In any great venture there is always a path of faith, hope and total commitment.
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| Sonya Day Painting - awesome VOICE |
Walking after Jesus, co-laboring with him in the harvest fields of the world is above all worthy of our highest worship and sacrifice.
Uncertainty, faith, and creativity are inseparable friends on the road to new creations.
Jesus pointed discipleship in the exact same direction.....
"Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” 62Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Those moments when every voice seems to say "let it die" or "let it go" can be turning points to resolve, doorways to victory, pivots to creativity and new approaches.
They can also be a good time to jump ship.
I've witnessed a great deal of jumping off the ship. Definitely more than patient endurance or steadfast standing in the face of opposition, difficulty, hindrance. This makes simple faithfulness a stand out quality.
The equation is perplexing when we are carrying such a great world changing life changing Kingdom.
We typically ask ourselves, our church, our leaders, what is missing?
Maybe we should ask ourselves what has been added? Revelation 22:18
The apostolic Gospel, given by Jesus to the apostles is the greatest life change reality on planet earth.
When believed in faith it....
- Changes people for eternity - transfers them from the dominion of darkness to the Kingdom of Light.
- Takes us from death to life in every aspect of life - defeating every aspect of death through Christ - Ephesians 1:9-10
- Forgives our sins in the blood of Christ by faith
- Brings us into friendship with God through grace by faith
- Fills us with healing, deliverance and the Spirit by faith
- Welcomes us into the Kingdom of God - eternal life - boundless - abundant - victorious
- Welcomes us into membership in the Body of Christ
- Flips whole generations in grace, love, hope, peace, life.
- Makes alive our true nature and core relationship with God the Father
- Aligns us with the NAME and character of Jesus in the fallen world
- Brings us out from the wrath to come
- Sets us free from the servitude of false gods and idol worship
- Ushers us into the Kingdom of light, wisdom and love founded in the creator, Jesus Christ.
on and on and and on it changes us inside and deposits eternal life in us as we...
Follow Jesus
Walk in the Spirit
Go with the Gospel
Disciple the Nations.
So if we add to this Gospel - distortion, deceptions, false teachings, does it retain it's true nature?
My understanding and simple answer. NO.
The apostles wagged war against false teaching, Gnostic heresies, distortions and deceptions that targeted the core reality of the deposit they received from Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:14-19
Maybe a better question these days is what has been added....?To the Gospel....To the church....To the Kingdom message.
When we say yes to Jesus, jumping is not an option. Unless he says jump.
Disciples are described as....
Followers of Jesus - I take this literally - Following the Lord through walking in the Spirit, we move about the world with his leading for the purpose of his Kingdom.
Bond slaves - "A person in a state of slavery; one whose person and liberty are subjected to the authority of a master." Free Dictionary
Martures - Greek word for witness. Acts 13:31 Martyr. What we are called as ambassadorial people.
Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1-2 Everything is worship - devotion - zeal and love in the Trinity disciple. In the land of the walking dead we are living and eternal. Raised with him we carry the mind of Christ, the new resurrected power, the favor and blessings of the perfected and finished work of Jesus.
So what if we receive a difficult assignment? One that takes us to our "overload" and our "breaking point" time and again?
Often we view opposition as some kind of divine direction finder. When we have opposition we know it's time to "go a different way" or "try something else". Very often we turn away just when things will break through, change is at the doorstep or new divine grace ready to emerge.
Hudson Taylor - Alone. Sleeps on the street for want of a welcome. Is robbed.
After leaving
he later found that all of his medical supplies, being stored in Shanghai, had
been destroyed by a fire. Then in October 1856, while traveling across China he
was robbed of nearly everything he owned. http://wellsofgrace.com/biography/english/tylor1.htm
Is it time to jump ship? Praise God he did not. And in over 51 years laid down a foundation for Christianity in China! What held him there in all the difficulty and challenge? How did he weather such challenges and set backs? Such tenacity and perseverance is remarkable. Hudson didn't go on his own accord. He went with the call of Christ. He was a bond slave. He simply walked in the Spirit. His Master did not turn him to another venture. So he pressed on in faith, persisted in hope and laid down his life in love. That sounds alot like the character of the one we love. Jesus. Doing the will of the Father. Believing in the power of the Gospel, preaching it with all zeal and commitment, hoping beyond hope and what is seen and walking in faith and love for the people God called him to serve.
