Religion Wears Dress Clothes to the Beach - "Have the Baby and LIVE" Let Religion Die in the Sprakling Diamond Sea of His LOVE

Some time ago I had a dream at 3 in the morning. 
Vivid and impacting, I want tot tell you about it.  

 Religion wears dress clothes to the beach.  

 Ezekiel 2-3

Ezekiel 2:8 but you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

On a Boardwalk at the end of the pier out in the deeper water was a very homey Tahiti shack.   A true surf house gathering place on the end of the pier.  Grass roof, surfboards, signs, seating, it was welcoming and inviting.  The ocean was gleaming behind and around it with a grass awning, a pick nick table with four sides and seating around it.   

 

 A come on in and hang out feel.  Much like this. God's Presence is a wide open House of Loving kindness. 

I spoke with a woman who was ready to give birth but was doubting and fearful.   

We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind.
We have not brought salvation to the earth,  and the people of the world have not come to life.   Isa 26:18

She was lying on a bench holding her stomach and rubbing it fearfully.  She was physically ready for the baby but was fearful of the outcome, as if she could not birth the baby.  The shack was ready and waiting for people to come.  It was inviting and warm, with a cool breeze blowing smoothly off the ocean.  I was thinking, “This was a place people would want to come and hang out.”   And then, "So where is everyone?".

Sitting across from me at the table under the awning was a “pastor guy”.   I say “pastor guy” because he had a dress shirt on sleeves rolled up, was ridged and not in the flow of the environment surrounding him.   He did not see the potential of the pier, the shack or the wonderful situation in the sun.    He looked annoyed, parochial, and perturbed; completely out of character for a place like that.  

As I spoke with him, I was rejoicing in the “readiness” and “awesomeness of the environment”  and was thinking “where are the people?”  Throwing off the idea that things would succeed, he was filling the environment with doubt and a faithless perception with every statement that came out of his mouth.   I looked at him and then at the shack thinking, “Wow, this is awesome and ready for people”.   “So where are they, I thought.  He said, "No, it’s not ready, they won’t come anyway".   Everything I put forth in faith and hope and affirmation he threw off and rebuffed.   I got angry with him and his ridiculous view of things.  He could not see what was in plain sight.   Nor did he have a heart for the pregnant woman or the people who could come and enjoy the shack. 

His words and perspective influenced the woman.  Her fear and doubt rose and became anxiety and fear.   I saw all this and I spoke to “the pastor guy” and encouraged him that indeed God was working and things looked ready, inviting and it was wonderful.  I was forwarding a trust God message in the cool breeze and glistening diamonds coming off the ocean in the sun.    But I also mixed it with my own sense of disbelief that this person was resisting and negative in such a simply beautiful and inviting environment. 

I was shocked by the lack of faith when this place looked so good.  The resister was a staunch church type guy who displayed himself as carrying some authority.  As if he was going to “get things right” and “straighten out the mess” he forced his view into the environment.   My sense was he was an outsider, meaning he did not have a stake in the project he was just there to make sure everything lined up with his faithless and religious understanding.   He spoke negatively and had influence on the woman who was lying on a bench right next to him.   She was having a “fear” attack prior to the birth and he was definitely encouraging a lack of faith and fear.   The church guy seemed to represent the old, the faithless, the religious, the church without passion and love for God.    

 

Nearly a year later, I heard about a friend who had dream that corresponded with this one.  In it he spoke these words.  "Have the Baby and live."  

Jesus is working to strip away religion from the hearts of his pregnant and beautiful Bride of Christ.  He has created beautiful settings for us full of the Spirit with warm and inviting grace flowing like rivers.   He has put us in touch with our hearts and has deposited encouragement there that will with the water of the Word of Scripture and the powerful workings of the Spirit will change the environments we live in into the birthing place of beginnings flowing from Jesus.   

Have the baby and live.  

Religion is easy to spot.  It has a reason why all of the tender and childlike things of God cannot be.  It can rest next to pregnant Saints full of hope and joy and love for a birth and call out everything wrong, reason for failure and infuse doubt and discouragement like a poison drink.  

