Posts Tagged ‘Kingdom living’

Study that ye be not deceived

Posted: September 5, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. ( 2 Tim 2:15)

We live in the era of great technological advancements, with a wealth of different scriptural views out there it is ever so easy to be swayed from one doctrine to another simply by the mastery of the writer. We are bombarded with different opinions that if our foundation is week we can fall for that which is not of the Lord.

So many depend upon the study of others and blindly trust what they teach and write with never taking to the One who has been sent of the Father to guide in all Spiritual truths. Yet we are the ones ultimately responsible for that which we believe and adhere too.

The King James translates that as “study.” However, modern translations typically do not agree because the meaning and usage of this English word has changed. To us, study means “hit the books,” “learn,” “analyze, investigate, examine, scrutinize,” or “earnestly contemplate.” But the Greek word means something quite a bit different. It literally means to “make speed,” “to hurry.” It conveys the sense of “to make earnest effort; be prompt to labor.”

In almost all modern translations, “study” is rendered “be diligent,” “work hard,” or “do your best.”

The primary question, then, is, “What can we do to show ourselves approved by God?” because God’s charge is, “Hurry to do it! Be quick about it! Be diligent at it. Do your best.”

As well shepherd/teachers are held at a higher responsibility of the Lord to teaching the truth – This means as teachers we are held accountable for what we teach. Many such persons today are swayed by emotions with the desire for unity out-weighing the commands of the Lord to bring correction and rebuke when the Spirit call’s for it.

But again, as individual’s we must guard our hearts that we be not fooled and led astray by a false doctrine. Proverbs 4: 23 state’s this plainly:

“Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it’.

Many today in their zealousness to see the signs, wonders and miracles of the Lord have been swayed by false teachings which are not of the Lord, chasing after strange fires. Via the internet and media we have inundated with what appears to be of the Lord, yet in truth grieves the Holy Ghost for it is but the promotion of what man can do and people are been worshiping men and ministries rather than the Lord God Himself.

I myself fell into such deception and for several years wondered around in this wilderness of strange fires. I praise God for Holy Ghost never relented in His sending up red flags and with such there was always a sense of unrest. For where the Lord is being mocked the Spirit will not rest.

More and more Holy Ghost drew me to the Word and as I began to weigh the things I saw happening in the “ministry” to the Word of God and allowed Holy Ghost to bring forth truth and revelation the doorway to what was of God began to open.

Today I still believe in signs, wonders and miracles – yet I do not either chase after them or worship them. I can but look out side at nature itself and see the Glory of the Lord – I can look at a new born child and see the wonder of God.

Have I seen or experienced miracles?

Yes I have and I know that we serve the same God of the Old and New Testament who can show up as He did in the Bible, the same God who parted the Red sea, Who can raise the dead and heal the leper. Yet again, I choose not to worship the signs, rather I choose to worship He from whom the signs come from.

I pray daily for discernment that I be not fooled by false signs, wonders and miracles and I believe that if we truly allow Holy Ghost to lead our lives and keep our eyes on the Lord we shall not be fooled. For the Word proclaims:

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect–if that were possible”. (Mark 134:22)

Notice the Lord says “if that were possible”. Is it possible? Yes it is if we leave it upon our own wisdom and ability to distinguish between what is true and what is false – yet if we are led of the Spirit we shall never be fooled.

Brother and sisters let us walk with Spiritual eyes open, being ever led of the Spirit of the Lord God Almighty, that we not be counted among those who have been led astray having falling for a false gospel being deceived by the light of a false and strange fire.

We are in a day that calls for radical disciples, equipped with Holy Ghost vision, empowered to bring down the walls of deception with the authority of their King, Jesus the Christ, to not only quench the fiery darts of the enemy but to also thru the power of His Spirit put out the strange fires built in the camp of the saints.

For we serve an Awesome and loving Father, who desires the very best for His children and longs to see the Bride break forth in the power of His Authority that He may release His Glory thru them for the world to see.

Francis Chan – Regarding House Church

Posted: August 31, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Exod 33:15 Moses said to God, “If your presence will not go with me we will not go up from here.” Do we want the presence of God more than anything? More than a big church? More than speaking in front of crowds? We easily lose sight of our original intention of being pleasing to God.

Verge means the outer limit. This isn’t a “Let’s start a movement” conference. God is doing something and we’re on the verge of seeing something happen.

Church 3.0 by Neil Cole is about everything the Lord has been putting on our hearts.

You read Scripture and see one thing and go to church and see something else. Love, unity, etc.—the way the church ought to look.

Missional communities: Its not that we are trying to create a movement. The Holy Spirit has started it, and He is leading us. It’s not just about breaking down the mega churches. It’s about seeing it in the Scripture and doing what it says.

When I read the Scriptures, God doesn’t get mad at the people, He gets mad at the leaders! We have to change. We can’t quit the process of change because it’s biblically driven. As we talk to other people, they’re feeling the same thing.

