Posts Tagged ‘radical christianity’

There are many echoes in the land, but few voices….

Posted: June 6, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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( I woke up this morning with this message burning deep within my belly)

“They were astonished at His doctrine: for [Jesus] taught them as One that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).

How much of what we hear being preached and peddled around the world in the Name of Jesus is but the regurgitation and ramblings of people who can only repeat what everyone else is saying? Where is the Revelation of Jesus Christ? Who is the man or the woman that refuses to confer with flesh and blood, but only speaks according to what they have seen and heard by revelation through the Spirit? Most teachers are teaching what was taught to them, and their teachers learned it from their teachers, and so on it goes until we no longer have Spirit-birthed revelation, we have third and fourth-generational head-knowledge, yesterday’s manna and hand-me-down flesh and blood doctrines.

As one of my brothers puts it: there are many echoes in the land, but few voices. There is an ocean of difference between repeating what you have heard and speaking of what you have experienced! Is it any wonder that there is much learning, but no experiential knowledge of Truth? If we speak of ourselves then we can only impart knowledge. But, if we resolve to only speak by revelation, we can impart Life. Only revelation can change a person.

I am not talking about fresh revelations of what one feels he or she needs to be said, rather Spirit inspired revelations that the scriptures witness too and validate it as coming from the Father. Revelations that have been heard in the place of its birth – the Throne room of the Most High and ushered thru by the utterance of the tongues of Gods servants here in the world.

Revelations that only the Father could know such as when witnessing to a person and by the unction of the Spirit a revelation of that persons life that only God could know which brings forth the reality in that person’s life that God was there and has taken a very personal interest in them, the essence of the Fathers love for His creation- anointed words, relational and powerful!

“Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” (Act 2:37)

Words filled with power & authority will bring forth a stirring in the hearts and spirit of those hearing it.

“Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!” (Act 2:40)

We need more men and women like this today! Preaching with conviction under the Authority of Jesus Christ and with the power of Heaven. We need men and women empowered by Holy Spirit filled with fresh revelations that transform neighborhoods’, Cities, States and whole Nations!

Peter and the other men and women in the Bible did not just repeat what they heard, they repeated their experiences from the stand point of the intimate relationship they had with the Son of God.

We need men and women who are living out their lives according to the purpose God has established, people walking in their God defined destinies. Men and women living out Rev 12:10-11:

Salvation and power are established!
Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness.
They weren’t in love with themselves;
they were willing to die for Christ. (Message)

Men and women who will not accept the norm, who have no interest in tickling ears or being the esteemed speakers or favorite candy vendor! They are only out to please the audience of Heaven, where the sound thunders “Worthy is the Lamb”.

“As The Lord, The God of Israel lives, Whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ( 1 Kings 17:1)

Men and women who like Elijah, when the Word of the Lord leaves their lips the power of God and the Kingdom of Christ is established with the manifestion from the spiritual into the natural! Gods Authority being released upon the earth. A people walking in the revelation of their being empowered by Jesus Christ, walking under and by His authority as dominion takers for the Kingdom.

Again, many words are released today that bring no glory to God for they are in reality only a petty attempt to validate a person or organization and they contain no life, no transforming ability and no power. Dead words released by dead wine skins that are releasing nothing but dead religion that imprison rather than birthing LIFE.

We need the Heavens revelations of Jesus by Holy Spirit that not only impact a person or a people, they also are spoken with Authority and Power to establish the Kingdom and all that it contains, bringing glory to Jesus Christ.

Praise God that we are in the hour when these men and women are being raised up and released. Many of the old wine skins will be offended and attempt to shut them down and discredit them – yet the Authority and Voice of God shall be established and even as a sunami washes over the walls put in place by men – The Spirit of God is rushing over the man made walls of religion that attempt to quench His voice in our day – Heaven will not be silenced and mercy will be hard find for those who attempt to silence the roar of the Lion of Judah in this day!

The days of man taking credit that is due to the Son is over – the Thunder of the Fathers voice has gone beyond the shaken of the Heavens and is now shaken the earth- the battle lines have been drawn through the ages – the dust of religion that has attempted to cover them is being blown off by His breath and these mighty men and women of God are being freed by the Spirit who indeed leads us too and by the Truth.

In the Spirit I can see the vision of Ezekiel 37:1-14 coming to life – where the spirit of religion has eating away at the destiny of men and women called of God – now Holy Spirit is breathing the breath of God into their lives and not only is the flesh coming back upon them, they are rising with a shroud of His Glory shielding them. Gods army – young and old rising up taking their place and having heard the voice of the Captain of Host, they are marching forward as did their Master, Jesus here on earth – establishing Gods will where they are called to do so.

The question that we must ask ourselves today is – Are we on the right side of the line?

My personal prayer is that what ever is in my own life, my own heart that would in any way or form distract me or cause me to be on the wrong side of the line – what ever left over carnage of religion that has hid within me – that Holy Spirit will not only shine the light of Heaven upon it, but that He will due a supernatural surgery to remove it.

It is so easy just to be a copy cat, riding on the heels of someone else’s revelations, yet the Radical Disciple is the one who seeks after God with desperation until the Lord speaks. Are you radical enough today to seek after the Father with every thing you have?

IHS,
Russ Welch

The good word today friend’s is – Death!

Posted: June 5, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

If God intends on having One Flock under One Shepherd then we know that nothing belongs to any individual. Frequently we hear men speak of “my people”, “my flock”, or “my church”, as though they possessed something. Let us see instead that the undershepherd owns nothing, but is a steward over God’s possession. The Scripture plainly says that we are the sheep of His pasture.

Everything belongs to the Father, Who has committed all things into the care of His Son, the Good Shepherd. No undershepherd can claim anything or anyone as belonging to him personally. If we only realized this we would immediately begin treating the Lord’s sheep with greater respect and humility. How can a man lord over something that doesn’t belong to him? How can he abuse and mistreat what is not his?

I am very cautious of those who continuously speak of their ministry! When I look at the ministry that the Lord has called my wife and I too, that which He established in 2005 and gave us the name of Mighty Arm Ministries and assigned us as co-stewards it was as clear then as it is now that it is His ministry of which we are blessed to co-labor with our Lord to benefit the Kingdom. Yet we are fully aware that it does not belong to us – it is His.

This idea of it belonging to Him and not us was made even more clear when in the latter part of 2010, He called us to lay down the Ministry as it had become known more by my name than His – so with faith in trusting Holy Ghost as a true messenger of the Father, we laid it down – now we simply minister in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Even the teaching of “Your ministry which the Lord has called you too” in outward appearance seems innocent yet it is a breeding ground for pride. For there is no true Kingdom Ministry outside of the Lords ministry of which we His servants join into. This is do in large because of a lack of true Apostolic teaching on the meaning of “ministry”.

