Australia Kneels : Week 5 – Day 6

Doing the Will of the Father who sent us – Joh 4:34

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. 

The Garden Catalogue For Today

Welcome to the Discipleship and Action Day – Let us go and Draw from the Well of Life, and get filled up so we can pour out the Living Water to others we can bless.

On this day we will have a variety of messages and input from trusted disciplers.

So who are ‘Priests’ in the Lord today and what have they been called by the Lord to do NOW?

God’s Word makes it clear that He had a plan for His precious chosen people who He called to Himself out of the bondage and slavery in Egypt. Before He made His covenant with Moses, He communicated what it was. He expressed His desire to Moses, for them to be His Kingdom of Priests;

Exod 19:4-6  4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Soon after the time God made His Covenant with Moses at Mnt Sinai where the people had shrunk back from the mountain, they chose not to hear God’s voice. As the people of Israel embarked on the next part of their wilderness journey it was with negative speaking and God was so grieved at their rejecting their calling and Him as their God. We see Moses standing in the gap pleading with God to Pardon the people and not kill them. (Earlier in Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham had interceded and pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom.)

Numb 13:30-14:38 reading through this whole section gives the background understanding of the Israelites Testing God 10 times and God was grieved….but there were 2 – Caleb and Joshua with a different spirit with Faith in God….

Numb 14: 11-12, 15-24, 30-31
¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? ¹² I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”

Moses as a mediator, with a shepherd’s heart to care for God’s people spoke before God on their behalf saying……

¹⁵ If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

¹⁷ “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ ¹⁹ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

²⁰ The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. ²¹ Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, ²² not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— ²³ not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. ²⁴ But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

God determined that only 2 people, Joshua and Caleb would see His Promises land of the peoples over 20 years old:
³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.

Joshua and Caleb saw through eyes of faith in the capacity of the Holy Spirit granted to them. I believe they were worshippers and kept loving, praising and thanking God in the middle of all the contention and strife, the deaths in the wilderness around the, they kept their eyes on God, on the cloud by day and His Holy fire by night, aware of His presence, listening to and obeying his Voice and Honouring God, keeping in His covenant relationship He extended to them. After 40 years of the consequences of seeing their evil words, fears and negative contemptuous expectations occur before their eyes in all the rebellions and deaths in the wilderness,

Joshua and Caleb crossed over into the Promised land in obedience to God’s calling when the Anakims, the giants still inhabited the land. Caleb was not daunted at 85 and said: ‘Give me this Mountain’ in Josh 14:12

Does this calling of the people of Israel to be a ‘kingdom of Priests and a holy nation’ fit into a bigger ‘Kingdom of God’ picture?

Yes, the ascended Jesus, the Sovereign King speaks to John the Apostle as He commands him to write in:

Revelation 1:5-6; 5:10 ⁵Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
5To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

God gave Peter this revelation for all those who are born again and walking in the New Covenant with Jesus.

1 Peter 2:5, 9 ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

What does it mean to be a royal priesthood who proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light?

To put it simply, God is calling us to be His Holy Priesthood as His set apart people, (from the world system) living a Holy Lifestyle. We are those: who praise God and worship Him alone, who lift up His Holy Name above every other name under heaven, who know, live, proclaim and decree His Living word, who bring the Truth, Knowledge and Love of God to the people.

This is the hour to speak up and not to remain silent. God has given us a Voice to rise up as a people of His power, to help, support and participate in God’s end time purposes, both gentile and Jewish believers together as the one new man in Christ; a royal priesthood a holy people. God’s priesthood Praying for the release of God’s irresistible Love of Jesus. Also declaring strength and blessing to withstand the antisemitic and antichrist spiritual barrage in these shakings. Lord, Let your love bind us together in the unfolding matters of your heart, as we intercede on behalf of our families, generations, churches, community, city, nation and nations. We minister to the people, praying for them to be drawn to God, and intercede for repentance and the fear of the Lord to come on hearts that will tremble supernaturally at God’s word. About keepers of God’s covenant and the life of the Spirit prevailing. Ezek 37:12– in prayer, hearing God’s strategy, coming against enemy attacks to destroy Israel and God’s people

We also stand as watchmen and intercede from the word of God and from His perspective, in spiritual warfare as in Ephesians ch 6 and 2 Cor 10:3-6. We stand in the gap with one arm towards God and the other down towards the people, standing between the living and the dead, praying in the Spirit, rejoicing with thanksgiving in our hearts, listening to God’s heart and instructions, all working together as God’s body for His Kingdom Come and His will to be done.

