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3. Spiritual Gifts – Stairways To Heaven Or Hell

In the first century before the New Testament was written the church understood Jesus had  left planet Earth. It believed Jesus was sitting at the right hand of God and another like him had come to take his place – the Holy Spirit. He would be the teacher, guide and empower now -this is why the first believers wrote things like, “the Holy Spirit said” or ” listen to what the Spirit says to the churches”. It is not that Jesus is no longer Lord or the Holy Spirit is trying to take over, it is that there are differing roles in the Trinity and now it is the Holy Spirit’s turn to be God with us too.

Spiritual gifts or ‘spirituals’ – (things of the Spirit) are mentioned in Paul’s writing “First Corinthians – Chapter 12″. He speaks of 9 spiritual’s and the New Testament mentions 27 in total. It is very important we know our gifts, know how to use them, and keep developing them. Our gifts are essential but not sufficient to get us to heaven – remember Judas raised the dead too. He mixed the holy Spirit with wrong desires and actions and it cost him his place in heaven; Ananias and Saphira also mixed a gift of generosity with deception and it cost them their lives too. Clearly, spiritual gifts are important and…dangerous; they can take us to heaven or hell.

Here is a short talk on spiritual gifts. Spiritual Gifts – Stairways Heaven or Hell

 

2. The Way Up Is Down – A Key To Spiritual Maturity

This weeks insight from the time before the text combines Jesus method of maturing and the teaching of Paul.
How do we spiritually grow when it seems so hard at times? It can be one step forward and ten backwards – very discouraging.

A missing key in Western Christianity can be found in the early church’s teaching on how to overcome growth barriers.

It works like this…
1. Christ has measured to each person a metron of grace (we get ‘metronome’ from this word)- Ephesians 4. 7. Maturity, or spiritual growth, is to move towards the potential of Christ’s grace as he has measured it to us.

2. We do this from the same way Jesus did – ‘he placed himself in order under’ Mary and Joseph or, he obeyed them. (Luke 2. 51) In doing so he grew in favour with God and people. Would you like to experience this too?

3. Using his method Ephesians 4: 2,3 encourages us to do the same – to obey, to set ourselves in order under the Spirit of Jesus and to practise humbleness, gentleness, patience, as well as bearing with and bearing up one another.

As we do this we will find we become spiritually stronger, more in control of our emotions and willpower, more sensitive to God, and having more power

in casting off Satan’s temptations.

Here is a short talk on this topic…The Way Up Is Down -A Key To Spiritual Growth

Be blessed this week and don’t forget to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power….
Gary

The Early Church’s Godvironment – series of 6.

The Way To Spiritual Power.
There is much soul searching in the Western church at present concerning the nature of Christianity and how we can know what it is for sure. In the time period before the church had the New Testament this topic was never the issue. Our spiritual ancestors knew who they were, what to do and how to do it. What were those secrets now seemingly lost to us? I call it the Godvironment – the zone or place of life in which we now live. Paul calls this unity with the Spirit.

Simply said, our spiritual forebears understood Jesus had really left the Earth and that the Holy Spirit had come down. This is why we see NT references to “the Holy Spirit said” or, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit”. Learning to live with the Holy Spirit as God who is present is one of those early spiritual insights which the church had.

In Ephesians chapter 4 verses 2 & 3 Paul teaching it:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep unity with the Spirit through the bond of peace”.
In other words, a great secret to personal spiritual power is relationship with Jesus Spirit. And the only way we can enter our personal destiny and not be ashamed to look Jesus in the eyes one day is by strong unity with his Spirit. Here is how in verses 2 & 3:
1. Practice humility.
2.Practice gentleness.
3. Practice patience.
4. Bear up and bear with each other.

These seem such small things, almost trivial compared with the great work of ministry we are called to. However, the way up is the way down and the way to receiving our own is to be faithful in the smallest and littlest things. In fact, it is in these areas we learn to apply and grow in our spiritual power – for if we cannot manage our own hearts in these things how can God entrust greater things to us?

Link to talk on GodVironment Series – Living In The LifeZone

How To Journey With God

Hi everyone, this weeks message is about moving on…and how to make sure we do it with God.

Click here for the short talk  How To Journey With God

God does not want us to stay the same old people we have always been but wants us to change and grow and be full of new life just like plants and trees. There is our initial coming to God when we meet Jesus for the first time, but there are also many mini journeys or new seasons after that. To help us on our way God has promised to give provision, protection and power – which we love!

Yet, the primary journey and most important thing is not just to receive those things but it is to know him and his ways. As we learn about and experience him the other things will come into place too. In fact, the essence of spirituality is just that – to learn about him as a person and to learn his beautiful, wonderful and amazing ways. Doing this opens us up to a most and satisfying and enjoyable life. It is truly astounding!

Listen here: How To Journey With God

How To Use Your Spiritual Sword

Hello everyone, this weeks post is about the “sword of the Spirit” referred to by one of the earliest spiritual leaders called Paul.

(( Short talk: How To Use The Sword Of The Spirit ))

He taught his followers they had a spiritual sword to use against powerful spiritual strategies designed to rob us. The best way to understand it is to see it in action – when Satan was tempting Jesus. Satan has a sword, empowered by his spirit,but Jesus sword is empowered by the Holy Spirit. This sword is the word of God – spirit empowered quotes from the Bible or Spirit originated words from our own human hearts. Jesus used both and both were effective.

The key is to sense when our faith or person is being pressured by the Enemy of our souls and to then hit back with Bible quotes or simply determined prayers or declarations which are consistent with God. By using our swords like this we can defeat spiritual attacks or schemes aimed against us and walk in freedom and victory.

