Day 6. – Entering by Grace into His PEACE & REST by FAITH & our Secure Testimony of Jesus.
Shabbat Shalom dear Faith Family
EVENING DEVOTION
Tonight, we want to position ourselves afresh in His REST through FAITH as we know that we are being sent to stir up the spirit of revival wherever we are. This be pleasing to God as we go & have our being through our TESTIMONY & declaration of our utmost Faith in Christ alone.
Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1. The following Scripture equates unbelief with having an evil heart.
Heb 3:7-19
(7) Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “TODAY, if you will hear His voice. (12) Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (13) but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
2. We are encouraged to walk this road of faith holding on to our confidence in Christ as we partake IN Him, steadfast till the end in order to enter God’s rest through faith.
Heb 3:14,18-19
(14) For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (18) And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? (19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
3. This will happen as we keep on believing, and having faith in Who He is, trusting in God alone for what He is about to do in our lives, in our nation through the mighty working of His power.
Heb 4:1-2
(1) Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (2) For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
4. We all need these encouragements from God’s heart to be revealed to us, that we do not grow weary. To move us towards pursuing ‘the more of God” that we all so long for. We tend to forget and need to be reminded of the excellent ministry of Christ, our perfect Saviour, Master & Redeemer.
Heb 8:6
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Jer 33:2-3
(2) “Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): (3) ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Heb 4:16
(16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
What is your Testimony of Christ?
Rev 19:10 (AMPC) …
I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God!
For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (NKJV)
Prayer:
Father,
we kneel before Your Throne in utmost reverence. We come in this day with faith in our Lord Jesus & in the perfect work He did on the Cross. We come with boldness to be helped on the right time. Our nation, social society, the Body of Christ & our personal lives are in desperate need for a move of God to revive us & bring reformation in every sphere of Life. We bring our lives and trust You alone to heal us… to heal our land. We bow before You now, to rise up in Your strength in joy & utmost faith, choosing to GO with our secure TESTMONTY of Jesus, the only Saviour & Redeemer. He is the only answer to this world!
Day 5. – Being Revived through The Working of His Spirit
Shabbat Shalom Prayer Partners & Faith Fellows
EVENING DEVOTION
Rev 22:16 – 18
(16) “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (17) And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (18) For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
Let us trust God that by His Spirit He will revive this nation, these people and bring His remnant together – to give us a measure of revival, even in this time of uncertainty.
Ezr 9:8
(8) And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the things of God. That our faith-life can be relevant & authentic from the heart of God in this day & hour – effective out there where HE sends us.
1Co 2:11-12
(11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Let us revisit the purpose of the diversity of the Gifts to flow through all of us for the profit of all.
1Co 12:6-7
(6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Let us stir up the message of repentance, baptism in the Holy Spirit to stand up in a new life in Christ; that many can now come in & be added to the Household of God.
Act 2:38-41
(38) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
(40) …”Be saved from this perverse generation.” (41) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Let us pursue God for His message of HOPE to infiltrate the heart of every man, women & child. To experience the joy & peace through the experience of new found revelation of Faith. Now in this time that we seek & petition God for the Revival-Fires to be lit again.
Rom 15:11-12
(11) And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him! [Psa 117:1]
(12) And further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope. [Isa 11:1, 10; Rev 5:5; Rev 22:16]
Psa 117:1-2 (1) Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! (2) For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Know That The Lord Is Marvelous in All HIs Ways . Faithful to Who He IS.
Isa 11:1-5
(1) There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (2) The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
(3) His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; (4) But with righteousness He shall judge the poor. And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth. And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. (5) Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Praying a Shabbat blessing over you :
Rom 15:13
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
Prayer:
Thank Your Lord, for the sending us the Holy Spirit and the endowment of all His attributes, gifts, helps in strengthening us towards greater faith through the righteousness, peace & joy in the Holy Spirit.
We’ve been sent to “GO” with a GOOD NEWS life-message. What should this consist of?
EVENING DEVOTION
Tonight, we are encouraged to think about the message that goes out from our heart’s meditations, words, & actions to those around us. What is our life-message that we speak about, portrait & live out to the world around us?
As we read the following Scriptures let us consider some leading questions to meditate on.
1. Does my life-message lead others to salvation & individual revival?
Our salvation message has to go along with Scriptures on the assurance of salvation, helping the believer not to base salvation on a feeling or emotion but on the Word of Truth.
Scriptures on Salvation and the Assurance of Salvation:
John 3:16, Rom 5:5-11, Rom10:10-13, John1:12, 1John 5:11-12, Rev 3:20.
2. Does it originate from truth or opinion?
We have to speak about the truth of Christ’s gospel message.
Joh 16:7-11
(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth. … I will send Him (the Helper) to you. (8) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) of sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; (11) of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
3. Does my message help people making changes towards victorious living & life transformation?
Rom 8:5-6
(5) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
4. Does our message of revival move people to responsibility for their free will choices?
Time is short… Our message should bring revelation of the consequences of all our choices in this life & lead towards taking responsibility for our choices.
Deu 30:19-20
(19) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (20) that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…
Heb 3:13
(13) but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
5. Does it bring conviction of God’s love & hope in a better future?
The Holy Spirit is our Guarantee of the better promises, the message that can bring about revival in each heart & hope for a better future because of God’s love.
2Co 1:20-22
(20) For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (21) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, (22) who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
“LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.”
1Pe 4:7-10
(7) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. (8) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.” (9) Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. (10) As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Prayer:
Abba Father, thank you for the message of Life to go out to each individual we meet. Help us to know by Your Spirit what Your hearts is for every soul you send on our path. Sharpen our discernment & help us to obey Your voice to bring revival wherever we are. We pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
SCRIPTURES as under point 1
Joh 3:16-17
(16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Joh 1:12-14
(12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Rom 5:5-11
(5) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
(10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
1Jn 5:10-12
(10) He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. (11) And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Rev 3:20-22
(20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (21) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (22) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘ “
2. Day 2 – Revival Starts With Me, My Household, My Family.
Heb 12:28
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
KEY THOUGHTS
Revival starts with the individual & the families in our society. It starts with me, my household and my family sphere. Are we & our families “right with God”?
Scripture : 2 Sam 23:3-5
Last Words of David – A king & a leader to God’s Nation – A Father & Grandfather – The priest of His Household.
(3) The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. (4) And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’ (5) “Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?
Here we have a king who bears his heart about the state of His household. Trusting that God will secure them in a right relationship with Him and make their faith in God grow.
PERSONAL APPLICATION: Leading ourselves before we lead others
Let us consider afresh, where we are with the Lord. Where our families & loved ones are with God and where our next generation is heading in their relationship with God? How are we leading them?
We are encouraged through David’s example to continue in fervent prayer for our children & their children… the next generations.
REFORMATION APPLICATION: Ask the important questions
As a family unit & faith fellows we are also then commissioned to “GO” to the nations, doing our part in having a dynamic & powerful impact in the world out there for His kingdom to come & His purposes to be fulfilled.
It is time that the right questions are being asked again in society & for us to be actively part of God’s army that will bring about change, reformation and align people back to God’s ways. The time is here to become bold in leading ourselves, our neighbors, fellow brothers & sisters & those we encounter on our pathways in much love & grace, to answer to the most important questions of their lives.
WHO DO YOU SERVE?
Jos 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Mat 16:16
(16) Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
WHICH REVELATION DO YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE UPON?
Mat 16:17-18
(17) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
PRAYER:
Father, we humble ourselves in Your great presence and we ask that through Your Holy Spirit, You will secure us, our families and loved ones in the foundational truth of your Good News & Biblical Principles. By grace we desire to become part of a new move of God across this nation.
We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord & Saviour. Amen
We will focus these devotions on Revival & Reformation as we desperately long for the Gifts & the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to break forth into revival & the transformation of our personal lives, families, society & faith communities through Christ’s example, His authority & manifested demonstrative power.
1. DAY 1 – Revival & Reformation are interconnected to reveal His grace & power
KEY THOUGHTS
REVIVAL & REFORMATION are two concepts of our faith that should go hand in hand. It can not be separated from each other. Both interact together with the Gifts & the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
THIS pertains to ‘How we get saved?’ & ‘How to live when saved?’
The 1st is the fundamental question that was asked by Martin Luther in 1517 & the latter is the question that should be asked now to bring about the next revival & transformation of society. (Tony Kim – ROAR Academy)
How can society be transformed in this late hour?
How should we live our lives?
These are QUESTIONS that we should seriously consider in the light of the current disarray that society finds itself in.
REVIVAL
It comes as our HEARTS are touched, moved towards repentance which leads to salvation.
REFORMATION
Greek: Diorthosis – to create a new system & a new order, to correct, making straight. It also means to choose to allow the Holy Spirit to re-align our lives with Biblical values.
This happens as we apply our MINDS to a reformational action, changing ourselves & the world around us.
Christians & unbelievers alike are tired of mere words.
We want to see the Gospel of Good News in action (Is40), through the working of His power & might in the manifestation of signs, wonders, healings, setting the captives free & the harvest to come in by the droves.
Let us consider the following Scriptures prayerfully & lift up our voices before our great King & loving Father in this moment.
That by His mercy, through the Spirit & by the POWER of GOD, we might live & have our being. To change the world around us in living out sound doctrine through love that flows into good works by faith through His mighty working power – for His name’s sake.
SCRIPTURES:
Hab 3:2
O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
1Co 2:4-5
(4) And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Heb 2:3-8
(4)[Besides this evidence] it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will. (1Co1:4-9)
PRAYER:
Abba Father, we humble ourselves before you to see Your kingdom come & Your will be done on earth through the mighty working of Your Holy Spirit. We believe and pray that You will perform Your word in bringing the believer to maturity in the full knowledge of Christ & the Father’s love, as we move towards sonship & taking ownership. (Col2:10)
We pray that the new wave of desperate outcries before Your throne of Grace will usher in REVIVAL & REFORMATION to change the atmosphere, climate & culture through good works by faith in personal lives & in our nations.
We pray this in Jesus Name. Amen.
2. Day 2 – Revival Starts With Me, My Household, My Family.
KEY THOUGHTS
Revival starts with the individual & the families in our society. Are we & our families “right with God”?
Scripture : 2 Sam 23:3-5
Last Words of David – A king & a leader to God’s Nation – A Father & Grandfather – The priest of His Household.
(3) The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. (4) And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’ (5) “Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?
Here we have a king who bears his heart about the state of His household. Trusting that God will secure them in a right relationship with Him and make their faith in God grow.
PERSONAL APPLICATION: Leading ourselves before we lead others
Let us consider afresh, where we are with the Lord. Where our families & loved ones are with God and where our next generation is heading in their relationship with God? How are we leading them?
We are encouraged through David’s example to continue in fervent prayer for our children & their children… the next generations.
REFORMATION APPLICATION: Ask the important questions
As a family unit & faith fellows we are also then commissioned to “GO” to the nations, doing our part in having a dynamic & powerful impact in the world out there for His kingdom to come & His purposes to be fulfilled.
It is time that the right questions are being asked again in society & for us to be actively part of God’s army that will bring about change, reformation and align people back to God’s ways. The time is here to become bold in leading ourselves, our neighbors, fellow brothers & sisters & those we encounter on our pathways in much love & grace, to answer to the most important questions of their lives.
WHO DO YOU SERVE?
Jos 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Mat 16:16
(16) Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
WHICH REVELATION DO YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE UPON?
Mat 16:17-18
(17) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
PRAYER:
Father, we humble ourselves in Your great presence and we ask that through Your Holy Spirit, You will secure us, our families and loved ones in the foundational truth of your Good News & Biblical Principles. By grace we desire to become part of a new move of God across this nation.
We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord & Saviour. Amen
Christ’s teachings are the eternal truth & the whole truth. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher leading us into those truths. Pro 8:35 “For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD.”
“In Biblical times and in the 1st century…a disciple’s goal was to learn by emulating his Rabbi’s every move—not only by listening and learning about the Rabbi’s instructions. There was a popular blessing back then that stated, “May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.” This means that a disciple would follow so closely behind his teacher that they’d catch the dust kicked up behind their rabbi’s feet.” From: An East-West stateside missionary – Covered in the Dust of Your Rabbi
“The ultimate message to be taught to all of creation, is the message that Christ taught.” M. Munroe
Strategic Prayer Points – Education Gate –The Education & Calling of a God-fearing nation.