Let us strip all of our selfishness off and renounce all pride that we may walk in the path of righteousness with Holy hands and a pure heart. That as we walk the shadow of the Almighty is cast about us, the fragrance of the King fills every room we walk into, that the cloud of His Glory covers the villages, towns, Cites where we are speaking and releasing the Kingdom message for which the Father has assigned us to speak in this hour.

If the Lord stands against a prideful heart – do we for one moment believe that such a heart shall be a vessel for which the message of revival is released. For is not revival birthed from repentance? A prideful heart shall never truly repent admitting its wrong – many selfishly repent with not desire to change- just desiring to get rid of the guilt – this is not true repentance!

The good word today friend’s is Death! Death to pride and death to self – for once in our lives let us truly be baptized in the death of Christ that we may be raised with Him in His true nature walking in the fullness us our callings as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. For the true reality in the Christian walk is that in death to self – the birth of the New Man is born and this very act creates true vessels of revival. Just as the old man unchanged will hear the voice of its old master – the new man will hear the voice of its new Masters.

And today if we are truly hearing the Master Jesus Christ, we will hear Him clearly speaking as He did to Peter -Do you love Me?- Feed my Sheep! Not ” lord yourselves over my sheep – or establish your own kingdom.” Serve even as I have served is what the Jesus has taught us – wash the feet, tend to the needs of the lonely, minister to the sick, the needy and so on. Servants that serve – not prideful leaders that seek servants.

Today we have the choice – Death that we might live so we can begin reproducing life – or the same old life that we may continue producing dead things!

Those who are radical enough to lay everything down will choose death – those who desire to remain in the same old mundane religious life style will of course not choose death.

Jesus Christ presents us with a radical decision – we either choose all of His teachings and all of His commands or we choose none – there is no grey areas in the life of a Christian – if one is found having such, then the question must be asked, are they really a Christian or merely a religious person? Only the Father can see into ones heart – yet we have been given the gift of discernment and we ought to be able to discern by the fruits of the Kingdom in ones life as to whether they are truly in love with the Lord, or just in love with the idea of not going to Hell!

Let not the new wine be diluted!

Posted: May 29, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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Mat 9:17 Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, people pour new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved.”

The signs are clear to the truth that we are in the these days now and we can see where the Lord has started the process of pouring out His wine into new wine skins, for many over the past 50 years have mis-handled His wine, they have diluted it with the things of this world. Yet we do serve a God of Mercy, who will look upon once again with favor those whom turn, repent and ask for His forgiveness:

Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change.(Rev 2:5)

We must understand that God the Father wants us to change, He in His Mercy has dealt with the western church as a father deals with an infant, after all we are but a few hundred years old. But we are now in the era that we should have matured into sons & daughters of righteousness rather than un -matured squabbling babies.

There are many “churches” which had the revelation of this truth, of how far the main stream has walked away for the Pure Gospel, to one that is diluted with the philosophies of men and is in actuality not the Gospel at all. I say that because much of the “church” has gotten to where they have the desire and ability to make the people worship them, like the sons of Eli, they have lead the Bride from the heart of the Father, to become addicted to the emotional services, to become addicted to the “ministry” of the House rather than to the place of complete surrender to the King, Jesus Christ. With a luring of hype and emotionalism they have betrayed the very One whom they are supposed to be serving.

We see that it was with regret that those, who once saw this truth and having broken away from the traditions of religion haven’t not completely washed off the religious traditions after a period of time they merely become a smaller model of the larger harlots.

The Bride of Christ must come forth and shed herself of the ways of the world, remove the garments of bondage. To those who do the Lord has promised many rewards for being the victorious Bride:

“Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.(Rev 2:7)

Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:11)

Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give each person a white stone with a new name written on it, a name that is known only to the person who receives it. (Rev 2:17)

A word of caution to those who have received the revelation of who the Bride is, to come out and walk in holiness, shedding the ways of the old wine skin, not to look back and conform to that which the Lord has called you from. We must take a stand of no compromise, holding onto the glorious truth, being a broken vessel like that of the alabaster box, for you are precious, purchased with a great price, you must remain pure, unadulterated. (Matt 26:7)

We must be a people who stand in the gap for those trapped in the old, we have been giving the keys to freedom and walking in the position of true sons & daughters of the Most High, to be the lamp stands of His glory and be the very torches of holiness that light up the entrance into His Kingdom.

For the desire of the Father is that non should perish rather that all are saved.

Torches that have been dipped in the oils of His holiness, rapped in His righteousness and lite by the fires of His love and compassion for His church which John saw inn His eyes (Rev 1:14).

The radical disciples desire only to see the will of the Father done – their lives have been placed upon the Alter – the old wine skin has been removed and once removed the New Wine skin is being filled.

Are you radical enough today that there is no dilution in the wine that the Father is pouring out – have you forsaken the Old and with hungry hearts have fallen face first on the alter crying out to the Father, as did Isaiah, use me!

Friends we are in radical times and it will take radical individuals who count not their own lives even unto death that the lost and dying should see the glory of the Father!

Are you a radical?

If you are, then you shall produce radical fruit – larger because it is receiving from the True true!

(Re-posted in modified form via Russ G Welch Facebook originally posted 04-27-10)

Does the world recognize its own reflection in your life!

Posted: May 28, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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Have you suffered so many things {and} experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)–if it really is to no purpose {and} in vain? (Gal 3:4 amp)

There were a number of accepted belief systems in Palestine and the greater Roman Empire at the time this was written, such as Gnosticism and Judaism, but it is certain that God’s truth was never popular or widely accepted. It is practically a foregone conclusion that someone practicing the truth will be persecuted for it to one degree or another (Matthew 13:21; Romans 8:35-36; Galatians 5:11; II Timothy 3:12; I Peter 2:19-21).

In fact, the churches of Galatia may have been forewarned about this by Paul when he was teaching in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (all on the south-eastern border of Galatia) as recorded in Acts 14:20-22. Christians are called to be separate from this world and its ways, and when the world recognizes this difference, it lashes out.

From Paul’s writing, it seems that the Galatians had the proper foundation at one time, and they really did understand the truth at the beginning of their spiritual lives.

This would have been the time when they were actively standing up for the truth, and a great contrast would have been evident between the Galatians and the general population. This is when they would have suffered—in the internal struggle of having to give up their former conduct, or with the external struggle of not fitting in with the rest of society.

As the Galatians began to slide into apostasy, they would no longer have been so repulsive to the people around them, and the suffering and persecution would have begun to lessen—the world would have started to recognize itself in them again (John 15:19).

In essence, Paul is asking them if they are just going to throw away all that they had learned—especially what they had learned through adversity. With this question he is pointing out that, if they fall away, everything they had been through, both good and bad, would have been in vain in the sense that there would be no future profit from it.

They would have received the maximum benefit from it already. This relates to Romans 8:28, where we are promised that all that we suffer will be redeemed for those who meet the requirements listed—those who are called according to His purpose, which the Galatians ostensibly were, and those who love God, which the Galatians were not doing in that they were relegating Christ’s sacrifice for sin as meaningless.

