Live For Him Dangerously!

Wanted: Hazardous Men & Women

By James Ryle

www.truthworks.org

“Men who have hazarded their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 15:26).

Perhaps one of the greatest compliments ever paid one Christian by another occurred almost 2,000 years ago during a strategic meeting of the first disciples.

The spread of Christianity had been explosive, with new churches springing up all throughout the Roman Empire. The challenge of balancing dynamic growth with uncompromising quality was very real—and continues to be so today.

As the leaders in Jerusalem pondered how best to address this challenge, they chose two men to go forth with their blessings to represent Christ and His Gospel in the best possible way. They chose Barnabas and Paul, men who, as the record shows, “hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26).

They “hazarded their lives.” O that such a thing could be said of you and me today!

The Greek meaning is “to surrender, i.e. to yield up, entrust, cast, commit, deliver up, give over.” Inherent to the word is the idea of risk, especially in the face of danger. It means that another is now in control; another is now calling all the shots.

May I ask when was the last time you took a risk for Christ? Can others tell by how you live that your life has been “handed over” to Jesus? Wouldn't that be something you would want them to know. And more importantly for their sakes, isn't that something you would want to inspire them to do for themselves by your own example?

Hand it over. Your life, hand it over to Jesus and watch what He does with it.

Paul and Barnabas hazarded their lives for the name and fame of Jesus. Contrary to what one may think this does not mean to be reckless or irresponsible. While there is unquestionable risk involved in “handing over your life to Christ,” it is in fact the ultimate act of personal responsibility.

Biblical endorsement comes from Jesus Himself. “Whoever loses his life for My sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it” (Luke 9:24, Living Bible). If you hold on and try to keep it for yourself -- you lose it all. If you let go and place it in the hands of Jesus -- you gain everything.

So, what are you going to do?

Paul said, "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering.

"Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.

"Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1-2, The Message).

May your day be filled with God's presence as He leads you on the upward way!

The noble spirit of true disciples does not seek the pampered, risk-free environment of a lifeless faith. No! It begs for challenge, and cries out for significance! You and I were created by God with an inner passion to live a life that makes a difference. But this will not happen until we “hand our lives over to Christ.”

Only in His hands will we find the eternal security that emboldens us in this world to dare to think the unthinkable, to dream the unimaginable, and to do the impossible.

Like the songwriter said, we are those who “dream the impossible dream, fight the unbeatable foe, bear with unbearable sorrow, and run where the brave dare not go.”

We are those who will always seek “to right the unrightable wrong, and to fight for the right without question or pause; to be willing to pass into hell for a heavenly cause!

"And the world will be better for this, that one man scorned and covered in scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star—and to dream the impossible dream!” (from the Broadway Musical, Man of La Mancha, lyrics by Joe Darion).

Whether it be the fictional Don Quixote, or actual people that we ourselves know—we are faced daily with the stories of those who strive with all their heart to achieve the spectacular in life, or in sports, or in business, or in education, or in exploration. These individuals have hazarded their lives for the sake of career, wealth, fame, fashion, or glory.

Isn’t it time that we hazarded our lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Watch out for Bullies!

Back Row Bullies

By James Smith

www.preachit.org

They may not sit in the back row. In fact many times they sit closest to the front. Most would say they are “Faithful” as they seldom miss a service. They appear to be the backbone of the church. They pay their tithes. They dress right. They look right, but once you really get to know them, you find that they are the Back Row Bullies of the church.

These people all too often run the church. They decide who is going to do what. They decide how loud the music is and what color the walls of the sanctuary are going to be. Little happens in the church that they don’t know about and don’t in some great way influence the out come of. Theirs is a mission. Theirs is a job that nobody else will do. Without them they know that the church would fall apart. They are the Back Row Bullies.

No one is quite sure how they gained such influence. Maybe it has to do with the amount of money they gave at one time or even still. They may have family within the church whom they have great influence over. Their measure of sacrifice is probably great, but nonetheless, they are Back Row Bullies.

