Grace for your Heart

According to the old Wild West story, this note was found with the body of a prospector in South Dakota:
 
  "I lost my gun. I lost my horse.  I am out of food.  The Indians are after me.  But I've got all the gold I can carry!" 
 
The ministry of Grace for the Heart has a special love for pastors and missionaries and others in vocational Christian work.  We often communicate with people who are worn out "working for God."  They have little joy, less love, but great zeal for the work of the Lord.  Many are in positions where they can't admit that they are discouraged, frightened, or just plain worn out.  They push on with the work because they think that somehow it must matter.  After all, someday God will notice – right?
 
But along the way they lose the sense of call, the blessing of walking with Jesus in the work.  They may have planted a church, spread the gospel, translated the Scripture – and they believe that these things are "gold" in their accounts – but they have lost their "lives" in Jesus.  It is no wonder that so many suffer serious depression and long to leave the ministry. 
 
There is such a thing as "zeal without knowledge."  Hard work, serious dedication, faithful devotion to the wrong things.  It is important for us to remember that the Pharisees were zealous for the things of the Lord.  They worked hard to do everything just right, living by the letter of the law.  But when Jesus came, they failed to recognize their Lord.  In all their work for Him, they forgot Him.  They not only lost their love, they lost their joy as well.  They became picky, self-serving, and elitist.  By working hard for their own righteousness, they missed the righteousness God provided for them in Jesus.
 
  1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.  4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  Romans 10:1-5 ( NKJV )   
 
Zeal is not a bad thing, but be zealous with understanding.  Paul laid aside everything for one goal, to know Christ. (Philippians 3:8) He understood that knowing Jesus, walking with Him, would allow everything else to fall into place.  If you are discouraged after working hard for God, stop and just seek Him.  The work is His and He will move it forward or end it as He sees fit.  You can trust Him.  But if you lose sight of Him, you lose everything that matters.  You may have lots of spiritual "gold", but no real life!
 
2009 offers a chance for change.  Drop everything and run to Jesus!  Find in Him the life you long for.  In Him are peace and security, happiness and fulfillment, love and acceptance.  Then ask Him what He wants you to do, not for Him but with Him.  Be zealous to know Him and to enjoy your relationship with Him.  The rest will fall into place.  This is how believers can get so much accomplished while resting.  They rest in their relationship with Him and walk with Him as He does His work.  Churches still get planted, the gospel is still shared, and the Scriptures are still translated.  The work gets done because it is important to Him; but the strength, energy, wisdom, and other resources all come from Him.
 
Obviously, this isn't just a message for those in full-time Christian ministry.  We all need to remember that our joy and peace, our purpose and fulfillment, is in Him.  Whether you are a homemaker, a teacher, a factory worker, or whatever – your life is found in Jesus Himself, not in His (or your) work. 
 
Our prayer for you is that you find all of this in Him and that you learn and enjoy the blessing of His grace in your life.  Have a blessed New Year!
 
David Orrison
www.gracefortheheart.org
 

 

Wayne's World...(25Dec08)

 

In Christ alone

 

I met a lady yesterday who said, she has no problem with the virgin birth of Jesus. She said it was easy to see how God could use a virgin woman to bring the savior to the world. What she said she simply could not have faith for was that God found 3 wise men. heeehee 

 

My goal is that you would know why Jesus is celebrated world wide today.

 

Let's begin with this awesome piece of scripture.

 

Slide 1 and 2

 

Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12giving thanks(Or patience, with joy giving thanks)  to the Father, who has qualified you(Some manuscripts us)  to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by(That is, by means of; or in)  him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church.

 

He is the source of all strength and power, according to His glorious might. He is the source of all endurance and patience and joy. Everything about Jesus is dripping with joy, because God is always in a good mood. God is incredibly good, all the time. He is pure light, perfect in every way. Through Christ we not share in that light. All the characteristics of who God is become our very inheritance. As children of the king of light we inherit power, endurance, patience and joy.

 

When we believe in Jesus were catapulted out of the kingdom of darkness, into His kingdom, where he rules, where we stand as beloved sons and daughters.

 

Slide 3

 

12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God

 

How awesome is that we become children literally born of God. If someone should ask God  "who is that", he would say that is my son, my daughter, born of me, my very own.