Thank you everyone, for taking hands, uniting His body in Prayer. Especially over this precious precious Nation of us. You are highly valued & deeply appreciated.
PRAYER POINTS SUMMARY:
1) PRAISE & Adoration. 2) PERSONAL REPENTANCE – “Let us be serious being set apart for Him …” 3) COMMUNION. 4) THANKSGIVING for HIS TEACHINGS of Wisdom & Knowledge. 5) Identificational REPENTANCE . 6) Prayers : EDUCATION LAWS, SYSTEMS, STRUCTURES & EDUCATORS. INFO re. this 7) Prayers : RESTORATION of a whole nation’s identity in Christ 8) Prayers : PURPOSE & CALLING – individuals, leaders (government & faith) 9) Own declarations / Words / Prophecies by the Holy Spirit. 10) Thanksgiving & Praise: Shofar blast in Worship of Him. 11) The Lord’s Prayer. 12) Thank you for Praying with us.
QUESTIONS to lead our meditations, prayers & discussions:
a) What does the Bible teach us about learning, wisdom, God’s statutes…, laws for living? b) What was the purpose for growing in wisdom, knowledge, impartation & education how God intended it to be primarily? c) Understanding that our complete character-“make-up”, upbringing, education, gathering of knowledge, skills & pursuing maturity through grace & faith were meant to form, attain, equip, & develop God’s purposes & the call of God on our lives… d) Assessing: Where are we now regarding the “education of a Nation”/ knowing God? e) What is the current situation on the current laws & challenges in education?
A. INTRODUCTION – Week 4 – The number 4 represents the following:
• The 4 wind directions, the Earth / material creation – air, fire, water, earth, unity… (See Rev8:12 – 4th angel; Rev7:11; 14:3, 19:4 – 4 living creatures) • From the East, West, North & South, we come to STAND in agreement/unity: declaring God’s Promises, His Faithfulness & sufficient Grace over us & this Nation.
Luk 13:29 And [people] will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit down (feast at table) in the kingdom of God. Jos 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you,.. Deu 4:10 … ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.
B. PREPARATION GUIDELINES.
Please refer to PREPARATION doc of Week 1– (PREP)
Introduction to the EDUCATION SPHERE
I want to encourage you to take note of the guidelines and information for week 4 re. the Education Gate. Especially that this does not only pertain to the general concept of education, but what the Lord laid on my heart is that we need to fervently pray for the redeeming of mandates and callings – so to speak – of His sons & daughters. As Father desires to position His Bride firmly in her authority, “to know what is the hope of her calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1)
Mandates and Callings
This is the season that the believers in Christ are arising to take up their mandates, standing their ground, overcoming evil by the blood of the Lamb & the daily words of our testimonies & in doing God’s bidding as He releases us by His Grace… Not by human strength but the power of God, by His Spirit alone… For all will know that man does not live by bread alone but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord… For indeed every knee will bow to Him & every tongue will confess to God.. AS He decrees in Isaiah 45 “Look to Me, & be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Our Father gave me a glimpse of His love… His omni-benevolent love for all things created, and His deep affection for His children, for you, to strengthen you, to encourage you & move us also to bow our knees before His greatness – for He alone is worthy!
C. STRATEGIC PRAYER POINTS:
1) PRAISE & ADORATION
Lift His Name on high! He is worthy to be praised! All of creation shall worship Him!
Every created thing will bow before His greatness & might! Worship Him!
He deserves all our awe & wonder!
Psa 98:1-4
(1) Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. (2) The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. (3) He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (4) Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
2) PERSONAL REPENTANCE – “Let us be serious being set apart for Him …”
Our God is the only God that requires “holiness” from His followers – for He is Holy!
Idols cannot claim holiness! Therefore, no other self-proclaimed deity or man-made idolatrous obsession has demanded holiness from its subjects/followers…
Only our God is Holy & worthy to be worshiped!
The truth about Christ will either lead us to draw closer or turn away from God
(11) He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” (12) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (14) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (Rev22:11-14)
PRAY FOR : • His holiness to become a hearts cry & pursuit, forgive us… (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (1Pe 1:15-16)
• Revive this generation to seek Him… forgive where we lost our 1st Love (Psa 24:3-10) (6) This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
• Allow Christ to sanctify us, to be presented one day before the Father… (Eph 5:26-27) (26) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
• Forgive us Lord, where we fail you… Your statutes & ways not adhered to & obeyed… (6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (7) When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Pro 16:6-7)
3) COMMUNION – He is our life & sole existence as He gave Himself as an offering to God.
“The things signified by these outward signs; are Christ’s body and blood, His body broken, His blood shed, together with all the benefits which flow from His death and sacrifice: it is the New Testament in His blood.
His blood is the seal and sanction of all the privileges of the new covenant; and worthy receivers take it as such, at this holy ordinance.
They(we) have the New Testament, and (our)their own title to all the blessings of the new covenant, confirmed to them by His blood.” From: M.H. Commentary of the Whole Bible
1Co 11:24-26
(24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (25) In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
4) THANKSGIVING for HIS TEACHINGS of Wisdom & Knowledge
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Thank You, Lord :- • Your every word guides us into all wisdom to walk, live & have our being in You. • All created things exists IN You & provides all things pertaining to life. • God’s Presence, Pre-eminence, Power, Authority… will be revealed over all the earth, also in our lives & over this area / Nation… • All wisdom & knowledge, all powers & thrones, will come together FOR & IN You, for Your glory, purposes & plans. • Your Word and truth will bring Your peace, rest, favour & counsel as we follow You close; “May we be covered in the dust of our Rabbi, Jesus Christ our Lord”
Exo 18:20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Col 1:15-17 (15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Ecc 2:26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
5) IDENTIFICATIONAL REPENTANCE
Psa 90:12So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
We REPENT FOR :-
• Those who disobey & reject the light , the wisdom, knowledge, ways, and statutes & salvation message of God that will perish in the dark… • The prominence of the church that has been compromised in its relevance, influence, impact & standing in society? Yet God will build His Church! • All hurt, harm, abuse, children, we ourselves led astray by error, false doctrines…
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Mar 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and- thrown into the sea.
Psa 51:13 I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Psa 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law
Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being
“We must fear the Lord our God, We must adore His majesty, acknowledge His authority, stand in awe of His power, and dread His wrath.” M.H. Commentary (Deu10:12,20).
Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
PRAY For :-
• Educational institutions purposed to be places of learning; to educate people to attain and contribute to society God given intellectual development & wisdom. • Enabling tutoring to guide learners in living well-balanced, wholesome lives. • Instilling God-fearing principles & foundations on which all of creation should function.
PETITION AGAINST / RESIST & DIRECT our Prayers :-
• Reversing the works of the evil one that distort and corrupt the education institutions by removing its self-governance, being used to indoctrinate young, eager minds with sinister, hidden agendas of the elite powers in this world. • Reversing these agendas by declaring God’s agenda by Truth, Hope & Love through declaring the two-edged sword of the Word over this.
INFO re. current legislation challenges to give perspective:
Prayer for the protection of : Biblical education laws, parental & educators rights in SA:
Family values
Parental rights
Well-being of children
Right to fundamental Biblical rights & education
Right to home schooling
Prayer for exposing the hidden agenda behind the proposed :
Comprehensive sexuality education
Management of learner pregnancy education = abortions on demand
Prayers to reveal the true agenda’s behind Bela Bill
Criminalizing parents
Flawed public participation process
Undermines parental rights: extermination of their authoritative intervention in children’s lives
Small school closures
Limits SGBS power
Give the state power overreach
Makes children vulnerable
Gives HOD undue power
Makes homeschooling complicated & un-affordable
ECD Toolkit ( Early Childhood Development agenda) – aimed at children 0- to 9-year-old
Promotes ideas that conflicts with our faith-based values & beliefs : encourages children to question their gender & promotes transgender ideologies
Normalizes uses of pronouns -they, them instead of he & she
It teaches that gender is a choice – toilets to correspond
Encourages hosting LGBTQ speakers at nursery & primary schools to expose learners to this
7) RESTORATION of a whole nation’s identity in Christ (Eph 1)
Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, Luk 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
PRAY FOR :- Hearts of the “Fathers & children”/ God’s heart & His children… P.6
• Restoration of Godly generational relationships & teachings/impartation… of the ways of God to be taught to the next generations through parents, grandparents, families, … church families & healthy social/society initiatives. (Mal3:6, Titus2)
• Supernatural hunger after the knowledge of God stirred up in our hearts – to know Him who is true. • Flee from idolatrous ways & trusting in ourselves or the things of this world. • The fear and reverential awe of God printed deep into the hearts of man • The redeeming of THE MOUTH; our WORDS & SPEECH to come in line with the TRUTH of God – the truth that He declares & speak over our lives
1Jn 5:19-21
(19) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (20) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (21) Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Psa 34:11 Come, you children,…; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord. Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. Pro 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
Deu 6:7 & Deu 11:18-21 (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deu 6:9, 25 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (25) Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.’
1Co 4:15-16: – “Father’s” can teach sons to follow in their footsteps. (15) For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
All accumulated knowledge, educational systems, curriculums, social & faith education/structures … are supposed to provide, equip & steer into knowledge & truth- based facts that will educate/direct people finding their natural God-given talents & gifts. Thus, to equip & enable people to live their lives – fully purposed in their God-ordained mandate – to live for the glory of God and to fulfil our missions!!
Churches & faith communities are supposed to help develop our God-given gifts, train in character and callings to endorse believers into purpose & calling…
Many people have lost or never stepped into their divinely ordained, purposed callings.
Our God given personality, character traits, intrinsic “make-up”, aptitude, and capabilities form all part of God’s equipment to enable us to fulfill our God ordained purpose & calling in Him – for the honor & glory of His name.
Pray for :
• Healing of emotional wounds, self-confidence/image damage that many people walk with today…. (resulting from educational system, regulations & policy’s shortcomings, human/educator’s dispositions, personal challenges, compromised agendas…) • Supernatural release of mandates, stepping into callings in the knowledge, all things given in God’s divine nature withing to make our salvation election sure… entering into His divinely ordained purposes, calling… anointing & plans for us.
2Pe 1:2-3,-9
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, (3) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us…
2Pe 1:4
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:10-11
(10) be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,… (11) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom…
Eph 1:18
(18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…
9) Own declarations / Words / Prophecies by the Holy Spirit
God’s Wisdom to fill/lead our Nation forth…
Changing the heart, mind & utterances of man to align with His wise counsel through His holy spirit.
Ecc 12:9-14
(9) And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. (10) The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. (13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. (14) For God will bring every work into judgment, every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Eph 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. 1Co 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
10) Thanksgiving & Praise: Shofar blast in Worship of Him!
Ps 98:5-9 (5) Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, (6) With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. (7) Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; (8) Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, (9) For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
2nd WK – 21April24 – Prayer@The-Gates (P@G) COMPREHENSIVE Prayer GUIDELINES & Biblical perspective for the BELIEF Gate.
See Blog post Nr. 58 for summarized PRAYER POINTS.
“The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is supposed to be the conscience of the world bringing to light the purposes and the plans that God has for humanity. The church is currently sick. A torn and hurt church cannot heal hurt and a torn world. It is through a revival that the church will be restored to its central position of being a channel for the healing of all social ills. Dr. Elijah Mashanganyi ”
Greetings all P@G Partners NB : We share in part
A. WEEKLY PREPARATION guidelines. Please see last page of this document – (PREP)
B. INTRODUCTION: P@G – BELIEF GATE – Week 2 – WITNESS of TWO! (See also introduction from Week 1 : Deut 6:4 & Psalm 2)
“Revival in all spheres of society is needed now. The church should take the lead in this. Unfortunately, the church has grossly failed society in its assignments. Most of the organized church has become like the secular world, enticed by enmity for wealth, position, power, platforms, prestige, and politics in its corridors.” And yet God is building His church through it using ordinary people like us… @A.T.”