We all know what a bully is. It’s someone who pushes their weight/influence/resources around to cause you to do something you would not ordinarily do. Let me break that down a bit. You ordinarily would not put up with someone creating division in the church behind your back, but since they give so much money… You otherwise would not allow them to have the position in the church that they have, but because their influence over so many in the church is strong…

You would yank that person out of that class, office, position, platform in a New York minute if only… (You finish that sentence.)

When I was a child growing up on the playground I found that there is only one way to handle a bully. You have to confront him. You have to get right in his face with as many people watching as possible. You have to be willing to go all the way with this confrontation. You might get your lights knocked out or you might get a chance to see the bully cower, but win or lose, you are about to gain the honor and confidence of every kid on the playground.

Are you tired of being bullied? Are you exhausted with trying to keep the peace or to cast vision, only to have the Back Row Bully come along and stymie everything you are trying to do? When was the last time you preached a message that you were not concerned as to who it offended? When was the last time you removed someone from office without worrying if it was going to cause a church split?

Men and Women of God who are truly called of God and know it, do not care about bullies. Theirs is a mission from God. Their agenda has nothing to do with small minded politics or Back Row Bullies. They know that their calling and election is sure and no one and nothing is going to stand in the way of what God has called them to do. Either God has called them to that church or He hasn’t.

It’s Elijah facing off with Ahab and Jezebel. It’s Moses in Pharos court. It’s Samuel telling Saul he just lost his kingdom because he offered the sacrifice when he should have been waiting on the man of God. It’s men and women of God who declare ‘Thus Saith The Lord!”.

If you are going to face off with the bully of the church, you better be prepared to see them leave. You need to have fixed in your mind the possibility that they may do their very worst. However, many times, they back down. Most often still, the saints of the church have also grown very weary of the bully and will rally around anyone who will have the courage to accept the bullies challenge. You may find that the support of the church you have longed for, for so long, will be right there when you face off with the bully.

Don’t challenge this bully without prayer and intercession for their soul behind you. But don’t delay either. In delaying, you are giving them more time to hinder your effectiveness which will cause others to lose confidence in you.

Yours is a high calling. The approval you need does not come from any man. It comes from God alone.

Leadership

How Do You Demonstrate Leadership?

By Author Unknown

Fundamental principles underlie the thinking and conduct of all true leaders, and these principles are even sharply defined for leaders within the kingdom of God. From time to time those whom the Lord has chosen for leadership need to examine themselves in the mirror of thought- provoking maxims. These proverbs are designed to help Christian leaders move forward in administrative excellence.

• Responsible leaders do not make irresponsible statements.
  

• A godly leader speaks out of the presence of God.
  

• A humble leader never makes light of eternal truths, but esteems them with reverence.
  

• A wise leader resolves conflicts peacefully, not forcefully.
  

• An enduring leader withstands insult without anger.
  

• A wholesome leader is characterized by tolerance, which saves him from hasty decisions in crisis, and retaliations in the face of contrariness.
  

• The good leader attempts to make friends, not enemies.
  

• Dealing harshly with opponents causes more aggravation and hostility. A polite leader uses gentleness and kindness.
  

• A leader who listens well to his subordinates manages them well.
  

• The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before man.
  

• A devoted leader gives himself totally to the ones he is leading, helping them to develop their undiscovered potential.
  

• A patient leader remembers that people’s responses vary according to their nature, temperament, and level of development. undiscovered potential.
  

• A mature leader shows highest respect for others, irrespective of race or rank. undiscovered potential.
  

• A wise leader guards himself against the pitfalls of success, self-assertiveness and over- confidence. undiscovered potential.
  

• Broken promises quickly destroy confidence in leadership. undiscovered potential.
  

• A wise leader inspires and motivates rather than intimidating and manipulating. undiscovered potential.
  

• A weak leader retreats in the face of rising difficulties and loses the respect of his followers. undiscovered potential.
  

• Severe trials open the door to new revelation. undiscovered potential.
  

• The path of leadership is always lonely.
  

• The greater the leader the greater his fall when he succumbs to temptations. undiscovered potential.
  

