work, are pulling us away from what the original church was.
WHAT DO WE WANT WHEN WE ASK FOR MORE?
What did the early church have that we do not have today? Christians are praying for God to move in significant new ways in the Church.
2. There need to be a growth cycle consisting of:
a. Being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit and power ( Eph. 5:18). The Book of Acts is the greatest book on revivals which has ever been written.
In (Acts 1:4) we find our risen Lord gives His last and His most powerful command –in verse 9 He was taken up in a cloud in the air. If you go away for a time and leave people behind, your last words are important.
He actually "charged" them, a military term, "not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father" (ASV). Ampl. ‘He commanded them…”
When it comes to the baptism in the Holy Spirit it is not a voluntary thing (if you want to.)
He commanded them to go to the Upper Room and to ABIDE IN PRAYER TOGETHER! And because they did, the Holy Spirit came! In verses 14 and 15 we read that they, about 120, continued in prayer and supplication.
Why did they do it? Because Jesus commanded it. They didn’t discuss the possibility of not going-of ignoring it-of having a say in it whether they should or shouldn’t go.
They didn’t have a Bible Study on: Five reasons why we should we go to the upper room?
The command of Jesus to wait (Luke 24:49). Our trouble today is that we have not seen the Upper Room prayer meeting as a command of Jesus. We seem to have little authority when it comes to getting our churches into prayer meetings.
This is a great part of our problem and weakness – getting corporate prayer and revival back into our churches (Acts 1:4).
Can I ask you today: How much of the Holy Spirit do you have today? Read (Acts 1:8.)
To Jesus it was an absolute necessity that his disciples will be filled with the Holy Spirit continously (Acts 13:52). His own ministry only started after He was baptised in water and the Holy Spirit came down upon Him! With the Holy Spirit in and on you, you become a dynamic instrument in the hands of a living God.
We need a baptism of fire!!! Let the fire of God burn in our bones and it will burn up all dignity, all excuses, all selfishness-it will consume all religion and leave only the glory and power of Jesus behind. Don’t let the fire of God pass you by, don’t let the river pass you by.
God, remove in me the ritual, the routine and give me a passion for the reality of your Spirit! Burn up the wood, hay, stubble and replace it with refined gold!
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is the gateway to the supernatural. More of the Spirit also means more signs and wonder/miracles. After the day of Pentecost, miracles occurred constantly in the Acts church.
b. Change me/church. (2 Cor. 5:17) is not a once of thing. If we stay the same as we are, the world around us will stay the same. If we don’t change the world will keep on going downhill: Sin will increase, unrigtheousness will increase, the church will diminish, the people will die without Jesus, the sick will become more, crime and corruption will increase.
When we change the light will increase in South Africa-attitudes will change-lives will be touched and God’s righteousness will increase.
When we become more hungry for God then our sensitivity level increases. And because we then live nearer to His heart, because we hear His voice clearly our lives change. When we become God conscious, we grow out of self consciousness. We then explore the MORE we are praying for, the things that God wants to do! There are so many dimensions of God that we haven’t touched yet.
We are called to FLESH OUT THE LIVE OF JESUS and it will happen more and more as we fix our lives/attention on Jesus! I want to encourage you to intensely pursue full devotion to Christ. Trust Him to change you, be thankful for His daily work in your life, pursue Him, follow Him, love Him with your whole life!!!
My friends we can never get enough of Jesus Christ in our lives. This is a never ending quest, deeper with God and it is also an increasingly rewarding process.
c. Use me/church (John 15:16) God is looking for a dividend because He has made great deposits in your life! Playing it safe is the most dangerous way to live. Safe in my comfort zone, with no possibility of failing. No possibility of being embarrassed. No stepping out of the boat, no trusting God, no faith in this miracle working God. It also means that there is no possibility of of being used by God.
The Great Commission (Matth. 28:19) is the last and most forceful and imperative of all His commandments, and we must hear and do it.