 Religion wears dress clothes to the beach.  

Those who intend to birth things from the secret place and deposits from God's heart have to learn to.....

"Love without hypocrisy" Romans 12:9  

hyp·o·crite

[hip-uh-krit] 

noun

1.

a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2.

a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

Have the Baby and Live

I've never heard a baby described as a hypocrite!  In God's Kingdom they are not put down but lifted up.  

Tap into the places of peace and rest the Father has already set aside for you and let your heart and a child like grace move your feet and faith. 

2And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.…

Matt 18:3

 Is Jesus your beginning?  Is he where all your pursuits will end up?   Is your life a surrender fest of glory and faith?   Do you long with a uncontainable longing to know the Father, Son and Spirit?   

Live from the Heart and Have the Baby!

What is he doing in your life?  share your story, encouragement.  I'd love to partner with you to bring glory to the Lord Jesus.  
jreynolds@mycapstone.org

Here are some blog articles that you may be interested in...

Supernatural / Testimony / Prophetic / Spirit's Work 
1) 2014 What is the Spirit saying?  
https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=5163393029928222453;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=37;src=postname 
2) An Angelic Visitation 
https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=6181407195797126360;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=3;src=postname
3)Time for a Healing Story - Distance Healing Testimony
https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=7347375296000899068;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=30;src=postname

 Some others on Jesus back to the Center.... Use the search feature for key words
1) You Fascinate me Jesus, So why are you considered so irrelevant?
2) No One Can Love You Like I Do


Thank you for reading.  Please comment.  Let the dialogue begin!

 

With Love in HIS awesome CULTURE OF LOVE

Brother Jeff

Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader

Capstone Christian Fellowship

jreynolds@mycapstone.org

jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com

www.jeffreynoldsministries.com

 

Survivors Live to"Ride It Out" The Kingdom Minded Jesus Follower ADDs and Multiplies

 God's Kingdom is coming into the world.  Jesus overcame the world. Conquered it with LOVE.   Indelibly marked it with worship and opened up a way of life that is far beyond survival. 

Jesus said, "I told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace.  In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But take heart!  I've conquered the world."  
(MSG John 16:32-33)

I've been exploring MINDSETs of late.   Particularly my own.  How I see things.  What I believe about reality.  My mindset shapes everything that flows in and out of my life.  Our lives.   One such mindset that I have found distasteful in my life is a survivor mentality.  

Since before the fall my heart was made to be poured out to you










Scenario:
Life has a way of beating up on all of us.  Though people appear to be outside the reality of tragedy, loss, brokenness, and disruption, and disappointment, (this is a key tactic of our arch enemy.  To make it look like we are the only ones with issues, struggling, experiencing trouble.  He stands up "moments" and "image" to bring to life his empty story of perfect people in a perfect world.) The reality is we all  have to learn to walk beyond failure, tragedy, accidents and hate.   Or we decide to survive.   Which may be a mindset with a key thought holding it up - "this world cannot be changed and our lives are helpless in its wake."   We all encounter the world as a rough place at some point in time.   And with those days, months, years we can develop a lifestyle of survival.   In the midst of these kind of life changing experiences we adapt and let go of things that actually make our lives rich and meaningful.   The worst thing to let go is our relationship with Abba Father. 

Some of us survive on the bear minimum of relationships, letting all the rest go except as a back door on surviving.  Others end up in a perpetual state of want and need financially.  We take surviving to an extreme and wrestle with the desire and anger for a more peaceful life in finances with binge and feed spending to curb the cycle of survival.  Or at least give us some moment of being like the perfect people.  

Whole countries life in a survival mentality.  It is a tragedy.  

Surviving is a dream killer.  Dreams make life move.  When they are dead we start dying inside.  Alive to survive but dead inside.   This sounds more like slavery and captivity to me.  Something inside me, that quiet and distant part of me in "HIS IMAGE" screams out for me to not surrender to survival. 