So, we minister to God and keep the altar of His Holy Fire burning in our own hearts, and where He establishes us. We do this in our own homes, churches and Houses of Prayer where we minister to God Himself in first love and adoration. Some feel lead to dance before the Lord and use banners, while others sit in quiet contemplation and meditation of His Holy word in His presence. We seek God’s face in first place. We then go out from our secret places of prayer into the market place to share the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the good news of Christ’s Complete victory over all the powers of the enemy and His desire to ingraft His Jewish people back to His heart.

God has never changed His mind. In the first part of the Bible, that is so rich, in every generation, when God’s people have broken covenant with Him over and over again through worshipping idols, God again speaks His heart of mercy and compassion to His Jewish people that is also His heart for all who believe, through the prophet Isaiah 43:3-4, 57:15-21

Isaiah 43:3-4 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honoured, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.

Isaiah 57:15-21 ¹⁵ For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
¹⁶ For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.
¹⁷ For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. ¹⁸ I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will also lead him,
And restore comforts to him and to his mourners. ¹⁹ “I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says the Lord, “And I will heal him.”
²⁰ But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
²¹ “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

David’s Psalms speak of ‘Priests’ being set apart stand in Holiness, Worship God and Warfare against his enemies.

In Part 1 42 Days Week 5 we explored the Covenant God made with King David in Ps 89, despite his sins. God is faithful to keep His promises and brought Jesus the Messiah through David’s line, as the son of David. David was a man who loved God, who in the midst of his enemies poured out his hurts and complaints in the context of worshipping and Praising God for His Holiness and Glory. David wrote more of the Psalms in the Bible in Faith, than any other Psalmist.

Yet, what stands out is that David was a man with a truly repentant broken contrite heart when he faced up to his sin with Bathsheba, that included arranging for her husband to be killed in battle. In Ps 51, we discover David’s revelation of deep contrition, grief and conversion of heart in his cry to God, that not only had he committed adultery and murder, but that he had sinned against God Himself and done evil in His sight. In so doing he had broken his entrustment to and covenant with God as his Lord and King.
May the Lord stir up our hearts and show us any areas where we need to confess our sin in brokenness before our Lord. As we prayerfully meditate through these Psalms, ask God to purify and consecrate our hearts to Him alone.
This comes through the process of heart felt conviction leading to deep Repentance as King David demonstrates in Ps 51.

Psalm 51

A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired truth in the innermost parts,
even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Let us take some quiet time with a Journal and pray for the Lord to bring His Holy Spirit conviction unto repentance. Lord, show us any areas where we need to confess our sins to you, where we have not had clean hands or pure heart motives and attitudes, where we have not spoken or written the truth. Lord, you are faithful and you have never left us alone. Lord we need your plumbline realignment Amos 7:7-9. We ask for your mercy upon us.

Prayer of Repentance as Priests in intercession to the Lord to minister to Him and seeking purity of our hearts……..

Lord, Show us where we have lacked integrity and have come into agreement with the devil in areas of compromise or appeasement, with deception, seductions, Jezabel, Ahab, Belial, or sexual, substance addictions. Rev 2:20-25.

Please show us any bitter roots of unforgiveness or judgements, offenses, resentment, unbelief and anger in our hearts against brothers or sisters Matt 6:12-15. Give us the grace to forgive from our hearts so that You can deliver us from the evil one, and lead us away from temptations as we continue to forgive others from our heart. Set us free by the power of your shed Blood Lord Jesus, so that we might arise as your overcomers to worship you in Spirit and truth, free to ascend your Holy mountain; to rise up into the realm of Your Holy Spirit in praise and worship of You.

Lord, identify where we have been enslaved to the gods of ‘Egypt’, and have been bowing down to idols or swearing by what is false, in bondage to unresolved wounds and pain in orphan hearts of unbelief. Lord, we believe you have heard our cries for a long time. Remember Your new covenant with us Lord we pray: Exod 2:23-24, Heb 8:8-12.

John 16:7-15  Lord purge our hearts we pray and grant us the gift of deep wholehearted repentance, with your Holy Spirit purging and refining our hearts. Give us Your heart of mercy and compassion and desire to become and remain pure in order to ‘see you Lord’ in all your beauty, Isa 33:17 and Matt 5: 3-13.