The question we have to ask about our selves and our church today is “Does the world see more of itself in us, they we are seen in the world”? Now, the tough part if one really wants the truth is to ask Holy Ghost to do the search. I think many will be shocked at just how much leaven Holy Ghost point’s out – then comes the question are you willing to have it removed?

We can play church all we want, but if we believe we can play church and live as the world does and that the stench of the world will not be pick up in the Kingdom, we are only fooling ourselves. There are going to be no prostitutes (spiritually speaking) marrying the Fathers Son – Only those who are loyal to the Groom shall become the Bride – where is you loyalty today!!!

“The only way to live a life with no compromise is to live as one who has been broken. Our fleshly man has no control what so ever and our inner man ( spirit) has been fully captured in the marriage of our spirit with that of the Gods Spirit within, together acting as one with no battle of will”.~RGW

Be not deceived – Know the true Christ!

Posted: May 27, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you [a]are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (Col 2:9-10 AMP)

A true disciple of Christ will recognize through discernment that at every turn, we are faced with those living the life of a false disciple right in the midst of the fellowship. And the goal of the spirit which is ruling their lives is to twist the nature of Christ. Some false disciples in Paul’s day and right here in ours believe that Jesus was a man, but that Christ entered into Jesus when He was baptized and left Him right before He died.

We find many false doctrines in the world and church today are empowering modern day deceived false disciples who believe that Jesus did not really die—because, after all, if He died, then He was not really God. Many who have been indoctrinated in the false teachings believe that He could not have been perfect and sinless because He created matter, which false disciples, following the thinking of Gnosticism believe to be evil. And there were those in Paul’s day who believed that Jesus Christ was a created being—an idea that is still affecting the fringes of the church of God today.

The point is if we really want to counter false disciples deceptions and their doctrines in our day, we must begin with the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes this in verses 9-10: Jesus was the fullness of the divine nature in bodily form, and He is the head, the leader, the sovereign, of every principality and power. Though the false disciples in their various views always twist or deny some aspect of the nature and role of Jesus Christ, these truths brought out by the apostle are bedrock beliefs for true Christians.

We must be anchored in the Word friends, for the true, Holy Ghost taught knowledge of the Word is foundational to countering false doctrines is the truth that Jesus brought. To combat the false knowledge that threatens to plunder our spiritual riches, we must take the Bible as the complete and inspired Word of God, against which we can test any concept, tradition, doctrine, or philosophy, no matter how good it sounds on the surface.

When dealing with such, you will soon learn that these false disciples will not readily accept the Bible as God’s inspired revelation, or if they do, they also hold to the belief that other ancient, secret writings are on par with Scripture, and can be trusted to provide greater insight.

Though the Lord is still speaking to His people today, we need to be very cautious that we do not allow prophecy to over rule the Holy Word. Many in our day are chasing after a new word, and spend little time listening to what the Father has to say in His Word, which is a scale for which we are to use to weigh all things, that we are not being deceived!

We must put on the whole armor of God, I personal tremble at the thought of how foolish I have been in the past to not take advantage of this armor in my own life – But by the Grace of the Holy Father of our Lord Jesus Christ through the guarding of my mind by the infilling of Holy Ghost in my life – there has always been that red flags popping up in my spirit when things contrary to the Ways of the Lord. Much of this I believe is because of the faithful prayers of my mother and many others that the Lord would guard my mind – let us never forsake to power of the prayer of a righteous servant of the Lord – know that the Father hears of prayers!

In the hour we live we must be radical Christians whose eyes turn not from the Lord Jesus Christ, from His Word, and we radically keep our ears tuned into Heaven!

We must be radical Christians in regard to our prayer time, that quality time when the Father shares His heart with us!

We must be radical Christians in regard to the testing of the spirit’s and friends we are called to judge the fruits!

Take for example Acts 16:16-18, here we find Paul and Silas were being followed by a slave girl who predicted the future. When Paul turned and commanded an evil spirit to come out of her, was he judging her? No, he was judging the fruit in her life. He was able to discern that while she did speak the truth about them, saying that they were servants of the Most High God, it was actually the spirit in her that was speaking, seeking attention for itself.

Here again we find another example in Matthew 14:3-12 , in this passage we read how John the Baptist spoke out and told Herod that it was wrong for him to have his brother’s wife. Was John judging Herod when he spoke this? No, he was preaching the uncompromising truth of God’s Word. Obviously, it infuriated Herod because he had John arrested, and later consented to have him beheaded.

Let us do away with the watered down gospel which creates frail, weak Christians and instead let us not walk ourselves in our own strength rather, but in in the power of His Spirit – let us as well train up disciples who are brave and compelled to live in the Ways of Christ, who cower not in the face of the enemy, no matter what persecutions he throws our way!

Friends I truly believe that we are living in the last days, the final chapter of Act’s is being lived out right before us. Because of that, Jesus told us that the love of many will wax cold. (Matt 24:12) People will want to hear only preaching that will tickle their itching ears. (2 Tim 4:3) While it may be easier to just keep our mouth shut and refuse to speak the truth of God’s Word, I want to encourage you right here today to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

Keep running the race He has marked out for you. Even in the midst of persecution, know that your Father in heaven is closely watching you, and He is pleased when you stand up for righteousness, walking in the power and authority of His Son, Yeshua. (Heb 12:1-2)

“The highest calling is that of servant-hood”
IHS,
Russ ‘Rush’ Welch

KINGDOM DOMAIN – THE WORLD

Posted: May 23, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Doctrines developed in the past apostate church age offered little or no hope for man or the world in this present life. The essence of these doctrines is that the world and its systems are hopelessly tainted with sin and, subsequently, evil. They, therefore, are fit only to be destroyed and replaced by a newly created planet. In this view there is no hope for the present world to be cleansed and restored. The only hope for the planet is total destruction by the judgmental fire of God melting and dissolving the very elements of the planet.

Some fruits from the essence of these teachings are:

1. A release of man’s responsibility to preserve and care for the natural systems of the planet. There is little or no incentive for man to cooperate with natural laws of God’s order. Short range, more immediately profitable actions are often chosen over those that align with God’s natural order, which are designed for the continued existence of the planet’s systems. The underlying rationale seems to be, “Why be concerned since it is all going to burn and be destroyed anyway, and probably soon”?

2. A lack of appreciation for the wonderful creation of the beautiful, life- supporting planet. The glorious essence of God can be seen in the beauty of His creation. The intense blue of mountain lakes reflect more than the breathtaking awesomeness of the magnificent mountain scenes. It also reflects something about our loving, great God. The unfathomable complexity of the chemical, physical, biological, zoological, meteorological, ecological, and other systems of the planet all speak of our God, who created them. They are all designed to intricately work together to support continuing life on the planet, and the continued life of the planet itself.