 

We call this the fathers heart, His every thought toward you is good and loving.

 

Slide 4

 

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church.

 

Here we see that Jesus was before all things. He created everything, and by Him everything holds together. This also places Jesus as the ultimate power in the universe. There is no power higher than Him. Now as believers we are in Him. This places us above every power principality on the planet. The bible says "as he is so are we in the world", and he said about us His disciples "as the Father sent me, now send I you". We need not fear any evil, no demon, no power, we are free of the fear, and free of any hold of evil. The one who created all things dwells with me.

 

Now the bible uses this strange language to describe what happens to us when we become Christians. Christians are spoken of as being "in Christ". 386 times the bible calls our position as in Christ. Basically it means if you could see the spiritual realm, you would see every Christian as being in Christ. This is how the devil, his demon, the angels and the father see us…as in Christ.

 

This was the work of Christ. This was His goal. This is why he came, this was the fathers Gift to us. That we would get to be "in Christ".

 

Many don't realize the fullness of what Christ accomplished in His life and death.

 

Many don't realize the far reaching effects of the Gods master plan. Many think that when you become a Christian God forgives all your sins. That when you become a Christian you have the advantage of having your sins forgiven.

 

Now it may shock you to hear that all the world sins are already forgiven! Are you saying that every person in the world has their sins forgiven…well let's see what the bible says.

 

Slide 5 scriptures

 

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

 

 

 

1 John 2:2 z He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

1 John 2:4

 

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

 

 

So the sins of the world have been propitiated….what the hang is that?

 

Propitiation is one of the most magnificent words in the English alphabet…

 

Slide 6 Propitiation

 

From Systematic Theology By Wayne Gradum

 

"Propitiation (Gk. hilasmos) here means "a sacrifice that bears God's wrath to its end and turns it to favor,"

 

This means that when God was offended at the sins of man, when it cut to His very core and stirred His anger and wrath, driven by love, a sacrifice was made by Jesus that satisfied that wrath to its end…and now where there burned wrath, there now burns tender affection and love. Total acceptance, and the removal of every barrier that separated us. Now the way is open for all eternity for those who will come in.

 

It means that I deserved death, and Jesus got it in my place, now I receive forgiveness, and the very favor of God. I'm made right with God. I'm an eternal son, accepted forever.

 

So I love propitiation, it's my favorite word in the world!

 

2 Cor 5:19 in Christ God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,

 

God himself has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. Every sin you have ever committed, or will ever is marked as a transgression, and God is not counting them against us.

 

Does this mean that everyone is saved and going to heaven. No!

 

But you will essentially not go to heaven for your sins, but for not believing in Jesus.

 

In order to receive your salvation you must believe in the one the father sent. Jesus.

 

Remember "to those who believed in Him, he gave the right to become the children of God".

 

Slide 7

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 

So there remains condemnation to those who will not believe in Jesus.

 

But if you repent of your not believing in Jesus and, believe in Jesus, you will be saved.

 

And where there is condemnation for those who believe, you never again fall under condemnation as a Christian.

 

Slide 8 Romans 8:1

 

Once we are Christians, there is no longer condemnation or fear of judgment. Not in this life or the life to come…This means that were not to live with any guilt and shame. Any living with guilt or shame as a Christian, means that you've not understood what it means to be a Christian.

 

Slide 9 1 John 4:17

 

1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

 

There is one more treasure I would like to quickly tell you about.

 

This precious salvation, is jealously guarded by Jesus Himself. You see there was an agreement made between the son and the father. The son promised the father that he would not loose one of all who come to Him. That means that Jesus protects your salvation. He protects you from the world, evil and yourself from destroying your "in Christ". Being "in Christ is irreversible", Jesus is guarding you. The one who we said earlier holds all things together, by Him and in Him.

 

Slide 10 John 10:25-28

 

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

 

Once we are in Christ, we are part of His flock He is the great Sheppard. Nothing can ever snatch you out of His hand or the Fathers hand. His belong to the one who is greater than all.

 

Friends we have much to celebrate when we think about Christ's birth, and all it bought us.

 

Outside of Christ, there would be no light, the world would be very different.

