Wayne's World...(30Sep09)

"Laying on of hands"

Wayne Duncan 

Laying hands on people and praying with faith for a transference and impartation of power and presence is a part of the normal Christian experience.

Hebrews Chapter 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

Here the laying on of hands is listed among the elementary doctrines. It's part of the primary school concepts of Christianity, and an essential ingredient in order to move onto maturity. If we want to be well schooled in ministry, we have to graduate to fuller understanding in this area.  

For the receiving of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

They had heard the Gospel, and believed it, but had not yet received the promised Holy Spirit. By the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit was received. 

There is no age limit.

Matthew 19:13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Jesus showed that the laying on of hands is also for children. There is no junior Holy Spirit, only one Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Children, I want you to know that you have the power of God in you, just like Jesus did. You can heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and encounter God in powerful ways if you believe in Jesus.

The children were brought to Jesus, so he could lay His hands on them. Jesus not only endorsed this act, but taught us that we can learn from these little ones.

Simple acceptance and faith in totally part of the laying on of hands. There is as aspect of humility in receiving ministry from others. Children simply come to receive. We should also have a simple faith that says "I want to receive".

The Holy Spirit is for everyone.

Acts 2:15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.(That is, 9 A.M.)  16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

There is a blessing.

Mark 10:16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

When hands are laid on you, you are imparted a blessing.

There is healing.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Here we see healing by the laying on of hands.

Please see the promise here. These signs will accompany those who believe! This is the only qualification. If you believe in Jesus you can do this!

There is power

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you

It was extra ordinary.

Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit

Something very profound was released over the believers through the laying on of hands, why did Simon want this ability? First look at what Simon already had, and what he already could do.

9But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." 11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic

What the apostles were seeing through the laying of hand s was more that what Simon had, more than what he could already do. Simon wanted to buy this ability in order to mkae4 money.

Look at what Simon's inferior ministry could produce:

Magical results.

Amaze all the people.

All paid attention, smallest to greatest.

Had great power.

Has great reputation in the City.

People paid attention.

All were amazed at the constant results.

Now the apostles through the laying on of hands were producing a superior ministry of signs and wonders and power. Simon was so blown away he wanted what the apostles had, for it was superior.

That same ministry is now every believer's inheritance. We can release and receive it freely. 

Releases gifts.

II Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  

Many various kinds of gifts can be imparted and received.

There must be an expectant faith.

I Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands

There must be an expectation, a faith that something will happen. There is a holy and supernatural element to the laying on of hands.

We need to engage our receptors, and realise that we are receiving through a mere person, but from God himself through that person. If a person has no desire for God, and no expectation to receive, no desire to receive, then laying on of hands would be wasted. Don't be hasty with people like this.

The laying on of hands is a sacred, special gift to believers. Let's pray often, receive often, and enjoy every benefit this powerful ministry has to offer.

To deny yourself or a community this elementary experience, on a regular basis would be to deny a great source of power and joy.

 

Wayne's World...(28Aug09)

Some of my thougts on Heb 12

 

One of the reasons i changed from NIV to ESV is that NIV says God punishes us, where ESV says chastise, as does KJV thats quite a huge translation error in the NIV!
 
Chastisement is a loving father teaching, training and instructing us. Another definition is child rearing. This is for our strengthening, preparing us for hardships of life and maturing.
 
ESV Study Bible Commentary
 
Discipline (Gk. paideia) was a common term for childrearing through instruction, training, and correction;
 
Yes Father corrects, trains and instructs us. He does not punish us, for He punished Jesus in our place.
If Father punished us for our wrongs He would have to punish us everyday! That would not be good news! But if we are in permannat training thats good news for then we are constantly being strengthened, and our effectiveness will grow untill we die. This training is in the context of the new covenant, where our sins are not counted against us, where His throne is approachable, where He has qualified us for ministry and where we can do all things thoguh Christ. It's important to remember the backdrop of Hebrews 8, 9, 10, 11 before we go to chapter 12. The backdrop is all the great promises and the new covenenat.
 
Some say Hebrews 12 menas God can give you cancer and sickness to punish you and teach you? Does this hold up to new covenenat promises. Remember in Isaiah 54v15If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
God does not cause us strife in the new covenant!
 