You can take scattered verses to justify your theology but it wouldn’t be the same as what you get through a simple reading of the Scriptures. Would I ever have come up with doing church the way we do just from Scripture? I wouldn’t even think about the gathering. I would be on mission. I would think, “I need to reach as many people as I can and make disciples by teaching them to obey.” And I would find others doing the same and because we are so different we would need each other. I need people to stay on mission every day. I would gather with people who do the same thing, because it’s there in the Scriptures.

The disciples saw Jesus rise from the grave and had to tell everyone. What wouldn’t make sense would be if the disciples saw someone rise from the dead and just met together every week for some songs and teaching. If you had seen someone rise from the dead you’d tell everyone you met, especially if he had told you to make disciples.

If we care about what Jesus wants, we will live like family, His body, an extension of one another. We would be of one heart and one mind.

We’re not strategizing a movement. You can’t create a movement. The disciples didn’t plan out the Day of Pentecost. (You learn Chinese, you learn Spanish!) It was the Holy Spirit working in a bunch of individuals but creating a unified result. This is similar. It’s God doing something.

Jesus is building his church and nothing will stop it. It’s not forced or pushed. We’re not here to start a movement. God has started a wave. Let’s pray for the believers in our nation to love Him and start making disciples. Can we pray that He puts a love within us so we become so much family that we are interdependent and share our belongings? Looking at Scripture we know He wants these things.

Mission, missional lives, loving one another so much that people can see Christ in us. Make Jesus Lord instead of playing a “Jesus says,” game. In the book of Acts, the disciples were unstoppable. A move of God will be unstoppable.

Can we continue the book of Acts?

Can 21st century Christians in America adopt a Communal life style?

Posted: August 8, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Can 21st century Christians in America adopt a Communal life style?

You might think that communes are something that became extinct back in the sixties and seventies. Actually, many people live communally today, in intentional communities, Eco-villages, group marriages, co-ops, ashrams, co-housing groups, even in survivalist and radical religious colonies.

Communal living is an excellent choice for people who enjoy deep, intimate companionship with more than one person. It is often very difficult to form and maintain a healthy, mutually satisfying and beneficial relationship with the random assortment of personalities that comprise a typical family. An intentional community can be looked at as a “chosen family,” in the respect that it is made up of people who came together intentionally based on “commonalties” other than biological (or adoptive) accident. An intentional community differs from a family in the important respect that no one in an intentional community will ever legitimately feel “stuck” with it.

Thus, communal living can supply people whose conventional family relationships are dysfunctional or nonexistent with the best a family has to offer, a circle of connected, loving co-experiences with whom to share life.

There can be practical advantages to communal living. Often, a member of an expense-sharing group can live more cheaply than a single person can. People who live in group housing are freer to travel, as there are always going to be others about to water plants, take in the mail, pay the bills, keep company to those who stay behind, and so on. Most important, an intentional community is a social network. The chances are good that someone will usually be available to go out for lunch; to share a movie; to look over a final draft; to try the lunch seasoning; to listen to a cool idea; to join in on a magnificent undertaking; to take a walk in the sunset; to practice a sport or hobby; to fall in love with; to learn and to teach something to.

Obviously, communal living can never be as private as a person’s own home. However, parameters can be set to maximize the possibility that adequate privacy will be available for those who sometimes require it. People who need a lot of privacy probably do not belong in a communal setting. People who thrive on human interaction probably do.

Communal living is a remarkably viable means for enriching our lives with interpersonal adventure and fun. As a group we have the resources, practical and personal, to actualize the very best of what we can imagine. After all as a group we will know more than individually we could. The sharing and maximizing of resources will improve greatly our quality of life as well as healing our planet.

Instead of owning many of any one product, we will own less, but share a wider range of items. Communal living can be a potent and powerful medium for free, creative, experimental, sustainable, ecological, and fulfilling way of life. By pooling our money, creativity, skills, assets, ideas and resources; and thereby supplying our basic needs through communal energies, we find there are both an abundance of all things available to us all, and an optimization in the efficiency of their use. For example, sharing the use of automobiles, and making a communal dinner each evening. One car can serve numerous people, thus requiring fewer of them; and not only does everyone get a wholesome, nutritious meal each night, but they also only have to cook and cleanup once a month, or less, for example and then only as part of a team.

We believe that together we will achieve things we never, in our singularlives would have dreamed of – for example: operating large natural, shops, bakeries, production of tinctures, teas and organic herbs, writing and performing music-the possibilities are endless.

