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Category Archives: Kingdom Living

Prophetic Patience

19 Feb

A person without patience cannot prophetic be. The critical virtue of patience is most central to the character of a truly prophetic man or woman of God. It is not something that comes naturally to any of us, but is cultivated through relationship with the Revelation Giver. Many ascribe to the prophetic, but fall by wayside after the passage of time and events. Hopes delayed can dishearten even the most determined. Patience, not determination, brings to us the fruition of the spoken promise.

Patience: The Key to Words of Destiny

“Perseverance (patience) must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything,” James 1:4. Patience is fascinating in that it is both the facilitator / promoter of maturity, and the distinguishing mark of it. The impatient soul is far from being seasoned in the Word he carries. Still believing the word is just supposed to happen to him, he bemoans every setback as persecution or cosmic interference. In immaturity, he misses the point.

Any prophetic word given, is powerful to recreate us in its likeness. Instead of happening for us, it first happens in us. The timetable for the fulfillment of any prophecy lies in how long it takes for the word to renovate our own mentality and behaviors. Of course, this takes time… and patience. Should your destiny be greatly removed from your current state, more time will be needed for this word to recreate you from the inside out. Joseph, regent over Egypt, was decades in process. As a dreaming teenager, he couldn’t be further from the sophistication and regality of the night visions he received. However, the distance between teenage Joseph, and fully matured Joseph was more than geographical… it was also developmental, psychological and spiritual in nature. Why did God reveal the promise of such grandeur to an adolescent? I believe it was because it would take years of Joseph’s life to cultivate the compassion, wisdom, savvy and sophistication needed to preserve nations during famine.

It is spoken of Joseph in Psalm 105:19, “Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.” Tried is the Hebrew word, tsaraph, meaning to purge, test and refine. The word of the Lord literally purged Joseph, tested him and refined him for His purpose. More specifically, the word given to Joseph set in motion certain circumstances that would precipitate change within him. Any adverse circumstances surrounding his story were merely tools of purging, testing, and refining.

Prophetic Purging

The Hebrew word for tried in Psalm 105:19 also includes a reference to smelting. Smelting is the process of melting down metals for the purpose of separating it from other metals or impurities. Joseph’s separation from family at an early age, was just the beginning of the smelting process in his life. The later separation from Potiphar’s household and society at large, was part of the continual work of smelting. Joseph was isolated for the purpose of identifying and cultivating his character and gifts. As this process happens in our lives, it may feel that we are the ones being tossed aside or purged out of the picture. Friend, this is the path of destiny.

Prophetic Testing

Any accurate prophetic word of destiny over your life with test you… every day of your life. No doubt, Joseph daily revisited his boyish dreams of regality and authority. In the worst of circumstances, his dreams played over and over again in his head – challenging his resolve and sanity. In our immaturity, prophecies will first test our faith in self. The arm of the flesh will generally try to muscle a prophetic word into existence. This is guaranteed to fail. Until we flunk the test of the flesh, we cannot begin to be tested in our reliance on Father God. Once our resolve to make it happen wanes, we discover our resolve to follow His faithful leading.

Prophetic Refining

Because a prophetic word has refining power, it must be rehearsed often in our hearts and minds. Write, frame, or speak out your promise. In doing so, you are subjecting yourself to the chisel and hammer of the master sculptor. Not only is the heard word overwriting your former, flawed expectations, but it is creating the capacity to believe in the new.

The very act of declaring your promise is powerful to set in motion certain circumstances that will hasten its fulfillment. As in the case of Joseph, these happenings bring refinement of character and much-needed experience for the days ahead. WIthout these tests of refinement, we would never arrive at the expertise or confidence needed to walk our out destiny. Refinement brings mastery in matters of skill – and humility in matters of heart.

In closing, allow me to encourage you in your prophetic journey. You may feel time has ruled you out of your promise. Your destiny, however, has never been nearer. Ironically, the development of patience requires the manifold exhaustion of composure and fortitude. How else will we learn that our times and seasons are in His hand? Persevere in believing against all hope. The word is making something marvelous of you.