WHEN there is strife, He will turn it to our advantage! What the enemy purposed for evil, the Lord will use for Good. But the evil is not from God!
17no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication(Or righteousness) from me, declares the LORD."
So Hebrews 12 for me is such a classic example of how we need to see every scripture in context. Every scripture comes in a passage, a chapter, a book and a covenant!
 
Some maintain that when you are being disciplined, God stops blessing you? Well does our disobediance undo the Abrahamic Covenant? Meaning do we loose the blessing when we sin? Well did Abraham? No. We are also chidlren of Abraham.
 
Hebrews 10:
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
And in Romans 4
7"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Well Does God count our sin against us or not? Are they covered or not?
Or sins are covered and they are clearly and scripturally forgiven.
 
On that canvass of security the Father is training His sons, correcting and leading them!
 
Wayno
 
I'd like to add that the main way he teaches and corrects us is by showing us who we are in Christ, and by the conviction of the holy spirit that we are righteouss.

Wayne's World...(23Aug09)

Law demands, grace enables.

Wayne Duncan

We can achieve now under grace what was never possible under the law.

Not only did the law set a standard that no one besides Jesus could ever keep, but it did not lift a hand to help. The law and commands with the many requirements demanded much but provided no means, no power to effectively do what it so adamantly demanded. Law demands. No matter how well you do, the law always confidently asserts "I demand more". And because the law is the law, and God gave the law, which is perfect,  the law is always right, which makes us always wrong. The result is a pending condemnation, and certain sense of failure.  At times the condemnation will be to much to bear and we will resort to a false righteousness called self righteousness. A false sense that we are meeting the grade. Then scriptures like James 2:11 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it, sobers us back into reality, and the law does what it is designed to do. The law being a composite whole, declares us guilty at every failing no matter how great or small, making our every success a failure. This was the purpose of the law, to stir up sin, to crush us and kill every self righteous notion we may have.

But thank be to Christ Jesus, who rescues us from this by fulfilling the law, thanks be to God who cancelled the law, with its demands and legal requirements at the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

This staggering act of Jesus on the cross cancelled those legal demands that stood against us.  

Grace enables.

Obedience to the law could never set you free.

Acts 13:39(ESV) Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything 39from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

What could we not be freed from?

Condemnation, and a conscience of evil. The law could never produce a residing sanity in our relationship with God. This old way required perfect obedience that would only produce a temporary confidence before God.

Hebrews 9 contrasts the old covenant and the new covenant the opening words of the chapter are... 1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship...it speaks about the old covenant. The writer then goes on to say something that should attract the attention of every reader.

8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. 11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come then through the greater and more perfect tent ( not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant (ESV) 

There is so much here, but one thing it teaches us is that the old covenant was inferior to the new covenant. That the blood of goats only provided temporary covering for sins. Jesus blood provides a permanent residing forgiveness.

Why is this so important?

The old never cleansed the conscience. It left you always feeling guilty, unworthy and sin conscious. We now have a clear conscience before God. He does not want us to be sin conscious, that was the role of the law. Now He wants us to be righteousness conscious, for that's what are, and how He sees us through the blood of Jesus.

The glorious new covenant provides a cleansed consciousness and a constant pronunciation from God that we are righteous, pure and holy before him, for we believe in Jesus. Guilt is now gone!

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes

Its not just the removal of the law, but the replacement of something infinitely more effective and powerful.

14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God

Grace enables. We can do now what we never could do when we were stuck in dead works, which is trying earn the love acceptance, and favour of God. You need a clear conscience if you want to serve God effectively.

Now that we know we have the love acceptance and favour of God, we can believe for the power needed to live a supernatural life.

Galatians 5:18 (ESV) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  

We now can do what we never could under the law. We now have a new nature, that is righteous, wants to please and serve God, and has the power to do so. Every believer is placed in Christ, and the same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in you. You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Its done its yours. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

What do you want to do? What do you want to see? How do you want to be used? It's yours.

What do you want to change, what patterns, strongholds, destructive habits, addictions?

The change is certain and possible, for you are in Christ, the disqualifying accusations of the law and its demands are removed, and your qualified for every good and perfect gift from the father. 

Living with a residing confidence will keep you confidently entering into greater degrees of His presence. Every time we encounter the presence of God we are being refreshed, we are being strengthened, we are being changed from one degree of Glory to another. Every time we are filled and refilled with the presence of Holy Holy, something is happening to us, and we come away with a greater revelation of God. A greater revelation of His love and power and will. Every time we encounter the person of the Holy Spirit we come away more aware of our righteousness, and more aware of who we are, for the Spirit points to Jesus. Jesus always points us to the Father, and there we will always find love and acceptance. At the throne we always find help in our time of need...His throne is the throne of mercy and grace. This is all part of the normal Christian experience.