God release whatever is necessary and USE ME IN THE PROCESS. God can take your mess and turn it into a message! A negative past doesn’t disqualify you from a positive future. We’re you’ve been is not nearly as important as where you are going! Many of us sitting here today can say, “My family put the function in disfunction.” Nothing in your past can disqualify you from what God wants to do through your life in the future!
God wants a passionate people. He wants passion and zeal for Him! IF YOUR PASSION DOESN’T MOVE YOU, it won’t move God! God is entrusting us with a move of God- what are we doing with it. We are a fortunate people, we are a chosen generation-we are custodians of “the more of God.” Are you ready to pray, to be, to move, to change, turn the world upside down?
(Col.1:27) teaches us the mystery of God – "Christ in us, the hope of glory." Is there a more astonishing verse in Scripture-that the Son of God has actually come to take up residence within the individual Christian? Lord, help us to experience the indwelling Christ! Open the eyes of our hearts that we might know You and become aware of Your Presence here inside us. Immanuel-God with us!
What a difference it would make in our lives if we truly lived out the truth of Christ in us, the hope of glory; walking daily with Jesus--aware of His presence, His love, His strength, and His direction.
Take up your position in Jesus Christ, take up your mantle- touch the world around you because you are touched by God-you are God’s anointed! Let the Holy Spirit flow in P’n P, Post office, streets and wherever you go-invading the market place!
We are seeing an increased awareness of the activity of the Lord in the midst of His people and it is exciting-and He wants you to be part of it!
Your intimacy with FatherGod intimidates the devil, because he knows from that relationship comes authority, boldness and a flow of the Spirit. This is a season where we must believe and act upon what we know! We minister effectively only when we understand God’s goodness.
3. Conclusion: You? How will God work through you to make a difference in this world? He poured out his life and His Holy Spirit in us to use us!
It’s time for all of us get life. It’s time that all of us get tired of living in 2nd hand Christianity and get an expectation of living in Christ. Get tired of depression, tired of sin, tired of the devil’s lies, of being the same year in and year out!
(John 10:10). Realize that Jesus is life in abundance, Jesus is hope, Jesus is love, Jesus is joy, Jesus is peace.
Say with me: I am a carrier of the presence of God.
Lord I am available in your kingdom.
I will speak your Word.
I will declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I will flow in your Spirit. My life will touch other lives!
Amen.
We can blame many things:
We see people’s lack of involvement.
We see the lack of dedication to the Body of Christ.
It is because people come to church with an “Entertain Me” attitude.
Many still lack the fundamental hunger that is needful in a revival.
We can say there is no fear of God and respect for the ministry.
We can say it is not enough prayer, lack of commitment.
People don’t read the Bible-doers of the Word.
Follow and serve God no matter what you may be going through! Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and HE will add all other things…
Christians around the world are praying for revival. What exactly is meant by "revival"? Some think in terms of great meetings or tremendous evangelistic outreach. Others think more in terms of Christians who are encouraged and brought to a new level of commitment in their faith. But what is it?
Revival is ultimately Christ Himself being seen, felt, heard, living, active, moving in and through His Body on earth. True revival is not man-centered but Christ-centered. It is not about a type of music or special experience, but a fresh revelation of Christ in the midst of His people.
REVIVAL HAPPENS WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP FOR CHURCH. The Lord is always present when His people gather in His Name- but now we are talking about His manifest presence- feel it, see it. Move in it.
When the people of God become aware of the Presence of the Lord, everything changes. Our worship services, our family lives, our evangelistic efforts, and our individual devotional lives will all be different when God shows up for church.
When He shows up anything can happen! He can save, fill, change, restore, touch, heal, deliver, motivate, bring purpose, lead, provide, use people, change priorities, bring commitment, evangelistic zeal, lives are transformed, joy is evident, the powers of darkness are forced to retreat. Biblical truths that had perhaps grown stale are suddenly infused with new life. The love and life of Jesus are lived out in fresh new ways as the Church gathers.