1st Key Scripture – The Great Commissioned given by Christ is clear –
Mat 28:18-20 (18) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2nd Key Scripture – The Church is built on what it declares about Christ –
Mat 16:16-19 (16) Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
3rd Key Scripture – The Church is built on Christ, the Cornerstone –
Act 4:7-12 (7) “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (11) This is the ‘Stone which was rejected by you builders, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’ (12) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
C. Strategic comprehensive PRAYER GUIDELINES for Prayer@the-Gates
1. Thanksgiving, Praise & Adoration of our God, Creator, Father & Redeemer.
Rev 5:11-14 (11) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12) saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (13) And every creature … I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (14) Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
2. Welcome Father, our loving Father, Christ Jesus the Holy Lamb of God:
On Christ, Whom the 7 Spirits of the Holy Spirit reside upon. Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
The 7 “I AM” statements of Christ. I AM – the BREAD of life (6:35), the LIGHT of the world (8:12), the DOOR (10:7), the GOOD SHEPHERD (10:11, 14), the RESURRECTION and THE LIFE (11:25), the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE (14:6) and the TRUE VINE (15:1).
3. Personal Repentance: Lead group in personal repentance & humbling.
(Ps24, 51, Jam 4:7) Rev 3:19-21 (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous (have desire.1, fervent mind.2) and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (21) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (1-G2206,2-G2205)
Act 17:30-31 (30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (31) because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Communion: In remembrance of Christ’s perfect redemption for our sins.
-reconciling us back into the Father’s presence. His body broken. By the Blood we enter through the veil. (Mat26:26-29, Heb.9:11-12, Is53, Jhn12:1)
5. Prayer for the Protection of all praying for the Nation:
(Ps91,121, 68)
From Job 1:10, pray for God’s hedge of protection – yourself/prayer partners. Eph6:10-20; –Put on the whole armour of God; stand, keep on standing.
Week TWO – BELIEF GATE
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven”
TWO speaks of two witnesses, communion in His divine presence, sent out 2 by 2…
Exo 25:22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
2Co 13:1 “BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD SHALL BE ESTABLISHED.” Mat18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Luk 10:1 … the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
6. Identificational Repentance for the BELIEF GATE/sphere – “TURNING BACK TO GOD!”
2Ch 7:14-16 (14) (MSG)
[If] my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. (15) From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place. (16) Believe me, I’ve chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. (MSG)
We stand in the gap to do identificational REPENTANCE for the Church for where we HAVE FAILED:-
a) Society:
Church to SERVE this nation with God’s Gospel Bread!
Rom7:4, 8:6 Therefore,… you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
1) Judging the world instead of reaching out to a lost & broken world. 2) Idolatrous worship of self, own agendas, earthly or carnally minded…. Acting like the world. 3) Not “GOING”, but stayed in the comfort as our own salvation that is secured…. not being Christ out there. Therefore, 4) Lack of faith & fearful to go out… to correct, serve, be an example. 5) Not being set apart but tempted by the world, looking like the world … 6) Lured by the lust of the flesh and eyes, the pride of life,.. 7) Not taking ownership of the conditions around us praying God’s plans into being – perhaps intimidated… backing off instead of standing our ground.
b) Body of Christ:
Church to TURN back to God – God’s Kingdom 1st!
Act 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Ez34, Heb4:17)
1) Lost our 1st Love-Ephesus, 2) Corrupt doctrines & corrupt worship, sexual immorality-Pergamum. 3) Spirit of Jezebel that seduces-Thyatira. 4) Hypocrisy: Dead works by the flesh-Sardis. 5) Lukewarm-Laodicea… 6) Not walked in love; 7) not bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma…
7. SCRIPTURE declarations on the Belief Gate – The Church / Body of Christ / His Bride
THANK God for:
Eph 1:22-23 Christ’s HEADSHIP over the church.
To Him all authority belongs. His Blood covenant and the redemption of all who chooses to accept Him as Lord & Savior… (22) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Act 2:46-47 The COMMUNITY of Believers. Unity in Him.
(Eph 2:11 – 22; 4:1-16, Jh17) (46) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Eph 3:19-21 His LOVE, the FULNESS of God in us, His POWER, spiritual strength…. To arise!
(Ps68) (19) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
1Co12:28 The GIFTS of Christ through the Holy Spirit/9 gifts of Holy spirit…
(Ef 4:11, 1Cor12 & 14) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Eph 1-6 1) The spiritual blessings in Christ. 2) The greatness of His power. 3) For faith 4) Forgiveness of sin, 5) Salvation received through faith, by 6) the exceeding richness of His grace & kindness. 7) His manifold wisdom. 8) Equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. 9) New Life (by the newness by the Spirit, Rom7:6) . 10) His spiritual armour…
8. DECLARATIONS into the Belief Gate – “I am the Alpha & the Omega, the 1st & the Last”
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPENING in & through the church?:
[The organized church, the Body of Christ, the assembly of saints, voice in the street in the last days? (Rev1:11-b)]
UNITY of the Body over denominations:
Stop dividing quarrels over grey doctrinal areas, serve each other in Love, take hands & love over all spheres extended. To live in His Glory. (Joh17:11,21-23) Rev 5:9-10 (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, (10) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
FELLOWSHIP:
Having fellowship with the Father & Son through the Holy Spirit & one another (1Jn1:1-7).
GLORIFYING the FATHER in the Son:
Joh 14:12,13 (12) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
LABOUR for Christ’s Name sake:
Not became weary, had patience, hated those who were evil, tested the self-proclaimed apostles. (Rev2:Ephesus).
TO OVERCOME:
Be faithful until death & will be given the crown of life. He who overcomes will have eternal life. (Rev2:Smyrna)
Rev 12:10-11 (10)…”Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
GOD’S PROMISES fulfilled:
His Kingdom come, His will be done…The church/next generation to arise!
Mic 4:1-2 (1) BUT IN the latter days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains; and it shall be exalted above the hills, and peoples shall flow to it. (2) And many nations shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways, and we may walk in His paths. For the law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
READY to meet Him at His 2nd coming:
Luk 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning…; Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.
SEVEN SPIRITS: Prayer for all His sons & daughters to receive:
Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD to become the foundational Spirit of God on which we build our relationship with God.
9. The Lord’s Prayer – All pray this together.
Leader led, pray it at a slow rhythmic pace. (Mat6:9-13)
10. Thanksgiving, Praise & Celebration – of Christ’s victory on the cross.
Release your testimony of what Christ did, who He is that seals the overcoming spirit of the Bride over all. (Rev12:10-11)
11.Shofar blast, anoint the streets with oil, salt… and last farewell Prayer
Pray for God’s Peace, Presence, Power, Protection to ENTER the GATES of TZANEEN. (Ps24)
12. Thank YOU for placing your STAKE of Faith in the soil Praying@The-Gates with us!
God keep, bless & guard you in His peace as you stand in the gap for our Nation in Prayer@The-Gates.
Additional INFO IN PREPARATION FOR PRAYER A@THE GATES
A. PREP: Strategic Preparation BEFORE we go praying at the gates:
Through the 7 weeks P@G, a 7-step strategy is rolled out building up to the 7th week for GOVERNMENTAL prayer. We therefore start by praying for the other areas/spheres first. We will therefore, have added focus per week on one of the 7 Gates/Spheres of Society as follows:
‘Gates’ here refer to entry points of towns and the 8 spheres of Society as we found it in the Bible.
At the Gates of the Cities everything happened. From betrothals, healings, councils, elder counsels, stoning/discipline, signing of contracts & here agreements were made for business, marriage… (Rev21)
Initial guidelines preparing ourselves for this time of Prayer in foundational positioning:
-The Armour of God. (Eph6, Ps91)
Before you leave for the time of prayer, clothe yourself, your family and those praying with you & the whole (P@G) initiative with the armour of God – to all areas of your life: relationships, house, vehicles, finances/business/job, health…
–Repentance. (Ps24, Ps51 & Is59:1-2)
As we repent, we take responsibility for our own thoughts, words, and actions and any known sin.
Ask God to show you specific sins that give demons the right to establish strongholds.
Involvement in Witchcraft & New Age may require fasting and declaring the Word as Jesus did in the wilderness. (C. Jacobs, 2006)
Reading 161. New Spirit Filled Life Daily Bible (NKJV)
(SOCS)
2 Kings 8 verses 12, 13
Our ignorance of the depravity of our own hearts is a startling fact. Hazael did not believe that he was bad enough to do any of the things here anticipated. “Is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing.” He might have been conscious enough that his heart was none so pure, but it might consent to do many an evil thing, yet crimes so flagrant as those the prophet had foretold of him, he thought himself quite incapable to commit… Ah, my brethren, the ignorance of Hazael is ours to a greater or less degree. In our natural state we are oblivious of the depravity of our own hearts… Ay, but, my brethren, we were, to a great degree, cured of this our ignorance when the Spirit of God brought us under conviction… Much of our ignorance was taken away; but alas! how much remained!… None of us know, after all, much of the baseness of our hearts… The depravity of our nature forbids… a venturing or presuming to play and toy with temptations… He who carries gunpowder about him had better not stand where there are many sparks… I implore thee, therefore, as thou wouldst honor thy God, and thou wouldst stand in brightness, go not I beseech thee where the temptation to sin is glaring, and flatter thyself that thou will come out guileless… God grant that we may not… be as Hazael, the perpetrators of crimes of which we never suspected ourselves capable.
Charles H. Spurgeon, Sermons of Rev. C.H. Spurgeon
When thinking about being set apart for Joy that is found in God’s truth – in His reality, we need to ask ourselves some questions to get to a clear and transparent answer.
Are we perhaps sometimes finding ourselves in an unhappy state… because we (sometimes) live in untruth, not being completely honest with ourselves or others?
IN different situations, good or bad, what do we tell ourselves? Do we say it as God says it in His Word and as He sees it by His almighty power of possibility? Or do we keep on repeating the negative… the UNTRUTH according to our fleshly observation? Do we see and speak from the temporary realm on what our REALITY dictates and not what we SEE and know to discern in the spirit?
Do we measure things according to the truth or according to what we want to believe or want it to be…..Are we sometimes forced by our unbelief to speak along with our enemy?
Do we speak His truth into situations or tag along with the lie of the enemy ? Do we bring our flesh into subjection to the spirit or does the flesh dictates?
Do we live as being set apart or being subject to?
Flesh needs to come to the end of its temporal ability in order to start functioning by the ability of the all powerful Holy Spirit.
We have been SAVED, REDEEMED and SET APART by God for Himself to live for the Praise of His Name for an hour like this in the JOY of His Glory.
SET APART for Joy – for God
Rev 22:21 The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with all the saints (God’s holy people, those set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His). Amen (so let it be)!
2Ti 2:21 So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences], will be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
Heb 3:1 SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith].
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,
Eph 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
Zep 1:7 [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation. [Hab. 2:20.]
Psa 4:3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and given distinction to] him who is godly [the man of loving-kindness]. The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him.
HE HAS CHOSEN US – a HOUSE of SACRIFICE to be HOLY – For His NAME
2Ch 7:12-17
12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people. 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.
16 For I have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually.
SET APART as HIS COVENANT PEOPLE – To Live in AWE
Deu 10:12-21
12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being,
16 So circumcise the foreskin of your [minds and] hearts; be no longer stubborn and hardened.
20 You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and by His name and presence you shall swear.
21 He is your praise; He is your God, Who has done for you these great and terrible things which your eyes have seen.
SET APART FOR JOY – requires a BATTLE CRY
Psa 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy ( A BATTLE CRY ) in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD
Psa 21:1 THE KING [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
Psa 21:6 For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.
1Ch 16:27 Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary. – in your inner self
Neh 8:10 Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold
SET APART FOR JOY – REQUIERES FAITH – trusting him regardless
Hab 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Jer 33:9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security, and stability I provide for it.
Psa 5:11 But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.
SET APART FOR JOY – BECAUSE OF HIS FAITHFULNESS
Psa 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Mal 4:2 But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.
Joh 16:24 Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]. But now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Joh 17:13 And now I am coming to You. I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them.[That they may experience My delight fulfilled in them.That My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].
Rom 15:13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. [Ps. 118:24.]
Jud 1:24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]–
STAND IN HIS JOY AND TRUTH
3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth.
1Pe 4:12-14
12 Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange were befalling you.