Click here for the short talk: How To Use The Sword Of The Spirit

2 Tips For Cleaning Our Spiritual Environment

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2 Tips For Cleaning Our Spiritual Evironment

The first is something to believe; the second is something to do.

You would know we live in two environments – natural/spiritual. But did you know there are two spiritual environments? One imparts the beautiful life giving spiritual air of Paradise. The other is a lethal polluted spiritual smog imparting spiritual death. The aim is to live in one and avoid the other.

The Apostle Paul lists spiritual toxins  at Ephesians 4. 25- 31 Telling Lies; Anger; Stealing; Unwholesome talk; Bitterness; Rage; Brawling;Slander; Malice. There are dangerous spiritual environments. Hebrews 6. 4 refers to one which a group of people found spiritually toxic. “ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, if they fall away, to be brought back again…”

Something to believe – new on the inside.   It is very important for those forgiven by God to believe God has made a brand new spiritual person on the inside. This spiritual truth is both a firm foundation and a new hope for building a new life. It also enables me to escape an endless cycle of spiritual rehabilitation, trying to make my old self better … instead of enjoying & growing the new inner person that I am

Something to Do – filtering out toxins.  As part of our re-creation God placed a spiritual filter in the new person. It is made of a newly enlightened mind & a newly empowered will. It enables me to make better decisions by filtering out the bad stuff, and filtering in the good things our spirits need: like speaking truthfully, sharing using wholesome words, being kind,  forgiving, imitating God,  living in love.  

To Close – The apostle is talking to church people at Epheses and by extension to us as well.

We might think some people at Ephesus were prone to these spiritual toxins b/c of the toxic sp environment they came from. Yet, we all do these kinds of things at times; it simply requires circumstances to bring out our less then flattering sides.

By learning to believe I am brand new on the inside,  by filtering out the bad and filtering in the new we can learn to clean our sp environment so our new spirits can be healthy. 

Short Talk 2 Tips For Cleaning Your Spiritual Environment

 

There Is Something About Stephen

What was it?

That he was the first Non apostle to demonstrate Jesus ministry model, showing it was  transferrable – from Jesus to the apostles; and from them to others in the church?

That he was the leader of the group of 7 deacons?

That he He is full of God’s grace and power and terrifically  effective?

Was it his tremendous grasp of the Bible?

Was it that he was the first person to die for Jesus?

Was it his his impact? Before Him life for Jesus people was business as amazingly usual; after him nothing was ever the same again for the church?

None of the above explain Stephen’s special something – for it was wisdom. The very thing that saw him promoted into the Group of 7. Wisdom

 None of the above. Stephen’s special something was wisdom. This quality is first in Jesus gift list at Isaiah 11. 2; first in the Church’s gift list at 1 Corinthians 12. 8; first at Creation (Proverbs 8: 22-31); first in Pauls disciple making (Ephesians 1. 17).

Paul tells us all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus (Colossians 2. 3); and that to have this wisdom from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2) is to have the mind of Christ.

You will find a 10MinTalk here: There Is Something About Stephen

 

When God Has Something To Say… He Tells A Prophet.

Based on John 6. 14

One of the great spiritual questions is, “How does God communicate to us”?

One important way is by prophets – people gifted with prophecy. This applies to many people but in particular to those called to the office of prophet. It is like God has a telephone from Heaven to Earth; he is at one end and a prophet is at the other. God then trusts the prophet with his words.

Such words can be about the future or present. This aspect of earliest church life should not surprise us for we find prophets in the Old Testament. The New Testament mentions them as foundational for Jesus church. See Ephesians 4. 11 following for more details, along with 1 Corinthians 12. 28 following.

Perhaps what does surprise us is their presence today. Nothing in the Bible can be found to show their office was only for the early church. One reason the Church has lost ground in society is because it has lost the prophet and his or her living connection with God.

A key to restoring the maturity of the Church is to restore the prophet – to hear God’s words and to hear how to proceed. Amos 3. 7 reminds us: “Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets”.

For a TenOrLess talk check this link : When God Has Something To Say

Jesus Unexpected Leadership Style

1. Jesus had an unexpected leadership style.

Compared to Noah – who led a great project.

Moses – who led a great migration.

David- who led a great military expansion.

Paul – who led great church planting journeys.

In contrast Jesus went up a hill & sat down… to teach.

This seems like leadership lite?

Yet, as teaching was his preferred style it is the exact answer to shepherdlessness.

2. Why? Because of his unexpected teaching content. He said, ” The words I speak are Spirit and life”. That is, they can create spiritual life in humans because they are full of God’s energy and life. His brother James said it this way: “he chose to give us birth through the word of truth”. This shepherd shepherds with words because they can impart spiritual life to people- if received.

Lastly, Jesus spent time training people to shepherd this way. The Apostolic A Team (the 12 Apostles) and the apostolic B Team were both sent out to “preach the kingdom, raise the dead, cleans lepers, heal the sick & drive out demons”. This shepherding with words is seen in the early church when the Holy Spirit of Jesus entered the mouths of humans again. Peter speaks and 3000 people are newly created; instantaneous healing is received by the crippled man through words – spoken by Peter and John.

3. Our unexpected ability to make good things happen by speaking.

We can begin today – so start practicing and learn the lessons from your Mentor – Jesus Holy Spirit, as you train to make good things happen by your words. The key, as usual, is to be good soil for his training words, and to let him shepherd us into this spiritual skill.

For a LessThan10 talk on this topic click the link below…

Jesus Unexpected Leadership Style

Views From A Prison

From the time before the text…a message about the view from John the Baptist’s prison.

He sent Jesus this message, ” Are you the coming one or is there another one…?”

Jesus answers John with a view from his own prison….

Views From A Prison