With this concept in mind, I believe Christians in America truly need to research and pray ore about this. The pressure of the world to live like the Jones must be put to rest. The American dream of individualism has raised havoc in the Christian community at large. There are by far more pro’s to such a life style than con’s when looking at it from a broader spectrum than on the basis of individualism

Children can be taught in these setting and receive a Spiritual foundation as well as high academic standards, which are being lost more and more in public school. Families no longer have to seek outside help when and if they face illnesses which can greatly tap into ones personal finances. As well people can still keep their individual identities as a “Family” unit well sharing in the over all groups needs.

The thoughts of cult is running thru many a mind right now as you read this and such a setting can surely present itself. But if group of people sworn to the doctrines of Christ can live daily being led of the Spirit, these worries can put to rest. If we will take the example of the early church and throw the “Pastor” image of the world out the door we will find that indeed, Holy Ghost can move and thrive among a group of elders to release a true peace that come with a loving community.

The economic future of America is becoming more and more unstable and many Christians are fainting in the heart as these uncertainties are being broadcast. Now when we start living in the true power of fellowship and dependence upon the Lord these fears are cast down. Is it a sacrifice to think of living such a life style? To the flesh, by all means, yet to the spirit, there is a hunger and godly desire for such a life style.

If we really believe that living such a life style is impossible, then we really need to look at the New Testament and wonder if the teachings there in are truth or merely fairy-tales.

When we look at some of the Christians in such cultures as China, the former USSR and Africa, and South America we find a bond amongst the believers because they have learned not only to trust in the Father, they have learned to depend upon one another, that each is living the life that Christ calls us too live – That of loving our neighbor as our selves. You’d be surprised to learn that such groups even live here in our country already

Things to ponder friends as we face more and more crisis here in America and nations around the world. Are we prepared for the coming persecution, or are we still turning a blind eye to that happening here. The thought of food, fuel and other shortages in our Country is on the horizon, not speaking as a prophet of doom, rather as one who desires peoples eyes to be opened, that they be not like the five virgins and be caught without their lamps full.

Is this a radical idea, to far out there or uneasy to swallow? Possble, yet when we look to the heavens and fully trusting in the Father to birth in us an ability to live with and love each other as a testimony to the world – we might just realize that radical times in this world demand radical Christianity to arise to the forefront!

Choose You This Day

Posted: July 31, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Choose You This Day
By Ron McGatlin

I hear the Father saying:
I have brought you to this time for this time. This is the moment of the millenniums – the time of the culmination of the ends of the earth collapsing upon themselves.

Human government, society, culture, religion, and every aspect of human rule and order is corrupted and has reached its destination of total collapse and failure.

Nothing of the evil world order shall survive, and you are in danger of being overcome in this last end-time sweep of perversion and ungodly order filling the world with the anti-Christ spirit, flaunting itself in the headship of the religious church and world ruling order. All governments, economies, militaries, false religions, and societies are imploding upon their evil roots.

THIS IS THE TIME OF THE ARISING OF THE KINGOM OF HEAVEN.
My glory shines brightly from the horizon of your inner being. My power, that generated all creation, rest above and beside you awaiting release to empower the greatest holy and pure transformation ever to come upon the earth and its people.

The roar as of a lion and as thunder beyond hearing exploding in My purified holy sons and daughters is now to be released. You have come to the world for this time. The past is past and the future is now.

The glory has arisen upon you. This is the season of release. What will be done will be done in this moment. There will never be this moment again. It is now and forever that My kingdom must be poured out. The joy of the rule of My Son through my sons is, for you, now or never.

Choose today to release all that I have put within you through the power I am releasing in you.

Every gesture, every word, every roar from you shall be heard clearly in heaven and shall bring a response immediately and powerfully from heaven.

Powerful angels will respond and supplement your every move with heavenly power that cannot be resisted by any power on earth or in all creation. I have made you to be my people for this time.
Will you choose to release heaven on earth now?

Will you shout from the highest mountain the roar of the end of the work of the darkness and the fulfilling of the rule of heaven on earth?

Will you ride with me and call out the signals for the end of the foolishness of the past that will release My power to end the evil takeover of My world?

Yes, Lord God, I will ride with you!

Ron McGatlin

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

KINGDOM BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION Pt 2

Posted: July 28, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, wilderness
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KINGDOM BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Part 2 – Managing Kingdom Wealth

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

Kingdom Business Transformation – Part 1

Posted: July 22, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Part 1 – The Ministry of Business

By Ron McGatlin

Every adult believer is involved in the business/ministry of Kingdom Life.

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.

The Sheep and Goats of Business/Ministry

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.

What does my job, business/ministry do to meet the needs of mankind and the world around us?

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 in 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 lack (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 end result of Babylonian business/ministry is death (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 control in order to meet personal needs and gain personal wealth. People, in the Babylonian system, work at a job or business to get money. They 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 vital parts 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.

Keep on pursuing Love. Love never fails
and His kingdom never ends.