‘Strange‘ : unusual and alien to you and your position
13 But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
1Pe 5:6-11
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care (DISTRACTION, DISUNITY, DIFFER) upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (TO DRINK DOWN, GULP ENTIRELY, DROWN, SWALLOW)
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
‘Resist ‘: STAND AGAINST, OPPOSE, WITHSTAND
RESIST is also TO STAND which also means to ABIDE, APPOINT, BRING ABOUT, CONTINUE. To stand in the authority by COVENANT, to ESTABLISH, to HOLD UP, to LAY. To PRESENT, SET (UP), STANCH, STAND (BY, FORTH, STILL, UP).
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We are being set apart, consecrated and sanctified:-
1. Firstly by HIS EXTREME LOVE for US
IN this blog we are doing a brief study from scripture on the principles of being set apart, consecrated and sanctified. If we look at PALAH, the Hebrew word for being “set apart” the following descriptions are linked to this word. PALAH stands for ‘to be distinguished’, ‘to be shown to be marvelous’, ‘to be separated’, ‘severed’ and ‘to be made wonderfully‘.
Luk 15:7
(7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Luk 15:21-24
(21) And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
(22) “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe(anointing) and put it on him, and put a ring(covenant) on his hand and sandals(calling) on his feet.
(23) And bring the fatted calf(abundant provision) here and kill it (by Christ’s sacrifice), and let us eat and be merry(joy of the Lord-our strength);
(24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost(destroyed, perish, marred, die) and is found(find, get, obtain, perceive, see).’ And they began to be merry.
2Ch 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and for throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of thosewhose heart is loyal(full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect, quiet, whole, complete) to Him.
2. WE ARE SET APART TO FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSES AND PLAN; TO UNITE IN HIS PURPOSE
Psa 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart (PALAH; to distinguish, show to be marvelous, separate, sever, make wonderfully) for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Exo 28:3 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate (KAWDASH; to be/pronounced/observed to be clean, purify, sanctify, keep holy, proclaim) him, that he may minister to Me as priest.
Jer 29:11-14
(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of PEACE (well, safe, happy, friendly, favor, prosperity, safe at mind, full, wholly, welfare, rest, health, perfect, salute) and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(12) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
(13) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
(14) I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Php 1:10-11
(10) that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
(11) being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
3. WE ARE SET APART TO MINISTER UNTO THE LORD
WE come to the Lord to offer a sacrifice on the altar by fire. The offering we bring to the altar is ourselves. We are called by the Lord to bring ourselves as a living sacrifice. This means that we lay down our lives and this presents a sweet smell to the Lord. As the bread is pleasing to our pallets, just the same is our consecration a sweet smell to our Father.
Exo 28:41 So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
Lev 20:7 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
Lev 21:6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.
Lev 21:8 Therefore you shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.
John Gill: “and the bread of their God do they offer; the shew-bread, which they set every week before the Lord on the shew-bread table, …, the “minchah”, which they continually offered along with the sacrifices: or the word “and”, being a supplement, may be left out; and so this clause is put by way of apposition, and as interpreting the fire offering to be the bread of their God, which being wholly burnt on the altar, and devoted to God, was his meat and food, and accepted by him, see Lev 3:11,” FOOD:(battle, overcome, make war, prevail)
Therefore they shall be holy; separate from all others, and abstain from all impurity both of flesh and spirit, from all uncleanness, moral and ceremonial; it being highly fit and proper that the bread of God should be offered by holy persons.
But God would not permit the blood, that made atonement, to be used as a common thing (Heb 10:29), nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to assume to ourselves any share in the honor of making it. He that glories, let him glory in the Lord, and to his praise let all the blood be poured out.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Lev 3:16 the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, offered by fire, for a sweet and satisfying fragrance. All the fat is the Lord’s.
1Ch 15:12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark( presence) of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.
4. WE ARE SET APART TO PURIFY AND CONSECRATE ONE SELF
IN YOUR WOUNDEDNESS and AFFLICTION / SICKNESS & DISEASE
– An example of being set apart, consecration and sanctification is when A BABY BOY is being circumcised on the eight day
– A LADY AFTER CHILDBIRTH and IMPURITY has to sanctify herself
Exo 13:2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”
Exo 19:10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
Jos 7:13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.
5. WE ARE SET APART AND CONSECRATED FOR WAR AND AT SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Jdg 7:5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.
Joe 2:13-17
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him—A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;
16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.
17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
Mic 4:13 “Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; For I will make your horn iron, And I will make your hooves bronze; You shall beat in pieces many peoples; I will consecrate their gain to the LORD, And their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.”
Jos 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
New King James Bible
6. GOD SANCTIFIES HIS OWN NAME and SETS US APART FOR HIS NAMES’ SAKE
I Will Put My Spirit Within You
Eze 36:22-27
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.
23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
7. JESUS’S PRAYER TO THE FATHER TO SANCTIFY US – FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MINISTER & LIVE BY HIM; WHO IS THE TRUTH
Joh 17:17-19
(17) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
(18) As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
(19) And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Heb 10:29Welcomed into His presence by the Blood
(29) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
8. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO START FULFILLING OUR LIFE’S PURPOSE BY LOVING GOD FIRST & OURSELVES IN ORDER THAT WE CAN LOVE OTHERS
Mat 22:37-40
(37) Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
(38) This is the first and great commandment.
(39) And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
(40) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
9. WE ARE SET APART IN OUR OWN ‘DYING TO SELF’; TO RISE UP THROUGH REBIRTH IN FAITH UNTO LIFE
1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 13:12-14
(12) Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
(13) Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
(14) For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
10. WE ARE SET APART IN OUR DAILY MISSION
GO AND DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO TODAY. ONLY YOU CAN PERFORM THAT TASK
HEBREWS 13:15-16
(15) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
(16) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
:20-21
(20) Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
(21) make you complete in every good workto do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
:19-24
(19) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and having a High Priest over the house of God,
(22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(24) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.
1. HIS CONQUERING BLOOD ASSURES US RESURRECTION LIFE – That is to live an enfused SPIRIT-LED LIFE
LIVING AMONGST THE LIVING
IF….
IF LOVE covers a multitude of sins and …. and GOD IS LOVE – which HE IS!!!
If His MERCIES are NEW every morning… enabling us then to receive our Healing, Wisdom, Strength, Hope, Faith, Grace…. for each New Day afresh…
If the WORD is the TRUTH and ALIVE IN US…
2Jn 1:2 (2) Because of the Truth which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever:
IF….
If THANKSGIVING is the KEY to ENTER the Gates of His kingdom…
Psa 100:4 Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, And into His courts with PRAISE. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
If PRAISE gives me the AUTHORITY to stand in His Courts to execute His Will…
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
If GRACE abounds where sin increases… for us to be SAVED from Utter destruction BY GRACE….
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
THEN SURELY HIS BLOOD has then…:
COMPLETED the UTMOST QUEST for LIFE!!!
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
His Blood ANSWERED all the accusations
It reaches the deepest deep
It Satisfies all the charges that the enemy can ever bring into the courts against us
It places us in an unassailable bond with the Father
1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
It provides All provision needed to live this live IN Full, To His Glory!
2Co9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
HIS Blood has power to cover the most adverse of situations, sins, losses, failures, difficulties, trials, challenges… in people’s lives
HIS CONQUERING BLOOD ASSURES US RESURRECTION LIFE
Mar 5:41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Luk 8:54 …took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
ARISE CUMI – Hebrew H6965 qûm koom A primitive root; to rise : – abide, accomplish, confirm, continue, decree, endure, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, ordain, perform, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).
ARISE – Greek G1453 egeirō eg-i’-ro collecting one’s faculties; to waken, that is, rouse (literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence): – awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-) rise (again, up), stand, take up.
IT TRANSFORMS the LOWEST LOW to the HIGHEST HIGH
Rev 1:18 And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades.
IT CONQUERS THE DARKEST DARK – Those who are hell-bound, sickness stricken can say
Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
IT REVERSE & REBUILD, IT STRENGTHEN
Jer 33:7-8 (7) And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reversed and will rebuild them as they were at first. (8) And I will cleanse them from all the guilt and iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will forgive all their guilt and iniquities by which they have sinned and rebelled against Me.
IT CURES 12 years of unnecessary blood flow
Luk 8:43-48 (43) And a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed by anyone, (44) Came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, and immediately her flow of blood ceased. (45) And Jesus said, Who is it who touched Me? When all were denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the multitudes surround You and press You on every side! (46) But Jesus said, Someone did touch Me; for I perceived that [healing] power has gone forth from Me.
Christ knows when you draw near & trust Him; when you make Him your ONLY HELP to do something for you
(47) And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling, and, falling down before Him, she declared in the presence of all the people for what reason she had touched Him and how she had been instantly cured. (48) And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).
IT REMOVES THE BLINDNESS OF SIN ( mud) from our eyes
Nehemiah petitions God
Neh 1:6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
Our OWN STATE of Blindness (LACK of REVELATION)
Eph 4:18-22 (18) Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. (19) In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. (20) But you did not so learn Christ! (21) Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], (22) Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
ARISE!!!
THE VICTORIOUS BLOOD of the LAMB ENCOURAGES US TO ARISE
2. WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG DEAD?
Luk 24:1-7 (1) BUT ON the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women] went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had made ready. (2) And they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, (3) But when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And while they were perplexed and wondering what to do about this, behold, two men in dazzling raiment suddenly stood beside them. (5) And as [the women] were frightened and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among [those who are] dead?
(6) He is not here, but has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee (7) That the Son of Man must be given over into the hands of sinful men (men whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God) and be crucified and on the third day rise [from death]. [Psa_16:10]
JESUS IS ASKING….
Why do we look for HIM among things that are worthless, stresssing about the things mortal and callous – (without the heart of God) – try to fill your lives with frivolity (superficial) & feeble things…
Why do you labour so hard at things of the spirit that is not spirit led…???
Why do you look for Christ – to experience Christ – amongst the things, programs, entertainment, pleasure, religious activities, things naturally discerned and seen or that is of the world…???
PRAYER TIME :
SHOW US LORD the things that we are wasting our time, energy, resources, talents, that is steering us away from your REAL PURPOSE for our lives • Personally • Church life • Society • Relationships • Careers
FOR HIS BLOOD LEAD US TO OVERCOME
Rev 12:11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].
“For His DIVINE POWER has bestowed upon us ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE and (A SPIRIT‐LED‐LIFE) GODLINESS (reverence, piety, holiness) through the FULL, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (His virtue).”
WE ARE TO BE ACCOUNTED in HIM – to be DEFINED in HIM! All things WILL BE GLORIOUS unto HIM !
1. We HUMBLY PURSUE YOU in this late hour.
Father, You have given us ALL THINGS that can help us to live a godly and Holy Spirit‐led LIFE. We realize THIS is only possible through a “FULL, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of YOU” We repent for NOT taking THIS SERIOUS ‐ often living a “lackadaisy” FAITH‐LIFE. Mixing up the PURSUIT of YOU & YOUR GLORY with our own ‘more urgent or important’ STUFF We aught to be ACCOUNTED in YOU; NOT in our flesh‐life striving. We COME to WANT to KNOW YOU more!
PRAYER POINT TWO
(2) Exo 33:7 COME MEET WITH GOD!
” Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the TABERNACLE OF MEETING. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD, WENT OUT to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.”
2a. Father, we PURPOSEFULLY DRAW NEAR TO ENCOUNTER YOUR GREATNESS
Our PRAYER today is that the BODY of CHRIST: Will RISE UP IN FAITH as we SEEK You daily, by Your Spirit ‐ not through our fleshly anguish or reasoning. (Rom 8)
Will SEPERATE themselves from worldly councils to pursue YOU’RE YOUR WILL & purpose. Will pursue being SET‐APART for You.
Psa 63:1-5
1. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
2b. Father, as we SEEK Your Face
Our PRAYER today is that the BODY of CHRIST: Will RECEIVE Your DIVINE HEALING in SOUL & BODY through the Spirit; TO ENTER YOUR PEACE.
Will TRUST in Your Protection, Wisdom, Provision & HS Guidance TO RECEIVE Your GLORIOUS REST in this late season. Will SEEK YOUR FACE NOW for our lives; our Towns, Churches, this Nation, Your Kingdom… Will be STRENGTHENED TO GO and PREACH the GOOD NEWS; to GO & make disciples!!
PRAYER POINT THREE
(3) Exo 33:9‐11 A DISPLAY of GOD’S GLORY!!