3. A lack of respect for life on earth and man’s awesome and exciting potential with God. Man is the only part of God’s creation designed to intimately relate to God, to actually experience knowing Him. Man is designed to rule and reign with Him now in this present age. A lack of appreciation for God’s natural creation leads to a lack of respect for the life of man himself. Man is linked to and a part of the world’s systems.

Do these fruits seem to line up with the words of Jesus and the nature of God? Jesus came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. It is God’s nature to give life, to heal, and to deliver. Someone else desires to destroy. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). It is not God’s plan or desire to destroy the earth, but rather to purify it. Jesus often spoke of the wicked being removed and the righteous shining forth on earth (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43).

The scripture also speaks clearly of God destroying those who destroy the earth.
Rev. 11:18b: And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.

Since the essence of the teachings that the earth is bad and fit only to be despised and destroyed does not appear to line up with the words of Jesus and the nature of God, we need to reexamine the scriptures that seem to affirm these teachings.

Does God love the world’s systems or despise them? Are we to love the world or to despise it? Certainly, we know God loves man. However, God does not love man’s sin and evil nature. God loves the world, but does not love the evil in the world implanted by the devil. In our considerations, we must make a distinction in our consideration between the created planet and the two systems that seek to rule life on the planet.

One ruling system is the evil order of the enemy and the other ruling system is the order of God from heaven. Both of these systems are referred to as the “kosmos” in the Greek New Testament text.

One of the most well known scripture verses is John 3:16, which many Christians have taught to their small children. Many correctly use this verse to instill in children that God loves them so much that Jesus came to save them and everyone who will believe. We may read the verse, “For God so loved the world”, but think in our minds,

“For God so loved me or mankind”. Granted, the individual and mankind are the focus of what is being spoken of here, but more than mankind is being referred to as the world.

The word translated “world” here is the Greek word “kosmos,” which is generally interpreted as “world order”. Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary defines the word as orderly arrangement, and by implication, the world and its inhabitants.
[ “G2889. kosmos, kos’-mos; prob. from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by impl. the world (in a wide or narrow sense, includ. its inhabitants, lit. or fig. [mor.]):–adorning, world.” The root or base is: G2865. komizo, kom-id’-zo; from a prim. komeo (to tend, i.e. take care of); prop. to provide for, i.e. (by impl.) to carry off (as if from harm; gen. obtain):–bring, receive.]

Jesus came to save more than mankind; He came to save the world. God desires to redeem all the “kosmos,” all the adorning and decorative systems. Since God has given mankind authority and responsibility to have dominion on earth, man must first be redeemed and brought into order with God and His ways for the world to be saved or restored.

God chose to limit himself by ruling through man on earth and has never rescinded that position. Man has the free will to make decisions regarding the order of rule in the world. Therefore, God had to become a man to save the world. God became a man in Jesus Christ. His original created order is for man to have dominion in the world (Gen. 1:26-28).

The man Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, now rules in the world as he lives within believers on the earth by the Holy Spirit. As human beings receive Christ Jesus into their lives by the Holy Spirit and yield control of their lives to the Spirit of Christ within, the will of God is done from heaven on earth through man.

The kingdom of God from heaven rules in the world and the ways of God redeem and restore the kosmos.

The key to the redemption of the world is the salvation of man. Therefore, man’s redemption is the world’s only hope.

In every instance, the word translated world in John 3:16-17, is kosmos.
John 3:16-17: “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

In these verses God speaks of man being saved in relation to the world being saved.

There is no distinction made between mankind and the rest of the world as the object of God’s saving love. The priority in these verses is that the kosmos be saved.
Mankind is a major part of the kosmos and is God’s caretaker for the planet. Even the root of the word kosmos, (komizo and komeo) means to tend or take care of, to provide for and keep from harm. Man is to carry out the order of God’s design on the earth. The kingdom of God, the will of God, is to come forth through redeemed man–more specifically by Christ Jesus within man.

Two Worlds On Planet Earth
Obviously, God loves the world (the world He created and its systems of life). Yet, other scriptures make it clear that we are not to love the world (evil world order) or the things of the world (evil works in the world).

In scripture, there is one planet but two worlds spoken of. First, there is the world system that God created and loves and that we are to love as well. Second there is the evil fallen world system that was released by Adam and that we are told not to love. These two world systems are kingdoms–the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of darkness is evil but offers attractive enticements that appeal to the lust of the flesh and seek to lure people under its influence and entrapment.

We are not to love this evil world system or the things it offers. Neither of these world systems is the physical planet but spirit-led systems working to guide and empower humans beings that have dominion on the planet. Human beings have the authority to decide which system is released into the world. Neither system will have dominion in the world without the will of mankind releasing it.

In every instance the word translated world in 1 John 2:15-17, is also kosmos.
1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Man is not being instructed not to have loving concern for the world, but is being told to not have the love of (from) the evil world system. The world has its own kind of selfish, lustful, greedy affection–the desires of the flesh. We are not to have that love of the world. We are not to lust after the things of the world. However, we are to be filled with the love of God for the world and desire its redemption.

The love of God satisfies.
The love of (from) God is a fully satisfying inner abundance. Individuals filled with the love from God feel no anxiety or frustrating need for anything else. Nothing further is required for their spirit and soul to be at perfect peace. From this inner abundance flows a great desire and potential to love the kosmos (the world and its inhabitants).

This leads to serving mankind and the world around us by seeking to make things better for everyone, which brings the peaceful, prosperous, order of God to the kosmos. Love from God is a giving kind of love.

The love of (from) the world is not really love at all, but lust for the kosmos. It is seeking to fill an inner need that exists because the love of (from) God is not filling the individual. In reality the world’s kind of love (lust) is not love at all. It stems from the lack of the presence of God’s love within. The inner need created by unlove leads to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The inner need becomes like a great vacuum trying to fill the void with the kosmos (the world and the things in it, including people). The kosmos is consumed, used, and destroyed as the inner need drives the individual to get more, have more, be more, and experience more. The love of (from) the world is a taking kind of unlove.

The love of God is in Christ Jesus. The potential for the very love of God in your life and mine is in Jesus. If the Spirit of Christ rules our hearts, the love of God is manifest in our lives.

John 17:26: And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.

Christ in man is the practical method by which love from God fills one’s life until no room exists for the love (lust) from the world system for the things in the world.

There is a vast difference between having loving concern for the kosmos (as God also does) and seeking to possess or consume the kosmos from our lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of this life. The Spirit of Christ Jesus living and ruling within by the Holy Spirit guides and empowers individuals to walk in freedom from the lust of the flesh and to be filled with the love of (from) God. All people that do not have the love of God abiding within them by the Spirit will have lust for the things of the world. It is not possible for one in whom Christ Jesus does not dwell to be filled with the love of God and to be free of the love of (from) the world.