 
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Posted by on February 19, 2012 in Kingdom Living

 

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Characteristics of Apostolic People

16 Dec

God is raising up an apostolic people. This has already begun, my friend. Called out from purposeless religious observation, these ecclesiacs are coalescing around apostolic initiatives. Interestingly, one can find apostolic expression in varying cross-segments of the body of Christ. Apostolic expression cannot be limited to a certain ‘tribe” or movement in the body. The apostolic will arise anywhere hungry hearts are open to New Testament church government and supernatural empowerment.

Apostolic Alignment

Certain “tribes” or groups are already primed for this move. These have a New Testament government already in place (consisting of ordained elders, deacons, and five-fold offices). Other groups will have to swim upstream to taste of the new wine Heaven is pouring out. Certain denominational (and even non-denominational) church governments are aligned in direct opposition to Holy Spirit’s leading. New Testament-based reform will be necessary for such churches to experience the fulness of Apostolic ministry. Without that reform, soulish men and women will eventually oppose the emerging government of Spirit. Prophetically speaking, there will be a tidal wave of apostolic signs and wonders that will touch many traditional churches through new media and broadcast television. This flood of apostolic demonstration will stir up hunger in many churches that have had success in areas of soulish ministry. Soulish speaks of ministry that can be accomplished through natural means. Churches who operate soulishly are quite content to have service without the Holy Spirit. Once the apostolic ministry of supernatural signs and wonders knocks on their door, however, people will be stirred. Either they will choose to align with apostolic ministry, or to quench the move and return to church as usual.

Apostolic Adjustment

Among those already aligned with New Testament apostolic church government, there must be adjustment in the coming days. For many of us, the form is in place. The mindset, however, is a bit askew. Some presuppositions concerning the apostolic move have us facing a few degrees off course. Perhaps, if we picked up our biblical compass, we’d be surprised at the simple adjustments that would direct us to true north. Maybe our post-modern minds have deconstructed the office of the apostle, dismantling it beyond recognition. Homework: Let us regain a holistic understanding of apostolic ministry by revisiting the New Testament apostles in Acts and the subsequent epistles. My prior post: Characteristics of an Apostle is a great starting place.

Part of the tweaking needed, is to reconsider what it means to be an apostolic people. The tidal wave of apostolic signs and wonders will certainly produce supernatural demonstrations of the 1 Corinthians 12 power gifts of 1.) faith 2.) healing 3.) miracles. These, the church have become somewhat accustomed to in bygone periods of renewal and revival. These are the manifestations that attest to apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 12:12). In the coming move, however, the people of that move will become signs and wonders, themselves. According to the Isaiah 8:18 account, “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.” Not only should we prepare to experience signs and wonders, we are to become the signs and wonders attesting the Lordship of our God and King.

We must expect that a true apostle will raise up apostolic people. Again, the word Apostle (apostolos) means: delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. An apostle will raise up other “sent ones” or those he or she can send out.

“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21.

Apostolic people are sent ones. Where are they sent?

Jesus prayed in John 17:18, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Expect to be dispatched, my friend. Apostolic ministry only begins in the four walls of the church! It reaches fulfillment when expressed in “secular” society. What happens inside the church, is but the seed for marketplace manifestation. Apostolic people should be demonstrating the Kingdom in businesses, schools, media, the health industry, government, entertainment, etc… “Out there” is where the apostolic ministry gains traction.

Before we get to societal and global demonstration of the Kingdom, there must be a change in ethos inside the four walls of the church. An apostle creates an apostolic environment or ethos, by preparing people for action.

The traditional church ethos is more contemplative. It’s more about the individual believer and their personal devotion to God as demonstrated by contemplation of the gospel. It’s a very private inward experience which leads to a more individual, private and exclusive expression of faith. This faith is defined by what one thinks or feels about God, and how one relates to God as an individual.