Grace makes it all possible. Grace says its all ours freely through belief in Jesus. Grace qualifies. Law disqualifies. Jesus has qualified you.

Colossians 1(ESV) 11May 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

He has strengthened you.

He has given you patience and joy.

He has qualified you to share the inheritance.

You are a saint of light.

He has delivered you from the kingdom of darkness.

You are in the kingdom of the beloved.

You have been redeemed, one and for all.

You have been forgiven. 

You are positioned for victory and superior effectiveness in life.

 

 

Bertie's in the house

Bertie Brits will be in town at the following

venues and times:

 

Place: Salt Rock.

Date: Saturay 29 August.

Venue: Salt Rock Country Club.

Time: 09h30.

 

Place: Northway Church.

Date Sunday 30 August.

Venue: Northlands Girls High School.

Time: 09h00.

 

Hope to see you there.

 

 

From the mouth of babes

A couple in our church Darrly and Janine, have a two and a half year old daughter..Kaitlyn. Kaitly prayed for someone with a wart of their finger ...now the wart is falling off!  wow
 
Raise up and release 5he children Lord.
Imagine a generation who know who they are in christ from such a young age!!!??
 
Wayno

Heads Up

Hi

 

Just to let you know that Ant and Les will be in Port Alfred this

weekend ahead.

Catch up with them at The Station fellowship and around town.

 

We will be meeting at the Salt Rock Library opposite the Salt

Rock Beach at 19h00 on Thursday evenings.

 

To date I have not received any testimonies of what Jesus is up

too in your lives.

Please send these to testimony.goodnews@gmail.com

 

That is good news.
Love

Gregg

Wayne's World...(16Aug09)

Relational Wholeness

 

Wayne Duncan

 

I'm going to be talking about relationships today. Not because were weak in this department, but because this is part of the superior reality we want to be anchored in. We want this to be a place of health and wholeness. At the centre of health happy communities, are good strong relationships. To be clear were not doing this preach to put out many fires, or to address many issues. Of coarse at any time in the life of the community there are a few relationships under pressure. That is normal. If this is helpful for those situations, great. What were really wanting to do, as we establish a desired culture for us and the next generation, is to build relationships of wholeness on this foundation.

 

Relationships are at the heart of life. If I could tell you about something that would position us to be in whole relationships in our lives at every level, would you be interested? If we grasp this revelation, it will help in every relationship you have. Think about the multi layer forms of relationship.

 

Between you and God. Between friends. Between spouses. Between parents and children. Between work associates. Between other family members. Between church folk. Between people of influence (mentors, pastors, apostles etc)

 

Relationships affect every area of our lives. Were always going to be with, and around other people.

 

Learning to have good relationships, good friendships or the ability to get along with others, is such an essential ingredient to life.

 

Today were going to look at something that can help greatly in this area.

 

It's love, acceptance and forgiveness.

 

 

I also want to paint this as a back drop for what were contending for as a church. Last week I said were contending for a superior reality. Were developing a kingdom culture in the church. This lies at the heart of that culture. How do we relate to each other? How do we treat each other?

 

It's love and acceptance and forgiveness.

 

The good news is that when were born again, and given a new nature, the holy spirit comes to live inside of us and the result is that we love.

 

1 John 4V7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

 

Loving one another is easy, for this reflects who we are. God is love, and we are in God, and He is in us, so we too love. It's one of the evidences of being born again. In fact this is the fulfillment of the commands of Jesus and the law itself.

 

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

 

Romans 13v8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

"The commands of Jesus are a description of the way new human beings behave, who have been born again, and enabled supernaturally to the Glory of God" John Piper

 

If I love you I won't kill you. If I love you I won't steal your wife. If I love you I won't lie to you or cheat you. If I love myself I won't smoke, or do drugs. If I love God I won't worship other Gods.

 

Can you see how love fulfills the law?

 

Now were not saying prove your love, common, if you love God then…no that's a manipulation. Your motive if moved that way would be impure. A relationship built on this is never healthy. A pure way is I love, and as an overflow I behave.

 

Love is who we are. Loving comes easily, and all its fruit is sweet!