Call to love -  Followers of Jesus cannot live this way.   Kingdom minded followers of Jesus cannot simply survive.   We are the salt of the world.  


Survivors learn to "Ride It Out", have no expectations or dreams and exist daily in the fear that something even worse will happen.  

The next level of survival is to "discover" that something bad is happening in the world every day and to join that as somehow part of your experience.  Here comes the reinforcement to go deeper in survival and hunker down.  "Nothing good ever comes" is the mantra of this level. 

Jesus was good.  Jesus came into the world and conquered it. 

Fear is a big part of our survival mindset.  I know.  I had a good run in with fear.   I spent most of my life enjoying easy success and lots of fun.  My family did not experience death or significant loss.  Then in 2 years, after the crash mind you, my brother died and my Dad died.  Then the crash of 2008 wiped out millions in real estate holding and projects and I got a heavy dose of how tough things can get for a long time.  When things go wrong and life falls down on us the world tries to rob us of the joy for all the things that actually bring us joy.   Granted, sometimes we are fighting so hard and so long the temptation is to throw in the towel and simply survive.  But the truth about surviving is it SUCKS.   It is a lousy way to live.  The rewards are zero.  I don't remember one person ever getting up in church and giving a testimony about surviving and how amazing it is to stay a survivor.   "Making bricks in Egypt was where we were at.  Surviving every day.  Hey, you got to live anyway you can."   We get up and tell about God's deliverance.   this is who God says he is.....


Psa 18:2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

We testify about what He has done to show us the way to a whole new mindset and reality.   The Kingdom Jesus is bringing that is taking over the world and all it's brokenness every day, is so amazing to be part of.   Knowing Jesus puts a whole new twist on what life is about.   When you get around Jesus something deep inside starts stirring and every dream rises to the top of our hearts.  Shame and condemnation start running away as fast as they can.   Love and mercy and grace start living in our day to day lives.   Jesus was nothing close to a survivor.  He was a conqueror.  



The Kingdom Minded ADD and Multiply 
 Most everyone admires people who add to this life.  People who give of time, energy, love for the benefit of others.   Jesus gave up everything to overcome the world and make a new way for us.   As part of his family his generosity, love and grace are part of our DNA.   We were made to add to the world not survive it.   Then when we learn the ways of addition we can explore how God multiplies his goodness in everything we do.  

We are invited into a life that challenges the status quo and changes the things that tear the life and heart out of the people we know and love.   God's Kingdom is coming into the world.  Jesus overcame the world. Conquered it with LOVE.   Indelibly marked it with worship and opened up a way of life that is far beyond survival. 

We always have enough to add.  

as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." 10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.…

Why?  Because of the perfect and finished work of Jesus Christ.  

2that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Col 2:3)


The Heart of the Father is full of generosity and endless abundance.

The Culture of Love pours out of Jesus' heart - the baseline of the Kingdom -ever flows with energy and sacrifice for the world. 

Jesus our Victor King gave his life and today the power of everything he has done is loose in the world through the Spirit and in us.  

Healing is the pathway out of survival
Healing deep inside sets us free from fear.  It changes our need to control and protect.   It opens up whole new understanding of relationship and love.   Let the Father heal you.   Surrender to some ministry that is clothed in the Spirit's encouragement and see some of those survival chains fall away.   

Leave Survival behind for the generosity of God the Father. 

There is so much noise out there.  But there is only ONE Son of God.   

Dial out the noise.  Focus the frequency and fall headlong into the deepest wells of your life in HIM.   

Other posts that seek to help us run after him

Deep Intimacy / Seeing Jesus - Hearts Who Have Shaken Loose All Affections and Believe http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/03/deep-intimacy-seeing-jesus-first-those.html  

You Fascinate Me Jesus, So Why Are You Thought To Be So Irrelevant?http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

Comments?  Ideas?  Are you on the journey?  
What does it look like for you?