 

If you believe in Jesus, let your heart rise in love and be proud of Jesus, and all He did.

 

Friend if you have heard this and you have not decided to change your way of thinking, please make today the day you receive your salvation, and decide to become in Christ. All you have to do is repent of not believing in Jesus and say, Jesus I believe in you, forgive me for not believing in you. Thank you for you death in my place. I receive my son ship, I receive your love. Thank you Jesus.

 

Here is a prayer you can pray:

 

Jesus I accept your sacrifice. Thank you for dying in my place for my sins. Thank you that you paid the price for every sin I ever committed. I'm sorry Lord. I choose to believe in your love. Please forgive me for not believing in you. I repent for not believing in you. I chose to believe in you. Thank you for the invitation to become your son/daughter. I come in Lord. Thank you for your love, and for the way you made for me to become "In Christ". Thank you Lord. So be it.

 

In Christ Alone

 

by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

 

IN CHRIST ALONE my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

 

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Thankyou Music

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

Thank you Jesus for who and where I am.

 

May our wonderful Father bless and keep you.
May He make His face to shine upon you.

Grace and peace to all my family and friends.

 

Love

Gregg

Building with Brad...(24Dec08)

Building with Brad

 

As I have gained revelation of the amazing grace of our God I have been challenged with the words " beyond your walls". As I have understood grace I have realised that apart from freeing us it does two other things:

 

It compels
It empowers

 

The freeing grace of God compels us to tell others about Him and empowers us to live a life that reflects and demonstrates His glory. How can we hold such a message and be filled with God the Spirit and not be moved to get out into the streets and nations? This message and the power of the kingdom inside of us by the Holy Spirit cannot be held within our walls, it is not for local consumption. If I am so freed by revelation of my position in Christ, surly others need to hear this message as well. We cannot sit around in our churches if we have gained this revealed truth, if we have understood the mystery of the gospel, Christ in us.
 
I would like to just clear that motivation comes from "the place of already being" and not from a place of "trying to get to". If there are believers that are motivated by the desire to earn anything from God, be it His love, His pleasure, His blessings, His anointing, His Spirit etc. by going out, then they need to be stopped and taught about the grace of God first so that they do it out of a place of knowing their position and not out of works.
Some may say "Paul never taught that people need to go out preach and demonstrate the kingdom". To that statement I would like to answer with these two statements: 1. Paul preached grace but he did model going. How would he be able to preach grace and demonstrate with "extra-ordinary miracles" across the then known world if he had not gone beyond the walls. 2. We are disciples of Jesus and Jesus gave us instructions to "GO". He said in Matt 10: 7-9 " As you go, preach this message: the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons". Matt 28: 18-19 "... All authority has been given to Me. Therefore go..." Mark 16: 15 " He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news... Verse 17 ... In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues,... They will place their hands on sick people and they will get well". Acts 1: 8 " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses..."
Those are just a few scriptures that show that it is on Gods heart that we are a people that go beyond the walls.

 

My experience as I have understood Gods grace in its freedom is that I have got to know my Father and my Lord Jesus in a more intimate way. I have also become more intimate with the Holy Spirit who is in me. I have had revelation of what a wonderfully loving God we have, yet how Holy and Perfect and Righteous He is. But in this revelation I have experienced such freedom  and I have experienced the power of God moving through a human being, an unworthy, dirty Bluff boy, that it has compelled me to take this gospel both in proclamation and demonstration into the community, the city and the nations, to tell others about our wonderful God and to model the life of Jesus being manifested in me by the Holy Spirit- " How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him"

 

This has been resonating in my spirit. I want to take this amazing message of Gods grace and tell others about Him; and with the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us only because of our standing in Christ, heal those who have been oppressed by the devil.

 

The sign of grace in our lives is that we live free, that we are compelled an empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell others about our God and show others His glory.

 

God Bless,

 

Bradley Dearlove

Wayne's World...(21Dec08)

How to read your Bible part 5

 

Confidence

 

Wayne Duncan

 

To the degree that you lack confidence in any area of your Christian walk, is the degree to which you have not had a revelation of what Jesus has done for you in that area.

 

To the degree with which you live with shame or guilt is the degree to which you have not understood the bible.