Ron McGatlin

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

Let us return the Word to the pulpit Pt 1

Posted: July 18, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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During the Middle Ages (approx. 500 to 1500 AD.) preaching gradually lost its place of primacy in the church, until it was all but lost from her life and work in the years before the Reformation. We should remember that the Middle Ages were in general a time of gradual but steady decline for the church. As she increased in her worldly power and influence, she decreased in her spiritual strength and influence. Sometimes the Middle Ages are referred to as the “Dark Ages.” This was certainly true also with respect to the preaching.

The days before the Reformation were preaching poor times. Many of the established clergy, bishops, and priests, simply did not preach at all. It is said that the lay people could not expect any preaching from the priests in the local parish. Weeks and even months could go by without their hearing any sermon from the pulpit of their local church. Many priests simply forsook their parishes (local churches), checking on them only on occasion. The English Reformer, Hugh Latimer, called such absentee priests “strawberry parsons” since “they came only once a year and stayed for a very short time,” (quoted by G. J. Murray in The Preaching of the English Reformers, pp. 9,10).

Writing already in 1520, Martin Luther explained,

Lo, whither hath the glory of the church departed! The whole earth is filled with priests, bishops, cardinals and clerics, and yet not one of them preaches by virtue of his office, unless he be called to do by another and by a different call besides his sacramental ordination. (“The Babylonian Captivity”, Works, II, Baker, 1982, p.280.).

And if and when the bishops and priests did preach, the quality of the sermons was very poor. There was preserved in the worship service a place for preaching. This was called the “homily,” a brief sermon. But these homilies were for the most part nothing but borrowed sermons from the church fathers. The priests did not do any original work, nor was there any exposition of the Scriptures. The sermons were therefore not edifying but boring treatments of meaningless subjects of the Middle Ages. In addition, these sermons were filled with many absurd stories and fables. Besides, even where the sermons were of good quality and content, they were most often read in Latin, which most of the people could not understand. On the character of these sermons John Calvin wrote:

…What sermons in Europe then exhibited that simplicity with which Paul wishes christian people to be always occupied? Nay, what one sermon was there from which old wives might not carry off more whimsies than they could devise at their own fireside in a month? For, as sermons were then usually divided, the first half was devoted to those misty questions of the schools which might astonish the rude populace, while the second contained sweet stories, or not unamusing speculations, by which the hearers might be kept on the alert. Only a few expressions were thrown in from the Word of God, that by their majesty they might procure credit for these frivolities. (Selected Works of John Calvin, ed. & Trans. by H. Bevridge, vol. l, p.40).

This weakness in preaching also applied to the traveling preachers, the friars. These were special religious orders of men in the Roman Catholic Church. whose beginnings had been sound and good. This class of clergy arose because of a lack of preaching in the church and care for the sick and poor. Founded by Francis of Assisi and Dominic in the 13th century, they were organized into preaching orders, which would travel throughout the countrysides bringing the message of the gospel to the poor peasants. But gradually, these friars too fell victim to the abuses in the church. They gave in to the sermon style of the day, and worse, became nothing more than instruments of the pope.

Hence. also their preaching became corrupt and worthless. Instead of bringing the pure and simple gospel based upon the Scriptures, they resorted to embellished messages in which the stories of the Bible were mixed in with sensational fables and traditions, designed to entertain the peasants. Thus did they spread fact and fiction, truth and error, and therefore, confusion, throughout the countryside. The result was that, though they still traveled preaching, the message they brought was not that of the gospel, but of loyalty to the pope and the need of money for the church coffers.

It is also striking but sad that with the preaching so bad and the people so ignorant, another method of bringing the gospel to the people was being used — drama. Groups of dramatists would travel from town to town putting on mystery plays and passion plays. Sound familiar?! Yes, history is being repeated in our day! Entertainment once more fills the churches! And sadly, this occurs in Protestant churches which have their roots in the preaching revival of the Reformation!

But if there was little or no preaching done by the ordained clergy of the church, who was doing the preaching? Undoubtedly, there were a few faithful bishops, priests, and friars scattered throughout the vast regions of the church world who continued to bring the gospel to the humble city and country folk. But one Reformer was convinced that there was another faithful preacher at work in the church.

Hugh Latimer, in a sermon preached in 1548 denouncing the sin of a lack of sound preaching among the clergy of his day, announced whom he considered to be the “most diligent preacher and teacher in all England.” Said he,

And will ye know who it is? I will tell you: it is the devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all other; he is never out of his diocese; he is never from his cure; ye shall never find him unoccupied… And his office is to hinder religion, to maintain superstition, to set up idolatry, to teach all kinds of popery. He is ready as can be… to devise as many ways as can be to deface and obscure God’s glory. Where the devil is resident, and hath his plough going, there away with books, and up with candles; away with bibles, and up with beads; away with the light of the Gospel, and up with the light of candles…. Where the devil is resident that he may prevail, up with all superstition and idolatry; censing, painting of images, candles, palms, ashes, holy water, and new service of men’s inventing; as though man could invent a better way to honor God with than God himself hath appointed. Down with Christ’s cross, up with purgatory pickpurse, up with him, the popish purgatory, I mean. Away with clothing the naked, the poor and impotent; up with decking of images and gay garnishing of stocks and stones: up with man’s traditions and his laws, down with God’s traditions and his most holy Word. Down with the old honor due to God, and up with the new god’s honor…. Oh that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle and darnel. (quoted by G.J.Murray in The Preaching of the English Reformers, pp.70,71).