“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and ALL the people ROSE and WORSHIPED, each man in his tent door. (taking ownership)
So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend…”
3a. Father, we Repent of DISTRACTIONS
We REPENT & strip ourselves today of all that DISTRACTS from Your GLORY & pre‐eminence. We REGRET for allowing FEAR, DOUBT, UNBELIEF ‐ in all forms, to drive us after WORLDLY wisdom, securities, sensation, carnal comfort & significance… We BIND all FAMILIARITY (familiar spirits); that debase and demean Your NAME, Holiness, Judgement, Grace, Justice & SOVEREIGNTY! We HUMBLY YIELD to WORSHIP You ALONE!
3b. Father, we Repent of all IDOLS
For running after so many other things in seeking meaning and purpose for this life: the lusts of the world & power (1 Jh 2:16) our own carnal desires that provokes to jealousy, strife.. (Ez 8:3) Idols: ‐ idolatry of self, own worth, fame, significance, prestige, position, wealth, things, public status… (2 Pet 1:4) For placing our daily issues; the pride of life, the temporary things 1st‐ in Your stead!
PRAYER POINT FOUR
(4) Exo 33:13‐15 A GLOBAL NEED for GOD’S GLORY!!
“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may KNOW YOU and that I may find grace in Your sight…
And God said, “MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”
Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. (4…) Exo 33:17‐18
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; • for you have found grace in My sight, • and I know you by name.“
4. Father, we have A GLOBAL NEED for Your GLORY to MANIFEST !!
We Pray for Your MERCY, COMPASSION & GRACE in CHRIST as we enter into 2021. Tofind grace in Your sight;BY the Son’s Blood. Toshow us YOUR WAY, not to take our own. ThatYou may KNOW US BY NAME. (Rev1:5‐8) That the Holy Spirit will INVADE the Earthly realm to strengthen and REFRESH the
“ I will MAKE all My GOODNESS pass before you, I will PROCLAIM the NAME of the LORD before you. I will be GRACIOUS to whom I will be gracious, and I will have COMPASSION on whom I will have compassion.”
(5)b. Exo 34:2 BE PERSISTANT in FAITH!!
So BE READY in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain.
5. Father, we need Your GRACE to KEEP us IN FAITH & REMAIN STANDING in YOUR TRUTH ALONE
We will SEEK You EARLY, and seek You as the 1st MOST important thing in our life. We will go up ‘higher’ to seek You out amongst all the other things that life calls for. We PRAY in REVERENCE of Your Holy Name.
PRAYER POINT SIX
(6)a. Rev 2:2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil…
(6)b. Rev 12:11 Look at our mandate IN Christ…
And they OVERCAME him (Satan, EVIL) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. SELAH in this!
Let’s look at what GOD SAYS about evil!
(6)c. Psa 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. (6)d. Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. (6)e. Amos 5:15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
6. Father, We STAND in the GAP by the POWER of the Blood to REPENT for SIN & EVIL
We take responsibility for ourselves, our Families, Churches, Towns & Nation; TO STAND in the GAP. We repent for all the sin, evil & bloodshed, rivalry, discord & injustice… lack of love, LIES, greed, apostasy to Your Sovereignty. We pray Your Glory will manifest to ROOT OUT sin, expose corruption & the works in darkness; AS YOU GO BEFORE us… We pray for God‐fearing LEADERS!
PRAYER POINT SEVEN
(7) Rev 2:3 …and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.
We THANK You God, for all the SERVANTS of GOD in this House; praying in all humility.
7. Father, We PRAY for the SERVANTS of God in this house
We Pray for PROTECTION, Strength, Perseverance, Servanthood & Godly Unity to prevail. We Pray for REVELATION, Council, Wisdom, Strategy, Plans, Influence, Favour, PEACE & Your REST in all areas. We pray that Your Kingdom GLORY will CHANGE this area also through us; For Your NAME’S SAKE!
PRAYER POINT EIGHT
(8) Rev 2:4‐5 LET it BE about GOD!!!
Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
8. Father, TODAY! We COME back to YOU, our 1st LOVE
We repent, LORD, of our personal & corporate decline allowing pride, lethargy, weariness, laziness, sluggishness to numb and tempt us away from sincere, truthful REVERENTIAL AWE & HOLY LOVE for YOU. We repent for loosing our fervent zeal & standard of LOVING YOU 1st and MOST of all! – To love You FOREMOST. (Mrk12:30)
Open our eyes TO SEE!: ‐ in the MIRROR of Your Word where we are tempted to go astray. We ask forgiveness for taking Your honour and making it about us. We repent for IGNORING YOUR HOLY SPIRIT; We regret our stubbornness in NOT adhering to Your lead & wise council BUT following our own will.
We ASK ‐ in YIELDING to Your Spirit, for leading us to PURITY, FERVENT DEVOTION, HOLY OBEDIENCE & REVERENTIAL AWE. We humbly come to seek YOUR PRESENCE to REVEAL Your GLORY here in this PLACE!
BLESSING
Rom 5:1‐2,5
YET, BY GRACE WE can REJOICE in THE HOPE of HIS GLORY
Therefore, having been JUSTIFIED by faith, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom also we have ACCESS by faith into this GRACE in which we STAND, TO REJOICE in HOPE of the GLORY of God.
Now HOPE does not disappoint, because the LOVE of God has been POURED OUT in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT Who was given to us.
Considerations on Spiritual LEADERSHIP after the Global Lockdown – In the Newness of the Spirit
Serving God In the Newness of the Spirit
IN the Newness of the Spirit. We look at the now, much needed, new Spiritual Leadership after Lockdown. This need to originateFrom BEFORE GOD’S FACE -For HIS KINGDOM’S GLORY.
FOOD for THOUGHT: “From BEFORE HIS FACE – For HIS KINGDOM’S GLORY“
As we consider spiritual leadership after lockdown, we envisage
A NEW FACE OF THE TEMPLE THE CHURCH – THE INDIVIDUAL MOBILIZED
a. ABSTRACT:
The current global scenario that we all are subject to, now creates an obvious & opportune time for RENEWING PERSONAL & CORPORATE VISIONS – in this divine Kairos season; to introduce Spiritual leadership in the “Newness of the Spirit”
“The NEW FACE OF THE TEMPLE THE CHURCH Powerful – Through Every Believer THE INDIVIDUAL MOBILIZED.”
b. INTRODUCTION:
Christ’s Kingdom’s Glory (a) need to be on the forefront of the believer’s now-end-time mission; individually & corporately. The presumptuous disruption of our lives, the utter disordering from life as we know it and the way we’ve ‘done life & church’ in the past, now asks for – and presents a very natural occasion towards – refreshing current views & visions. This is a great opportunistic time – to be fully embraced in seizing the moment; for looking at things from a complete new, unfamiliar, decisive & experiential perspective.
c. RECITATION for CONSIDERATION
ORIGIN OF RECITATION – this recitation originated from:
Specific scriptures bringing conclusive insight and forming part of the backdrop of this dissertation. Academic studies and its literature on ‘revised’ or ‘refined’ visions. This script is also grounded in & founded on a Christ-Kingdom inspired search, for some answers to the Mandate of the Church’s End-Time Impact – for Kingdom Glory, through manifested Kingdom Glory, yet to be released.
IN the NEWNESS of the SPIRIT – FROM BEFORE HIS FACE – FOR HIS KINGDOM GLORY
CONTENT
1. LOCKDOWN CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
2. PRE-LOCKDOWN CHALLENGES & STRENGTHS
A) IN the Newness of the Spirit – SPIRITUAL MATURITY B) IN the Newness of the Spirit – Biblical SOUND DOCTRINE to be embraced
3. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WAY FORWARD AFTER LOCKDOWN
3.1 New WINE skins ask for New Wine – GOD’S AGENDA for the Church
C) IN the Newness of the Spirit – A New Resilient FAITH CULTURE D) IN the Newness of the Spirit – NEW WINE can BRING BREAKTHROUGH E) IN the Newness of the Spirit – SEEK HIM TOGETHER – in a new way F) IN the Newness of the Spirit – Determine the HEARTBEAT of the CORPORATE BODY
3.2 New CHRISTIAN IMPACT – In His GLORY Presence
G) IN the Newness of His Spirit – His MANIFESTED GLORY H) IN the Newness of His Spirit – His DYNAMIC POWER IN DIVERSITY I) IN the Newness of His Spirit – LETTING GO make way for RELEVANCE J) IN the Newness of His Spirit – It’s time to MOVE ON
3.3 VISION must translate into SPECIFIC STRATEGIES.
K) IN the Newness of the Spirit – INCLUSIVE, TRANSPARENT & OPEN DISCUSSIONS L) IN the Newness of the Spirit – A STRATEGY FOR NOW
3.4 A NEW BRAND of MARCHING SAINTS
M) “IN the Newness of the Spirit – Every Believer embracing His mandate; TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE”
4. CONCLUSION: NOW IS THE TIME FOR HIS GLORY TO MANIFEST
5. FINAL APPRAISAL – SUMMARY – SCRIPTURES – COMMENTARIES- COMMENTS(Strongs)
RECITATION :
IN the NEWNESS of the SPIRIT
From BEFORE HIS FACE – For His KINGDOME GLORY
Rom 7:4, 6 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
1. LOCKDOWN CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
Through all spheres of life, our reality has for ever been changed into a new unknown special consideration that requires new-wine; updated spiritual leadership. The known has been shaken & has been freed up from conformity to nominal perceptions of our existence and stale beliefs.
As individual believers and the Body of Christ in general, we need to look upon the mission ahead in a new fresh way – KAINOS. This is needed in order to accommodate, facilitate & maximize the current opportunity of the changed world.
This is now the moment – maybe the last we might have – to seize the opportunity to change the status quo of redundant scenarios. To invoke the NEW WINE on a civilization, desperate in need for something new & real! Even, if the old, set & faithful methods still work; is it what God is initiating now? Is this really what the Father has birthed through His Spirit for this moment? Or are we settling for 2nd best, that which is safe?
ARE WE WILLING to seize this new hour with an adventurous trust IN GOD? CAN we WAIT in FAITH on HIM to SHOW HIMSELF CREDIBLE in the very late BUT BRAND NEW hour ?
2. PRE-LOCKDOWN CHALLENGES & STRENGTHS
The Church has been preached to, trained, taught & equipped for years. We have been pew warmers for centuries. Spiritual leadership has always been of utmost importance. Yet now it is more important than ever before.
REVIVAL in the CHURCH will start with the revived spirit of every Believer that has made a daily encounter with God by His Spirit, revealing His Word, their default – NOT settling for anything less!!
REVIVAL in the STREETS will start when the fire of the Holy Spirit burns so bright, even harsh. Through the lives & testimonies of the saints the very shadow of Him living inside of us will convict to repentance & draw all men to His unsurpassed grace.
Because Christ’s true love is displayed through us.
A) IN the Newness of the Spirit – SPIRITUAL MATURITY
As long as we keep people dependent by feeding mainly from outer-court menus, appeased with sight-seeing passivity, comfortable programs and non-challenging examples, the need for maturing (hearing, knowing, doing for yourself) will not be stimulated.
Dependency leaves the Believer’s own call to ‘feed’ others & evangelize the lost, even further behind as part of God’s mission for them.
Unless, we are challenged to step into that place of spiritual maturity; and take responsibility for our own personal faith-walk, people will keep on ‘passing the buck’. Or keep on believing that they are incapable to perform their commission.
• This is contrary to the scriptures: (b) “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
B) IN the Newness of the Spirit – Biblical SOUND DOCTRINE to be embraced.
To NOT-share the relevance of hardships, trials & challenges of our faith walk, is not presenting to the Believer a Biblically sound doctrine and an all compassing theology. Such messages that neglect the above, presents a mediocre comfortable faith journey..
A seeker sensitive mentoring; lacking the truths about God’s judgement, wrath, righteousness, justice & grace…, do not help the believer in his/her own faith pursuit in their real-time challenges. (b. Psa 89:14)
• This soon has to change & will be a sudden shock to those who sit under erroneous preaching that mainly populate the pews by pleasing the ears; leading many astray in the process through defiled & compromised spiritual leadership.
Is the church maybe guilty of keeping babes in the pews? Have the mega-church concepts & grandeur individual pursuits been for too long, too much on the forefront?