We desire to be Your blessed generation of Jacob, to receive Your gift of Holiness through the fresh infilling of your Holy Spirit as we seek you and your Kingdom in first place. Set us free from Religious mindsets and bondages to praise and worship you alone and seek Your face Ps 27: 4-9 May we receive your Your gift of Righteousness Matt 6:33 as David desired.

Psalm of David – Psalm 27     

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

We ask for your Mercy Lord not only for ourselves but for our families, communities and nations as in Dan ch 9. As we stand before you as your Royal Priesthood we ask that you will overturn wickedness and intimidation 1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-1;( God’s initial intention) Exod 19:4-6.

We repent because we have allowed these evil and afflictions.
Lord, we submit to You to prepare us to stand in spiritual warfare at the righthand of your throne Eph 2:6 in you according to 2 Cor 10:3-6  and Eph 6:10-18.

God calls Himself the Holy God of Israel who sees his people as precious and despite their sin, his desire is to heal them Isaiah. There never has been and never will be anyone like Him. Only God is worthy of our praise and worship. Holiness also means “to separate or cut off.” God is entirely and infinitely pure. He is separate from anything that is sinful and cannot look at or even tolerate sin.

In 1 Peter 1:15-16, God demands that those who are associated with Him, those set apart by Him to be a dwelling place for His Spirit; be holy as He is holy. This means that we must become, not merely set apart, but set ourselves apart in obedience to the Lord’s promptings, allowing Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into Jesus’ Truth. Phil 2:12 By conviction of God’s word and heeding His voice let us sanctify and consecrate ourselves to become His clean vessels through which He can flow. Ps 24
May we be as David wholeheartedly committed to You Lord in worship and faith. Let us be praising and thanking you Lord, to intervene and bring Your Kingdom come, Your will and alignments to be established Isa 28:14-18 through Your refining fire, so that lawlessness will not prevail, Deut 16:18-20, Isa 45:1-2.  May Your justice and Gates of Righteousness be opened to You King of Glory to enter into Jerusalem and our cities and regions Ps 118:17-23.

A Psalm of David – Psalm 24

24 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
² For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
⁵ He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah

⁷ Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

So we join with heaven and worship and bow down to you the Lamb who was slain our Maker and our Saviour King

A Call to Worship and Obedience – Psalm 95

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
³ For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
^4 [a]In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
⁵ The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
⁷ For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep ^[b]of His hand.

Today, if you will hear His voice:
⁸ “Do not harden your hearts, as in the ^[c]rebellion,
As in the day of ^[d]trial in the wilderness,
⁹ When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
¹⁰ For forty years I was ^[e]grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
¹¹ So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Footnotes

1. Psalm 95:4 In His possession
2. Psalm 95:7 Under His care
3. Psalm 95:8 Or Meribah, lit. Strife, Contention
4. Psalm 95:8 Or Massah, lit. Trial, Testing
5. Psalm 95:10 disgusted

Walking in Integrity

Growing in Spiritual Maturity to stand God’s authority let’s explore the reality of integrity involves so we can walk in His Righteousness. We need to repent of our unrighteous ways we’ve walked to come into His Light & shine for Him…

Below are a few messages around Integrity for you to read and meditate upon.

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WALKING IN INTEGRITY

 Pastor Banso January 22, 2021Wisdom For Living

Be a person of integrity – a person of honesty, sincerity, singleness of purpose. Walk in integrity and don’t depart from this path. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7 New King James Version). 

The Bible also says, “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9 New King James Version).

It is only in a society with no values, or where their values have been eroded that a wealthy person without integrity will be celebrated. 

To Read more: Plese Click Here

 . . . . . . .

Walking In Integrity  Series

Contributed by Boomer Phillips

Summary: When the Lord begins tearing down the walls of opposition and using you to bring glory to Himself, and to see the lost come to Christ; it is at this point that you need to be ever-mindful of how you stand, and be careful to walk in integrity.

To Read more: Plese Click Here

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As we started last week to look at Spiritual Maturity, just a reminder again that according to Ephesians 4 – that the reason Jesus gave the the 5-Fold Ministries to His Church (The Ekklesia) – is to bring the saints unto Maturity – in order for us all to be walking in the “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

Eph 4:7-16

7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 
8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 
9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 
10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 
11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Below are 2 Videos again by Ps Susan Hammer from Cry of an Eagle Revival Ministries – looking at the Calling and Purpose of the Apostles and the Prophets:

 The Apostle:

The Prophet:

We will continue to look into more detail of the different Ministry types over the next 2 weeks.