Such was the situation prior to the Reformation. Not only was the true biblical preaching no longer central; it was also virtually nonexistent. How do we account for this?

There are especially two reasons for this decline and dearth of preaching. First, there was the rise of the authority of the pope, and with that, the decline in the authority of the Scriptures. During the Middle Ages gradual stress was laid upon the offices of the church. With this came a multiplication of offices: cardinals, bishops, priests, monks, etc. In particular, the office of the papacy came to dominate, when the bishop of Rome assumed the title of successor of Peter and head of the entire church of Christ. From that point, all it took was a few dominant popes, and the power of the pope was firmly established. And that is what happened in the Middle Ages. Yet these men were not satisfied with being the mere successors of Peter. Assuming to themselves the office of Christ, these popes took the position that they were the direct mediators between God and men; they were the voice of God to the people. Hence, the pronouncements they made, and the decisions they took were the infallible, authoritative word of God.

The result was that the authority of the church and her tradition were exalted above the Scriptures. As far as the church was concerned, the people no longer needed the Bible nor the preaching of it; they only needed to hear and abide by the teachings of the popes. The Bible and the preaching of it were even considered dangerous to the people. Because of these things, the Bible was virtually taken out of the hands of the people. And with that, of course, went the preaching.

A second reason for the loss of the primacy of preaching was the emphasis placed on the mass as the chief means of grace. During the Middle Ages great stress was also placed on the sacraments and with that, on the formal, outward worship of the church. The result was that at the time of the Reformation the worship services of the Roman Catholic Church were filled with countless unbiblical rituals and ceremonies. But at the center was the mass. This was Rome’s sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, only with many abominable additions.

According to the Romish church an amazing thing takes place in the mass. First, the bread and wine are changed into the actual body and blood of Christ. And, second, the priest offers up the ‘body” of Christ in a real, atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. Consequently, the people were led to believe that they were fed with the actual body of Christ in the wafer, and that this was the chief means of grace for them. They were taught that on the basis of the priest’s repeat performance of Christ’s death they had the forgiveness of sins. Their salvation, they were told, was tied to the mass.

It is not difficult to see that with this idea of the sacrament the preaching of Christ crucified had to take a back seat. In the mind of the church at that time, was it not far better to have Christ really crucified again before your eyes than simply to hear about it in the Word preached?

Thus did the mass become the heart of the worship service, because it was seen to be the chief means of grace. And the preaching was relegated to a low, insignificant place in the worship; it was no longer primary. Indeed, it was unnecessary!

For these two fundamental reasons, the priests and other officers of the church did not really need to preach, nor were they trained to do so. The priests did not have to bring the message of the gospel to the people. All they had to do was dispense the grace of God through the means the church established as the vehicles of salvation. The attitude that prevailed was: Why use the preaching of the Word when there are so many other easier ways to bestow divine blessings?

Hence, for the most part the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church went untrained in the art of sermonizing. Seminaries for the training of preachers were unheard of. Instead men were taught how to hear confessions, read the forms of the church, and follow her elaborate rituals and ceremonies. The result was an office of ministry that was woefully ignorant of God’s Word, and consequently incapable of delivering its message to the people. Even if a priest had wanted to preach, he did not know how.

The most serious consequence was that God’s people were being deprived of a true knowledge of God through His Word preached. Souls were starving since they were being fed stones for bread. There was a famine of the Word in the church (Amos 8:11). But God would not have it so for any longer.

Waiting Upon the Lord

Posted: July 17, 2011 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me… That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.—Proverbs 8:17, 21

The “approbation” or favor of the Lord rests upon those who have fully yielded their lives to Him, who desire to intimately know Him and are willing to spend time in His presence. The result is that these will be able to recognize His presence and will have “understanding” concerning His ways.

If these qualities are to become a reality in our lives, we also must first learn to “wait upon the Lord.”

Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.—Proverbs 8:34-35

When the Lord responds to our waiting for Him, and He manifestly comes into our midst, we then begin to wait on Him.

There is an Urgent Need that We Become Capable of Hearing a “Present” Word

As we wait on the Lord, it is important that we approach Him with a deep reverence in a spirit of worship, acknowledge His presence as being with us, and then tell Him how much we appreciate His coming to be with us. Now we can begin to flow in a cooperative relationship with Him in whatever way that He may lead or direct.