Endless list! DO YOU WANT IT?
The early church had a revival in prison. We can hardly get the saints to worship in the church on a Sunday with our heaters, fans, fancy equipment.
The early saints walked by a cripple man at the gate beautiful and lifted him up to his feet – healed in Jesus name. For us it is hard to go to someone who’s life is falling apart and ask them if we could minister to them.
The N.T. Christians turned their world upside down in two years (Acts. 17:6).
Devils left screaming from the New Testament church-The N.T Church was bold people who walked into the market places and into kings throne rooms and declared the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That Church grew because of God’s favour and because the world looked at it as something that offered a refuge from the sinful lifestyles.
The early church would hold an all night all church prayer meeting to get Peter out of jail. The early church would go from house to house fellowshipping and praying.
We promote programs and agendas but how many souls will be won by our church and by our use of time, energy and money?
The cares of life, the politics, economy, elements of this world and the evil powers at work, are pulling us away from what the original church was.
WHAT DO WE WANT WHEN WE ASK FOR MORE?
What did the early church have that we do not have today? Christians are praying for God to move in significant new ways in the Church.
2. There need to be a growth cycle consisting of:
a. Being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit and power ( Eph. 5:18). The Book of Acts is the greatest book on revivals which has ever been written.
In (Acts 1:4) we find our risen Lord gives His last and His most powerful command –in verse 9 He was taken up in a cloud in the air. If you go away for a time and leave people behind, your last words are important.
He actually "charged" them, a military term, "not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father" (ASV). Ampl. ‘He commanded them…”
When it comes to the baptism in the Holy Spirit it is not a voluntary thing (if you want to.)
He commanded them to go to the Upper Room and to ABIDE IN PRAYER TOGETHER! And because they did, the Holy Spirit came! In verses 14 and 15 we read that they, about 120, continued in prayer and supplication.
Why did they do it? Because Jesus commanded it. They didn’t discuss the possibility of not going-of ignoring it-of having a say in it whether they should or shouldn’t go.
They didn’t have a Bible Study on: Five reasons why we should we go to the upper room?
The command of Jesus to wait (Luke 24:49). Our trouble today is that we have not seen the Upper Room prayer meeting as a command of Jesus. We seem to have little authority when it comes to getting our churches into prayer meetings.
This is a great part of our problem and weakness – getting corporate prayer and revival back into our churches (Acts 1:4).
Can I ask you today: How much of the Holy Spirit do you have today? Read (Acts 1:8.)
To Jesus it was an absolute necessity that his disciples will be filled with the Holy Spirit continously (Acts 13:52). His own ministry only started after He was baptised in water and the Holy Spirit came down upon Him! With the Holy Spirit in and on you, you become a dynamic instrument in the hands of a living God.
We need a baptism of fire!!! Let the fire of God burn in our bones and it will burn up all dignity, all excuses, all selfishness-it will consume all religion and leave only the glory and power of Jesus behind. Don’t let the fire of God pass you by, don’t let the river pass you by.
God, remove in me the ritual, the routine and give me a passion for the reality of your Spirit! Burn up the wood, hay, stubble and replace it with refined gold!
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is the gateway to the supernatural. More of the Spirit also means more signs and wonder/miracles. After the day of Pentecost, miracles occurred constantly in the Acts church.
b. Change me/church. (2 Cor. 5:17) is not a once of thing. If we stay the same as we are, the world around us will stay the same. If we don’t change the world will keep on going downhill: Sin will increase, unrigtheousness will increase, the church will diminish, the people will die without Jesus, the sick will become more, crime and corruption will increase.
When we change the light will increase in South Africa-attitudes will change-lives will be touched and God’s righteousness will increase.