• Being stuck in monotonous & repetitive religious rituals are the same as being under the spell of witchcraft & bondage of the Law of old. (c. Rom 7:4,6)
3. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WAY FORWARD AFTER LOCKDOWN
We should now go & fulfil the End Time mandate for maximum CHURCH-IMPACT through His many new & different creative ways; by serving & to influence this world in the ‘Newness of the Holy Spirit’ being led in His authentic ways. This happens as we come before His face; when our sole focus for ‘doing church’ is for His Kingdom Glory.
• IF, His Kingdom GLORY – to do the Father’s will (a) – was the ONLY AUTHORIZED mandatory mission; would our End Time Faith Activities have looked different from the previous Faith Business Pursuits? (see annexure B & C below)
3.1 New WINE skins ask for New Wine – GOD’S AGENDA for the Church “In the Newness of the Spirit – What is on God’s Agenda”
“WHAT will we hear as we come before Him, before His face, in the beauty of His Presence about His glory to be made renown !?”
Another read : “THE VOICE of the CHURCH has been SILENCED”
NOW is the TIME to LISTEN to WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING!
Superficial faith menus leave people unfulfilled & dissatisfied with the doctrine of the church; it frustrates. Anything not shared genuine from the heart falls flat…
For the Spirit inside us cries out, deep unto deep, for the more of the ‘newness of the Spirit’. One taste of the New Wine poured out deep into our spirit – the power and presence of the Holy Spirit – leaves us cold for anything that it is not.
Now is the TIME to QUIET OURSELES DOWN for INSIGHT & REVELATION.
We have to hear, see and observe; – so to speak ‘WITH WHAT’ & ‘WHERE’ God is busy. All Believers need to discern where His Holy Spirit is moving & what is now highlighted on His agenda.
• This won’t be found in the previous ways or by following past formats or formulas. The times have now truly & actually changed into more variations of the speedily changing world. The last ‘order of the world’ has become a greater reality and is closer at hand. It is not politics, business, church and life as in the past.
• A Familiar view, past successful programs & strategies; same old, same old ways can blur our vision & hamper our pursuit of a fresh new approach – in most areas. Before us are many, very new & challenging uncertainties that create diverse and new requirements for the present and future time.
C) IN the Newness of the Spirit – a New Resilient FAITH CULTURE
In many ways, people are now faced with the very real, fast changing dynamics of a very uncertain ‘present’ & vague future. It is an opportunistic, global, antagonizing and a constant in our lives. Believers need to become further acquainted and aware of a living God, actively guiding them, by His Spirit. The reality thereof and with greater intensity.
Personal challenges & struggles should be met with a resilient FAITH CULTURE. This is a personal, real & practical FAITH culture that will be introducing the dimension of God’s real time truths to be personified.
A NEW FAITH CULTURE- NEW wine is introduced for the new wineskins :
• It is crucial that hands-on, practical & on-the-run operational guidance & guidelines need to be introduced. This will enable the individual believer to be combat-ready, able to address & confront each personal challenge him/herself with resilient faith; in the newness of the Spirit. (b. Eph. 4:11-16)
• In-service Spirit training is the best way of learning & earning stripes under your belt; resulting in mature, relevant and practical Believers, trained in experiential faith by the Spirit.
• It’s time to throw the ball back into the hands of the believer & all members of the Christian faith.
The Assembly to assemble around His Spirit’s voice, individually received & acknowledged – as in the Upper Room – for the movement of the Church into the new, to come alive, together – form the Fulness of Christ – His Full 5 Fold.
D) IN the Newness of the Spirit – NEW WINE can BRING BREAKTHROUGH
New wine in new wineskins can break through the frontier of the unknown and step up, step out & create a new unique identity to meet the requirements of the new… Maybe now is the time to let go… to embrace faith afresh ” in the newness of the Spirit”
‘Let my people go’, to believe in themselves, to believe in God alone, to be able to fulfil the great commission; their great mission; confident to be led by my Spirit. Man made principles need to be founded on the solid Rock of the Word.
• It is the duty of the Leaders & Elders of this age to equip & commission the Body of Believers into their harvest fields; NOW even in a more resilient new way. (b. Eph. 4:11-16)
E) IN the Newness of the Spirit – SEEK HIM TOGETHER – in a new way
CORPORATELY A FEW NEW APPROACHES NEED TO BE TAKEN FOR THIS TO HAPPEN
In a corporate community we have to pursue God together to find “the new” that accommodates & is inclusive of most in the communal heart… to find the communal heart; His heart in all.
Church life has to break in & break through
The uniqueness of each individual’s faith convictions should be harnessed to enrich the faith experience of the corporate Body. This being wide-ranging, yet inclusive to encourage involvement and facilitate self-realization.
In finding the Lord’s fresh new agenda & direction for the diverse areas of church life, it could be inevitably to seek a completely new approach. This can be done by bringing new wine into new wine skins through overhauling & remodelling some of the current programs, styles & rescheduling some.
In most areas of faith life, we should not default to “as we’ve done it in the past”. The previous approach will most probably not accommodate the current systemic scenario in the much-needed new & relevant way. It will also not be able to facilitate progress towards the new wine, unless this is & stays dynamic in the current NEW demanding situation.
F) IN the Newness of the Spirit – Determine the HEARTBEAT of the CORPORATE BODY
Seeking God’s face as a congregation and participate in transparent leadership is crucial for the church to stay dynamic.
In order to discern where our Father is ‘moving’ & ‘touching the hearts’ of members in the Body, we need to determine the heartbeat of the corporate body.
HOW DO WE FIND THE CONCEPT OF THE CORPORATE HEARTBEAT?
• By encouraging open discussions, people’s dispositions, needs and personal faith quests, will be crystalized and brought into clarity. Through each member’s personal revelation of God & desired progress in their salvation process, this insight will bring revelation.
• While encouraging ownership of the individual pursuit, this needs to join together in the corporate setting. To come to the full picture of our Father’s heart. Through this we will discover His current involvement in the lives of His saints and discern where He is taking the Body as a whole.
• The voice of the sheep gives the shepherd a clearer idea of where they are and what their needs are; to meet just that. This, a paradox, but in this new season the shepherds’ may need to listen for the sheep’s cries. Let this stir up a new direction – leading from ‘behind’.
3.2 The New CHRISTIAN IMPACT – In His GLORY PRESENCE
G) IN the Newness of His Spirit – His MANIFESTED GLORY
Let us look at the scriptures:
“This, the first of His signs (miracles, wonderworks), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory [by it He displayed His greatness and His power openly], and His disciples believed in Him [adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him]”. (e) Joh 2:11
PEOPLE NEED TO BELIEVE “AGAIN”
Through the signs & wonders that Christ performed, His glory was manifest & His greatness and power became openly known. These miracles become evident of His presence; there manifesting in this dimension “on earth as it is in heaven”.
People started to believe in Him. This was something displayed through ‘Someone’; unlike anything they have ever experienced before. He had a completely New Impact in their lives.
• It is time that this must happen again. Surely, God would want show Himself strong in this moment in time; through a people that truly believe in the power given to them through the risen Christ; and them acting on it.
THE WORLD IS IN DIRE STRAITS – AWAITING SUCH A MOVE NOW:
• The dynamics of the entire social, financial, relational and operative environment in & around our socio-existence has changed.
WE need to demonstrate the PRESENCE & GLORY of God through A NEW HEIGHT of HIS SPIRIT’s INTENSITY and MANIFESTATION; NOT THROUGH more excitement & entertainment.
BY my spirit within me, I will seek you early
H) IN the Newness of His Spirit – His DYNAMIC POWER IN DIVERSITY
In order to stay relevant, we need to spent time and have open ears to find new ways of introducing a DYNAMIC POWERFUL GOD into people’s realities.
For this to happen we have to give God the mandate on OUR TIME & give the Holy Spirit our UNDIVIDED CAPTIVATION and worship of Him. Through sitting & abiding in His presence we will discover His DYNAMIC POWER in HIS DIVERSITY. This is crucial to lead the way.
As we look at Him the Holy Spirit show us His ways and lead us into all truth we will discover how He wants to manifest Himself in the “current world scenario” in this hour through HIS manifold ways.
The EVANGELISTIC Christian Ministry & Faith Life Push
The current global state of affairs should be used to the benefit of a NEW VISION. To stimulate the last leg of the EVANGELISTIC Christian Ministry & Faith Life Push.
This could result in a powerful & dynamic revival stimulus as people “start to believe” again.
• With all the diverse new challenges we may have to target a few areas where we find ourselves able to change & introduce diversity to make a difference in a new way and use this as a guideline & inspiration to change.
I) IN the Newness of His Spirit – LETTING GO make way for RELEVANCE
• The New Christian Impact now needs to make a large footprint. Out in the mission field of our everyday life, in business, the workplace, social & suburban life –
• It asks for a measure of ‘letting go & leaving’ of the occasional stagnation of the old. To introduce out of the box, new, wider & more free Christian life approaches that will meet people where they at.
J) IN the Newness of His Spirit – It’s time to MOVE ON
Most Believers have “moved on”. Christians have had enough of the rigidity of religiously; and ‘toeing the line’ to something that is not relevant to their real-time lives. These includemany who are serious in their faith. The backslidden and even potential new souls. People want to see the risen Christ now manifested in this dimension!
• In order to stay relevant in the irrevocably changed society of the 11th hour; finding new innovative evangelical ideas, mandates & encouraging new bold patterns will have to become a faith community’s pursuit.
This can ensure change to the faith life of the believer & to match the demand and need of the current late hour.
3.3 VISION must translate into SPECIFIC STRATEGIES.
K) IN the Newness of the Spirit – INCLUSIVE, TRANSPARENT & OPENLY
In order to steer the ship with inclusiveness, strategies will have to be freely discussed & openly debated by the greater part of the faith community.
This approach may keep at least the majority interested; being part of the plan through an incorporated vision, mission, goals & introducing actions steps for all to employ with vigour. Therefore, being motivated by an inclusive vision development; MORE BELIEVERS will be released to be the new face of the church – the individual mobilized.
“THE CHURCH WILL GO NOWHERE NEW, UNLESS WE ALL GO TOGETHER”
:-“God quote” Jhn 14 & 17
IF NOT implementing comprehensive vision building & INCLUSIVE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, the falling away- from the corporate setting; of even the elect, will take place sooner than later.
In the light of the current global scenario – that has brought in much confusion – more individual VOICES are NEEDED; and need to be heard. We need the voice of the church to make the End Time Statement of the church drastic; to be broad & far reaching. This is essential, especially pertaining to the relevant direction for the church in its end time dynamic purpose.
L) IN the Newness of the Spirit – A STRATEGY for NOW
The ‘New Normal’ needs to be conceptualised within a strategy for now:
‘Not knowing exactly what just happened; where we are; where we are goin; what we are facing; what is next and what to prepare for; accumulate into a new compendium – to be incorporated in our reasoning processes for the way forward.
These scenarios of global proportions, playing off in the minds of most, are now very much in our face. Where previously it was just a vague possibility in the back of one’s mind.
Much & many things have changed. Most people don’t have an idea of what exactly has changed. Neither can we factually appreciate what is really going on. And what is really at stake here.
DISCERNING THE TRUTH FROM THE LIE
The uncertainty of who are now calling the shots in governments; is of great concern.
The agenda of those key role players that socially influence our lives – even readily planning that of the next generations – is highly questionable and even suspiciously looked at. Thereis much reason to discern what the ‘truth’ sounds likeandto seriously determine the church’s new function in a societythat is stillshaking in aftershock. Nowadays, the integrity of the many voices, bellowingover the amplified media waves, is highly questionable.
It is one thing to have a plan & direction.
We are all fully aware that something of apocalyptical nature is going on! But what this entails or will amount to still need to be revealed; and it will…! BUT will we see it for what it is!?
People don’t know to what the world has changed to & what it is developing into. Most people are greatly confused, and therefore even dysfunctional after this much unsettling time. Even to the point of becoming depressed and lethargic.
This current condition applies to our personal, corporate & even spiritual settings. There where we find the plan (path and direction) is not attend to in a fresh new way and left to the “silent groaning of the uncertainties” more confusion & disengagement will set in. ‘Someone’ needs to hear God’s voice in the newness of the Spirit for new direction in this season. All of us need to discern His truth from the voice of the lie.
The CHURCH needs to find that new setting to adapt their plans, strategies & spiritual leadership approach.