The Son’s Answered Prayer

By Francis Frangipane

Jesus never experienced an unanswered prayer. Indeed, the very things Jesus prayed were those things He knew to be precisely the Father’s will. The Son could heal or raise the dead or supernaturally feed multitudes because in prayer He understood what the Father intended. Jesus knew absolutely that nothing was impossible for God.

Thus, on the night before He died, the most somber night in Jesus’ life, the Lord brought His most lofty request to God: He prayed for oneness in His church. Christ’s prayer was both visionary and practical considering that on this same evening an argument arose among His disciples as to which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). In spite of their immaturity, selfish ambitions and envy, Jesus harbored no second thoughts or unbelief when He prayed that they may all be one.

Just as the Son of God prayed on their behalf, be assured He is praying for us now. Jesus is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). He will never lower His standards (John 12:48); He will not modify His promises (Matt. 24:35); His intercession will remain unfailing until we attain His goal for us in God (Rom. 8:34).

To know Christ is to know His heart toward His church. Look again at His relationship with His disciples that Passover night. If an observer compared the instructions of Christ with the responses of His disciples, he would have concluded that there was little real communication between them. Jesus presented His vision of a church motivated by His love and humility. In contrast, His disciples dwelt in carnal desires and weaknesses. Consider: while Jesus prayed they would be “perfected in unity” (John 17:23), the only unity the disciples knew that night was a common fear and a collective abandonment of Christ. Consider: Jesus told these soon-to-be leaders of the Jerusalem church that they would be known for their untiring, agape love. But that night Christ’s three closest friends could not remain awake with him even one hour while He agonized alone in prayer.

His disciples were deaf to His promises, blind to His sacrifice, and ignorant of His vision; they were without revelation, obedience or courage. Yet, in spite of themselves, Jesus promised these very men, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do” (John 14:12). How could they ever attain His works? They would do His works not because He had confidence in them, but because He was about to “go to the Father” (John 14:12b). There, at the awesome throne of God, Christ would stand on behalf of His church as a faithful high priest. Thus, the power that accompanied the early church on earth was a direct result of Christ’s ongoing intercession for them in Heaven.

The Beginning and the End
There have always existed two realms in the definition of the church. The first is the place of beginnings. Here in the first stages of spirituality, we see the calling of God mingling with human fears, sin and worldly ambitions. The second reality is the place of destination. This is the place of destiny, power and maturity that Jesus died to give us. It is the intercession of Christ on our behalf that carries us from beginning to end. Indeed, the shallow, immature level of the church has never stopped Christ from praying for its perfection. He could no sooner stop praying than cease being the Son of God. Jesus is the Redeemer of mankind.

Jesus has always known the frailty of His church. He knows that when we commit our lives to Him, it is not a commitment that says, “I will never sin again; I will always be good.” If we could keep such a resolution, we would not have needed Christ to save us. Our commitment to Him is an acknowledgment that we have come to the end of ourselves: we need a Savior.

Thus, having discovered no righteousness of our own within us, we have entrusted both our condition and our future to Him. Yes, we commit ourselves to obey Him, but we frequently fail. True, we pledge to study His word, but we barely understand it. We position ourselves to follow Him, but how often we wander and find ourselves lost! Our commitment is, in reality, an abandonment of ourselves into Christ’s keeping (Phil. 1:6). He who thinks otherwise has never come face-to-face with his need for God.

Yet, this abandonment to Christ is also the key to our power. By accepting the living reality of our dependency, Christ Himself becomes our sufficiency. He reveals that our union with Him is as branches; He is the vine (John 15). His sufficiency is faithful and unending. He promises, “In that day, a vineyard of wine, sing of it! I, the Lord, am its keeper; I water it every moment. So that no one will damage it, I guard it night and day” (Isa. 27:2-3).

We must each discover the sustaining and renewing power that comes from complete dependency upon Christ. At this moment, He is praying for us. As you read my words, divine strength, healing, wisdom and virtue are being released through the intercession of Christ. He says, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).