• A teachable leader eagerly probes for truth learned by others regardless of their status. undiscovered potential.
  

• A relaxed leader relaxes his followers. undiscovered potential.
  

• The self-righteous leader lives in a cell made of blocks of deception, hypocrisy, and lies. undiscovered potential.
  

• A stubborn leader is a menace who cannot be trusted by his colleagues.
  

Establishing Apostolically

Catherine Brown:

In a Recent Vision, the Lord Planted a Big Pillar With the Word "ESTABLISH"

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
—1 Corinthians 3:10-11

Intro

Please be blessed by my article on the establishing aspect of apostolic ministry. Brian Simmons, who is an apostle in the USA with whom I have ministerial relationship, has kindly written the following endorsement about the article:

"Catherine Brown has given us focus on the two great tasks of apostolic ministry: To establish and to encourage! Nothing is more important for the advance of the 2nd Apostolic Reformation than laying foundations and inspiring the Church and its leadership to move forward. Momentum is building in the nations, and Catherine's deposit cannot be understated."

May you be blessed and encouraged to press in to the Lord and receive from the fullness of His grace.

Yours because we are His,

Catherine Brown

Vision

During a recent time of prayer I had a revelatory encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. In a vision I saw that Jesus had dug a large hole, and once a deep enough foundation had been created, the Lord planted a big pillar with the word "ESTABLISH" etched on its exterior. The Lord then began to expand my understanding of the vision in relation to the "establishing" role of apostolic ministry. The vision has some personal applications, but it also has a relevant and timely corporate application for the Church, especially leaders, at this time.

God has graciously endowed me with a building anointing, and I believe we are living in days of acceleration and multiplication. However, before we can advance, we must ensure that our foundations are in place. A building or building work must have sure and strong foundations or the work built upon it will perish. Before we can advance as a people of God, we have to embrace the establishing aspect of apostolic ministry, which will labour to ensure strong and Godly foundations are laid—upon which ministries can flourish and the Kingdom of God advance with miracles, signs and wonders to the glory of His name. Establishing is part of building.

Establishing Flows from Encounter with God

The key to understanding the establishing aspect of apostolic ministry lies in our comprehension that it is God alone who establishes, and solely in Him is found true and incorruptible strength of a magnitude and purity we can only begin to imagine. The grace to move in an "establishing anointing" is released and imparted to us from a posture of worship—we learn to flow in the establishing anointing from a place of holy encounter with God.

An example of this is seen in God's creation of the blueprint for the Temple that Solomon built. As part of those plans the Lord had mandated that two 16-metre-high pillars would adorn the front of the meeting place between Himself and His people. As the people went up to worship and meet with the living God, they could not help but see the pillars that were placed at the front of the Temple and be reminded of God's omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.

These magnificent pillars were adorned with pomegranates and ornate chains and were named, Jakin, which probably means He establishes, and Boaz, which probably means in Him is strength (see 2 Chronicles 3:16-17). Establishing is a labouring anointing and requires strength, stamina and endurance. God wants to ensure that those who are used in the establishing ministry understand that it is not in their own strength they labour but in the mighty power and eternal strength of the God of all Creation.

Established as Kings and Priests

God established His Kingdom on the earth with love, righteousness, mercy (see Isaiah 16:5), and wisdom (see Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15).

In the Old Testament we see the clear precedent of how God established kings on their thrones (see Samuel 5:12), priests in their priestly roles (see Exodus 28:1) and prophets in their office to serve Him (see 1 Samuel 3:20). John the Revelator writes in Revelation 1:6b of how Jesus Christ, through His atoning sacrificial death on the Cross, has made us to be a "Kingdom and priests to serve His God and His Father" forever. The establishing anointing is both a priestly and kingly anointing that flows from the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. It is an anointing to serve before the Lord, and at the same time it is an anointing that releases the reign and rule of God on the earth. It is essential that we grasp the centrality of the Cross in establishing us in the purposes and plans of God. Establish means to set firm and/or to put in place—this speaks to us both of foundations and of what is built (i.e. established) upon those foundations.