• We need to keep all parties involved to be part of a new way of thinking. This is crucial for faith building & a solid faith stance. • Leaders should lead from the back at times, to accommodate & appreciate the reality of current dynamics in people’s lives; for an inclusive and dynamic new vision.
3.4 A NEW BRAND of MARCHING SAINTS
In providing diverse & creative planning opportunities, collaboration on the things that we are sure of from His Word;
The CHURCH could harness a New Brand of Marching Saints into ‘The Last Commission March’ for HIS Glory Mission.
To keep the faith community relevant, active, encouraged and energetic; in doing what the hour requires, asks for a revised, fresh, unfamiliar & dynamic new VISION. This vision should translate through strong spiritual leadership & in collaboration with all who need to buy in and ‘sell the product’ of their faith; out in a very real and uncertain world.
THE LAST BANQUET
Every generation had their years of international & national mayhem, war, confusion & instability. Yet, now we are for sure closer to the end… We are closer to a fierce enemy with a devious plan, which needs to be negotiated.
Crucial new strategies have to be developed; – in order not to fall away from the original Mission of the Church – MAKE disciples and take them with you. And not to miss out on the glorious harvest prepared for our Saviour’s last banquet feast.
M) IN the Newness of the Spirit – Every Believer embracing His MANDATE TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE
4. CONCLUSION:
NOW IS THE TIME FOR HIS GLORY TO MANIFEST
As human intervention almost ‘step to the side’ in submission; we allow the GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE break the fallow ground in the believer’s life – in a NEWNESS of the Spirit-way.
As every believer is encouraged; become bold and daring to step into the flow of His Glory River, the church will come together in unison – as we all walk in the frontline, together.
FOR THE GREATER GLORY
We are in the Father’s GRACE TIME season of realizing purpose FOR THE GREATER GLORY; where every Believer will find his/her own voice in context of the Kingdom Voice & Spirit Call.
As the Godhead is ONE, we are to manifest the many facets of Christ’s glory in unison. Becoming relevant in these last days with New Wine in New wine skins. The FIVEFOLD Minisrty Fulness of Christ must be revived into action. This need to happern by equipping through guidance and revelation of the Holy SPirit in the moment; releasing the voice of the Father into one relevant voice by revelation. (e) Joh 2:5
‘His kingdom has to come’ through each Believer’s life – living from a place of experiential faith & glory.
• HIs Kingdom should & will manifest when His glory presence flow in & through us; becoming evident with signs & miracles. A daily, supernatural manifestation of His power & presence for the world to see & believe His majestic honour & glory. THIS can only COME from HIS PRESENCE… from Him…
TO pray from the Secret Place; from before His face.
Please watch this following video of Kevin Zadai’s experience in heaven. Encouraging us to enter into the secret place through prayer.
• For God to show forth His greatness; the greater works of Christ should be PERFORMED. There where man has no pretence, no human conceived plan and no agenda of His own. This will happen when man step aside & God’s glory manifests; by Him bringing His own right arm into action. To perform His greater works, even through us.
• This happens when our Father finds a vessel through whom He can freely manifest His almighty power & glory, according to His council & perfect will; knowing His glory will reach Heaven’s throne & His accolades will be hailed, throughout the heavens and the earth. (e) Joh 2:11
All of creation will join in song for the Church has been mobilized for the honor & glory of his Kingdom to manifest.
His Glory will manifest as the corporate church “allow the believer to believe in God” through the lives of ALL and He will receive the hnour & praise. No man, no individual, no church, no denomination. We will be led by His Spirit and He will seize His own praise. He will not share His glory with no man.
A whole new era needs to be hauled in. Where the systems, calendars, plans, works and performances of man will truly subject itself, consciously, to serve God & His people “in the newness of the Spirit” (c)
The church in this late hour is crying out for Strong & mature spiritual leadership in the Newness of the Spirit
From: The Monograph – A Biblical Theology of Leadership
I quote:
“If we think of success in terms of leader-greatness, we are on faulty ground. Success is to be measured by the greatness of the people of God, not just the leaders”
5. FINAL APPRAISAL:
CHRIST wants to be glorified!
The Father’s glory was and still is Christ’s mission! Now through us, even more! HIS IS the Kingdom, the ONLY kingdom, the only kingdom to build. He ALONE is the POWER & the GLORY; to receive ALL the honour.
I humbly contemplate; might the church in general, have missed it at times… We are “flesh unto flesh”, yet we should be spirit unto Spirit. The human nature, craving for honour and selfrealiasation is much tempted to make it about ourselves.
So many HUMAN PURSUITS; instead of making this life about God…, about His Glory to manifest through our lives and testimonies.
OUR God builds His church
We are ever thankful, for Him not leaving us to our own end. God is still building His Church!!
God is building His church regardless and in spite of our neglected failures and imperfections. Which include our failure to do regular retrospective “Word-Mirror” spot checks., to toe the line with the Word.
Our neglect, that has eroded gospel priorities, has rather often highlighted man’s packaged suggestions, of a Church look alike.
Are we building the church with God or apart from HIm?
HONOUR is due – SAINTS & STEWARDS of His grace
To His Priesthood, who continues relentless in the enormous responsibility of leadership; leading the church of His Christ in His wisdom, truth & Godly ways.
Many of God’s Servants are walking in the frontline, even when own weaknesses, trails & failures temp to lure to despair.”
LASTLY, Through this dissertation,
I also want to bring honour to the past & previous Giants of Faith. Those who led the Church so diligently by the call of His Spirit in previous eras.
They achieved much by spreading Christ’s Kingdom Glory through His Great Commission and played their best role in this diverse, compelling mission of the Christ Story.
They have layed the foundations for the now-generation, to fulfil and write the last pages of this novel Narrative.
Are we ready to build the Last Arc Together!
Heb 11:7
(7) By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen; moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
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These are my humble, ‘own-mirror’ reflective contemplations; a modest submission, KNOWING that it is only SHARING IN PART.
Let us all be encouraged to use this ‘New WINE Season’ to make right and keep going for the Good Lord’s Eternal Glorious Honour.
In His Righteousness alone Alna Terblanche 28/05/2020
SUMMARY
The following themes are relevant to this recitation:
Summary with acknowledgement of Dr. Emeka Ezenwugo
At PRE-Lockdown, the global Church was engaged in many ‘clever’, yet man driven initiatives. Many were not necessarily Spirit led.
What we call the church has created a class of ‘dependent” devotees who have little or no one-on-one encounter with the Lord and lack discernment.
There is a need for a tangible demonstration of God’s power and glory. This is needed both to awaken the Church and to harvest the souls in the world.
The 5 fold ministry of Christ; especially the PROPHETIC, are needed at a time like this to be in sync with what the Lord is doing globally as we approach the end of the ages.
Annexure A: SCRIPTURES – Let the Scriptures Be the Light to Our Path
(a) THE GLORY OF THE FATHER & OF HIS CHRIST – ON EARTH – IS A GOD OBJECTIVE
Key verse to consider for our core aspiration & foundational consideration:
Joh 7:18 (Ampl)
(18) He who speaks on his own authority seeks to win honor for himself. [He whose teaching originates with himself seeks his own glory.] But He Who seeks the glory and is eager for the honor of Him Who sent Him, He is true; and there is no unrighteousness or falsehood or deception in Him. (NKJV) (18) He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
(See Annexure B; for commentary perspective)
2Co 4:5 – 7
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Treasure in Jars of Clay
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Joh 14:13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son
Joh 17:1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
Joh 17:4-6
(4) I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. (5) And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (6) “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Joh 17:22-24
(22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (23) I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (24) “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
(b) BELIEVERS MATURE UP!
Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.
2Co 3:18
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
Heb. 5:12 , 14
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1Jnn 2:27 – The believer needs to know how to ABIDE IN HIM & draw from HIS anointing But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Eph 4:11-16
(11) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— (16) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
(c) THE MESSENGER OF THE NEW COVENANT IS SENT TO SERVE BY THE SPIRIT
Mal 3:1
1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.
Rom 7:4, 6
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Ampl. VersionRom 7:4, 6 …So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].
Joh 20:21-23
(21) So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (22) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Mar 16:19 (19) So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
(d) TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER
Joh 4:34-35
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
Heb 13:21 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Joh 7:16-17
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
(e) SIGNS WILL MANIFEST HIS GLORY
Joh 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Joh 2:11 This, the first of His signs (miracles, wonderworks), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory [by it He displayed His greatness and His power openly], and His disciples believed in Him [adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him].
Annexure B: COMMENTARIES EXTRACTS
Matthew Henry Commentary’s depicts:
(A) Comment on John 7:18
See here the character of a deceiver: he seeketh his own glory, which is a sign that he speaks of himself, as the false Christs and false prophets did. Here is the description of the cheat; they speak of themselves, and have no commission, nor instructions from God. No warrant but their own will, no inspiration but their own imagination, their own policy and artifice.
(B) Comment on John 7:16-17
Christ himself, was willing to have his doctrine enquired into, whether it were of God or not. Therefore much more should his ministers; and we are concerned to examine what grounds we go upon, for, if we be deceived, we are miserably deceived. Secondly, who are likely to succeed in this search: those that do the will of God, at least are desirous to do it.
Now see,
Who they are that will do the will of God? They are such as are impartial in their enquiries concerning the will of God, and are not biassed by any lust or interest, and such as are resolved by the grace of God, when they find out what the will of God is, to conform to it. They are such as have an honest principle of regard to God, and are truly desirous to glorify and please him.
Annexure C: Revelatory COMMENTS through Biblical context (Strongs)
• “ In the Newness of the Spirit G2538 Kainotes kahee-not’-ace : renewal G2537 kainos : kahee-nos’ – freshness G2643 katallage kat-al-lag-ay’ : exchange (figuratively adjustment), restoration to (the divine) favor: – atonement, reconciliation (-ing).
• “Before the Face of God “ G2714 katenōpion kat-en-o’-pee-on From G2596(katah) and G1799; directly in front of: – before (the presence of), in the sight of. G1799 in the face of ; 3700 optomai ; To gaze, To look at, Perceive, Regard, Take Heed, To know, To understand, To see, To visit, To behold, To discern, To consider
I release these words as God reveals His heart. I believe He wants to encourages us all, to PRAY & TO BELIEVE that He IS VERY PRESENT in our CURRENT, VERY interesting SEASON.
PRAYER RELEASES THE POWER OF GOD
Psa 85:6-9
(6) Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
(7) Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.
(8) I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
(9) Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
WHAT HAPPENS AS WE PRAY !?
SEED NATURE TRANSFORMATION
Every seed is created by God to change the nature of that seed into something completely different as it is PLANTED or SUBMITTED. It becomes a living organism and of a “different nature”. It changes from strength, phase, stature, appearance, purpose, destiny & in effect.
God has DESIGNED THAT SEED to react to HIS NATURE – SUPERTNATURAL POWER
As we pray, putting our faith out there in audible words, we create something very powerful, life changing, atmosphere changing by releasing our faith into the God realm.
These faith-released ‘SEEDS’ change completely from nature as prayer turns words & sound into actions. These PRAYERS are to be executed by a different kind – the angel-kind, and released into another realm to execute, to manifest here on earth as it is in heaven.
PRAYERS RELEASE THE SUPERNATURAL
These prayers are directed into the spiritual realm to create something supernatural and of a wonderworking type. The heavens react to the words & doings of God’s saints, His warrior bride. Angels are sent into action. Daemons are set to flight and heaven touches earth.
Do we understand the authority & power we exude as we utter & demonstrate words, prophetic actions, gestures, songs and even groanings & sounds of weeping, praise or joy by faith?
Our faith and authority do not lie in the words, method or strategy BUT in the power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; – as the word so clearly state.
BELEIVE IN GOD OR NOT
As we PRAY, we have a choice to believe that something will happen as we have brought the matter before the Father’s Throne of grace. We also have an option to see by the spirit, our Lord, the Chief Intercessor, seated at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for us, or we can look with the natural eye and see ourselves trying to do this life by our own natural ability…
When we employ our faith in an ALMIGHTY GOD through our PRAYERS, we can extend our spirit-hearts to take hold of the HOPE and even ETERNAL JOY; to actively RECEIVE the PEACE that we have in our Lord, HIS COMPLETE SHALOM. OR we will be guilty of being a doubting Thomas. There are no grey areas when it comes to faith in God.