 

Two things that follow in love are acceptance and forgiveness.

 

We've purposed to be a church that accepts people no matter what. You're free to be you here without coming under judgment. If we do not create the culture of acceptance, then were creating a culture of cohesion and conformity. We can't say "be like me, or become like me, and then you'll be more accepted". We are all different, and the greatest gift you can be to the world is to be the unique you God created you to be.

 

How does God love us. Unconditionally, and all the time. What if we believe something that's wrong, well he still loves us, but wants us to change that belief. It's the climate of love and forgiveness and acceptance that creates that environment to change. The same is true for behavior. Does Gods love me if I make a mistake or sin? Yes, He still loves and accepts me, but he wants me to be free from that thing. But love acceptance and forgiveness are the ground on which that freedom comes.

 

It's the same with us. If we disagree with someone, or their behavior towards us, we need to create to atmosphere of love, acceptance and forgiveness. This will bring healing to the relationship.

 

When loving you gets hard.

 

Demanding love. Legalistic love.

 

This is a very dangerous environment that some create around them selves. It says I have certain criteria that I expect you to meet. In my mind when that list of expectations are being met, then I can believe that you love me.

 

This creates some serious relational tensions. Lets call this chap Mr Dam Manding.

 

Here is are symptoms associated with Mr Manding.

 

Insecurity creeps into his relationships, this is due to the fact that with Mr Manding, you never know if you are doing enough, you never know if your keeping him happy. Often the rules for satisfaction change…this creates really tricky relationships where you feel your constantly walking on egg shells. The result is that Mr Manding constantly feels unloved and un respected. Those around this person feel insecure. This also opens the door for manipulation and controlling others.

 

Mr Manding feels it's his right to demand respect and sacrifice from others, and if his demands are not met, he feels his rights have been violated. Now others are guilty of an infringement, and Mr Manding feels his offence is legitimate.

 

Its often subtle. Sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious.

 

We need to be so careful that we decide what love is and what it looks like.

 

If you do this….then you love me, if you don't, you don't love me.

 

This creates the environment for disappointment.

 

Mr Manding robs the beauty of giving. What do I mean. Well if I show you love, and give you relational effort. The attitude could be one of, "well I expect that, or I deserve that". The person is not grateful for the attempt to share love. This in turn makes the person who made the attempt at love feel rejected. This may result in a lessening of the attemps at love, which enforces the downward cycle, or upward performance pressure.

 

It's legalistic love and law crushes, and points out fault constantly.

 

These things can be present in every type of relationship in our lives.

 

In church, if you make me an elder, then you love me. If you believe what I believe, then you love me. If you visit me then you love me. If not you don't. How silly are these things.

 

Wife, if you do this. Husband if you do this…and we end up running around trying to please everyone to prove our love.

 

Mr Manding is actually difficult to love. We create rules and criteria. When someone does not measure up to those rules, hes become hurt disappointed. But if those rules and measures and controls were not there, there would be no hurt, and Mr Manding would be so much easier to love, and he would clearer see peoples attempts at love.

 

Here is a fact. Hurt and disappointment will happen in every relationship. That's normal in life. Love and acceptance, forgiveness reduce the frequency and the pain of those hurts.

 

How we respond when were hurt or disappointed is so key.

 

Listen friends we go through much unnecessary pain and turmoil by not having maturity in this area.

 

Question…what's the opposite of forgiveness…its offence.

 

I was thinking about this. When I think about people who leave church. If I think about people who become isolated. Almost without fail the problem was unmet expectations or offence. I guarantee you every relationship will have unmet expectations. I guarantee you every relationship will have the potential for offence, often.

 

Picking up offence is devastating. Holding onto that offence will cause all sorts of negative symptoms in our lives. It's just so much better to live in the freedom of forgiveness.

 

Offence is something we pick up. You see this bible here on the pulpit. I can choose to pick it up, or not to. When disappointment comes, and it will, we have to choice "to pick it up or not to pick it up" that is the choice.

 

When we now hold onto that offence, it's called unforgiveness. Unforgiveness releases negative power in our lives. That relationship is then affected. Offence has taken root. It's a dangerous root, that can produce negative fruit if not quickly dealt with. Now a stronghold, a fortress is present.