 Love and grace in Jesus

Brother Jeff

Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader
Capstone Christian Fellowship
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
www.mycapstone.org
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com

jeff@jeffreynoldsministreis.com

Looking for Jesus in Everthing But Jesus

 I feel like a madman in this pursuit.  My whole being feels the hunger for him.  The longing for him.   I am grateful that the life I am living requires the Father to move, act, commune and dwell with me for it to even work.  

 "Come follow me" Jesus said.  Those words seem lost in a sea of noise filled interpretations.  Thousands of meanings in every denominational corner of the globe.   In the quiet there is a still small voice to be heard.   


"...That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   Col 2:3

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.^p

Luke 24:27
 

 I want to be on that road walk with Jesus.  "There's no place I would rather be". by United Pursuit


Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  We know he was there in the beginning creating us and our world.   We know he will be there at the end of all things at the Great White Throne judgement (Rev 22).   History pointed to him in the voice of prophets and history points back to him in the story of visitation.    The Apostles framed their understanding of everything in light of Jesus and his work and mission.   And Jesus taught them to do this (Luke 24:27).   

But there is all this noise.  




There are some promises we can trust in.  


Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.  Matt 5:8


Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.  Matt 5:6


And there is still so much noise, static, need for tuning.  
I am surrendering to something. A thought or mindset.   It says, "Jesus can be followed today just as he was on that Emmaus road."  Through the walk of the Spirit we can connect with him and be one with him in profound simplicity.   I believe this is what the Father wants.  Complete connection with us.  Total communion.   Rest and Wisdom.   


The noise is out there but the voice of Jesus is much more powerful and profound.  

I feel like a madman in this pursuit.  My whole being feels the hunger for him.  The longing for him.   I am grateful that the life I am living requires the Father to move, act, commune and dwell with me for it to even work.   I am grateful for his visitation and revelation to the eyes of my heart.  I am grateful for the hope of glory and the vision for breakthrough that is out in front of me.   


It amazes me how many things can be bobbing on the waves of the open seas of my life and the one desire be at rest.  There is an understanding so humbling and powerful that I catch glimpses of and that has captivated my whole life.  Jesus.  

The noise can be found in anything that does not start and end with Jesus.  We want to "valuate" believers around us for their culture or pathway of pursuit.   When our God is the Father of more diversity than the mind can comprehend --- and it all holds together.   How is it that we want to limit his work by our limited mindsets?   Why are we so motivated to close down the fast spiritual realities of Jesus Christ, Maker of Heaven and Earth?   Noise.  We get addicted to it and then want to give it away to everyone else.   Give away Jesus instead. 

EX.  Scientists are still discovering new species and organisms.  How is this possible with hundreds of years of searching the plant?    If we have not exhausted the natural world's wonders, secrets and discoveries, what makes us think we have come to a full understanding of the Son of God?   

John 5:39-40

³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 
New International Version (NIV)

There is so much noise out there.  But there is only ONE Son of God.   

Dial out the noise.  Focus the frequency and fall headlong into the deepest wells of your life in HIM.   

Other posts that seek to help us run after him

Deep Intimacy / Seeing Jesus - Hearts Who Have Shaken Loose All Affections and Believe http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/03/deep-intimacy-seeing-jesus-first-those.html  

You Fascinate Me Jesus, So Why Are You Thought To Be So Irrelevant?http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

Comments?  Ideas?  Are you on the journey?  
What does it look like for you?

 Love and grace in Jesus

Brother Jeff

Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader
Capstone Christian Fellowship
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
www.mycapstone.org
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com - more on apostolic reformation, prophetic ministry, fivefold ministry, stories and testimonies....visit the site

Contending - Pulling down the inheritance reality in Jesus Christ.

Contending.  Pulling down the inheritance reality of what is in the victorious heart of Jesus Christ.  

It is a critical skill to possess in advancing in the Kingdom of God.  It is also inevitable that believers will come into seasons where it is vital, basic and key to breakthrough.  Our fellowship (Global Kingdom Harvest Ministries) is in a season where contending is key to a wide open advance in the Kingdom. 