When we become more hungry for God then our sensitivity level increases. And because we then live nearer to His heart, because we hear His voice clearly our lives change. When we become God conscious, we grow out of self consciousness. We then explore the MORE we are praying for, the things that God wants to do! There are so many dimensions of God that we haven’t touched yet.
We are called to FLESH OUT THE LIVE OF JESUS and it will happen more and more as we fix our lives/attention on Jesus! I want to encourage you to intensely pursue full devotion to Christ. Trust Him to change you, be thankful for His daily work in your life, pursue Him, follow Him, love Him with your whole life!!!
My friends we can never get enough of Jesus Christ in our lives. This is a never ending quest, deeper with God and it is also an increasingly rewarding process.
c. Use me/church (John 15:16) God is looking for a dividend because He has made great deposits in your life! Playing it safe is the most dangerous way to live. Safe in my comfort zone, with no possibility of failing. No possibility of being embarrassed. No stepping out of the boat, no trusting God, no faith in this miracle working God. It also means that there is no possibility of of being used by God.
The Great Commission (Matth. 28:19) is the last and most forceful and imperative of all His commandments, and we must hear and do it.
God release whatever is necessary and USE ME IN THE PROCESS. God can take your mess and turn it into a message! A negative past doesn’t disqualify you from a positive future. We’re you’ve been is not nearly as important as where you are going! Many of us sitting here today can say, “My family put the function in disfunction.” Nothing in your past can disqualify you from what God wants to do through your life in the future!
God wants a passionate people. He wants passion and zeal for Him! IF YOUR PASSION DOESN’T MOVE YOU, it won’t move God! God is entrusting us with a move of God- what are we doing with it. We are a fortunate people, we are a chosen generation-we are custodians of “the more of God.” Are you ready to pray, to be, to move, to change, turn the world upside down?
(Col.1:27) teaches us the mystery of God – "Christ in us, the hope of glory." Is there a more astonishing verse in Scripture-that the Son of God has actually come to take up residence within the individual Christian? Lord, help us to experience the indwelling Christ! Open the eyes of our hearts that we might know You and become aware of Your Presence here inside us. Immanuel-God with us!
What a difference it would make in our lives if we truly lived out the truth of Christ in us, the hope of glory; walking daily with Jesus--aware of His presence, His love, His strength, and His direction.
Take up your position in Jesus Christ, take up your mantle- touch the world around you because you are touched by God-you are God’s anointed! Let the Holy Spirit flow in P’n P, Post office, streets and wherever you go-invading the market place!
We are seeing an increased awareness of the activity of the Lord in the midst of His people and it is exciting-and He wants you to be part of it!
Your intimacy with FatherGod intimidates the devil, because he knows from that relationship comes authority, boldness and a flow of the Spirit. This is a season where we must believe and act upon what we know! We minister effectively only when we understand God’s goodness.
3. Conclusion: You? How will God work through you to make a difference in this world? He poured out his life and His Holy Spirit in us to use us!
It’s time for all of us get life. It’s time that all of us get tired of living in 2nd hand Christianity and get an expectation of living in Christ. Get tired of depression, tired of sin, tired of the devil’s lies, of being the same year in and year out!
(John 10:10). Realize that Jesus is life in abundance, Jesus is hope, Jesus is love, Jesus is joy, Jesus is peace.
Say with me: I am a carrier of the presence of God.
Lord I am available in your kingdom.
I will speak your Word.
I will declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I will flow in your Spirit. My life will touch other lives!
Amen.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Progressing in God
Progressing forward in God means:
a. He trusts us with more. The faith He requires from us today is not the same as what He required from us yesterday.