Gal 5:16-17: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Many Christians may need to rethink their worldview.
A belief that God does not love the kosmos may have led us to devalue much of what God loves, and sent His Son to save. Man is inseparably a part of the kosmos. To harm or destroy the world is to harm one’s self. To bless and redeem the world is to bless one’s self. As man takes care of the world, the world takes care of man. I’m reminded of an old saying that farmers once used, If you will take care of the land, the land will take care of you. This same wisdom applies to all of the kosmos.

The world is not inherently evil. It is a marvelous and wonderful creation of God. The systems and order of the world are awesomely grand beyond all we can think. The complex intricacy of biological systems, ecological systems, and the physical make up of all things is more than all the minds of man together could ever understand. Yet, it all fits and works together to perpetually sustain life. The beauty of the colors, shapes, and patterns of the mountains, lakes, forests, plains, and mighty oceans are marvelous beyond compare. The delicate, delightful fragrances of the rose, the flowers of the field, the spruce or fir tree, or the pine tree on a still spring evening, all speak of God’s love and provision for the world.

It is humbling to realize that God has put man in charge of caring for His marvelous creation. To not be concerned about caring for the people, animals, and the ecology of the world is to be apart from the plan of God. As man, by the power of the indwelling Christ, walks in accordance with God’s ways, the kosmos is healed. Mankind, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteous ways of being and doing, moves man and the world systems toward healing and restoration (Matt. 6:33) (Rom 8:19-22).

Mankind, seeking his own way apart from God, moves man and the world systems toward disorder and destruction. God has not planned the destruction of His creation. The power of Christ in man is sufficient to heal and restore the kosmos.

John 3:16a, 17b: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that the world through him might be saved.

John 1:29b: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail,
Ron McGatlin
http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

Can a person really live a life free of sin?

Posted: May 20, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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The big question many people ask is, “Can I really live a sin free life on earth?” The answer is YES. If we abide in Christ we cannot sin. However, many theologians are teaching an abiding in Christ that is excusing sin. Most of us look at the norm, we look at sinful human beings as our example. Therefore, because we cannot see the exhibition of a triumphant life in the people around us, we then believe that it is just not possible. Many exclaim that sin is a normal part of everyday life. God forbid. That is the lie of the devil.

Friends, do not allow the truth in God’s word to depreciate before your minds because those who profess it do not live consistent lives. Jesus Christ and Him only is our example, and if He is telling us to go and sin no more, then it is possible. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say.

Do I have to live in sin everyday?
After Jesus explained the kingdom of God to His disciples they asked him this question…

Matthew 19:25-26
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Our natural reaction in the flesh is like that of the disciples. When they added self effort in the equation of victory and did the math, the answer was defeat. Christ rightly said, it is impossible in our own strength to live a righteous life. However, Jesus is saying to us, just surrender and allow me to live out my sin free life that I lived in you. Let us examine Romans 6:3-11. I would like you to read those verses first, then move on to the scripture below.

Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Therefore, at baptism the old man is crucified with him as a result of going under the watery grave of baptism symbolic of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that can wash away every and any stain of sin. Henceforth we should not serve sin. Jesus expects us to remain in him so that we will not continue in sin.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Now, this victorious life is dependent on our belief system and practice. We must believe that Jesus Christ can keep us from falling. We must suppress on a consistent basis, surrendering our will to God. When his words are crystallized upon our minds, then we will acknowledge Him in everything, so that he can direct our path. Paul found this out and he realized that self and Christ cannot co-exist. Upon that discovery he exclaims.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul was trying to fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons. He was trying to help God out. The Bible tells us, “It is not by might nor by power, but by my spirit.” Paul is saying, we must allow Christ to live out his life in us by reading his words and meditating on him on a moment by moment basis.

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
What does the flesh do? It is subject to sin. But if we ask on a consistent basis, “What should I do to honor you Lord,” then we will be ok. If we sin, we are not in Jesus, we are of the devil. If we are in Christ we cannot sin.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this to happen, friends, we would have to walk out of the protective environment of Jesus Christ and follow the devil. It is a conscious decision, not ignorance nor is it an accident. If you are in Christ there is no room for sin. Did Christ accidentally sin or sin in ignorance? No, He did not, else he could not be our Savior.

1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That is beautiful. If we are in him, we cannot sin. But do we believe it? Friends, Satan cannot penetrate Jesus to get to you. Do you believe that? He cannot do it, it is impossible. Some will argue and say, “what about those things that I had no idea were sins. How can one protect themselves from those situations if they are ignorant of it?” Consider this analogy: Bank tellers study the genuine bill only and not all the counterfeit that they can get their hands on. Why? Because somebody will always come up with another counterfeit, and what are they going to compare that one with if they do not have an original? They would be lost. Remember, Jesus is doing it. He will let us know when the devil is coming.

Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ was tempted in all points, but without sin. If you are in Christ, He will let you know when the devil is on his way. At that point we can cry out for Jesus and ask Him to do it for us or we can try to stand on our own. We have a decision to make. If we truly love Him, we will always choose to stick with Him. We do not need to know all sin and every temptation. The only thing we need to do is to know Jesus Christ. He will do the rest. Therefore, we will not accidentally sin. No. There are no accidents or sins of ignorance with Christ. He is doing it.

1 John 3:6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

The Bible says that if you abide in Christ you cannot sin. There are no accident or sins of ignorance. The painful truth is that, if we sin we are of the devil. We are saying, “let me out of here Lord. I do not want to be with you. I like what the devil has to offer.” So we open the door from the inside (that protective environment in Christ) and we walk out to the devil. What we are saying is, “I really do not want to be with you Lord.” Many who are living in denial will say that is a pretty harsh statement. They will argue and say, “I did not stay with the devil, I asked for forgiveness and went right back to Jesus.” But friends, why would we want a high school relationship? Why would we want to break up to make up. We know that we can sin. At anytime we can always walk out of Christ and stand on our own (living by the flesh) and that’s why we fall into sin.

Sinning under law vs. sinning under grace

Many theologians trivialize and minimize the seriousness of sin by categorizing the transgression. How can we even attempt to make a case suggesting that there is a difference between the Christian that sins and the sinning of worldly? Sin is sin. He that sins is of the devil the bible says. Whether we are under grace or law the wage is the same. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Consequently, many are walking through this world managing their sins, living in sin, singing I’m pressing on the upward way while they are sinking further and further into degradation.

The law condemns and grace saves. Yes, but unconfessed sins are unforgiven sins. So if we do not ask for grace to cover our sins we will share the faith of the worldly. Consider this text.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
We will likewise perish with the homosexuals, murderers, rapists and Satanists if we do not repent. Unconfessed sins are unforgiven sins. Remember friends, no sin will enter heaven. We must be better than nice or good, we must be holy. He that is in Christ, stay in Christ. We do not have to fulfill the lust of the flesh if we stay in Christ. He is able to keep us from falling.(Luke 13:2-5)

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Why would we want to crucify Him afresh by living in sin?