As you can tell I'm not one to quit early. Most likely you are not one to quit as well. Something about my nature. Front-runner. Beach head taker. Pioneer. I've quit just a few things in my life.
Read on. The Word has some wisdom for us in opposition and difficult times.
My take. What believers need at these junctures is not "direction" but "WISDOM".
That ancient knowledge that only comes to us through experience mixed with divine grace, is wisdom. Wisdom has a more sweeping view of things. When it starts in the fear of the Lord it leads to much understanding. It also can weather the immediate storm for the long term glory. This glory is held out by the Lord to us in our assignments of grace deposited into our hearts so that we become CO-LABORERS with CHRIST. 
Joseph - Had a dream. Shared it. Was sent into slavery, exile, nearly killed, sold off by his brothers to foreigners. Through a divine moment ascended to second in Egypt. Saved Israel and Egypt from famine. Chose forgiveness over retribution of his brothers. Most know the story. What if he jumped ship? Seems God saved all Israel in extreme famine through him. But the way was filled with incredible difficulty and hardship, doubt and uncertainty. Juxtaposed against a dream of the "stars bowing down to him", he languished in jail for committing no crime. He served the Lord in all circumstances.
Surely the promise carried him through the refinement!
Our Lord Jesus - Emmanuel. Alpha and Omega. God our Lord. King of Kings. Given up to foreigners by his brothers unto death; death on a cross. Prophesied from the first pages of the Scripture to the end of all of it. Come to sit on David's throne. Yet he was despised and rejected. A man of sorrows. Pierced for us. You know the outcome. Risen from the Dead. Death defeated. Salvation for all Humanity. His blood cleansing all sin past, present, future. Reuniting us with the Father in the relationship he shares with Him. Calling us friends. Bringing us the greatest freedom and eternal life. Inviting us and the world to follow him. Pouring out the love of God into our hearts. Freeing us from the violence and destruction of sin. Welcoming us into the family of God.
For the joy set before him he endured the Cross and it's shame!
As a person who is typically front running in the Kingdom, I am well aware of the stresses and challenges of bringing new things to life. Uncertainty can overwhelm you at any given point in the journey. It is especially challenging when a number of the baseline factors, finance, personal support, understanding, and affirmation are thrown under judgement and the "told you so" spirit rises in your friends and family.
Everyone can predict an imposing failure. Few can see the victory of a new future.
A good dose of indifference can be a heavy weight when we are called into the lightness and freedom of Jesus' easy yoke. Especially when that easy yoke leaves us no Rock, No Fortress, No Deliverer but God. This is precious revelation and transformation time, if we can trust HIM.
So for the Kingdom believer who is....
Seeking first the Kingdom and righteousness Matt 6:33
Abiding in First Love of Jesus as an abiding Saint - John 15; Revelation 2:1-7
Walking after the Holy Spirit in the discipleship of the Way, Truth, and Life -
Going with that same Spirit into the world with the Simple Gospel -
Discipling and welcoming others into learning how to walk as they do....
How do we discern our way in the midst of opposition when we know we have an open door?
The church of Philadelphia has some excellent insight for us - direct insight from Jesus himself. In one of his 7 letters to US.
To the Church in Philadelphia
7“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These
are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.
What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
8I
know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one
can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my
word and have not denied my name.
9I
will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews
though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down
at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
10Since
you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from
the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the
inhabitants of the earth.
11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12The
one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God
and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming
down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new
name.
13Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Open Door - Jesus claims authority in the earth to open and shut without equal. He is proclaimed "King of the Kings of the earth" (Rev 1:4-5) He told the apostles "All authority has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18-20). It is important for us to gain understanding of the Lord's sovereign rule of the earth and his Kingdom. How is this authority expressed today?
When he gives an assignment or calls us through and open door, no one can close it. He is the originator of the Kingdom doors. Life change. World Change. Culture change. Church change. Any kind of change typically comes with challenge, opposition, hindrance, difficulty. The door may be open but we are required to walk in the Spirit into it with all the strength and power of Christ through the Spirit.
The church at Philadelphia was encouraged by Jesus to "hold on to what they have so that no one will steal their crown." A conquering Saint emerges in the battles and opposition of walking in open doors Jesus creates.
The Conquering Saint.....
1. Continues walking in the open door of
assignment and grace given by Jesus and held open by Jesus. Country wisdom = Bloom where you are planted.
a.
Isaiah 22:2- What is held OPEN? The way
to the Father, doorways of opportunity for the gospel, favor of God.
b.