We are the containers of His Spirit and a life of continuous close fellowship with Him will cause us to “overflow” and His Glory and Anointing will be “poured out of” our inner most beings. As He trusts us with more, we touch other lives with more. We dare not just live for ourselves, we must trust the Lord to live His life through us, touching others. We are at a phase in God’s dealings with mankind where His Glory is being developed and manifesting in and through us.
b. He will constantly stretch us, which is both challenging and encouraging. Kathryn Kulhman once said ... "It is when you dare to believe God to the point of action, that something begins to happen". Faith is not lethargic it demands action, faith is believing to the point of action. We need to get out of the boat and start walking on water! We should not want to miss anything that God is doing, on any level. We should be devoted to being a part of what He is doing in our time. Warriors run to the sound of battle not away from it. Christians should likewise run to a move of God.
c. He’s preparing us for greater responsibility. Rick Joyner says: “I have spent many years studying both what enabled revivals to ignite and what stopped them. One common denominator with the way they all began is that they were all unique. They each began in different ways and under different conditions. However, they each ended in basically the same way. Because there is no easy formula for understanding how revivals and moves of God begin, it compels us even more to simply follow the King. Obviously, a move of God must be God moving, so our primary goal should always be to get close to Him and stay close to Him.” He also says, “How is the Lord visiting us now? He is coming the way that He came the first time-healing the sick, casting out devils, and delivering those who are oppressed of the devil. We are in the initial stages of a release of the power of God like has not been witnessed in over half a century, and which may not have been seen since Jesus.” walked the earth as a man. There are doors that stand open in heaven as we read in Revelation 4:1. A door is open right now for Christians to begin walking in healing gifts and to perform miracles in the name of the Lord. For those who already walk in these gifts and ministries, the door is open for them to go to higher levels of authority in them.”
d. He is opening up new avenues of prayer and treasure hunting. We need to see praying that is bold, that is strong. Praying that moves God is prayer that moves us. If we are not moved by our prayers how do we expect them to move God. Jesus had "strong crying and tears" (Heb. 5:17)- should we not pray the same way? Loud crying with tears. Gethsemane prayer, agonizing prayer is needed in our lukewarm laid back Christianity today. Isaiah speaks the word of the Lord to Hezekiah and may it be to us also spoken: "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears." Prayer that is Spirit lead. Pray-ers that are born out of the Spirit. All good prayers are not necessarily God prayers.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
How can we change? We must desire God more than anything else. We must seek Him, and cry
out for Him, be open to His Spirit.
e. God is entrusting us with a move of God-what are we going to do with it? Are we ready for this next move of God-are we where He wants us to be?
Joy and freedom will increase to much higher levels.
When we become more hungry for God our sensitivity level increases.
There are many sides of God that we haven’t seen yet.
Hunger for God releases the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We are custodians of more of God.
Our Prayer is: God release whatever is necessary.
Zeal for God will help us to overcome.
a. He trusts us with more. The faith He requires from us today is not the same as what He required from us yesterday.
We are the containers of His Spirit and a life of continuous close fellowship with Him will cause us to “overflow” and His Glory and Anointing will be “poured out of” our inner most beings. As He trusts us with more, we touch other lives with more. We dare not just live for ourselves, we must trust the Lord to live His life through us, touching others. We are at a phase in God’s dealings with mankind where His Glory is being developed and manifesting in and through us.
b. He will constantly stretch us, which is both challenging and encouraging. Kathryn Kulhman once said ... "It is when you dare to believe God to the point of action, that something begins to happen". Faith is not lethargic it demands action, faith is believing to the point of action. We need to get out of the boat and start walking on water! We should not want to miss anything that God is doing, on any level. We should be devoted to being a part of what He is doing in our time. Warriors run to the sound of battle not away from it. Christians should likewise run to a move of God.
