Archive for the ‘disciples life’ Category

NATURAL SUPERNATURAL GROWTH

Posted: April 25, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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In the kingdom we cannot build a life, a business or a ministry. We cannot build the kingdom of God. Everything of the kingdom of God must grow from a seed from God through a supernatural natural growth process. We must receive good seed in good soil and let the earth grow it. Indeed, this is a great mystery.

We will become what we hear and believe in our hearts. “As you believe, so be it unto you.” “Your faith has made you well.” “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” “With God all things are possible.” “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Again, natural things are often pictures that can be used to show us spiritual things. Consider the natural growth process of a stalk of wheat that begins with a dormant seed. The seed placed in good soil sprouts and soon grows roots below ground and a small green blade breaks through above ground. The green blade grows and becomes a stalk. Then, a head begins to form on top. Next, the grain begins to grow in the head. The mature seeds in the head are seeds like the one that was planted. The seeds left alone will dry and eventually fall upon the ground and begin the process over again except there are a multiplied number of seeds.

A seed (word, thought, vision) planted in our heart-soil becomes a belief as it sprouts. The belief becomes a conviction as it grows a blade. A conviction becomes our attitude as it grows a head. Our attitudes become our actions as the full grain in the head becomes seeds (words & actions) sown into the world to sprout and grow into the natural world.

This is the supernatural natural process of bringing the desires and plans of God from heaven into the natural world. By this process, spiritual seed/word/vision from heaven becomes natural reality in the world. Through this growth process the world can be changed to become as it is in heaven.

Mark 4:26-32: And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

And He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

1 Corinthians 3:6: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

Psalm 127:1-2: Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.

The heart of man is God’s spiritual/natural interface. Spirit God and physical earth meet in the heart of man. Two realms meet heaven and earth connect in the heart of man.

The pure heart of man is like a fruitful garden. It receives spiritual seed from God and grows it into the natural world. (The earth yields crops by itself.)

The soil must be moistened and protected by the life giving brooding of the Holy Spirit.

The pure heart of man is God’s production center on earth that fills the world with God’s plan and rule. Only the pure heart of man is the wife of God capable of intimately relating to Him, receiving seed from Him and giving birth to God’s plan and rule into the earth. If we love God and intimately relate to Him, we will receive His seed and become pregnant with God’s plan. If, however, we love another god, its seeds will be planted in us.

Things in the world are changed through the process of the seed and natural growth. We cannot change our character and actions by trying hard. Trying to stop doing something we want to do, or trying to start doing something we do not want to do will not make permanent changes. We must change what we hear, what we think and what we believe. We must receive new seed that will grow and change who we are and what we want to do.

Luke 8:15: But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (endurance).

Patience is required to reap a harvest. There is a space of time between the planting and the production. Our part is to patiently wait for the harvest and to care for the soil and the growing seedling or plant. There is nothing we can do to make the seed have life. God puts the life into the seed, and He causes it to sprout and grow. We can and must, however, provide the proper atmosphere, nutrients and care for the seed to grow to fruition.

This means holding on to the idea or vision even when we cannot see anything with our natural eye that indicates the idea is growing. The larger the idea or vision the longer the gestation period. A large work like a large animal or plant takes a much longer time. A chicken is birthed in only three weeks and is fully-grown in about twelve weeks. A human baby is birthed in nine months and takes about twenty years to be reach maturity. You can grow a radish in the garden in a few weeks; an oak tree will take many years. The vision may be lost if we abandon it. Many worthy works planted by God in the hearts of men have failed to come to fruition because they were prematurely abandoned. If a brood hen sitting on eggs leaves the nest even one day too soon, all the chicks in the eggs will be lost.

The seed planted in the soil dies and is reborn a living plant. This eliminates any potential of human effort adulterating the pure supernatural natural growth process. The temptation is to abandon God’s plan during the time of the death and rebirth transformation.

John 12:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Just as a natural gardener works to care for the soil keeping it loosened so that it does not become too hard for the seed to grow, we must keep our heart-soil tender by forgiving and receiving healing for all offenses that can press down and harden our heart. The soil must be kept moist and the temperature in the proper range by the presence of the Holy Spirit. We must keep the weeds of useless words (bad seeds) out of our soil. Useless, negative words or thoughts will grow weeds that rob nutrients from the good seed and prevent them from growing properly.

We must not only allow time for growth, we must also allow space. Seeds that are going to produce a large plant will require more space in the soil of our heart. Planting too many seeds in too small a space will cause them to grow improperly and bear little or no fruit. After the plants are up and growing, it may be necessary to remove some of them in order that there will be adequate space for growth. With some plants, it will be necessary to prune or trim the limbs to provide space on the plant for good fruit to grow.

Keeping the weeds out means taking every thought captive. We must remove the thoughts that would hinder the growth of the growing vision. Negative thoughts of doubt, worry, and fear will choke the vision. The enemy of the vision will always attempt to plant the seed that “you cannot do it”, or “you are just not capable enough to do whatever God has said.” He is exactly right. We cannot do it. We are not supposed to be able to do it. God does it! We must hear, believe, and obey what God tells us to do next. The earth brings forth the crop by itself.

Thinning the plants means that we may need to lay down some really good ideas in order to concentrate on the more important vision. Our heart-soil just is not big enough and enriched enough to bring forth all the good ideas in the world at one time. If there are too many ideas or visions in one heart, none of them will grow well.

Trimming and pruning branches means cutting off excessive or wild growth of the vision. Too many branches on a fruit tree may cause the fruit to be small and may cause disease because sunlight cannot enter. Branches that are too long or improperly shaped may break when the fruit nears maturity. We may need to limit parts of the idea or vision as it grows.

We are the manager of our garden. What we choose to hear and believe, what and how we think, are the seeds that will produce our life and affect change in the world. Bad thinking always produces bad life. Quality thinking always produces quality life. The difference between the man who tries hard but always accomplishes little in the kingdom and the man who is of much valuable service is what each hears and believes. In other words, how they manage their gardens.

All the seemingly unrelated negative events that consistently happen to the unproductive man are the product of bad seeds growing to fruition. All the seemingly unrelated doors of opportunity and blessings that consistently come to the productive man are the results of good seeds. Nothing happens until somebody believes something.

Remember “the earth yields crops by itself.” We cannot make growth, but we must care for the soil, thin and trim the plants, protect the seedling from a hostile environment and predators, pull the weeds, shoo off the birds, and above all, keep the soil moist with the presence of the Holy Spirit through prayer. Communing with God in prayer and meditating the word (thought, vision, seed) in the Holy Spirit is the process by which the natural growth and eventual harvest will come.

Prayer and meditation is speaking to and hearing God. Speaking to and hearing God does not only involve audible words. Communing with God also involves speaking and hearing by pictures and feelings. It is seeing and feeling what God is saying as well as praying visions and feelings to Him.

Prayer and meditation is experiencing in the spiritual realm what God desires to bring into the natural realm.

To intimately commune with God, one must come to a place of inner quiet where the thoughts and distractions of the world can be silenced. Close your eyes, quiet your soul, and seek to enter into the presence of the Father. Ask God what He wants to do with your life and wait quietly before Him. When you have a clear word, a vision from God, meditate it in your spiritual mind. Look at it. Understand it. Get to know it. See it happening. Feel how it feels. Then pray the vision back to God. With the vision in your spirit, go to Him and ask Him to give you the vision He has shown you. Daily continue praying this way. You will find that the vision will change some. It will become more detailed with a little more of this and a little less of that as God continues to clarify the vision in you.

You are now pregnant with the word from God. The vision is now alive within you. Allow yourself to become excited as you feel the first movements of the living vision within you. Original creation is beginning to be reshaped as the vision in the spiritual realm begins to impact the physical realm. All over the world things may begin to move or adjust in order to set the stage to bring about the vision that God has placed in your heart as a seed.

Next, begin to speak the vision out loud into the earth. Share it with those who can hear. Let your passion for the vision come forth as you speak it to others as God directs. You may need to begin writing it down or sketching it out on paper. Don’t be alarmed if the vision is a thousand times greater than you think possible. Remember it is God’s baby; He will bring it to birth.

Be faithful to pray the vision and be ready to take whatever next step the Lord shows you. Wait and watch for the opportunities and circumstances that in time will appear before you to birth the vision.

GOD’S PRODUCTION

Man is made in the image of God to have dominion in the earth. God blessed man to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it and to have dominion. It is God’s desire that the earth be ruled according to His heavenly plan and pattern. Man has the potential to grow the seed of God, or the seed of the enemy. Only man has the God-given position to rule in the earth. Only man has the potent heart-soil that is the interface between the spiritual realm and the natural realm.

Genesis 1:27-28: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

After our hearts are seeded with the plan of God, we then become seeds sown into the world to bear fruit–to bring forth the plan of God on earth.

We are at the end of this age. The good news of the kingdom is being preached; the rule of God is coming forth on earth; and pure hearted sons of God are bringing forth the plan of God on our planet now. The sons of the wicked are being removed from the kingdom of God and cast into fire. They will repent and be purified or continue in the fiery judgment of God. Then, the pure hearted sons of God, bearing His plan, will shine forth on Planet Earth.

Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43: Another parable He put forth to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

He (Jesus) answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

“Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The first soil is the heart of man in which the seed of God’s plan is sown. The second soil is the field of the world into which we are sown to produce God’s plan, which was sown into our heart. The field of the world is also sown with those who have had their hearts sown with a different, conflicting unfruitful seed.

We are to keep the tares (weeds) from growing in our heart-soil. However, the scene has changed in this parable. We are no longer looking at the soil of our heart but at the soil of the world. God, by his angels, will remove the tares from the world. They are allowed to grow together for a season. The tare is a plant in the kingdom that does not produce good fruit.

Thank God for the purifying fire we are coming through. Our hearts are being cleansed and healed to become good soil that will receive good seed and become fruitful producers in the kingdom of God.

We cannot change our lives by changing our actions. We must clear the land of our heart and plant the word (plan) of God. We must change what we hear and what we think. This will change our attitudes and actions, which will change our lives and destiny.

In the kingdom, we are not controlled by our circumstances. Christ living within us by the Holy Spirit is in control.

Jesus experienced the fullness of creative power from heaven flowing through Him. Few people if any since then, have fully experienced the creative power of the kingdom of heaven flowing through their lives into the world. Those who have come close have produced significant accomplishments with God.

Someone once said, “The man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.” My own experience parallels that of every other man who has heard and employed this mystery. It is not possible to share with you the miraculous, overcoming experiences of my 75+ years of which over 55 years were spent seeking to serve the Lord. They would become other books of many pages. In this work, I have sought to provide the reader with the foundational core of truth and wisdom resulting from my experiencing God and His word. For illustration’s sake, let us take a brief peek at a small window of experience. By no means will we set the stage or give the background or complete story. We will only take a window peek for illustration.

In the late 1960s, after beginning to hear the mystery of “as you believe, so be it unto you,” I began to prosper and to be used in giving. Through a series of changes, I had left my first miraculously prosperous job experience to manage a very small, industrial instrument sales company. Everything about the small company was minimal and poor. There were two employees. One was a middle-aged, Native American lady who wore the same pillow-tick, sack dress most everyday, ate a whole onion for lunch each day, and had a teenage son who slept in a coffin. The other employee was a young, alcoholic man who had the top of his left ear bitten off in a bar fight. The previous owner/manager smoked cigars and spit on the floor. Total sales for the first month were about $11,000 at about 20% gross profit. That is about $2,200 before wages and overhead, which left nothing for me.