The apostolic church ethos is action-oriented. Rather than contemplating the good news, the apostolic church exhibits the good news through application of spiritual principles in the marketplace (outside the four walls of the church). As a result, the dividing wall between the sacred and secular life is torn down.

“The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof!”  1 Corinthians 10:26.

Apostolically speaking, every “secular” job is a knot in the net for the reaping of the end-time draught. Therefore, an apostolic believer sees their job as a divine call – a place of ministry.

Apostolic people are geared to pursue more than the salvation of individuals. In addition to this, they seek to bring transformation to people, organizations and systems outside of the church-house. Friend, we are only as apostolic as we are activated outside the four walls of our churches.

Concerning apostolic people:

  1. The sum total of their Christian mission is not encapsulated in the services or programs within the four walls of the church.
  2. Faith language or kingdom talk is incorporated in their daily interactions at home, work and abroad.
  3. They are responsible for planting seminal ideas or thoughts that spawn change in the hearts of those they network with.
  4. They exist for the benefit of others, not at the expense of others. They are self-supporting financially, and even generators of wealth to help others.
  5. The goal of their mission is to bring people into the Kingdom by demonstrating the Kingdom’s superior fruit. It’s a “taste and see that the Lord is good” approach.
  6. Apostolic people bring the super to the natural. Some are concerned with the apostolic movement waxing “secular” in its emphasis. Rather it is an invasion of radical demonstrators of effectual Kingdom power into the secular world.

Are we there yet? Nope.
What hinders us from becoming the Apostolic people God has called us to be?

  1. Our unwillingness to take ministry beyond the four walls of the church. The sacred vs. secular life.
  2. The hierarchical view of apostolic ministry. Ruling eldership is only one aspect of apostleship. The office of an apostle is currently recognized mainly as a top-tier title of authority within established works, rather than a ministry commissioned for pioneering or for instigation.
  3. The comfort of contemplative Christianity. It’s easier to think about change, preach about it, write about it, than to affect it.
  4. Limited view of ministry. Ministry, to most, is a three-point sermon and an altar call. On a great day, we’ll pray for someone, or operate in a spiritual gift. Ministry in the marketplace will require more than this. We must grow into hearing God for divine business or governmental strategy. We must be healers of more than individuals. We must learn to heal companies, businesses, systems or even nations. We’re thinking too small.
  5. Unwillingness to send sent ones. We take the best and brightest among us, in the church, and anoint them for the pastorate. If they have a grace for leadership, we call them into five-fold ministry, when God might be raising them up to take another mountain. Who knows, but the next governor might be in your Sunday School, right now.  The next president of the school board could be in your youth group. We take the most articulate and well-received, and conscript them to pulpit ministry. What if their ministry is “secular” in application?
  6. We don’t realize the potential reward. We have faith for a Heavenly reward based on church attendance and volunteerism inside the church. The greatest potential for apostolic growth, in the here and now, is based on what we do “out there.”

In closing, Apostolic people are marked by the Apostles they are aligned with. They, too will exhibit the characteristics of the Apostolic ministry they submit to (as outlined in the “Apostle” acrostic of the prior post.)

A – Affiliate.

They will affiliate with other businesses, civic groups, public outreaches, etc… for the dissemination of Kingdom ideas.

P - Power.

Their words will carry power. Whenever they speak in matters of business or civic duty, authority will be conveyed.

O – Order.

Apostolic people will be sent into (employed) in places of darkness and chaos to bring the order and light of the Gospel.

S – Signs.

The greater works will be done by their hands. As proof of their heavenly call and backing, signs and wonders will manifest bringing them great favor and notoriety in their work.

T -Teachers

They will become apt teachers in their mountain of influence. People will gather to them to learn their higher ways of operating.

L – Leaders.

Leaders will be drawn to them, and raised up by them. They will install and train people who will reinforce Kingdom ideas in the marketplace.

