Posts Tagged ‘spiritual growth’

A time to become a united Body

Posted: January 12, 2017 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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And from him, the whole body constructed and joined in every joint, according to a gift given in measure to every member for his growth of the body, that his building may be completed in love. (Eph 4:16)

hand_in_worship-preview

Have you ever really looked at a hand – the four fingers and the thumb – all different in size and even shaped differently yet together they function in beautiful harmony.

Now if you cut one or more away, the hand doesn’t function to it’s full capacity – one of the fingers and or thumb must over react to make the adjustment for the missing member. Something else, when they are all there they number 5, Grace – even as when they are all there working according to their design, there is a beautiful gracefulness about them.

Now, I have seen people who are missing one or more, I’ve also seen people who have had all of them yet because of nerve damage or arthritis they suffer as they members seem to have a mind of there own.

Sadly today the Body at large is suffering because of each member desiring to do its own thing. Everyone feels that they each have a call to do their “own” ministry. Yet when you look at the teachings of Jesus, the Book of Acts, and the writings of Paul, they speak of anything but a “single ministry” mentality – they truthfully speak of team work, family and unity.

“My ministry” sound so selfishly self-serving and self centered….

This “my ministry” mentality has caused great damage to the body when the Biblical truth is that we each need each other and until we can put down our pride, erase wrong teaching and become united in unity with one mind, but to please the Father the body and the world will continue to suffer the loss of what Jesus created and Holy Spirit seeks to continue.

I use to have the “my ministry” mindset or sometimes I would refer to it being “My wife and I’s ministry”. Yet now I cringe when people put that label on me, for in all truth it is HIS ministry which is purposed to flow through myself and those whom the Father has purposed me to serve with.

Where ever you are, stop being a single ministry minded servant and seek out the very people the Lord has purposed you to serve with (Not over) that the Body may be whole, functioning according the the Lords design, each a very important member yet no more important greater than the members the Father has purposed you to be joined too. For then we shall see the Father being pleased and the world shall see His Glory shine forth.

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This is HIS Kingdom and we all are Co-heirs, fellow citizens re-birthed as adopted children of the Father but to worship Him in Truth & Love and walk in His lavishing love poured out on us each equally..

 

Let us be the generation that puts an end to the spiritual arthritis in the Body and become united in Christ minded ministry……

Life through Death

Posted: November 15, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Life through Death

Jesus is significant on so many levels. As we read through the Gospels, we are amazed at Jesus’s power, His compassion, His wisdom, etc. But ultimately, it was very difficult for the Jews to believe that this man was their promised Messiah for one very important reason: He was executed as a criminal.

Israel’s history was filled with kings and judges who conquered their enemies, and the prophecies about the Messiah
pointed to a victorious king. So it must have been confusing when Jesus began to speak about His death. And they didn’t know what to do about this would-be Messiah once He died.

In Mark 8:31–33, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to “suffer many things” and be put to death. (He also
foretold His resurrection.) Peter, unable to see how such a course of events could fit with Jesus’s mission, replied by rebuking his Master and suggesting another path. A triumphant king who dies on a cross? Who ever heard of that? Yet all of the Gospels describe Jesus’s death as central to His mission, and Luke spent almost ten chapters dealing with Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem to die (Luke 9:51–19:27).

Before Jesus was born, an angel declared that He would “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The problem of sin had threatened humanity’s relationship with God ever since Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden. In order for God’s people to be in a right relationship with Him, sin had to be atoned for. All of the sacrifices that God’s people made in the Old Testament pointed forward to the sacrifice that Jesus would offer on the cross (Heb. 9–10). Jesus was the true Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)—He sacrificed Himself so that we can live.

In the last Old Testament session, we talked about the promise of a new covenant, and the reality that the death of Jesus established this covenant. As we discuss Jesus’s death here, we cannot forget this connection with the new covenant.

As Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, He held the cup and said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). Thus Jesus fulfilled both of the major promises that carry over from the Old Testament: (1) He was the coming King from the line of David (the Messiah), and (2) through His death He established the new covenant that would heal and recreate His people.