We have become a wheel (us) within a wheel (Jesus). That is, as being a wheel within a wheel, we will be in the right place at the right time, and with the right word.

Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up (opposite) them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up (opposite) them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.—Ezekiel 1:20-21

There is an urgent present need that we become capable of hearing a “present” word.

As the voice of many waters, the Lord is beginning to speak a powerful last day word to bring visitation and judgment to all mankind. Unless we become sensitive to hear His voice, we will miss the sound of His gentle “knock” upon the door of our spirit.

The “Secret” to Jesus’ Effectiveness and the Heart of His “Preparation”

Jesus spent much time in the presence of His Father. This is the “secret” of His effectiveness in ministry.

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.—Isaiah 50:4-5

This is the very heart of the “preparation” of Jesus for His ministry – His being awakened “morning by morning.” This is also the means of preparation for our place in the end-time purposes of the Lord.

…The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.—Revelation 19:10

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned.” This speaks of the spirit of prophecy that which is beyond the gifts, and emanates from relationship. The spirit of prophecy is the result of having become so “at one” with the Lord, that our lives have become the expression of His life (the voice of many waters).

This testimony that the Lord desires to express through us, is imparted within us during our times of communion with Him, as we wait in His presence. As He quickens us, His testimony becomes the spirit of prophecy within us; then it can be expressed through us, to whom He wills. We will then have the right word, at the right time, to be given in the right place, or to the right person.

“He wakeneth morning by morning.” To be awakened means that I am lifted into the realm of the supernatural, above the limitation of my natural sense, perception and understanding. When He awakens us, our inner being is alerted to turn aside from all activity, to become sensitive so we will hear what He has to say – a present word.

How to Develop and Cultivate a Sensitivity to the Lord’s Voice

Today, His word may seem to be as a “wind,” strong enough to knock us off of our feet; but tomorrow, it may be as a gentle breeze. Our hearing today will prepare us for His still small voice tomorrow. We must cultivate our ability to hear and respond to His voice.

David had within him a sensitivity to the presence of the Lord. In spite of his problems, David listened, as he had a heart for the Lord. The Lord had to speak to one of the prophets through a donkey, but to David He could say:

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with Mine eye.—Psalm 32:8

David had such a relationship with the Lord that he sensed the very presence of the Lord. The Lord did not have to speak “words” to David for him to know the desire of His heart. David knew the heart and the mind of the Lord because he had cultivated a personal relationship with Him during the years he was in the fields at night tending the sheep.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.—I Corinthians 2:16

Our mind will be renewed, or progressively brought closer to the Lord’s mind as we wait upon Him.

Our taking time to wait upon the Lord will enable Him to enlarge our spiritual capacity, and grant us the tone of authority that comes only by hearing from Him. Thus, our times of waiting upon the Lord will become as a “wheel within a wheel,” which will enable us to hear and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to move with Him in His will as He guides us.

And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.—Mark 3:13-15

The Primary Purpose of God’s Calling

The primary purpose of His calling is for us to be with Him. It is essential to our spiritual health that we spend quality time in His presence “waiting upon Him.” Only then will we have the spiritual energy to face the challenges, testings, and problems of life.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.—Isaiah 40:31

During these times of intimate fellowship, we are brought into a closer union with Him. In the closeness of this communion, we will receive of His life and strength, and along with this, we will come into a deeper understanding of spiritual principles and the unfolding of His Word, which will draw us yet closer.

…The times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.—Acts 3:19

Our times of waiting upon the Lord are the key to a victorious, overcoming life. Throughout the Psalms, whenever David found himself in difficult circumstances, he constantly reminded himself to wait upon the Lord.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.—Psalm 27:14

It is here, in the Lord’s presence, that we will begin to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom. There will be a realignment of our lives, and our priorities will change from the natural to the spiritual. Our spiritual senses will be energized by His presence and restored to respond to His purposes.

We are to be changed from one level of glory to a higher level of glory. We may be birthed through a particular ministry and even flow in the same anointing, and echo the same teachings; but unless we “personally” have cultivated the presence of God by spending time waiting upon the Lord, we will simply be reflecting reflected light, a dimmed reflection of the pure glory of the Lord.

As we wait upon the Lord, we will experience a genuine encounter with the Lord. Then, wherever we go, the result of His manifest presence that we have experienced will cut through every bondage and every fear in those who are witnessing the result of our life in His. This will bring others to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.

During these prolonged times spent in His presence, we are “sowing” to the Spirit – enlarging our capacity to flow with the Holy Spirit. It is always costly to the natural man and will probably seem inefficient. Many of our “early morning risings” may seemingly bear no fruit at all, but the continued lifting up of our desire for the Lord, along with our worship and the obedience of seeking after Him rather than things, will in time bring forth within us an accumulative effect that will surprisingly produce a profound spiritual result.