E – Entrepreneur.

The genius of the Holy Spirit will birth new businesses and wealth generating ideas through them. They will not only make wealth, but become employers or stimulators of economies.

 
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Posted by on December 16, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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Characteristics of an Apostle

14 Dec

As the year 2012 unfolds, you can expect to hear much on the topic of the ministry of the Apostle. The next couple of posts will be centered on the year 2012 and the governmental Apostolic word that Father is breathing. Friend, we have not heard all there is to hear on the office of the Apostle or on what it means to be an apostolic people. My ear is pressed close to Father’s heart for fresh vision in these areas – as I’m sure yours is, too.

Before pressing forward, we must be certain of foundational truths concerning the office of the apostle. May this article be somewhat of a refresher on the characteristics of that office. Of late, this title has been granted all too easily. Alarmingly, “apostle” has trended more secular in application – encompassing anyone who demonstrates governmental authority in realms outside the four walls of the church. Depending on which teacher you follow in the prophetic/apostolic community, you might define an apostle in any number of ways. As will be described in the coming posts, I hold to the idea that there is a definite office of apostle as described in the New Testament. That office is demonstrated scripturally within the organized church government. An apostle will raise up apostolic people who manifest apostolic qualities in every realm of life. These apostolic people will rise in governmental authority wherever Father sends them. Whether or not they are officiating “apostles” in the true biblical sense of the word will depend on certain criteria.

The title apostle comes from the Greek word (apostolos) meaning a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders. An apostle is a pioneer, one who is destined to build in terra nova, or rebuild in places of desolation and ruin. Let us rehearse what we see apostles demonstrating in scripture in the following acrostic for the word APOSTLE.

A – Affiliated.

A true apostle will affiliate with other apostles and with other ministries within the church. The first twelve apostles remained affiliated after the birth of the church. In Acts 8, Philip the deacon held a successful revival in Samaria. The apostles in Jerusalem heard about it and sent both Peter and John to look in on the move. They discovered that Philip had not been praying for the new believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. As a team, they imparted what was lacking. Apostles confer with one another, and work together for the benefit and growth of the kingdom. Those who refuse to network are not demonstrating true apostolic behavior.

P – Power.

Paul wrote in 1 Cor 2:4, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” According to Strongs, this refers to the dynamis power of the Spirit of Jesus present in Paul’s preaching style. There is something dynamic about the preaching of an apostle – which reminds the listener of the authority of Christ.

O – Order.

An apostle creates order, in a fledgling work, or in an existing work that is dealing with a spirit of chaos. Ephesians 2:20, “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” The spirit of wisdom and counsel that operates in the apostolic mantle creates order – which is foundational to building any lasting work.

S – Signs.

2 Corinthians 12:12 “The things that mark an apostle–signs, wonders and miracles–were done among you with great perseverance.” Perhaps, the most significant mark of an apostle is the ministry of signs that corroborates his or her office and kingdom mission. Many have assumed the title of apostle, but fail to consistently demonstrate the miraculous.

T – Teaching.

2 Corinthians 12:1 “I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.” Apostles bring revelatory teaching to the body of Christ. The epistles are written chronicles of revelatory teaching which came through the first apostles. Such revelation is given to establish the Kingdom in places of darkness. The teaching of an apostle is the key to undoing specific enemy strongholds and to expand the borders of the church.

L – Leaders.

As builders and founders, apostles have an anointing to identify, mentor, and mature leaders. Acts 6:6, “They presented these men (who would become deacons) to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” A large part of their ministry will be geared to instilling and developing leaders within the body of Christ to manage Father’s household. The true apostle will also mentor men and women leaders in the community as the Lord grants them great influence beyond the walls of the church.

E – Entrepreneurs.

