It is not in our strength
that we attain the promise, the fire, the love, the amazing vision of the
Church in Scripture.
It is through the indwelling beauty of Christ and
the rivers of power in the Holy Spirit. And these flow from hearts who
are in love with God first. All God’s rhema and promises lead back
to the Alpha and Omega, Jesus the beginning and end of all things.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1
HE
is the reward of all our pursuits (Phil 3:8). It is through strength forged in
the fires of surrender to the Holy Spirit that we walk with HIM into our
inheritance. Our lives are nothing more than worship (Rom 12:1-2). We are
heaven’s slaves; flames on the alter of ONE desire. The one desire to know Jesus.
Let the smoke of my
useless and worldly vision die a quick death on the altar of revelation of the
Lord Jesus.
Why did Israel turn back after scouting the land?
More close to home, why do we turn back?
Why do hearts go cold today?
We definitely lack a knowledge of his ways. That doesn't help.
One of the Ways of God
is to lead us into paths that will refine our hearts; refine us in him and teach us his
ways.
When we go after deep desire, let it loose in our hearts, we typically find ourselves on this way. Deep desire walks along with deep pain and struggle. That is not a part we like embracing.
It is easy for hearts to grow cold, harden, in the waves of opposition, hindrance and oppression. But those are the very waters he uses to teach us his ways.
Trust is at the core. It rides on promise mixed with faith. Israel failed to mix the message with faith. The promise died in the desert while God sought to teach a whole generation his ways. Promise, faith, trust and war, action mixed with faith for the overcoming reality of what God already gave us.
It is the same in Jesus. We are saved by his power and a mustard seed of faith.
I've heard God say to me, "Trust me." Audible? I don't know. Probably not. But clearly he spoke to my heart and I could feel the assurance.
His ways were not known
to them as he was not known to them. Their mindsets did not conform to
the knowledge of his ways.
Known by and Knowing God. The Invitation is to relationship with God that goes beyond being rescued.
The Israelite's did not internalize
the relationship with the Lord God who had shown them the Land.
Instead they saw only the land and the rewards of the temporal. They still held to their slave mindset and did not convert to the ways of the
LORD. Through Christ God the Father in the power of the Spirit is conforming us into the Image of the Son of God. Those ways of God discovered in promise mixed with faith and bold action result in eternal transformation. Changes that never change again. We take on the image of Jesus deep inside us and it is eternal change. The result is deeper relationship with God; a closer more abiding abiding.
They saw God for what he gave them (miracles) or could give them (land of promise) not for who he could be as their Father.
Rejected Weakness
Israel did not let God fill them in their weakness. Rather they turned on God in their weakness.
Instead of embracing the promise like Joshua and Caleb in the knowledge of God's promise, they judged God from their slave mindset. They misunderstood. They were invited to share in an
eternal and spiritual Kingdom that expressed itself on earth. But they did not know God. They knew the world, themselves, their slavery, their past but not God. They experienced all the miracles of deliverance in Egypt, but somehow did not recognize the way God worked or who he was. That kingdom expresses intimate war in the promises of God.
Intimate spiritual warfare rides on the character of the NAME of Jesus. Nothing in all creation carries the same power, love, hope and victory as the NAME of Jesus.
It is
faith by direct deposit from Christ. It is Christ’s work in us.
We can do nothing without HIM.(John 15:5) The promise of the Land, of eternal life, is beyond earthly eyes and vision. Without direct connection with God through Christ there is no eternal promise. Knowing the ONE TRUE God is the promise and he has made every provision for total victory in Jesus.
Much of what we do in
church has no real value for discipleship so much of what we speak about
revival is not flowing from Christ deposited calling.
We can respond out
of a soulish recognition of something happening and our desire to be part of revival.
We can carry with us all the same mindsets and understandings but only so far.
Without a sacrifice and a surrender to the restoring truths we will find ourselves falling away and off the cutting edge.
The internal struggle becomes to much as we cling to our “sacred
understandings” and “former ways”.
The Spirit is drawing out a refinement
in the Bride. Time is up. Lack of transition and
transformation will leave us short of the rhema and promise we have perceived.
All things from the Spirit should drive us to deeper knowledge of the LORD
JESUS.
This "old way of walking"
lacks authority and the fragrance of inheritance vision and worship. It is out of step with the Spirit.
Through the flow of Christ, in us in our weakness and our surrendered faith,
glory is released to the praise of Christ!
The church is meant to be the
vehicle of God’s encouragement, empowerment and grace to launch the Saints into
prophetic destiny and the fullness of Christ.
1) What is revealed
when your mind set and personal resources prove insufficient?
a.
We are invited into the sufficiency of Christ Jesus
b.
Which in turn through hunger, courage, and love draws us into greater
revelation of Jesus. Of course, here is where the choices are
presented to us. Do we surrender to the Truth (Jesus Christ) and
the provision of leading from the Father through the Holy Spirit or do we
shrink back and tighten our grip on our lives? Move into survival mode and
shrink back into what we can in our own strength
conceive of managing or doing? This is a critical decision point.
c.