 

Symtoms:

In the church context unforgiveness blocks the receiving of the gifting on a person. What that means is our hearts don't want to receive what is being released. If your offended at a preacher, you hinder the revelation you can receive from preaching. If you're offended at a person who is praying for people, you may not come forward for prayer to receive. Even if you do you may be closed. Preaches who preach with unforgiveness develop a harsh edge. When you pray for a person you have not forgiven, your passion and sincerity is compromised. Can you see why it's important to build this culture of forgiveness?

 

Remember that it's just a matter of time before you will be hurt or disappointed. If we don't develop this forgiveness ability we can also get into unhealthy cycles. Some people go from church to church. It's always the same, they get offended, pick up offence, unforgiveness sets is. They say, "no we left the church for they hurt us" or "there was no love". I know people who have gone from church to church like this, but the root is immaturity in dealing with disagreement or offence, its unforgiveness. Some eventually just stop going to church. Here there is only one winner. The enemy. Here a person retreats into isolation. Isolation will produce dark and miserable fruit.

 

It's not only church. For some its friendships. An examination of life will find a long string of broken friendships. Or a person ends up with no friends.

 

Some people get offended all the time. I mean it's amazing. This is a destructive habit that will leave a person lonely and isolated. People don't like to be around people who get offended easily, it's hard work. Then cycles come again. You get offended all the time, so people avoid you. Then you get offended because people avoid you. So the cycles develop. All this can be stopped in it's tracks by embracing Gods freedom. Acceptance and forgiveness.

 

I mean its quite funny, I've seen this in every church I've been in. Someone gets offended because someone prayed for them Someone gets offended because someone did not pray for them. Someone gets offended for the way someone prays for them. People get offended when there is the presence of God, people get offended when there is not. People get offended when you preach to long, others want long preaches. Some get offended at slow songs, others at fast. Some want loud others soft. People get offended because the picture is fire, and not waves. You greeted the and not me. You looked at me funny. Some pastors run around trying to please every offence and demand, and the half die from exhaustion. But we are building a superior reality where people are healthy and secure, slow to anger, and slow to take offence. Love acceptance and forgiveness.

 

Friends were here to change the world by bringing the gospel of power to lost people. We've goto keep the focus that were here for others, to be ministers of the new covenant to a lost world. Becoming to inward focused, to "my needs" orientated, distracts from what's really important.

 

As a church we are not here to meet your needs. Were here to train and equip you to be powerful and effective in the world. Our needs are met in Him. Here we contend for the reality of who you are to manifest, so you will effect and infect every environment in which you find yourself.

 

Isi taught us about fortresses at the conference. Here is a fortress. "everyone in my family, school, church..dislikes me". This lie from the enemy is a fortress and believing it will cause you so see it, and live it. You will attract the negative environment you believe in.

 

Destroy the fortresses!

 

Were encouraged to forgive as God has forgiven us.

 

Colossians 3V12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 

as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive

 

How has God forgiven us?

 

Unconditionally, fully, permanently freely.

 

Knowing that we sin, but are forgiven by God, no matter what, tenderizes our hearts to act the same way. We are imperfect people making mistakes, but were forgiving and accepting each other.

 

So we purposefully purpose, I will love and forgive you no matter what. This breads a security. This breads a culture of strength and health. This releases Gods best over us. This releases sanity. This undoes relational anxiety. This releases peace and joy, and sweetens fellowship.

 

This makes you a person people want to be around. Its produces a healthy cycle, I love you so I want to be with you. Then your good to me so I like you more and enjoy the environment more. This is light, this is life. Some of you are like this, everyone wants to be around you. Your always happy, never offended, always embracing and accepting, you attract people like a moth to a flame.

 

Does love and acceptance  make us soft. No. If someone is repeatedly doing something to hurt us, we can tell them. We can tell then that it's not good. That is hurtful or destructive. We can ask them to stop. But we forgive. If they do not stop we still forgive. If they still don't stop, we may even leave the relationship, but we forgive.

 

Acceptance of a person does not mean you just accept their every belief and behavior. But rejecting their belief is not rejecting them. Rejecting the behavior is not rejecting them.

 

Let's say someone joins the church. They want us to believe that there is no born again event. We would disagree, we still accept them but we disagree. If they continue to proclaim that truth, we would refute it. We still love and accept them but we refute it. Eventually they would leave, or be asked to leave. This is not rejection of them. We still love and accept them, but not their belief.