The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker in Acts 18:3. He joined Acquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, and made tents alongside them for his own maintenance. (In other words, the ministry could not fully support him at that time. He had to financially rely on his secular trade.) Interestingly, this was not the only time Paul worked to support himself during his Apostolic ministry. We have record that Paul worked outside of the church to support himself and others as an apostle in Acts 20:34 and again in Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 3:9-10). Apostles aren’t afraid of hard work, neither will they shy away from secular work, considering it “beneath them”. Because of the entrepreneurial anointing that resides in the apostolic mantle, often they will bless and mentor other businessmen and businesswomen.

We must be cautious before titling one as an apostle. A label cannot lend credence when it is cheaply given. More tragic than the misnomer, is the abuse of God’s people. Those who follow a misnomer will only become disillusioned and disheartened at the waste of their resources and time.

Although the call to the office can only come from The Apostle, and chief cornerstone – it will be easily recognized by these marks. We all, however, are called to be apostolic people – who will demonstrate great signs in the days ahead. More on that in the coming post ;)

 
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Posted by on December 14, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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Three Baptisms

31 Oct

Dear friend,

I trust the beginning of Ayin Bet (5772) has brought you new vision for your home, both spiritually and naturally speaking. Yesterday, I shared a word in my home church that I felt might be a blessing to you. It’s called the Three Baptisms, and is now available on demand at the link below. Avail yourself and feel free to converse on the topic by replying to this post. Blessings!

Video: Three Baptisms

 

 

 

 
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Posted by on October 31, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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Mixing the Wheat and the Tares

07 Jul

Being in the world, but not of it – is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Some factions of the church have defined “being separate” as withdrawing from worldly interaction, when at all possible. However, this stands in direct conflict with the way Jesus operated in His daily, earthly ministry. Christ, Himself, operated in direct violation of our modern interpretation of 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.” We see throughout the gospels how the Lord spent time eating in the homes of drunkards and sinners, mixing with the undesirable and godless. The conflict between the two, I believe, is reconciled in Jesus parable on the Wheat and the Tares.

Jesus shares the parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13:24-29. He later interprets the story for His disciples in verses 36-40. Because of its familiarity, let’s jump right into the Lord’s interpretation.

“He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

After weighing the words of Christ, here are some thoughts to entertain about the wheat and the tares.

1. The field in the parable is the world… not the church.
2. The weeds or tares are the unrighteous. The wheat is the children of God or the true church.
3. The harvest or separation will happen at the end of the church age, when the Lord returns and the unrighteous will be separated and destroyed.
4. The good seed is the message or truth of the Kingdom or the eternal message of God’s sovereign rule with and through His people.
5. The Kingdom message came first, before satan ever sowed the first tare.
6. The Kingdom message will stand in the end. The tares have a set appointment with the angels.
7. Until that appointment, the wheat and tares will co-exist.
8. There is little differentiation between the wheat and tares, until the time of harvest or maturation.
9. The tares will produce no fruit, while the wheat (fully-matured) will bear kernels of grain. To the uninitiated onlooker, this presence of kernels (or Kingdom fruit) alone will separate the true from the false.
10. The wheat can do nothing to remove the tares from the field. This is Heaven’s responsibility. We are powerless to rid the world of evil, but are extremely capable of producing Heavenly fruit that distinguishes us from the false.

Oh, how we have tried to separate the wheat from the tares! However, our best efforts and discernment falls short every time. On that great judgment day, we will be shocked at who is removed and who remains. Only the fruit bears the truth. Sequestering the “church” in order to preserve its holiness presents problems, galore. Within the sequestered, a tare or two (or three) will crop up. Only God can know the heart of another, and is fit to judge between the wheat and tare.

Also, the call to be in the world but not of it, is the call to be sown in the field, but produce the fruit of another kingdom. This we can easily do in the presence of tares. The fruit is a witness to them of the power of the Christ-life. While this parable does not address evangelism, our fruit may win over the tares in our proximity, and cause them to cry out for nature change.

May we concern ourselves more with fruit production, than segregation. Let’s leave the harvest to the angels and get some kernels about us.

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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