Of course, the ultimate proof of the power of the cross is the resurrection. Many had claimed to be the Messiah, but only Jesus rose from the dead to prove it. After all, a conquering King cannot remain buried in a tomb. The resurrection is crucial to our faith and to the fulfillment of God’s saving purposes. Without it, we have no hope. The Gospels testify that Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to His disciples.

Francis Chan
Excerpt from Multiply material @

STANDING ON THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD !!!

Posted: June 1, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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You are either with God or you are with the devil. The decision you are making concerning spiritual things will effect you now in this life and in the life to come. BE CAREFUL WITH THE DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING.

Say NO to the devil. When you say NO, that’s all he can do. BE SURE YOU QUOTE THE WORD OF GOD TO him. Then begin to PRAISE & WORSHIP God. This will cause confusion to come on the enemy. REMEMBER YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST JESUS !!! Having done all to stand then stand.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH !!! Have you ever had a midnight hour? What did you do? Acts 16:25 & 26 tells us that Paul & Silas prayed and sang praises unto God in their midnight hour. What song did you sing? When you learn to pray and sing in your midnight hour, you will discover that GRACE will start to work on your behalf. Just like Paul and Silas, you will see your prison doors open!!! Not only will the doors open, but the bands will be loosed. You will be set FREE!!! PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS!!!

KEEP THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MOUTH. If you don’t want, what you hear yourself saying, don’t plant the seed by speaking it. GUARD your mouth. God honors His word. If you want God to honor your words, you will have to start speaking His word over yourself.

The Spirit of God has been sent to:

1. Draw you to Jesus.

2. Redeem you by the Blood of the Lamb.

3. Fill you & empower you for service.

4. Prepare you and make you ready to meet God face to face!

5. Make you ready for Heaven.

LEARN TO COOPERATE WITH GOD

In order for you to be able to cooperate with God, you will have to become a person of the Word. ARE YOU READING YOUR BIBLE? ARE YOU PRAYING? DO YOU OBEY THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? If you are, GOOD. If not, START TODAY!!!

When we study together the truths of God and His Word, don’t we have fun?

__________YES or __________NO ?

God has saved us for a purpose! We are not saved just to struggle and try to hold on until the grave or the rapture. When Jesus appears we are to be working for the Kingdom and occupying till He comes. We are called to invade the enemies influence. Are you being used by God to make a difference or are you standing by and watching the devil have his way?

Use God’s Word. Speak the Word out loud boldly. Don’t give the devil room to operate. The devil has been coming against us long enough. Let’s start standing on the Word with the whole armor of God on and fight the good fight of faith. Let’s PRAISE the GOD who is EL SHADDAI – the One who is more than enough!!!

In the book of Judges chapter 6, God talks to Gideon. He tells Gideon to go and save Israel. Gideon is like us, full of excuses. The family is poor, he was the least in the family, he was afraid and so forth. God did not except Gideon’s excuses. God gave Gideon a word. We need to get before God, until we get a word from Him!!!

Let’s get tired of just reading how someone in the past did a great work for God. Let’s start seeking God with our whole heart and discover what we can do for Him. I want to do something for God. Do you? It’s time we rise up and start to accomplish the will of God for our own lives. WE MUST shake ourselves out of the slump we are in and stand tall for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is here to help us do and find the perfect will of God.

God knows where we are spiritually. The devil also knows where you are spiritually. Do you know where you are spiritually? Find your place. Know where you are, not where you think you are. You can’t fool God or the devil. So don’t fool yourself. If you are not reading your Bible and Praying you are not where you should be with God. Some where down the road, you will come face to face with where you really are and if you are not in the Word of God, you will be in BIG trouble. Do you want to win? Then prepare yourself. Be ready for battle.

The Lord will test your obedience. He will not tempt you, but He will test you. He will give you something to do and then watch to see if you will follow instructions. When we learn to obey, it will bring victory and blessings.