We either believe in God or we don’t; in His goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, justice and kindness… to name but a few of His characteristics. If the Word of God states over and over that God is good … His mercies endures forever, then we have to make the choice, even TODAY, to believe, that is WHO He says He is – NOW & for ever more.
When circumstances changes … God does not change with it!!!
FAITH COMES ALIVE AS IT HEARS THE WORD OF GOD !
The Word says that God has given us all a measure of faith. This faith comes alive and goes into action as it HEARS the LIVING Word of God. Even more so when we utter or demonstrate this ourselves by the filling our minds, heart and mouth with great measures of the Word.
LET us therefore go INTO ACTION with our PRAYERS, filled with WORDS of WORD-FAITH! And let us look, to see & wait in expectancy what God is doing on our behalf, in this life that He has blessed us with. If you are also one of those doubting if this present situation is a blessing… I don’t blame you… surely, we are all wondering where this is going.
But one thing will never change and that is :
Joh 14:13-14
(13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Luk 18:7-8
(7) And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
(8) I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
HOW DO WE MAKE SENSE OF BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO GOOD PEOPLE?
Sickness, desease, brokenness, disaster, death, wickedness, all evil, unrighteous living and any form of sin… are definitely not God’s will for us or form part of His Covenantal blessing for us. But, we live in a fallen world and are therefore subject to it.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Sin came through a choice that man made, in the freedom God gave him to choose. God in His desire to have a relationship with us created us with a free will, enabling us to make our own choices.
He gave man a choice to choose to Love Him and to choose that by his free will. He did not enforce it on us… therefore, He gave man by default also the choice to reject Him and to sin. LOVE is a choice; no enforcement can apply.
AUTHORITY LOST AND GAINED
Adam chose to disobey God’s instruction and through His choice, all of creation became subject to that choice, which plunged all of mankind into a fallen and sinful state. From our birth we are received into this fallen, sinful world.
In the Garden of Eden man also lost his authority. At that point this was handed over to satan. When God send His Only Son to earth – for the redemption of mankind back to the heart of the Father, God gave ALL AUTHORITY back to Christ.
Therefore, as we step into God’s redemptive option to choose Christ, to be IN Him and to receive the New Covenant Position that He attained for us, we also regain our place of authority; but this time it is only as we are In Him.
(Again, we are sharing IN PART)
THERE ARE 2 PARTS TO THIS STORY
a. OUR PART
The word says: ‘Because of a lack of knowledge (of God) my people perish… that calls for all areas of our lives to be subjected to the knowledge of God.
Hos 4:6 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge,...
COMMENTARY ON THIS SCRIPTURE ; Mathhew Henry’s Commentary
“The people strove with the priests that should have taught them the knowledge of God; justly therefore were they destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos_4:6. Note, Those that rebel against the light can expect no other than to perish in the dark. This can also serve as a charge upon the priests, who should have been still teaching the people knowledge (Ecc_12:9). …so there was no knowledge of God in the land; and because there was no vision, or none to any purpose, the people perished…” Pro_29:18.
In application to the context of the title to this exposition re. “…Life’s Quest in Trials…” we now come to “The knowledge of God”:
The knowledge of GOD for victorious living
As Christ fills ALL things with Himself, we desperately need His knowledge of Himself to be revealed to us in the different situations and areas of our lives, enabling us to live our lives in the full knowledge and revelation of WHO HE is FOR US in every trial, situation and quest.
Pro 29:18 18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
As the crown of God’s creation, we should constantly be looking at our Creator for wisdom and guidance in everything pertaining to this life He granted us. Yet, we have rejected Him, and often are still not interested in learning from God, His ways.
Man would rather follow his own discretion and human acquired knowledge – through his God given intellect, than to yield to our Creator’s Manuel & obediently submit to His statutes and Holy Spirit – within us – for guidance & His ULTIMATE wisdom.
Most of us suffer from a severe plague of pride, stubbornness and self righteousness. Even when earthly wisdom comes our way, from any avenue but our own preferred place of submission, we would get severely aggrivated or self righteous. We would rather stay in rebellious stubborness than to humble ourselves & follow good advice. Funny enough this happens mostly on the topics of health, relationships, finance and faith; where life’s biggest challenges also lie.
Knowledge of God through Spirit Revelation
We can sought out God’s REVELATORY WISDOM and also gather intellectual KNOW-HOW and knowledge on any given area of FAITH & LIFE in general. Such to help us in this physical life as well as in the “working out of our salvation”.
The knowledge of God, sought out in His presence through the Holy Spirit’s help – bring His wisdom & His revelation for every situation and quest we face in life. This will lead us steadily through the many processes in life towards the reward of eternal life.
GOD IS LOVE and because of that LOVE, He created man to have fellowship with us, eternally. He gave us life to love us & be loved by us and to fascilitate His rule and reign here on earth. Surely He would not have created us with thie mission at hand just to leave us stranded in our own weaknesses, without help or ability to live this life to the full. He also gave us life to LIVE for the honour and glory of His Name and therefore grants us His wise council on creation and our quest. See Ps 139:13-17
Psa 139:13-17
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Apart from our own choices, only God knows why one would become a king and another a pauper… why we are who we are, and why things befall us…
OUR SON-SHIP IDENTITY
Our Tongues play a VERY NB part in our IDENTITY, WELLBEING and DESTINY. God created by words/sound. He has given us the same ability to create in the power of Jesus’s Name.
The demonic forces and workers of evil, iniquity and unrighteousness, have the same ability to design & create through their evil exploits. Therefore our words of life – in agreement with what God says about us and our circumstances need to replace and be actively part of our desitiny.
Our lack of understanding our position as SONS (dual gender) of the MOST HIGH GOD, restrains us from taking up our authority and to step into reigning with Christ. This position of reigning and living through His authority in us, can only happen as we STAY ABIDING and HIDDEN IN Him. We often move out of His boundary of GRACE, BLESSING and AUTHORITY through our ignorant choices, rebellion – that is as witchcraft – and sin; as well as our lack of the knowledge of God.
In our Son-ship identity we need to know God (to know God is eternal life), and to know our position in Christ – which is a mystery, NOW REVEALED to us through the Holy Spirit ( Col 2 to 3 ).
This knowledge of God enables us to stand and live by our new identity IN HIS FINISHED work on the cross and IN Him; where we are seated at the Right Hand of the Father, hidden IN Christ.
When we move outside this hidden SANCTUARY of God’s knowledge, strength, wisdom & grace, our lives are exposed to the radar of the enemy.
As Christ was loved by the Father, we are loved and covered in EXACTLY the same love of the Father… (Jhn17). Everything He provided Christ with – to live His purpose – is at our disposal. We ought to embrace this in a Father-Childlike relationship; to experience the Father’s love here on earth in preperation of our eternal abode. We can and should then also extend it to others.
OUR Son-SHIP IDENTITY has been secured in the LOVE of the Father. Just as HE loved Christ, He loves us. He therefore redeemed, sanctified & glorified us to a SON-SHIP position; of which Christ is the first-born.
b. GOD’S PART
CHRIST came to earth to restore mankind back into a relationship with the Father. , through a New Covenant.
HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK is PERFECT.
He suffered. He conquered sin and death. He rose and ascended.
He now intercedes constantly for us. He is our Advocate in the Heavenly Courts.
His bountiful grace is helping us through this life. He suffered on earth; we will also have part in His sufferings…
Dying was the HIGHLIGHT of His ‘CAREER’… Dying to self – that comes through all these trials that we experience – HELPS US towards that place of salvation from self, towards salvation in Christ, and towards eternal life; then eternally with Him.
Because of His love for us, knowing our frailty & sinful nature, God also tests us to see what is in our hearts, in order to present us one day tested & standing firm in His own righteousness. ( See Eccl 7 below)
ALL THINGS FOR THE GOOD
Rom 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Yet, our disobedience does hamper the process; but as we choose Christ, the END-END result is a secured VICTORY by the Blood of the Lamb.
Everything works out for the good of those who love God and are called for His purposes. As we endure, overcome,learning obedience through suffering, as CHRIST did – and keep on STANDING IN HIM, who fills all things with Himself, we mature towards the full stature of Christ within; until Jesus comes.
As we choose HIM DAILY… we will ‘make it’, to receive the price.
Ecc 7:11-14 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. 13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
AS we draw wisdom from the Almighty and gain insight and guidance through His ways, laws and statutes, our lives become subject to His council on straight and narrow paths; following the prompting of Holy Spirit, to lead us unto life & life in abundance.
This is our quest to follow after His Holy Spirit within us, towards wise living.
c. THE GREATEST REWARDS
The greatest reward will also be to help others towards salvation, encourage all to endure together and to give hope and ENCOURAGEMENT – for all to KEEP ON STANDING.
Our privilege, as His Bride, is also to take HANDS in CREATING SPACE and AN OPPORTUNITY for GOD TO SHOW HIMSELF GREAT, CREDIBLE, FAITHFUL and FULL of LOVE to all of mankind.
Sometimes our misery is the stage for that to happen… it’s not our choice.
d. THE GOOD NEWS
While spreading the GOOD NEWS of the GLORIOUS ETERNAL SALVATION that awaits all, who have died in Him – is that sickness, disease, hardship and suffering is not God’s will for us. God promises to be there by our side in and through it all. (Math10) He promises to be there and take us THROUGH THE VALLEY of the SHADOW of death. The word says that the enemy is LIKE a roaring lion… he is not one… he only SOUNDS like one! These difficulties that befall us from time to time are part of our fallen creation. A creation that cries out to be redeemed back to the Glory of God and for the sons & daughters of God to be revealed.
e. TO OVERCOME
They have OVERCOME him by the BLOOD of the Lamb, the WORD of their TESTIMONY..
and they did not love their lives… Rev.12v11
HERE in the latter part… lies another KEY answer in HOW we perceive LIFE’S QUESTS.
How much do we ‘cling’ to our lives? Have we given our lives back into HIS HANDS and do we ENTRUST it completely INTO HIS ALL-KNOWING, ALL-WISE and LOVING CARE ?
Will we therefore follow His instructions; to receive life… in abundance?
What is life in abundance then?
Is it maybe just to live in the reality & experiential place of His CONSTANT PRESENCE & PEACE in ALL things; – THAT PEACE that surpasses all understanding.
f. GRACE! GRACE!
Not one of us can do this in our own strength or wisdom…. Therefore, we should STAND, STAY and ABIDE in HOPE, COURAGE and FAITH to progressively ENTER by GRACE, His place of REST for our lives, through all these trials.
FOR it is TRULY ONLY BY GRACE that we live and have our being…
“This Jesus God raised up, and of that all we [His disciples] are witnesses.
JESUS ASCENDED
“Being therefore lifted high by and to the right hand of God,
HOLY SPIRIT POURED OUT
“And having received from the Father the promised [blessing which is the] Holy Spirit,
He has made this outpouring which you yourselves both see and hear.”
CHRIST’S TESTIMONY (on earth) COMPLETED
“Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST (the Messiah)–this Jesus Whom you crucified.
My TESTIMONY :
(Part1)
“Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
Brethren, what shall we do?
And Peter answered them,… “
My TESTIMONY STARTS WITH THIS :
■ “REPENT- CHANGE your VIEWS and PURPOSE to
■ ACCEPT the WILL of GOD
in your inner selves INSTEAD of REJECTING it”
WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?
– A Part of it… is to ACCEPT Him to be all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent..
therefore to STOP SELF preservation…
■ EMBRACE His PROCESS and Divine WAYS to REDEEM your life and KEEP you CLOSE and ABLE to STAND in all areas (Ef6)
■ Be BAPTIZED,
– into a NEW WAY of THINKING and LIVING…
■ SUBMERGE yourself in HIS WORD and WONDER- BE IN AWE OF HIM
” EVERY ONE of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS of and RELEASE from your sins; and
■ YOU shall RECEIVE the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT. ”
HOLY-SPIRIT-LIVING IS FOR US ALL,
(Rom8)
TODAY
and FOR ALL WHO WILL RECEIVE and ANSWER HIS CALL
“For the PROMISE [of the HOLY SPIRIT] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.
WE NEED the PEACE, PRESENCE, POWER, GUIDANCE and direct INPUT… of the HOLY SPIRIT to make this life” WORK