We will have become a prophetic vessel that is available to Him. These times of waiting upon the Lord in His presence do not produce quick results, but rather, lasting ones. Jesus commanded us to abide in Him, adding that it will cause us to bear “fruit that remains.” The abiding life – a life that waits in God’s presence, will produce fruit that will stand in eternity.

Indeed, the Lord is knocking on the door of our spirit and is seeking to enter into the room of our spiritual being. He is seeking those who will respond to His knock, and will open the door that they might “wait upon Him.”

…Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits.—Song of Solomon 4:16

Wade E. Taylor
Wade Taylor Ministries
wade@wadetaylor.org

Glory or Glitter?

Posted: June 21, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Glory or Glitter?

By Ron McGatlin

A great transition is in process. This glorious worldwide change began two millennia ago in Christ Jesus. It is now, in this current millennium, culminating in the raising up of many pure holy sons of God in whom the Spirit of Christ is manifesting into the world – sons who endure their personal cross to enter into resurrection life and show forth the radiance of the glory of God. These sons are men and women who thunder the holy words of God from heaven with supernatural demonstration of His love and power. They are sent to turn the nations from seeking the glitter of self-life to seeking the GLORY of God and His kingdom reality.
Behind the leadership of America the western world has largely gone for the glitter of self-fulfillment and pleasure seeking. Worship of the created has supplanted the worship of the Creator. The great illusionist continues to divert and turn aside multitudes of deluded reprobate people given over to their own foolishness. The glitter of human endeavor and pleasure has allured nations into a carnival fun house lifestyle of lies and deception which, in reality, is a despicable den of seething darkness.

Selfish pride of life and lust for the pleasures of satisfying base human desires of the creature without due concern for the Creator has separated most of the western world from God. The ways of heaven have become foreign to multitudes including many that call themselves Christians but live as aliens to God.

Powerless, man-focused church structures have been taken over by the same deception and are of no value in turning the people and nations back to God. On the contrary, the pseudo Christian views of accepting the ways of the fallen world of enticing people by feeding their desires for pleasure and self-fulfillment are robbing God’s people of the potential of a true experience of heaven’s ways of life. Religious church infiltrated by the fallen world’s ways has become a massive stumbling block for people seeking the reality of God.

In the midst of great darkness a bright light is emerging.

God will have a people of HIS GLORY. The glory of God shall cover the earth. There will be a sea of people of God filled with His glory carrying the light of heaven exposing every den of darkness and bringing forth the light of heaven in every heart and life of every person who remains beyond the cleansing shaking of God.

God is now preparing a nation within nations. A people of His glory filled with the life of Christ Jesus empowered from heaven by the Holy Spirit – a people without fear – a people of purity, holiness, and powerful humility – a people without regard for the fallen world who hear and obey only their God – a people in whom there is no dependence on man and no independence from God. True sons of God are being prepared to lead the world into the fullness of the kingdom of God.

There is no question that the sons of God are manifesting. The question is who will these people of God be? Are you one? Am I one? Who are these hidden people who will arise amidst the darkness that is covering the nations to carry the light to those who sit in darkness? Who will be the ones who call out and receive the people abiding in dens of seething darkness? Who will be the harvesters of the harvest of God? Who will be the ones to enter the New Jerusalem City of God to rule and reign with Him? Who will be the ones to sit at His table and commune daily with Him in the midst of His glory? Do you really want to know? It is those who are doing it now.

Wake up people! Those who name His name, AWAKEN!

Arise, shine, For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you (Isa 60:1).

Jesus has returned to live in your heart – the Holy Spirit has come to you – the same God who created all life and all matter dwells with you. The same God that by His emanating power causes all things to exist abides in you. In our day the supernatural power of God is flowing through His people to cleanse, heal, and deliver the people who are now sitting in great darkness.

Mat 4:16-17: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

Isa 60:1-5: Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.

The radiance of the glory of God is so bright that it overpowers and exposes the glitter of self- indulgent pleasure seeking as darkness. The glitter of flesh-enhanced “worship” and man-focused preaching does not compare to the pure, holy glory of God. Man-made glitter does not compare to the beauty of a consecrated life filled with His love, humility, self-sacrifice, true righteousness, peace, and joy of the Lord. The glory of His presence causes all else to become as shadows. To know Him intimately is more than all the world has to offer. True kingdom is being birthed in the hearts of devoted servants who become sons in service and the King’s Bride in intimacy.

There is no other ultimate purpose in life. This is the reason we were made. The reason we were born and the purpose of our remaining on this small planet called Earth. There is no complete fulfillment in life beyond becoming the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Total rest and satisfaction is only in knowing Him intimately and becoming a carrier of His glory on earth – a clear reflection and reality of the life of Christ Jesus. This is the field of great treasure and the one perfect pearl of life for which we gladly sell all that we have to purchase.