 

Let's say someone joins the church and starts sleeping with all the single ladies. We will talk to that person and bring correction. We will love and accept them. If they go on and on, we would put them out the church. Outside of that type of dramatic repetitive unrepentant sin there is total love and acceptance. In fact this would be love.

 

Ok so here is a quiz..

 

Which is better, option A or option B

 

a)      Pain, hurt, offence, unforgiveness, bitterness, insecurity, rejection, anxiety, stress and isolation.

 

b)      Love, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, joy, fun, togetherness, health and friendship.

 

Which is better a or b?

 

Lets abandon every offence, be slow and difficult to offend. Lets let go of every claim we feel we have to be offended and carry unforgiveness. Freely we have received, lets freely give.

 

Lets purpose to be slow to anger, abounding in love, gracious and compassionate, patient and loving to each other and to a dying world. After all this is who we are.

 

Living as those who are free, living in the freedom of forgiveness will release such joy and peace and contentment over our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Louisa...(14Aug09)

Hi everyone, 

 

So glad the blog is up and running again, after a bit of a lull. Like the good news emphasis too! 

 

It's so exciting to be part of what God is doing at the moment. What a change from the doom and gloom of a few years ago… 

 

Recently God has renewed in me a hunger and thirst for His presence and for meeting with other like minded people.

 

I feel this describes me-As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? - Psalm 42; 1-2

 

In the Old Testament the presence of God was mostly felt in the Temple. But now I ask 'where' can I go and meet with God? 

 

In the beginning of this born again again experience, I was content-with me and God-and what an amazing time I had filled with many different wonderful experiences. BUT now Psalm 63:2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory! I keep on thinking Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84:10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young-a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:1-4 

 

To me dwell speaks of not just a quick in and out, but an extended period of time-in His presence. 

 

At the moment it seems there is a greater dynamic and depth of the glory of God, when people meet together. I have experienced and felt the presence of God more than ever before, in church, conferences and smaller meetings. Even casual get to gethers where God and His doings are discussed, outbreaks of His glory and His tangible presence occur. Much more so and differently to when I'm alone.  

 

I'm not sure if this will always be the case, but for now I'm so hungry for God's presence I long to be in His presence and if that's where people meet, then that's where I'll be.

 

What a change from hating the thought of going to church….

 

I'm convinced that the more we learn and experience His glorious presence and power the more naturally we will live in it. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things in your house, of your holy temple. Psalm 65:4

 

Lots of love

 

Louisa

 

Back Healed

During our Sunday evening meeting, Les was praying and

prophesying over me.

I felt the Holy Spirit's presence all over me, moving me

from side to side.

After the prayer, I felt like a million bucks, but an added

bonus is that the back ache I had been experiencing the

previous three days was gone.

 

God just thought it was a good idea.

Thank you Jesus

 

Love

Gregg

Letters from Les...(12Aug09)

The Glory River

 

Peace is like a mighty river flowing down from the thrown.
As it rushes over us it demolishes strongholds, pushing down walls.
It unearths the secrets of Gods heart deposited in us and unveils the foundations of the temple, which we are.
It comes with a loud crashing of the heavens, letting earth know its Master.
It shows no favourites, it holds back for no man.
It thunders, it rolls from the heavens and embodied in it is all the gifts of the heaven.
It wipes away the shallow plans of the enemy.
It gives strength to the weak and feeds the poor in spirit.
It tells no lies.
Who can this river be?
But the great I am.

 

Letters from Les...(12Aug09)

I had a vision of a white stone, like a cobble-stone, smooth and white and it was in the hand of God.
Each stone had a persons name written on it.
I saw God breathing on these stones and as he breathed over them, big white butterflies flew out, they just kept on coming out.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said that just as caterpillars become butterflies so his ongoing glory to glory keeps transforming us, we are his Glory that covers the earth. I saw the breath of God keep blowing and transforming us from Glory to Glory.
I saw the Lord keep blowing and blowing, the more he blew the more the Glory filled the earth.
As the coble stones paved the streets of heaven so are we his glory in all the earth.

Something New

Hi Everyone

 

We are keen to share some thoughts on the direction we see Grace in Flood

going for the next little while.

 

The idea is that Grace in Flood be a platform from where the Gospel (Good News)

is shared. Where people are encouraged by the goodness of God.

There are many sites where sharing of opinions have just turned into bitter arguments

or an outlet for hurt.

I would like to encourage you to spend time at those sites if those are your motives.