Established in Covenant Grace Foundation

God established His covenant with Israel: "The Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you kept the commands of the LORD your God and walk in His ways" (Deuteronomy 28:9).

Throughout the Bible we see that God establishes covenant with His saints (see Genesis 6:18, 9:9, 11, 17:7, 19, 21; Leviticus 26:9).

The Hebrew word for covenant is: Quwm (koom): a prime root. To rise (in various applications): abide, accomplish, be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, be dim, endure, enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, rise (up) (again, against), roué up, set (up), establish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as make) sure, (be) up (hold), rising).

That's quite an explanation for the manner in which God establishes us for His glory!

In the New Testament context we comprehend that our precious Saviour, Christ Jesus, became the Mediator and Establisher of the new covenant of Grace (Hebrews 9:15, 10:9). We are enabled to enter into covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice and by the gift of faith and grace (Ephesians 2:4-9). We are established in this eternal covenant by Jesus' perfect sacrifice by death on the Cross and resurrection from the grave; we are marked and sealed by the Holy Spirit and the firm foundation of our faith is thus established (Ephesians 1:14). Grace is the ultimate establisher of truth in the hearts of Believers, preventing us from being carried away by all kinds of strange teachings (see Hebrews 13:9).

Established in Faith—New Believers/New Churches

A foundation is the lowest, load-bearing part of a structure, usually hidden. A foundation is laid so that it can be built upon. This principle holds true for our Christian faith; salvation is the foundation upon which the Holy Spirit will conform and transforms us to God's holy nature, His will and His ways. It is imperative that we grasp that new Believers and new churches need to be established in their faith by gospel truth and Holy Spirit revelation. They need to be encouraged to go on to maturity, which is echoed in Apostle Peter's words in his second letter, to be "established (sterizo) in the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12).

The Greek word sterizo (Strong's #4741) is from a presumed der. of 2476 (like 4731): to set fast, i.e. to turn resolutely in a certain direction or to confirm, fix, establish, steadfastly set, strengthen.

Apostles and apostolic leaders are entrusted with the role of encouraging, strengthening and establishing new Believers and churches in their faith (as well as those that are well established). The apostles were described by Paul as "pillars" in the Church, "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace given to me..." (Galatians 2:9).

A pillar helps to support a building or building work. In this context, it simply means the apostles were serving in the role of helping to strengthen and set Believers firmly in their faith and helping the Church to grow in maturity and in the knowledge of God. Indeed, we read in Ephesians 4 how God has called all the five-fold ministry leaders (apostle, prophet, teacher, evangelist and pastor) to help bring the saints to full maturity and to prepare God's people for works of service.

Barnabas an Apostolic Example— ENCOURAGEMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT

Barnabas represents an encouraging apostle. He was the apostle who assured the early leaders in Jerusalem about Paul's conversion and ministry (Acts 9:27).

• Barnabas was a leading apostle in the early Church (Acts 14:14, "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes...")

• His name means "son of encouragement" or "son of prophecy" (some versions of the Bible say "son of consolation").

• Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch to encourage/teach the new Believers/young Church (see Acts 11:23).

• He brought Saul from Tarsus and they taught for a whole year encouraging AND establishing the Church.

• He was a good man and filled with the Holy Spirit.

• He was part of the first apostolic team released from Antioch along with Paul to plant new churches (see Acts 13).

• He later disagreed with Paul over John Mark and separated from him. He and John Mark went to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas and revisited the churches that he and Barnabas had established (see Acts 15:36-40).

Antioch: The new Believers at Antioch needed to be strengthened and encouraged in their faith—strengthening and encouraging are part of the establishing anointing. Barnabas was commissioned to go to Antioch to assist in establishing the new Believers that had received Christ when the disciples were scattered on the day of persecution and the Gospel was preached to the Greeks. Once Barnabas got there he sent for Saul, and the two men stayed there for more than a year teaching the new Believers and helping them to stand firm in their new faith. God uses mature Believers to help young Believers to "stand firm." The establishing anointing is a gift from God to enable new Believers to grow in grace and develop and mature as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 11:19-30).