Hebrews 6:6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hypothetically speaking – Tom is married to Jane. He pays all the bills, provides for the family, helps with all the house work and helps with the training of the kids. He takes out Jane often and tells her how much he loves her. But once every two months he beats her. He is really sorry for what he did and he begs for forgiveness. Jane says if you do it again, I am going to leave you. Tom does it again in the next two months. Even though he seems to be such a good husband and father, do you think he really loves Jane if he beats her? No, how can he? Love protects, provides, and connects, it does not abuse. He that is in Christ, stays in Christ.

1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Again, Christ is saying to us. If we abide in him, we cannot sin.

Who are we going to believe? The word of God or man?

A Radical transformation of discipleship needed in our day!

Posted: May 18, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Parents, teaching
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I believe that if we are to truly lead people to Christ and then disciple into maturity, we need to be more Christ-like in our leadership style. In order for this to happen we need to have a radical transformation in the manner for which we disciple new believers in our day!

Too often I find leaders getting depressed when other are not at their same maturity and the depression opens the door to bitterness and the door of bitterness open yet into another room of those classified as cold hearted burnouts. They may still confess that they love the Lord, yet the most important Spiritual fruit in ones life which testifies to having Christ in our hearts is vacant in their lives – the fruit of Love!

I have been in “church” for 30 plus years and involved in ministry for a little over ten years, six of which has been in nursing homes. At first I felt as though everyone should be involved in the nursing home ministry, if you were not you lacked compassion.

It didn’t take long for Holy Ghost to kick that horse of pride out from underneath me. It had gotten to the point where I had even made a comfortable spiritual saddle lined with scriptures to back up my point.

None of which offered much comfort when I fell on my spiritual backside – that fall was just hard enough to jar loose all the religious garbage that I had been feeding myself on.

Holy Ghost then took me on a journey thru the scriptures and pointed out how everyone is not (thankfully) called to the same task. We are each designed in the image of God, yes, and we should all strive to have the character of God within our make up, yes. But there is no way one individual can be like God, yet when we see the Body as a whole, operating in each called gift, we get a glimpse of the very nature of God.

As leaders we can not allow the thought that “everyone needs to be like me and walk in the same calling that I have or else they simply are not a good Christian” take root in our hearts. In fact I know some brothers and sisters who try so hard to walk in the calling of the leaders around them they are actually living in rebellion because they are not walking in the calling of the Father on their lives. I don’t know about anyone else but as for myself I never want to be in a position where I cause another believer to rebel against the Fathers call on their lives.

It is so easy to get caught up in the false religious leadership functioning style that is out there today – which is why we need to stay in the Word and most definitely stay in communion with the Father. Our prayer life should consume the majority of our time. When we are so saturated in the presence of the Father, that His glory is so strong we need not speak but a few words, for just the shadow of His presence on our lives heals the sick, set’s the captives free and raises the dead – then we will know we’ve indeed been in the presence of the Father in quality time, even as was the life of Christ pour Lord!

We need more men and women in leadership today who are motivated by the unction of Holy Ghost and not being stirred by the emotions of their hearts, motivated by the very situations and conditions around them.

We need more preachers in the pulpit who know the Word so intimately that they can teach it to those whom the Lord puts before them not only thru spoken words but thru their life actions being lived out before the people – then we will see the opening of spiritual prison doors and the captives coming out in true freedom!

We need to put an end to cookie cutter ministries who seek to turn out perfect little Christians molded in the image of the doctrinal understanding we have and instead allow Holy Ghost to be able to impart the very gifts and calling of God according to that which the Father desires for each individual.

We need to go back to the basics of true discipleship according to the teachings of Christ that we will see the Johns and Peters, the Nathanael’s and James’s. the Matthew’s and Bartholomew’s. the Thomas’s and Andrew’s and the Simon’s and Philip’s rising up (Not only men but women as well). Each one was called of God, yet each one had a ministry gift that they operated in which was singularly different, yet when brought together made up the whole group’s character.

God’s ultimate goal for each individual’s life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants each of us to grow up spiritually. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing ones personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created each of us with an individual uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it. Christ-likeness is all about transforming our character, not our personality.

We need to stop judging people as to whether they hold up to our calling and instead help them get positioned to where they are exhibiting the fruit of their individual calling. We are called to be Christ like, we were never called to look like and act like one another – other than the true unified display of our love for one another.

If we are to be true leaders in regard to maturing the babes in Christ we need to take a step back from the prideful reflection of ourselves, stepping into the very potion of where we can see with spiritual eyes open, the prophetic reflection of Christ in others lives – not who they are right now in the natural, rather who they are in Christ according to the Father’s calling on their lives.

Until we model the discipleship style that Jesus laid out for us, we will never see those before us maturing into true disciples of Jesus Christ.

If we desire to see radical disciples of Christ sold out radically to live as He has called us to live, then we must radically change the way we do church and the way we disciple, returning back to the style we find rooted in the gospels and the book of Acts.

I will end this with the writing’s of the Apostle Paul:

And he gave some apostles, some prophets, others evangelists, others shepherds and teachers, to the full ending of saints, into the work of ministry, into [the] edification of Christ’s body, till we run all, into unity of faith and of knowing of God’s Son, into a perfect man, after the measure of the age of the plenty of Christ; [till we run all, in unity of faith and of knowing of God’s Son, into a perfect man, into the measure of age of the plenty of Christ;] that we be not now little children, moving as waves, and be not borne about with each wind of teaching [and be borne about with all wind of teaching], in the waywardness of men, in subtle wit, to the deceiving of error.

But do we truth in charity, and wax in him by all things, that is Christ our head; [Forsooth we doing truth in charity, wax in him by all things, that is Christ the head;] of whom all the body set together, and bound together by each jointure of under-serving, by working into the measure of each member [after working into the measure of each member], maketh increasing of the body, into [the] edification of itself in charity.

Therefore I say and witness this thing in the Lord [Therefore this thing I say, and witness in the Lord], that ye walk not now, as heathen men walk, in the vanity of their wit; that have understanding darkened with darknesses [having their understanding darkened], and be aliened from the life of God, by ignorance that is in them, for the blindness of their heart.

Which despairing betook themselves to unchastity, into the working of all uncleanness in covetousness.

But ye have not so learned Christ, if nevertheless ye heard him, and be taught in him, as is truth in Jesus.

Do ye away by the old living the old man, that is corrupt by the desires of error; [Do ye away after the first living the old man, that is corrupt after the desires of error;] and be ye renewed in the spirit of your soul; and clothe ye the new man, which is made after God in rightwiseness and holiness of truth. [and clothe ye the new man, which after God is made of nought in rightwiseness and holiness of truth.] (Eph 4:11-24 Wycliff New Testament)

The highest calling is that of servant-hood,

Russ Welch

What of those with a reprobate, corrupt mind?

Posted: May 18, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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What does the Word have to say about those who once followed Christ with all their hearts, experienced His presence yet now live a life entrenched in the wickedness of this world? The ones who know His word enough to use it as a defense but have no relationship with Him to experience His grace?

