Ephesians 1: 9,10 - "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him."
THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF GOD IS THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE SUMMED UP IN HIS SON.
Observation:
IF I DO NOT KEEP THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF GOD AS THE FOCUS OF MY LIFE, AND ASSURE THAT ALL I DO IS FOUNDED IN JESUS I WILL BE CONTINUALLY DISTRACTED FROM THE RIVER OF LIFE.
John 6:63 - "It is the spirit that quickeneth (or makes alive) ; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Jesus described the words that He spoke as "spirit and life" -- Jesus' words were an investment into others revealing the heart of His Father to them. When He opened His mouth, word-shaped containers of God's grace would bring Heaven to earth in the hearts of the hungry that heard Him. They still do today through the mouths of believers advancing His kingdom.
Affirmation:
EVERY TIME I TAKE THE WORD INTO MY HEART, BELIEVE IT AND ACT ON IT, THAT LIFE OF WHICH JESUS SPOKE, THE VERY LIFE OF GOD HIMSELF, IS RELEASED IN ME.
2 Corinthians 6:14,15 - "Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? How can Christ and the Devil agree?"
Observation:
EVERY RELATIONSHIP TAKES ME TOWARDS MY DREAMS OR AWAY FROM THEM.
Just as Peter had to go through a series of events to be ready to be used in an extraordinary way, we realize that God has a process for all of us. What the Lord worked in Peter was a new identity, a dependency upon the Lord so that he would not trust in His own strength. We learn to lean on the strength of God, not taking things into your own hands.
WE WALK IN DISCERNMENT BEING AN INFLUENCE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Philippians 1:9-11 - "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
Keep your discernment. Love and discernment work together. They always do. We do not turn on love and turn off discernment. We do not turn on discernment and turn off love. Rather, we use them both together. True discernment comes from the Holy Spirit Who pours the love of God in our hearts. Jesus comes to bring the cure. That cure can only happen because He sees what is needed.
WE KEEP OUR HEART FREE AND WALK IN LOVE
Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Be willing to reconcile with others who are embittered against you. Some may be in a bitter place not wanting to reconcile. Maybe they "cut you off" because of their bitterness. Just realize you need to be willing to be a peacemaker. Pray that the Lord will tenderize their heart and fill them with the love of God. Bitterness blinds people. He who has a bitter root defiles many because they spread evil reports with gossip. Walk in love and pray that God gives them the gift of repentance.
WE GET UNDERSTANDING ON SOWING SEED AND HARVEST TIME
2 Corinthians 9:6,7 - "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
Make an effort to understand the power of sowing and reaping. Realize that all God has entrusted to us we are the steward of. In that way, all that we have is seed that can be sown into different places. Our time, work, money, prayers, worship is all seed that is sown. One plants, one waters, but God gives the increase! If we want increase in our life, both in the spirit and in the natural, we need to get the revelation of seedtime and harvest. Who doesn't want a harvest in their lives? I believe we all do. But we have to sow in order to reap.
WE DRINK HIS NEW WINE!
Hebrews 1:8,9 - "But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."
We take time to not only seek the Lord, but to receive from the Lord the new wine of His Presence. We allow God to fill us with His joy as the Holy Spirit saturates us. For it is the joy that comes in His Presence that strengthens us. God will give us a fresh anointing in HisCALLING on our life as we simply receive in His Presence. Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy far above all others. How much more do we need His oil upon our lives.
WE ARE ALL COMMANDED TO DO THE WORK OF MINISTRY
John 21:17 - "He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.'"
One of the unique things about the Church of the New Covenant is that God has authorized and commanded every believer to do the work of the ministry! God wants an entire army of workers out doing the vital work of DISCIPLESHIP of the saints and building up His Body, the Church.
Many churches are so focused on the salvation message that they fail to feed and help mature the sheep who have already come to salvation. Believers should be equipped to DISCIPLE the new believers so they will be effective in personal ministry.
"My children with who I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.." - Galatians 4:19
The true success of our ministry to others will be by how it brought forth the formation of Christ within the person God has given us to DISCIPLE.
As the Lord taught in the Parable of the Sower, many will depart when testing comes.