Hebrews 10 – access through blood and body – to a new and living way
c.
Patient endurance -hallmark of apostolic witness is a pathway held open to us through which we explore the NAME in every way imagined.
d.
Faith and hope in the NAME – the hope and trust in the character of the
Lord, his work and person is held open to us in the Victory of Jesus over Sin, Death and the Devil.
e.
Through the impossible- the provision and miracle power of God abides in the open doors of assignment. The impossible is met with the remarkable in miracle grace and power through Christ.
I Corinthians 16:9 open doors exist
The Door – Jesus – deliverance in the narrow way
Noah’s door –Salvation's one gate - OT witness of the gate
Matthew 25 Door at
Wedding - will be shut one day
2.
\
The conquering Saint Keeps his
Word – even in an environment of little power. Opposition does not shape the mindset of the conquering saint. The NAME, the character of Jesus, the voice of his call, the ambassadorial call of the disciple, shapes the mindset.
Gates of hell no longer prevail.
The open doors presented by Jesus, lead us into "gates of Hell" he wants to defeat. God is a redemptive King. He does not lead us to frustration but to provision and power. We will have to wage war in the promises and by faith trust the NAME. In so doing we actually establish his glory in the open doors and gate crashing.
3.
The conquering Saint Does not deny the NAME – a loyal ambassador of the deity of Jesus – affronted and denied –does not fall back to the dominion of darkness.
The conquering Saint Does not deny the NAME – a loyal ambassador of the deity of Jesus – affronted and denied –does not fall back to the dominion of darkness.
I John 4:3 - “the spirit of anti-Christ"denies Jesus. The character of this affront on the NAME of Jesus is an any and all rejection of the Son of God - his character and person and his victory in the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension. It is part of the opposition believers experience on many fronts. Carrying the true witness of his NAME, including his victory and miracle power, is highly commendable in the face of persecution.
"I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Rev 3:8
"I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Rev 3:8
4.
The conquering Saint Doesn't let opposition throw them off course.
a. By Those Claiming to be Jews – Religion is the hallmark of those who oppose Jesus. (chosen – in God’s league – all of the Pharisaic qualities
– but murdering God’s true servants ).
Today it is easy to make the claims of being a Christian while carrying no real life in the Spirit or manifestation of the Kingdom. Church can be reduced to attendance once or twice a month, giving and maintaining a christian demeanor for a couple hours and some organizational cooperation. One can "worship anywhere" and find all required in their inner life (gnostic?) without exercising any real "family" or membership in the family of God. The church is all but useless to the "gnostatized" believer. Are these the captains in the wilderness Jeremiah encountered who say, "give us the word of the Lord" but never do the will of the Lord? (Jeremiah 42) Are these those who say, "Lord, Lord" but do not do the will of the Father?
Today it is easy to make the claims of being a Christian while carrying no real life in the Spirit or manifestation of the Kingdom. Church can be reduced to attendance once or twice a month, giving and maintaining a christian demeanor for a couple hours and some organizational cooperation. One can "worship anywhere" and find all required in their inner life (gnostic?) without exercising any real "family" or membership in the family of God. The church is all but useless to the "gnostatized" believer. Are these the captains in the wilderness Jeremiah encountered who say, "give us the word of the Lord" but never do the will of the Lord? (Jeremiah 42) Are these those who say, "Lord, Lord" but do not do the will of the Father?
Opposition in the "FORM of godliness" has affronted believers and the Kingdom of Christ from the beginning
b. Religiously
clothed Voices walking in church are nothing new.
i.
Acceptable in modern church action and
appearance, they look, talk, and act the limited part required to be a good church person. This is far from the way of the disciple, walking in the Spirit, the narrow way, and in patient endurance. Rev 1:9
ii.
Walking in deception, religious people have the forms of godliness but deny the power. They worship but their hearts are far from God.
iii.
They Murdered Jesus – Murdered his prophets. The prophetic testimony of Jesus, the expression of the NAME revealed and the
spirit of the Lord among the people is quenched, controlled to death, argued to no action and lukewarm existence. (Rev 19:7)
iv.
Religion Resisted Paul the apostle –everywhere he went he encountered and corrected false teaching, Judaizers, Gnostics. The apostolic commission is to be my witnesses and carry the Gospel in fullness of revelation and action. So it naturally runs into false things, false people, false religion.
v. Gnostic's -
Distort the Message of the Gospel - and what is the role it plays today in distorting the Gospel, our relationship to the church, its leaders and the Kingdom of God?
