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Friday, April 29, 2016

Unified Yes. Agreed together? Is There a Difference?

In Jesus Christ we are unified.

Unity in Jesus is not a delicate flower - more of a resounding power


































I understand unity founded in Jesus as an eternal reality.  Through the Cross, 
Resurrection and Ascension Jesus forever established a family in his NAME.  
Presently not all things are in unity with Jesus.  His Kingdom is present and arriving each day in the preaching of the Gospel, the establishing of the ekklesia and through the now presence disciples carry everywhere they go.  It's a now and not yet complete reality.    

 

In him all things will find their unity ....eventually.


  "...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  Ephesians 1:9-10


 

The church is ONE universal family of members who confess Jesus Christ and follow him.
Diverse in every way, the Family of God covers the globeWe are One in the One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, One baptism.    This may not be the people we see in church but in large part they are.We are in unity because of the reality of Jesus' work on the Cross, in the Resurrection and as the Ascended High Priest of the heavenly Temple. 

 
The unity of Christ is kept by us, not created by us.  
"...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3
I have always understood that to mean the unity is established in Jesus and we work with the Holy Spirit to keep it and uphold it to the standard of Jesus' NAME.
So, unity is a baseline that is ours in Jesus Christ.  As the Kingdom of God expands and grows in the world it takes on living expression in the lives of the Saints.  We keep the unity

 

But are we agreed?  


Agreement is different.  Agreement is a more localized aspect of the reality of our Unity in Jesus.  Agreement relates to more specific approaches to ministry and expressions of the Kingdom of God. 

a·gree·ment
əˈɡrēmənt/
noun
1. harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing.
"the governments failed to reach agreement"
synonyms:    accord, concurrence, consensus; More

2. a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action.
plural noun: agreements
"a trade agreement"

3. the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency.
"agreement between experimental observations and theory"
synonyms:    correspondence, consistency, compatibility, accord; More


Agreement is critical for power in a local fellowship.  
In a local family of God agreement is essential.  At the heart of things agreement is affirmation of the work of Jesus in unity and the grace imparted to us by Jesus in our divine assignment. (I Cor 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-13)   

Two or three joining together in agreement can bring dramatic change and power to the expression of the Kingdom of God in a given area and among a given people.  
Division or the lack of a solid center of agreement makes for an environment the Spirit is apt to exit.  Real love in Jesus exudes in and from an agreed upon family core.  Honor and grace are freely given and freedom flows when people come together in agreement.  1) with Jesus and his presence revealed in love  2) with each other in unity and the grace assignments of the family 3) with the particular family in their ministry values and divine directives.  

 Matthew 18:19 ESV / 

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.


 The church, at her core, is a family of agreement and unity.  Solid and deeply dependable is a people who by faith trust Jesus for breakthrough wisdom and by faith exercise prayer and "going" action together.  That is action in the commands of Christ and the metron of the church and it's leaders.  Agreement is at the core of unified prevailing prayerDefinitely at the center of our agreement is the work of Jesus in the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension and his King of Kings authority.  A local church family cannot function outside of unity and agreement.  It is unified with all the other local families in the Lord Jesus and called to deep agreement and love within their own family.  Unity, agreement and love are the prophetic testimony of Jesus (Rev 19:10) the church presents to principalities and powers of their coming demise.  


"...so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."  Ephesians 3:10 



Agreement is fundamental for answered prayer, breakthrough and continuous spiritual blessings.
It seems today that the church at large has no real understanding of the power of prayer.  Yes, today there is more prayer happening around the globe than is remembered, yet I still see large churches with very limited participation in prayer.  
We recognize devotional prayer, but do not have a compelling corporate prayer vision.  Yes. there are some exceptional ministries of prayer, but the average church, prayer house, is not well attended.  But take heart.  It only takes a few to get the fire going.  Two or three to be exact.  When we mix agreement into that unified prevailing prayer, agreement in the expressions of ministry in word and Spirit, an explosion is sure to be on the way.  

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.…2 Cor 10:12-13
 
Agreement is essential for leadership teams of local fellowship and ministries. 
So, I am lamenting.  After four years of church planting, seeing awesome things and growing and developing the church as a house of prayer, our feet may be slipping from the heights and our agreement wavering.  Our fellowship is in a refining and distilling process.  We are at the point of knowing what we have done and who we've been and deciding with the Lord's leading what the deep and grace filled callings of the fellowship are in the city.  As a church planter I've seen this process and frankly it is necessary.  It is a natural process in growing up into the Lord and into a more powerful and power filled family.  Clear agreement in core identity and assignment are critical for a family to thrive and prosper in following Jesus.  Agreement in ministry values, approaches and with the leader direction is critical and key to walking in righteousness, peace and joy.  Obedience is at the core of our offering.  The process comes along in the life of a church plant when those members come to the deepest agreement about what the Lord desired their particular family to witness to and live out in their city.  