 

Any reading of the bible, or any teaching that removes your confidence in any area of your Christian walk, needs to be adjusted.

 

These are radical statements. But the wonderful thing is that Jesus did something radical for the Father in the power of the spirit, that bought us this confidence in which we now stand. There was no easy way and no cheap price.

 

Now the enemy would love to convince you that this glorious freedom and power is not available to every believer. He defiantly want to convince you that your not worthy of confidence. He would love to convince you that you are not good enough, don't do enough or have not performed well enough to have confidence in the various areas of our lives. If he, who is the father of all lies can succeed in this…he can succeed in incapacitation you…if he can deceive enough Christians in this…the enemy can incapacitate the whole church.

 

The Devils ministry is the ministry of death condemnation, and shame. He lies!

 

What happened when Adam and Eve sinned. They became ashamed of their nakedness. Satan was delighted. For the first time there was separation from God. Man hid. Not God. Why... shame! God still sought them out "Adam Adam where are you"…they were hiding. What did God do in response? He killed an animal and made them clothes to hide their shame. Gods natural default setting is perusing us in love, wanting to be near to us. He wants us to live with zero shame.

 

Now where we loose confidence we loose faith. Faith is a big deal, its important  to have and keep faith. Faith in who God is, in His very nature. God is good.

 

Where could we loose confidence?

 

1)      We could loose confidence to approach God in intimacy.

 

2)      We  could loose confidence to pray.

 

3)      We could loose confidence for ministry.

 

4)      We could loose confidence in who we are.

 

5)      We could loose confidence in our salvation.

 

6)      We could loose confidence is Gods goodness.

 

7)      We could loose confidence is Gods power.

 

Now any reading of the bible that undermines your confidence, must adjust to who God is, and who you are in Christ.

 

Let's begin today with Confidence before God.

 

Friends, if we loose this we loose everything! If we let the revelation of the open heavens diminish, we cut off our very life line. This is the source of sustained life, power, intimacy and sanity. It's the only way to live! Life without regular encounters with the living God is short of the Christian inheritance as sons and daughters.

 

 Hebrews 10:1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? 3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Consequently, when Christ(Greek he)  came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 8When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when Christ(Greek this one)  had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." 18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19Therefore, brothers,(Or brothers and sisters)  since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

You really need to go and meditate on this awesome chapter. It is rich with life and promise!

 

This passage tells us that we have been sanctified, made holy. We are made perfect in Christ and we need no further perfection. Now we need to see this and settle it in our hearts. We have been made perfect in Gods eyes. He no longer holds our sins against us. He does not remember our sins.

 

Verse 14 says

14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

 

This means that we are not complete in our growth and maturity, but in our spirits, and in Fathers eyes we are perfect forever! For all time we are made perfect. The reason is that when God looks at you, you are in Christ, so God sees Jesus. The perfect Jesus. We are in Him, God sees us through the blood of Jesus perfect forever, for all time. So when you approach God, in worship or in prayer, you can be bold, at peace and confidant. We don't live under a God who is angry and mad at us all the time. Even when we fail, and fall he still sees us as "in Christ" and perfect.

 

While we are being sanctified, which is the process of maturing as a believer, he sets an environment of love and acceptance, so we can approach the throne and find strength, we then release who he has made us to be. He has powerfully positioned us for success.In fact we cannot grow as christians, we cannot mature, we cannot be ongoingly sanctified apart from God. He is the only avenue to maturity.

 

This is grace, and it does not make us sin. This grace removes the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, and restores confidence before God, it restores, love intimacy and releases a spirit of worship through an attitude of wonder and awe at who God is and what he has done driven by His great love for us.

 

What else does this chapter  say?

 

18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19Therefore, brothers,(Or brothers and sisters)  since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful

 

Listen to the language of these verses…

 

There is forgiveness, no record of sins, we have confidence to enter, by a new way, a living way (Jesus), let us draw near…how…with full assurance of faith, with no conscience of evil, as those washed with pure water, not wavering but trusting that all this is so…not because of us, but because Jesus is faithful…wow

 

Our hearts seem to need constant and strong assurance that we can come to the fathers chambers, just as we are. This is why the author of Hebrews under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit uses strong encouraging language to reassure us of this awesome truth. We can come, draw near, with full assurance.