Many depart from Church, and many are now even departing from pursuing their CALLING in Christ when the tests come. You can never pass a test by quitting.
1 Peter 1:7 AMP - "So that the genuinenes of your faith may be tested, your faith which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire....."
OUR CONNECTION TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
The Cross is a vertical post that represents our connection to God and a horizontal one that represents our connection to one another. One thing that taking up our cross means is that we must have both of these in our lives. Of course, our connection to God eclipses the importance of our connection to one another and must always be kept first. But if we have this and keep it first, we will also have the other.
As John also wrote, we cannot love God who we do not see if we do not love our brother who we can see (see I John 4:20-21). John 20:21 -- "Just as the Father has sent me forth so I am sending you."
This is certainly a command of Jesus for the Body of Christ to meet the needs (both temporal and spiritual) of new believers so they may indeed advance in the faith.
The humbling service of DISCIPLING a new believer into:
WHO HE IS IN CHRIST, HIS RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD, AND WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
is the most valuable Christian service someone can minister to someone who has just had the "born again" experience.
OLD THOUGHT PROCESSES In order for the church to advance into her destiny there are old thought processes that need to be dismantled:
1. The idea that higher spiritual advancement and development is reserved for the clergy.
2. The idea that spiritual training and discipling is the sole responsibility of the pastor and/or elders.
3. The idea that it takes years in the faith to be able to DISCIPLE other believers.
4. The idea that the only thing the laity is to be involved in is Church programs and listening to sermons.
Submitting to DISCIPLESHIP training develops a "personal ministry to others consciousness" in the believer as well as promotes unity and brotherly love in the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Genesis 1:2 - "And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
If the Holy Spirit can make a glorious creation out of the most desolate place, He can bring forth a glorious new creation out of the most desolate, confused, and empty life.
1 Corinthians 1:2 - "To all who are called to be God's holy people, who belong to Him in union with Jesus Christ, together with all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours."
Affirmations: I REALIZE THAT I AM GOD'S CHILD AND HAVE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS AND HAVE EVERYTHING THE WORD SAYS I CAN HAVE.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING MY OWN WORDS, I AM SPEAKING GOD'S WORD AND IT WILL COME TO PASS.
Ephesians 2:19 - "Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God".
Psalm 34:1 -" I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Affirmation: MY PRESENT FOCUS DETERMINES MY PRESENT JOY.
Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving."
"For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10
Whether or not you feel you are fulfilling your destiny, you are being prepared by the King of kings for His good purposes. You were chosen by God and have been given a divine DESTINYin eternities past. Why? The Lord is CALLING you to partner with Him to shape the future of the Kingdom of God (see 2 Corinthians 6:1,2: "And working together with Him......now is the acceptable time.")! This seems almost too marvelous to be true, but it is the Word of God.
What does it mean to be "HIS workmanship"? The Greek term translated workmanship is"poiema", from which we derive the English word poem. Indeed, we are God's poem, written in ages past to be a living testimony of His presence on earth (see Psalm 139:16-17). Without exception, every Believer has been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has ordained for us.
REVELATION OF ANOINTING
The desperate cry of many Believers is: "Oh, Lord, let Your works appear unto Your people" (see Psalm 90:16-17). The good news is that God's anointing rests upon upright followers of Jesus, and we will fulfill His purposes on earth. God has not only ordained good works for us, but He has also provided the grace we need to perform these works (see Philippians 4:13). We all have "an unction to function." Each one of us is anointed to fulfill the purposes of God (see Acts 1:8).
As we move deeper into this season of sensitivity and revelatory enlightenment, we must step into our CALLING and DESTINY -- fixing our eyes on Jesus and Him alone. Only in His light do we see light (see Psalm 36:9). Only in His presence do we obtain a happy, holy heart (see Psalm 16:11).
LEADERS WITH PURE HEARTS
Divinely appointed leaders are emerging who have a single heart's goal to establish the King in His Kingdom on earth. Christ Jesus will have for Himself a people prepared to do greater works (see John 14:12).