A Kingdom mindset
is radically altered through revelation – Kingdom understanding is imparted.
Heavenly vision is key to new mindsets, foundations, seasons.
Go deep in the Word of Scripture and do not despise the rhema prophetic
encouragements.
2)
Deeper
understanding of the Scripture is obtained through a clear surrender to the Spirit,
the worship of Jesus and divine impartation. Study and
show yourself approved. II Cor 2 points out the reality of understanding
and wisdom in this age.
3)
Deeper levels of
revelation of Jesus should by nature produce deeper levels of sacrifice and
service, and sufferings in love for his body to become what Jesus is calling
for in her. It should also produce the Fruit of the
Spirit, love for the Church (His Bride) and alignment to divine authority.
Revelation is an invitation to the sufferings of Christ. Contrast
Paul’s story (2 Cor 10:7-11:33) vrs the account of false brothers in Jude.
Gain some wisdom and understanding of the enemies subtleties. Include
reading Revelation 2-3 for insight into the challenges and spiritual attacks that
come against the Bride.
4)
Deeper communion
with all the Saints – wider not narrower fellowship. Because you love the
whole church (Jesus loves the whole church) recognizing the Kingdom always has
something to bring to every situation and shortcoming. We are part
of an ever growing and expanding Kingdom and authority in the rule and reign of
Christ Jesus which will never stop growing (Isa 9:7). We enter into
the power of blessing, loving, encouraging and strengthening what remains as we
partner with the Spirit in restoration, renewal and calling out by faith what
is in the heart of God for churches. We are not called to
condemnation or judgment. We are called to overcome evil with Good.
To bless and not curse. Include prayers of blessing, riches
and glory into your regular way of life for those far from the Father and those
fallen from his love who know him.
5) Sacrificial love and
service to the body is the gold standard. The calling of the
Fivefold Ministry is to…Ephesians 4:11-13
i. Perfecting the Saints to the work of ministry
ii. To building of the Body of Christ
It is a spiritual work with
spiritual outcomes working themselves into the natural through miracle and the God of the impossible.
Barnes' Notes on
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the
saints - On the meaning of the word rendered here as "perfecting" -
καταρτισμὸν katartismon - see the notes on 2 Corinthians 13:9. It properly
refers to "the
restoring of anything to its place;" then putting in order, making
complete, etc. Here it means that these various officers were appointed in
order that everything in the church might be well arranged or put into its
proper place; or that the church might be "complete." It is that
Christians may have every possible advantage for becoming complete in love, and
knowledge, and order.
The old paradigms will prove
insufficient = “Mind
sets will change” Nancy Coen – word for Capstone Church - our local house of Prayer.
What are some signs that we are
under the transforming fire of the Spirit and receiving an invitation to move
out into the new?
We don’t have a settled whole
picture of things or how to go about the day to day.
This is a blessing as it
causes us to move into moment to moment reliance on the Holy Spirit and the
Lord’s guidance. It is the process of moving into the new.
We find ourselves clinging to,
holding on tightly to things or ways of living that the Spirit wants to
transform through surrender.
Ex. When this journey
first started my life was not aligned to spending my time in revival or deep
pursuits of the Spirit. I find that those nights I thought I could
not give up, or those things that I thought would put me over the edge could be
changed. I could completely change my life, what I am doing with my
time can focus into the Kingdom with much more energy than I thought possible.
The changes produce life and revelation and more hunger if we surrender to the
process of the Spirit.
In the process of the
confrontation (a
new understanding and insight can emerge) WISDOM is imparted
to you.
The Church is where we are encouraged,
strengthened and comforted in our “out in the world” quest to live the rule and administration
of the Government
of the Kingdom. (Isa 9:7 / 61) It is also the place to try things
out and learn to play. We aspire to an atmosphere in which people
can risk in the work and discovery of the Spirit and learn as they go along.
We are “growth mindset” people. We think nothing is impossible with
God and that we can be the people who do the impossible with him by learning
and growing along with the challenges and obstacles that present themselves as
well as by being a community that allows for risk and failure.
Here are four C's of relationship and co-laboring on the way to the amazing vision Jesus is pouring out around the world. How we move and grow in relationship, unity and power in the Spirit together.
Communion One Faith, One Lord, One
Baptism, and The Spirit brings unity to those who follow Jesus.
Community - Followers of Jesus are “called
to express the government (Ekklesia) of the Kingdom in relationship”
Cooperation – Co – operating is when we partner
together in a common spirit of mutual love and sacrifice. Operating in
the same spheres we share in the work on a casual level or simply participate
in things like prayer houses.
Co-laboring - Working intentionally together with
clearly defined goals, strategy and Kingdom and church building faith; bringing
strengths to each others weaknesses.
And we are exploring the
characteristics of the building blocks of fellowship with God and each other.
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!
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