There was no doubt, however, that God had put me there for a purpose. At this season, my life was to be dedicated to giving money for the work of God in the world. God made it clear to me that this was what He desired to do with this business endeavor. As I prayed, God began to give me visions of how the place and the business could be cleaned up and rearranged. I would see the changes in my heart by the spirit. Later, I could see that what I had seen in the spirit, had come to pass and was functioning in the business.

I would ask God, “What do You want to do in sales this year?” I was usually shocked as He revealed to me an amount that seemed, to my mind, far too great for the business to accomplish. Yet, I had come to believe that God could do what He said. Therefore, I would take a piece of paper and draw a graph representing the increase God had said. At this point, I had no idea how this tremendous increase could occur. As I prayed, I would take that line on the graph to God and ask Him to give me that. I would meditate before Him the vision of that increase coming to pass. I let myself feel what it was like to actually experience the increase happening.

After only a few months, the Lord gave me the little company. I purchased it on time payments without any money. Suddenly, for the first time, I found myself totally responsible for a business and God began to reveal the vast unlimited potential of the situation. The whole world was a potential marketplace. All the products of the world were potential goods to be marketed. There was no one over me to say it could not be done. The only limitation was what God said, and what I believed.

I am convinced that most men have never really touched the potential of their lives. Most of us experience only the smallest fraction of what God would like to do with us. We have been so planted and trained with the limitations of natural thinking and dependency upon our natural selves that we have rarely touched the vast, unlimited, spiritual realm of ruling and reigning with God. God will do anything in and with our lives that He says and we believe.

As I continued to pray and meditate the vision before Him, God would give me creative ideas and specific instructions for the next step. One example of these ideas was the printing of a catalog. No distributor of industrial temperature and pressure instruments had ever printed their own catalog. All the distributors used the manufacturers’ printed material. We printed our own stock catalog, listing and describing all of the particular items that we carried in local inventory. We did all the photography, typesetting, and layout ourselves in our small office. It was a new experience; none of us had any experience in such procedures. There were some, who worked on the little, blue catalog, that were so proud of it that they did not want to give them away to customers! The idea worked and grew. The next catalog was the size of a telephone book and brought together a product mix that could not be had anywhere else.

Soon the Lord directed other divisions of the corporation and expansion into branch operations over the southwest United States market area that we served. We were among the first in our field to use toll-free, long distance (800) telephone service for incoming sales calls across the nation. In only three years, God’s little company had become a multi-million dollar corporation. We sought to employ only maturing Christians. Some actually got saved in the employment interview and went on to spend much of their working life serving the Lord in the company. Not only were significant amounts of money flowing through me personally into the work of God; but also, many of the employees regularly gave to churches and other ministries. Many were very thankful to have a place to work where Christian values and morals were the norm.

I was never qualified to do this work. I had only a high school and some Bible college education. My work experience had been mostly in route sales, selling milk or bread on a commission basis. I had worked exceptionally hard to earn commissions to provide for my five children. There was nothing in my background that said I could do this thing. But God said it and I believed it.

It takes courage to hear God and obey what He says. I can recall occasions when God would tell me something to do. Sometimes it did not seem to make much sense according to the facts, as we knew them at the time. It was even more difficult for some of my business associates to accept some of the actions. Later, some of them came to me and said something like, “How did you know these things were going to happen?” The seemingly unreasonable actions we had taken earlier all made perfect sense as new developments occurred; and, we were sitting in exactly the right place at the right time to benefit. I would simply reply, “I didn’t know. I was just obeying God.”

Everything God does in the kingdom begins as a seed planted in the heart of man and grows into the world through the natural supernatural growth process. The work of the kingdom of God on earth can be hindered by unbelief and doubt. The work of the kingdom cannot be stopped if the seed of God is planted in an obedient heart of faith and trust in God.

Intimately relating to God and faithfully serving Him in the world allows us to see and hear His plan in heaven by the Spirit and plants it in our hearts. The God-given enthusiasm for the plan causes us to begin to speak it forth into the world; and, eventually to see it come forth into the natural world by supernatural natural growth. This is the creative process of God that will bring forth the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Keep on Pursuing Love

It Will Never Fail,

Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com

basileia@earthlink.net

UNCOVERING the “COVERING DOCTRINE”

Posted: April 24, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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UNCOVERING the “COVERING DOCTRINE”
by Cheryl McGrath.

In a number of the denominations I’ve been involved in, including at
leadership level, a “doctrine of covering” was taught and accepted.
And for many, many years, I never questioned this teaching. After
all, everyone believed it; the leadership upheld it, so it must be
right, right? It is only as the Holy Spirit has impressed me to study
the scriptures more deeply on this teaching that I’ve had to come
to terms with the fact that He NEVER originated it! In His infinite
grace, He chose to wait patiently for a time when the Spirit of Truth
would become dearer to me than the traditions of men.

The teaching on “covering” goes like this. Everyone needs to be
accountable to someone who is spiritually his or her superior. This
someone may be your cell group leader, the head of a church
department or your senior pastor etc. In turn, these leaders receive
covering from someone further up the line, for instance a
denominational leader or a “recognized” apostle. The necessity for
this covering is based on the belief that believers need to be
safeguarded from falling into error and/or sin. So covering is
provided by those who are more spiritual than we to protect us
from such error. At the top of this pyramid of covering there is quite
often a well-known and recognized “name” but the chances of
meeting or having any kind of relationship with that person if you
are at the bottom of the pyramid are fairly slim. Currently, there are
several networks offering this kind of covering to those in some
form of church leadership or ministry, more often than not for an
Annual fee. The annual fee usually provides for the running of the
network, and conferences where you can fellowship with others
under your particular brand of covering. You may also be denied
entrance from one of these networks because you don’t have the
appropriate credentials.

One of the strange things about this “covering” teaching is that
rarely is anyone asked about their spiritual covering, until they step
outside their particular church, denomination or network. However,
the minute a believer shows signs of having something important to
share with the wider Body of Christ, suddenly all and sundry are
interested primarily in that one important question: “Who are you
covered by?” It all sounds pretty reasonable except for one problem –
it’s NOT FOUND in scripture. In fact, the early church was taught
to rely on the inner anointing to discern the spiritual source of

potential ministers. (1 John 2:20; 1 John 4:1)

So, where did this idea originate that believers need to be “covered”
in order to serve God and minister within Christ’s Body? Are you,
like many others, living your Christian life under the shadow of this
fear that without “covering” you dare not minister, preach, pray or
do a myriad of other things you’re called to do by the Spirit of God,
because you will somehow be ministering without protection?

The purpose of this article is to shed some light on this issue
based on scriptural truth. To begin with, though, we need to
understand that this need to be covered by a perceived spiritual
authority, and the scriptural instruction to submit ourselves to
God’s delegated authorities, are NOT necessarily one and the
same thing. Furthermore, New Testament authority as
demonstrated by Jesus and the first apostles, is servanthood-
authority, upholding, strengthening, reinforcing and overseeing the
Body from BENEATH, not DOMINEERING, CONTROLLING and
RULING from ABOVE. Therefore, it is vital in examining this issue
that we begin from a correct understanding of Biblical submission
and Biblical authority.

‘LET THIS MIND be IN YOU’

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who,
being in the form of God, thought in not robbery to be equal with
God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8)

The current mindset we carry in much of the church concerning
submission is quite unrelated to the submission taught and
demonstrated by Jesus and the early apostles. There is a
desperate need to return to the same mind that was in Christ Jesus.
The scripture tells us that though He was equal with the Father,
Jesus CHOSE to submit Himself, He CHOSE to humble Himself,
He CHOSE to obey. This is the key to Biblical submission, and the
model laid down for us by both the Father and the Son.

Submission is firstly a choice; a choice that can only ever be made
by the giver. Biblical submission can never be demanded or forced.
That kind of relationship is subservience, not submission. Jesus
chose to subject Himself to the Father, but the Father “so loved
the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son.” Sacrificial giving
and sacrificial submission are married to each other. In the Spirit,

you cannot have one without the other. If you try, you will invariably
end up with control, dependence and abuse rather than humility,
interdependence and grace.

The New Testament concept of submission, or subjection, is one
of a totally voluntary attitude of giving, of yielding one’s preference
and deferring to another. In this way, Jesus as a child was subject
to His parents, yet the scriptures record that He did not even
consult them when He was “about His Father’s business.” (Luke 2:49,51)

“IT SHALL NOT be SO AMONG YOU”

“Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to
watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God.
Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That
would certainly not be for your benefit.” (Hebrews 13:17, NLT)

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know
that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it
shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great
among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to
be first shall be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42-44)

“Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed
how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when
people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads.”
(Mark 10:42 The Message)

There is no question that the scriptures instruct each one of us to
submit to God’s delegated authority. It is the understanding and
the application of that authority we often stumble over. The Bible
records that Jesus taught the twelve this Kingdom authority as
they walked along the road to Jerusalem. His face had been set
toward the Cross, and it is certain He was keenly aware of the
short time He had left with them. Perhaps He was conversing with
His Father about what were the most important lessons He could
impart to them during the time that was left. We know that He
heard them disputing over who among them was the best
“leadership material”. Perhaps Peter, having not long before
witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, thought that gave him special
status. Perhaps James and John felt they were more likely
candidates for rulership than impetuous Peter. Shortly before,
they had asked Jesus to give them special places of honor in
His Kingdom. Whatever had started their dispute, Jesus certainly
knew how to end it!

“Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave…..”
(Matt. 20:27).

The Lord was speaking to a group of people who had grown up
under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Romans exercised their
authority through forced subjection and harsh cruelty. In fact, the
literal translation of the words Jesus used in reference to Roman
rule mean “to be under the power of” and “to be subdued.” Despite
having witnessed Jesus using a very different kind of authority and
power, the disciples had not yet understood exactly what He
would require of them. The Romans were, in the political sense,
their masters. Yet here was Jesus stating that to exercise the
authority He was going to invest in them they would need to
become slaves to one another, and not masters. One might safely
assume these weren’t words any of them particularly wanted to
hear that day!

Kingdom authority has nothing to do with titles, positions,
educational qualifications or reputation. Kingdom authority is
granted by the Lord according to the measure with which He can
trust us to wield it with humility. The greatest authority in the
kingdom is reserved for His bondslaves.

WHAT about ACCOUNTABILITY?

In today’s church system we have confused the word “covering”
with the need for accountability. Consequently many are holding
themselves accountable to people with title and position,
regardless of whether or not they are developing an ongoing
transparent relationship with that person. In the Kingdom, it is not
possible to be truly accountable to those with whom we are not
actively growing in relationship. How can I be trusted to call you to
account righteously if I don’t love you in Christ? How can you love
me with Christ-like love and not call me to account?

Paul was able to correct the Corinthians because he had true
relationship with them. He had travailed over them, nurtured them,
wept for them and rejoiced with them. Therefore he was able to
reprove them, for their edification and not for their destruction.
(2 Corinthians 13:10)

When we turn to the scriptures for guidance on this issue of
accountability, a startling fact confronts us. The News Testament
mentions accountability ONLY in terms of the believer towards
God. The scripture teaches that we will give accountability TO
GOD ALONE in the following areas:

*stewardship (Luke 16:2)
*ourselves (Rom. 14:12)
*fruit (Phil 4:17)
*what we do in the flesh (1 Pet. 4:5)
*leaders shall give account for the souls they watch over (Heb. 13:17)

What then, DO the scriptures teach about how believers, as
members of the corporate Body of Christ, are to relate to one another?