 

For starters we want to continue posting teachings from Wayne at Coastlands,

and include teachings that we have at our fellowship, Northway Church.

 

Next we have asked Ant, Les, Louisa and some others to post their revalation,

prophetic words, and thoughts etc.

Thirdly I want to have a Revelation 19v11 approach.

"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

We want the world to hear what Jesus is doing in peoples lives.

We want you to tell how Jesus has healed you physically, emotionally or mentally.

How has he provided for you lately?

So send all your testimonies to testimony.goodnews@gmail.com.

 

Love

Gregg

Wayne's World...(9Aug09)

Contending for the superior reality of the Gospel.

 

Wayne Duncan 

 

We need to carry the soberness of the awareness that we are constantly establishing a culture in everything we give ourselves to. Were contending for a superior reality for the church. Were contending for a church that will be more that what we are, were contending and partnering with Jesus to build a church that demonstrates who God is and who we are as a result of the finished work of the cross.

 

Every church has a culture…

 

Every church has a belief system…

 

Every church has a flavor…

 

Every church has a theology…

 

How did the church get these things?

 

What we release into the church will bear fruit into the future. Now that includes good and bad seed.

 

Day by day, week after week, month by moth there is a steering, a guidance of the church. Years later there is a place, a result.

 

Much of what was pronounced over the church has lead to a decrease in power, and an incapacitation of the average believer. You tell someone year in and year out that they have a sinful nature, they will believe it and become it. You tell people they must work to be accepted by God, they will believe it and eventually become discouraged, never entering the rest. You tell people they must qualify for the anointing, they will believe it and strive. Generations of faulty pronunciations has left the average believer disillusioned, weak, miserable, unconfident, striving, immature, disconnected and powerless. But praise God there is a Gospel revolution, and Jesus is rescuing His glorious church by bringing us back to the Gospel, and our inheritance through the finished work of the cross.

 

So we carry the soberness of the reality of ensuring that what we sew into the life into the church results in a preferable culture. We cannot be dictated to by the current culture, we cannot accept the current culture as a place of satisfaction and arrival, and we cannot commit the same mistakes previous generation made, we must learn, we must see by revelation what Jesus is saying to the churches, and make the relevant changes.

 

In this time Jesus is strengthening His church in the world and raising Her up to be the most powerful force in the earth today. To the churches who hear His voice at this time, there will be a partnership that arises that will effect and infect every corner of the earth with the Gospel of freedom and power.

 

So what culture do we want in the church?

 

What are we contending for?

 

Here are a few things we have identified as part of the preferable culture, the superior reality we feel Jesus is calling us to. These things explain much of what we do, and were we are wanting to go in God. Were wanting to grow in these areas, and establish the superior reality of a normal church, for generations to come.

 

So here are a few things in no order of priority, and not an exclusive or exhaustive list.

 

We want the culture of the Gospel of truth, liberty and freedom preached, with a demonstration of power.

 

We want a culture of love acceptance and forgiveness.

 

Were wanting to see a culture of the Holy Spirit coming on people and changing lives.

 

Were building a culture where God presence is honored and desired above all.

 

Were wanting a culture of life changing revelation released over eachother.

 

A culture of signs wonders and miracles.

 

Were contending for a culture of growth in people, growing into the fullness of Christ.

 

Were contending for a place of safety.

 

Were building a culture that transcends Sundays meeting.

 

Were looking for a culture of authenticity…

 

A culture of salvations.

 

A culture of maturity in the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by every believer.

 

A culture where every royal priest and king carries an anointing to minister and serve.

 

A culture where worship transcends words and music, but ushers in the Glory.

 

A culture of demonstration of the teaching.

 

A culture of openness to hear, learn and to change.

 

A culture of "we are well".

 

A culture of unity, were in one accord.

 

A culture of meeting in homes.

 

A culture of favor with all people.

 

A culture of honor.

 

A culture of dignity.

 

A culture of acceptance.

 

A culture of love.

 

 

We want the culture of the Gospel of truth, liberty and freedom preached, with a demonstration of power.

 

We want the truth that emulates from this place to be Christ centered, cross honoring gospel truth that has the power to change lives and bring freedom from every bondage there is. There are many false and fake Gospels out there. We want the real Gospel, and we want this to be a place of truth.

 

We want that Gospel to have accompanying power. We refuse to go to the world with just a book, and a message, but with power. Power ushers and promotes the preferable future.