God wants to anoint you. The anointing is for ministry. The anointing is for service not for show. The anointing is important, but the most important thing in your life is your relationship with God. We need the anointing, but we also need to be strong in our inner man. We need to be strong for ourselves and for others. Our lives affect many. We need to be strong. The only way we can be strong and stay strong is to be committed to the Word of God. Are you committed?

HOW TO BUILD THE HUMAN SPIRIT

James 1:12-15

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”

(NAS) “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.”

Enduring and persevering speak to us about going through and coming out victorious. The Lord does not want us to run from what we have to deal with. What makes you strong is what you do in your crises. Do you use the Word and pray, or cry and worry and make bad confessions?

You build your spirit by:

1. Staying in the Word of God

2. Praying fervently

3. Surrendering everything to God

4. Keeping correct associations

If we stay in the Word, we will bear fruit. The Word has life and power. It is a living Word. When you begin to apply the Word to your personal life, you will begin to see a change in yourself. You will notice the change. You will see your own desires will change. You will begin to want to be like Jesus and you will want to do the will of God.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK AND LIVE IN VICTORY, YOU MUST SURRENDER ALL OF YOU TO GOD. UNSURRENDERED AREAS IN YOUR LIFE BLOCK THE FLOW OF HIS POWER AND MAKE YOU UNFRUITFUL.

IT IS MY PRAYER THAT YOU HAVE BEEN Challenged TODAY. We are in this thing together. We must be faithful to God all the time.

Written by Shirley Oliver

Grace to increase in faith!

Posted: May 28, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. If you have these qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive. If these qualities aren’t present in your life, you’re shortsighted and have forgotten that you were cleansed from your past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure. If you keep doing this, you will never fall away. (2Peter 1:5-10)

Praise God, as we find that this passage builds on the implication of grace, that is, the gifts of God alluded to in the previous verses. Grace both enables or empowers us and makes demands on us by putting us under obligation. Titus 2:11-12 tells us that the grace of God teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly.” Receiving the grace of God puts us under obligation to respond.

We find here that Peter is teaching that the grace of God demands diligence or effort. Verse 5 reads, “giving all diligence [effort].” In addition, it is helpful to understand that Peter is saying in the word translated as “add” that we are to bring this diligence, this effort, alongside or in cooperation with what God has already given. God freely extends His grace, but it obligates us to respond. We are then to do our part in cooperating with what He has given to us—and He inspired Peter to tell us to do it diligently and with a great deal of effort.

Messengers of the Lord almost constantly speak of growth. Yet, notice where Peter begins his list of traits we are to become fruitful in: He writes, “Add to your faith.” “Add” is woefully mistranslated into the English. Yes, it can mean “add,” but it is actually much more expansive than that. “Generously supplement” is a more literally correct rendering, which brings it into harmony with “diligence.” In other words, make great effort to supplement your faith generously.

The Apostle Peter sees faith as the starting point for all the other qualities or attributes. He does not mean to imply in any way that faith is elementary, but rather that it is fundamental or foundational—that the other things will not exist as aspects of godliness without faith undergirding them. In the Greek, it is written as though each one of these qualities flows from the previous ones. We could also say that faith is like the central or dominant theme in a symphony, and the other qualities amplify or embellish it.

How much and what we accomplish is dependent on the place from which we begin. Peter is showing us that there is a divine order for growth, and it begins with faith.

Friends, I pray that you each let your faith grow and increase today – Ask our Father in heaven to increase your faith – spend time in the Word and build yourselves up – remind yourself daily of the good things God has done in your own life – testimonies even when spoken unto yourself increase and builds up faith!!

A radical Christian living a life of radical Christianity is one who walks empowered by Grace to fulfill all that Father has set before them, having great faith in the knowledge that Holy Ghost will provide every provision necessary to full-fill the task at hand!

Are you radical enough in your faith to cry out and let His Grace supply all your needs today? For there are sick to be healed, blind eyes and deaf ears to be opened, imprisoned and oppressed to be liberated, dead to be raised – both in Spirit and in the physical.

The Highest rank is that of servant!

IHS,
Russ Welch