Paul calls that his metron (I Cor 10:12-14).  It is the measure of grace given to us by Jesus, the capacity and calling of that grace and the obedience and faith we are called to exercise in fulfilling it.   Calling and election, make them sure.  Our metron is the package of calling, election and the grace deposit from the Lord Jesus that requires our zeal, devotion and obedient application of faith to fulfill.  It has boundaries and empowerment.  It sustains us and is activated in faith.  Agreement in the family metron is powerful.  Mixed with prayer, faith and two or three, city atmosphere's can be changed.  Waves of salvation and revival can be 

It is a challenging thing to take a group of people through the fires of pruning and reflection and back out into the power of the Spirit and united prevailing prayer.  Gaining deep agreement founded on unity and demonstrated in word and Spirit, is a clear challenge.  Yet, it is a task in which we are empowered in Jesus to carry out in power, love and the fuel of grace.  Most people don't have the perseverance to walk through all the steps.  There are many moments of total trust required.  But when the family of God captures the vision for perfect love with the Father and unity and agreement with the family in deep abiding love, the enemies camp shakes The ground moves underneath them.  


 I have witnessed on to many occasions the power of prayer, agreement, unity and love mixed in with the Spirit's leading.  
 

Acts 13 paints a picture of the Saints abiding in the presence of God in deep agreement.  Fasting and praying with worship they waited for the Lord (Ps 27:14)The nature of the reference sounds like this was their normal practice.  Waiting, worshiping, fasting and praying together.  From that deep agreement and abiding Paul and Barnabas were called out by the Spirit and set apart for the "work for which I have called them."  This work was now ready and they were ready to walk into it through the Spirit's directive.  Their agreement and love didn't end with the prophetic word.  They continue in fasting and prayer and then lay hands and send them off.   Beautiful.   Out of the presence of God and deep agreement the gentile mission goes forth in the power of the Holy Spirit.  


Abiding in the presence in agreement allows for the Spirit to reveal turning points.  


In our region prayer is catching fire.  So many are joining into the stream of unified prevailing prayer.  There is day and night prayer each week and prayer crosses all denominational linesThe Lord is meeting all of us with his amazing love and grace, speaking and doing wonders.  Agreement is the icing on the cake of unity.  So much can happen as we agree together in prayer. Abiding in division produces the opposite.  It sucks the life out of zeal, faith and obedience.   We are called to zeal and to serve the Lord with passion and devotion.   The local family is called to express and live in the unity of Jesus and to agree together so that the power of unified prevailing prayer can inform a whole people in the ways and breakthroughs of God.   



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

 

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. 

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
 



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
 
 


Friday, April 22, 2016

Fear Vrs Perfect Love - When We Choose - We also Choose our Protector and Provider!

Perfect love, although abundantly available, seems to be known to few. 

At the same time masses of people seem to be marinating in fear.




Experiencing and knowing God's perfect love drives fear from our core.  
Literally it casts it out.  The two cannot abide in the same place. 
From the deep places in our lives where we allow fear to dwell, perfect love 
seeps in like oil, 
filling up brittle cracks where fear motivated us. 
Sometimes it crashes in like a tidal wave,
smashing everything.  Tearing down mindsets and ways of walking. 
Other times it is quiet peace filled silence flooding the noise of our core. 

God the Father is remarkable. 
Experiencing his love, 
deep core experience,
the kind that involves mind, body, soul and spirit, 
is life changing.  
Mind changing.
Fear changing. 


Fear gets up and leaves in such presence. 


A friend pointed out that fear is served like a power. 
We serve our fears in the attempt to protect ourselves. 
We empower them when we act in their plans, understanding and promised protection
When we partner with fear, 
expecting it to provide safety to us, 
We find ourselves relying on ourselves or 
some other power outside the Lord.  

When we rely on God. 
Trusting in his perfect steadfast love, 
We allow him to be our protector, shield, provider, fortress. 


So fear is not only a bad deal, it leads us away from the power and protection of God. 



Fear draws us into relying on our own strength, ability, wisdom, power.  Fear invites us to protect what we have. 
To hurt others if need be to do that. 