Philippi, Macedonia: The apostles Paul and Silas were used by God to bring encouragement and strength to the Believers who met at Lydia's home. Without too big a stretch of the imagination, it is possible to envisage the new church plant consisted of Lydia, her household, the jailor and his household, along with the young slave girl whom Paul had delivered of a spirit of divination. We read that after Paul and Silas were subsequently released from prison, "they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left" (Acts 16:40).

The apostles encouraged the new Believers under Lydia's care. Encouragement releases strength, gives hope and motivates Believers. Apostolic encouragement is a lifestyle that, when modeled in love and humility by leadership, releases great grace upon the Church. It has been my experience that the ministry of establishing and the gift of encouragement often operate side by side to release strength and joy to the Church.

So the churches were strengthened (the King James Version says "established") in the faith and grew daily in numbers.—Acts 16:5 (Notation mine)

God's Word is Established

In these days of supernatural increase, acceleration and multiplication, I believe the establishing anointing is going to come to the forefront as one of the ways in which apostolic grace is manifested. We will witness a wonderful cooperation between apostolic and prophetic anointing to release the word of the Lord in season and with authority to establish His will on earth. We will witness missional increase as apostles and evangelists work together in end-time strategic collaboratives. We will see exponential increase in discipleship maturation as apostles and teachers work in divine alliances to establish and nurture the saints. We will see tremendous growth in the Church and in new Kingdom movements as apostles and pastors co-labour for the glory of God. We will witness powerful prayer strategies outworked in the nations as apostles and prophetic watchman join their hearts in prevailing apostolic prayer to bring reformation to the Church and revival in the nations.

However, in order to advance (meaning go forward, move ahead, proceed, progress and improve) we must learn to embrace the establishing anointing; it is part of our weaponry for the end times. Just as God established a testimony in Jacob (Psalm 78:5), He is also establishing a testimony in us! The book of Job also confirms that as we speak forth in faith, so shall it be established unto us by the grace of God. "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways" (Job 22:28, KJV).

In Summary

• Establishing flows from a worshipful encounter with God (without encounter, nothing can be established that will stand on the day of testing).

• We cannot establish if we are not grounded in worship and holy intimacy with God (worship must precede works).

• Establishing happens out of ministry to the Lord and before the Lord (the establishing anointing is both a priestly and kingly anointing).

• Establishing must be carried out in obedience to the blueprint given from Heaven.

• Establishing bridges the generations. (During a time of co-regency, David received the blueprint for the Temple and gathered together materials needed for the Temple building in preparation for Solomon, his son, to later build the Temple, according to the pattern that had been given from Heaven.)

• Establishing can involve receiving a divine blueprint, laying the foundation, planting, building and nurturing (David received the blueprint, Solomon laid the foundation and built upon it. The New Testament echoes this sentiment in Apostle Paul's teaching in relation to the one who plants and the one who waters, i.e. nurtures, stressing it is God alone who causes it to grow. See 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

• Establishing must be carried out in accordance with the divine mandate; if we build according to God's plans and not our own ideas, He will send His glory. We must build/plant by revelation and inspiration, not through our good ideas and perspiration!

• Establishing is part of apostolic grace ministry.

• Establishing is a necessary part of (1) Laying Godly foundations and (2) Building upon those foundations, whether in the context of new Believers or new Church growth.

• Establishing causes the saints to mature and the Church to advance in the purposes and plans of God.

• Establishing is an important aspect of planting, nurturing and building for individuals, churches or movements.

• Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone upon which our lives are established.

• Jesus taught us that our foundation is His Word.

Catherine Brown

Gatekeepers Global Ministries

Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk

Website: www.gatekeepers.org.uk

Reach for the Unshakeable Kingdom!

Robert Ricciardelli:

"Whole Lot of Shaking, Whole Lot of Kingdom"

I do not think it has come to any surprise to most of us that there is a whole lot of shaking going on. Hebrews 12 talks about all that can be shaken will be shaken; so all that remains is the unshakable. As I look at unshakable possibilities, the only thing that comes to mind is Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the unshakable, unmovable, and glorious Kingdom of God.