“… all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with
humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
(1 Peter 5:5)

In Galatians Chapter Two we read of a journey Paul took to
Jerusalem. He states that he went up “by revelation”, that is, at
the instigation of the Holy Spirit, in order to confirm that the gospel
he had been preaching was approved by the eldership of the
Jerusalem church. He goes on to state that “those who seemed to
be something, whatever they were, it makes no difference to me,”
had nothing to add to his teachings. He further adds that when
James, Cephas (Peter) and John perceived the grace God had
shown him, he was given the “right hand of fellowship.”

At the instigation of the Holy Spirit, Paul had subjected himself to
the Jerusalem eldership, including Peter, for the purpose of
accountability. One may safely assume that Peter, having spent
around three years day and night with Jesus, and highly regarded
by the early believers, held very great authority in the church. Paul,
however did not ask Peter to cover him. Instead, he did not
hesitate in calling Peter to account when Peter was later swayed
to go back on his word by the fear of men (Gal. 2:11-14). Bear in
mind this is the same Peter who stated “We ought to obey God
rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

These men understood the nature of relationship through the Holy
Spirit; ALL of you be submissive to one another, ALL of you be
clothed with humility. Each of us is accountable to one another,
whatever our function in the Body, whether apostles, teachers,
deacons or helpers. This is the church Christ is building.

To say that we are demonstrating accountability to a person or
group of people we may briefly rub shoulders with at a meeting
once or twice a week, or perhaps once or twice a year, is ludicrous.
True accountability is about how we express Christ in us – our
lifestyle, our character and our integrity in families, jobs and
church community. This cannot be measured outside Godly
relationships, and without a humble willingness to be in subjection
one to another. Each one of us needs to seek out and submit
ourselves to those in the Body the Lord has placed close to us to
provide that accountability, regardless of their position, title or
function. Each one of us needs to be willing, in humility and
service, to provide that same accountability base for others in the
Body. This applies to leadership equally as it does to the newest,
most inexperienced member of the Christian community.

Sadly, what we see today in so much of the church, is a frenzied
jockeying for position under the supposedly protective umbrella of
some ministry name or reputation, in order to prove ourselves
“covered”. “WHO COVERS YOU?” has become one of the most
frequently asked questions among Christians, and too often it is
the deciding factor in assessing a ministry’s integrity or otherwise.
Consequently, an unsatisfactory answer to that question in some
church circles can label you “outside the camp” and almost
certainly not to be trusted. Christians are judging each other’s
worth and relationship with God on this issue of covering, and
using it to justify self-righteousness and spiritual elitism.

In Part Two of this study we will talk about what is at the root of
this distorted doctrine, and the clear choices that lie before us in
order to be free from it.

Part TWO

“…..then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount
Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and
the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will
be a covering.” Isaiah 4:5
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Ps. 91:4

IT’S ABOUT HIS NAME

“Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people
in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and
the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to
Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these
things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” (Luke 20:1-2)

As we see from this portion of scripture, the question “who covers
you?” is not new. The chief priests, scribes and elders were not
simply asking Jesus where His supernatural power came from.
More than that, they wanted a NAME. “Who is he?’ Come on, tell
us Jesus, who is the scribe, who is the rabbi, who is the prophet
who covers you? And no more of that over-spiritualised talk about
your Father. We want the name of the person who said you could
do these things!”

The apostle Paul confronted a similar problem in the Corinthian church.

“For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by
those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of
Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of
Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:10-13)

The Lord is jealous over us concerning His Name. We were bought
and paid for by His Blood, and His Name is the only Name by
which we are to identify ourselves. When believers choose to find
their identity in another name other than His, the Spirit is grieved
and His Name is dishonored.

IT’S ABOUT the FLESH

“Don’t ever let anyone call you `Rabbi,’ for you have only one
teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and
sisters. And don’t address any one here on earth as `Father,’ for
only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone
call you `Master,’ for there is only one master, the Messiah. The
greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:8-11, NLT)

The Corinthians were apparently separating into factions according
to whom they considered was the most authoritative teacher. They
were following after men, and for that reason Paul took issue with
them. Further in his letter he goes on to challenge them by
describing this kind of mindset as carnal and fleshly rather than
spiritual:

“For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you
not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am
of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not CARNAL?”
(1 Cor. 3:1-4)

Finally, he instructs them:
“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or
things present or things to come-all are yours. And you are
Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3:21-23)

The Corinthians had become so obsessed with the attributes of
certain teachers they were idolizing them. They wanted to regard
particular individuals as their “master”, “father”, or “teacher”, but
Paul wanted them to understand that in doing so they were falling
short of their full inheritance in Christ. He wanted them to see that
all of these teachers, belonged to them as servant-ministers, and
not the other way around.

IT’S ABOUT a SUBSTITUTE KING

At the heart of the Corinthians’ idolatry was the age-old desire for a
ruler, a king. The flesh would much rather fear man than fear God.
The flesh would much rather submit to the control of law than
submit to the freedom of the Spirit. This principle is seen
throughout scripture.

Afraid they would die, the Israelites begged Moses to be God’s
messenger to them, rather than hear His Voice for themselves.

“Now all the people witnessed the thundering s, the lightning
flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and
when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then
they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let
not God speak with us, lest we die.” ( Exodus 20:18-19)

God desired for the people to hear Him for themselves, but they
refused. Effectively, the Israelites were elevating Moses as their
mediator. The entire nation had been called as a kingdom of
priests, but their preference was to be ruled by one man. (Exodus 19:1-9)

Many years later, when the prophet Samuel officiated as Israel’s
judge, Israel’s carnal desire for a man-king surfaced again.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to
Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your
sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us
like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they
said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all
that they say to you , for they have not rejected you,

they have rejected Me,that I should not reign over them… However, you
shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the
king who will reign over them.” So Samuel told all the words of the
Lord to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, “This
will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will
take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots… And
he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest
young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will
take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you
will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have
chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and
they said, “No, but we will have a king over us…” (1 Samuel 8:4-22)
The key to Israel’s demand for a human king, rather than the direct
reign of Yahweh over them, was “that we also may be like all the
nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and
fight our battles.” They wanted a name and a face that could “go
out before” them. They wanted someone visible they could show
the other nations. They wanted a symbol, a token leader who
could take responsibility for how they would live and conduct their
lives. They wanted someone with a reputation they could identify
with. They wanted to be like the world. They wanted human “covering.”

You see, friends, there is a place for governmental leadership,
there is a place for accountability within the Body, there is a place
for submission to legitimate God-delegated authority. All these are
valid and in order, but only insofar as they are not permitted to
substitute for the direct rule of God in our lives. And only insofar
as they are not sought out as a counterfeit for the sovereignty and
rulership of the Holy Spirit within each believer.

IT’S OF a DIFFERENT SPIRIT

“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you
were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in
the midst of fiery stones.” (Ezekiel 28:14)

Many Bible scholars agree that God’s rebuke to the “king of Tyre”
recorded in Ezekiel 28:1-19 is prophetically addressed to Satan.
In it, we find that originally this fallen angel was called the
“anointed cherub who covers”. Some scholars believe he was
especially anointed to cover the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.
In the Presence of God, he walked back and forth in the midst of
the fiery stones. The passage states that when iniquity was found
in him he was cast out of God’s holy mountain, and removed from
the midst of the fiery stones.

This Hebrew word “to cover” means “to hedge, fence about, shut in,
block, overshadow, screen, stop the approach, shut off, cover” (H.
“cakak” Strongs 05526 ). It is a word than can be used either in
relation to defense or oppression.

Beloved, Satan still desires to walk back and forth in the midst of
God’s living, fiery stones. He still desires to be the covering cherub
on God’s holy mountain, but the covering he offers is oppressive,
designed purely to hinder believers and rob them of the freedom
and full potential that is ours through Christ.

The doctrine of covering is an old lie with a new name. It is
fundamental to the maintenance of a false hierarchical religious
system controlling many Christians in this day. Without the power
of this erroneous mindset, it is even doubtful that some sections
of the “church” could survive.

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond
of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were
called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is OVER ALL and
THROUGH ALL and IN ALL. (Ephesians 4:3-6) The scriptures
plainly state that it is God alone who is OVER all. Only God can
cover His people, and only the Holy Spirit can unite them. The
most disturbing aspect about the covering teaching is that it subtly
encourages believers to look to men and women rather than
develop their own deep relationship with God through the Holy
Spirit. It upholds a man-made church built on hierarchy rather than
a spiritual temple built through the unity of the Spirit. It promotes a
class system of rulership by title, human appointment and
personality, and DEVALUES the PRIESTHOOD of every believer.
It negates leadership by the Holy Spirit and discourages believers
from hearing the direction of the Spirit for themselves. It is a
DOCTRINE OF DEMONS being used to deceive and bind
countless believers.
Now, about that freedom we were talking about at the beginning of
this article! Don’t, repeat DON’T, use your new found liberty as a
license for rebellion against authority. If you have been trapped in
this covering doctrine be wise in how you appropriate your freedom.
There are many, many humble and faithful men and women
overseeing and serving the Body of Christ with humility and
devotion, and it may well be that whoever has been “covering” you
is one of them. If you are blessed enough to be aligned with a
servant-leader who demonstrates true Biblical authority, honor
them, support them, and submit to them. But don’t expect them
to cover you – that’s not theirs to give.

False doctrines are mindsets and beliefs that can only be cast
down by the Spirit and the Word together. And ultimately, our walk
in the Spirit is not the responsibility of leadership; it is our own
responsibility. It is time for each one of us to choose – do we want
the rulership of kings, or do we want the rulership of THE King?

Finally, let me leave you with these thoughts:

1) Who covered Philip when He went down to Samaria and started
a revival? (The apostles heard about it and sent Peter and John
down to check it out!) (Acts 8:4-8)

2) Who covered Philip when the angel of the Lord directed him to
the Gaza desert? (Acts 8:26-40) (There’s no record of the
Ethiopian eunuch asking him for his “covering” credentials!)

3)Who covered Ananias when he was sent to pray for Saul? (He
went to pray for a known enemy of the church and didn’t event get
permission!) (Acts 9:10-18)

4)Who covered Apollos when he taught boldly in the synagogue,
even though he had not yet received the full gospel? (Acts 18:24-25)

5)And who covered Aquilla and Priscilla when they took Apollos
under their wing to instruct him further? (Acts 18:26)

6)Who covered Agabus when he traveled down from Judea to
deliver a prophetic word to Paul? (Acts 21:10)

The answer is the same in each instance: The Holy Spirit covered,
protected, led, and enabled. He is the only covering we need. The
real question is this: is He the only covering we want?

-Source-

http://www.greatsouthland.org/

A Matter of Life or Death – By Ron McGatlin

Posted: April 24, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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From where we stand today on the brink of great changes of eternal proportion, life or death is before us. The Fire of God has come near the earth and the heavens are opening. Spiritual blindness is being removed. Captives are being set free from the bondage’s of carnality. The power of God is changing death to life. Those who were deceived by the cunning of religion are coming to truth. The power of true worship is being felt across the world.