Perfect steadfast love on the other hand,
leads us into paths filled with the presence and love of God. 
Generous paths of his provision, love and kindness, we receive more as we give away freely what we receive from him.  
What we enter into is an abiding grace filled with love.  A steadfast love that enlarges and expands as we continue onward. 


Blessed be the Lord, my rock, 
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[a] under me. 
Ps 144:1-2 



 

Fear is every where.  
Whole societies are established on the fears of retribution from evil spirits. 
We carry our own set of debilitating fears in our culture. 
Validation from others.
Fears of failure.
Fears of loss of relationships and friendships.
Fears of financial collapse and ruin
On and on and on they go....  
Never stopping.  
Always seeding new fears in us. 





Perfect steadfast love runs on a completely different current. 
Awash in the favor of God through the perfect work of Jesus Christ,
we are free to desire, run after, pursue the steadfast love of God. 
A boundless love, we can spend our lives searching it out and knowing God in everything through it. 
It's a love that carries the victory it provides and invites. 
It's a love that draws us deeper and deeper all our lives.  
It's a powerful love.  Once experienced it is hard to live without. 


There is literally nothing like the love of God. 


Experience it now. 
Are you hungry for God's love. 
Do you have a desire that cannot be quenched without it?  

Ask and you will receive
Seek and you will find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you

He will meet you at the point of your desire!  


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

 

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. 

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
 



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
 


 
 

Friday, April 15, 2016

All Things are Possible Without Love - LOVE like Jesus Instead - It Lasts Forever

Got to love the Corinthians. 
They were zealous pursuers of everything supernatural.
The church in N.T. that has troubles because they run head long into the supernatural realities of the Spirit and the Kingdom of God. 

What kind of problems did they have?
Divisions 
Misguided understanding of spiritual things
Power seeking politicizing leaders vrs generous loving servants
Comparing and dividing leaders
Zero discernment of evil - incest in the fellowship
Suing each other - defaming the body to the world
Confused about relationships 
Confused about idols, food, reality of demonic
Confused about freedom and benefits of love
Misuse of the Temple of the body 

And......lots more.  

They took the word of the Lord literal and jumped headlong into the supernatural.  And.....they had a really limited discernment, wisdom and love.   
Huh? 
I've met a few like this.  Have you?

Ok. So our tendency to write off other believers because they have a few problems is detrimental to all of us growing up into Christ.   
Yes.  Our present day charismatic family carries some of these same issues.  But, think positive.  What was given to us because Paul sought to address their problems while seeking to reflect the fullness of Jesus?  




The Corinthians gave us some of the most read and publicly stated portions of Scripture - the Love chapter  I Corinthians 13.
 In doing so, their problems became correction points for Paul to give them deeper understanding of the truth of the Gospel and what it means among us. 




The Church is.... the people gathered where the fullness of Jesus Christ is both invited to be present and empowered to be demonstrated. 


So Paul points us to the most important things to grow, encourage and strengthen among those gathered in the NAME of Jesus. 

1.  The greatest most lasting fruit of eternal life is........LOVE. 
2. The people among whom God's love can find it's highest expression are those who follow Jesus. 
3. The strong among us are to be....

The last among us.
The servants among us.
The people laying down their lives for the little ones.
The hospitable.
The faith filled hope filled lovers of the world - even when it spits in their face.

Instead we see those who claim the highest places - spiritual insights, the prophets, the charismatic, the bible guy, the intellectual mr. perfect doctrine, the "i've got this thing together" self righteous -  

sowing discord, judgement, envy.
James 3:17-18  is clear.  Such things are UN-spiritual, earthly, demonic.  




I Corinthians 13  - What stands out?


It's possible to walk in, experience, bring to the table "high Spiritual things" and sound like this.








Bang, Clang. Noise. Confusion. Smash.


 

 

 

 Sadly.  YES.  It is possible.

 

 Does Jesus sound like that?

Not that I've heard.  ?

   

So then, what does love look like?

Love is known when it's experienced.   When it's not.  it's clear. 
Do you feel loved?  
Love is completely simple. Uncomplicated.  So tangible when experienced there is no question about it in our minds.  


Well.  Sometimes looking at what love is not is easier for us. 
Clearly prophets struggle with love. They can "fathom and know" and have no love.


"Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus."  Romans 8:1  
Prophets that condemn are speaking outside of Christ Jesus! 
The real prophets speak in the Testimony of Jesus - Rev 19:10  
Therefore true, righteous, good prophecy carries nothing of condemnation, shame, anger, reprisal, - these are demonic.  
To place them in league with Jesus is both terrible and trouble. 