 

Romans 1V16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith

 

Acts 1V8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

 

1 Cor1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God

 

John 14 The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

Jesus would say believe my message, and if you cant, then believe based on the miraculous works I do.

 

Today the church says, believe the message, and maybe one day there will be miracles. We need to get back to normal supernatural Christianity that has the power of God flowing through the veins of every born again spirit filled believer.

 

The good news is that that power is already there. Every believer has the power of God in them for miracles and healing and acts of power.

 

Jesus said:

 

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do

 

So were on this journey of discovering who we are. When we were born again, we were made new creatures, we were given a new nature, a nature that as Bill Johnson says "has the very righteousness of God flowing through our veins". As were transformed by the renewing of our minds, and more clearly begin to see who we are as a result of what He has done to us, we begin to see the power within us.

 

Our contention becomes to destroy every argument and pretention that sets it-self up against the knowledge of Christ. We demolish the demonic lies that disqualify us from seeing who we are.

 

This year God spoke to us clearly about seeing who we are in Christ, and we are learning.

 

That's why the Gospel of grace is so essential. The word clearly teaches us that God qualifies every one of us for ministry. God freely gives us everything we need fro life and Godliness. There are no levels, there are no favorites, there are no super hero's. Were all qualified, were all hero's.

 

Religion wants to disqualify you, legalism wants to disqualify you, lying demons want to disqualify you , but God has qualified you. Every one who believes is qualified!

 

2 Cor 3V4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us competent(Or sufficient)  to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

 

Who has qualified you…God, and what God has qualified, let no man disqualify!

 

You are qualified to minister life! You are the life and light of Christ. Everywhere you go you carry the power and presence of God. Arise shine for your light has come, and the glory of the lord has risen upon you. Jesus has qualified you, your life is now hidden in Christ, and You are in Christ. You have become a son. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. There is no condemnation for you. Every hindrance is removed. We used to believe that sin hinders the ability to minister. Believing that leaves every believer neutralized. For every believer has sin. God uses imperfect people to minister to imperfect people, growing us all the while.

 

Were contending for a culture where people be who they are. Be who you are. A righteous spirit made perfect forever by Christ. Hebrews says "you are the spirit of the righteous made perfect"…and "by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever…". We don't look to the discouragement of our condition, but to the joy of our position in Him.

 

Every contention flows from faith. If we need out perfection and performance to minister, we will loose faith every time we fail. But if our faith is in His performance on our behalf, we can have a permanent sustained faith that can produce superior results.

 

Imagine a Church that operates with this revelation. Imagine every believer having power flowing out of their every pronunciation of the Gospel. Who ever though it would be so simple all we need to do is preach the Gospel, and then watch God back it up with signs wonders and power.

 

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

 

All we have to do is preach the Gospel. Wow, and signs will follow!

 

I started by saying this We want the culture of the Gospel of truth, liberty and freedom preached, with a demonstration of power.

 

Preach the message, the Gospel, the Gospel of the glorious grace of God, and signs will follow. I'm not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation. For in it a righteousness is revealed from God! Preach the Gospel of righteousness by faith. When you believe in Jesus you are made righteous. You are saved, and now made right with God forever! The power of God is in this message of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf! Now God is with you and in you. You can do anything, all things are possible with Christ.

 

Were positioned for victory, when we preach the Gospel there is accompanying signs.

 

When we believe in Jesus there are miracles through who we are. Were infused with supernatural sanctified steroids. Now through the preaching of the Gospel, and the revelation of who we are in Christ, we will never be the same, the church will never be the same, and the world around us will be effected like never before!

 

 

 

 

Waynes World...(7Aug09)

check out this 5 min justification by faith teaching by Piper wow!

http://www.new-testament-christian.com/justification_.html

Price changes to New Nature books and CD's!

 

Dear all

Just a quick email to let you know that New Nature has decided to cover most of the shipping costs for each product to make the products more affordable to people. 

After all it's more about a message than a profit!

So please spread the news!

Also if you are really wanting any of the materials but are struggling financially at this time, them please send an email to enquiries@newnaturepublications.com and we will see what we can sort out. 

I will try and not send too many emails about New Nature, I know what it's like!!!! Please let me know if you don't want to receive anymore. I won't be offended!

Blessings to all!

Ryan Rufus

It's another boy

 

This is boy number two in the Booyens collection arriving early December