The light of God is penetrating the darkness of hearts. Love is replacing bitterness in broken lives as pride is dissolved by the deep love of the Father flowing through Christ in a new people – a people who love God above all else and openly seek Him with their whole hearts. The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is raising up a generation of “Christ in you” people who walk in holiness and love that overcomes the work of the enemy.

The world is in position to receive the greatest blessings every poured out – the very life and presence of God within and among His people on earth. This is a great gift to the world. But to whom much is given much is required. Because God is coming forth on earth excuses are disappearing. There will be no place to hide and the earth shall be purified through unrelenting loving judgment.

Multitudes are entering the valley – “the valley of decision”. As the “Christ in you” people manifest the reality of God in man everyone will be able to view true holiness, purity, and love without hypocrisy. They will know that God is real and must decide to give their lives to Him or face the judgment of self condemnation – the terrible judgment of love. Death will become very common and a daily reality for multitudes who reject the love of the Father. The standard of Christ will be lifted up through the Holy Spirit forming Christ in His people.

The new called out ones will not gather under the banner of religion nor any other manmade or demonic authority but only the real authority of Christ and under His banner of love. Gatherings of the “Christ in you” people will meet in homes, business places, parks, churches or wherever. These will be highly committed and submitted people who will follow the voice of their true shepherd and will not follow another. Christ from the throne will come in glory by the Holy Spirit to meet with His people and His glory shall fill the earth. The government of gifted elders (mature ones) will follow only the Spirit and will bring forth the feeding of the immature ones as they grow.

It is a very deadly mistake to hold on to the past when God is severely changing things.

Ron McGatlin

Living life radically for Christ..

Posted: April 23, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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There is an awesome revolutionary shift going on in today’s church. It seems there is a wave of God’s people who are being shaped and molded to be something radically different than that of the typical known church. These radical followers of Jesus are no longer settling with large buildings, extravagant stage performances, theological arguments, fancy ministry shows, lofty programs and plush chairs. They are not interested in staying comfortable but looking for a change that will promote the heart and message of Jesus. They are a people seeking something greater than themselves. These people have been refined and are still being refined to better understand the things that matter most to God.

Now, when I stop and read I have just wrote above, I feel like it might somehow express my feelings that there is a “select” group of God’s people. An “elect” group. This is not at all what I am suggesting! I know God has plans for all of His people and His plans are for good (Jeremiah 29:11). I am only making a point that there seems to be many that are speaking, acting and responding more boldly to the call of Jesus. It could be you – I just think it’s a neat thing that there are people out there that will attempt to follow Jesus at all cost.

After studying the bible, actively participating in serving others, growing in love for others and then reading several chapters in David Platt’s book, “Radical”, I am even more curious what God is up to. In my mind, He is developing His Radical Church, which I define as those who are wholeheartedly after Jesus’s heart. Having a heart like Jesus requires one to receive and accept His love, “Let Him Love You!” It is hard for many to receive the real, unconditional, no-strings-attached king of love. Upon receiving this love for Jesus to overflowing, it allows a person the ability to go out into the world and spill love onto other people. I don’t believe anyone that has not felt and accepted this kind of love can truly love the way Jesus loved back.

We need to be honest here in the fact that a truly radical “Christian” (meaning, “follower of Jesus”) would be one who would be willing to lay down his/her life for someone else’s in order that they would be saved. It may be one that would sell all of their possessions to the poor then travel to the remote places in the world to share the message of Christ through exemplifying love and kindness to those in need. The radical Christian might be one that would leave his/her family to proclaim the gospel. It’s a person that is completely sold out to Jesus.

Sound impossible? Sound scary? Sound radical? To some more than likely. Sadly via a watered down, super sensational hyped up gospel message others came to the alter driven out out selfishness not wanting to go to hell. Yet praise God thru the gospel message delivered in truth we find that others came to the alter out of a deep admittance that they whole heartedly need God. I must admit that I was part of the first group for years. Lived any ole way I pleased believing I had a get out hell free card.

Praise God for faithful servants who deliver the true message of freedom. For today I have come to that place of surrender, abandoned in in His Love and with some others, here lately, I don’t see any other way of living. It’s more scary to me if I don’t follow Jesus. I seem to always mess things up! There is an urgency in my soul that doesn’t rest that beckons me to reach people for the sake of the kingdom. I know it’s not about me. God doesn’t need me. But, He wants me. He wants me to have the blessing of being a part of His work. So how far do I go?

I need to stop for a moment before I go on any further, I must admit that I am not without fault. I am a “sinner” -(meaning I have done many wrong, careless and hurtful things). My life has in no way exemplified the word perfect. I have failed God on many occasions. I have disappointed my family and I have disappointed my friends. In my thirties, however, God got hold of me. Without going in to all the details, He changed me. I made a decision to do something different that I had been doing since nothing that I was doing was working – at all. I took baby steps at first. With each step closer to Jesus, I only wanted more of Him. I was hungry for more and more. And today, I still hunger and thirst for more of Jesus. I am trying to be today what one might call a ”radical” follower of Jesus.

It is by the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ through faith I was saved. It was because He chose me, not because of something that I did. I cannot offer good works and work myself into a saving place with Jesus. ”For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Radical Christian: believer’s who are serious about following Jesus. It is a group of common people, who come from a wide variety of back grounds, many have nothing in common except their love for Jesus, a group of believers who are more concerned about accomplishing the things that matter most to God and not feasting on their own selfish desires. It’s not radical in a sense of weird, but radical in the sense of putting forth one’s ALL in order to express the love of Christ to save the lost and to glorify God. I love radically because He first loved me.

I challenge you today to begin living a radical life of love for your family, friends and neighbors. I can almost guarantee you that as you take this step forward, all hell is about to break loose in your life, but be of good cheer for you are not alone. You will see Jesus come into your life in such a powerful way, His Love will weight you down under its glorious power. You will face many trials, yet rejoice for the Master is walking with you – showing you the steps that He too took to pour out His love and show the world the Fathers love.

When you make this step you will find a refreshing breath of grace flowing into your life like you’ve never experienced before, and a peace that words can not describe. Jesus said we must weight the cost – I have friends and there is nothing that even begins to compare to a life radically sold out to Jesus, of being radically in love with my Lord – Holy Spirit has been drawing me into a deeper understanding of a life of radical servant-hood that I might be crushed and pressed until all that is left in my life is the radical image of the Son of God!

For indeed we serve a radically awesome God!

Called to be radical

Posted: April 22, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Being “radical” brings up images of an argumentative protester or even a violent terrorist, but a truly “radical” Christian should be someone who typifies the very “root” of who Jesus is, practicing what He taught.

Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

Simple statements like “love one another” were never intended to be feel good statements but direct “world changing” commands from Jesus to his followers. Words like “love your enemies”, and “do good to those that spitefully use you”, would be considered “radical” if actually practiced, even though they are believed by all Christians.

It would seem that like a professional athlete needs a “public relations” agent after a blunder that ruins his “public image”, in the same way the Christian church in America needs the ultimate agent, Jesus himself to change not only our image, but our practice as well. He is not someone who will “spin” things to our advantage, but someone who cares enough to change our very lives, our hearts and our behavior to become like Him.

Radical means “of or pertaining to the root of origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation, to the ultimate sources, to the principles.”

Radical Christianity calls us to examine the foundation of everything we call “Christian” in order to discern what is, and what is not, acceptable to Christ. Jesus is building His Church upon the foundation of Himself. We have the privilege of co-laboring together with Him, but we must follow His blueprint, not ours.

Everything in His Church is weighed, measured, and tested according to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. If it falls short or goes beyond THIS measure, the Lord will tear down what they have built.

Therefore let us all walk as humbled radical disciples of Yeshua, seeking to be and expression of the Fathers heart and not out of our owns hearts imagination of what we believe God the Father should be. In this manner let our minds, souls and spirit’s always be aligned to the Lord Jesus Christ, rooted in His teaching – His Word, infused with His Spirit and walking in His power and authority.

At times we may be called to walk in the wilderness for His honor, wade thru the valley of suffering for His praise and march up to the mountain tops of revelation for His glory. We are called by His name, therefore let us represent Him in truth according to all that He has taught us in His Word and continues to teach us with revelation brought forth by His Holy Spirit, that His Name may be lifted high above everything and anything found in this world, that we may be His glory manifested in this present world!

For Indeed we do serve an awesome God!!!

THE SECOND GREATEST MYSTERY

Posted: April 22, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Can I really be transformed into a pure and holy kingdom builder? Can I really be a part of bringing forth the kingdom of God to actually change the world? Do I really have a part in this or is God going to do it all without any human involvement while I continue to battle personal needs?

The second greatest mystery of the kingdom is only overshadowed by the first greatest mystery, which is LOVE. The first greatest mystery is the source of the power that causes the kingdom to exist, to be ordered, and to be held together. The second greatest mystery is the means by which the kingdom from heaven is implemented to function and grow into the earth.

If we receive the revelation of this second greatest mystery, we will have the ability to bring forth the fruit (production) of the kingdom of God in our lives and into the world. All things will be possible. We are about to uncover the practical, spiritual kingdom principle that is the spiritual mechanism to bring forth the will and plan of God into our lives and into the world. This principle is man’s part in establishing the kingdom of God from heaven on earth.

For a number of years, I lived a “back to nature” type of lifestyle. I lived in a log cabin, grew vegetables and fruits, and raised chickens, cattle, and hogs for food. I would go out to the garden and gather sweet corn, onions, tomatoes, green beans and dig some potatoes and gather other tasty vegetables. Earlier in the spring I had planted the seeds for these vegetables in the soil of my garden. Before planting the seed, I spread manure on the soil and tilled it. I planted the different kinds of seeds where I wanted them to grow. I chose the seeds and planted them, but I did not grow them. The soil grew them. (Here is the mystery.) I cannot explain how the seed became a growing, producing plant; nor can I explain how the soil grew them. But, I could go into the garden at harvest time and gather the fruit.

Jesus said the kingdom of God is like my garden. He said the heart of man is the soil that can “grow” the kingdom of God seed. Previously, from the parable of the sower, we have seen the heart-soils that could not grow the kingdom seed to fruition–the hard-pressed wayside soil of the wounded and hardened heart, the stony soil of our fixed preconceived convictions, and the thorny soil of caring for the things of this life. Hopefully, we have each dealt with these conditions in our own lives. Now, we must receive the greater hidden light–the revelation of the production of the kingdom of God now on earth through the good heart-soil. This is a very important principle and is the intended focus of this key parable. Understanding this parable is fundamental to understanding all kingdom parables.

Mark 4:13: And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?”

Matthew 13: 8-13, 16-18, 23: “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear let him hear!”

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Therefore hear the parable of the sower: (When anyone hears the word of the kingdom…) But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word (of the kingdom) and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Mark 4:20: “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold some sixty, and some a hundred.”

The above verses that you just read contain one of the greatest hidden mysteries of all life. This great secret is meant to come to light. All hidden mysteries in the Word are to be revealed. Please give great heed to your hearing at this point. Please do not regard these scriptures lightly. Pray for revelation and meditate these verses. Wait upon God, and do not let the powerful truths get by you.