"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:17



What is it?  What is LOVE?
First fruit of the Spirit's presence. 
The first motivation of the Father.....God so loved that he gave his son....
The first point at which the world touches Jesus - Jesus loved the Father and did his will in and through love.


I John 3:16  This is how we know what love is.....like Jesus, love lays down it's life for its friends.

Love believes all things for it's friends



Spiritual activity without the blessings, grace, peace and the order of love is pure noise to heaven and on the earth.  



First Fruit of the Spirit? - LOVE 



As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  I Thess 4:1


Love is like Jesus
Love gives, blesses, serves, encourages and always believes. 


James again....sheds light on the opposite of love.  James 3:13-18
  Bitter Envy - jealousy - Braggarts - arrogant 

Beloved.  There is Nothing more reprehensible than a religious person who believes they have the secrets of the Kingdom, the insights, the mysteries - but does not demonstrate love. 




Nothing worse in revival -   like chewing on gravel  -  than pride filled arrogant people walking in what appears to be spirit activity but who demonstrate no love.  

In revival the criticism of the World makes sense.   - yea, ouch - but it makes sense.
Clearly it does not make sense when love is not among us.  Believers.  People believing and hoping for and living for life transformation and eternal life to spring up in those around us through the Gospel.....  


There's possibly nothing worse in revival than arrogant men and women who think they are, have, hold the revelation and all the mysteries..... and have not love.


But here is the true killer -- when they are unteachable.  


in sports.....
My experience is the hardest teams to bring into winning are those who lacked one primary, necessary, absolutely essential ingredient.    What is it?  

Teachable --- Humble ----- Love.



Disciples at the core are TEACHABLE -  humble --- LOVE.
The commission of the church - of all Kingdom leaders is to "teach them to obey all that I have commanded you." 

TEACHING -  Growing  - Changing - Responding to LOVE is essential.




People who are not teachable -----Proverbs sheds light.

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. 2When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. 3The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.…

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.


The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Prov 12:15


Error carries away the unteachable. - Egyptian proverb. 


It is proven.  The most destructive people in a revival are not those outside it, ie...the world.  It is the unteachable, arrogant and unbending fools who elevate themselves above the believing community, sow discord and judgement, condemning those very ones they supposedly bring enlightenment to.   
N.T. example - the Pharisees - who did all this in the face of the Messiah, Jesus, the leader of the greatest revival of all time and the ONE who Changes EVERYTHING about reality as we know it.   
Right in his face they did all this. 

What does that look like in the church today?
Jude is powerful - and lays it out quiet clearly.  
Have a quick read of this one chapter powerhouse in discerning the fools among us. 



So, What is it that signifies, marks, disciples?

They love like Jesus. 
They follow, walk, go and disciple - in love like Jesus.
They follow Jesus walking in the Spirit, going with his gospel, discipl-ing those who respond to the message in love like Jesus. 
They open their homes, hearts and lives to those without. 
They lay down their lives for the will of the Father - loving the undeserving and unloved like they were.
They love the world like Jesus.


flowers grow in the desert!
Love for Jesus, first love, zeal - unquenchable, ever growing, always learning, humble - James 3:17-18   They demonstrate love in wisdom.
  • Walking in purity
  • peace-loving 
  • Considerate of others
  • submissive - responsive - teachable 
  • full of mercy -  mercy triumphs over judgement
  • good fruit 
  • impartial 
  • sincere 





Disciples of Jesus according to Paul are...
Patient
Kind
not full of envy, boasting of themselves, proud,
 not dishonoring others - rather loving and honoring others above themselves.

Honor is not demanded by the way - honor is given. 
To create a place, a people who honor, is to give honor where honor is due. 
To be the one who honors. 
Start with the "little ones" among you. 
Those who you receive no benefit from serving or having over for a party!
This is a picture of the doorway to love like Jesus.  
Have a party for those who cannot repay you in any way and who you will gain no benefit for hosting.  That's the love Jesus is spreading around the world.  

Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven!  Matt 5:3/Luke 6:20

Love is not easily angered
it keeps no record of wrongs -------   how many of us need to step into this right now?
Love does not delight in evil.
It rejoices in the truth ( I am the way, the Truth, the Life - Jesus)  

Love always
  • protects
  • trusts
  • hopes
  • perseveres

 

LOVE never fails -----  God is love and he never fails.

 



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

 

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. 

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
 



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