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28)

“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.” (2Timothy 3:8)

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16)

The fact is even if we don’t know what the definition of the word is, we can see from the context clues that it doesn’t mean anything of a complimentary nature! Someone didn’t like to retain God in their knowledge, so they became reprobate; men of corrupt minds are reprobate concerning the faith; someone denies God and is reprobate regarding good works. It sounds as if these people are not living the right way. They don’t seem to have a desire to please God. The result of their approach to life is this state of being reprobate.

If we dig deep enough we can often find more of what a verse means by comparing how other Bible translations render a word or sentence. For example, notice the same verses mentioned above taken from translations other than the KJV:

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28, NIV)

“Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;” (2Timothy 3:8, NKJV)

“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:16, NASB)

The same Greek word translated reprobate in the KJV Bible (Greek: ἀδόκιμος or adokimos, Strong’s Concordance Number #G96) is translated as depraved in the NIV version of Romans 1:28, disapproved in the NKJV version of 2Timothy 3:8 and worthless in the NASB version of Titus 1:16.

Now back to the question of how are we to know about someone who has a reprobate mind? We know from Romans 1:28 that the people under discussion did not like to retain God in their knowledge. As a result, God gave them over to this reprobate, depraved, disapproved and virtually worthless state of mind.

It is clear here that the people Paul is discussing in Romans chapter one are godless and wicked men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18). Paul states regarding these men:

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23, NKJV)

We can see here that Paul is railing against some vile people who crept into the early church and began to teach other things, other doctrines, other gospels, and were successful at leading many astray. It was a problem right from the start, and it has continued to be a problem down to this very day! Perhaps as we continue reading what Paul said in Romans chapter one, we might recognize some people or organizations in the news today!

As we study the history of Christianity we come to know some of the early heresies of the first century church. Among the leading heresies was Gnosticism, from “gnosis” (knowledge). These liars taught a special kind of “inside knowledge” that led many away from the truth they had recently learned from the apostles! May I recommend reading the article “Are We under Bondage to the Law?”

In understanding Paul and the writers of the epistles are written as a direct defense of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3, NKJV) against the onslaught of Gnosticism and other heresies. Paul wasn’t pulling any punches when he railed against these enemies of the truth, whether you’re reading about it in Romans or any of his other epistles. Paul was very concerned about the danger these snakes could do to the church members. He rightly called them depraved, debased, and ultimately, rejected!

And what of this question in regard to you and me? Might we be reprobates? The good news is, truly converted followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ don’t have to worry that they will be found reprobate – disapproved and disqualified – as long as they remain on the narrow, difficult path leading to the narrow gate of salvation (Matthew 7:13-14).

by Russ G Welch on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 8:36pm

To Baptize Millions of Souls

Posted: May 17, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic
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The Fire of Awakening is Here – To Baptize Millions of Souls
Brian and Candice Simmons

I see a fire that has begun! It has been ignited in the nations and it will not be stopped. It is the fire of awakening. I’m sensing this firefall is a cascading move of God that will usher in a mighty baptism of fire for millions and millions of souls throughout this needy planet. It is not a revival centered around the anointed preacher, for when that preacher leaves the fire would go out. It is not a revival that is centered merely in one local church. It is a revival of cities, regions, and nations – coming alive with the fire of awakening!

I want to put before you a summary of this prophetic message God has spoken to me. Allow God to ignite this flame inside your being. God is asking: “How hungry are you for My fire, for the fire of My presence? Show me how much you want it!” Moses turned aside to see the mystery of fire…will you turn aside from your busy life, your many duties and distractions to gaze upon the Source of this eternal flame? How badly do you want it?

Our God is a consuming fire.—Hebrews 12:29

We know that God is love, God is light, God is life, and we gladly embrace those realities, but so must we embrace with equal certainty and security the reality that God is an all-consuming fire! Do you want to know God? He is a consuming Fire! To know God is to embrace the fire!

There are three things that are never satisfied – no, four that never say, “Enough!”: the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.—Proverbs 30:15-16

There are some things that never get finished, that never say “Enough!” This means there are some things God is never finished with. He never reaches a point where He says, “You’re holy enough, spiritual enough, disciplined enough, cleansed and purified enough.” There is a fire that will burn in you that will continue to burn long after the meeting, long after you encounter this raging blaze. Until you are consumed, this fire will never say, “Enough!”

God’s determination for your life and mine is not just to touch us, but to consume us with His fire. The devouring fire of holy jealousy surrounds. He will not share us with another. He created us for Himself and longs to possess every part of our lives. So, fire that never says enough is burning in me! And none of us who want to be close to God can escape the heat! God is so supernatural and powerful that He lives among the flames.

Here are the components of this all-consuming fire of God:

1. It is a Fire that Jesus Released to the Earth When He Walked Among Us!

“I baptize you with water. But One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of Whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…—Luke 3:16-17

There is a sacred fire that is falling from Heaven. It is a baptism of fire the Lord wants to impart to His Bride. It is the fire of holy love for the Bridegroom, a fire of purity and holiness, the very spark of Divine fire that is the burning essence of God. Heavenly fire is being poured out upon the sacrifice and the altar. Moses stood before a sacred shrub burning with glory and holiness. He lingered before the burning presence until he became a burning bush! God’s plan is to light you on fire and for you to burn – for the entire world to see.

The fire of the Tabernacle in the wilderness was holy fire. It came from Heaven to earth as Moses and Aaron prayed at the gate of the Tabernacle. In one moment, suddenly, the fire fell and burned on the altar where sacrifice was made. “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire… The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out” (Leviticus 6:12-13).

The fire came from God; maintaining the fire was the duty of man. Only God can send the fire. But God did not come down and tend the fire, keeping the flame from dying; this was the responsibility of man. THE FIRE IS TO BE KEPT BURNING CONTINUALLY – IT SHALL NOT GO OUT!

Every morning wood would be added to the fire to keep it burning, prepared for every new sacrifice. Every morning a new sacrifice was to be placed on the altar and consumed with this fire. The slain lamb must be put on the altar where the living flame would transform it and consume it and lift it in beautiful colors Heavenward as a sweet-smelling fragrance to God. It is for this reason the Baptism of Fire is given to you and I! Where fire burns within us, our whole being is ignited, consumed, making it an acceptable sacrifice. The fire turns everything into flaming love!

Every conflict…

Every failure…

Every sacrifice…

Every gift we offer…

The fire makes it sweet to God! Everything you throw into this fire will become love on the other side. It will be ashes, but it will become beauty! What you cling to and refuse to throw into the raging flame will become worthless to you one day. It is the fire burning continually that makes our life a living sacrifice. Every moment is sacred, every duty is delight, every thought and word surrendered to Heaven. The path to love is the path of surrender to this fire!