You must have an ear to hear. Not everyone will hear the great mystery hidden in these parables. Only the good soil, the emptied, healed, purified, humble heart will clearly hear it.

Many great men of God from the past have sought to know and hear these mysteries and could not. The time is now for those who are pure in heart to hear. If there are yet needs and impurities remaining in your heart, the great impact of this revelation will not appear to you. If, however, your once-hardened heart-soil is healed, freed from rocks and thorn bushes, you may hear and continue to hold onto the powerful understanding of the production of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Nothing will be impossible to you.

Mark 4:21-25: And He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

And He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The mystery is revealed only to those who are entering the kingdom.

Luke 8:16-18: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Prophets and angels desired to hear the great mystery of the kingdom in this parable. If you are purifying your heart by the revelation (manifestation) of Jesus Christ within you, through the Holy Spirit, to the sincere love of the brethren and are receiving the incorruptible seed, the Word (rhema) of God, you may hear and understand this great mystery.

Peter 1:10,12,13b,20b: Of this salvation (deliverance) the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,…To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things which angels desired to look into.

“…rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation (or manifestation) of Jesus Christ… manifest (or revealed) in these last times for you. (“Christ IN YOU the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27) (“…when He comes (or appears), in that day, to be glorified IN His saints…” 2 Thessalonians. 1-10a).

Jesus is the Word of God and the Truth. He is the Seed of God, sown in our heart-soil, producing the life of Christ Jesus in us, ruling and reigning with us now.

1 Peter 1:22-23: Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in the sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the express image of the Father sent out from God. He was the original mind of creation. It was through Jesus that all creation was made and by Him all creation continues to exist. Jesus, Who is in His saints, has authority over all creation.

John 1:1-4,10: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Colossians 1:16-17: For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Jesus became the seed, the Word from God, sown into the hearts of men and is reproducing His life in the lives of His people through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, living in us now, will produce the plan and rule of God on earth. Jesus in us has all authority over creation. Jesus, planted in the soil of the heart of man, can grow into the abundant, fulfilling, powerful, and peaceful kingdom of God life. Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, can enrich our heart-soil with the supernatural, spiritual nutrition of the powers of creation.

The heart soil of man under Jesus’ control is the creation center for God on Earth. God can bring forth anything He desires on Planet Earth through the Jesus-filled child of God. He need only plant the seed of His desire into the yielded, cleansed, and prepared heart of a man or woman, and the natural growth processes will of themselves grow His plan into the earth.

A seed is a living pattern that grows. Only in recent decades have scientists begun to learn about genetics. It is known that every living organism has something called DNA or genetic coding, an extremely complex series of chemical coding that completely describes and determines the organism. Millions of different genes in different arrangements determine what the organism is, what it will look like, the coloring, potential size, intelligence-level potential, and every characteristic for each individual. A complete living pecan tree is within each pecan. Somehow in the meat of the pecan, which we may choose to crack and eat, is the whole living pecan tree with all its characteristics coded genetically within the seed.

As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. A word from God is a spiritually, genetically coded seed. It is living and completely defined within the seed or word. As the life within a natural seed is dormant until the seed is planted in the soil, so also a word from God to us is dormant until planted in the soil of our heart. A word from God is a seed (a living pattern that grows). God furnishes the seed; that’s His part. Man’s part is to plant the seed in good soil. The seed is a word. A word is a vision, picture, thought or an idea for changing creation to conform to God’s desire. A seed is a living design from God for changing the earth and things on the earth.

God speaks (sows) His word into the heart of man through the receiver in man’s heart (the ear to hear). Thus, a word (seed) from the spiritual realm is received into the physical realm. If believed (received and planted) into the heart-soil of man, it can sprout and grow into the physical realm.

THE EARTH EGG

In addition to growing a garden, I also raised chickens. I would gather eggs and select some to put in the incubator. The others were taken to the house and put in the refrigerator to be eaten. When I cracked the eggs to put them in a cake or perhaps to scramble some for breakfast, a shapeless glob of clear matter with a round yellow part in the center would fall out. The glob had no form and, apparently, no life in it. If, however, that same egg had received a seed from a male chicken and had been placed in my incubator or brooded over by the female chicken, it would have taken on form and identity and become a living, breathing, baby chick, with all kinds of intricate systems for life. It would have eyes to see, a little beak to peck with, dainty feet to walk with, tiny toe nails to scratch with, and even a built in peep-peep.

The chick will grow to be like his father who supplied the seed and his mother who supplied the egg. (Male and female he created them). The egg is a mass of raw material waiting for a seed to define it. If the seed came from a large, black rooster, the genetic coding would probably cause the egg to turn into a little, black chick, which would grow into a large black chicken. If the rooster had been a small, red one, the chick would probably become a small, red chicken. The earth and all it contains are like the egg. Without a defining word from God, it is a formless glob. When God speaks a word, a multitude of spiritual, genetic coding is released to bring form and order to the glob of creation. The male part of creation is God’s part (the genetically-coded, spiritual seed); the female (wife) part is our part (the good soil).

The earth was without form and void. It was like an egg. The raw material was there; but it had no specific shape or form and no identification. An egg is just a mass of runny, white stuff and a glob of yellow matter. You may have had one this morning for breakfast splattered out and then fried or scrambled. The earth, like an egg, was brooded over by the Holy Spirit then GOD SAID. The word of God (the seed) came, and the earth took on form and intricate systems of life. Multitudes of spiritual, genetic coding came forth as God spoke forth creation.

Genesis 1:2-3,6,9,11,14,20,24: The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering (or brooding) over the face of the waters. Then GOD SAID, “Let there be light”, and there was light. Then GOD SAID, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Then GOD SAID, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear.” …Then GOD SAID, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth.” … Then GOD SAID, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night.’” … Then GOD SAID, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind.”

Are you hearing the mystery?

What is planted in the hearts of people is what will come forth in their lives and the world. This is what determines what our lives become in our lifetime. This is why one person may be able to overcome extreme obstacles and achieve great and noble accomplishments. While another man with equal or greater potential cannot seem to accomplish anything of significance in the kingdom. Regardless of how hard he tries, he is unable to overcome and unable to be powerfully used in the kingdom of God.

The answer is not more intelligence, better education, better breaks, noble birth, mere chance, harder work, devious scheming, fate, or any other natural circumstance. Who we are by birth, where we came from, and what breaks we get are not the primary factors that will determine our production in the kingdom. The answer will be found in the revelation of the mystery of the natural growth of a thought (idea, word) in the heart. It is what we hear. What we really listen to and believe will shape our life and affect the world around us. The thoughts (words) that we receive and allow to remain in our hearts will create who we are and what we do, which will determine our ability to overcome and fulfill our God-given destiny in life.

We do not have to know how it works. We do not have to know how it will be done. But, we must listen to, hear and believe what God is saying. Then the goal He has for our life will grow into being. “…for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Who can know how a glob of clear matter in an egg can become a living, breathing being with instincts, intelligence, and personality that can hear, feel, smell, taste, and see? Consider all the tiny organs, nerves, blood vessels, etc., that must be perfectly formed to sustain life. By some miraculous process, the DNA of the seed defines all these things and in only 21 days of brooding, the transformation is complete. How does the tiny heart begin pumping? What turns it on or starts it up? If you will tell me exactly how all of this happens, I will tell you how a word planted in the heart of man can transform the things of earth.

When we speak of a word, obviously we are not just talking about letters arranged together on a page. A word is a thought, an idea, a vision, or picture. A vision or dream may contain a series of pictures with many thoughts and feelings. When God spoke all growing and living things into being, He had to express an immeasurable amount of minute details. Everything was defined in what He said–the spiritual DNA or genetic coding emanating from Him. A word, thought, idea, or vision is a seed. It has the power to define life and grow into the natural world. A word is alive and potentially very powerful if received into the heart. The seed must be planted in the soil or in the egg. The Bible calls this process of receiving and planting “faith”.

After God completed the work of creation and placed all the universal laws that govern it in place, He created man in His image and gave man dominion on earth. Man has the supernatural creative potential to grow whatever seed is planted in his heart-soil into being in the world.

Every work or accomplishment of man begins with a thought, an idea. Every great building in our vast cities of today began with a thought. Every great church, ministry, business, or any other work of man was, at one time, a seed or word. Without a doubt, every invention, scientific discovery, or work of art began as a thought, an idea – a word. When the seed (vision/word/thought) that is planted is from God, the result will be God’s plan growing into the world and the kingdom of God being established in the world. If the seed is from another source, another kingdom will grow into the world.

Jesus, the greatest miracle worker, once said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do.” Where and how did He see the Father doing things? The Father is Spirit. Jesus was in a natural body. He saw by the Spirit within Him. He heard and saw words, visions, and ideas from the Father by the Spirit.

The second greatest mystery/principle is receiving the seed from God and growing it into our lives and then into the world through the creative power of our heart-soil.

The second greatest mystery/principle is FAITH.

Keep on Pursuing Love

It Will Never Fail,

Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Posted: April 21, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Business is a primary foundational part of the kingdom of God. The foundational principles of Babylonian-style business are opposite to the New Jerusalem kingdom of God business principles. All productive enterprise in the world can be qualified as either business or ministry. Almost every mature adult is involved in business. Some may own businesses, others work at jobs in businesses, others do the business of managing a household or family and everyone manages the business of his own personal life.

In the kingdom of God, both ministry and business have exactly the same basic foundational purpose. What we each do with our lives involves business/ministry. Before we consider how kingdom business is to be done we must consider God’s purpose for our involvement in business or ministry. In the kingdom, the primary purpose of business or ministry is to serve God by providing for the needs of mankind and the world around us.

Kingdom business or ministry is caring for God’s people and managing the resources of His earth.

God’s love is the primary motivational force of all kingdom business and ministry. Through love, people serve one another.

The love of God will cause us to lay down our lives for our brothers. We will seek to provide for our brothers’ needs. Jesus’ love coming forth in us will cause us to serve one another. We become humble servants and not proud rulers. We keep His commandments to love God and love one another.

Galatians 5:13-14: For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love – serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

In the kingdom both ministry and business exist for the primary purpose of meeting needs. The only distinction between ministry and business is the type of needs met.

Ministry generally seeks to meet spiritual needs of people. Business is focused mostly on meeting physical needs. However, there is much overlap and both may meet mental and emotional needs. All areas of kingdom enterprise are important to God.

The desire to serve stemming from love is the foundation of kingdom enterprise. We serve Jesus as we serve mankind by providing for peoples’ needs. We are able to do a good job of providing because love has ordered our lives. Love brings unity and cooperation that enables greater production. We are to do good to all people but especially to the people of God.

Gal 6:10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

In the parable of the sheep and the goats, the only factor considered by the Lord when dividing the sheep from the goats was whether an individual had provided for the needs of the brethren. Those, who had provided for the needs of the brethren, were told to “come inherit the kingdom” (Matthew 25:31-46).

No one can provide food for the hungry or clothes for the naked unless they first acquire food and clothing. We cannot supply what we do not have. Someone must grow, transport and process food; one must obtain fiber, process it into cloth, and then sew it into clothing. Or, one must, through production of some sort, obtain money to pay others for food and clothing. Obviously, the sheep in the above parable were involved in industry–the production and distribution of goods and services.