5.
The conquering Saint Walks in
“Patient Endurance” – in Faith, Hope and LOVE in the face of all
opposition and hindrance. Keeping "My word of patient endurance".
"The word
of patient endurance" – from the "Lord in exile – King in waiting" (Chuck Missler). We walk patiently in great endurance of hope looking for his coming and establishing his Kingdom as co-laborers. This is the fellowship of his sufferings and the way of the apostolic faith. Revelation 1:9
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Rev 1:9
6.
The conquering Saint waits with expectation for the eminent
Return of Christ The reality of Jesus return informs us in the present. It guides our hope and points us into action for the speedy return of our Lord to rule and reign in the earth. This knowledge is Key
to retaining Hope against the backdrop of the fading reality of the world order, the false government of Satan
and false religion of the world.
7. The conquering Saint Holds
Fast to their crown? They continue in the truth
and holiness of the NAME and true teaching of the Gospel. Rather than succumbing to
a.
a Religious spirit,
b.
the synagogue of Satan - worship filled with the deceptions and distortions of false teaching, myths, genealogies and arguments over words.(2 Tim ?)
c.
resisting and diligently aware of those seeking to steal their authority and crown.
d. Resisting and standing against those hindering you from entering the open doors
set by Jesus before you.
8.
Jesus says to Hold on to What you
have ---- Scripture reminds us to walk in what we have attained, to hold on to it, to stand. (Phil 3:16; Eph 6:10f)
a.
Paul – obedience required- when we achieve a level of walking we are required to remain in it by the grace and power of Christ.
b.
Peter – promises- we are invited to live in promise and trust. The work of Jesus in the Cross, Resurrection and Ascended High Priest seated at the Father's right hand has defeated death, Sin and stripped the Devil. We walk into and in the promises.
9.
Your
Crown – fight off those who would steal it.
a.
Crown = authority - There a number of crowns mentioned in Revelation. This crown appears to be authority and expression of the NAME. The presence of God in the Earth.
b.
Authority is derived from the NAME. Matthew 28:18-19
c.
The OPEN Doors of/in the NAME - Jesus is Alpha and Omega. Jesus is King of the Kings. Jesus has all authority. Everything was created by him and for him. Follow his lead. Go where he sends you.
d. Usurping and sabotage are typical forms of attack from Satan. Typical forms of war from an army without the ability to directly confront are..... United Prevailing Prayer changes everything! It's the air of heaven. It's the atmosphere of the heavenly temple. Perfect obedience and love in worship. John 14:1-3!
Promises to OVERCOMERS.
a.
Pillar in the Temple of my God – fixed in the
presence. Your life will be fixed in the presence, the NAME and the reality of Jesus' living prophetic testimony. You will never again be out from his presence.
b.
The character of the NAME will be written on
their lives and person. This is living transformation. This is first love promise. This is the great desire of the heart to be with him and know him above all things.
c.
The authority and reality of the City of my God
will become their permanent identity.
i.
The city God is establishing- coming down from heaven - this King's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. conquerors will bear the reality of:
Ways of Jesus
The government of God
The narrow Way, Truth and LIFE
The substance of eternal life
Ways of Jesus
The government of God
The narrow Way, Truth and LIFE
The substance of eternal life
ii.
Coming down from heaven - this city is revealed and made know through such "walking". We are co-laborers with Christ.
You do not have to create this kingdom life. You simply have to walk in it. Take the Step.
You are most likely faced with something that affronts your conquering spirit in Jesus and
with a simple step forward you can establish whose NAME is written on you.
Prayer? Need em? write me.
Help? need some? write me.
2016
Take a step
All it takes it taking steps. One at a time. Step forward as a conquering Saint.You do not have to create this kingdom life. You simply have to walk in it. Take the Step.
You are most likely faced with something that affronts your conquering spirit in Jesus and
with a simple step forward you can establish whose NAME is written on you.
Prayer? Need em? write me.
Help? need some? write me.
Feedback? Ideas?
I would love to dialogue with you.
Share your comments.
2016
Transfiguration!
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation. Encouragement, focus, wisdom and insight into the prophetic seasons of the new year.
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
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Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
Thanks for Reading!
I love your comments. Ideas and thoughts.
Please share em.
Re-shares are great. thank U.
Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
The dialogue is awesome. Thank you. Testimonies? Share em with me.
Re-Shares lov em. Thank you! With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
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