Human Need; Divine Commitment
Peter discovered Christ’s unchanging commitment. Though others might fail, Peter had boasted that he would remain steadfast. However, Jesus told His upstart disciple that within just a few hours he would deny His Lord three times. All the disciples failed, yet what was the Lord’s reaction? Did He chasten them? Did Jesus express His personal offense to Peter? No. Although there are times when Christ must rebuke us, Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would continue and he would become a strength to his brothers (Luke 22:32).

Immediately after warning Peter of his impending denial, Jesus further comforted His disciples. He urges them, “Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). While this verse is suitable for calming any troubled heart, Jesus was speaking uniquely and compassionately to His disciples. Incredibly, it was Jesus, about to go to the cross, who comforted the disciples who were about to deny Him! Beloved, we do not truly know Christ until we have failed and find Him still our friend, drawn ever closer to us by our repentance and our need.

The Father’s Unchanging Purpose
What is true concerning Christ’s devotion to us as individuals is true concerning His commitment to a repentant citywide church as well. I am not saying that we should continue in sin that “grace might increase” (Rom. 6:1). No. But, when we sin, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Our failings have not disqualified us from God’s purposes. If we turn and trust Him again, we will find that the same Lord who requires we obey Him remained our Redeemer and Intercessor when we failed Him.

There are two things more enduring than the failings of the church. According to Scripture, these two things are “the unchangeableness of His purpose” and Christ’s role of priestly intercession for us (Heb. 6:17; 7:24). As a result, even though the church falls short, the purpose of God remains unchanging and the intercessions of Christ remain faithful. Because of these things, I am confident that I shall rise from my failures and find ever-unfolding Christlikeness in my life. Because of Jesus’ prayer, I believe we will see true New Testament unity in the people of God. Through Christ’s sacrifice, He is able “to save forever (lit: “to the uttermost”) those who draw near to God through Him” (Heb. 7:25).

The Lord’s disciples frequently carried the burden of wrong attitudes and aberrant concepts. Yet, in spite of their immaturity, Jesus unhesitantly prayed for the most holy of possibilities: that they would become the human abode for the Trinity of God (John 14:16-17, 23)! If we look to ourselves, we most certainly will always fail. When we place our expectation in the power released through Christ’s intercession, we can walk with confidence. It is our destiny to be transformed; it is God’s plan for the church to become one in Christ, and it is the foreknown plan of God for nations to come to the Savior. Beloved, if you believe in Christ, and believe He is the only begotten of the Father, then be assured concerning your personal needs: Jesus will have all His prayers answered.

How To Prepare For Spiritual Battle

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Becoming a Disciple for Jesus

By Tony McLennan

Weekend Talk 3

Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts

Introduction

Why God gives us Spiritual Gifts.

To equip us to serve God and to minister to others, God has given to every Christian certain spiritual giftings.

God testifies to the reality of His work among us “…by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will…”
Hebrews 2:4

These gifts are present to one degree or another within any healthy body of Christians. They are vital, supernatural manifestations of God’s power at work within and among us. They are given to glorify God and to help us to do good for others.

The Holy Spirit is the orchestrator of the gifts. His presence brings them into operation through willing believers.

Without the gifts of the Holy Spirit we would not be able to function supernaturally. Without the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Christianity could descend into a philosophy or become just a good idea which really does not work. Without the Holy Spirit’s power individual Christians and churches become spiritually dead.

I. Jesus, Spiritual Gifts and the Holy Spirit

The Lord Jesus promised his disciples that they would be able to do God’s
work in power just as He did.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it.” John 14:12 -14

• What is the condition Jesus set upon someone “doing greater things
  than these…?”
• What are the things included in the words “what I have been doing?”
• How does this allow the Son to bring Glory to the Father?

Jesus, in the same passage, promised that when He went away, He would
ask His Father to give us another Counsellor or Comforter.

• Who is this other Comforter?
• Comfort from Latin “cum forte” means “with strength or power!”
• Read Acts 1:8.
• Who is the Person who imparts ‘power’?
• What is the result of this?

God the Father, through Jesus’ work of salvation and justification, can now give every believer the Holy Spirit (see Luke 11:13). The Spirit operates to ‘help us in our weakness….’. (Romans 8:26)

II. What Gifts Does The Father Give To Us?

There are three different lists of gifts presented in the New Testament. The first list is found in Romans 12:4 -8:

1. Prophesying
The supernatural ability to speak out a message from God
(Acts 21:10 -14).

2. Serving
This applies to ‘ministry’ to others (Ephesians 11-13). It is supernatural serving.

3. Teaching
The ability to explain the Word of God from Scripture with great effect. The ministry of Apollos could be an example (Acts 18:24 -27). Prophets and teachers more adequately instruct the Church in God’s ways and God’s thoughts (see Acts 11:25, 26 and Acts 13:1).