 

When we begin to live from this place of assurance, we begin to live as those who often, freely come before the father of love and light. The place where we receive so much. In His presence is fullness of Joy.

 

What will we find before His throne?

 

Hebrews 4:16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

At His throne we will find mercy, grace and help for whatever we need.

 

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. That Jesus got in our place on the cross.

 

Grace is getting what we don't deserve. The privilege is through the opening of the new covenant, we get treated better than we deserve!

 

23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful

 

This verse says do not waiver in your confidence…this promise has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God, and He is and will be faithful, faithful to receive you every time you approach Him.

 

The fact of the matter is that when God is being faithful here, the fathers primary faithfulness is to Jesus. Within the sweet society of the Holy Spirit, there was a covenant made whereby Father set demands for Jesus. If he perfectly filled these demands, it would create a way for man to be unconditionally accepted based on Jesus' fulfillment of the demands of the contract. Jesus was meticulous to the demands of the covenantal agreement. Finally in a breath, he cried out it is finished! Our confidence is outside ourselves. The reason we can approach with such confidence is that our permission is granted from an out side source. Our approval comes not from any man, nor ourselves. We have been made perfect forever by another. He now calls us in. He now draws us with the sweetness of who He is. He cannot reject us! To reject us, to deny access into the glorious richness of His presence would be to break the contract with the Son. God would have to become unfaithful and dishonest in order to do this. He cannot do this, He is God, perfectly holy and righteous. Just and true. Jesus kept His part, He was faithfull and now the father is bound by His oath not to reject us for all eternity, He cannot and will not turn away from us or deny us access into His glorious presence.

 

The awesome thing is that by His own great love the Father wrote the rewards of the contract. From the foundations of the earth God was wanting an unrestricted way to relate to His creation. His great love he had predetermined this day. Jesus said "for the joy set before me I go to the gross"…This is that Joy. The we can enjoy Him and He can enjoy us.

 

God is bound by His oath. But God did not bind Himself to the oath for His sake but for ours. To assure our hearts of a great salvation, true and solid. To assure us of an accesses never denied.

 

Since we have these promises friends. Since we have a loving God that has cleared every obstacle to Him. Let us draw near. That was the goal. Don't wait for heaven to enjoy eternity, start now, your already living forever!...

 

Come friends lets draw near!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News Flash re my CD 'Deep is Calling'

 

Hi Everyone!

This is a quick update on the progress of the Album.
Due to a printing glitch in JHB, the arrival of the CD has been delayed. However we have been promised that by latest, Tuesday 23/12/08 we will have the CD Available for purchase. (We are hoping for Monday.)

Purchase price is R120-00
Look forward to sharing the experience with you!
lots of love
Mich

God is good - Bill Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3AQkKZTgag

Building with Brad...(14Dec08)

 

Hebrews 4v1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.[a] 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
   "So I declared on oath in my anger,
   'They shall never enter my rest.' "[b] And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."[c] 5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
 6It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
   "Today, if you hear his voice,
      do not harden your hearts."[d] 8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

 

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account

 

I read this scripture as I have many times before but this time something became alive to me. I realised that many believers don't find rest, they are always trying to do things 'for God' and in their trying they are never satisfied and they feel God is never satisfied. With this trail of thought they strive even harder and push those around them harder to 'please God', they are looking for rest and satisfaction but never find it.
We can be doing so much, seeking out the sick, preaching the gospel, looking for the demon possessed, visiting hospitals every week, feeding the poor etc. These are all good things that I believe we as believers should be doing, but even in doing these things we are not satisfied and we find no rest.
The question is: Why do we not find rest?

 

I believe this scripture has a few keys as to why we do not.

 

"because those who heard did not combine it with faith."   'Without faith it is impossible to please God', the reason for this is because without faith in the finished, atoning sacrifice of Jesus we will inevitably add in some of our own efforts. If we do not believe that it is finished in Christ then we will always be adding in our bit to 'help' Him get the job done. If we live trying to assist God to finish that which has already been completed than we will never be at rest.