 

Contending.....
Getting a Heaven view, a prophetic intercession and a clear overcoming faith in Jesus. I John 5:1-5

 Rise and stretch into a new mindset

Overcome and breakthrough to a new wide open country. 










contend (kənˈtɛnd)

vb

1. (often foll by: with) to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie

2. to argue earnestly; debate

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to assert or maintain

[C15: from Latin contendere to strive, from com- with + tendere to stretch, aim]

When we contend we are asserting....

the Substance of the unseen

Asserting the assurance and confidence of a living hope.

We learn to do this for ourselves and the basic advances in our lives as we grow and progress in the Kingdom of God.  
Most believers never learn to contend.  In my experience I've seen that most believers do not learn to contend.  Many if not most remain with a mindset of challenge and difficulty that does not embrace their full identity as sons and daughters in the Kingdom.  We are called to rule and reign with Jesus.  Invited into deeper and greater authority and power in increasing measures as we walk with the Lord.  

Often, the life we are encouraged to embrace rises and falls in moments. We catch glimpses of it in victory, miracles and answers to prayer. 

What we are invited into is more like a river of patient endurance (Rev 1:9). An ever flowing  stream that overcomes the world.   

Why might we miss the mindset of contending and overcoming? 

• So much of our energy and efforts appear to be focused on individual pursuits rather than contending for whole ekklesia communities or regions or nations.
• We quickly forget the prophetic words, quickened scripture and encouragements of the Spirit and fail to steward the grace of God in faith.
• We fall down in the midst of the challenge.
• We tire of the spiritual battle and are not yet trained in the way of spiritual war. 
• We fade under a string of mishaps, bad news, bad days, and troubles mounting like piles of sand.  
• We are not learners.  Picking up new valuable things along the way and changing the way we live to keep us on the Way. 

There is so much more.....

Contending can rise to epic proportions when we pull down the inheritance reality in the victorious heart of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It can change whole environments and bring promises into reality that shape eternity and the redemption of whole families.  

An example.  Found in those who pray earnestly for their families to come to the Lord. Pray for years and then they do come into the Kingdom.  I've seen this.  It is amazing.  Patient endurance mixed with promise and faith bundled in up with hope produces a crop of righteousness.  

When we contend for it.  

Psa 35:1

Of David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

To contend we must REMEMBER.....

 The favor of God is active and working on our behalf in all situations.  Romans 8:28-29

 We carry the presence of the Lord everywhere.   We are atmosphere changers, life changers, salvation bearers.   The presence of the Lord is tangibly in us and with us.  Christ in you and I, the hope of glory, is encountered all the time.   He is with us all the time.   (Col 1:27)

A great shift is required in our mindset to really step into contending.  There is an open invitation to ancient ways.  The shift is to see that we encounter opposition as a natural part of the Kingdom advancing.   That such encounters are designed to bring breakthrough, healing and righteousness.   We are like Jesus in this way, we carry the presence and the Kingdom with us.   

Isaiah 9:7

 7There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

 We bear the presence of a Kingdom.  

We move in co-laboring authority as throne bearers of the King.  If, and its a big if, his words abide in us and we abide in Him.  

Jesus is looking to bring the Kingdom everywhere we go and into every situation we encounter.   Contending is about the realization of this "mind seed", of living it out in the fallen world.

Contending is not what puts us into direct contact with the enemy.  Obedience does that.  Contending is the essential activity when we are in direct contact with the enemy and breakthrough.  

 

Pouring out the promises of God into the hearts of those who are far from him.  Pouring into the world the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

            Requires contending.  

 

Some key things occur when we come into direct contact with the enemy that help us contend.  

1) His plans are exposed.   The attack reveals the boundless blessing and favor that is in contention.  All the enemies cards are played.  Remember, the enemy is a pawn of the Father.   His distorted heart cannot help but fall into every opportunity to hurt, maim, destroy and kill anything and everything the Father seeks to establish.  But he gets set up with his own evil intent.    This is where glory and grace and power and freedom enter in and overcome him.   

Captives and prisoners are set free where they are in bondage and held in captivity.   So the Spirit leads the presence carriers with all the blessings of the Holy Spirit to usher in change.  