This is not a time for any Believer or leader in the Body of Christ to be humdrum, expecting only what we have seen and experienced before. We have never been where we are going now (see Joshua 3:4). We all must prepare for what is ahead: The call to embrace the awe of Almighty God. A wonderful, reverential fear of the Lord is returning to the people of God, releasing the wisdom of God (see Psalm 111:10).
The hearts and lives of millions are going to be touched and transformed by the power of God during these days, as God's people return to a radical love for Christ and action regarding God's PURPOSE for their life supported by that love.
REVELATION AND STRATEGIES The Spirit of Truth is releasing revelatory insights for all who are willing to hear Him with a heart set to obey what He is requesting (see James 1:22). Prepare to see an acceleration of the advancing of God's plans and purposes. God will have a people of purity and power, who live, move (initiating action instead of complacency), and have a revelation of their DESTINY in Christ.
1 Timothy 2:1 - "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
We can bear the burdens of others and we are the go-between for them before God. We identify with the weak, helpless, fear-filled, unborn, sick, poverty stricken, homeless, hungry, depressed, and spiritually destitute. We ask on their behalf, in faith, believing. Then, as the Father gives direction, we GO and minister to them and His power becomes available to set them free.
AFFIRMATION: I inwardly ask for the joy of the Lord and a deeper awareness of His presence to rise up within every person I meet.
1 Corinthians 15:34 - "Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."
AFFIRMATIONS: I press-in to and become conscious of the reality of the righteousness God birthed in me the moment I received Jesus as Lord. As that righteousness consciousness grows and develops within me, it will eventually become bigger and more powerful than all the problems that surround me as I seek God's purpose for my life. I am becoming more skillful in "the word of righteousness."
Hebrews 5:13 - "For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness; for he is a babe."
Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Affirmations: I CANNOT HAVE A GREAT LIFE UNLESS I HAVE A PURPOSE CENTERED LIFE.
I CANNOT HAVE A GOD'S PURPOSE FILLED LIFE UNLESS I HAVE A PURE MIND.
I CANNOT HAVE A PURE MIND UNLESS I WASH IT DAILY WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
2 Timothy 2:16 - "Keep away from godless and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God."
Mark 11:22,23 - "And Jesus answering saith unto them, 'Have faith in God. For verily I SAY unto you, That whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall BELIEVE that those things which he SAITH shall come to pass: he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.'"
Faith operates by believing and saying...and saying.....and saying.
Affirmation: IT IS MY CONFESSION, OR WORDS OF FAITH, THAT BRINGS POSSESSION.
Matthew 13;37 - "For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Acts 16;25,26 - "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."
Paul and Silas chose not to focus on what they were going through; they chose to focus on what was happening through them. God's faithfulness is triggered by our faith, while praise brings us into His presence. When we praise God, He raises us out of our situation.
When we find ourselves in trouble, we use praise as a key to unlock the "prison doors" of our circumstances. No matter what is going on in our life -- we fill our mouth with the high praises of God! 2 Timothy 2:24,26 - "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."
Anything broken can be repaired; anything closed can be opened; anything lost can be recovered.
Isaiah 60:1-2 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee...the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee."
A central role of us being here on earth is to establish the Throne of God where we are. Whenever we worship, pray, preach or engage in any activity of God's Kingdom, it is so that God's authority and rule would be established in the hearts of people, cities, regions and nations. Our role is to manifest His glory so that everything around us is affected by His Kingdom glory.
EXPANDING THE BORDERS
Numbers 14:24 "But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."
Through our persistence and consistency in worship and SPIRITUAL ACTION TAKEN ON BEHALF OF OTHERS, we expand the borders of what is currently established concerning the realm of Heaven on earth.
If we lose sight of OUR PURPOSE that God has for us being here we will drift aimlessly into things that are not fulfilling, but leave us empty and confused as to why we are here. Like Caleb, we need a "different spirit" that is exemplary in faith. For he who is born of God"overcomes" the world, possessing and inheriting the promises. (1 John 5:4)
AFFECTING YOUR ATMOSPHERE
Daniel 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High..." It is absolutely needed for us to keep our eyes on the intentional PURPOSES of God for US being on the planet. Every day is an occasion to affect the atmosphere of where we are. Don't allow the enemy to weary you, causing you to lose focus and bring you into an oppressive state of mind. Jesus gave His life so that we, first of all, would find freedom and then be able to be the conduits of His glory in the earth.