 

"...did not go in, because of their disobedience."  The word here for disobedience, in Greek, means unbelief. I think it is because of their disobedience in unbelief that they are not able to enter into the rest that God has for us in Jesus. Let me put it this way: If we do not believe that the work has been completed in Christ, and God has told us not to add any of our flesh ( human effort) to His working, and we do not believe that the work is complete then we will try to add our effort, which is disobedience, since God told us not to. Put another way we could say: That we are disobedient to what God told us, in that it is finished, by adding our efforts, because of our unbelief. 

 

"for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his."   In order to enter Gods rest we need to rest from our own works, it cant be any more clear than that from this verse.

 

We need to make only one effort, the effort to enter into Gods rest. I would like to add that Gods rest is not sitting for the rest of our lives on a sofa. In Gods rest we are seeing the sick healed as we are out there laying hands on them, we see people free from demons, we see people come to Jesus as we preach the Gospel etc. We are however not doing this out of us striving from a place of 'have to', but out of a place of 'we can'.
If we are having to force or strongly motivate people to do these things then the chances are they do not understand the incredible grace of God, because  in the understanding of Gods grace and our place of rest in Him we are empowered and motivated by the Holy Spirit to function as Jesus did. Jesus said " as you go, preach the kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons", the emphasis has to be on "as we go", as we go do what? As we go about our daily lives, to work, to school, to the shops, to the beach, on holiday etc. As we live in Gods rest, as we live by the Spirit, as we yield to the Spirit, He will open our eyes and ears, He will guide us and show us those around us who need that touch from God.
We do it from a place of rest and not a place of human effort or self induced striving.

 

God Bless,

 

Bradley Dearlove

Wayne's World...(14Dec08)

How to read your Bible Part 4

Battling isolation and independence.

 

Wayne Duncan

 

After this preach check out these passages.

 

Eph 4:1-25                  1 Cor 12          1 Cor 13          Rom 12:1-18   2 Tim 1                       

 

Any theology or mentality that a person develops from reading the bible, that's leads to thinking that gathering as believers is unimportant, or unnessary is deception.

 

The simple truth is that Father has always purposed that love, growth and maturity be worked out in a loving safe environment of a spirit filled family.

 

The simple truth is that when you are you to me, I am better off.

 

The simple truth is that when I am me to you, you are better off.

 

"The solution to abuse is not non use but correct use"…Rob Rufus.

 

This remains unshakable…

 

All we will even need is already inside of us. The fullness of Christ is already deposited in it's full measure within each of us. We are already co-seated with Christ in heavenly places. God had given us everything we need for life and for godliness. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living and active and at work within each of us. When we became Christians God gave us a new nature, we became new creatures, the old died and the new became alive. That new me is complete and powerful. I can access His glorious presence at any moment, instantly. His power and love are always available. This is certain and unchangeable. It is finished there is nothing left for God to do.

 

So the question arises…why do we need each other?

 

Why do we need church?

 

Well perhaps we can answer the question by asking a few more questions…

 

Do you see the fullness of who you are, and who God has changed you into manifest in your everyday life? Do you see the dead raised on a regular basis? Do you experience signs wonders healings and miracles on a regular basis? Do you have a consistent joy? Do you live in perfect peace? Do salvations follow you? Are you the best dad you can be, are you the best mom you can be? Are you the best parent you can be? Do you get lonely, do you ever need help or friendship?

 

Is every person in your church or home group or ministry arena perfectly well in body, soul and mind?

 

So what's up? We are discovering who we are, what he has done , and what he wants done and then spreading that to others.

 

The big question. Can we achieve this in isolation? Can a person reach total maturity in Christ apart from others?

 

I believe it's dangerous ground when we think that we've arrived. When we look in the mirror and say "I am there, I've arrived".

 

When churches say…were there we've arrived! Trouble will follow. When individuals say, I don't need anyone else…they are in trouble! Pride comes before a fall, but God gives grace to the humble.

 

So as we grow, and develop who we are, as the revelation of what it means to be sons of God develops…God will use people.

 

How does God use other people?

 

Well before we get too spiritual here, God places people in our lives simply to be friends! People who simply love us care for us, and walk the road of life through thick and thin. Friends we can share our successes with, and laugh about our failures. Friends who cheer us up when we are down, and unexpectedly bring light to this journey called life.