c. He’s preparing us for greater responsibility. Rick Joyner says: “I have spent many years studying both what enabled revivals to ignite and what stopped them. One common denominator with the way they all began is that they were all unique. They each began in different ways and under different conditions. However, they each ended in basically the same way. Because there is no easy formula for understanding how revivals and moves of God begin, it compels us even more to simply follow the King. Obviously, a move of God must be God moving, so our primary goal should always be to get close to Him and stay close to Him.” He also says, “How is the Lord visiting us now? He is coming the way that He came the first time-healing the sick, casting out devils, and delivering those who are oppressed of the devil. We are in the initial stages of a release of the power of God like has not been witnessed in over half a century, and which may not have been seen since Jesus.” walked the earth as a man. There are doors that stand open in heaven as we read in Revelation 4:1. A door is open right now for Christians to begin walking in healing gifts and to perform miracles in the name of the Lord. For those who already walk in these gifts and ministries, the door is open for them to go to higher levels of authority in them.”
d. He is opening up new avenues of prayer and treasure hunting. We need to see praying that is bold, that is strong. Praying that moves God is prayer that moves us. If we are not moved by our prayers how do we expect them to move God. Jesus had "strong crying and tears" (Heb. 5:17)- should we not pray the same way? Loud crying with tears. Gethsemane prayer, agonizing prayer is needed in our lukewarm laid back Christianity today. Isaiah speaks the word of the Lord to Hezekiah and may it be to us also spoken: "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears." Prayer that is Spirit lead. Pray-ers that are born out of the Spirit. All good prayers are not necessarily God prayers.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
How can we change? We must desire God more than anything else. We must seek Him, and cry
out for Him, be open to His Spirit.
e. God is entrusting us with a move of God-what are we going to do with it? Are we ready for this next move of God-are we where He wants us to be?
Joy and freedom will increase to much higher levels.
When we become more hungry for God our sensitivity level increases.
There are many sides of God that we haven’t seen yet.
Hunger for God releases the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We are custodians of more of God.
Our Prayer is: God release whatever is necessary.
Zeal for God will help us to overcome.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
OUR AWESOME GOD.
God is an awesome God. He's enduringly strong. He's eternally steadfast. He never wavers.
He is immortally graceful and He's all-together merciful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's unparalleled, and he's unprecedented.
He can do anything He wants to. God is accountable to no one except Himself (Not to any Synod, Council of Pentecostal churches of charismatic leaders). He can do anything He desires-needs no-one’s permission.
His ways are not our ways (Is. 55:8-9).
He is not constrained to man’s choices.
(Is. 43:13) He says, I will work, and who can hinder or reverse it?”
He can speak any way He pleases.
HE WILL GET HIS WAY WITH YOU!
God can make a way where there seems to be no way. (Jer. 32:17) Nothing is too difficult for Thee.
God knows the end from the beginning-He is not panicking about any situation, wondering what He’s going to do. He is totally in control. He can speak one word and change everything. He is the Author and the Finisher. He NEVER makes any mistakes.
He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom.
Nothing catches God by surprise. He has no dilemmas and no shortages. He has no rivals, no fears or worries.
He always knows just what He wants and where to find it. God is God. He is self existent, self powered, self contained-He needs no-one and nothing. He won’t fall apart if man doesn’t do certain things. He is not dependant on any man for anything. He is God all by Himself and He knows it!
There can be no short- circuiting of His agenda. God has never feared a power struggle or a hostile takeover. He has no equal and no competition.
It is amazing the things God does because He has the liberty and freedom to do whatever He likes. He can move by His Spirit in any way He chooses. Sometimes soft and gentle, other times with noise and a strong force. Sometimes He will offend the mind to show the heart.
God is God, He is sovereign and He can do what He wants to do with you, your church, and your family.
God has never had a boss or a supervisor-He didn’t work hard for fifty years and then got promoted to the position of God. He doesn’t report back to anyone because He is the highest authority. He was and is God from eternity. He never had a deadline.
There is no stopping Him, no containing Him. He is not in competition being God. He is not threatened by anyone or anything.
You can’t impeach Him, you can’t ignore Him or His Word.
He is God all by Himself, He is complete-He has no flaw. He is fully God, He is a wholly God- He is perfect and happy with himself. He has no needs. He has no teacher, no role model, advisor or therapist.