4. Encouraging (exhorting) See Acts 15:41.

5. Contributing (giving)
Some people have been given a supernatural dimension in the area of contributing (Philippians 4:14 – 16).

6. Leadership (oversight)
The elders of the Church at Ephesus are an example (Acts 20:27 – 31).

7. Showing Mercy
The act of helping those who are in need. Caring for one another and for all people in need (Matthew 25:40).

The second list is found in 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 11

These gifts are referred to as “the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.” A manifestation is a shining forth or display as in “the sun shone forth from behind the clouds.” A manifestation carries with it a certain sense of surprise as God’s Presence or Power is revealed or manifested. These gifts are:

1. Wisdom – the “word of wisdom.”

2. Knowledge – The “word of knowledge.”

3. Faith – an impartation of God’s faith to believe on a larger scale.

4. Gifts of healing – the outflowing of the Holy Spirit’s presence to cure those who are ill.

5. Miraculous powers – where God’s power reorganises matter to produce a supernatural phenomenon.

6. Prophecy – ‘forth’ telling the message of God for that time or moment or for the future.

7. Distinguishing/Discerning of Spirits – being able to see into the spiritual realm and identify the activity of evil spirits.

8. Speaking in Tongues – giving a message in a language that has not been learned.

9. Interpretation of Tongues – being able to interpret the message given in tongues.

The third list, “The Ascension Gifts” seen in Ephesians 4:8, 11 – 13:

When Jesus ascended ‘higher than all the heavens’, He appointed some people in the church to be:

1. Apostles
– those who have been sent to preach e.g. missionaries.

2. Prophets
– those who speak God’s directional word to the Church.

3. Evangelists
– those who tell others about Jesus with great effect.

4. Pastors
– those who look after the people of God.

5. Teachers
– those who explain, clarify and reveal the Word of God to the Church

See also 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

 III. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit provides the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ listed in Galatians 5:22 – 23. This fruit is a manifestation of the presence of God in the life of the believer.

• Read Galatians 5:19 -21.
•  What are the ‘works’ of the flesh? How do they contrast with the ‘fruit
  of the Spirit.’
• The ‘fruit of the Spirit’ are listed as:
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
  • Faithfulness
  • Gentleness (Meekness)
  • Self Control

What is a fruit? Among other things, the fruit of the Spirit is a reflection of God’s Holy character in us.

Why does Paul say “against such things there is no law?”
Galatians 5:23b

• How can we ensure that these fruit are present in our lives?
• Which is more important – ‘fruit’ or ‘gifts’?
• Are both equally important?

Conclusion:

So we can see that God has equipped the Church to operate in both His Power and in His Holy Character through the application of the gifts of the Spirit as well as the expression of the fruit of the Spirit.

Memorise this verse:
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially
the gift of prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1

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Becoming a Disciple for Jesus

By Tony McLennan

Weekend Talk 4

The Key to God’s Heart

Introduction
Prayer is having a heart to heart talk with God, our wonderful Father. As we pour out our hearts to the Father with complete trust and faith in His perfect love, we receive an outpouring from God’s own great heart.

There is nothing so valuable and yet so available to us as prayer. No-one is unqualified to pray. Even the heathen can pray if, in faith, he or she calls upon the name of the Lord. See Romans 10:13.

I. Jesus Shows Us The Example Of Prayer

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Psalm 42:1 – 2

To the question “when can I go and meet with God?”, the answer is anytime. Just imagine, the Lord of all creation, the Lord of the universe, is always prepared to receive you.

Jesus is the way to the Father – John 14:6:

• “...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• The Bible shows us that we need to come to God through Jesus with repentant hearts. Read Hebrews 10:19 – 22.
• Jesus is the new and living way. (v. 20)
• How are we to draw near to God? (v. 22)

Jesus often prayed alone:
“After He had dismissed them [the crowd], he went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.”
Matthew 14:23

In Mark 1:35 – 37 we read:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for You!’”