 

When you break life down into it's bare essentials all life is, is…where you were, and who was there!

 

God uses people to grow us.

 

God has placed within each of us "uniqueness". There is something that you do better that anyone else in this room. Within each of us is a god given gift that can help another person realize who they are in Christ. You have something that will help me in my journey and possibly accelerate my growth experience. As we offer up these gifts, we grow eachother. As we surrender to each others god given gifts, we ourselves grow. If we deny ourselves this natural interchange of shared lives, we deny ourselves a great grace. God had graced each of us with wonderful abilities. As those gifts are let loose on eachother we accelerate growth in eachother.

 

Let me give you an example of this…

 

A year ago as a church we were plodding along, fairly contently…

 

We responded to a call from father to go to Honk Kong and learn how to transition a church into a higher degree of presence and anointing. We went, the result of being exposed to people with gifting was an instant and radical acceleration into the glory of God. Miracles increased, healings started, presence magnified and the church was changed forever.

 

In short, God used people with gifting to change this church. This is what he does. God uses people to effect change on the earth. He uses people to minister to eachother, and he gifts people through grace to change churches, which are simply gatherings of other people.

 

Now the truth of the matter is that all we have has always been available.

 

The message of grace. The anointing, the presence, the power, the glory, the signs and wonders, the prophetic, the open heavens…it was always there, it was always available. God used people, who:

 

1)      Were prepared to share there lives and gifts with others..

 

2)      Who had positioned themselves to grow in God, and from others

 

3)      Changed the hungry.

 

Friends I have to clearly and simply state that I would not be where I am today without the glorious work of Jesus in me. That work includes in no small way, the Father using people!

 

I have friends who have stopped me from doing stupid things. I have friends and fathers who have encouraged and inspired me to go beyond myself. I have a wife who had caused me multiplied joy, and careful guidance.

 

Let me tell you why I believe in the theology of grace…

 

A friend of mine Gregg Booyens, loved me enough to pursue me in argument and deliberation for 8 months. He would challenge me with scripture after scripture. Eventually the lights began to come on. He gave me Robs teaching to listen to, I consulted other teachers…the end result. Friends and father changed me.

 

The love of a brother and friend, the gifting of a teacher, the anointing of the apostolic, a plable life all coming together in a glorious cocktail of change. The God of glory working his magic.

 

Positioning ourselves to receive from each other, to exchange the graces upon our lives, positions us for accelerated success.

 

I'm grateful for the people in my life who share this journey with me. Walking and learning and growing. I'm determined to have people in my life who will content with me and for me.

 

People prepared to stand and support my inheritance, people who will add fire to the calling on my life. I've determined too to live as one who will throw fire on the lives of others. I've determined to fan into flame the hope of those who position themselves for increase.

 

So I live with a hunger and a determination. I hunger for more of Him, more of His glory, more of His presence. And I'm determined to release the grace upon my life onto and into others.

 

As we read our bibles, we read through the lens of God uses people to help us know who we are, to release and grow revelation, to fan into flame what God has done to us and in us. Read through the lens that God wants who he has changed you into, to impact those around you, in the most meaningful way imaginable.

 

We were created to share our lives on this journey of Him loving us.

Antidepressant...(14Dec08)

iBethel.tv // Feeding the flame

http://www.ibethel.tv/

Steaming from Bethel.

Something from Suzy...(1Dec08)

 

Hey guy's

 

Click onto this link www.dynamicministries.com 

Go to Home page and this is a MUST guy's!!

Try & listen to Sunday services of  23rd and 30th November'08 ... THEY BOTH ARE NOT TO BE MISSED !!!

 

Livestreaming TV ... and it is only Grace and Goodnews!!!

You can watch live broadcast or you can go to "on demand" and watch anything of your choice.

Please forward this link to EVERYBODY, and let us get this wonderful message of life out to the world. Have a preview as the site is still under construction ...In Feb'09 it will be 100% complete .. and hopefully you will be able to watch people like Joseph Prince, Rob Rufus, Bertie Brits, Alan Spielgel, Arthur Meintjies, Francois du Toit, Marnus etc etc ...All ONLY Grace preachers.

 

Lots of Blessings .. IN CHRIST

Suzy