He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the most powerful weapon that we have because He is the very Person of God inside of us!
We, therefore, live out our privilege of being a dwelling place of God. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in THE HOLY GHOST. This is a basic foundation of Kingdom living.
Romans 14:17 "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
The Church should put much more emphasis on the Holy Spirit, because we cannot overcome or glorify Jesus without Him. It is an awful pride to think we can live without this intimate communion with the Spirit. We are to be completely dependent upon Him.
BE ON COURSE
Our lives cannot be like "teeter-totters" that shift one way, then go the other way. We have a DESTINY!
Divine focus is an essential element that steers us like the rudder does a ship into the place of consistent lives before His Presence. Imagine a ship that is constantly going off course. It may get back on course over and over again but so much time is wasted. That is why Paul tells us to run the race "to win".
1 Corinthians 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
There is a way that we run that causes us to have victory. It is not enough to be on the course, we must be ON course the entire way. To the level that we maintain our FOCUS, we will also maintain consistency establishing the Throne of God in the earth through that CALLING of God on our life.
HIS THRONE
Revelation 4:2-3 "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald."
Wherever we are, we are to be establishing His Throne. This is not our personal throne, our ministry or whatever would have to do with personal agenda. This is Heaven on earth where God's glory, THROUGH US, is changing atmospheres and the heart's of men. When His Throne is established, Heaven invades earth, His power is demonstrated and lives are changed.
Isaiah 6:2,3 - "Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."'
Observation:
I WILL SEE HIS GLORY ALSO IF I WILL DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE. WHEN I BEHOLD HIS GLORY I AM CHANGED INTO A DEMONSTRATION OF IT.
Job 3:25 - "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."
Observation:
FEAR IS FAITH IN SATAN, BELIEVING IN HIS ABILITY TO HURT ME.
Romans 10:8 - "But what says it? The word is near thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach."
His Word is not just a comfort to us in times of trouble but a sword that we wield in times of spiritual war. His faithful Word is what we proclaim over our CALLINGin Christ, our family, our church, our city and our nation!
Many Christians are awakened spiritually, but they do not know God's promises in the Bible. To be successful, we must know God's Word, believe it, MEDITATEon it, and SPEAK it with faith. We overcome by the "word of our testimony."
Proclaim the Word of God with authority. Indeed, the Holy Spirit tells us to take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). If we advance protected by the Blood of the Lamb, if we war armed with the Word of God, and if we shoulder in our hearts the Cross of Christ, we will truly be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Affirmation:
MY DESTINY IS IN MY MOUTH. ITS MY WORDS - NOT ANYONE ELSE'S - THAT DETERMINE MY SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
Hebrews 3:1 - "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus."
Galatians 1:10 - "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
Observation:
IF I AM TO WALK WITH CHRIST I NEED TO BE DELIVERED FROM THE FEAR OF MAN, THE COMPULSION TO BE ACCEPTED BY MEN, AND THE MOTIVE OF WANTING TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THEM. Acts 6:4 - "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
TO PRAY IS TO CHANGE.
Observation:
PRAYER IS THE CENTRAL AVENUE GOD USES TO TRANSFORM ME. IF I AM UNWILLING TO CHANGE I WILL ABANDON PRAYER AS A NOTICEABLE CHARACTERISTIC OF MY LIFE.
Psalm 63:1 - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is." John 15:7 - "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you."
Some are willing to spend hours in prayer asking for a miracle instead of planting the Word of God in their hearts, which in time would produce the miracle. Prayer is what water and fertilizer are to a seed. They help the Word release its life.
But if you haven't planted the seed, it doesn't matter how much water and fertilizer you apply, the soil still won't produce fruit. It's the seed that has life!
AFFIRMATION:
The creative language of God is demonstrated when I speak forth the creative word of God in boldness and confidence because it is abiding in my spirit.