• Why do you think Jesus went to a ‘solitary place’? (Mark 1:35)
• Why do you think He went alone? (Matt 14:23)
• What was the result of His prayer? (Mark 1:37)

II. How To Pray

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray….’” Luke 11:1

• Jesus’ prayer life was evident to His disciples.
• His disciples were moved by His praying.
• Jesus focussed on the relationship He has with His Father:
  “Father, hallowed be Your name…. ”

Jesus gives certain guidelines in Matthew 6:5 – 14:

• We are not to make a show of prayer. “Go into your room, close the door and pray (speak) to your Father.” (v. 6)
• What can you observe from Jesus’ pattern of prayer?

III. Types Of Prayer

There are different attitudes we are able to present to God in prayer. These
attitudes are very important, and they are similar to our expectations for
any relationship.

They are listed as:

• Adoration – Expressions of adoration (praise and worship) are found throughout the Bible. When we adore the Lord, we speak words of deep devotion and appreciation to Him directly.
  – Psalm 18:1 – “I love You, O Lord, my strength.…”
• Confession – This is where we admit to God that we have sinned, ask for forgiveness and cleansing that we might be renewed in holiness. (See Psalm 51:1 – 2)
• Thanksgiving – A grateful heart is a happy heart no matter what the circumstances. It’s only right to thank someone for their gifts.
  – Ephesians 5:20 – “… always giving thanks to God the Father for
  everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Supplication – Matthew 7:7 says that we are to ask and it will be given to us. The provision of God to meet our needs comes from ‘His 
  glorious riches in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19). We are encouraged to ask and God will abundantly supply.
• Interceding for Others – God has enabled us to extend our relationship with Him beyond our individual circumstances to cover the needs of the whole world, eg, family, friends, other relatives, work associates, students, strangers and even our enemies.
  • Intercession – To intercede means to act as a ‘go – between’. An intercessor is one who pleads on behalf of someone else. (Ezekiel 22:30)
  • Intercessions are described as ‘liquid prayers’ because they often involve deep crying and deep feelings for those whose needs are desperate.
  • Intercessors can save lives.
  • Intercession can save souls. (Gen 18:17 – 33, Ex 32:10 – 14,
    Acts 12:5).

IV. The Name Of Jesus

When we pray, we pray in Jesus’ name.

“And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”
John 14:13 – 14

• This promise is repeated in John 15:16.
• A person’s name, if that person has influence, is a real key to open doors.
• Jesus’ name is the Key to God’s Heart.
• The elders of Israel wanted to know “by what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7)
• The appeal to Jesus’ name was embedded in the thinking of the New Testament Church. See Acts 4:30.

V. You And Your Prayer Life

• Pick a time of day – preferably the morning because it helps to set the tone for your whole day. (Psalm 5)
• Begin with adoration (praise and worship). (Psalm 55:17)
• Consider kneeling or bowing before the Lord in an attitude of
  humility.
• As a child of God, come boldly to the throne of Grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
• Remove hindrances like an unclean heart or wrong attitude or spirit, and confess your sins to God. (Psalm 139:23 – 24)
• You have been made righteous, now you can pray about everything. (Philippians 4:6)
• Believe that you will receive. (Mark 11:24 – 25)

Conclusion:

When developing the habit of prayer, consider using a diary. Mark your Bible as God reveals passages to you. Share your insights with others. Be seriously committed to a DAILY practice of prayer.

Memorise these verses:
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:1-3

“It is impossible for a believer,
no matter what his experience,
to keep right with God if he will not take
the trouble to spend time with God…
Spend plenty of time with God;
let other things go,
but don’t neglect Him.”
Oswald Chambers

 . . . . . . .

We will continue next week with the next 2 chapters from the book: Becoming a Disciple of Jesus by Tony McLennan

For even more information please visit:  The God Revolution  & Australia for Jesus websites.

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Pastor Jeff’s Special Today:  “Love of the Flesh” 

Today’s issue is the lust of the flesh. 1 John2: 15-17 is clear: ” Do not love the world or the things in he world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.” This confirms the direct Word from Jesus: ” It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.“ (John 6:63).

Being candid with yourself and the Holy Spirit, is this old pattern of the flesh still blocking your serving your Almighty Creator today? Is there any remnant of this old pattern needing to be confessed to Him, your Teacher (Matthew 23:10)? Are there any old vows you made in this area that now need to be removed? Do you think this is only applicable to the disciples 2,000 or 3,000 years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of this issue for such a time as this? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?

God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom and Comfort on this issue. May you go forward on His path, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).