It is at this moment, this point of understanding and revelation that we can ascend with Christ Jesus and move into deeper understanding of his heart and inheritance.  We can step up into the power, insight, wisdom and revelation of the Holy Spirit and OVERCOME our arch enemies deepest plans, strategies, strongholds.  

Breakthrough is always eminent.

2) The area or focus for breakthrough is typically seen and clearly understood.  It can be focused on with great intention across a whole body of believers or even a regional ekklesia.  Together we can smash through and into open new swaths of Kingdom advance.  Through united faith filled prayer, relentless focus, tireless energy in the Spirit, and efforts inspired by Jesus' victory, overcoming and breakthrough are inevitable.   

The power of unity and oneness with Christ Jesus is undeniable.  Carrying forth his word and rhema filled with authority.  

Most Believers have never seen this in action or even imagined what it might be like.  Sadly, church after church leaves them in a state of unawares.  

It is compelling power and grace that heals, sets free, welcomes into the Kingdom and changes the course of the fallen world.  

  Contending =

Pulling down the inheritance reality of what is in the heart of Jesus Christ. 
 
Contending is a throne down reality.  It is heaven invading earth.   It is birthed in revelation of the Lord, his heart and the inheritance victory - the tangible realities of what he won on the cross.  That victory is stored up in him with all it's authority and power and is released in assignment and calling to his beloved.   I faith, through faith, by faith we carry it out, bring forth, birth it in the fallen world.  

Examples in the LORD.  

• Jesus.  Prophesied through the Spirit to come as Messiah and deliver Israel.  
• Jesus born of the virgin, driven out into the dessert to contend with the enemy over his assignment (Matt 4), mission, identity and integrity in love over power.  
•  Jesus contended with every opposition and through those points of contact defeated the "strong man" and stripped him bare (Col 2:15).   
• Jesus acted in the leading of the Spirit and the spirit of worship and laid down his life as a fragrant offering each day moving with the leading of the Spirit in the Father's Heart (John 5;19)
• Jesus contended for what was not seen in the dirty gritty ground of the earth.   
• Every act of Jesus was a brush stroke of love leading to redemptive power and grace.  Grace that was unleashed on the hearts of men and women the world over with such enveloping love and purpose that he inherited all good things.  All things are in him, through him, for him.  (Col 1:15-17) 

14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Col 2:15 

19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

 John 5:19

As the environments expand and more and more believers enter into the streams of grace flowing across the world right now, it is not hard to realize there is a wide open field out in front. 
 

The kingdom is perceived in greater degree as we grasp and come into the more advanced places of....

• Seeing the unseen. 
• Mindsets in the mind of Christ
• Wisdom and revelation in the Holy Spirit
• Deep compassion and love in action
• Obedience and abiding

We learn such "places" as we walk in the Spirit. These are places we learn to contend for and co-labor in with the Lord.   As the water mark rises in your life, in the life of a church, of a state, of a nation, people receive invitations to new seeing and wider understanding of the working and operations of the kingdom.  

Important to remember.  Someone has to walk, contend, move in the living sacrifice of faith and love mixed with hope to see it realized.   Someone has to contend like the Lord for the Kingdom to advance. 

 
I have observed that when we are called into contending, there are certain consistent outlines to the landscape we find ourselves walking. 

1) Clear Opposition - opposition that keeps piling up.  The boundaries become very clear and we find our opposition to the breakthroughs. Literally like boundary or wall holding back the pressure of divine breakthrough, we crash up against the enemy.   

Oddly, in the unseen, there may be a literal wall that the river of life is flowing up against.   All the stuff moving along with us and in the river starts piling up.  As the pile up starts happening,  we start sensing and often grasp that we are in a difficult challenge or trail.   The pressure keeps mounting as another thing is added to the pile up.   Now is the time to content.  To fight.  To Stand.  

We react to the pressure and seek ways to relieve it when in fact, the pressure should become our leverage.  