The devil has never been a threat to God. God could easily wipe out the whole kingdom of darkness in a moment.
He directs the course of nations, He raises up rulers, He births life and ordains death.
God is bigger than our wildest imagination. After an eternity of being God, He shows no signs of wear and tear or fatigue. He sits on an everlasting throne-His Kingdom has no end.
His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is alive.
His grace is sufficient. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe him to you- but He's indescribable! He's incomprehensible. He's invincible.
God knows everything about everything and everyone, nothing is hidden from Him.
Our awesome God still works through humans and even failure to accomplish his purposes.He exists before there was any being and no motion, no time and nothing but God himself, alone in his eternity; without the angels. He exists since eternity.
He's the King of righteousness, He's the King of the ages, He's the King of heaven. He's the King of glory, He's the King of kings, and he's the Lord of lords.
God is perfect-He is the Great I Am.
He is immortally graceful and He's all-together merciful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's unparalleled, and he's unprecedented.
He can do anything He wants to. God is accountable to no one except Himself (Not to any Synod, Council of Pentecostal churches of charismatic leaders). He can do anything He desires-needs no-one’s permission.
His ways are not our ways (Is. 55:8-9).
He is not constrained to man’s choices.
(Is. 43:13) He says, I will work, and who can hinder or reverse it?”
He can speak any way He pleases.
HE WILL GET HIS WAY WITH YOU!
God can make a way where there seems to be no way. (Jer. 32:17) Nothing is too difficult for Thee.
God knows the end from the beginning-He is not panicking about any situation, wondering what He’s going to do. He is totally in control. He can speak one word and change everything. He is the Author and the Finisher. He NEVER makes any mistakes.
He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom.
Nothing catches God by surprise. He has no dilemmas and no shortages. He has no rivals, no fears or worries.
He always knows just what He wants and where to find it. God is God. He is self existent, self powered, self contained-He needs no-one and nothing. He won’t fall apart if man doesn’t do certain things. He is not dependant on any man for anything. He is God all by Himself and He knows it!
There can be no short- circuiting of His agenda. God has never feared a power struggle or a hostile takeover. He has no equal and no competition.
It is amazing the things God does because He has the liberty and freedom to do whatever He likes. He can move by His Spirit in any way He chooses. Sometimes soft and gentle, other times with noise and a strong force. Sometimes He will offend the mind to show the heart.
God is God, He is sovereign and He can do what He wants to do with you, your church, and your family.
God has never had a boss or a supervisor-He didn’t work hard for fifty years and then got promoted to the position of God. He doesn’t report back to anyone because He is the highest authority. He was and is God from eternity. He never had a deadline.
There is no stopping Him, no containing Him. He is not in competition being God. He is not threatened by anyone or anything.
You can’t impeach Him, you can’t ignore Him or His Word.
He is God all by Himself, He is complete-He has no flaw. He is fully God, He is a wholly God- He is perfect and happy with himself. He has no needs. He has no teacher, no role model, advisor or therapist.
The devil has never been a threat to God. God could easily wipe out the whole kingdom of darkness in a moment.
He directs the course of nations, He raises up rulers, He births life and ordains death.
God is bigger than our wildest imagination. After an eternity of being God, He shows no signs of wear and tear or fatigue. He sits on an everlasting throne-His Kingdom has no end.
His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is alive.
His grace is sufficient. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe him to you- but He's indescribable! He's incomprehensible. He's invincible.
God knows everything about everything and everyone, nothing is hidden from Him.
Our awesome God still works through humans and even failure to accomplish his purposes.He exists before there was any being and no motion, no time and nothing but God himself, alone in his eternity; without the angels. He exists since eternity.
He's the King of righteousness, He's the King of the ages, He's the King of heaven. He's the King of glory, He's the King of kings, and he's the Lord of lords.
God is perfect-He is the Great I Am.
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