False foundations, paradigms, illegitimate structures, systems, and limitations must bow to the Father's Kingdom. His Kingdom is perpetually coming to earth, and one day will fill the earth in Father's glory, as the water covers the sea. The Kingdom of God is within us, without us, and whether we are noticing it or not, will continue to break through on earth as it is in Heaven. The shaking must happen, and yet those who desire to live in His inheritance that Christ paid for will see His glory now, in the midst of the natural chaos that is seemingly all around them.

Some Reminders of Father's Kingdom...

1. Kingdom is within: "The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within (or among) you." Luke 17:20-21

2. Kingdom approached through understanding: "When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." Mark 12:34

3. Kingdom accepted like a child: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

4. Kingdom entered through spiritual rebirth: "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5

5. Kingdom entered through doing the will of God: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of My Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 7:21

6. Kingdom that will be inherited by the righteous: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God?" 1 Corinthians 6:9

Christianity has received a heavy dose of the gospel of salvation or rebirth through our Savior, but Father is making it clear that He desires far more than eternal destiny in some distant future. Father is making it clear that He desires for us to live in His inheritance now, intimate and obedient to Him on this planet, while eternity unfolds.

One of the big reasons we have not seen the power of God through the Body of Christ is because most of the Body of Christ does not even know who they are, nor the incredible eternal seed of Father's glory that is within them. We are stuck in the idea of waiting on Jesus and Heaven, while Jesus and the substance of Heaven is waiting on us. So the shaking and awakening continues as the Lord brings us from our bankrupt paradigms and lifestyles, to Ambassadors of His Kingdom and influencers of His Heavenly Substance. Keep in mind: Heaven has never been the Father's goal. Father's plan through creation and the new birth in Christ has always been to know Him intimately as Father, while being His light and His love to the world.

Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Heaven can wait, and when we die in this physical dimension, the pearly gates of the next dimension will be ready to receive us. But we are not dead yet in this world, but alive and well in Him, regardless of what is trembling around us, or even what we have come to believe.

Our identity is in Him, as movers and shakers of faith motivated by His love, and He has given us freedom to act against ourselves to live, move, and have our being in His will and in His ways. By His Spirit we can choose to abandon fear and hopelessness, and embrace the agape love of Father that has been deposited within each of us.

We must embrace His love on a continuum and not rely on what we see. As we seek His Kingdom, His love, His righteousness, what we need will be added, and Father will remove all fear and limitations that have kept us from His best. Healing and wholeness for the journey will come as we allow His light to dispel the darkness in our souls.

Remember, beloved, that you can never be too good or too bad for His love, and finally, that our life is not our own, or about us anyway. It has always been about Him, and for Him.

I have chosen to grip on to the Father and be Christ to the world, and I know some days I will do better than others, but there is no other way to live. So as I grip on to my Father, I hold loosely all the rest of my thoughts, paradigms, and desires, while allowing my loving Father to replace them with His.

Robert and Joyce Ricciardelli

Visionary Advancement Strategies

Email: Robert@vision2advance.com

Website : www.vision2advance.com

Kingdom Invasion!

Ryan Wyatt:

"God's Kingdom Invasion! There is Currently a Revolution Taking Place in the Understanding of Believers All Over the World"

Just recently, I had a spiritual experience with a vivid vision of the "perfect storm" that the earth is now experiencing. In my spiritual experience, the Lord showed me that the only hope for our times was when we "seek first the Kingdom," even in the midst of the distracting and mounting storm of adversity around us. Isaiah 33:5-6 says this:

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

The Lord is going to teach us, as born-again Believers, that our only source of stability is God and God alone. Sometimes a shaking of everything in our lives is required in order for us to end up putting our trust, hope and faith in God as our sole source of stability. Jesus said in John 16:33:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Seeking first the Kingdom of God is actually an act of repositioning yourself into the eye of the hurricane. Jesus was in the world but not of it. It's as if Jesus walked through the storm of life but existed in the eye of the storm, being unaffected by the wind and waves. Jesus was able to do this because He lived in the Kingdom realm of God even while living life here on the earth. Jesus sought first the Kingdom and therefore lived from the dimension of the Kingdom of God while operating in the earthly realm.