The kingdom principle Jesus is teaching here is greater than just giving away some of our surplus to the needy. The principle is that, because of the love of God, we desire to serve and because of the gifts and power of God working with us, our lives become productive. We become highly productive in business activities of manufacturing, farming, building, education, transportation, processing and a myriad of other enterprises providing for the needs of people. This concept is hard for most people living in heavily populated areas to grasp. In the modern setting the importance of what our production does for others is sometimes lost because of a disconnect of seeing the end use of what we do and how needs are met by our labors.

For a moment, imagine life in a small, godly, frontier village that has no access to outside provisions. The people of the village would all know one another and care about the well being and the needs of each other. The different people would develop their God-given gifts into various skills to help supply the needs of the people of the village. Someone might be adept at growing certain needed food or animal feed items. Someone else might become good at raising and providing poultry products and others beef or pork products. Someone else might be a dairyman and provide milk products to their neighbors. Someone else may be good at cabin building and woodworking, and another at blacksmithing and so on. When a need in the village arises, someone will seek to meet that need for the people. Working together, they will provide for one another and will be happy to trade the produce of their skills and labor for the produce of others to meet their needs and the needs of the others in the village.

In this small village no one tries to get rich at the expense of others and no one seeks to hinder or harm another. Loving concern for one another causes industrious activity (business) producing goods and services to meet needs. The love of God brings order and cooperation. Now, expand the view in your mind from the small village to nations and then the world and God’s plan for business in the kingdom begins to come into view.

The more our love leads us to provide for the needs of mankind, the more we will reap. The law of sowing and reaping never fails. The more we provide, the more we will receive. Our needs will be provided for and we will have more to use to provide for the needs of the brethren and the world. As we grow in the business of producing and providing for the brethren, more people are required to help with the enterprise. This means productive employment for more people. Jobs are created and people join together to work in the enterprise of providing for peoples’ needs. All this comes from the root of love that causes a desire to provide for the needs of people and the planet.

The sheep that serve by meeting the needs of the brethren inherit the kingdom of God quality of life (true prosperity). The goats that do not serve by meeting the needs of the brethren have only continuous punishment (real poverty).

The thing that divides the sheep from the goats is the love and life of Christ Jesus in the sheep. The sheep inherited the kingdom of God because they produced. They became productive kingdom servants/rulers as they met the needs of the brethren. Love motivated them to cooperate with and serve the brethren. The goats were motivated by unlove to use what they had only for themselves. The goats do not enter the kingdom. They are separated from God’s heavenly blessings in this life.

Life is the presence of God and serving His purposes. The kingdom of God lifestyle is abundant life, eternal life, now and forever. Death is separation from God and His purposes.

The Babylonian system has perverted the purpose of business in the minds of most people, including Christians. The perverted purpose of business has also infested ministry. Love is not involved in business in the Babylonian-patterned world. Unlove is assumed in all business transactions in the Babylonian world system. Need and greed are the primary motivational forces behind business and work.

The primary purposes of business in Babylon is to meet personal needs and gain personal wealth. People in the Babylonian system work at a job to get money and normally give little or no thought to what the job they are working at does to serve God by meeting the needs of mankind and the world. Generally, work is a tiresome dread for them because they are doing something that they don’t want to do but must do to get their paycheck. They have become as harlots–selling themselves to provide for their needs and wants. For the most part, this is considered normal in Babylonian-style business.

Christians caught in this system may believe it is God’s design for them to work at their jobs to get money and that church and church-related things represent their only opportunities to serve God. They also may believe that paying a tithe, plus some offerings, from the produce of their labors satisfies God and makes it all acceptable. Being a good slave and obeying your master is commendable and about the best that can be done in Babylonian captivity. Even in captivity, being a good servant can lead to ruling. God can bless those who remain faithful to Him even in captivity. However, we all need to know that in the kingdom work and business are a vital part of serving God.

God is not leaving His people captive in Babylon. God is delivering us into His marvelous, heavenly kingdom of light and love. We are learning the ways of New Jerusalem in every facet of our lives, including our families and businesses.

The greater principles of kingdom life and business found in the Bible are becoming more ingrained in the hearts of God’s people as we continue to move toward the kingdom of God life on earth.

Money and wealth are viewed and managed in a very different manner in the heavenly kingdom lifestyle than in Babylon.

In Babylon, money was diligently sought after to meet needs and then to fulfill desires for more material things and social status. Whether through working at a job or owning a business, the people sought to accumulate money and the things it would buy. Seeking money or seeking to meet our own needs was never God’s perfect design.

Jesus brought forth much teaching on kingdom order because it had been lost through the ages of Babylonian-style rule. Seeking to meet our own needs and to get more stuff created a greater stress on people that God ever intended for mankind to experience. In seeking money we become the servant of money. Jesus clearly spoke God’s instruction as He explained the kingdom way. In God’s order, we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and things are added to us.

Mat 6:24,32-33: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The concept of seeking the kingdom and God’s righteousness has been very misunderstood and misapplied by most Christians. Seeking the kingdom first has been viewed largely as doing religious church-type things, which were considered holy. “Secular” type things, such as work and business were considered unholy. In the Babylonian system a false distinction has been made between holy and secular. Secular is not the opposite of holy. Profane is the opposite of holy. Both business and church things can be holy or they can both be profane.

The kingdom of God includes all of life and all is to be holy (set apart to God). Seeking the kingdom means seeking God’s rule for all of life. And seeking His righteousness means seeking His purposes and order in all things. Righteousness is His right way of being and doing. It is being in perfect alignment with His instruction and desire. If we seek first the kingdom and righteousness, then “all these things” will be added because we will become productive and useful servants in meeting the needs of mankind and the world around us. This is not a magic or supernatural thing. It is a basic reality of natural kingdom life. Our treasure really is where our heart is.

There is contentment and excitement in serving God with our whole lives and doing things His way. Whatever our service or work happens to be, it is rewarding and easy to do with our whole hearts. Not at all like the burdensome, worrisome striving of seeking money. What we chased after and could never have enough of comes to us when we stop seeking it and start seeking the real kingdom of God and His righteous way of doing and being.

We know the Lord is our source and strength. Love motivates us to serve more, but it also causes us to be content with what we have. Our contentment does not rest in what we have, but in Who we have.

Philippians 4:11: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

Hebrews 13:5: Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Covetousness and self-seeking is the desire for and reaching for more than I already have. Materialism is one of the most common idols in the Babylonian system. It is important to understand that wealth and material things are not inherently evil. Money is not the root of evil. The love of money is the root of evil. Having wealth is not evil. Receiving profit is not evil. However, it is wrong to seek wealth or money rather than seeking the kingdom of God and trusting Him to meet our needs.

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

1 Timothy 6:5-8: …useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain.

Godliness (God-seeking, God-serving) is righteous obedience to God, which aligns us with His universal laws and purposes. Contentment is not desiring more than I already have.

Those who seek after money can never keep or enjoy wealth.

1 Timothy 6:9-11: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

James 5:1-3: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.

Who are the rich people that these miseries are coming upon?

“Rich” is a relative term. A brother in one of the developing nations would consider many of you reading this rich. If you ask a man with one million dollars, “Are you rich?” He would probably say, “No, I’m not rich at all,” and would point toward the man with more and say, “He’s rich.” A rich person is one who owns any amount of wealth that is not given over to God’s control for His use.

Garments that are being worn do not become moth-eaten; gold and silver coins that are being used do not corrode. Riches that are being used to meet the needs of mankind will not destroy the one who possesses them. If our lives are wholly given over to God’s control, all of our possessions will be His and will be used in His kingdom. In a very real sense, no matter how much God has placed in our possession, we have no riches. They all belong one hundred percent to God.

We do not seek wealth. We become wealthy while seeking to serve. We do not hold back any part for ourselves. However, because of our obedience, He will give us a portion as our own to enjoy. He will give us the power to eat of it and to rejoice. We must seek His direction for His goods at all times. We must not take it upon ourselves to keep some of His wealth for ourselves.

Luke 18:24b: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10,13: He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

Only the God-seeking, God-serving person can enjoy wealth.

Proverbs 10:22: The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

Ecclesiastes 5:19: As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor- this is the gift of God.

1 Timothy 6:17: Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

God desires for His people to possess and manage His earth with all its abundance for Him.

We must be managers of God’s goods and not owners.

God gives a portion of His creation into our hands to manage for Him. We grow in wealth as we do a good job of managing what He has given us to manage. God adds more to us as we become faithful and wise managers of the portion He has placed in our hands. If we do not manage it well, it will be removed from us and given to one who will manage it in accordance with God’s heavenly kingdom wisdom and instruction.

Luke 19:12-13,16-20,22a, 24-26: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

“Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

“And another came, saying ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.’ And the master said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant.’ And he said to those who stood by ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas’. But they said to him, ‘ Master, he has ten minas.’

“For I say to you, that to everyone who has more will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Matthew 25: 14-l 5, 19-21, 24a, 25-26a, 28, 30: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘…and I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant…’ Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. …And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

We are given the Master’s money to do business with until He calls for it. If we manage His money in alignment with kingdom principles, we will have a good report at our accounting time. The most profitable way to do business is according to God’s instruction and in accordance with His kingdom principles.

There are many principles to be considered and there are always balancing principles in God’s kingdom. We must seek God’s direction by the Holy Spirit. Principles are like “road signs” to assist our hearing and provide valuable understanding. But we must hear God’s direction.

One of the major principles is to use money to do good. If we put money to work creating activity (commerce, industry, etc.), which will put people to work meeting each other’s needs, then we are headed in the direction of kingdom prosperity. We will do more long-term good by this type of investing, than we would have done by giving away all the money to meet an immediate need.

What we do with the money we have is more important than how much money we receive. How we use what we have today determines what we will have tomorrow. Many of us have not understood that God gave us money to use to do business. We erroneously thought it was all for us to use for our own desires and needs. We have thrown away our financial future by increasing our lifestyle just because we had more money. We have used money to make us feel better. Babylon’s business pattern is to “get all you can, and can all you get”.

Do not serve money, but serve God with money. Do not hide it or consume it. Do not give it away if God has not said to. Use it to do kingdom business that meets needs. Seek God’s direction and further understanding of His principles about how and where to do business.

If we diligently use all God has given us to serve Him by doing business, we will be given more. It will be added to us. All that we possess should be available to be used to meet the needs of mankind, and especially those of the household of faith.

Man has three basic areas of need: those that relate to his spirit, those that relate to his soul (mind, will, and emotions), and those that relate to his body. Anything that God leads us to do with the resources He has given us to meet needs in any of these three areas is doing business. Whether it is preaching the Word, growing potatoes, or teaching physics, if it meets the needs of the brethren, it is doing business in the kingdom of God.

Ask God, How does what I do meet the needs of mankind? And what can I do better to add more value to mankind?

Start with what you have. A warm smile and an encouraging word can meet a need in a person’s soul. A prayer and a thought from the Word can meet needs of the spirit of a person. Doing that extra amount on the job with a good attitude can meet someone’s needs. Cooperating with the boss and speaking a good word about him can meet more needs than complaining and giving a bad report. Consider what you have, what is in your hand, what gifts and talents you have. Then, ask God how they may be used to meet the needs of others.

Would investing that extra $25 in someone’s kingdom business or ministry help meet their need for capital so they could meet more needs? Could contributing your talents and abilities to help a ministry or kingdom business meet needs? Could improving your own skills enable you to meet more needs?