Many people desire this life and cannot obtain it. Many sense the beauties of holiness in the real kingdom, and. though it is rare on earth, they may see it in another person or family. They may exclaim, “Oh how beautiful – how peaceful and joyful; I want that for me and my family.” However, when they discover the cost of selling all they have, all their glitter, all they have striven to gain, and all that gives them their earthly reputation and provision – all that their flesh enjoys, then they are NOT willing to sell all and they walk away from the glory of God.

Surely, it is the mercy of God that allows all their glitter, all their earthly accomplishments, and all in which their flesh takes pleasure to be utterly destroyed before their eyes. In this great time of loss and painful shaking many who have previously seen but turned away may turn back with their whole hearts to seek the true life in the kingdom of God. Others will blame God for their loss and curse Him. The God cursers are even now attempting to rid their nations of God and destroy His people. They will become even more inflamed against God and His people as the day of their end approaches.

Mat 23:37-38: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.”

Rev 9:18: By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed; by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone…..

Rev 9:20-21: But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Rev 6:15-17: And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Isa 2:11-12: The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up; And it shall be brought low.

Beyond the great shakings of cleansing of the earth, the great governing city of God and His people will come into full view to rule the kingdom of God on earth as in heaven. God and His holy Bride will flow the light of the government of Christ Jesus over all the world, and the kingdoms of earth will have become the kingdoms of our Lord (Rev 11:15). Amen.

Rev 21:2-5: Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

This is not a far distant pie in the sky thing. This is available now within all who sell all to come to Him with their whole hearts. The New Jerusalem lifestyle must be within before it flows out to the world. We are the generation of the refiners fire of God coming down preparing a people to overcome the gods of this world – to retake the land of the living in the love and power of God to heal the broken, strengthen the weak, deliver the bound, proclaim the opening of the prison, the recovery of sight to the blind – to destroy the works of spiritual blindness, darkness, deception and delusion – to raise to life those trapped in spiritual death separated from their God.

Isa 61:1-4: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolation’s, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolation’s of many generations.

Keep on pursuing love.
It never fails.

Ron McGatlin

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

Engulfed in Peace

Posted: June 16, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Engulfed in Peace
By Ron McGatlin

Injustice exudes from an upside down fallen world.
The masses have had their minds inverted and their hearts darkened.
Wisdom has hidden and righteousness has departed far from them.
The shrewd and strong take from the weak and simple and no one intervenes.
They spend wildly what they do not have for what they do not need.
They trample the precious and embrace the corrupt.
They reject truth and cherish lies.
They kill their babies and pamper their pets.
They sleep with a viper and run from a Lamb.
They abandon their wives and molest their children.
They run after knowledge and turn away from truth.
Their judgment is upon their heads and they know it not.
The devourer is upon them and their time of loss is at hand.
Their leaders take them the wrong way and they do not discern.

Their sin has separated them from their God (Isa 59:2). They have turned from Him and He has given them over to perverse reprobate minds (Rom 1:28).

To have spiritual eyes and understanding is a burden. Seeing what should be and finding no way for it to be is a source of great frustration and discouragement. To see our once blessed nation crumbling and the children wasting their lives brings great pain. To see the armies of evil moving in to devour the strength of the people is sad beyond measure. However, the hardest part of all is to know the solution, to have the remedy to save the land and restore the people and be violently turned away. This is the most troubling and frustrating of all.

But take heart and be filled with courage. God is not finished yet. There is a kingdom reality manifesting now with us and before us is the righteousness, peace and joy of the glory of God on earth as it is in heaven.

In the midst of the devastation of cataclysmic events of judgments, a great light shines through on the horizon. Beyond the smoke and dust of devastation the Kingdom reigns and the glory approaches. Look up to the light and be engulfed with total peace beyond all reason and understanding. Even in the midst of great destruction your heart will be at perfect peace and rest. Warmth and comfort will supernaturally engulf your heart and life. As the light approaches, the peace of righteousness will become joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Do not dwell upon the news of death and despair. Do not set your eyes on the evil that is being dissolved but look up and set you affection on the light of our glorious KING the LORD of all and His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy.

Keep on preaching and demonstrating the kingdom grabbing hold of those who come running out of the fire. Refresh them with the pure cool water of the Spirit and provide them a fresh clean change of cloths. Many will be saved even during the cleansing fires of judgment. Supernatural faith and peace will be graced to you to finish the work of God allotted to you. You will be engulfed in peace hidden in a cloud of His love. Set your mind on things above. Set your affection on heavenly things of Christ Jesus in the Spirit.

Col 3:2: Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Let your life be consumed in the Spirit. Let you daily moment by moment walk be in the Spirit.

Gal 5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Be led of the Spirit in all things and lean not unto your own understanding.

Prov 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.

Rom 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Psa 91:7-8: A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

Phil 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:8-9: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Keep on pursuing love. It never fails
and His kingdom never ends.

Ron McGatlin

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

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