God's World Invading Our World

Jesus was modeling for us the kind of lifestyle that He wants us all to live. When His disciples asked Him how they ought to pray, Jesus responded by instructing them to ask that God's Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. There is a lot of talk about the Kingdom these days and a resurgence of the Kingdom message. We need to understand that Jesus' main message during His earthly life was not the gospel of salvation. Jesus' main message was, and still is, the gospel of the Kingdom...the "good news of the Kingdom."

What is the good news of the Kingdom? Jesus shared the good news in Matthew 4:17 when He first began His public ministry. Jesus said: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." In Matthew 10:7 Jesus released the same ministry of declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand to His disciples. After Jesus' resurrection and before His ascension, He spent another 40 days with His disciples and gave them further instruction about the Kingdom of God.

Yes, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. However, that which was lost in the beginning with Adam was much more than a salvation that would one day grant Adam entry into Heaven. In the beginning Adam was given a mandate to carry the dominion of God's Kingdom in the earth. Jesus, as the Last Adam (see 1 Corinthians 15:45), came to the earth not just to seek and save and provide a way for humanity to be redeemed; He also came to provide a way for the Kingdom of God to return to the earth and be advanced in the earth through redeemed sons and daughters of God!

There is currently a revolution taking place in the understanding of Believers all over the world. Most Believers have been preached a gospel of salvation that gets them "saved enough to go to Heaven." The problem with only hearing this limited portion of the good news of the Kingdom is that it has not prepared a people to actually fulfill God's ultimate call for His people. Here is the age-old, revolutionary understanding that many in the Church are now beginning to grasp:

You were not born again just so you could one day "go to Heaven." We were created to be filled with God and carry, release, and fill the earth with Heaven! As born-again Believers, we are already seated in Heavenly places with a mandate from God to establish and expand the Kingdom of God, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Somewhere along the line, people began to get in their head this idea of one day "going to Heaven." The Bible is clear about God's intentions for the earth. God intends to invade the earth with His Kingdom. God is bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here and we, as born-again Believers, are His agents whom He intends to do it through. Heaven and earth will be brought together as one in Jesus as He begins to fill ALL things.

Will a greater dimension of the Kingdom come to earth when Jesus physically returns again? Of course. But until that time comes, we have been given a mandate not to wait around and be good Christians until Jesus comes to save us, while the world gets darker. NO, we have a mandate to establish and expand the Kingdom of God by demonstrating His goodness and power, serving humanity with the love of God, influencing culture with the culture of His supernatural Kingdom and ultimately discipling nations!

The Bible says in Hebrews 12 that God will once again shake everything that can be shaken. However, He also says that we have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Are things in your life shaking a little bit? Then, the proper response for you would be to begin to "seek first the Kingdom of God" in the midst of the storm and you will be elevated into the perspective of the Kingdom. There you will find that God is your stability and begin to live from His supernatural Kingdom realm and become an agent of transformation in your sphere of influence!

God intends for His world to invade our world, and He intends to do it through you!

Blessings,

Ryan Wyatt

Abiding Glory Ministries

Email: info@abidingglory.com

Website: www.abidingglory.com

About Ryan: Ryan Wyatt is the Founder and Apostolic Team Leader of Abiding Glory Ministries, which incorporates the Abiding Glory Apostolic Base and The Habitation (their local fellowship of Believers), both headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The burning passion of Ryan's heart is to help prepare and equip an end-time Army of Believers who will be raised up to establish and advance the Kingdom of God. Ryan releases the glory and power of God everywhere he goes through a strong prophetic and miracle-healing anointing with many instantly healed and delivered in his meetings. Ryan, his wife Kelly, and their three sons live in Knoxville, Tennessee.