In Babylon, people go to school to get more education so that they can get more money, so that they can have more power and more things they want. In the kingdom, we sharpen our tools by getting more education and training so that we can meet more and greater needs of others. The more skilled we are, the more we can do. The more we do, the more we will be blessed in return. The more we are blessed, the more we have to use. Love causes us to make the best we can of ourselves and of what we have.

Two dimensions of meeting needs

There is more than one dimension in meeting needs. There is both quantity and quality. You can meet a little need for a lot of people, or you can meet a great need for a few people. Manufacturing chewing gum can put a good taste in millions of people’s mouths; doing brain surgery can greatly impact a few people. The total amount of value added to mankind could be the same in either case. So, if you can’t do something big, do a whole lot of the little things that you can do, while at the same seeking to improve your skills so that you can do more.

Loving-kindness In Kingdom Business

Loving-kindness in kingdom business replaces pretended affection and pandering in Babylonian business operation. In Babylon, most customers expect to receive an offer of help or service by a businessperson. Underlying their question, “Can I help you?” is their real thought of, “Can I get some of your money?” Customers do not expect a businessperson to really care about them beyond what they can get from them. Once people learn that in the kingdom, the businessperson really cares about them, and not just about their money, they develop a whole new attitude. If they know that you really care, they will trust you with their business. Whether we are supplying a spiritual need or a physical need, love will cause us to really care about others’ needs and well being. Loving-kindness cannot be faked in the kingdom of God. A phony will be spotted.

Love cares about fellow workers, including the boss. Love causes employees to feel a great sense of security and loyalty because they care about one another and know the boss cares about them and has their interest in mind. Love cares about the quality of product or service being provided. Love is the key to increased productivity, quality and efficiency.

The essence of God’s love permeates every aspect of kingdom-life. The thirteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians draws a picture of what love is. It teaches that, no matter how great our gifts or works are, they are meaningless without love. Love makes it happen and keeps it in order in the kingdom.

Love is the greatest mystery in the world. There is no other force or power in the world as great as love. Love will cause us to give up our very lives. Only after love motivates us to die to our self-focused life, can we know resurrection life. Just as Jesus gave up His life for others and was resurrected to a far greater life, we will experience a far greater life now on earth as love motivates us to selflessly serve. The Babylonian-style world cannot comprehend the value of the love of God. It is a mystery to the people of Babylon.

Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail,

Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

Turmoil of betrayal

Posted: April 21, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“for love covers a multitude of sins…..”

What does one do when betrayed! The Word says to not only love the person, it says to forgive as well. Yet let us look at the love that is mentioned in the passage for a moment. The love that is written in the KJV is “ἀγάπη ag-ah’-pay” which mean to love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: – (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

O’ that unconditional love that the Father shows forth towards His children – this is the love which He desires His children to operate in.

Yet as humans we find that at the moment of betrayal it is a immediate turmoil of emotions that run through our whole being. This is usually because it is not our enemies that are able to betray us rather it is those who are closest to us. It is like a deep knife being thrust into our rib cage and puncturing our heart.

But the Lord tells us in His Word to forgive and to do so with agape love and we must search deep within our selves to find the Christ in us to overcome the pain. I have heard some say that they can not be hurt – yet I believe that hurt is indeed part of our make up. The question that must be asked is how “do we respond to such hurt”?

Many lash out at the person who has hurt them. Sadly many leaders in the Body today who feel they have been betrayed possible when someone leaves their church or break fellowship with them go on the defensive and at times will use their influence to cause others to look indifferently upon the one who may have caused the offense.

Yet my brothers and sisters this is not the answer – the answer is love – agape love that is completely and undeniable unconditional – love that states if you hurt me I will still love you, if you befriend me I will still love you. We saw the Lord Himself paint this picture for us as the 11 scattered when He was arrested and one of His closest friends went so far as to deny Him not once, not twice but three times. Yet we see that when Jesus met them again after His resurrection in that closed in room He said to them “Peace be with you” . We see in the passage found in John 20He treated them with brotherly love holding nothing against them.

We must model our lives after the Lord, for He has been tempted in every manner such as we have even to the point of those closest to Him betraying Him, yet His response was that of love – so must ours! (ref Heb 4:15)

Now onto an even deeper look in regard to betrayal in the area of when we betray our selves. In the midst of s struggle with a besetting sin it is so easy to not be willing to forgive ourselves, opening the door to the enemy to come in and fill our minds and spirit up with guilt and condemnation. This leads to the position that the Blood of the Lamb is qualified to forgive all sin except our own. And then we turn inward and begin doubting the scriptures. We begin to become bitter and cynical as we see others set free yet we remain in bondage. This bitterness will grow and cause us to become distant from those around us.

We must be willing to love ourselves here as well brothers and sisters. I am not talking about a selfish prideful love here I am talking about seeing ourselves thru the eyes of the Father. No, I am certainly not condoning sin here, I am speaking from a personal stand point from which I have gone through. The position I described above is most often entered into when we try and overcome something in our own strength. We set ourselves up for failure for, we in and of ourselves have no power over sin. The overcoming power comes from the cross, from the blood of the Lord and the infusion of grace from the Father via Holy Spirit into our inner man that empowers us to live the overcoming life.

My dear children, I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father. (1 John 2:1)

I have struggled with an issue in my own life for years up until recently when the Lord showed me the power of His love. I would have victory for days, some times weeks even at times for months and I would fight off the desire with all the strength I had. Then bam, it would pop up and cause me to stumble again. I not only felt like I had betrayed the Lord, inside I would be so unforgiving of myself because once again I betrayed myself.

The devil tries to undermine our faith, making us feel guilty and unclean by pointing to our sins, causing us to take our eyes off Jesus. He then fills us with doubt about our salvation. There are many things that make us unclean and the devil will be sure to point them out in order to break our fellowship with God. One of his greatest weapons is to position of to identify our selves in the sin rather than freedom from the sin.

Self betrayal can be like a fast spreading cancer. Once it attaches itself to you it begins to rapidly drain you and can suck the very life out of your spirit.

I John 1:9 says, ”if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

The key to the victory over it comes thru repentance – admitting you’ve done wrong and asking the Father to forgive attached to inner self forgiveness and wrapped up in the power of His love which contains a deep sense of grace and mercy. We must not only accept the fact that God loves us, we ourselves must love who we are through God’s eyes!

Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. ( 1 John 3:1)

For it is this position of love, realizing that we are not simply loved when we are good, we are loved at all times by the Father – we must find our identity in His love. Before long that sin that so often caused us to fail will no longer be an issue for the Fathers Love will break its power in our lives – His Love flows mightily thru the Blood of His Son, the Lamb of God with such power that there is no sin that cannot be washed away.

We can only come to God by the merits of the blood and its cleansing power.

“they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren), by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony and have not loved their life, even unto death”. (Rev 12:11)

Close the door on the effects of betrayal today in your life – in regards to that which comes from others betraying you down to self betrayal – “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean[a] people made their bodies holy and clean. The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done”. (Heb 9:13-14)

Now we can serve the living God in righteousness thru Christ. We must walk anew each day, dying to self placing our fleshly desires under the sin destroying weight of the cross. Let the Blood of the Lamb wash you anew and sweep in and over you, consuming you in the Fathers LOVE!

For we indeed serve an Awesome God!

Russ Welch

THE GREATEST MYSTERY

Posted: April 19, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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There are great understandings from the Word of God. There is wisdom far beyond man’s ability to comprehend, thoughts that are much too great for our minds to think. There are mysteries too deep for our mentality to embrace, and revelations too high to fit into words. Yet, the Spirit of God relates to man’s spirit things hard to be understood and even harder to be spoken. Sometimes they are more felt in the depth of our inner being than understood by our mind. They are spiritual things communicated from the Spirit to the spirit in spiritual ways, comparing spiritual things to spiritual things.

There are deep, hidden mysteries of the wisdom of God that are only revealed through His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10,12-13: However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages of glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Sometimes the best we can do to communicate spiritual things in natural language is to speak of a parallel natural thing. Jesus taught the greatest concept of the Bible, the kingdom of God, from heaven, on earth, with many parables of natural things. The kingdom is the preeminent teaching in the Word of God. All other teachings and understandings in the Bible relate to and are in some way a part of the great concept of the kingdom of God / kingdom of heaven.

Within the kingdom there is one greatest of all kingdom principles, one greatest spiritual mystery law, one greatest of all kingdom concepts that saturates the entire kingdom and every other principle or law of the kingdom. It is the force that draws and holds the kingdom together, the glue that bonds the kingdom into unity. It is the motivation for every work in the kingdom. It is the power that causes all other kingdom principles to work. It is the root of righteousness, obedience, peace, and joy, the reason for the cross, the resurrection, and Pentecost. It causes purity, purpose, production, prosperity, contentment, and faithfulness. It causes men to become faithful servants and stewards. It can change a harlot or adulteress into a purified bride. It is the source of grace, mercy and forgiveness.

This greatest thing in the kingdom can easily be named, but cannot, with man’s words, be easily explained. It must be experienced and felt Spirit-to-spirit. The most passionate, intense, and pleasurable natural experience cannot equal it. We can see and say what it does. But what it is or why it is, goes beyond human natural understanding.

The greatest mystery law, principle, concept, understanding of the kingdom, the predominate force and most significant factor in the kingdom of God is THE LOVE OF GOD.

Without the love of God, there would be no salvation for mankind. Jesus would not have come to earth. There would be no cross, no resurrection, no indwelling Holy Spirit, no righteousness, no peace nor joy on earth, no forgiveness, no deliverance, no healing of the heart, no real reason for living, no relationship between man and the living God, and no drawing force establishing God’s kingdom on earth. Apart from the love of God, there is no kingdom of God from heaven on earth. Yet, who can describe what the love of God is?

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The number of those who really know the love of God in a personal, intimate experience is increasing. Many may be heard to voice a desire to know God and to know Him better. To know God is to know love. God is love. The spiritual union and intimacy of knowing (experiencing) the love of God is the greatest fulfillment in life. Earthly accomplishments and human desires all fade into the distance. Life’s highest highs pale in the rapture of experiencing God’s love. There is nothing one would not do, nothing one would not give, to please Him. The only fear is the fear of disappointing Him. The heart’s greatest desire is to hear His voice, to do His bidding, and to be pleasing in His sight.

The intense love between a man and a woman is a natural parallel to the love of God. In the Bible, the Song of Solomon is an expression of spiritual love in natural terms. Anyone who has truly been in love with someone knows to some degree the feelings of loving God. A man in love will do anything to be with the woman he loves. When they are apart, a deep aching and longing fills his chest. Only embracing her and pressing her against his chest will stop the ache and fill the longing. Her every characteristic, even her flaws, seem intensely beautiful and desirable to him. He will look deep into her eyes and say, “I will change the whole world for you. I will climb the highest mountain, defeat the fiercest enemy for you.” They kiss and she melts in his arms and replies, “I am yours forever. I will serve you with my whole heart; only, please, never leave me nor forsake me.” He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The world may have difficulty understanding why one in love with God will leave the activities and things of the world to be with Jesus. Religious people, with their rules and strife, may demand for the person in love with Jesus to be more involved with their religious activity. They may never understand why their ceremonies mean so little to the one who is personally experiencing the loving presence of God.