2. The Fire of God in Holiness

It was in the year King Uzziah died, that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple. Attending Him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.—Isaiah 6:1-4 NLT

Isaiah saw the Lord lifted high and exalted with these singing seraphim flying around His throne. You see, they flew so close to the fire they caught on fire! That is what the holiness of God will do to you. If you get close to holiness, it will purify and ignite your soul. The seraphim are actually Angels of Fire! Their name, seraphim, means “burning ones.”

“At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook (NIV).” A violent concussion hits like a bombshell and a tremendous shaking burst forth in the Temple of Holiness. Everything began to quake. Walls and posts and doors. “And the temple was filled with smoke (NIV).” The glory cloud moved in and covered the entire scene. The fragrant incense of praise offered to God became a cloud of glory!

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”—Isaiah 6:5-7 NLT

The prophet of God was taken into the Most Holy Place of the King’s Throne Room, and there he witnessed firsthand the unveiled Holiness of God Almighty. Isaiah’s response to all this was pronouncing his seventh woe – “Woe to me!” No one comes before the fire of the holiness of God without devastation. What a shocking experience for God’s prophet! It is the duty of a prophet to make declarations and announcements on God’s behalf.

Isaiah must be humbled and shattered by the revelation of the King. Isaiah was one of the best of God’s people – with anointed lips he had brought messages from God to the people. Yet he declares, “I am ruined” (in Hebrew, “finished, cut off, and pierced through, devastated, destroyed, doomed, undone and ruined”). He not only saw God, he saw Isaiah. One glimpse of God’s holiness and he became a wretch in God’s eyes. Expect the fire of holiness to burn you until you see what Isaiah saw!

The Lord opened the Heavens and He opened the prophet’s eyes. Vision brings hope. True vision brings true hope. We will never feed people from the Tree of Life, giving them the water from the satisfying River of God, until we see the Lord high and lifted up.

Most of us think revival is the roof blowing off, but in fact, it is the bottom falling out. Revival will come not with just a WOW, but a “Woe to me!”

“My eyes have seen the King!” The majesty of this King left him undone and shattered! When you see God seated on the throne all you can think about is your uncleanness. “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.” Instead of ushering Isaiah out of the Holy Place and throwing him out on his ear, a provision was made for his cleansing. One of the burning ones took a live coal, “a burning coal,” and brought it to Isaiah. Visions of glory will turn to visits of grace. God’s prophet was cleansed by the burning coal.

This “burning coal” from off the altar speaks of the SACRIFICE of Christ which takes away our sins! The coal is a living flame, which points to Christ’s resurrection life that continues to burn in us with jealous flames! The Cross is the live coal that touches our lips in purging fire. Jesus became the sacrifice that endured the judgment of God for our sins.

3. The Fire of God in Power

What happens when the Holy Spirit baptizes us with fire? What happens when the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon us? It is more than we expect and it is different than we expect. It will make us witnesses for Christ willing to go anywhere, even to the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will give us great power to confirm the message of Christ’s death and resurrection with signs and wonders. God Himself will work with us in demonstrating His power to confirm His Word.

“God makes His angels become like winds. He makes His servants become like flames of fire.”—Hebrews 1:7 NCV

The fires of God are needed to ignite our passions to love Him and lay our lives down for Him. Without fire all we have is dead religion and Christian cliches. This intense God wants an intense love relationship with us. Imagine, the most awesome, intriguing, mysterious, and fascinating Being in the Universe wants us to experience Him and meet with Him in the fires of holiness! This is what is meant by all-consuming fire. It is a fire that attracts, fastens onto the soul, and devours everything that gets in the way of holy love.

4. The Burning SEAL of FIRE Upon Our Hearts!

This is the fire of intimacy! It is the burning heart that cannot live apart from love. The love of Christ now becomes the fuel for the flame of God. The raging furnace of love is carried upon our lives every moment. Jesus must be glorified! Jesus must be the center of attraction. Jesus must be released by our passionate praises.

This burning seal is the mark of the Christ. Many are concerned about the mark of the beast, but I have become fixated with the mark of Christ, the brands of His love that burn on my heart. Undistracted devotion to Jesus will brand the heart with burning passions. Nothing can be compared to this love. Intense, unyielding, blazing fire… This is the seal He invites you to place over your heart! It is a seal that will brand you for life, forever changed by that love.

It will consume your shackles and chains of emotional bondage and pain. It will unravel your clever ways and break the self-confidence that has been a part of your life. It is an unquenchable fire that will not rest until you are fully His. Regardless of your sin or failure, this relentless love that consumes like a forest fire will defeat it! It is a tenderizing fire that will leave us responsive to Him, craving more. You are about to become His burning bush of fire (Exodus 3:2)!

“Many waters cannot quench love…” (Song of Solomon 8:7). These waters are floods of obstacles and pressures. Nothing can put out the eternal flame of Divine love burning within the Bride. Water puts out fire, but many waters cannot quench this love! Even rivers of persecution cannot do it. Rivers of misunderstanding, heartache, disappointment, or pain cannot quench His love. Rivers of accusation, condemnation and rejection cannot put out the sacred flame. Joseph felt temptation, Peter denied our Lord Jesus, Saul of Tarsus persecuted the saints; but nothing could extinguish Love’s jealous flames.

This supernatural fire fell from Heaven, consuming the living sacrifices of the Bridal company. It will not go out. Sickness, failure, divorce, shame and guilt… none of these can quench the love of God. He will never put out the fire that burns in our hearts. You can be fired from your job or rejected by those you love – the strongest rivers of difficulty cannot put out this blazing fire (Revelation 12:16-17)!

His love is the seal, and the source of this love is God Himself. Our ability to claim this love has nothing to do with our temperament or personality, how we have treated Him or what we have done to mess up our lives. His love is the seal over our hearts, not our performance, not our devotion! His fire is greater than the illegal fires of any sin or addiction. His fire will not be put out by your failure to walk perfectly before Him. His love is the seal, not your secret failures and shameful history. This love will prevail, it will conquer you in the end – you will be consumed in its flames! Love conquers all (I Corinthians 13:8-13) and never fails. When you fail, love doesn’t.

Listen to the Passion Translation of Song of Songs 8:6-7:

“Place Me now as a seal of fire over your heart forevermore.
This living, consuming flame of fire will seal you to be Mine
Until you become my prisoner of love!
My love for you will be stronger than the chains of death and the grave.
My love for you will be consuming as flashes of fire
From the burning heart of God.
Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over all your being
Until you are consumed!
Rivers of persecution and pain will never extinguish this flame.
Even floods will be unable to quench this raging fire!
Everything will be consumed,
It will stop at nothing!
Surrender everything to this furious fire—
Until it won’t even seem to you
Like a sacrifice anymore!”

All I can say is there is coming to you a fire that will consume everything you yield to God. When you and I have surrendered EVERYTHING to this flame, it won’t even seem like a sacrifice anymore!

Love you my friends,

Brian Simmons
Apostolic Resource Center (ARC) & Stairway Ministries
Email: bwsimmons@msn.com

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