Embrace the leverage power of the opposition and press in to that point.  It just may be the very weakest point the enemy is protecting.   The Lion of the Tribe of Judah does not bow to pressure when there is a clear fight for the advance of the Kingdom.  The leverage power of pressure can be turned into incredible resolve, intercession, declarations and breakthrough.   Let the opposition clearly focus the points of attack and intercession.  Rise up into the leverage and understanding of the opposition.  

The temptation of the enemy at this point is to try and get us to focus on the issues verses the promises.  To get us to focus on solving the problems instead of breaking through the entire wall.   Destroying all the opposition and letting the water flow freely again into a whole new field is what is available to us.  

2) Personal assurance - Jesus can become an ever increasing assurance of the things the Father has promised us in every way.  Confidence in Kingdom pursuits is generated in contending and under these circumstances.  We come into new understanding of the Lord and our connection to him grows more deeply.  We gain confidence in the face of his glory and victory. This is essential discipleship.  It places us on the veil of faith, hope and love and involves us in the life changing realities of the coming Kingdom.  

3) Revelation - as we press in to “uncertain views of the earth” we actually open ourselves up to deeper views of The Lord Jesus and the eyes of the heart can be enlightened.  Put that revelation to use.  This is key in the process of contending.  Our sense of authority derives from our revelation and direct encouragement from the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit confirms prophetic words, dreams and ministry action to encourage us to take up personal assurance and understanding of the ways of the Kingdom.   These are in turn the ways of the King.   Put all revelation to use.  It is mind blowing power over the enemy and will impart greater avenues of success and understanding for contending.

4) Word and Spirit become central to our everyday walking in the presence.  Follow and sow to the Spirit and drink and sustain in the word.   The Word is the water of the Spirit.  It was written by the Spirit and it reaches into our being with incredible power.  Sow the Word in overwhelming fashion into your life.  Don't look for immediate effect.  It is a steady process of infusing mind, soul, spirit and the heart with deep waters of understanding and even deeper strength to stand in all circumstances with joy.  
 

All these things actually lay a foundation for even greater things that can be built on top.
The greater things are not entered into without contending.   

When we come to understand and see Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, truly the beginning and ending of everything in our lives, we begin the journey to seeing into our inheritance.
Our inheritance is what has been set aside, calling forth in us, waiting for us to bring forth, usher it in, participate with the Spirit in for the advance of the Kingdom.  
 
In the perfect and complete work of Christ Jesus, now ascended High Priest of the Heavenly tabernacle, is the Father's inheritance heart desires.  They stand completed in Christ.  Ready to be ushered in when mixed with faith, empowered in grace and Holy Spirit's amazing quickening. 

This is contending.  

Our inheritance is given to us as we contend in faith.  It is imparted in and through perfect relationship with Jesus.  Flush with authority, it moves out from to defeat every foe in spiritual realms and see likewise advance in the natural.

This is contending. 
 

Once we understand these things - revelations, prophetic words, assignments, we can begin to contend for them with authority and power. 
 
 


I hope this helps focus a bit on the process we are in when we come into a season where contending is clearly required for great advance.  

Questions?  Comments?  What are you learning about contending for the Kingdom?  

What is he doing in your life?  share your story, encouragement.  I'd love to partner with you to bring glory to the Lord Jesus.  
jeffR@gkhministries.com 

Here are some blog articles that you may be interested in...

Supernatural / Testimony / Prophetic / Spirit's Work 
1) 2014 What is the Spirit saying?  
https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=5163393029928222453;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=37;src=postname
2) An Angelic Visitation 
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3)Time for a Healing Story - Distance Healing Testimony
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 Some others regarding Jesus being welcome back to the Center.... Use the search feature for key words
1) You Fascinate me Jesus, So why are you considered so irrelevant?
2) No One Can Love You Like I Do


Thank you for reading.  Please comment.  Let the dialogue begin!


Brother Jeff
Jeff Reynolds. Apostolic Leader
Global Kingdom Harvest Ministries

www.gkhministries.com

jeffR@gkhministries.com