The love of God is love from God and love for God. The love of God flows toward us from God through Jesus. The Holy Spirit in us produces love from within us that flows toward God through Jesus and we feel intense love from Jesus, and we feel intense love for Jesus. We are passionately and desperately in love with Jesus.

LOVE PURIFIES

Jesus’ love motivates us to purity. Our desires are to be, to have, and to do according to His will. No other needs can drive us. He is all we need. His will and ways are always righteous obedience to the Father.

This greatest mystery of love can change harlotry to purity. The love of Jesus can change a rebellious, adulterous bride into a faithful, purified bride without spot or blemish. Jesus, by the love relationship, becomes one flesh with His bride and is manifest in her so that His life becomes flesh on the earth. As His presence appears within us and is revealed through us, we become as He is; we are purified.

Ephesians 5:25-27,29-32: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

1 John 4:7-9: Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

1 John 4:12b-13, 16,19: If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. We love Him because He first loved us.

Paramount Transformational Power

There is no power greater than the power of love. Nothing else can transform the world. No other power or force can overpower love. Nothing can neutralize the inherent power flowing within love. Every work of evil in man can be neutralized by love. Nothing can conquer love and there is nothing that love cannot conquer.

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. Every aspect of man’s life in the world can be transformed by love. Every burdensome weight and stressful oppression of man can be fully relieved by love. In a very practical and real way, the love of God in a person will transform his or her life. The love of God in a large number of people will transform areas of the world. The love of God in all people will transform the entire world. In a real and practical way, the world can be transformed into the kingdom of God.

It is impossible to abide in God and His love and not be a transforming agent in the world.

Unlove is the absence of God and His love. Life in the fallen world is based in unlove. Every aspect of natural man’s life in the fallen world is guided by the ways of unlove.

Mankind is designed to abide in God and His love, and God in him. Great emptiness characterizes the lives of people whose inherent need for God’s love is unfulfilled. The neediness in mankind can never be fulfilled without love. The desperate need for more and more of something to fill the emptiness leads to competition, greed, strife, fear, pride, and every negative, stressful, destructive force known to man. The entire world becomes filled with strife. War is everywhere and every person competes against others. All of the problems of the world stem from this basic lack in mankind.

Husbands and wives fight and divorce. Employees strive against and deceive employers. Employers exploit employees. People climb over one another in a competitive effort to attain a higher position. Customers strive with merchants and merchandisers take advantage of customers. Law enforcement fights with criminals in an attempt to enforce thousands of laws enacted in an attempt to control the deceit and violence of the people. The whole world becomes a battlefield. Everything in business and all of life revolves around trying to get more while giving the least possible to get it. Even the highest of charitable human motives are mixed with hypocritical values of “What’s in it for me?” All this and much more exist because of the lack of love abiding in mankind.

Do you see how God’s love in man can alleviate all need and stop all strife of the world? No more wars, no more crime and, eventually, no more sickness, no more disease. Some would say, “Yes, but it is not possible for man to love and live this way,” and they would almost be right. Until Jesus came, man had failed to abide with God in His love. Christ Jesus did what others did not do and lived as one with God in the Holy Spirit. The GOOD NEWS is that Christ Jesus can now live in people by the Holy Spirit. Thus, the potential now exists for all to have Christ’s life abiding within. Through Christ all can now abide in God and His love. We can now bring the paramount, transforming power of God’s love into practical reality in the world through Christ in us by the Holy Spirit. Christ in His people can destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The greatest mystery of the kingdom of God is the transformational power of love. The world has already been greatly changed by the love of God expressed in the cross of Christ Jesus. No other person in all of our world’s history has had as great a transformational effect as Christ Jesus. Now, the LIFE OF JESUS is set to transform every area of life in the world. Through Christ Jesus living in them individuals are transformed. By LOVE, individuals filled with Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit, can transform families, businesses, schools, media, cities, nations and the world.

Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail,

Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

By this all will know that you are My disciples……

Posted: April 19, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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“By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [i]believer in Christ).For this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,”. ( 1 John 3:10-11)

I spend the past several days recuperating from surgery yet it has been several days of basking in the love of the Father. He took me a journey back thru the past 10 years of the life I have lived and showed me where love was lacking – not in a condemning way but in a loving way as He said “See how love could have brought My light into the darkened times.

Back to when I first got ordained when I allowed the spirit of religion to come in an sit me on the horse of un-righteous judgment, up to the very spot where His Love broke thru in my heart causing me to for once start seeing people thru the eyes of mercy and grace even as He who is above all see’s. This was such a powerful moment as I felt the weight of His Love flow upon me and totally captured my surroundings.

He also pointed out the wrath of His love, as during this time hell had risen up in an attempt to derail His destiny for my life. Some may say, how can someone put wrath in the same line with love. Take for example the Love of God towards His creation – it was in a moment of wrath that He went to the cross, birthed out of love. Righteous wrath towards the works of Hell that had so un-prejudicially distorted His creation from the image of Himself, that imagine of holiness and beauty. You see the wrath of God is that which is a Holy Righteous kindled fire against sin and all that is unholy, bound and woven in darkness.

This was such a revelation to me that it began to crush me, the fleshly side of me that had incorrectly judged God’s wrath as something awful birthed in the throngs’ of punishment, when in reality it is something that destroys evil and restores life. It is this nature of wrath that the Father desires for His children to take hold of – that we would become so enraged with the injustice of sin and its hold in our own lives and that of the children of God as well as those that are lost that we, would march forth with the power and authority of Heaven and enter into a battle spiritual warfare to loose Hell’s grip on these individuals. Not allowing our anger to be miss guided toward the lost and blind, towards the individual that it has imprisoned, rather against the root, the very nature of Hell itself.

As the Lord took me thru these years I saw moments of His wrath against Hell, where His Word in all it’s majesty flew out of His throne room intercepted and destroyed the works of Hell that had come against my life – it was like a mighty river that rushed toward false words, words of deception as it totally washed away Hells power and influence. Yet in its wake it remained upon me – Here He said, “What you are seeing is My Grace upon your life, that I sent forth to rescue and empower you to stand firm”.

He even took me back through some religious establishments which I had been thru and as I went back to these times I saw what appeared to be a person, who kept covering and uncovering my ears. And it was as though I heard “This was My mercy overshadowing you – for in these places you heard both truth and deception – My mercy blocked your spiritual ears from receiving what was false and they we allowed to remain open to receive that which was truth”. I was so taking back by this and then a looked at what appeared to be a Bible yet on its cover was written the word “Mercy”. Then I understood, that by keeping myself in His Word, His Word became a shield of mercy which weighed out the darkness from the light”.

In my mind I was thinking “I thought these places were houses of the Lord and then I saw them as they were in the Spirit, like that of half lighted house, the Light of His Word did light them at times, but then the darkness of the world would come in and snuff out the light.

I honestly didn’t fully understand the battle between the two, as I believed that the Light over powers the darkness, thus the Light should prevail in these places, then I heard, “because of My love for My Bride, in Mercy I continue to send forth My Grace, the hearts of men grasp it for a moment, yet like that of stony ground the wiles of the carnal heart take control and distort My truth. Yet in My Mercy I shall continue to send forth My Grace for a season, that they who earnestly search for truth might grasp hold of her and not let go”.

Then I spent a time reflecting on the faces of those whom I had known over the past 10 years, most of these people I had forgotten about. Yet as I saw each one of them I noticed many of them were holding a cup and each cup was empty. When I asked what the cup was I heard, this represents their spirit, and each one was empty, each one needing to be filled up with My life, My presence, My love in truth.

These spiritual cups represented those who inwardly thirsted for My love, even though they may not have known what the thirst they felt was and you passed by each one, having been focused on your own needs you failed to see theirs. This caused my heart to sink for I had fooled myself during many of these years believing I desired to help people, yet now I saw what it was, a self righteous spirit had taking root in my life and blinded me to my own selfish agenda.

After this time, though only a few moments, it felt like hours, I went from seeing those faces to many faces sitting in a large crowd of people and I heard “My people flock to see their spiritual thirst filled each week, running into buildings, yet they leave empty and unsatisfied – Now look closely that you may see.

As I looked closely, I noticed that in the opposite hand from the empty cup, was a cup that was also empty in almost every hand, yet not in everyone for a number of them were filled and over-flowing. Then I heard “ My Spirit has poured into these peoples lives an overflowing supply –yet they are blinded to this truth and they themselves remain athirst for one can never sip from this cup unless they are filling another. Yet there are some who upon filling the cups of others with what I have poured into them find that My River flows forth and their own cups are filled, it is in this place of selfless love that they shall experience no lack, when they begin to walk in the same direction of My River’s current..

Then I was beginning to understand, people had flocked to what they thought was their supply, those things made by human hands and in the process of searching out what man had made, they missed the reservoir of God’s supply which He has purposely hidden in His Church – a Spiritual Body made up and fit together perfectly according to His design. A design, which when man and hell has attempted to re-create it is found void of Life, a spiritual desert. Yet when this Spiritual Body, this family of God walks in its truth, seeking and receiving its very breath from the Creator – it is vibrant, alive and fully able to reproduce.

And thru this whole process I continually saw the word LOVE. That it is His love which created everything, His love which was poured out to redeem everything and it is His Love which is the life food of His Bride, without it its members will shrivel up and die.

Yet when operating in, and completely and radically deposed of all self desire, it is alive, producing life and it expansion can not be prevented for it is like a Mighty River, flowing forth, Cities can not stop it, Nations can not stop. Not even the mountains reaching up to the skies can slow down its flow. For the dam of His River of Love was opened upon the cross and though the generations since that time have thought it had slowed down, it is a Spiritual River which has gone under, deep to where it is not seen by the natural eye.

There have been those in each one of these generations who have seen it, swam in it, lived and drank from it. For when a child of God sees this River with their Spiritual eye they are opened to the revelation of its power, they see the direction of its current. One need but look at the witnesses through past generations to see that even though it appeared and still appears in a sense to be running under ground, it is an awesome splendor weakening the polluted religious soil of this world and continues to be eroding away everything that has attempted to prevent its flow.

I feel like a light has come into my life that will never allow me to remain the same and it is my prayer that the Father will give me the words to open the eyes of those who have yet to see this River of Love that flows from the Throne of His Heaven. It is this River of life, this sustaining love that is written about in every book of the Bible.

When one but receives just one drop from it their lives begin to melt under its power – the wounds of the heart and spirit are healed. It is in this River of love that one sees the true reflection of who they are in Christ and though one is immediately aware that their thirst is being filled, they then at the same time develop a hunger to share it with others. They see the lost and thirsty about them and an urgency to fill their cup overwhelms them.

For even looking about, those who have drank from this River of love sees the reflection of others as they are seen through the eyes of He who has created them and longs to become intimate with them as their Father and they as to Him as His children. I believe this is the light of which John is speaking of here, for one who stands in the light of His love, he who stand having drank from the River of His love becomes infected, as though they are possessed with an overwhelming desire to love even as He has loved, they come into the full knowledge that we are to be His love here on earth.

For once you drink from this River of love, the pure love of God, you like John will be able to proclaim “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure” And with this I pray that you do now drink from His cup of love my brothers and sister for His Word declares:

We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is [j]held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death.. ( 1 John 3:14)

Let us walk in the obedience of our Lords doctrine:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

I highest rank is that of servant,
Russ Welch

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